Sel pauses his swimming, confused on why he is in the water. Then he hears the music - it is retching. Like the audible version of an infected fistula.
Did he...? Yes. He did. How on Urth could he have found it pleasant? God, it was gut wrenching terrible.
He pauses in the water and looks around, seeing for the first time the horrific Harpies as they screeched their ear-bleeding song. He looked up and saw Joy, waving to her to come pick him up.
Joy compels the broom to descend to just above the confused and soaked Selgaer, while she gathers her magic. Just before she stops, she gives the soaked Dramm a concerned look.
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"These hags are amateur hacks..."
With vindictive spite, Tabog looses an arrow at the closest Harpy. He will not stand for their song magic being used against his kin... and the goat.
Tabog fires an arrow, striking one of the harpies in the chest and badly wounding her! Uruuna continues to swim towards the source of the enchanting song until Dramm cleanses her mind. As the sorcerer climbs back into the boat, Joy swoops down to pick up Selgaer.
The harpies continue to rush closer, drawing near to Joy and Selgaer!
Startled by the speed of the harpies, Joy calls upon the plants in the water to reach up and seize them! She then urges her broom to move her and Selgaer away from the vicious creatures and towards the boat.
"Uruuna! No, come back!" he shouted to her as she had jumped out of the boat.
As she didn't listen to him he glared at the singing harpies. "None of you are touching her!"
Imedren could feel the surge of power burning through him. He called to it as he saw that the harpies were closing in, their song causing Uruuna and Selgaer to move. He called to the power of Chaos and assaulted the 3 harpies.
The surge of power was too much, even within another reality he couldn't escape. Imedren dived out of the boat, swimming out and away from the group as much as he could. When the explosion came it was large, and caused a large wave of water to explode around him, soaking everything nearby.
Still swimming in the water, Imedren called forth and assaulted the Harpies with
Joy! Let's get back to the boat. I lost my bow, we're going to have to trade out passengers. Take Uruuna, and I'll take her place on the boat.
He pauses for a second, clothes dripping wet into the lake below. Any magics you know to dry me off? Those waters are freezing!
Tabog stand up in the boat to get a better window on the harpy and lets another arrow fly!
Imedren's explosive missiles wreak havoc among the harpies, sending one plunging into the lake trailing smoke. As the others reel in pain, the sorcerer blinks out a few yards into the water to avoid destroying the boat. Still bobbing among the waves, he launches a fiery missile to take down a second harpy. Tabog shoots the final one, and after Uruuna climbs back aboard, she hefts her bow and launches two arrows, the second one connecting and slaying the final foe!
With the threats neutralized, you navigate around the jagged rocks and put your boat ashore the island. The southern section is covered with a field of tall grass and wild flowers. A thick and tangled forest covers the west side of the island, curving around a great, rocky hill, its peak looming above the rest of the island.
As you are getting your bearings, you hear a small voice from beneath a pile of netting in the boat. "Are we there yet? Is it safe to come out?"
A small kitten slinks out of his hiding spot and hops to the ground. The kitten grows into the form of Nutmeg! He looks at his father sheepishly. "Hey, Dad."
Joy shakes her head at Selgaer.
"No drying siwlls. Unless you want me to lob fiery pinecones at you."
She sees Nugget:
"Hi Nugget! You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm okay," Nutmeg says. "I didn't want to stay and hide with everybody else. I wanted to help you fight the monsters!"
Imedren shook himself slightly, the chill of the dark waters was going to be problematic enough as it was. When he saw Nutmeg crawl from out of the netting of the boat, he let out a long breath.
"Nutmeg?" He glanced over at TaBog apologetically, somehow he'd missed this.
"What we are doing is incredibly dangerous! But we are also very experienced with this sort of thing at this point... You're lucky that things went as well as they did this time but we can't afford to make many mistakes.
Do you remember what happened last time you wanted to help out? Did you even consider what might have happened if you'd gotten in trouble?"
With the boat safely ashore, Dramm puts a little distance between himself and the group in case of an outburst and heals his wounds. Nutmeg's sudden appearance gives him a start!
