|
Russ laughs at the little joke about the other members of the group. "It's a bit odd considering these lesser wyrms attempted to eat me and have become a meal for us instead. What dramatic irony."
He gives the cold iron sword a few test swings, "Quite the blade to fetch as well I wonder what it's made of. I'm no smith myself, but this is not standard iron for certain, a starmetal perhaps?" If possible he would look to be almost salivating at the idea of a starmetal weapon in his tiny hands.
"It is cold iron," Amiri says, examining the sword. "Good for fighting fey. Given some of the creatures we have already gone up against, I think it will be wise to keep it by your side." She gives Russ'ruk a grin and hands the blade back to him.
***
Over the next few days, you continue to the east. The first region of the forest contains little of interest. The woods open up to the hills further east. In a valley between two low hills grows a patch of raspberry-like fruits known as fangberries. You carefully gather several of the berries while avoiding the plants' sharp thorns.
East of here, the Thorn River grows unusually shallow. The resulting ford is never deeper than 3 feet, providing an easy place to cross. You are close to the Sootscale caves now.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Over the next several days, you make your way across the hills of the eastern Greenbelt on your way back to Oleg’s Trading Post. Soon enough, you make it back to Oleg’s. The small trading post is quite busy now with all of your companions here, and the Levetons scramble to find enough space to house everybody!
You show Oleg the tatzlwyrm head, and he is ecstatic as he prepares to mount it over the mantle of the trading post's fireplace. He happily gives you the reward for bringing him such a trophy.
The hunter Vekkel arrives later that evening when he receives word you have slain Tuskgutter. He spits in the dead boar’s eye, happy that you have enacted vengeance for the leg the beast took from him. He gives you the promised reward.
Jhod is relieved to hear that you found the temple to Erastil and put its cursed guardian to rest. He will have to arrange his own pilgrimage to the site soon to reconsecrate it to Old Deadeye, but he offers you his spellcasting services for free in the meantime.
That night, over a hearty meal, you plan your next moves...
|
|
Russ studies their paths so far and determines that sonce they haven't seen the Stag lord or his camp yet then it must be in the on location they haven't searched in the region yet.
"I propose, that we head to deliver these fangberries in the morning. Then make our way to this area here."
He circles an area on the map with a clawed fonger, "My guess is we'll find the stag lord's fort there. Do we want to prepare for an assault now or wait until we can see the place properly. It would do well to have more information, but we also do not qant to wait overlong so that the swordlords lose confidence in our ability to produce results and mistakenly send another band."
He looks with some concern to Vesi, "I also don't know if we'll be able to simply talk him doen. Based on what we've found so far I doubt he'll give us an audience let alone actually listen to reason."
On the way back, Vesi spends some time each evening with their companions, trying to draw out the more taciturn ones.
Vesi nods with sadness. "I was afraid of that. Can we at least try to take him alive and turn him over to Lady Jamandi for justice? I don't feel that we should start our governance of these lands with summary executions, but we do not have yet the means to imprison and judge people."
The druid leans over the map. "Pass by Bokken's, perhaps resupply there, then follow the left bank of this river down to the lake?"
"I propose we scout it and then decide if we have enough power for an assault." he says with his usual laconic drawl. "if they have three dragons on the parapets, then it's probably not worth it."
"As for talking, it lets him know we're there. It's a big risk if we can't pull it off. Of course," he mimics shooting, "if his head explodes in front of his men, they might reconsider banditry."
"Besides, aren't we literally what Jamandi sent for justice? Like, slurrrrpp explicitly to take out this jamoke? Guy's doing his job with a lot of unnecessary brutality; I don't see any reason to bring him back and waste all of- Ohhhhhhh. Do you want a parade, Blue?" Blaze smiles sincerely, certain that she's cracked it. "Don't worry, when we run this joint we can throw our own parades whenever we want!"
After resting up, you venture east from Oleg's until you reach Bokken's hut. The alchemist is grateful for the delivery of fangberries and offers you either a 25 percent discount on his potions for 1 month, or any three potions he currently has in stock for free.
From Bokken's, you head southeast, where you come across the what is left of Fort Serenko. This wooden fortification has stood for years on the southern border of Brevoy, but with the growing tensions between Rostland and Issia, the soldiers and scouts stationed here have been recalled to Restov. The fort itself is empty, with any examination revealing evidence that it was abandoned in a swift but orderly manner.
