With Noala Kesrir accompanying you, bow in hand, you wake for a some four hours back to the village, where, once you have arrived, the ranger bids you be safe, and departs to watch over the blighted grove.
"Meet me there when ready. Be safe..."
You move into town, when it is around noon.
You arrive, tired and wounded, in town.
Tamli, and the others from the caravan are distraught about what happened to you, and heartbroken about Dragh now having passed also!
"What have the Gods against us?!", Tamli yells.
The old elf cooks hearty food for you, and the inn brings you fresh bread and honey, and you spend a couple days resting and healing up and finding better equipment.
And then you are ready once again.
After telling the bad news to the people of the caravan, Tamerius go to the church and pray for Dragh's soul.
After a time of prayer and self-reflection, Tamerius remembers that during the fight, the lack of heal spell stops him to be able to save his comrades. He needs to have some back-up healing, more important than minor potion or elixir.
He also promises himself to get back Dragh's body and give him proper burial.
Coming back to town, he looks for the possibility to find some scroll of Heal to be able to help his comrades longer and thinks about spell that could help them destroy the creatures...
Tamli has scrolls of healing for Tamerius.
Giggett spends a few days with a very dark mood, mix of biterness and sadness. She limits her social interactions to the minimum, but spends all evenings in the tavern drinking more than she should, alone.
She doesn't even answer to Tamli when she criticizes her, but gets a few scrolls from her.
Before deciding to return to the place where his comrade Dragh has certainly died, Tamerius asks around about the strange creatures they have encountered.
After all, may be someone have already seen these creature somewhere or read a book about it before in this crapy town?
He also continues to preach for his faith and encourage his pupill to show himself.
No one really knows anything about any of this.
Except for the mayor: "Take some sheep with you! Sheep eat everything. If there'd still be sheep here, instead of all those turnips, well, they'd eat your bushes right up!"
But Tamerius' investigations do not bring much.
The Dwarves are working on the chapel, and do accept to start talking about the Faith, as Tamerius will teach them more.
Talking with Tamerius, Giggett does not bring anything new either, nothing she can recall about such strange blood sucking bushes.
You had none in the garden back home, for sure!
Giggett also tries talking to the people in the village, aiming for some whom Tamerius did not address, but it is just as bad: no answers that make sense.
Giggett realizes the people here know pretty much nothing about what extends beyond the forest close to their village.
So, you rest, heal up, acquire some more equipment, try but fail to get some information about the bushes...
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There is talk in the village of the dead rising...
...or of a Giant Turnip coming!
Some days after the loss of Dragh, after you have healed, and geared up, you are having breakfast around the fire, in the courtyard of the inn, beside the caravan''s wagons, with your friends - Tamli, Cooky... and the others - who are both somber, yet thankful for all you are doing, and the high price you paid, to avenge Bort's death.
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You can hear that someone is singing... the voice is harsh and lacks any features that would make a good singing performance. It is closer to sailor songs performed rather badly by a group of drunken mercenaries.
The song first is a small annoyance heard in the distance but as you sit and eat the voice is getting louder and louder suggesting that the source of that singing abomination is getting closer.
Just as you hear:
"The drunken miner chased the girl..."
From behind the cart, a new figure appears. He is small even for a dwarf, as you can clearly recognize him as a dwarf. His hair are brown falling into the red, a bit tangled and in need of some serious grooming, like his beard. He is wide in his shoulders and you can see that he use a javelin as a walking stick.
He stops singing and eyes the ones eating breakfast. Once he sees Tamli he smiles as he walks closer yelling:
"Tamli you heart-breaker! How are you doing? I was walking after your caravan for days hoping to catch you up when you have a brake somewhere along the way."
Then he turns to Cooky:
"Cooky you old fox! Are you still trying to poison other caravan members?"
Then he turns towards Gigget, Tamerius and Natsume:
"Are you the new guards here? It is a pleasure my name is Sitril, Sitril Anvilbrand, I am Borts, cousin, from the side of his Aunts Housband. Did he tell you the story about Thrain the Cask-downer? Where is Bort in the first place?"
Tamli looks at Cooky-- and Cooky looks at Tamli.
They shuffle their feet.
