Zendel doesn't discern anything else from the Grimstalker, on the other hand though, KaLang's experiment toward his and Arfsnarf's hypothesis is confirmed try for the wooden fey.
KaLang's halberd deals a sudden an crippling blow to the tiny fey. The flames burn the body exceptionally well, exposing its weakness to fire. It is barely standing after the blow, but that will change if it cannot put out the burning fire immediately.
Zendel's attack against the grimstalker goes to plan as the blade cuts into they cruel fey flesh and, in the wake, leaves a growing amount of green, sap-like blood dripping from the grimstalker's wounds.
Round 2
Grimstalker [Green] (slowed until Arfsnarf's turn on round 11, 29 damage)
Ra'uf Steelwheels (9 damage)
Arfsnarf (12 damage)
Salaish
Branch Fey
. [Red] (3 damage)
. [Blue] (-10 speed, 47 damage, 2d4 persistent fire)
. [Yellow] (frightened 2, 19 damage)
Zhamie (29 damage)
KaLang (7 damage)
Zendel (12 damage)
Green Circle, Entangling Plant-life
At the start of your turns, if you are in the green circle on the map, you must make a DC 22 Reflex save to avoid the entangling magic. On a failure, you take a –10-foot circumstance penalty to your Speeds until you leave the area, and on a critical failure, you are also immobilized for 1 round. You can attempt to Escape at DC 22 to remove these effects.
If you are in the creek you do not need to make a saving throw against this entangle effect.
"Sacre Bleu! Eet is time for us to get the upper hand, no?"
"I hate zis grass!"
◈
Zhamie loads another round and fires at Red.
Zhamie's blow connects and knocks the fey back a few inches a the bolt pierces their bark body.
Meanwhile, outside the mass of thriving plant-life the grimstalker slowly makes out, "you work for that misbegotten fey? Their plans and yours are for nothing!"
Still livid as the dandy investigator has had no issue circling around and coordinating with Ra'uf, the grimstalker swings twice to cut him down.
After so many strikes it seems as though one manages to land and deal a critical blow to Zendel, although Ra'uf is able to mitigate that somewhat. However the blood sap that drips across the grimstalker's body gets into the wound as well and threatens to poison Zendel.
You take 3 poison damage.
Grimstalker [Green] (slowed until Arfsnarf's turn on round 11, 29 damage)
Ra'uf Steelwheels (9 damage)
Arfsnarf (12 damage)
Salaish
Branch Fey
. [Red] (17 damage)
. [Blue] (-10 speed, 47 damage, 2d4 persistent fire)
. [Yellow] (frightened 2, 19 damage)
Zhamie (29 damage)
KaLang (7 damage)
Zendel (26 damage)
At the start of your turns, if you are in the green circle on the map, you must make a DC 22 Reflex save to avoid the entangling magic. On a failure, you take a –10-foot circumstance penalty to your Speeds until you leave the area, and on a critical failure, you are also immobilized for 1 round. You can attempt to Escape at DC 22 to remove these effects.
If you are in the creek you do not need to make a saving throw against this entangle effect.
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"GAH!" Zendel screams, as the stalker slices in to him. Still, it's Zendel, and his gnomish curiosity cannot help but be intrigued by the Stalker's question, even as the stalker attempts to poison him. "By misbegotten fey, do you mean these stupid gremlins? I thought that you were working with them! But as you may have noticed, we're defeating them soundly."
He talks through the pain, and the poison bounces straight off the vibrant gnome. "Or were you referring to Viltydus? If so, then yes, we are working with the guardian of the forest!"
Not wishing to step in the entangled area, Zendel glances at Ra'uf, and says, "Come on, flank with me already!"
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Arfsnarf trots over the shallow brook, lining himself up with the grimstalker. He holds up two fingers from each hand, making opposing right angles. One open eye peers through it to try to line up his target with another a ways behind it. Satisfied he has the angle, he unleashes a lightning bolt that arcs slightly to the left.
It seems he held back a bit with Ra'uf being so close to the shocking line.
The grimstalker sees what Arfsnarf is planning and is able to avoid being caught by the arc of lightning. The fey within the trees doesn't have the same benefit as it takes the bolt to the back. Neither are brought down by the spell, but the wooden fey is severely injured.
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Up until now, Salaish had been able to push through the weeds well enough, but while she stopped to cast that last spell they wrapped so tightly around her legs that she can't move at all now. She spends a moment tearing away the vines from her legs.
