The camera moves in an arial shot over a vast forest of endless trees as for as the eye can see.
The trees flash past and then ahead something blue, water, a like, and next to it buildings, and smoke coming from charcoal burners in the near by woods. Panning down the camera passes over a lake and a few boats fishing on it. Then slowing its tracks across the few streets of the lake side village. Below can been see daily like. The odd stalls, the cobbler, blacksmith, small school, fishermen, farmer and hunter. And the on the village green a bunch on the young, chatting and joking. In such a simple world they seemed happy.
It was late summer and in the village of Criglysnot tucked away in the woodlands of who knows where. The 'grown ups' of the village where getting things ready for the late summer festival. In the center of the village a pole had gone up with streamers hanging down. They looked as as did the pole, for they had been use many times, Mending magics keeping the hold contraption fixed but not looking new. Here and there market stalls where going up, even if this was not the last day of the week.
For Noric the Cleric had deemed tomorrow is being the day of the festival. Food and ail was being cooked and got ready. fun games layed out, like whick the rat and spin the P*SS POT. Arr the fun that would be had.
On the village green, laying around and talked where a group of young adults. The ones not left to doing risky tasks. They had been sent by family or other to go there and wait for the Village elder, Old Henny who was in charge and had been for years, the dressing of the well.
As they sat around they talked and messes about as all young do.
Jediah finished munching on his lunch and lay back. Taking a break from chopping wood was pretty good, he had the chance to goof off and get some of that tasty food and get involved with some contests like Throw the Log and Roll the Log.
Life was good.
It's already midmorning and I haven't seen anyone out and about yet. Why isn't Ted hunting? That nice Val doesn't have her sheep out. Even the big guy who cuts the trees isn't here. What is going on?
Reimaka quietly approaches the northern gate to the village to see if she can find out why no one is outside the fence on such a nice day. Sneaking in she hears a lot of activity in the village square. Not sure if she should be interfering with something that has drawn this much attention without understanding it first she climbs up to the roof of one of the taller buildings and takes a look.
Oh yeah! They did mention that festival is tomorrow. Everyone must be getting ready for it.
Rei relaxes on the roof, enjoying the sun and keeping watch for any of her friends.
Padding around to try and see more, in a soft green and yellow dress and slim sandals, Tarial stared in wide-eyed wonder at the various stalls, wishing she had the money to actually buy some of the stuff she could see. There was a lovely piece of ironwork at the blacksmith that she'd seen being quenched, and the cake near the edge smelled strongly of something delicious wafted.
"It suddenly occurs to me," Tarial said in a thoughtful tone as she plonked down in the middle of the green and smoothed her skirts out, "That we should probably have tried to earn more spending money before now. I'm not sure I can afford more than a slice of cake."
Jeanuel had found a lovely book that he'd not read for the tenth time, the local blacksmith had unearthed a book in his belongings one day looking for some thing or another. He stretched a bit, his parents having told him to go get some fresh air for the day. It seems that his parents were not the only ones to give him such a suggestion.
He nodded to Tarial and Jediah, he hadn't really spoken to them much before. He found himself a spot with a nice stump, tree, or even post to lean against and prop himself up. "It would be nice, perhaps I'll ask my parents for a bit of my upcoming allowance early. Though, I'm sure I can find some kind of work once Old Henny manages to creak his way to use." he said as he dusted off his book a bit and opened it.
Alyssa listens to the others as she chews on the stem of a long stalk of grass. Glancing around she wishes that she had magic to make some of the festival stuff look.... more like a festival! When Jeanuel mentions his parents she just sighs. It would be nice to still have parents! "Hopefully paying work! But it will depend on what coin is still in the village, not lost in the woods or down the privy...."
Valerie hummed as her feet carried her to join the others. She had wanted to remain the help set up, maybe even make a little booth for herself that she could sell her cloth at, but her father had sent her along and the ever dutiful daughter did as she had been told.
"Hello everyone." Valerie said as she joined the group. Her muted green dress was lacking the black wrapping it normally had. "I hope you're enjoying the day." She said.
Alyssa listens to the others as she chews on the stem of a long stalk of grass. Glancing around she wishes that she had magic to make some of the festival stuff look.... more like a festival! When Jeanuel mentions his parents she just sighs. It would be nice to still have parents! "Hopefully paying work! But it will depend on what coin is still in the village, not lost in the woods or down the privy...."
Maybe that can be something we can do, make some magic that can find missing coins.
As you look on you see wee willy walker playing a bit to close to the cake stand, his mother Alice is working off to one side making buntin.
Korliss lays out in the sun, soaking up the heat with a toothy lizardfolk smile across his face. His companion Gromusch lays next to him, similarly basking in the warm rays.
