Ques's summoned eagle appears, and attacks. It slashes across with a talon and strikes the wyrm, but is set off from the attack and its ensuing attacks miss. Out of desperation, the wounded reptile spins its sinuous neck around and bites at Arsiel. Arsiel deflects the gnashing teeth, and the creature, seemingly wounded beyond its limits, falls into the snow.
Garland looks down at the dying reptile, "Anyone know what this thing is? Or maybe why it was lying in wait for us?"
Ana stares at the creature.
”I don’t think anything hereabouts is going to sit with “normal” and have cups of tea. A strange brew indeed.” The young ganzi produces her dagger and begins to attempt to cut the creature’s head off.
The path continues beyond this area, through deep snow in the gully. On the other side, the snow seems to even out a bit.
Garland closely inspects the creature after its beheading.
As they continue on, Garland offers up "If I'm not mistaken, that was a tatzylwyrm, though I have never seen or heard of one in the cold. Something is definitely off here."
|
"Tattle worm? Why is it called a tattle worm? It didn't do ANY talking as far as I could tell. Weird name. I prefer snow lizard."
When Ana finishes her grizzly task, he asks her, "Why did you do that? Is there a bounty on snow lizards or something? I doubt a head would make good eating, so... I wonder if the butcher could do something with the carcass."
"You all ready to go on now?"
though he says this, Ques makes no move to actually lead the way. Grey's example has left a profound impact on his overeager tendencies.
Ana looks up from her bloodied crouch, and wipes a smear of red across her cheek in an snow-vained attempt to tame a wild lock of hair.
"I don't rightly know, 'cept his...her head is real wild looking. My folks? Their inn? A Stoat? If I ever have my own place, it'll be a Dragon! And a real dragon...tazzlewürm skull might just look the greatest."
The ganzi pauses for a moment, before her eyebrows raise in estimation.
"Plus, in this cold, it'll keep fer a while." she says, packing snow around the head and wrapping it up in some rags before thrusting it with a little difficulty in her pack.
Walking uo to Ques, Ana places a hand on his shoulder and fixes the fetchling with a serious look.
"And Ques? I'm real sorry about Grey. He was a good...soul. May he rest in peace. We're all better for having known him." She nods and shrugs with a sad smile.
With that she tramps off in the snow in the direction they were headed before the ambush. Then stops.
"We goin' this way?"
Ana leads the way beyond the beheaded, serpentine form. Soon enough, the blood let by the beast is frozen stiff on the skin, as the group continues along the trail through the swirling snow. After about fifteen more minutes of walking, while crossing between rows of trees, you notice something strange. Feathered bundles and strange fetishes hang from the lowest branches of the trees in this part of the forest, swaying and shifting in the wind. All are stuck through with small pins holding pieces of leather bound around them.
Dagger in hand, Ana stops and points to the eerie objects in the trees.
”What the gickshit is this?”
"I'm not sure if they are trapped, but they definitely don't mean anything good. I say we avoid them."
Garland takes a look at the fetishes, and she can tell something from her experience with the natural world - these aren't bundles of feathers, but are dead crows, seemingly pierced through with the small pins that stick the leather scraps to them.
As you talk, you hear something from the north trees...in an usual language.
”Ah....shite. I think there is a trap. And we’re the prey what tripped it. I don’t know what that speak is, but I’m with you guys. Bad news.”
Garland pulls out her spear again, ready for whatever this may be. "I can't place that tongue, but I certainly don't trust it."
Considering the small voices Arsiel looks around, Given that we’ve run into a lot of bad things so far, should we try and talk to them?
Steadfast of mien, but with a slight smile creaking through Ana replies:
”I speak Protean. Think that’ll help?”
"Ques, your guess is as good as mine, why don't you try Aklo, and Ana try Protean, not that I know what that is, and we'll see what occurs. Try to stay behind me so they come at me first if they aren't happy with us in their space."
Arsiel grins grimly and steps toward the fetishes hanging from the trees, and in a very relaxed manner rests his weapon against his shoulder, so as to seem not too threatening.
As Arsiel moves towards the trees, a few things occur, each equally odd. First, a small, vaguely humanoid shape made of what looks to be light appears near the top of one of the trees to the south. It immediately begins making crude gestures towards you.