"What are you doing here?!" Dramm hisses. Conflicted surprise, fear, concern, and anger all vie for control over his face. "I've been teaching you to defend yourself, not put yourself in danger!"
His head snaps back and forth along the island's beach. Anything approaching now would be inopportune to say the least.
"But I can defend myself now. I want to help!" The young ferren traces his finger in the air, leaving behind a glowing rune that flickers red for a moment before fading away. "I can do some magic. I can fight!"
Imedren grunted in response at the boys boastful response, he was proud to see him take up magic and respond as such, he nearly said so but set his jaw instead and turned his attention back to TaBog to let him have the final say.
Dramm stares across the lake.
"We don't have the time to take him back. We don't have enough magic to fight without rest, and we can't give the Hag another half day. The trip would be too long."
Sel laughs as Nutmeg reveals himself. Ha ha! Atta boy! Someone give him some incantations; it'll do him good to get some experience under his belt.
Nutmeg looks to Tabog, anxiously awaiting his father's decision...
After the sharpshooter has said his piece, you make your way through the fields of tall grass and colorful flowers. Up ahead, you can see three bulbous forms protruding from the grass. Three more of the odd, many-armed monsters that assaulted Rena are asleep here, snoring loudly.
From on high, Joy and Selgaer spot two tiny gremlins lurking among the flowers. They have noticed your approach, and are darting towards the monsters about to wake them up! Imedren's sharp eyes pick out the tiny faeries as well.
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"Enough."
Tabog knelt down, getting eye level to Nutmeg with a well look that spoke volumes to the boy.
"No one here is mad at you son, but I am disappointed that you did this without talking to anyone first. Uncle Im is right, we know what we're doing here because we made a plan. Now that you've changed that plan, things have gotten more dangerous for everyone."
He stands and nods at Selgaer's remark.
"This is it boy. You trapped this mouse, now you've got to eat it. You better bring everything you've got, listen to what we say and do not hesitate when you need to act. And most importantly..."
As if they've rehearsed it a hundred times, the two ferren speak in perfect unison.
"Out of sight, out of mind."
"Out of sight, out of mind."
"Good boy, now go tell Dramm and Im what you can do and stick close us. Stay shaped as much as you can and run if you have to."
They hug one another, then ready themselves for the battle to come.
While making their way through the grass and brush Tabog will be in lynx form, skulking low in the grass with Nutmeg not far behind him, a short distance from the main part of the group.
Joy does not hesitate when she sees the scampering gremlins. She chooses one and launches a ball of witch fire at it, hoping to stop it before it can wake the larger brutes.
Sel spots the Gremlins sneaking through the grass. He whispers to Joy, You get that one. I'll get the other.
With that, he takes aim at the Gremlin and fires.
Selgaer's arrow streaks down and impales a gremlin, dropping it. Imedren hexes the other one, the weight of the curse preventing it from doing much besides stumbling over towards the nearest monster. It opens its mouth to scream, but nothing comes out.
Uruuna quickly raises her bow and fires a shot that brings down that gremlin. The monsters continue to snore, making them easy prey for Tabog. The assassin creeps up to each in turn, excecuting them before they can wake up.
From his vantage point above everyone else, Sel looks out for any other dangers or things of interest.
Selgaer doesn't spot anything in the immediate vicinity.
Joy lands briefly and draws the witch fire to her, before the witch fire winks out and she is teleported to its former location. She then returns to the air, presumably with Selgaer in tow.
Let's trace their steps back. It'll likely lead to the source. Sel suggests, looking for tracks.
The tracks lead west, to the edge of the thick and tangled forest that covers the west side of the island, curving around the great hill. Dense overgrowth limits visibility to just a few yards. You can feel magic suffusing the woods, making you feel sluggish and drowsy...
Let's go in, Sel says to Joy, urging her to move the broom forward.
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Dramm tries to flag down Selgaer and Joy before they enter the forests.
"Once we go inside the forest, we're in her realm. We should take some time to rest and enter when we are prepared. We probably won't be allowed a rest inside without her minions falling upon us."
While this was true, Dramm also dreaded entering the forest with Nutmeg in tow. The child's appearance was unexpected and his overprotective nature simply would not allow him to reconcile the boy's presence in such a dangerous place.
