Reasoning that the manticore will only return later if they let it leave now, Dusk continues her attack even as it tries to flee.
Sir Adrian swings in concert with Dusk at the fleeing beast.
Where are you going?
Another bolt of fire flies from the Maester's hand towards the retreating manticore.
Attack:
Damage:
Aiming for the bullseye between its legs, Scram let loose another arrow...
Given the threat the beast poses to this woman, and the community nearby, Gaelin draws his bow once again and fires.
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After a barrage of attacks The Manticore tries in vain to take off, its hind lion-like legs rearing up and in mid squat the killing blow, is two slashing strikes from a longsword and Greatsword in concert rending the abdomen open and the spine exposed. It roars and then sputters as it falls to his side tongue lolling out of its mouth as no breath remains, expiring.
The woman in the old Windmill smiles."Good show! Thank you so much for taking care of the thing. I'm Adabra Gwynn, Herbalist, Midwife and Devotee of Chauntea. I thank you so much for saving me from such a nasty creature. Come get some tea, I have a reward for you!" She says as she smiles and waves you in.
Scram comes out of his shrubbery and waddles over to the felled monstrosity. He twangs his bow string on the end of one its tail spikes gently "Heh, look at the spikes on that thing. Wonder if I can crack one out...Dancy'll never believe we killed one."
He takes out a stout little black crowbar and wedges it in to the base of one of the tail spikes, trying to extract one as a souvenier.
Greeting Adabra Gwynn! You are most welcome nd I'm sure we'd be delighted to come in and have tea, if you've enough cups!
Dusk sheathes her sword and enters the windmill.
Nicely done all! Lady Gwynn, we are pleased to have relieved you of the monstrosity, and indeed, we will join you.
Sir Adrian cleans the gore from his blade with a oiled rag and sheathes it over his shoulder.
Loraas neared the halfling trying to figure out what he was doing, "Ah, a souvenir eh? I can show you how to treat it. Otherwise, it will start to rot away on you in a few weeks."
The druid then nodded his thanks to the rest of his companions, "Nicely done indeed. Who knows? Maybe there was some sort of bounty on this creature's head."
He approached the windmill, "Are you OK? Yes. tea would be wonderful right about now."
He entered the windmill to greet the lady of the house.
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Adabra takes a minute to walk down from upstairs to open her door and invites the various adventurers in her small kitchen and sitting area she pulls out a handful of herbs in a small metal sensor and slips it into the kettle before she drops it on the hook over the hearth as well as uses a bit of magic to ignite the fire and lets it boil the water.
"I am glad you came when you did, the beastie was quite mad and wouldn't take my offering of foods I gave it. So I ran inside and here I am! Though I am curious as to why you came out here for little ol' me, is one of you sick? Perhaps Pregnant?" She asks looking at the party before she chuckles."No, I doubt that Did you need potions of healing? Oh, which reminds me" She walks over and pulls from her worktable a vial of honey-colored liquid.
"Your reward one healing potion"
Sighing at his limited ability to aid his companions in combat, Gaelin stows his bow and follows the others into the house on the hill. After her initial pleasantries, Gaelin steps forward awkwardly.
"Sister Gwynn, like you I am a humble devotee of the Earth Mother. There have been sightings of a possible dragon nearby, and the town's elder has asked us to bring you back within the safety of the town's walls. Would you honor us by accompanying us so?"
Yes, my lady, you would be much safer within the walls where you can be adequately protected, and better able to serve those of the town with your very important skills.
How very kind! Of course we must insist you keep the potion, surely your patients may need it and if we are injured we can turn to Brother aelin here she smiles at the priest.
And on the subject of your patients, I'm hoping for their sake we can persuade you to, just for a while, come and live in town. Goodness knows what would happen to those you minister to if something were to happen to you!
She sips her tea.
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Adabra smiles and chuckles as she begins to pour tea." Oh, a dragon you say that was what I saw the other day, over in the fields took a few goats. was Frightening, but it's not unheard of." She says going back over to place the pot on a counter.