When Sitril turns towards the trio, they both look at you and wait... for you to speak.
Giggett looks at the newcomer and answers slowly:
"I'm Giggett. And..."
She turns to Tamli for her to answer...
... and realizes she looks at her. A bit pissed by such cowardice, she gets back to Sitril:
"Unfortunately, something happened to Bort..."
Sitril makes a step towards the gnome and hugs here in a bear hug.
"Why those sour faces, did Cooky made this breakfast for you? Haha"
Laughs happily Sitril.
I’m Tamerius Archillus of House Dulifer. says a human in black and red and with a sour expression he adds I’m sorry that we have to meet is such dire circumstances but I need to tell you that your cousin have been murdered, poisoned.
We’ve caught the one who put the poison, the one who gave the poison and now we’re looking for the one who gave the order.
Unfortunately this search has costed us another life, Drag another dwarven friend.
Natsume nods into her cup of turnip juice. "We haven't figured out why yet," she adds, "so for all we know, others could still be the target of a grudge or something."
She reaches over and takes a plate, holding it out for the newcomer.
"Cooky's made a nice scramble this morning! Extra bacon!"
Cooky smiles: "Yes, turnips and bacon..."
Tamli lowers her head: "Yes, Bort is gone... his body is in the stone basement of the inn."
When Sitril hears what Tamerius said he stops laughing and looks around you with disbelief.
"It's one of Bort's jokes right? An intro to his tale? When he speaks about dying and the weaseling out with his wits? Right?"
You can observe the horror in his eyes, as he looks at the faces of Cooky and Tamli and slumps down taking a plate of scrambled eggs and beginning to go through it.
For some time he responds to no one. He looks into the fire in silence.
Tamli goes over to sit beside Sitril.
»Alas, no... Pharasma finally to smile so bad she pulled him down to her.
At least he died eating dessert with a mug of Gale in hand...
But, still, we shall avenge him. »
I’m sorry for your loss. says in dwarven Tamerius.
After a short silence he says after Tamli’s words.
Yes, we will avenge him, and our comrade dead to have try. If you want to join us, you will be more than welcome.
We were hoping to get back where our friend died 2 days ago, first to get back his corpse and give him proper treatments and second to continue our investigation. Something is wrong with the nature itself and we think it’s linked to what happen to late Master Bort.
I don’t know your abilities but for your information, I’m a cleric, Giggett is our scout and Natsume our tank. Each time Tamerius shows one of his comrades.
Natsume waves. "I nearly died a few times myself, actually," she admits. "Whatever those things were, they were strong."
"...And we were under-equipped."
Giggett answers to Tamerius:
"These creatures are deadly. I don't want to bring someone with us, unless he's a very skilled warrior. Enough blood has been spilled. If it was not to bring Dragh's corpse, I would have been long gone."
Sitril looks at Tamerius surprised to hear dwarven language from a one so unbearded. And nods to what he hears.
Then he looks at Natsume hearing what she says.
Later he turns towards Giggett saying:
"I do know a thing or two about fighting. Did a fair share of it. I am not afraid of whatever lurks in that forest. I can track in nature and underground, as well as I know a thing or two about beasts and living from hunting. If that can help me come closer to whoever killed Brot I will come with you."
Says with a sadness in his voice.
As the sad, yet hearty breakfast finishes, you look at one another.
Would it be time to set out again?
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Looking at each of his comrades he says It's time to go.
Sitril, if you want to come with us, someone knowing his way around the forest will be a good addition to our group. Please know that an elven ranger help us in this quest. She's an ally.
Looking a last time at his stuff he straightens himself, ready to avenge his lost comrade.
Tamli looks to Tamerius' comrades, and to Sitril, hoping they will join Tamerius and seek to avenge Bort.
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"Noone ever listens to me...", mumbles Giggett.
"What do you know about fighting, Sitril? Knowing your abilities will help us to better position ourselves."
Sitril stands up and unwraps the great axe that he had hidden under his backpack.
"I rush towards my enemies and cut them down Giggett. If my axe does not work I just hit harder. I might be lacking in strategy at times but I usually overcome the difficulties with enthusiasm and strong arms."
On saying that he smiles nastily.
"An axe... At least, there's some wood to cut."