Southwest of the fort is the Shrike Cascade, a single waterfall that plummets 50 feet over a cliff. The cascade makes the river here impossible to travel by boat, although the vista of the waterfall itself is quite breathtaking.
You travel southwest for several days, not coming across very much of interest in the hills here. As you explore the region southeast of the Sootscale Caverns, however, you come upon an opening in the side of a barrow. The fissure leads into a dark chamber with a high ceiling. The walls of this octagonal chamber are caked with dust. Here and there, faint glimpses of a detailed mosaic can be seen under the grime. A thick carpet of guano covers the floor; it’s crawling with insects, and the sharp tang of ammonia hangs in the air.
Your presence disturbs a swarm of hundreds of bats roosting on the ceiling! They squeak as they swoop down and fly past you, scattering out into the chilly evening air. A cobweb-filled tunnel to the east leads deeper underground...
|
|
"That looked like a good and usable fort, if we were to clear it out of anything rotted. Could build an outpost there if we don't find a more suitable location I think." Russ says pointing to the spot on the map they'd marked with the abandoned fort.
He takes a bit to admire the shrike cascade when they pass by it and if only briefly wonders about the safety of diving from it.
Squinting into the darkness for a bit as his eyes have become largely accustomed to living on the surface, Russ hums with an uneasy energy.
"I don't like the look of this. High ceilings usually mean large inhabitants. Though... I don't know what so many bats says about the place?" He looks to Vesi for her druidic insight on the matter.
"Yeah, making sure you can chase off whoever tries to chase you off your land is a pretty important part of keeping it. Fort sounds good to me."
***
"Hey, what's this bit under here?" Blaze conjures a gentle scouring flame to eat away at the mosaic's coverings.
After each day of travel, Vesi cooks a meal for everyone, using the ritual of sharing food as an opportunity to invite conversation.
"Ekundayo, you seem a skilled hunter. Do you have any tales, of clever beasts you outwitted, or formidable creatures you bested?"
"Harrim, forgive me if I'm prying, but I was curious about your faith. All the dwarves I've met seemed to worship different deities, and I'm curious what drew you towards Groetus."
Speaking to Jaethal takes a great deal of courage, as Vesi finds the pale elf very intimidating, but the undine makes an attempt on the third night. "You must have traveled far. Is there any place that you enjoyed above others?"
And finally, their goblin companion. "Nok-Nok, you want to be a hero, yes? How do you imagine that? Are there goblin heroes you look up to? Or heroes from other ancestries?"
Vesi carefully disentangles a stray bat from their long hair. "Well, I think this place makes an ideal habitat for bats - narrow entrance, large space for flying, it's like a cave. And look at all the bugs on the floor, that's plenty of food for the bats and they hardly have to leave. Unless they get disturbed, that is." The druid turns towards the exit, calling out "Sorry!"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Ekundayo speaks to Vesi about his young adulthood spent in the wilds of the River Kingdoms, where he learned how to hunt and track his prey. After sharing a few stories about the game he was able to take down, he opens up a bit more, mentioning a woman named Ntavi.
"My parents had died from illness. Her family had been slain by giants. She was supportive, if rather rash," the ranger said. "Either way, we got along like siblings. We traveled together for a year, making a living as bounty hunters. But then I came to Bristlehill, where I met..."
He trails off, shaking his head and frowning. "I am not ready to speak of that time yet. Suffice to say that Ntavi did not approve of me wanting to settle down and she left my side. I have not seen her since."
***
"What lead me to Groetus? Just the overwhelming ennui of knowing that everything in existence will come to an inevitable and inexorable end. And sooner than you may think. Doom is nigh!" Harrim declares, before devolving into a long-winded rant about the end of days.
***
"No," Jaethal replies curtly to Vesi, obviously not in a mood for conversation tonight.
***
"Yes! I will tell you the tale of the original four goblin hero gods! " Nok-nok cries, proceeding to elucidate Vesi:
Supreme Chieftain Hadregash is the strongest of the four goblin hero-gods. He taught the goblins tribal loyalty, strategic thinking, and deference to authority. He also spread to them the belief that they should rule Golarion.
Most Glorious Venkelvore the Neverfull is Hadregash's consort. Despite her obsessive desire for feeding which contributes to her morbid obesity, she is considered the most attractive demigod among the goblinoids.
Zarongel the Bark Breaker appears to be the most wolf-like of the four barghests, and has hair composed of magical fire. He espouses fire, dog killing, and most holy mounted combat.