Also, a tiny silver sliver pricks Arsiel's cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. After the initial burn of the strike, an icy sensation spreads across Arsiel's cheek.
You can tell a general location for where the voice comes from - it's somewhere to the northwest of Arsiel.
Big ones, stomp about, big ones sing and shout. Dark languages dirty and foul, we'll make that one scream "Ow!"
This comes in Taldane, and from the southern trees.
Garland's eyes move from one side of the area to the other, trying to pinpoint the voices. "I think we are being boxed in. I don't like this. Don't like it at all." Her left hand reaches into her belt pouch a grabs a dark piece of fabric. The fabric seems to dissipate into dark motes of energy the surround her hands. Her fingers weave intricate details in the air and dark, foreboding sounds leave her lips. The dark motes of energy spread across her body forming a shimmering layer that is barely perceptible.
Aside from a general location, you don't get a good feel for where these assailants are...except for Ques's gnarled enemy
Fearful for what may await, but not wanting to be surprised, Garland calls out, "Come put to meet us and let us parlay. You have nothing to fear, as long as you are civil. I give my personal word that no harm will come to you as long as you respect us as well."
You want to talk?...from the North
You walk in our land...from the South
You turn back now...from the East - from where you had come
Anadorita stays put, waiting for a resolution.
My land while I’m standing in it, punks!
She peers into the trees, glancing momentarily at Ques’ botanical aggressor.
Ana peers into the trees around where the voice had come; there, barely visible is a small blue form. This tiny creature is humanoid , with blue hair and a brown outfit that blends will with the tree bark. It has tiny gossamer wings trailing from its back.
"Ow... We mean no harm, there were some people who attacked a carriage a little ways away, and we'd like to help the woman that was taken. "
The ice shard staggers Arsiel, making him shake his head to try and clear it...
There are sounds like snickering, then one of them - the one to the south, coughs. Woman...we ate her days ago!
More laughing, from all sides.
Leave all yer stuff and run...then maybe we let you go!
With just a little frustration, Garland calls out to the wood, "I'm getting a little tired of this nonsense of yours. I am officially rescinding my offer to be kind and instead are offering you a choice. You can either let us pass, unbothered, and let us know everything you know about the lady we are looking for, or I burn this forest down around you!"
Garland senses little more from the sprites than the nature they've portrayed with their words - they seem like vile little beasts.
At mention of the forest burning, they go quiet. A still hush falls over the area.
The ganzi’s eyes turn to slits as she focuses. She whispers to her friends.
”I see one. A lil blue bugger with blue hair, diaphanous wings and wearing brown...leaves maybe? Hard to tell, almost like it’s supposed to be camouflage.”
Ana’s nose wrinkles up as the conversation descends to an untoward conclusion. She keeps a bead on the one creature she can see, and holds her hands up a little, ready to pile on the full force of gravitationally-challenged snow.
Glancing along Ana's sight line Arsiel tenses himself to strike if the creature moves, preparing for the worst.
"Last chance for you to cooperate little one..."
Seeing that their covers have been blown, the creatures burst into action. Giggles sound out from all about the group as the sprites attack!
One of them, the one pinpointed by Ana, cries out. Kill them and we'll take their heads to Izoze!
True to her word, once Garland see an opportunity, she steps up, fingers out-stretched and releases a cone of flame at the creature and the surrounding forest.
Garland moves forward and lights up the trees with her spell. The sprite, who had been seconds before screeching out orders, lets out a shrill cry of fear and attempts to fly out of the way. It is able to dart aside, but still gets a wing singed by the flames. The trees about the figure are left charred and smoking.
The sprite leaves itself guarded as it lets loose an arrow in reply. The small sliver hits Garland in the upper arm.
As Garland is attacked from the north, you hear a snickering to the east. Another sprite drops down from the treeline and calls out in common. We'll tell your lady you fought like lazy housecats! It lets loose with a spell, and a dizzying cone of varying hues assails the eastern group.
Of the third sprite, if there was one, you see nothing.
Sprites
Arsiel
Ques
Ana
The ire that she feels towards this thing causes her to shrug off the arrow as little more than a nuisance.
"Okay I've definitely had enough of you little ...."
Arsiel is dazzled by the color spray of light, dropping to the ground unconscious.