With the many-armed abominations dead, the group had a moment to breath. Dramm took the opportunity to talk to the father and son. He had been mulling the situation as Tabog quietly dispatched the creatures.
"I have an idea." He announces while digging in his pockets. "Tabog, you managed to convince Caribdus to give you that scroll. The one that merges an object into flesh."
Dramm produces his iron coin.
"Fae magic does not function when in contact with iron. We will be busy killing the Hag's guards. If Nutmeg can use the scroll to meld the iron with her flesh, she will be unable to cast her magic. I may be able to interrupt her attempts to counter any spells."
Despite the bold proposition, Dramm looks uncomfortably between the father and son.
"Nutmeg, I taught you magic because I was afraid that one day we may not come back. I started because you almost died on this very lake last year, Tabog. Your son needed to be able to take care of himself." Dramm glances at Tabog with a pained look. "That means that this is my fault. I didn't trust you to look after your own child. I also didn't trust Joy to defend herself when she wanted to help. I was wrong both times before. Nutmeg should be trusted to do this for us."
[b]Ok. Let us strike camp. Hopefully they'll be ok in the city.[/ B] Sel says, a hint of worry in his voice.
When they go to talking about tactics, Sel held his breath when Dramm mentioned merging iron and flesh. He let out a sigh of relief when it wasn't followed with the suggestion to merge it into the boy.
You set up a camp at the edge of the forest, taking some fitful rest while you can. The light of the rising sun has difficulty penetrating the thick fog overhead, so even as dawn breaks, a worrisome gloom persists. You know the people of Crossings won't be able to withstand the siege of monsters much longer. You must put an end to Toothsome Maera soon less the casualties begin to mount.
After making your preparations, you cross into the foreboding woods and begin to make your way through the tangled terrain. The soporific enchantment that suffuses the forest threatens to impair you...
You've only been traveling for a minute or so when a flickering light appears about 16 yards away. The bobbing light seems to be coming from a lantern, and as you look at it, you feel compelled to follow it...
Imedren followed the others into the woods, making sure to trail behind the others. The waves of chaotic energy pushed and pulled back and forth but this time the waves pushed Imedren forward, carrying him to resist the eerie compulsive lantern.
The waves of energy pulled back, causing the build up to be too much and he unleashed a small blast, he had learned to make sure no one was too close.
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"Everything has to be so difficult with you... Dramm... What? Nothing bad is happening right here, this can't be your fault because there isn't anything to blame you for. Even if there was, showing Nutters a few tricks isn't what made him come here with us. It did, however, give him better tools to use."
He briefly turns to Nutmeg with a playful squint and chastising finger.
"So I hope you said thank you, young man!"
Tabog reaches into his pack for the scroll that Dramm mentioned and held up for the two to see.
"Now, if Nutmeg is confident that he can do this, then by all means he shall. It's his decision though, only he knows his limits, and he better not lie about it to impress anyone. This is serious little one, look over the spell and then let us know what you think, alright?"
He hands the incantation to the boy and shoos him over to the others, setting up camp. He turns back to the sorcerer, shaking his head with a smirk.
"You can't be responsible for everything that happens in this world. Some things are inevitable... I mean have you seen the way that boy looks at Joy sometimes? Relax and stop giving yourself so much credit, if it wasn't you it would have been Im or Father Greg teaching him how to use magic, or me even... Look, I don't know what's going to happen when we get into that forest but we've all done what we can to give ourselves, and Nutmeg and Joy, the best chance of getting out of here with minimal chest melting. If you wanna help Nutmeg use some of that energy you're storing as stress to ensure that if we all eat it, he gets back to the city and then out of it...... You good?"
The last words were said with a bit of concern for Dramm and is current state of mental instability. Easily genuine, but then again Tabog is really great actor.
"I'm starting to hate this place more than I thought possible."
Tabog and Nutmeg have taken to their feline forms, stalking just a few yards from the main group. They weave through the trees staying hidden as best they can; climbing through the branches from one tree to the whenever they were thin enough to do so.
Tabog sees the light and feels it pull at his mind, he stops to check that Nutmeg is okay. If so, he takes aim and studies the pattern that the light moves in, predicting the pattern of its flows for his next precision shot.
