|
The long journey south from the slopes of the Tusk Mountains to the edge of Fangwood took several weeks, during which many of the Twinhorns and Pathfinders exchanged ancestral stories and tales of daring adventures to pass the time on the relatively uneventful trek. By the time the Fangwood rises ahead in the brisk morning air, both groups are eager to confront whatever lies ahead.
Medda addresses the crowd gathered before her. “South of here lies a battlefield where the paladin Ivvora risked her life in a daring ploy to help her battalion defeat an undead horde. For her selflessness, Ivvora earned a token of Vildeis’s favor: the dagger she used to deal a terrible blow to Eshimka! For all the crusaders’ heroism, I can sense an undead taint lingered here, and that stretch of the Fangwood has expanded in the centuries since to absorb it. It is now our turn to earn Vildeis’s blessing, risking ourselves to end this threat so that in turn we might slay Eshimka once and for all.
“The terrain favors small groups over larger formations, so we shall divide into smaller groups to navigate the forest and identify the corruption’s heart. May Ivvora’s example guide us to victory!” With that, Medda and her phantom Anok turn and enter the Fangwood, followed by Pathfinder and Twinhorn teams that fan out behind her.
|
You have been assembled and make your way to the forest. As you assemble the first issue is just getting there.
Brambles grow wild throughout the edge of the wood where a thick canopy of trees begins to filter out sunlight, turning day into night. The overgrown plant life forbids easy access deeper into the forest and fills the air with the sickly-sweet smell of decay.
|
Hortensia is a tall, braod shoulder Andoran woman dressed in full plate. She has long dark hair, a scar on her cheek and carries a small arsenal of weapons. The golden key of Abadar is embossed on her armour as well as a birthmark on the back of her right hand.
By Abadars hairy arse I have no liking for tramping through the woods, I am a city girl. Do any of you lot now your way through this...foliage! she asks with exasperation.
|
|
"Not me, but I'm a dwarf. Nothing hinders us for any extended period."
Silgil, though dressed more like a mage than a warrior, does carry a mean looking battle axe, a tribute to his days in the dwarven militia. He sports red unruly hair, almost gnome-like, but covering most of his face as well as head. He walks with the confidence natural to dwarves and a bit of a swagger.
|
Ibaz is a muscular stout half-orc with a big scar on his face and an old ugly mark making him the property of an Okeno slaver.
He wears simple clothing, robe, sandals, and except for his headband with the symbol of Abadar and a big great axe on his back, nothing of valor.
At his side, several wands and a big book.
I agree. Don't like woods.
He makes a sign to Siligil acknowledging him.
He tries to avoid the branches and thorns of the forest.
|
A large, burly half-orc with a bunch of hilts and hafts sticking out of odd places walks along carrying a cold iron greatsword in his hands, seemingly in the middle of an argument.
"Yes, Bert, I know I still haven't paid to have you enchanted, but it'd cost too much...yes, yes, I know I paid for Black Death to be enchanted. But he's made of special stuff." The half-orc lovingly pats the hilt of a sheathed falchion on his hip. "He holds up a lot better in battle. Remember those stupid acid globby critters raining on Nerosyan? They damaged BD a little, but they would've completely destroyed you. And then you got to kill all demons, remember? It was a good day. And you know you'll always be my first love....What's that, Bert? Oh yeah, there are other people here."
He nods to Hortensia, Silgil and Ibiz, saying, "I'm Urktar. This is Bert. I'm da brawn, " he holds up the masterwork greatsword, "Bert's da brains. Nice to meet ya."
Then he goes back to arguing with his mundane greatsword. "Not this nonsense again, Bert. You see any of those magic trees around that'll help teleport us past these brambles? Nuthin'? Then where's the best spot for me to climb over?"
He sheathes Bert and starts to scramble over the most likely spot.
|
|
The trek through the brambles was difficult to start. Silgil and Urktar were impeded with their efforts but was able to deal with the minor cuts and scratches without any ill effect.
The forest floor is blanketed with eerie dark flowers that paint the otherwise lightless woods with their purple incandescence. Disorienting paths cut through the trees, forward-facing paths seem to lead back to where they started, and retracing one’s steps leads to unfamiliar terrain. Glowing eyes glare hungrily from within the impenetrable thickets where the vines slowly curl around anyone who gets too close.
From the brambles in the distance, you make out two Hodags, but they seem to be possessed. Their eyes glow purple, and they are covered in the same eerie flowers that infect the forest.
Your time so far has shown that if you are near the thick areas of the forest aside from being difficult terrain, it moves and could entangle you.
Most of you are taken off guard but they were at a distance to start.
Silgil can act first.
Round 1Silgil - dmg;
Hodag, Blue - dmg;
Hodag, Red - dmg;Hortensia - dmg;
Ibaz - dmg;
Urktar - dmg;
|
|
"They do not look friendly, do they?"
