Sitting around the outpost eating that evening.
So looks to me like the rangers that ran this outpost got a message recalling them to fort Trevalay. They burned the message, packed up and left. Then the ettercap and spiders moved in. A new patrol of the rangers arrived and got caught in the web traps and lost their fight. A week or two past and then we got here. I'm planning on leaving a message here when we leave tomorrow. Basic information about the Ironfang army and Phaendar, and our group of refugees. We'll have to ask Abby if she knows where fort Trevalay is, and if it could be a good place for all of us to move into for a awhile.
Looking at the gear we recovered from the two dead rangers here.
Zdena, I think you should wear that magic Chain Shirt. We're relying on you a lot in every fight we get into. You should be as well protected as we can make you.
At some point we are going to need enchanted weapons to hurt something we come across. So one of us should take this Shortbow and some of the magic arrows. The rest of the magic arrows should go into Zdena's quiver. Now I know how to use the bow, but I've got my spells and a few tricks besides to let me deal magical damage. Ryll, Sighere either of you had any archery training?
This cloak is good for everybody. I can come up with reasons why it should be worn by anyone here. I'm not sure who should take it. What do you all think?
After dinner is over and discussions about gear have been settled.
Should we go straight back to camp, or should we explore the area between here and camp as we return? We've done pretty well finding enough food as we go along so far. I'm inclined to do the exploration myself.
Ryll takes a look at the stones Malgrim found.
She nods approvingly as she puts them back in the pile. Those will definitely be helpful in buying supplies later on.
She gestures towards the bow. I still have the light crossbow that I found at the ruins of that homestead, which suits me just fine. You or Sighere should take this one.
Reaching down to scritch the side of Premek's jaw, she continues I'm game to explore a bit on the way back. Gives us a clearer picture of what we're dealing with out here. She glances at Zdena Think we can do that and still get back to camp by nightfall?
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Sure, Malgrim, it's a nice piece of armor. Didn't help the last person much, though.
Zdena nods at Ryll's question. Yes, should have time for that. Her brow furrows. What's after that, though? Can't camp forever, but we don't have a lot of good options.
She ticks off some possibilities on her fingers. Could make for Gristledown. Tiny, but has actual houses, some food.
Another finger. Could try to strike out for Tamran. Really far, but maybe as a long term goal?
A third finger. Could just... keep scouting, hope we find something in the woods to help. Maybe take time, make better shelters if we find a good enough spot.
Four. Find out from Abby where next closest Ranger waystation is, go there.
She opens her hand and gestures at Sighere. Or... you and your friend are from somewhere in the Fangwood, yes? Do you have a place we could head for?
Premek appreciatively tilts his head to be scritched, but is listening.
He seems positively inclined about exploring on the way back, and about Gristledown or Sighere's village. He seems skeptical about Tamran, making a gesture that seems to involve mice uncomfortably looking up at very big things.
He seems to be expressing:
The village mice will not be happy in a big city. Village mice like village life.
Ok, Sighere if you know how to use a Shortbow you should take it. If not maybe I give you my light crossbow and I use the Shortbow.
Gristledown is a good idea. It's north of us, and fort Trevalay is somewhere north as well. I'm don't know how welcome 50 strangers would be in your village Sighere but it's worth taking about.
I don't think we can plan on making the trip to Tamran any time soon. It just to far away for everyone to make the journey. Maybe when we find a place to set up a more permanent encampment we gesturing at the party can make the trip. So it's still a long term plan.
I'm really not good with a bow He looks down sheepishly There was an incident when I was learning to hunt... It will probably suit someone back at the camp better than I. He looks thoughtful for a moment From where we are now it's about half way to Thronwood from the camp but we really couldn't stay long there, the village would be hard pressed to feed all these people. However we could go, or send Pharus to see if they can offer any aid
Well, guess we can chase a couple different trails when we're back at camp, talk to the others. I just... feel better when I have one next thing to focus on? I wish we knew what the thing was. Zdena sighs deeply. Guess it's sleep, really.