Finally there is Zogmugot, also known as Lady Lastbreath. It is said that Zogmugot looks out of every piece of beach glass with her baleful, colorful eyes, and can see what those who come down to the beach are up to and if she is not happy, she'll trick them out into the riptide by having a nice bit of something shiny floating on the waves to lure them out. She is the one who chooses if a goblin who falls into the sea drowns or washes back up on shore. It is also believed that worshipers are rewarded for their piety with prime pieces of trash, which wash up on their beach.
***
Clearing away some of the grime covering the mosaics, Blaze sees that they depict simple village life: hunting, fishing, and farming. Perhaps they might be of interest to some historian...
"Sooo Vesi. You did schooling and all, right? Know any other booky types who might want to learn more about... farming? But not without the danger of talking to a farmer? And would pay us for the privilege?"
"The scholars in New Stetven study all kind of things, I think some of them will be interested in this," responds Vesi, looking at the mosaics over Blaze's shoulder.
"But first we would need to make sure this place holds no dangers for them."
|
|
"Rid a cave of danger for the future scholars of our lands to study? Hah! I thought you'd never ask."
Russ calls forth the group of companions. "Might have lived outside of the caves for a few years now, but a kobold finds their home in these sorts of places so I can lead from the front. Most certain is that it's hard to tell how stable this all is without having had a proper amount of time to examine it." He looks to Harrum knowing that dwarves also typically know their way around stonework, though it's much less a natural instinct than a heavily trained art for them.
"It would do well to avoid making any sudden and loud sounds or brushing up against any supports at the very least."
You carefully continue into the cairn. Four tunnels exit the next circular chamber in the cardinal directions. Between these entrances, each wall section is decorated with a different large, monstrous stone face, leering or grimacing into the room. A skeleton sprawls facedown in the middle of the room.
You notice several sensors set in the floor near the skeleton. It appears there is a magical trap ahead!
Blaze cracks her knuckles and bathes the faces in arcane fire for a slow count of 10. "Phew! Okay, job's done!"
Blaze is able to dispel the enchantment on the magical trap, rendering it inoperable. You are able to search the skeleton. While most of the skeleton’s equipment has rotted away, a tarnished copper ventriloquist’s ring still encircles one bony finger.
Passages lead away to the left, right, and straight ahead.
"I read somewhere that if you're in a maze you should pick a direction and keep a hand on the wall at all times." Vesi swipes the tip of a finger daintily against the stonework, then wipes it on their breeches.
"So, what are we thinking? Left?"
"Fine by me Blue. Left is always right!"
The walls of this dusty chamber are encrusted with grime, but here and there, hints of mosaic scenes can be glimpsed beneath the filth. Four biers line the walls, the resting places of respected warriors.
A pair of skeletons in chainmail stand vigil here! They raise their swords and shields as they prepare to attack!
As the bones move, his gun snaps up into firing position. He snaps off a shot at the one on the left.
Cursing, he reloads and shoots again.
|
|
Russ pulled his sword and quickly moved to strike the nearest skeleton making sure to duck out of Knaxshi's line of fire.
But in dodging out of the gunfire his attempted strike goes very wide, but he makes an attempt to reel back around for a return swing.
"The angry dead filling an abandoned barrow, why am I not surprised."
The skeleton's armor deflects your attacks. They spend a few moments clattering their swords against their shields, the loud noise echoing through the barrow. They then raise their shields and slice at Russ'ruk!
"Please do not be angry, we apologize for trespassing." Vesi looks at the others. "Perhaps we should leave? If they don't want us here?"
But protecting her friends trumps that suggestions, especially as Russ'Ruk gets hurt again. And while Vesi is the kind of person who would never say 'time to spread some positivity!', that is exactly what they attempt to do.
Some of the terrible gashes on the kobold begin to close, but the skeletons seem unaffected. "Oh. That... didn't work like I was hoping."
Seeing Russ get hurt steels Knaxshi. "They aren't people, they are undead . Their spirits need to be set free."
Blaze twists her mouth in annoyance as her desultory bolt of fire fails to catch. "Not much to burn on old bones..." She sizzles a bolt of lightning between the two armored figures with a sigh. "It's just not the same."
|
|
Russ'Ruk bobs slightly to twist with the hits, not sure which of the fairly in sync skeletons to block. This doesn't help him much and only slightly turns away the pain of the blow, only for instant relief to be felt from Vesi's magic.
