Kressle scowls at Russ'ruk, but she gives him a curt nod. "Alright, fine. Better than the alternative, I suppose. As you already know, we work for the Stag Lord. He's a monster of a man. He’s a deadeye with the bow, and I saw him crush a prisoner’s hand to mush in one fist. Come to think of it, I’ve never seen him without his creepy stag helmet on—some say he ain’t got no face under it, but not me—I think that creepy helm is his face!
"He operates out of a fort on the northeast shore of the Tuskwater. It’s hard keeping track of who’s working for the boss, so we use a master phrase as a sort of password to get into the fort. Unless it’s been changed recently, the current phrase is, ‘By the bloody bones of Saint Gilmorg, who wants to know?’ And no, I have no idea who ‘Saint Gilmorg’ is."
Knaxshi nods at Russ'ruk. He would have put her down to protect the villagers, but he's relieved to have a reason to pass her along to Restov.
"I think I know about Saint Gilmorg..."
"Rivers make for fast easy travel. Hard to lose your way, and boats don't make your feet hurt..."
Blaze glances back over at Kressle. "How many people does he have under arms? Apparently a fort's worth."
Blaze has no idea who Saint Gilmorg is, either. It's possible they were completely fabricated.
"It's hard to say how many the Stag Lord commands. The number's constantly changing. Maybe a dozen at the fort itself?" Kressle shrugs. "Oh, and the Stag Lord keeps a strange old man locked up in the basement. I suspect the old guy might actually be running the show, using the Stag Lord as a puppet, you know. I got a look into the old guy’s eyes once, and it terrified me. He ain’t someone I’d want to cross."
"How fortified is the fort?" asks the rat. "what sort of defenses do they have?"
"The fort's pretty heavily defended," Kressle says. "It stands on the top of a hill, making it hard to sneak up on. There's a 15-foot-high palisade of sharpened logs with only one gate in or out. There's three watchtowers where guards can fire on approaching attackers with their bows."
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Russ doesn't know anything about a stag helmet wearing bowmen, nor the strange man mentioned. But if he's locked up how would he be running the show?
"Hmmm, that doesn't bode well. We're strong but to assault such a place with only seven."
He looks across the seven members of their band and feels the lacking numbers will not do them well. "I know it's a long shot but we should attempt to reconvene with the others in some form. Or bolstering our strength in some manner. Perhaps make friends with some of the other locals and rally them to our cause of ending banditry?"
He looks to Oleg, Svetlana, and even Kressle. "Are there any others who we might call to our aid in the coming battle?"
"You all fought very well so far, but I think Russ is right, that fort sounds a lot more dangerous than what we have encountered so far." The druid looks around, searching. "How about those mercenaries? Do you think they could help us? After all, it would be about protecting the trade post, since this Stag Lord is a constant menace in the area."
"I'd rather Garess and his men stay here to protect us, rather than go gallivanting off into the woods," Oleg says gruffly.
"We could look for signs of Tartuccio's group," Linzi nods. "They've got to be around here somewhere!"
"There's a potion-maker named Bokken who lives east of here," Svetlana suggests. "He's a bit of an eccentric, but you could probably buy some useful concoctions from him."
Oleg gestures to a wall with several parchments attached to it. One of them has a drawing depicting a grinning kobold. "There's a tribe of kobolds that live in a cave somewhere in the hills of the Greenbelt. They call themselves the Sootscales. The normally keep to themselves, but they’ve been riled up by something lately. I'm not sure if they're a threat, but if you can make peace with them, they may be willing to help you." He gives Russ'ruk a significant look.
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Russ nods not surprised that a group of Kobolds resides in the area, they were a resilient people after all... he would know.
"Well then, I think that about wraps up our need here. Aside from a rest perhaps. Could you mark where this Bokken lives on our maps we might pay him a visit even if we're a bit light on coin. Tartuccio's group will be difficult to find without clues of their whereabouts. But if the kobolds in the hills are anything like my clan, they've got scouts watching for any potential dangers. But I believe we could make good allies with them. If we aid them of course, as you all know well nothing good comes for free."
Vesi has no great desire to see Tartuccio again, after how rude the gnome had been. But this Bokken fellow sounded interesting, and perhaps he could teach them some useful recipes? And the kobolds lived close to the Greenbelt, where Vesi was itching to return.