You begin the trek back toward the encampment, talking through your options and keeping your eyes open for threats. The way back is relatively familiar, now that you've been there once, and as such, you make better time heading back to the camp. As you a trekking through the twisting paths of the forest, around noontime, and Ryll spots something out of the corner of her eye, was that a plant moving, or something else over there.... You find yourselves on the edge of a clearing, one resplendent with plant growth and the towering trees of the Fangwood forest.....
Premek hops down from Ryll's shoulder and disappears into the brush. He moves towards the movement, trying to get within smelling distance to identify it by scent.
Caleb! Friend or foe? Sighere whispers sharply and Caleb wing off into the tree tops
Malgrim crouches down and, with rapier in hand, starts to sneak closer trying to get a look at what is hidden in the undergrowth.
Ryll creeps up behind Premek and Malgrim, trying to get a better sense of what caught her attention.
You creep through the brush, approaching the area where Ryll thought she saw something. As you close upon the opening, you spy two four-foot tall humanoids, but they seem made of plants.... Their heads are ringed with the broad flowers reminiscent of a sunflower, in golds and red. They are obviously looking directly at the area where you are, and they call out in a strange, almost musical, language in your direction, Cyfarchwyr teithwyr, beth sy'n dod â chi i'n rhan ni o'r coed? Pwy wyt ti, er mwyn i ni wybod dy enwau.
Their frond like appendages wave as they speak in your general direction, giving the odd vegetable bodies an extremely expressive appearance while they are communicating with you...
Premek steps out into the open, and meows and warbles in the general direction of the plant people.
If, by some odd chance :) , the plants don't appear to comprehend Cat, Premek attempts to communicate the same general idea with gestures.
Whispering to Ryll They don't seem to be hostile. And I think Premek said "hi". I guess we go out and meet them? Did you understand what they said? Cause I didn't.
Malgrim steps careful into the open next to Premek and sheaths their rapier.
Sighere looks on from the back.
Oh, Leshys! He takes a second and cast a quick spell quietly.
Let's see what they have to say And he approaches them, hands out unthreateningly.
Ryll cocks her head at Premek's warbles. Huh.
She turns toward the others. He says they are greeting us, and asking what brings us to the forest. And what our names are.
Ryll steps to the side, making room for Sighere to step forward.
One steps forward at your friendly-seeming gestures, and again an almost musical language emanates from the flower-plant people...
Sunleaf ydw i, a Summershoots yw hwn. Beth mae teithwyr strage fel chi'ch hun yn ei wneud yn y Fangwood? Nid ydym wedi gweld llawer o bobl ddynol mewn sawl troad o'r haul yma. Ydych chi ar goll?
They both wander forward to greet you.
Premek gets the sense he is not being understood, and focuses on translating for Ryll instead.
Premek turns back to the plants and experimentally rumbles and purrs some odd sounds.
This is Sunleaf and Summershoot, they are wondering if we are lost Sighere turns back to the Leshys do you understand me? I can understand but not speak your tongue
The Leshys stare at Sighere as he talks to them, then they begin shaking their heads in an all too human sign of 'no' and waving their hands in front of them broadly, gesturing for Sighere to stop talking. Na, na, nid ydym yn eich deall chi. Mae'n iawn, nid yw pawb yn gyfarwydd â deall ffyrdd y goedwig. Rydych chi'n edrych yn llwglyd, os oes angen bwyd arnoch chi mae yna ddarnau mawr o aeron; dwy filltir i'r gogledd o'r fan hon - ond mae planhigyn cymedrig, pobl fwyta, Bramblelash, yn eu defnyddio i stelcian ysglyfaeth .... Byddwch yn ofalus wrth fynd yno. Chwiliwch am y Bremblelash, mae'n ysglyfaethwr crefftus; cudd ymhlith yr aeron.
You get a sense from the two leshys that they are quite satisfied with what they have told you, and they seem content to watch and observe your departure. They smile and wave their fronds in what can only be assumed is a gesture of goodbye...
Ryll blinks in confusion at the animated little Leshy.