Silgil casts a DC 18 glitterdust spell on the nearer hodag.
Then backs up a bit.
|
|
As Hortensia move the hodag snaps at her.
Urktar smashes the blue hodag but does not fell the beast. It snaps back at him with a flurry of attacks
The creature tears in to the half-orc
After adding mage armor the other Hodag attacks Ibaz
The nips the monk, but then he solidly hit by the tail
Round 1Silgil - dmg;
Hortensia - 10 dmg;
Ibaz - 24 dmg; Mage Armor (1:00)
Urktar - 16 dmg;Hodag, Blue - 55 dmg;
Hodag, Red - dmg;
|
|
After enlarging the barbarian and casting the magic missiles, the onslaught of Ibaz and Hortensia is enough to finish off the remaining corrupted beast.
Round 1Silgil - dmg;
Hortensia - 10 dmg;
Ibaz - 24 dmg; Mage Armor (1:00)
Urktar - 16 dmg; Enlarge (0:06)
The forest opens to a small clearing that is free of the dark flowers that seem to permeate the rest of the landscape. A ring of tall grey trees circles the clearing, their branches reaching toward each other to form a ceiling of black leaves. A chorus of whispering voices echoes within the clearing as countless faces form out of tree bark only to meld back in, flowing from tree to tree. Three of the faces remain in place and speak out in unison. “Who wanders these forlorn paths? Do you seek to join us? Join us!”
You are able determine that this portion of the Fangwood has trapped spirits for centuries, first by nature of the lingering undead influence and more recently due to Mother Bloodleaf ’s efforts. The entities are a diverse mix of nature spirits, mortal souls, and the memories of Ivvora’s comrades. They have only fuzzy memories of their mortal lives, with even details of their identities eluding their recall. On the other hand, the spirits are very familiar with the forest, its shifting paths, and the region where Mother Bloodleaf perpetuates the blight.
Three spirits seem to take the forefront.
The first one says. “Stand Back! Away! We can beat you!
The second one muses. “Oh don’t shoo them away. There are games to play”
The last face simply states. “No, Let us listen”
|
|
Hortensia applies her wand to heal heself.
Does anyone need any healing? I am happy to share.
Hortensia steps up to the first spirit. We have no wish to harm you, we are hear seeking more knowledge about a mortal hero called Ivorra. Can you help us?
Hortensia looks with disgust at a slim birch wand which starts fizzing and spitting at her. She sighs and stuffs it back into her pack.
|
|
As Will enters he assess the situation but is unable to get any read on the spirits.
Ibaz fares a little better. The Happy or Joker face is inscrutable.
The Angry face is kind of deceptive. Its anger is based out of fear. Being aggressive in response would not be productive
However the Calm face is most odd. It is full of rage of the corruption of the forest, and you can tell it is looking for proof strength or plans on how you may be best.
Hortensia's approach to the angry spirit seems to work. It drops its facade of bluster. "Aye, you speak well. Ivorra is a blight and all this fighting ourselves will not help. But I think I can offer you aid you need"
Sigil's fairly extensive knowledge of the forest seems to get the attention of the Calm one, but is not fully convinced. "Skilled and knowledgeable is half the battle, but how are you for the real half when blood must be spilled!"
Angry Spirit - Convinced
Joker Spirit - Nothing
Calm Spirit - Leaning to help. (DCs lowered)
|
|
The Clam spirit seems to be convinced. "You will have our aid when you are at the heart." With that the three prominent faces fade, though the Joker one makes some rude noise as it does.
You do notice that some of spirit seem to signal a path though the woods towards the evil heart. At times it seems you went in circles but then you find that woods ever changing nature would have made this difficult with out the occasional guiding.
The spirits suddenly freeze in place as a burly middle-aged man with the ears and legs of a goat steps out from behind a tree. He grins and waves his hand. “Ho there, adventurers! I got bored waiting, so I think we should have some fun! Don’t worry, this won’t take long. I wouldn’t want you to miss the main event, and I plan to have a front-row seat. Oh, where are my manners? The name’s Grimpfkin. So, what do you say? Do you choose to test your speed or might?”
|
|
"That is enough of your happy company" And with that he taps on the log he was sitting on. The trees move apart creating the clearing/arena but one tree remains the the middle
The Huge tree animates and moves toward you.
The tree moves quickly, but a few of you move quicker
Round 1Hortensia - dmg;
Silgil - dmg;
Will Hawk - dmgTreant - dmg;
Ibaz - dmg; Mage Armor (1:00)
Urktar - dmg;
|
|
Hortensia regards the tree with some trepidation, That thing is big!
Let it come to use friends she mutters.
She moves forward a little to present it with a target while giving an inspiring speech on the many uses to which trees can be put in building towns, cities, boats and other industrial processes which enrich the citizerny.