"Ugh! Gosh darn it!" She *had* been hoping to help out Zendel with that big one, but instead tries to take out the one occupying Kalang instead. "Kalang! Go help Zendel! I'll get the little one!"
Salaish's spell easily dispatches the burning fey before it has the chance to deal out more bloodshed.
Grimstalker [Green] (slowed until Arfsnarf's turn on round 11, 36 damage)
Ra'uf Steelwheels (9 damage)
Arfsnarf (12 damage)
Salaish
Branch Fey
. [Red] (17 damage)
. [Blue] (-10 speed, 70 damage, 2d4 persistent fire)
. [Yellow] (frightened 2, 33 damage)
Zhamie (29 damage)
KaLang (7 damage)
Zendel (26 damage)
Green Circle, Entangling Plant-life
At the start of your turns, if you are in the green circle on the map, you must make a DC 22 Reflex save to avoid the entangling magic. On a failure, you take a –10-foot circumstance penalty to your Speeds until you leave the area, and on a critical failure, you are also immobilized for 1 round. You can attempt to Escape at DC 22 to remove these effects.
If you are in the creek you do not need to make a saving throw against this entangle effect.
Ra'uf first swing of the axe connects and even the second swing lands with both the aid of Zendel flanking and Salaish's song. It nearly brings the grimstalker down as it spits out, "I don't work with these scavengers or anyone else! I don't need anyone to slaughter you all!"
The fey with bark now spattered with fresh crimson blood cackles madly. In response to Arfsnarf's strategy it calls out, "oh no! You don't get to save your friends! Your fiery blade will mean nothing once you are dead!"
It leaps over the blood of the smoldering ally and lungs at KaLan with both of its claws!
Only the first hits, but only a quick movement stopped it from being a far more devastating blow.
The other woodling comes running back, its body is still rattling like a bundle of sticks as it rushes forward and launches a pair of splinters from its arms out at Ra'uf and Zendel.
The jagged piece of wood misses Zendel, but other other scores a hit through Ra'uf's heavy armor despite the fey creatures fear. "If I kill you, my nightmares go away!"
Grimstalker [Green] (slowed until Arfsnarf's turn on round 11, 51 damage)
Ra'uf Steelwheels (19 damage)
Arfsnarf (12 damage)
Salaish
Branch Fey
. [Red] (17 damage)
. [Yellow] (frightened 1, 33 damage)
Zhamie (29 damage)
KaLang (7 damage)
Zendel (26 damage)
Green Circle, Entangling Plant-life
At the start of your turns, if you are in the green circle on the map, you must make a DC 22 Reflex save to avoid the entangling magic. On a failure, you take a –10-foot circumstance penalty to your Speeds until you leave the area, and on a critical failure, you are also immobilized for 1 round. You can attempt to Escape at DC 22 to remove these effects.
If you are in the creek you do not need to make a saving throw against this entangle effect.
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Zendel, who had been considering offering mercy to the stalker, sighs. "That's the difference between you and us. You don't need anyone else to slaughter us, but we... we Pathfinders work together. Salaish gives us courage. ArfSnarf slowed you down. Ra'uf lessens our injuries. KaLang sets pesky gremlins aflame and squashes them flat. To defeat you, we need the whole team working together!"
Zendel strikes a critical point...
◈
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...and then he strikes again.
◈
"Don't underestimate teamwork. It can make someone as unassuming as myself into a total badass."
Zendel's pin-point strike cuts straight to the core of the grimstalker. It releases a malevolent seething hiss as it falls down in the face of Zendel's triumph.
Zhamie (29 damage)
KaLang (21 damage)
Zendel (one action left, 26 damage)
Grimstalker [Green] (73 damage)
Ra'uf Steelwheels (19 damage)
Arfsnarf (12 damage)
Salaish
Branch Fey
. [Red] (17 damage)
. [Yellow] (frightened 1, 33 damage)
Green Circle, Entangling Plant-life
At the start of your turns, if you are in the green circle on the map, you must make a DC 22 Reflex save to avoid the entangling magic. On a failure, you take a –10-foot circumstance penalty to your Speeds until you leave the area, and on a critical failure, you are also immobilized for 1 round. You can attempt to Escape at DC 22 to remove these effects.
If you are in the creek you do not need to make a saving throw against this entangle effect.
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KaLang doesn’t appear impressed by the red woodling creature’s attack. “Red wood, soon to be dead wood.”
He spends an action to recharge his spellstrike and then strikes at this woodling with Produce Flame.