"As for me leaving, I will have to decline. I know the blowhard banker of a mayor will hate me for deciding to stay but this is my home, I will defend it until I die! Now I will give you a letter or something saying you tried but I am not leaving. As for the potion, take it I'd hate you, fine folks, to be caught in a scrape without the ability to heal and think 'if only I would have taken her potion', Also come back anytime I'll sell you more if you wish" She says smiling
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Lucen looks about the old woman's and is not surprised to see her using a cantrip to light her stove to warm the tea.
"As you are staying out here on your own, perhaps I could teach you a small cantrip that might help protect you and your home. It produces a bolt of flame that you can target at intruders. It is not too powerful but might dissuade unwanted guests."
"As for me leaving, I will have to decline. I know the blowhard banker of a mayor will hate me for deciding to stay but this is my home, I will defend it until I die! Now I will give you a letter or something saying you tried but I am not leaving. As for the potion, take it I'd hate you, fine folks, to be caught in a scrape without the ability to heal and think 'if only I would have taken her potion', Also come back anytime I'll sell you more if you wish" She says smiling
The druid sipped his tea, "Well, we can't really take you by force but I think you should reconsider. We were lucky enough to be on your way when the manticore attacked but we are going elsewhere and won't be around."
He quickly corrected, "Not that you can't take of yourself but a dragon... now, that's something none of us want to face alone."
He added, "Are you sure we can't change your mind? I mean, there are plenty of people that use your services back in town as well."
Loraas neared the halfling trying to figure out what he was doing, "Ah, a souvenir eh? I can show you how to treat it. Otherwise, it will start to rot away on you in a few weeks."
His eyes go wide "Oh yeah? How do you preserve it? Must be some strong spirits, I bet, eh?" He seems to get excited at the thought of such high proof alcohol. "Here, I can getcha one too, then we'll have matching bone blades. Bone Blade Buds." grinning and grunting to extract another.
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As it became clear she wouldn't cooperate he threw up his hands "Aw, damnit. I told you we shoulda brought the food. Guess we can kiss 25 crowns goodbye..." he glances around the place for something to steal to make 'his money' back.
Loraas is right you know, we’d hate to hear something had happened to you! Still I guess we should know when to realise your mind is made up. That really is very kind of you to write a short note to the Mayor to let him know you’re grateful for the option but must decline!
She finishes her tea and sets it down gently on the table
Of course we must elicit a promise from you that if things do get dire, you will let us know so we can escort you to safety!
She smiles as she sees Lucen talk to the midwife about a protective Cantrip.
She keeps one eye on Scramsax and raises an eyebrow when she catches his gaze.
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"I'll be fine the Mother Protects me here, has for years." she says with a smile."Besides I am not defenseless I have a few tricks of my own, but alas I spent most of mine early in helping a few sick folks who have come to see me, Young man I shall like to see this bolt of fire might take place of my magic stone cantrip!" She says with a smile as she then grabs a piece of paper and begins to write then seals it.
"Give this to the blowhard exonerating you of dragging me kicking and screaming" She says smiling and drinks some of her tea.
His eyes go wide "Oh yeah? How do you preserve it? Must be some strong spirits, I bet, eh?" He seems to get excited at the thought of such high proof alcohol. "Here, I can getcha one too, then we'll have matching bone blades. Bone Blade Buds." grinning and grunting to extract another.
Loraas smiled, "No, not with spirits. You need to clean it well and then keep moisture out of it. You can do that with animal fat. You can also burn away some of the softer bone."
He added, "Let's just see what we can get out of it and then we'll make a plan but you're doing the work, eh?"
The druid smiled mischievously, "Matching bone blades? No, I think I'll pass." He pulled out a curved blade as long as his forearm. The 'skinning' knife was well honed on one side, thicker on the backside, and with a grooved point. "Now this is knife, eh?"
I am sorry to hear that you will again be left out here alone, instead of allowing us to escort you to safer locales. We will remember that if things go awry so that we can potentially aid you.
Brother Gaelin is thankful as others take the lead in the conversation trying to convince the woman, in a sense his elder, to come back to the town. Yet their words seem to fall on deaf ears. Summoning a touch of courage, he offers one last thought. "Sister Gwynn, it sounds like their is little love lost between you and the mayor. And I do realize this is your home, but in the end it is possessions. The flock to which you shepherd, as a devotee of the Great Mother, do they not have more need of you, one which would put your safety as more important than your home? Think on it Sister, I do hope you reconsider."
