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While outside, Selfi checks the ground for tracks that don't seem to belong to the two deceased residents.
Then she hops in through the window as the others put out the fire.
He turns to Selfi, "Perhaps your elven heritage will give you an in with Gire. I would ask her for her help, but humans and fey have a history of mistrust. Plus I am not blessed with a silver tongue."
Selfi smooshes her tongue around her mouth and then sticks it out looking at it for any silvering of its surface.
"Ut aye unge eh not illva." she says with it still out.
"It would be faster to have her guide us but is not a necessity." "We can hopefully follow the fey trail without her help."
Farlen lines up to move out with the group when they are ready.
Satisfied her tongue is still pink and putting it away she notes the dying man on the floor. "What of him?"
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Corgrim can make out the last bit of the manuscript and realizes that the sun’s rays striking the lorestone inside of a druidic circle disintegrates it.
Almost as if on cue, a group of gnomes rush up to the hit as Solomon attempts to talk to Gire.
"Hemzel! What have these ruffians done to you?! Why is his hut on fire!" the leader calls out, flanked by three other gnomes. They have weapons in hand and the tension in the air is palpable.
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"Let's take him with us.."
"Let us not carry him." She moves to check his condition.
Almost as if on cue, a group of gnomes rush up to the hit as Solomon attempts to talk to Gire.
"Hemzel! What have these ruffians done to you?! Why is his hut on fire!" the leader calls out, flanked by three other gnomes. They have weapons in hand and the tension in the air is palpable.
"Because of this one." Selfi says pointing to her patient.
She tests the dying green man's reflexes by lifting hie leg at full extension by the ankle and letting it drop. **THUD**
She nods, takes a deep, deep breath, and then blows like a bellows into his ear.
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"You fellows have come in the nick of time. Someone attacked Hemzel and has stolen the Lorestone. We found this green fellow in the hut with fire everywhere. We subdued him and have put out the fire. We are now trying to talk with this Atomie to find out if she can tell us what happened."
Farlen explains in as concise a way as he can. He continues, "I an Farlen Mizzul and these are ny companions. You must be Hemzel's friends, Well met."
Farlen speaks loudly so his voice will carry to the approaching gnomes but with as friendly a voice as he can muster.
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With no one paying attention to dying possibly dead man on the floor who might have all the answers to questions of the three pointy red hats that Selfi can see near the doorway Selfi produces her magic stick a twig with runes carved into it and bits of dead squirrel bound to it with leather. She holds it meaningfully above the green man and says in a loud clear voice "CLEAR!" before jabbing the body in the chest with it.
She lifts the man's leg and watches it fall again to test whether he is alive yet.
Then because in 'civilization' women seem curse to have to do everything she says to the red pointy hats through a forest of her companions legs "If you want answers this is the one you should ask." indicating the dead or dying man.
"Do you know this one?"
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The Unseelie warrior begins to breathe easy then opens his eyes as the group parlays with the gnomes.
Even as the group makes their case, they are skeptical but they seem convinced as Selfi, Farlen, and Solomon make mention of the aggressive fey-man.
"He is the murderer? And the arsonist?" they ask wearily, approaching.
"Aye...one of them." the voice of Gire says a bit further away now, trailing away.
The newly awakened man just laughs maniacally, "It is what it is. Cyflymder made me like this and he is long gone.". With that he maintains his silence.
The gnomes have begun to soften but are still weary of the Pathfinders.
"The Lorestone is gone? Do you know where?" the leader Boomroppel says as the other gnomes move to takes Hemzels body.
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The Unseelie just laughs, not being cooperative but the gnomes nod their head as Farlen mentions the nearby druidic circle.
"Aye, there is one a short ways away. We can send a guide to ensure you get there while the rest of deal with this ugly thing. I am not sure who to trust but if this one killed Hemzel and is one of this Cyflymnder's then we will guide you there."
The gnomes willfully lead the group to the area near the druidic circle before departing, staying away from the shore of the circle. The journey was brisk but time is made quickly between their guide and information from the journal.
---
The thick trees, brush, and brambles of the Verduran Forest finally give way to a glassy lake with a small tree-studded island just thirty feet offshore. An improvised bridge of mossy logs stretches toward the island from the near shore, though some of the trunks have tipped nearly vertical into the water, leaving gaps along the makeshift bridge.
