"The unicorn is likely in its Grove. It is horrible to think someone took its horn, we must do our best to apprehend such a being!" She says with strong resolve. "Come we will go North West into Black Wolf Territory."
Zaidel sighs to himself. "He's our best scout. But I get worried when he goes off like that."
Zaidel looks to the northwestern horizon. "Black Wolf Clan? Wasn't there a quest having to do with the Black Wolf Clan?"
At that instance, a blue screen pops up in front of Zaidel.
Quest
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Kill the black wolf clan
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Reward: Weapon worth 20 gp or less
2nd Reward: whet stone
Time limit: 12 weeks
"Yep. Kill The Black Wolf Clan. Not sure if we can do so while on this other quest, but..", Zaidel speaks firmly, "ACCEPT QUEST!"
The cleric washes out the alcohol from his morning prayers, fills it with water, and attempts to enhance the water into hot coffee.
The satyr hands it to Niversal and asks, "What do you think?"
Zaidel looks up expectantly at the mech pilot.
Zaidel takes the returned tankard pleased. "Excellent. When you get your own tankard or mug, I can make hot coffee for you every morning.
No need for caffeine withdraw!"
Zaidel lets out as small laugh. "Wonderful! That offer goes for every member of ..we really need a name, guys! Anyway, once everyone gets own waterskins or tankards, every morning I'll fill it up with a beverage of your choice. Alcoholic or non-alcoholic. Free of charge. Just give Cayden a little praise once and a while!"
"Until that time, I shall ask Mia to continue to act as our team's waterbearer." Zaidel bows deep before the red-dressed damsel.
She smiles at the statement and raises the waterskin. She does a curtsie in response to Zaidel's bow.
The group heads out after breakfast. Mr. Delathor prepared eggs and bread, with water or goat milk. You might wonder where it came from as you haven't seen any animals.
Heading North West with Angelica in the lead it takes you a few hours before getting to the grove. After leaving the forest proper you see grass covered hills and the breeze picks up. Another half hour to the grove. Entering the grove you feel dread. Another 10 minutes and you finally find the body of the unicorn. The whole area 30 feet around the body has no vegetation, the trees and shrubs are merely twisted twigs of their previous forms. The unicorn's body looks pristine except it is not moving and the eyes are white.
Zaidel rushes to the unicorn's side, speaking in Sylvan.
Zaidel does not hear any words or noises coming from the corpse. You know it is dead but there is no obvious signs of why it is dead. It's horn is mostly missing, just a nub is left and a clean cut on top.
The dread that Zaidel felt was immediately replaced by sadness at the confirmed death of the unicorn.
"It's dead. We were too late. The unicorn is dead", the satyr said with a heavy heart. "This is a crime against nature itself."
"It's so hard to tell how long ago it died. But the horn was taken by some type of blade."
Turning to the group's newest member, Zaidel asks, "Angelica, do you see any footprints leading away from the grove?"
She looks around and sees some large foot prints that came from the East and leave the glade to the South. "Shall we follow these?!"
She looks around and sees some large foot prints that came from the East and leave the glade to the South. "Shall we follow these?!"
Jean lands and looks around. "Are there any magical auras around it?"
"Yes we will! Good eyes, Angelica." Zaidel smiled while he casts detect magic on the immediate vicinity.
"I also have detect evil memorized in case the track gets cold", the caydenite mentioned to the others.
Using detect magic you see that there is a dim aura still upon it.
"There's a dim aura of magic still on the corpse, but I can't place it."
"Perhaps its not really dead yet. Maybe the magic means if we can reattach the horn it will survive." Jean says as he looks at the beautiful and seemingly dead unicorn.
"I sure hope you're right, Jean". The satyr gave the bronze dragon a small grin. "I mean. It worked in Legend. So.."
Jonathan made a face as his Detect Magic registered the magic, and he felt the cold, vile wave and misery and suffering. "Necromancy," the giant spat. He could think of few things as evil as desecrating the dead.
"Necromancy? Sh|t!" The satyr spits. "How about this? If we can't find the monster and get back the horn to try to revive the unicorn, I'll channel some positive energy and try to rid this place of the taint, in case Jean's right about the residual aura?"
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Jean pops open his blue screen and checks to make sure he has all the quests checked and then looks at the Unicorn quest. "It looks like if we succeed we get some tears and not a horn. So maybe it can survive. It also looks like a ward for the send reward. I wonder if I can get a pseudodragon sidekick." Jean closes it and says, "We have a trail, lets get going!"
"Necromancy? Sh|t!" The satyr spits. "How about this? If we can't find the monster and get back the horn to try to revive the unicorn, I'll channel some positive energy and try to rid this place of the taint, in case Jean's right about the residual aura?"
He offers as he looks over the unicorn as well, "Channeling positive or negative energy typically affects only creatures, living or undead. I mean you can try. It is strange. Jean do you want to see if you can catch its scent or shall I?"
---
He stands among the group, barely recognizing there is a clearing but stopping with the group. His composite bow is in one hand and arrow in the other. The glowing greatsword is strapped to his back with a scabbard of sorts.
Angelica follows the prints going South. Out of the grove and back to the hills of grass the trail gets harder to follow.
Though she is still able to follow the large prints.
After an hour the trail gets hard again before it enters the woods. She is still able to see them. Another half hour heading South East, she stops at a clearing.
Davin, possessing blood deeply connected to nature, is visibly ill upon entering the dead area of vegetation. He starts to heave and wretch, and quickly falls to his knees, as he empties his stomach.