So he presses the attack again, but this time shuffles to the side and makes sure to catch both of the undead in his chilling cone.
To their surprise, Vesi's healing spell does end up damaging the skeletons! One of the skeletons is too slow to avoid Blaze's lightning and Russ's cold breath, but neither energy attack seems to hurt the undead very much. The second skeleton emerges unscathed!
The skeleton Knaxshi shoots blocks the first bullet with its shield, but the gunslinger's second shot blows it skull to smithereens! It collapses in a pile of bones and armor.
The other skeleton keeps its shield up as it attacks Russ'ruk.
The clattering of armor announces the arrival of two more armored skeletons approaching from behind! They move in and attack Knaxshi, shields up.
"Oh no, there's more of them! Help!"
As if in answer to the undine's plea, a multitude of tiny creatures squeeze out of the cracks in the masonry, swarming the two skeletons that have just arrived - mice, voles, moles, all gnawing at the old bones with their rodent teeth.
"Do that again, Knaxshi! It's working!"
Knaxshi staggers back in pain. He quickly reloads and shoots. The supernatural aid shows him where you shoot, but the pain of his wounds keeps him from being able to do this.
"Blue?! Why are you switching away from what hurt them?! Pour it on!" Blaze shouts, channeling vital heat out from herself in wave after wave.
|
|
Russ shuts his trap only to see the skeletons shake off the cold, "Aw nuts..." Then the one across from him exploded from Knaxshi's shot.
"Good shot, now let's see about the friend and the other dancers who've come to crash the delve."
One swing towards the less protected legs of the skeleton and a less aimed cut to the side, was all he paid his mind too as he took a few sliding shuffles back towards the rest of the group.
The skeletons seem unfazed by the bites of the little animals Vesi summons. Blaze's healing spell has mixed results, damaging some more than others. Unfortunately, neither Knaxshi nor Russ are able to land a hit!
The skeletons keep their shields up as they step forward and attack.
"I... can't do that anymore!" There is rising concern in Vesi's voice as the skeletons shrug off most of what was being thrown at them. In a fit of desperation, the druid takes out their sling, scooping up a handful of loose pebbles to throw at the undead.
|
|
With a flush of desperation as the skeleton knight continues to bare down on him Russ lashes out with a reptilian hiss and three consecutive strikes. Swinging in downward slam, a whirling wide cut and following through with throwing the hefty weapon over his shoulder from completely behind him into the skeleton once more.
"Cover the rear Vesi I will stand strong."
Blaze flings her head back in exasperation. [b]"But you're always healing stuff! Whatever, I'll just do it. Keep 'em off me til one of them falls down.
Knaxshi pulls back again, reloading and shooting
Blaze's heal spell proves more effective this time, the skeletons' bones crumbling as the positive energy sufffuses them. Russ strikes three times, the final blow a critical hit that destroys his opponent! Neither Vesi nor Knaxshi are able to land a good hit, however.
As Knaxshi continues to fall back, the two remaining skeletons move in to attack Blaze. Fortunately, neither one hits!
"Yes! Like that!" Vesi shouts encouragement at Russ'Ruk, continuing to throw rocks at the animated bones.
Just Breathe he thinks to himself to clear his head. Focus on the process. He reloads, shoots, and releads again as if this were merely shooting targets.
"SO BORED OF HEALING PEOPLE!" Blaze fires off a flaming bolt into the ceiling above the skeletons, raining rubble on them both. [b]"Gods that's so much better."
The skeletons prove spry, mostly avoiding Blaze's scree. Vesi lands a hit, then Russ is able to finish that skeleton off. Knaxshi takes careful aim and fires, scoring a critical hit that destroys the final foe!
Vesi spends a few moments enchanting some blackberries, then passes them out to everyone needing the extra healing.
"Phew, that was scary! Those skeletons were intense. Great job everyone!"
"So... I know a lot of people have things about 'grave robbing' and 'violating the dead,' but does that still count for you after they tried to kill us? Like I know you haven't all done alleged banditry, but if someone tried to mug you and you killed him, you'd go through his pockets and take his stuff, right? And he's just as dead."
Each of the skeletons wears chainmail and carries a longsword and steel shield. There don't seem to be any other valuables in these chambers, but another chamber lies down the hallway to the east...
"Eh, seems more heavy than valuable. Unless you want a backup shield, Russ."
Blaze sends a quick flicker of light racing down the hallway.
"Lets keep going!"