Caduceus - 81 dmg; 4 Con drain; life link on all;Smite; Enlarged (16:05);Haste (r11);Prayer (r9);Fire Resistance (10);Poisoned (1/?);weapon dropped in square; prone; Fast Healing (r22);
Crag Linnorm - 224 dmg; prone; unconscious; Glitterdusted?;
Hector - 84 dmg; 3 Con drain; Haste (r11); Prayer (r9);Fire Resistance (10); poisoned (0/?); prone; weapon dropped in square; dead;
Tytus - 41 dmg; Heroism (17:40); Long Arm (16:10); Haste (r11);Prayer (r9);Fly;
Anen - 4 dmg; Overland Flight 40' (19:00); Shield (16:10); Mage Armor (17:00); Prayer (r9);Fire Resistance (20); Heightened Awareness;
Heccan - dmg; Mage Armor (02:00); Cat's Grace (16:10); Shield (16:10); Greater Invis (r11);Readied action: if linnorm wakes up;
Heccan eyes the dragon for any sign of movement, ready to blast it if it awakens.
The linnorm does not, however, awaken. At least not yet.
The infernal magic in Caduceus' blood heals him a bit more.
Pathfinders are up! The bold may act.
Heccan and Tytus both watch the inert linnorm, who remains motionless.
Pathfinders are up!
Caduceus - 54 dmg; 4 Con drain; life link on all;Smite; Enlarged (16:05);Haste (r11);Prayer (r9);Fire Resistance (10);Poisoned (1/?);weapon dropped in square; prone; Fast Healing (r22);
Crag Linnorm - 224 dmg; prone; unconscious; Glitterdusted?;
Hector - 84 dmg; 3 Con drain; Haste (r11); Prayer (r9);Fire Resistance (10); poisoned (0/?); prone; weapon dropped in square; dead;
Tytus - 41 dmg; Heroism (17:40); Long Arm (16:10); Haste (r11);Prayer (r9);Fly;
Anen - 4 dmg; Overland Flight 40' (19:00); Shield (16:10); Mage Armor (17:00); Prayer (r9);Fire Resistance (20); Heightened Awareness;
Heccan - dmg; Mage Armor (02:00); Cat's Grace (16:10); Shield (16:10); Greater Invis (r11);Readied action: if linnorm wakes up;
With the cold iron seemingly arresting the beast's regenerative powers, Caduceus plunges his sword into the linnorm once again and, with a mighty death rattle, it turns its blank dead eyes upon him with a look of utter malevolence before it - finally - expires!
Caduceus, I need a Will save from you. This is a curse effect.
Iomedae smiles upon her servant Caduceus, as he narrowly avoids succumbing to the death curse of the crag linnorm!
When the group searches around the area, they find the creature’s lair in a deep ravine devoid of any living thing for a mile in all directions. Within this ravine lie broken bits of bones from many large creatures (cattle, bears, elk, giants, and more). Scattered amid these remains are 8,377 gp, 16 gemstones of various types (worth 100 gp each), two jeweled necklaces (worth 1,000 gp each), a silver and onyx bracelet (worth 1,200 gp) a magical longsword, a magical heavy steel shield, a wand of cure serious wounds (19 charges), and some magical gauntlets.
Hidden in a tiny crevice is a diamond-studded medallion (worth 8,000 gp)
hidden in another crevice lies a magical ring.
With his sharp eyes, Tytus also spots a magical ring in another narrow opening.
Anen also easily identifies the items: a +2 frost longsword, a +1 heavy steel blinding shield, and a pair of cursed gauntlets of fumbling!
In addition, Anen is certain that the ring is a ring of freedom of movement.
There was also (mentioned earlier) a wand of cure serious wounds with 19 charges.
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Heccan eyes the treasures. "Well, the wyrm was busy it seems. Almost worth the near death experience. Almost." Heccan sighs and walks over the the fallen Hector. "Well, as much as my natural instinct is pulling me to steal this gold and spend it wantonly, I suppose it is only just to use it to once again light the flame of liberty. A pity, though. I was planning on throwing one HELL of a party." Heccan smirks and just laughs at his own musings.