Giggett then turns to everyone:
"I Had time to think about these creatures. I don't think we can properly fight them from range, unfortunately. I think the best way to deal with them would be to focus on one of them while avoiding the creatures to focus on one of us. So, I'll try to get the attention of one of them, while you focus on the second one. Also, coming from the opposite side of the clearing may help by giving us a few seconds of range attacks. We can grab a few throwing axes for our frontliners, if you know how to handle them."
Sitril finishes the scrambled eggs and begins unpacking his travel gear and puts on his Breastplate and grabs his large axe in one of his big hands.
"What can you tell me about the enemy? Besides being dangerous? Some wild animals? Deamons? I have javelins to throw at my foes. I can attack from the other end as you might work better together."
Says Sitril. He trusts Tamli and by extent, he puts trust in his new companions, but maybe in the first battle, it is better to keep a safe distance.
Sitril knows that his relative, Bort, most often had some alchemist fire to sell in the caravan, so you could ask Tamli if there are any left.
"Tamli does Bort have some Alchemist Fire in the caravan? I would gladly buy two bottles if you have some." Ask Sitril.
After making the purchases and armoring up, the dwarf is ready to move out.
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Tamli gets the bottles for you.
All ready to trek out?
"Well, we can't tell you much about these creatures. They are resistant to piercing damage, but not slashing damage. We haven't tried bludgeoning damage. They are a bit slow... for us. Not for you. They have a 10-foot reach. They cause bleeding damage and can suck the life out of you to heal themselves. That's all."
And fire don’t seem to make more damage than a good sword.
Says Tamerius before remembering how the creatures were able to easily find poor Dragh and adding They also seems to be able to see through the foliage, as they were able to follow Dragh into the forest to kill him.
"We also have some alchemically-modified wildlife in the area," adds Natsume. "There was a big alpha wolf that spat acid at us. We might run into some of those as well... but the plants I'm almost certain we'll see again."
Cooky looks at you all: "Are you heading out now?
Shall I pack you some lunch?"
Sitril put his helmet on his head and makes sure that his weapons are easily available. Holding his big axe in one of his hands he says:
"My beard is long enough, let's move out. "
I’m ready too. Lets go.
Says Tamerius.
"Lunch would be great, Cooky," she says, stretching out, holding her bastard sword in two hands. It's not... usual for her to have two hands on a weapon and none on a shield. She'll have to get used to that.
Cooky hands you a packed lunch and then... hugs Tamerius.
»Be safe! »
Tamli looks at you... but is not hugging.
»Thank you! »
When ready, you set off, for the four or so hours of trekking, taking longer since you know the way only a bit.
Sitril discovers more turnip fields... before you hit the woods.
After a while, you start coming into the dark place, where the Blight is felt: no animals, less birds, black leaves, spongy moss...
You keep on moving towards where you hope the ranger is still waiting.
Giggett shows absolutely no sign of excitment when she says:
"Ok, let's give it a try, then. But remember, running away is a strategy that can save our lives."
She takes her shield and a dagger for this fight.
You trek deeper into the woods, with the trees become gnarled and dark, and blotting out the sunlight.
The atmosphere is heavy and foreboding...
Then, some branches crack, and-- Noala Kesrir appears.
"Friends! How go you, with heavy sorrow on your shoulders. No news of your friend. I am sure he has passed..."
"It's good to see you, Noala," says Natsume, puffing a little from all the hiking. "This is our new friend, Sitril-- one of Bort's... cousins, I think?"
She shrugs.
"Anyway, he's here to help us with the plants. And hopefully anything else. We'll try to find Dragh, too."
We’ve take time to grieve and prepare. I hope that we will be ready this time.
And yes, we have a new comrade with us, as Natsume says, he’s Bort’s cousin and we’ve explained to him what happened. He decides to join us in hope to avenge his cousin.
Turning to his comrades, Tamerius says I’ve prepared a spell of magic weapon that I can cast on one weapon. It will enhance it as if it as a +1 striking weapon. It will not last long but against these enemies, it will be worth it.
Noala nods... "I have seen very little comings and goings.
I killed two wolves.
That seemed in bad shape...
Again, I will be on the look out, while you enter this dark cove."