Reach, Versatile S
plus 1 Fire arcane cascade
CS double damage and 2d4 persistent fire
Reach, Versatile S
That fey is really hoping the first attempt hit. You can only spend a hero point on a failure. :)
The wicker fey seems ready to challenge Zendel's assertions, until a bolt strikes in the back and KaLange pierces through it with a flaming strike.
The fungus covered fey was very close to avoiding Arfsnarf's fiery projectile, but a last moment adjustment sends it straight into the center of the wood-fey. It is engulfed by the fire and overtaken by it rendering the attackers dispatched and the forest safer and quieter. At least for a few moments.
From the distance you hear a mitflit call out, "good riddance! That lot was bossy!"
"Right! Right!" Another voice pops up, "don't think you are now welcome though! An not-friend of a not-friend is still a not-friend!"
Yet another adds to the calls, far away, yelling as loud as it can to avoid being anywhere near you, "yeah! You can go now! You stick around and we don't know what we will do!"
With this step though, it is a relatively easy process though to finish up the mapping of the gremlin territory and return back to Viltydus.
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KaLang allows the last embers of the fire to die out on his halberd before he cleans the blade.
He waded through the creek until he can get past the area of the writhing plants. Once back on dry land, he says “We should make sure there is no chance of setting the forest ablaze.” Having said that, he tosses the bodies into the stream to extinguish the fires.
He appears to completely ignore the mitflits throwing the verbal abuse at the group.
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That's a lot of not-friends! Life too short for so many. Even for elves! Certainly for goblinkind! Okay, we go finish drawing map now. Arfsnarf was just getting where he stayed in the lines with river colors! The goblin quips, mostly to deflect and ignore the onslaught of jeers.
The gremlins are left confounded, as they are left to devise some method of diagraming to determine how to respond to Zendel with anything but confused jibes.
Exiting the forest presents you no more issues as you meet Viltydus at the treeline. They take a quick look at you and hold their hands to their chest as they say, "excellent work. I can offer little grade to the map you have created, I leave that to the people of the port as well as your Society. However I can tell you contended several of my kin that found their purpose to threaten and slay travelers."
"The forest is left ever safer with your efforts and I thank you for that accomplishment." Gesturing back toward the town they add, "there is another task I will present you though. It will not be within the within the woods, but back within the town.
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Still chuckling at the memory of Zendel and Arfsnarf's banter in the forest, Salaish remarks: "Yeah, I was noticing that. They look really well made. One of these days I need to get myself a new pair of boots, but I haven't decided on how I want them to look yet. So, Vityldus, do we have time to heal ourselves up a bit while you tell us about our next task?"
"Please take the time. The causes you are not presented as a gauntlet for yourselves but to provide aid for those in the future. If a few more minutes give you better footing, then take hold of those precious moments to do so."
Viltydus directs you to a local smithy named Bronzhelm's and meets below the buildings metal sign emblazoned with an image of a winged helm perched atop the handle of a morningstar.
Cracking their knuckles, Viltydus looks to you and declares, "Many dream of greatness, but a dream's legs often buckle without a sturdy tool to support its weight. Any who brave the Forest of Trials must be well equipped, and such instruments of valor are forged here in the song of fire and steel."
"I task you to assist our esteemed smith with crafting a tool worthy of a hero, one you'd be honored to receive yourself in the coming years, were you to journey to Valenhall."
Leading you inside you find a blacksmith's shop with a wide array of weapons, armors, and a forge in the rear. Present is a large ulfen man, his hair a dirty bronze that is a mixture of his natural hair color and some of the effects of years of his profession. After a moment he sets aside a bit of work to turn to Viltydus and greets them like a old family member.
Viltydus introduces you all with all, enumerating your names before introducing the smith. "Pathfinders, this is Tonfer Bronzhelm, an exemplary smith that has an issue that I would like you to provide aid."
Taking off a set of dirty gloves, Tonfer offers a hand and a wide smile as they describe, "I would be quite grateful for your aid. I create plenty of tools and weapons, but I always put it all my effort when making a weapon worthy of taking to Valenhall." Heading over the back he pulls a club off the workbench that is embedded with multiple obsidian blade. "This will be Ashgrip, a greater fanged macuahuitl that I know will serve a warrior well once imbued with magic." The length of the wood is etched with varying designs of beasts that overlap and cross out to the tip of the weapon.
Given a moment Viltydus notes, "I would ask that you make your mark on the item alongside Tonfer's so that part of your identity may journey into glory along with the item's wielder."