The undine looks over Russ'Ruk's shoulder at the map. "Well, we know where Bokken lives, so that would be easy. And perhaps he knows more of the goblins, or other interesting things in the area."
"Sounds like a plan. Bokken and the kobolds after that." He slicks back his whiskers and puffs his pipe. "Find out what potential resources we can access."
The last part is muttered a bit under his breath, "If only we had a cannon."
The next morning, you head east along the road, turning south mid-afternoon and arriving at Bokken’s small hut. With a manner like a nervous bird or a jittery child, Bokken’s speech is swift and clipped, as if he’s eager to finish every conversation he starts.
”Visitors. Yes, yes, come in,” the middle-aged alchemist says to you, gesturing jerkily for you to enter. ”Oleg sent you? I usually sell my wares directly to him, but I’m no hater of gold. If you’ve got some, I’ll gladly sell to you!”
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Before the group heads to bed or rest for the night Russ glances at Kressle, "I only have one more question for now, but I think this has been good progress towards showing you're not just going to cause trouble. For that i thank you, do you happen to know anything about Svetlana's missing wedding band? Apparently one from your band of miscreants had something to do with it's loss."
Russ looked over the wares not really seeing anything of note that interested him personally. "Yes, Oleg sent us we came to see if there was anything we could help with. Or if your stocks of alchemical goods or knowledge could help us take down this Stag Lord we've been hearing about."
Vesi greets the herbalist cheerfully. " Hello, Mister Bokken. Do you live out here all by yourself? You must know so many interesting things about the area, innit. We've just arrived here."
The druid's leshy familiar pokes its head out of the satchel, rustling at the man in greeting.
”A couple of bags of loot were stolen a while back by a group of filthy gremlins—the annoying little pests live under the old sycamore tree to the east of our camp,” Kreisler says. ”We were lucky that what they snatched was mostly just copper and some cheap- looking trinkets, otherwise the Stag Lord would have our skins for sure! That ring we took from Svetlana was in there, though, I’m sure of it.”
***
”Well, if you want to help, there’s something you can get me,” Bokken says. ”Fangberry juice! The secret to why my potions taste so good! Ha! I’m running low, though. There’s a fangberry thicket about 55 miles southwest of Oleg’s Trading Post. I need someone canny and strong to fetch them for me. Bring me a basket, and I’ll give you either three of my potions for free, or a 25 percent discount off all purchases for a month!”
The alchemist turns to Vesi. ”Yes. Just me. I don’t get out much, but lots of travelers come by. So I hear rumors. Rumor has it there used to be a bridge crossing the Shrike River to the south, but bandits ruined it. They say the old bridge keeper Davik Nettles haunts the place now. Don’t know if it’s true or not, but could be worth checking out.”
Knaxshi will ask if her knows alchemy as well as potion-making. "I dabble a bit with alchemy, mostly things that go boom. But I'd be interested if you know any formulas."
"Canny and strong, eh? What exactly puts the fang in fangberry? I figure someone who lives out here all alone doesn't get all fearful for no reason?"
”I only specialize in potions. Never learned the boom parts, sorry,” Bokken says to Knaxshi.
”Fangberries get their name from the thousands of thorns that sprout from the vines they grow on,” he tells Blaze. ”I’m not afraid! I just don’t like getting poked! Plus, there are all sorts of bandits and beasties lurking about these days. I’d rather be safe than sorry.”
Knaxshi nods in understanding. Mastering one skill is hard enough. "Well, we're working on the bandit problem. The nobility of Restov has hired us and other adventurers to help keep people safe."
"Beasties? Any ones in particular?" Vesi's interest is piqued at the mention of the local fauna.
"I think moon radishes grow pretty close to Oleg's. Haven't seen 'em myself, though," Bokken tells Russ'Ruk. "I know there's kobolds in the hills. Gremlins, too. Mean little blue buggers. Not sure exactly where their lairs might be!"
He turns to Vesi. "There's one. Big ol' boar called Tuskgutter! Took a man's leg off, so I hear! Keep an eye out if you venture into the western woods!"
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Russ nods and pulls out their map, plotting out a route nearly directly southwest.
"I think it'd be best to go this way search around for the moonradishes or kobolds or even these gremlins. Then we can go from there. If we encounter this Tuskgutter we can put it down so it doesn't hurt anyone else. Wild boar can be rueful for anyone."
