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"Of course, please come in. Just to warn you, though, I've got a loud snore."
Emerald gives a ghost of a smile at your warning.
"I'm sure my sister was worse," she says.
Surprisingly, it's you that wakes in the middle of the night as the cursed dragon whimpers and holds painfully tight to your arm in the middle of a nightmare. Thankfully, the moment passes quickly and you can fall back asleep shortly after.
Moon eats breakfast in relative silence. She appreciates the practical gifts and her improved blade but puzzles over the courtly outfit and jewelry, hence her silence. She further appreciates her guide’s straight-forward question. ”I’m Moon, half-daughter of elvenkind. I’m a ranger, tracker, and hunter.”
Arrows (45):
Blunts (45):
Iron Arrows (3):
Human Bane Arrows (3):
Lead Blades (1):
Hero Points (3):
Kassen Battle Boon: 1x
Kassen Death Boon: 1x
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Grobradon does take a bath. He’s tempted to invite Moon to join him, but no, the temptation would be too great; and he realizes it might be seen as selfish and uncaring with Meep missing.
The fact he is worrying so much about a goblin would have surprised him just two years ago, but she has become part of Kassen in his eyes and mind, maybe even like a little sister. He knows he’s not the only one who feels that way. Hot bath, clean and dry , and… a full belly? Did he eat the food? Damn it, he must have. Better hope the Prince didn’t enspell them.
He has odd dreams, dreams where a voice goes “His feet can’t be THAT big? I mean… we could build a boat out of…”
and so on.
When he wakes, he feels much refreshed. And notices new items among his old. He sorts through them, noting the staff particularly The forces of the universe hate the idea of me having a shield but no denying it has power and style. Depictions of a storm not attacking a great oak, but rather bursting from it, are carved into the wood.
He almost cheers at the haversack, and transfers some items into it. The clothes are a mystery to him, what’s with all this fufara? Then he realizes he IS at court, and sighing puts some on to ‘honor’ his host. He’ll change to his more practical gear after this.
When he arrives for breakfast, they’re attacked! By a barrage of gushing questions from Delli the Admirer. Grobradon isn’t used to positive social interactions from strangers and has to fight the urge to hide behind the girls.
”uh.. nice to meet you.” Three Moons? What kind of prancy lancey world has three moons? What’s next? Compulsive Kleptomanical halflings and gnomes that never stop talking?
"Iridellia, at least let our guests get seated and something into their bellies before burying them with questions," he says with all of the patience of an older brother to a younger sibling before turning to all of you and gesturing to the chairs and table laded with all sorts of delicious smelling dishes. "Please," he says graciously, "have a seat and enjoy breakfast. I have some information for you, and we'll be joined by someone who's agreed to help guide you shortly."
”Thanks… and thanks for the gear.” He sits near Moon, or invites her to sit while they eat, and they take in the news.
”Half orc in the cave with the humans sounds like could be Grimscar and the others,” He tries to hide his scorn there but fails. The searching goblin party, news of it, has him less sure. What or who are they looking for he wonders? Maybe Meep escaped? Probably too much to hope for.As he finishes laying out what he knows, Rhia appears and whispers in his ear. He smiles and nods. A moment later, she returns, leading a strange figure that stands perhaps as tall as Maidie, a pile of wild hair with a nose that is as large as a chicken egg sticking out from it.
"Ah, Dofferykin Woodstumpleson. I'm happy you agreed to guide these brave souls," the prince says before being cut off with a wave of a hand and bare arm that appears from under the pile of curly hair that looks to have never seen comb nor brush.
"Aye, aye. I agree, yer highness," he says, adding the honorific with a tone of resignation and resentment after receiving a glare from Rhia. "Now who are you, ye lot of too tall folk," he asks brusquely.
”Grobradon, druid of Gozreh, tree friend and of the pack of Kassen.” He answers just as bluntly.
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A moon made of cheese. Sigh. It was hard to imagine if it was a blessing or a curse to be so foreign to the concept of basic reality and logic. "The mortal realm is mortal above all things. Compared to yours, it is plain and full of rules." She answers, as she sits, and then adds. "Free advice, Delli, never trust this person who mentioned the moon being made of cheese ever again."
Later, to Dofferykin, she simply answers. "I'm Erigga, bodyguard." A tall folk? Her? Bah. Even considering the present sample, she was at most average height. Self-centered harry fey.
"And your name is a mouthful, friend, and I say this out of practicality, so how should we call you? Three syllables at most, if you can." She says, joking and smiling. But also serious in secret. She'd find the fellow a nickname if he doesn't offer one himself.