Joy rests, in between staring up at the stars- or where they should be.
She takes Nutmeg aside at a moment and quietly says:
"If you feel you can fight, fight. But otherwise, flee and don't look back."
*********
Joy sees the light and can hold fast against it. Then summons witch fire to end it.
What is that thing....? Sel wonders aloud.
Dramm is a bit taken aback by Tabog's reply, especially in being so much more direct than normal. The words seem to reach him and he returns with a low nod.
"Yeah. Alright. Yes, I'm good Tabog." With plenty to think about, Dramm prepares to enter the forest.
The forest closes in around the party tightly. The magic creeps into his mind, trying to pull at his awareness. Dramm pushes the invading force away. He didn't come this far to be hindered by simple trees...
The light dancing between the trees catches Dramm's eyes as it bobs among the trees.
"There!" he hisses to the others, not realizing that the magic has already taken hold. "She's leading us right to her. We can kill her now!" He rushes after the light!
Nutmeg beams when his father allows him to stay and help. "Don't worry, Dad! I won't let you down!"
He nods solemnly when Joy takes him aside. "You can count on me, Joy."
Tabog takes aim at the strange lantern, while Selgaer and Dramm make ready in case it proves to be hostile. Imedren doesn't hesitate, though, sending a bolt of flame streaking through the air to strike the lantern. Its light flickers briefly as it is injured. Following her husband's lead, Uruuna fires an arrow that falls short as the lantern bobs and weaves.
The light streaks towards Imedren, and as it draws near, its flame turns bright orange and assumes the form of a leering face! It stops 2 yards from the sorcerer and sends a jet of fire at him. Luckily, it only slightly singes Imedren.
Dramm blasts the creature with a magic dart, wihch triggers a burst of flame that rushes towards Imedren again! Selgaer and Nutmeg open fire with their bows but both fail to hit. Joy misses with her witch fire as well, and the snarling flame darts away, eluding each strike as it moves back through the trees.
Imedren saw the eerie glowing ball come streaking towards him and unleash a burst of fire. Even as he dodged he saw another reality, a possibility of him trying to dodge back and away from the creature. In that reality, it tracked him and managed to catch him on fire.
So instead he pushed forward into the the flames spinning the opposite direction from how it would turn. Not defending, but feinting an attack. He was burned only minimally for his efforts.
He spun away, turning to Uruuna as his eyes began to glow blue. Visions of himself faded away, instead replaced by the orb's movements and Uruuna's. "Uruuna, one step left and release!"
"One step left!" Uruuna responds and follows Imedren's advice. As predicted her first shot just makes contact with the flaming creature. She snaps off a second quick shot that falls short.
Tabog, lurking in the shadowed trees, tracks his prey for some time before loosing an arrow he was sure to hit precisely where he wanted it to.
The small creature makes for a difficult target amongst the trees. Dramm decides to forego the attempt and instead launches another dart with the assurance of success.
The magic is gathering more strongly within Dramm's body. His tattoos flare and writhe in response, but the energy does not burst forth.
Tabog's arrow embeds itself in the lantern's center mass before burning to cinders. Dramm's dart impacts with great force, and the strange creature crumbles to ashes!
"What in the world was that?"
Dramm prods the strange remains gingerly with his blade.
"More importantly, did anyone see where it came from?"
[Academic: Nature] Joy recognizes the creature as a jack-o'-lantern. Jack-o'-lanterns are faerie of malevolent disposition and wicked intent. They love to lure travelers into danger and watch them burn.
Joy glares at where the ashes of the creature fell to the ground.
"That was a jack-o'-lantern. A nasty faerie who love luring travellers to dangerous places and watch them burn to death. I'm glad it's gone!"
Ok. We'll be sure to kill on sight next time. Come on, let's go to the hill top.
"Maybe we were being a little optimistic." Dramm agrees. "After you, Tracker. We'll try to keep up."
He follows after the Faun while lecturing quietly to Nutmeg in his overbearing way.
"Remember, I have a healing range of 5 yards. Imedren can teleport up to 10 yards, I believe. The intensity of the magics gathered affects the radius of any detonations..."