There are powers in the most primal corners of nature. The power’s provenance is unknown but it can express itself as overly large or powerful animals and plants, lycanthropy, and bestial creatures reaching an abnormal
sentience. To some it may seem chaotic and animalistic but there may be a greater sentience to it. Those that have this primal power in their blood
are uncommon, especially in more civilized areas. As a primal sorcerer, there is an ancient power within you. Animals seem to look to you as kin and plants seem more vibrant in your presence, while the built-up nature of civilization grates on your being.
Looking from the trees you can see rock piles all over the clearing. At the far side of the clearing 60 feet away you see large rocks. Also there is a campsite, fire, bedroll, backpack.
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Jean stays just behind Angelica as she tracks, ready to jump in front of her if danger shows. As he watches around her he sees something terrible takes to the air to put himself between here and the clearing as he says, "Angelica, stop what you are doing and get behind us! There are bones in those rocks...and the rocks are moving."
Surprise Round
At Jean's announcement the large rocks across the clearing begin to move and turn to face the group a large humanoid that looks like the boulders make its body with a mouth full of bloody sharp teeth. Another large form that appears humanoid just its skin matches the rocks around, holds a great axe in her hands. The more human like one yells with a hearty feminine voice, "Despoilers of nature's bounty, you shall perish this day! For Zarathrel!"
Round 1
She quickly moves back behind the group.
Round 1
As Angelica passes her she moves to the back of the group with her and plugs her ears, motioning for her to do the same.
Round 1
He drops his bow and arrow, then as he moves out to meet these threats drawing his greatsword. Though he doesn't strike, readying an action to swing at the big one should he get hit. As he moves he shouts out, "We are not despoilers of nature, we tracked you from the unicorn's corpse!"
After throwing up his breakfast, Davin takes several moments to shakily rise to his feet. He stumbles after the group, clearly still unwell. Thus, he is caught completely unaware by the rock creatures.
Davin, possessing blood deeply connected to nature, is visibly ill upon entering the dead area of vegetation. He starts to heave and wretch, and quickly falls to his knees, as he empties his stomach.
Zaidel looks concerned over Davin's sudden illness. While the cleric's detet magic spell was still running, Zaidel saw the intricate arcane energies running through Davin become disjoined. Looking around the immediate area, the satyr puts two-and-two together.
Zaidel stands next to the hunched sorcerer and help him up.
Looking from the trees you can see rock piles all over the clearing. At the far side of the clearing 60 feet away you see large rocks. Also there is a campsite, fire, bedroll, backpack.
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Surprise Round
Jean takes to the air and rises about 20 feet up as he swoops over the clearing to see what is there.
Round 1
Jean continues to circle the clearing and seeing that some of the party wishes to try talking he readies to breath his lightning breath of the creatures attack.
Caught off guard, Jon moved into a defensive stance. "We're not here to fight, but by any God you care to name I will make you taste dirt if you test me! "
The last words came out with the same tone he used on naughty kids and drunken hotel guests, and typically worked well regardless, only now from a chest the size of a travel trunk. It was impressively deep, baritone and loud.
At Jon's loud and Intimidating demeanor if not his words as well, they don't swing but are ready to if needed.
The female puts her axe blade first to the ground, now holding it with one hand. With her other hand she pats the large boulder looking creature saying something in Terran. Looking at your group she says, "Our quarry is the same then. I am Jade and this here is Gin. Though he only speaks giant and Terran."
The big creature steps back and sits down. Jade stands there with one hand holding the axe handle loosely. She was hit twice by Niversal but she is barely bleeding.
Davin flashes a smile at them both."Greetings Jade, Gin. I am Davin, and we are indeed on the trail of those who slew that poor unicorn. We intend to track them down, and slay them in turn. Perhaps you can accompany, and aid us in that task?" He says in still shaky voice, obviously not yet fully recovered from his being sick.
The satyr carefully walks forward to ward the giantess. "In the spirit of cooperation, Jade, I'd like to tend your wounds. My name is Zaidel and I'm a healer."
She chuckles at Davin's statement, "You are welcome to accompany us in this endeavor. I have what looks to be a cloak or clothing of the creature that slew the unicorn. Do any of you have spells that could be useful?"
Jade gives her permission with a grunt and a nod after Zaidel offered. She eyes the tin man. She replies with, "Gin is a stone giant and is from the North. I was summoned here to aid his clan but while I was being summoned his family were killed. We are not Chosen."
Jade gives her permission with a grunt and a nod after Zaidel offered. She eyes the tin man. She replies with, "I was summoned here to aid his clan but while I was being summoned his family were killed. We are not Chosen."
"Our deepest condolences, Jade. I'm sorry for your loss. But not as sorry as the stealer of the horn will be!"
She seems unfazed but nods her head in understanding. Hearing Zaidel's second sentence she loudly agrees, "Aye!"
Jon nodded wryly at his fellow giant. Sadly, the giant tongues had not been on his curriculum at school, so he couldn't speak them, but maybe the next time he had a chance he could learn them. "No idea how to use that to track them, I'm afraid, unless it has an aura of magic about it?" Jon checked to see if the thing was magical.
Zaidel waits until Jonathan checks out any magical properties on the cloak, to speak up.
"I think I might. Casting detect evil is something I must concentrate on, but only for 20 minutes. Knowing the being who took the horn IS evil, I should be able to track it. What if one of our larger companions carried me, and used me like an evil compass? That way I could concentrate fully on the spell."