Tonfer nods with complete agreement as he sets the macuahuitl down on the table. "I've been putting off finishing that step though because that steps always seems to go awry this close to a place of legend. Forge fire takes life, spirits invest themselves into the items. You should be prepared for a fight as we work together to finish this."
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Zendel attempts to treat his own wounds...
...but just blots ineffectually at the blood. Still during that time, his ioun stone heals ten hit points of his injuries.
★ ---- ★ ---- ★ ---- ★
Zendel listens to the details on the blacksmith's forge in fascination. "I should like to study these forge fire spirits."
"So what are these marks like? Are they animal symbols?" Zendel glances at other swords to assess them.
Tonfer draws faint magical signatures in the air as he channels magical power into the weapon. "Took inspiration from nature's fangs in Ashgrip. If you wish to add to their number, it will grow in strength. With your aid this is more than just a weapon of my making."
Zhamie also takes as active cases the Animate Fire and Forge Spirits, taking notes on the forge.
"Zut alors! Ze naturel world is always an inspiration, no?"
Tonfer can't disagree with Arfsnarf's assessment and nods as it close enough to be accurate. Arfsnarf isn't able to provide too much knowledge though on how the magic is weaving through this weapon though.
That isn't to say the efforts are for not as Ra'uf is able to leave his mark on the weapon with his paw and it joins the imagery. KaLang add his talent to the work Tonfer has applied and increase the power of the weapon. Zhamie's knowledge of the world adds to the imagery as she is able to adjust the imagery to reflect the fearsome creatures even more clearly.
The magic weaves together and flows into the weapon. The animals almost seems to growl and below for a moment as the magic binds to the work. After a moment Tonfer lowers his hands and picks up the weapon. "After far too much waiting, Ashgrip is complete. Hopefully it won't need to wait long before finding worthy wielder."
Securing the weapon Tonfer gives a warning, "don't calm yourselves yet. We may have well avoided the attention, but the winds are still picking at the sails. Still you have done good work, I have a plenty of stock of weapons and I like you to have one, even if you are not passing to Valenhall today."
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"Oh, wow! Tonfer, it's amazing!" Salaish wishes she were bigger so she could hold Ashgrip for a moment to feel the balance of the weapon. It looks so perfect. When Tonfer offers a weapon to the group, she claps her hands in delight. "Oh, thank you, Tonfer! That's so generous." She gives him a warm smile as she switches up the beat on her bongos.
Cognizant of the potential of another threat possibly coming, she casts Inspire Defense as a precaution.
A few minutes pass as the magic from the completion of Ashgrip begins to fade. It almost seems safe until a wind blows in from the forest and sparks fly from the forge. Most sputter away into ash, but a pair form into three foot long creatures of animate flame. Their tails wipe back and forth casting embers in all directions and their fangs seems to be made of dark obsidian. They start to rush at you on short legs.
Despite that, Zhamie also senses another, unseen presence in the room. She can't tell where it is, but the weapons and armor of the shop being to shudder and move, rattling against their containers.
Zhamie
Animate Fire [blue, red]
Ra'uf
KaLang
Zendel
Salaish
Arfsnarf
Studying the elemental Zhamie identifies them as a kind of cinder rat. Fiery elementals that take the form of rodents. These seem to be altered by the nature of the weapon you just imbued, giving them sharper teeth to take hold of those they bite.
Zhamie's shot pierces the fiery beast, the wound spitting out a burst of flame. The pair of creatures give a screeching his as they lunge forward at KaLang and Zendel. Their sharp teeth gnash, aching to latch on!
The fire's bite is able to pierce through Salaish's inspiring song, and the flames sear into the Pathfinders as the fire continues to burn both. Both of their fangs grab hold of KaLang and Zendel's legs and they refuse to release their hold.
Then the invisible spirit manifests suddenly in a turbulent whirlwind of weapons that get picked up off the tables and walls. The image is reflected in the steel floating about it, an ever changing of confused and furious faces. It unleashes a magical wave of fear toward all around it!
The spirit then sends one of the stolen weapons flying at Salaish!
The blade cuts Salaish before hitting the wall behind her!
Ra'uf
KaLang (8 damage, 1d4 persistent fire, grabbed)
Zendel (8 damage, 1d4 persistent fire, grabbed)
Salaish (8 damage)
Arfsnarf
Zhamie
Cinder Rats
. [blue]
. [red] (6 damage)
Forge Spirit