Every once in a while, a small child will approach and ask for "the trick", which brings a deep bass chuckle from the large druid. Pulling a smaller piece of meat from a pouch, he clicks his tongue and gives the alligator a brief command. Opening his jaws wide, Gromusch snaps down on the meat as his master tosses it his way, to the clapping delight of the child.
Happy to be out in the sun and off patrol, Korliss lays back again and allows his thoughts to wander.
As people she knows have begun to congregate in the square, Rei sneaks down the far side of the house she's on and heads into the center of the village. Nonchalantly she wanders towards the group, nodding at all the others.
"So...preparing for the big festival? How is everyone today?"
Taking in the surroundings, a sly grin slowly appears. She nudges Jeanuel, "Get your head out of that book." She then waves to the rest and points. "Look over there, the littlest Walker is about to destroy the cake stand!" Watching closely she collapses into giggles, anticipating the fun that is about to come.
Tarial looked over to where the little boy was about to devastate the cakes, the little Sorceress considered her choices. On the one hand it would be kinda funny to see the cakes go everywhere, and it wasn't even her fault this time.
...on the other hand, it meant no cake.
With a sigh she focused her abilities and created four Dancing Lights, sending them to dance and play with the little boy - and lead them away from the cake stall and the chaos it would cause. "I really like cake," she explained with a slightly contrite voice.
"Is there meat in the cake? Or just sweet paste and fruits?"
Korliss spares a glance towards the averted chaos, but remains where he is, head laying on his folded hands and tail stretched out past his prone form.
Alyssa sees the child about to stumble into the cakes and immediately starts chuckling, but then uses her Feral Speech hex to enable her to speak with birds and calls out for help. As she stands and walks toward the table she calls out for any birds to come over and swoop down around the boy. "Birds! Come fly by Willie and get his attention. Have fun but stay out of his reach...."
Jeanuel looked up when he was nudged and interrupted from his reading. He saw the small child that loved to get into trouble and couldn't help but look towards where she was pointing.
He chuckled and even slightly applauded the others kind hearted attempts to prevent the boy from getting in trouble. A part of him wanted to call upon a bit of the power dwelling in his blood to explode one of the cakes in the boy's face but he knew that was how their family made money and that guilt of his conscience kicked in quickly squelching the fires of mischievousness brewing inside the youth.
Valerie turned to look and gasped when she saw it. Swiftly Valerie sprinted from her area to the cake stand, scooping the child up and turning his attention away from the cake stand. "No no little Willy, we don't play around the market stands." She pointed to Tarial's lights and the birds Alyssa sent his way. "Look, look here. Isn't it pretty?" Valerie asked the small child with a kind smile.
Typically timid, Berold stands on the outskirts of the village green wondering what he is doing here and why he was told to come. Truth be told, while the festival certainly is exciting, the whole thing makes him a bit uncomfortable and he would prefer avoiding it entirely...
I hope no one speaks to me, he prays silently. Then, he wonders, blushing, maybe Gwen will be here?
He looks around to see if anyone noticed him blushing, and becomes redder still at the very thought of being found out. The giant of a young man really is painfully awkward...
Hurray for saving the cakes. The only thing better than cakes is meat bread. Mm...Bread and meat.
Willie giggles as he is picked up, his hands go out and try to catch the lights and birds now flying around him. His innocent child like laughter fills the space. His mother hearing this comes over to take him off.
A small woman with a homely smile
Valerie.
"Valerie thank you"
She says taking him.
"Now what have you been up go Willie?"
She turns to go then stops.
"O Valerie, old man Milton's lad Jennus went into the woods to got the figs for cooking pit but he's late. Do you mind if you and some of others go help him. I bet the old hand cart of Milton's has broken again, and Jennus no good fixing think, he a bit... well he may need help"
She then heads off.
Jennus would have gone to the 'new' dry stack. Which is some way into the woods at the north end of the villige. It was moved after a lighting strike fire burned the old dry stack last year.
A dry stack is where green wood is placed to dry out.
sense motive
"I c-c-can help," Berold offers, stuttering as always. He looks around for Pim and his band of bullies warily. They didn't have to guts to pick a fight with him, but they were always ridiculing him and it made things unpleasant, to say the least.
"It was nothing." Valerie said with a nod as she handed the babe over. "Oh is he now? Well I'll take a few out to find him." Valerie promised as she gave a wave and returned to her peers
"So Jennus might have gotten lost... or his cart broke... truthfully both could have happened. I'm going to go look for him. Jeanuel, Jedlah, think you two could come along? We might need wood and a carpenter's hand to repair the cart. Of course anyone else who wants to can tag along."
Rei cocks her head at Valerie and pauses for a second. I do prefer being in the trees, but I don't want to miss any of the fun here... After a brief period of thought, she shakes her head.
"Unless you need help finding him, I'd prefer to stay here to help with the preparations."