Well...no idea what they are saying, but we should warn them about the Legion, if they don't already know. Maybe ask if they've seen them, or the Rangers?
Ryll nods, and translates for the others. They aren't understanding Owl Sho-, erm, Sighere, but they did tell us about a big berry patch nearby. And also warned us about some man-eating plants that tend to grow among the berries.
She turns back to the Leshy, smiles and nods.
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Gesturing at themself I'm Malgrim
Malgrim does their best to tell the Leshy about the hobgoblin attack on Phaendar. Using their drum and stomping feet to simulate the hobnailed boots of the Hobgoblins. Pantomiming waking up, walking and going to sleep again to convey how long we've been traveling. Trying to indicate that there are more of us than just the party. Through gesture, sound effects and Prestidigitation Malgrim tells the tale.
The Leshys seem awed by Malgrim's performance, and they applaud when its concluded. They quickly confer to each other in a strange series of gestures and sounds like the wind flowing through plants
Byddwn yn gwylio am yr Hobgoblins hyn yn y Fangwood. Mae yna lawer o greaduriaid peryglus yma, ond mae'r rhai newydd hyn yn swnio fel bygythiad i ni i gyd. Gwyliwch rhag y Fey hefyd, maen nhw'n gapricious ac yn gallu golygu llawer o niwed - dywedir eu bod nhw'n ymgynnull yn rhywle ymhellach i'r gogledd o'r fan hon. Byddai'n llawer o heulwen cyrraedd yno, ond mae rhywbeth yn mynd i'r cyfeiriad hwnnw.
Sighere bows to them again A Fey gathering to the north, that is disconcerting. And this Bramblelash they spoke of?
While I recognize the leshy and Ettercap, this Babmblelash is a new one on me. But those berries could be a boor for us, a nice treat for folks at the camp who are struggling right now. the children will certainly love them. I should be able to find or at least detect it a head of time so we can avoid an ambush. Worth the risk?
It sure is! Let's go find some berries!
Malgrim casts Deathwatch to help Detect Bramblelash before it gets the jump on them.
Do we want to check this? We've been doing pretty well foraging, but might be a good idea to clear out a sneaky plant monster. It's very good at hiding, but we know to look for it. Um... don't try to set it on fire, doesn't work great.
Ryll nods in agreement. It'll bring a little variety to mealtimes, and it's good to know what resources are out here.
You wave farewell to the Leshys, and following their instructions head north for a few miles. The trees here are somewhat thinner, allowing light to penetrate all the way to the forest floor. A patch of brambles, heavy with large, ripe berries grow in a sunny glade - offering a potential harvest.
Approaching cautiously you look for the bramblelash, based on what Zdena knows of the creatures. Premek, Sighere, and Malgrim all spot the creature at the same time, lurking in the brambles.
The creature is about fifty paces from Zdena, and the massive brambles look impenetrable from where you are standing. It is barely visible through the undergrowth, yet you can pick it out.
The bramblelash seems to shift slightly, as if your presence woke it from a plant-like slumber....
Premek moves up to the edge of the brambles and disappears into the brush.
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Zdena peers through the brambles to study the monster, nods slightly, and takes aim with her bow.
Malgrim moves up to the edge of the Brambles and nocks an arrow. It's been a while since they were trained to use a bow. With exaggerated care they draw back, sight, and release.
Sighere raises his hand and starts casting. The spirit energy radiates out infusing the nearby party. Caleb, back! he shouts once the spell is complete.
Ryll steps forward and shoots at the Bramblelash.
Ryll and Zdena's arrows strike true, while Malgrim's flies askew in the brambles. The creature raises its arms, but is seemingly rooted to the area, and slowly makes its way through the brambles to Malgrim, showing no slowing from the snaring vines...
The bramblelash has moved into Premek's range, so he coughs a splash of acid at it.
Then he tries to hide again.
Malgrim draws a second arrow and sets of on the bowstring. Old lessons start to come back, as well as hurtful memories from that time.
Ryll raises her crossbow for another shot at the bramblelash.