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After her ordeal with the dreamwalker wine, Maidie is relieved to have a full nights rest and awakens feeling much better. She spends some time examining the new items and clothes, then studies her spellbook and feeds Tanglefoot before emerging from her room.
As she zips through the fey lord's halls, she realizes how quickly she has gotten used to flying as her main mode of transportation.
I could get used to this... she thinks to herself as she lands gently among her friends. Her mood is lifted further by Iridellia's enthusiastic outburst and she can't help giggling, which sounds like the chiming of tiny silver bells in her current form.
Prince Kernan's information brings her back to her usual serious mood as she contemplates the strategic implications and how the group should proceed.
The appearance of Dofferykin Woodstumpleson sets her slightly aback, but she takes flight and does a delicate curtsey in the air in front of the strange fey.
"A pleasure, Master Woodstumpleson. As you can see, some of us are more modest in size. I'm Maidie, student of the arcane arts and temporary member of the fey folk."
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** spoiler omitted **
At dawn, Betzolte cleans herself up and waits for Emerald to be ready herself before providing an escort for her down to breakfast. She makes a point of not asking about Emerald's nightmares, as she figured there'd been enough poking around in them for the moment and she'd bring it up when she was ready.
When Iridellia greets them, she makes a few attempts to answer the fey princess' eager questions, each time getting interrupted by another question before she gives up and just lets her talk. She breathes a sigh of relief as Kernan speaks up.
"I...presume you're the sister Kernan mentioned getting her heart back from that foul hag. I'm...glad you're well, despite the circumstances your rescue created," she says, more embarrassed at bringing the subject up than accusatory about its outcome.
She munches throughout Kernan's debriefing, nodding and occasionally refilling her plate.
"Aye, that sounds like Grimscar and his buddies alright," she says, her tone turning undeniably vicious for but a moment. "If any of your folk want to turn those traitors into some sort of rodent and sic a cat on them, be my bloody guest! Don't need to go out of their way to do it, understand, we'll probably run into them at some point before then, but they aren't the main focus anymore...not with Meep out of their hands."
Her tone becomes sad near the end, and she punctuates it with a sip of her apple juice.
When the subject turns to gifts, Betzolte blushes a bit as she receives hers. The fey styles while pretty, didn't quite fit the sturdy, angular dwarven aesthetic she preferred, but she imagined her parents would gush over them regardless, and fine jewelry was fine jewelry no matter how it was cut. She figures she'd grow to appreciate them in time, and at least they weren't JUST fripperies, but practical clothing for the weather and for adventuring. She initially grimaces at the implication of fey magics meddling with her father's craftsmanship, but as her axe lights up in bright faerie fire, her eyes widen and the grimace becomes a smile. THIS complemented her father's work NICELY.
Once their new guide is introduced, Betzolte looks him up and down and smirks a bit. Seemed like she'd get along with him fine. Certainly handsomely hairy, though it'd be even MORE handsome if he ran a comb through it and maybe did some braiding once in a while.
"Betzolte Ironhame, daughter of Braggar and Morg Ironhame, warrior-wizard of Kassen. It's an honor and a pleasure, Master Woodstumpleson."
Iridellia nods solemnly at Erigga's advice as if they were the sage words of a wisewoman.
Dofferykin Woodstumpleson nods to each of you, save Maidie whom he starts to give a more formal bow before stopping and giving her a quizzical look as she explains her current form is temporary.
"Just call me Doff or Doffery if ye wanna be all fancy," he tells everyone. "I can get ye where you want, but I want no part of big folk trouble." The small fey woodsman harrumphs before taking a set next to Erigga. It appears the straightforwardness of the halfling fighter has won him over at least a little bit.
"I'm afraid that anyone that could turn them into toads or harmless rabbits that isn't staying here to keep an eye on Iridellia is going to be coming with me to hunt Felidaan down," Kernan answers Betzolte. "Besides, I think it appropriate if you are the ones to extract vengeance for Meep from them."
"We're not sure what the band of goblins roaming on this side of the river are looking for. The ones I have keeping an eye on them are loathe to get too close. I'm not sure why goblins on this side of the river would be looking for something and not blocking any potential escape to the north, though," Kernan explains as the dishes from breakfast as taken away by various kinds of rabbit-folk. He nods his thanks to them before they turn to leave and he returns his attention to you.