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"I understand your concerns, you all are still young and fresh-faced, me I am old, I have done my time wondering the wilds fighting goblins and beasts as now I live here tending to those who need it as well as the land here is perfect for my herbs for healing potions, ointments, and unguents. If the dragon comes I doubt it'll be wanting me and if it is then the mother wills it. Just now I am not defenseless nor am young neither. trust me I'll be fine. Go help others in need, take my healing potion and know that the Earth Mother is with you" She says as she then looks around.
"Also I have a variety of teas and spices if you wish to purchase that or more potions!" She says excitedly her old withered features taught on her face as she smiles.
Once the others have finished their talking to the old woman, Lucen walks over to her.
"Ok, now this is one of the very first spells I was able to manifest when I was just starting to learn about my powers. For me, I just start to imagine a small fire in my mind, then I make it hotter and hotter until..."
He continues to talk to Gwynn and tells her about the cantrip and attempts to walker her through the process.
Brother Gaelin nods and offers a soft smile to the elderly woman. Taking her hand, he offers her a respectful nod. "Thank you for your support and the curative. Stay safe, and may the Mother ever guide you."
Gaelin steps outside while Lucen teaches Gwynn the spell, taking the time to survey the lands around the house.
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The druid seemed absorbed with the conversation and his 'big knife'...
"Now this is knife, eh?"
The shadow of the blade nearly engulfed the lightfoot whole, emitting a soft *gulp*. Quickly recovering, brushing it off "Yeah, yeah, yeah...everyone's seen tel'quessir stuff like that before. You got to dance with it to make it work, seems to me. Seems to me, I'd rather dance with Dancy...and none have ever seen a halfkin eat his steak n' taters with a manticore blade!"
Right then, it's been wonderful to visit, but if we cannot persuade you to come back with us, we simply must away!
She stands and adjusts her armor, before gesturing to the others.
We should leave this good lady in peace and head on to one of the other tasks the mayor asked of us, perhaps the mine?
I agree, Dusk. I am with you! Duty calls, and best of luck to you, my lady. It has been a pleasure.
Sir Adeian stands and steps outside to breathe deeply as he murmurs a silent prayer to Torm.
When Dusk and Sir Adrian emerge from the house, Brother Gaelin turns toward them. "I am saddened at the risk this woman takes staying here, but it is her choice. Are the others following? We should be back to town."
Loraas nodded, "Well, you can lead a horse to water and all that... right?"
He put away his skinning knife, gave the halfling an old rag to wrap his souvenirs, and started walking back to town.
He chimed in to no one in particular, "So I guess we report back to the townmaster, collect our reward, and see where our services are needed next?"
Brother Gaelin looks at the elf with a bit of a smirk. "Don't think we are going to be collecting a reward for this one. We were supposed to convince her to come back to the town. Though, we did get that potion which could come in handy."
He keeps pace with the elf, thinking over their battle with the manticore and his horrific attempts at archery.
Gaelin pauses for a moment, "Where did our diminutive friend get off to?"
After his short explanation of the cantrip, and seeing that the others are leaving, he thanks Gwynn for the tea and tells her to keep training with the cantrip and perhaps she will be able to make a flame.
Rushing from the home he catches up with the others.
Waving his manticore spike "I'm right here." says a voice from behind Lorass. You turn but, by halfling genetics, Scram's profile is fully hidden behind the larger elf's.
He must be a lightfoot, only that particular clan had that eerie capacity to be completely hidden even in a small crowd...other halflings had pudgy, baby-like bellies and round features that stuck out in odd places. Scram however was more like a miniature elf, a fit bit of muscle strewn over skinny bone...it made you wonder what kind of spectacular gymnatic feats he was capable of...sober.
"Well...we could just, you know, change the letter a bit. Say she agreed. That townmaster is too much o' coward to ever come out and check, I'd wager."
The mayor indicated that as long as we took the job from the board we could just go direct
She addressed the group
Did anyone take either of the other two job notices?