Willie Mother Anna is being kind, she did not want to say what many know.
Jennus has the mind of a small child and sending out to get wood, is about
the most complicated thing he is allowed to do. he often gets distracted and walks off.
Jennus would have gone to the 'new' dry stack. Which is some way into the woods at the north end of the villige. It was moved after a lighting strike fire burned the old dry stack last year.
A dry stack is where green wood is placed to dry out.
Shrugging at the lack of acknowledgement, Tarial rose to her feet as well. "I'll come along. It sounds like it'll be more fun than not comming along."
Korliss remains laying where he is, calling over with closed eyes.
"You need heavy cart pulled? I can help if needed."
Jennus would have gone to the 'new' dry stack. Which is some way into the woods at the north end of the village. It was moved after a lighting strike fire burned the old dry stack last year. Jediah gets up and dusts his pants off. I reckon I can help have a look for him.
"I'll come along. I can ask the birds to help find him. And if the cart is broken I can help mend it!"
Jeanuel stood up at the push for him to join. He closed his book and gave Rei a small chop on the top of her head with the spine of the book in a chastising manner. "Come along Rei, a nice stroll in the woods will do us all some good. Dont want to make the adults angry at any of us and someone get banned from all the fun." he said trying to be nice.
Realizing that everyone is headed out, and there is not as much potential for mischief when there are no co-conspirators, Rei sighs.
"OK, I guess I could help find him. I do know the woods better than most of you."
As you group heads out of the small village, a few give them looks, but keep on with the preparations. There must be a need so they pay no heed.
As you all walk to the gate the small village band is practicing while sampling the local ale.
And then your out on the the road path and after a 1/2 hour walk you at the new dry stack. Jennus cart is there and full of wood but no Jennus.
After some looking about you find tracks leading off to the east. Could be Jennus
After some looking about you find tracks leading off to the east.
You find a small bit of cloth its from Jennus clothing
And the
After some looking about you find tracks leading off to the east.
You find a small bit of cloth its from Jennus clothing but something is off
, its been cut off not ripped or snagged off
I see some tracks here. Might be our lad.
survival
"Heading East. Can't tell much more...might be the man...might not.
Korliss begins to follow the tracks, Gorumsch at his side.
"Something's wr-wr-wrong," Berold speaks up timidly as he inspects a small bit of cloth on a branch. "St-st-strange. It's w-w-was cut of, n-n-not ripped or sn-sn-snagged."
He scans the nearby area for other tracks...
Alyssa follows along with the group. When the cart is found she figures Jennus must have gotten distracted and wandered off. The scraps of cut cloth tell her this is more than just a distraction. "Are there any other tracks around? Did Jennus cut the cloth himself?"
She sends Little Bit up to look around and calls out to any local birds asking if they saw Jennus or any other creatures today.
There is a male scream a ways to the north.
Tarial swivelled her head to try and locate the scream, the headed towards it. This seemed like a terrible idea, even to her, but it was what she was going to do anyway.
Rei jumps at the sound of the scream, and immediately acts. She sprints off into the bushes to the north without waiting for the others.
Valerie's blood ran cold when the cry filled the air. Turning quickly to the north, Valerie sprinted as fast as her feet would carry her towards the cry.
Korliss changes direction and begins moving through the forest north, towards the sound of that scream.
Jediah jolts and drops his lunch before swiveling towards the sound. That might be Jennus in trouble! Jediah heads off with the others.
Alyssa calls her familiar to her as she follows the group. Being a bit suspicious about the sound she scans the woods to either side as they move.
Jeanuel attempts to carefully keep up the rest of the others once everyone starts sprinting. While time is of the essence, he knew that rushing things could get them all lost and divided.
As the group run to the sound they come into a clearing there in front of the is a horrid sight.
There is a resent earth brake from the ground, as if a grave had opened. Something has come out from the roots of a massive tree. You now see it, A humanoid like creature with deathly gray-green skin dressed in tattered and torn clothes. Small plants, weeds, and fungi grow on the creature’s body. A long, sinewy, greenish-brown noose connects the creature to the massive tree now behind it. You know this tree, the hunters in the woods told you to keep well away from it has it was a bad place. Now you have a feeling you know why. To your horror you see Jennus between this thing at the tree, you can see he is being pulled down slowly into the earth by dark green roots. He screams again.
The a root covers his mouth and he can speak no more. As this happons, the creature head moves as if looking your way, but sockets full of moss look back at you and it stands as if guarding Jennus demise.
If you make this roll I will PM you.
kn(nature)
Korliss opens his mouth and hisses at the monstrosity, combining unholy dead and corrupting nature in an abomination against his training.
"Release him, monster!"
He and Gorumsch begin to move in, circling opposite of one another, teeth clicking and powerful claws flexing.