After making camp for the night, you head southwest. As you are traveling across the plains, you come upon an area extending nearly 200 feet across strewn with bones. You can see the skeletons of boars, deer, bears, and even a few humans...
"Some fearsome predator making its home here, looks like," observes Vesi as they look around for indications on what kind of creature they could be dealing with.
Vesi notices a distinctive bulge in the ground at the center of the field of bones. They recognize it as the den of a giant trapdoor spider. The spider is likely lurking within, ready to spring out at anything that draws near.
"Anyone afraid of spiders? Specifically, giant, ambushing trapdoor spiders?" Vesi nods towards a protrusion in the ground, as they slowly drop into a squat and pick up a sizeable rock.
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Russ dismounts as well and pulls his weapon free, "Haven't dealt with ones that use such tactics, but venomous spiders were common sights in any significantly developed warren. They like the cave systems great place to find lost and wandering prey."
He readies himself, "We should deal with this if it's killing this much. Doubt it cares bandit from commoner."
Knaxshi looks for a spot to hunker down and sight in on the bulge. "Maybe we could take positions and hunt up a critter to toss in it's direction. When it comes out to feed, we take it."
"Was thinking to toss a rock nearby. Usually spiders rely on vibrations to detect prey," offers Vesi. The druid judges the distance, then throws the rock in their hand, then quickly bends down to scoop up another and throw that as well.
As a particularly large rock lands on top of the trapdoor, it pops open and a spider the size of a human leaps out! Its eight eyes quickly orient on you, and it begins to scuttle towards you!
Startled that she put the plan into action so quickly, he fires off a shot by reflex. A ram's skull explodes beyond the spider.
"I was hoping to get in a better position first." he says. While he's mildly annoyed, he's definitely suggesting it in the spirit of improving.
He reloads even as he's correcting his aim. Once ready, he shoots.
Finally he hunkers down behind the largest bone pile in the area and reloads again.
"AHHHHHHH!!!!!" Blaze jerks back in disgust, flinging fire behind her as she retreats.
Knaxshi clips the spider's leg with his bullet as he hunkers down and reloads. Blaze burns the arachnid before falling back.
The ifrit attempts to distract the spider with illusions as it scuttles forward, but it ignores the trickery as it leaps on Russ'ruk! Luckily, the kobold is able to fend of the spider's fangs!
"I know they're nature's creatures too, but a spider has no right to be this big," shudders Vesi as they reach out a hand to tap Russ and get his attention.
"Go for the belly, if you can."
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Waiting till the last moment to dodge to the side Russ uses his free hand to grab a leg momentarily to throw the spider off balance and give himself extra momentum for the swing and goes for an abdomen stab.
He then follows up by just wrenching the blade around for any juicy bits, and then heaving the weapon out in an attempt to sever it from the front half.
"Bad idea thinking smallest is easiest prey!"
Knaxshi will move back to stay in cover and keep shooting. He's trying for the would that Russ opened, but not getting a good angle.
Knaxshi holds his fire as he watches Russ'ruk tear into the spider, hacking it to bits with theee brutal chops of his sword!
A few bodies closest to the spider's den are still mostly intact, including a bandit corpse dressed in leather armor and carrying a short sword and 10 sp. He also wears a silver Stag Lord amulet worth 3 gp. Of greater interest is a scrap of paper tucked in his left boot that bears a drawing of a dead, claw-shaped tree atop an otherwise barren hill, with an “X” drawn in blood next to the tree’s roots.
"You've gotta love how many of these things are just floating around," Blaze muses, picking up the amulet. "Might want to tuck one down your top, just so we can pull it out as a prop without it being too obvious that we just have 'em jangling around in our bags."
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Russ, heaves the spider body off of himself with great effort and let's out a deep sigh of relief that it wasn't heavier or nimbler.
"They could come in handy perhaps. I doubt I would be able to sneak in, but perhaps act as a wandering kobold who wants to join a new tribe and found one of those pendants." He shrugs and cleans his blade on the creature's body.
"Vesi, should we check for young? I don't know enough about spiders to know if we should worry about an infestation from this one, but it may not be bad to be prudent."