The other pathfinders spend a few days waiting until Anen, Caduceus, and the restored-to-life Hector return from Absalom. The pain of knowing their friend has died makes the time seem much longer: almost a week or two - but, finally, their friends return and the pathfinders are ready to resume their mission which, as they all recall, is to find the settlement of the giants that attacked Zoarth's castle and discover why.
As the pathfinders continue traveling across the wilderness, they encounter a group of humans gathered together in a copse of trees. They look bitter, angry, and terrified as the pathfinders approach and quickly grab whatever weapons they have, which mostly appear to be shovels and hoes and other random farming implements. None of them look like they have any training in fighting.
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Caduceus raises up a reassuring hand. "Hold friends. I am Caduceus Via, of The Pathfinder Society, along with my allies here. We have no quarrel nor do we seek one. If you are understandably on edge from living in the shadow of the oft seen dragon, it may come as some solace to hear the beast has been vanquished. Though, admittedly, it came at some at a heavy cost."
He smiles, "For the low cost of a campfire, you can hear the tale."
The farmers, herders, and settlers - for it doesn't take long to realize who they are - are quite relieved to see that the pathfinders mean no ill and they welcome you to their fireside.
"Dragon?!? No siree, no thank you, ain't seen one, don't want one! Those giants are terrible enuff, ain't they? You refugees too?" says one portly fellow, as he passes around a chipped flagon of mead.
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Heccan yawns and blinks his eyes, apparently having nodding off some point. The recent battle has taken an obvious toll on the normally gregarious Chelaxian. He gets his bearings and joins the party to converse with the villagers.
Seeing Hector, the sorcerer smiles wide. "The flame burns once again! Welcome back. Things were not the same without you." Heccan turns to the villagers, "Giants you say? Yes, indeed. These parts seem lousy with them. My friend here is correct, we are particularly skilled to solve that problem for you. But tell us what you know of the large brigands and what aid you can offer."
Heccan flashes his wicked grin.
When the farmers learn that the group intends to actually seek out the giants, they whistle through their teeth and eye you all with deep respect, and perhaps also some pity.
They give you all the information you need to find the giants and warn you that this particular tribe is ruthless and cruel, even by the standards of hill giants.
Seeing the determination of the pathfinders, several of the younger farmers, stout young men, but really barely more than lads, step forward and ask to join your expedition. "Those giants destroyed everything we had! We will be avenged!"
The volunteers have little in the way of weapons, armor, or equipment, but they look ready to follow you into battle!
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Caduceus looks at the young men. Boys really. He notes the earnestness of their words, but realizes they fail to recognize their own naivete.
He talks quieter, so just those men can hear him. "Look, your community is vulnerable right now. Your families are scared and they need you now more than ever. No one here doubts your courage. You have nothing to prove. Often times, being the hero means making the hard decision. For you, the hardest thing means being strong for them. They need to lean on you. Not just to feel safe, but to rebuild your lives. You need to be here for that."
Again, talking to the entire crowd. "We are honored that you would send your strongest to join us. However, we would not feel right leaving you here unprotected. Please, work together during this difficult time. Given the loss you have all suffered, it is best that you be with one another right now. Show your strength to those monsters by pulling together. Show them that they cannot break you. You have survived, and together you will heal and rebuild your lives. Together, you will learn to stand tall once more. You will work the fields again. You will build your homesteads again. And, together, you will stand as a living testament to the courage of all who live in these lands. Tough. Self reliant. Independent. And you, all of you, will do this together."
The young farmers nod their heads ruefully but accept Caduceus' advice. No doubt they will be telling tales around their hearths for generations about the deeds of valor that - almost - happened. And, who knows, perhaps one day one of those farmer lads will show up at the Grand Lodge and present themselves for training. For now, however, the pathfinders are relieved not to add babysitting to their tasks as they hunt the giants.
In the morning, the groups part company and the pathfinders continue north towards the supposed location of the giants' settlement.