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Nevertheless, he comes back to help whoever needs an hand (or two)
Vulf reaches out to grab it as he tries to move across the bridge. "Torag grant me the power to move earth, so I need not embarrass myself with a soggy tunic nor endure dampened boots," he mutters.
His prayer is answered in a most unsatisfying manner as the cleric ends up in the water.
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"This is getting us nowhere. Here, Corgrim, take this rope across, ty it off inline with the bridge. I will secure this end to a tree on this side. The idea is to make a rail to assist those crossing. Got it?" Farlen hands him one end of his 50 foot rope. "Now, you others climb up and grab the rope once we have it in place."
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The group begins to cross the bridge with Selfi leading the way, with her focus on the task at hand she overlooks a rope trap that quickly attempts to pull her up.
As the group follows a few fall into the murky waters below but Corgrim easily follows with the rope from Farlen, he spots another rope trap near the shore.
Two vipers hiss in the branches above as the first trip is triggered, one quickly moves down the rope to attack Selfi.
---
Green Viper
Dwalin
Selfi (Reflex Save or be Ensnared above bridge)
Corgrim
Vulf
Red Viper
Farlen
Solomon
Selfi: Reflex DC 20, if failed Full-Round action to cut self free with slashing weapon or DC 20 Escape Artist.
Bridge: DC 10 Balance to cross at half speed.
Water: 10 feet deep, requiring swim checks.
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Solomon makes getting out of the water look simple as Farlen lines up a shot.
The snake continues to try and inject its venom into Selfi but can't get ahold of her.
---
Green Viper
Dwalin
Selfi
Corgrim
Vulf
Red Viper
Farlen
Solomon
Bridge: DC 10 Balance to cross at half speed. If grasping the rope DC reduced to 5.
Water: 10 feet deep, requiring swim checks.
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Farlen with help from Selfi and Corgrim will rig a rope as a railing, tying the rope between trees generally in line with the plank bridge. He will then cross and help Vulf across with suggests on how to best use the rope.
Once everyone is across, "I think we can leave that up for the time being. Remind me to get my rope as we leave. I loose more rope that way."
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The group finally crosses the swampy waters and on the other shore, the stones of the druidic circle stand begore them. It seems as if all the light of dawn is being dampened and pulled into the stones.
Suddenly, a high staccato voice cackles maniacally and calls
out from the island.
“Too too late, filthy intruders! All your prancing through my beautiful forest, and nothing for you remains! The beautiful, beautiful sun will do my job for me, destroy your precious lorestone as soon as it rises, and you are failures, humans are always failures, always always.” a figure, most likely calls out from atop the middle stone but is not visible.
---
Cyflymder (Not visible)
Dwalin
Farlen
Corgrim
Solomon
Selfi
Vulf
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The group finally crosses the swampy waters and on the other shore, the stones of the druidic circle stand begore them. It seems as if all the light of dawn is being dampened and pulled into the stones.
Suddenly, a high staccato voice cackles maniacally and calls
out from the island.“Too too late, filthy intruders! All your prancing through my beautiful forest, and nothing for you remains! The beautiful, beautiful sun will do my job for me, destroy your precious lorestone as soon as it rises, and you are failures, humans are always failures, always always.”
"But Selfi is not human." says Selfi puzzled.
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The magical darkness emanating from the stones is not from a spell and judging by the progress thus far, they should have only roughly a minute to find the stone and hide it from the sky.
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"RAAAAGH" Cyflymder yells as he is covered in the glittering dust.
Not being able to avoid it getting into his own eyes, he thrashes about.
With eyes covered he flees away from the Pathfinders till he comes into contact with one of the stones.
---
Another atomie comes into view as roots burst forth below the circle threatening to wrap around the legs of Pathfinders.
[ooc]This spell causes tall grass, weeds, and other plants to wrap around creatures in the area of effect or those that enter the area. Creatures that fail their save gain the entangled condition. Creatures that make their save can move as normal, but those that remain in the area must save again at the end of your turn. Creatures that move into the area must save immediately. Those that fail must end their movement and gain the entangled condition. Entangled creatures can attempt to break free as a move action, making a Strength or Escape Artist check. The DC for this check 13. The entire area of effect is considered difficult terrain while the effect lasts.
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Cyflymder
Atomie
Dwalin
Farlen (Reflex DC 13 or Entangled.)
Corgrim
Solomon (Reflex DC 13 or Entangled.)
Selfi (Reflex DC 13 or Entangled.)
Vulf
Active Effects:
Green-Entangle
Red-Glitter