After securing the area, you continue journeying southwest the next morning. Here, you officially enter the Greenbelt. The region known as the Greenbelt comprises the less-overgrown northern reaches of the Narlmarches to the west and rolling grassy hills to the east.
As you explore the hills, you come upon an old, lightning-struck oak tree atop a low hill. It's the only tree in a 2-mile radius. From the north, the tree looks eerily like a claw reaching for the clouds. It also appears to be the same tree depicted on the parchment the dead bandit in the spider's den had on him.
Indeed, a closer examination reveals that the ground beneath a hollow in the tree’s roots on the north side has been disturbed. Digging up the area only takes a few minutes. Inside is a hidden cache wrapped in a heavy leather cloak. The loot consists of a +1 dagger, a wand of burning hands, a silver ring worth 10 gp, and a spellbook. Unfortunately, rain seeping down into the cache has damaged much of the spellbook, but five of the spells (dispel magic, illusory object, mage armor, shrink, and unseen servant) remain legible.
"Huh. I gotta be honest, I think I would have remembered this tree without drawing a picture of it. Nice of him to pay it forward, but just so you know, I expect to be buried with All of my stuff. When I come back as a vengeance ghost, I don't want to have to waste my precious time on a shopping spree before I get to the good stuff."
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Russ laughed a bit, "Let's hope that you don't die anytime soon, nor come back as a vengeful spirit."
From their position he looked over the area trying to see if there were any good looking hidey holes for a warren, not that he'd be likely to find one without being far closer. "Do you think we should have brought some of the others with us? I can't imagine they planned on just sitting at Olegs the entire time when they signed up with us."
"Especially if you're looking at getting vengeance on us for not saving you." He turns back to our knight in scaly armor, "Oh, I expect that they won't stray far from the settlements if that's what they're getting paid to do."
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"Drawing a map to where you hid your stuff does seem a little silly, innit." Vesi turns the silver ring in their hand. "Do you think this is Svetlana's wedding ring? We should take it to her."
As an afterthought, the druid looks up at the dead tree. "Ah, yes, paying it forward..." They kneel at the base of the oak, sinking their fingers into the grass and into the earth beneath, chanting under their breath all the while. Soon, a green shoot emerges, snaking upwards as it rapidly grows into a sapling, then a small tree.
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"Probably not, did they not say something about gremlins?"
He sighed and took a seat next to the tree to enjoy some water from his pack. "We can keep moving southwest tomorrow. See if we can't find our resident kobolds, or gremlins, or barring that moonradishes and our deadly boar."
He pulled out the map, "Unless you all have other ideas or want to check this area over more?"
Vesi settles next to Russ and begins sketching the area on their map, forehead furrowed in concentration.
"Bokken had some berries he wanted, innit. But finding the kobolds is more important."
"Did you write much about what's been happening here? I'm very curious to read it, if so." The undine lets their gaze roam over the others seated around the fire. "I find it very interesting, how we all see the same events in different ways. I know how I feel about what happened, but what about you?"
"We haven't been at it very long, but I think we've already made great strides towards accomplishing our goals here. We've defended a pair of defenseless traders from attacks by vicious bandits, and we've eliminated their riverside camp! This is just the beginning of the tale of establishing our heroic legacy here in the Stolen Lands! I'm looking forward to recording what happens next."
The perky halfling chats amiably with Vesi, further warming up to the druid as the night progresses.
The next day, you continue southwest through the hills. ooming over the hills in this area, a graying hulk of a sycamore tree clings precariously to its last years of life. The 100-foot-tall tree stands as a known landmark and is visible for miles around. Kressle told you the gremlins that raided her camp and stole the bag that held Svetlana's wedding ring laired under a tree like this!
Hidden amid the ancient sycamore's roots, you discover a hidden entrance: a root-lined shaft that drops 10 feet down to the middle of a tunnel. The tunnel is sized for small creatures.
"It appears that it is going to be a tight squeeze for some of us," Valerie says with a frown.
"Bah. I've been in smaller spaces before, and still was able to slaughter my enemies easily," Amiri boasts.
"It shouldn't be an issue for me, at least," Linzi observes. "Still, it might be best if only one of us accompanies you, due to the tight confines."
"It might open up some inside." Knaxshi says hopefully. It may not be tall, but at least not so confining.
Russ, how about you first, I'll go second, then Blaze and Vesi, and Linzi guarding them from a rear attack?