After a few days of walking, with little of interest to break the monotony, they come upon a surprising sight:
Up ahead, a woman sits in front of a large tree, head bowed. Leaves and twigs tangle in her wild, brown hair. She appears to be sobbing. When she looks up, her face is stunningly beautiful despite her tears. “Please help me,” she implores. “I am a prisoner here.”
The woman does not move from her spot by the tree, but when Heccan speaks to her she gazes at him beseechingly. "I am Th’telis, a simple woman, but an unlucky one! A satyr named Naazza - perhaps you have heard of him? - kidnapped me and forced me to be his wife through some sort of enchantment magic. Because of this magic, I must stay in this spot until he returns. The only way the spell can be broken is if I give him some magical jewelry. But of course I have none. Can you perhaps help me? I beg you..." Her speech trails off into further pitiful sobbing.
Despite her impassioned plea, you feel that there is something strange about the woman's demeanor and that all is not quite as it appears.
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Heccan looks to Hector than back to the woman. He eyes the woman again. "Agreed Hector, something is not quite right here." He stares at the woman, focusing his deep brown eyes on her with and flashes her an ever so slight wicked grin. [b]"I will confess, my lady, these days have been trying for all. Why, not more than a fortnight ago we were set upon by a, oh what was that called again? Ah yes, Linnorm. Quite a trouble that lizard. Why it nearly did us in? Nearly mind you. And not without a toll.."Heccan glances at Hector before turning his attention back to the woman. "Now that was a battle. Suffice to say, we have had our share of hardships and, I know I speak for us all, our fuse is shall we say...short. I would hate to be the next creature to trigger our ire. I daresay our tolerance for such things has reached its limit. So, before we walk down this heavily tread and and tedious road, how about I give you a chance to come clean and tell us what you really are doing here."
Heccan eyes the woman, face a mask of steel, his eyes burn with the intensity of the Pitt.
Hearing Heccan's words, the woman bursts (even more) into tears. "But it is true, I tell you! A foul satyr by the name of Naazza claims to love me. Just wait - he will come and you will see - I cannot leave the spot! Oh please, you are rich and powerful warriors - I see that truly - I have no doubt that, uh, lizard fled before you! As would I if only I could leave this place. But surely a small magical bauble means little to heroes such as yourselves... It would be such a good deed if you free me..."
Before the pathfinders have a chance to respond, they hear a haunting melody being played upon a set of panpipes, not far away at all.
"Oh no! He returns. It is as I told you - quick, please, I beg you, surely you can spare a ring or some other trinket!?!"
The song of the panpipes is horrific and several of the normally brave pathfinders find themselves overcome with fear, panicking beyond all reason, and suddenly running away at top speed.
Seeing his friends running away, Anen feels a bit uneasy but nevertheless stands resolute, while Caduceus seems utterly unaffected by the entire business.
A satyr now appears from the nearby woods, peeping out at the remaining pathfinders, and holding a set of panpipes in his hands. "You there! I am Naazza, husband of Th'telis. I know she has probably asked for magical gifts of some kind - she does love jewelry - but I must tell you that I forbid it, forbid it I say! You've seen what my power has done to your comrades - don't tempt my wrath by disobeying me!" And with those remarks, he disappears back into the thick forest, seemingly uninterested in banter.
Th'telis turns her tear-stained face towards Anen and Caduceus beseechingly. "You see what I must contend with! Of course he has warned you not to give me anything, for he knows that will free me from his enchantment. Surely you can spare me something, some mere bauble? For you seem like brave and good souls, who would never abandon one such as me to this terrible fate. I beg of you, show your mercy, show Naazza how the power of your goodness will overcome his nefarious ways!"
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The paladin's sword rings as it clears its scabbard. "Bargaining with evil is a treacherous act. Though you may think it a quick answer, the consequences are often worse. Nay, we have not felled giants and slain a linnorm only to sacrifice our values now because it is the easier path. My allies may have temporarily fallen prey to the imp's magic, but they are resolute in spirit. They will return. I will keep you safe until that time. When the imp returns, he will find us more than a challenge."