"I think they may be worth taking out first. Grimscar and his two friends, if that is indeed who they are, haven't really moved from their cave yet. Do you remember how to get in touch with Lia, Master Woodstumpleson," the fey prince asks, a faint smile spreading on his face as Doffery bristles at the title.
"Aye, I remember, Your Highness," Doffery says. "She's your girlfriend's twin, aye," he asks. The smugness radiating from him as Kernan's cheeks redden and Rhia's face turns positively scarlet shows he knew he hit his mark with that particular jab.
"With yer leave," he says before turning to all of you. "Well, if yer ready, let's get going! We're burnin' daylight."
Betzolte's countenance falls a bit as she hears Doff's joke, looking back at the blushing prince and his bodyguard. But then she turns back, gives a brief sigh and a barely perceptible shrug and switches to a look of focused determination
"Willing and able, Doff. Let's go!" she says, shouldering her axe and tromping after him.
"No one wants trouble Doff, but surprise surprise, 'trouble' rarely cares about our feelings when it shows its ugly head." She informs the guide.
At Doff's joke, Erigga smirks as well. A glance at Rhia's ears bring to her mind the old saying about screwing like rabbits. Then she unconsciously pictures them in the act. The smirk vanishes, she frowns a bit and reddens as well, taking her eyes off Rhia.
"Sure, I'm ready to go. The sooner the better."
"Aye, lass, but I ain't no fighter, and I have a few tricks to keep meself out of trouble," Doffery replies to Erigga.
With everyone ready to go, both Kernan and his sister, Iridellia, bid you farewell and wish you luck in your fight against the goblins. you walk out the front door of the fey prince's home and into the fairy ring you had danced around the evening before. Snow had fallen heavily the night before, leaving behind a layer of fresh snow that is up to Erigga's waist. The going is slow as Doffery leads you south towards where the goblins had been sighted. While Maidie can fly and Doffery walks over the surface of the snow, leaving nary a trace behind him, Betzolte, Erigga, Grobradon, Moon, and Emerald all have to slog through the drifts. The dragon turned human has an especially tough time of it, being frailer and weaker than any of the others.
Maidie flies slightly over and ahead of the group, seeking to take advantage of her mobility and higher vantage point.
Winter wasn't the properly season for exploring, specially for the small folk where any heavy snow accumulates up to crotch height.
Betzolte tromps through the snow, eyes darting about expecting trouble.
As you walk through the snow, Moon, Grobradon, and Histya find signs of the goblins having passed through only a little while ago. Shortly after first finding these tracks, it appears that the goblins have taken some care to try and cover them up. However, they haven't done a good job of it. As the sun passes its zenith and begins to set, you approach a smallish clearing.
You two spot two small figures hiding among the trees and snow covered stones. Where you saw them marked by the Blue and Red tokens.
Betzolte pushes towards Moon and Histya at the front of the group, taking a place at their side as she grips her burning axe.
Erigga almost stops on her tracks and raises her shield in reflex. Good news it wasn't frozen yet. After some hesitation, she steps back so both Emerald and Maidie could be kept safe behind her shield.
"Ambush ahead. Two small figures, one at each side." For a moment she thought about being smart and think about a way of telling the others about it in secrecy, but nothing came out fast enough.
"I see them. One behind those trees, one next to the stones." Maidie mutters as she floats closer and summons a protective barrier around her diminutive body.
"I may regret it, but I think I'll save the Entangle for later." Grobradon mutters.
Upon hearing that there is an ambush ahead, Emerald does her best to put on a brave face, but the others, especially Maidie, recognize the fear showing in her eyes. She may be a dragon, but that doesn't make her immune to the very real fear of her own mortality. She moves up next to Betzolte and readies her bow. Those with keen ears hear the soft tapping of the arrow shaft against the bow stave as the tension begins to grow.
As you get ready for an ambush, the two presumed goblins slip into the shadows and disappear from sight. The silence stretches on for several moments. The only movement is the slight rise and fall of your breathing, and the only sound is the rushing of your blood in your ears. Of your guide, Doffery, there is no sign.
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Erigga rolls her eyes as both Maidie and Emerald move away from her protection. Was she stinking? "Do you guys know the concept of a shield?" She mutters, more to herself as she sniffs her armpit. It wasn't rose, but far from bad.
"How about we do a circuitous route around the clearing, with care, all of you around me so I can keep you safe? Can't be that bad..."
It's probably for the best that Emerald is too busy trying to not make herself look like a coward, in her own eyes, at least, to catch Erigga's whispered comment when she moved up closer to Betzolte.
"Wh-what about the goblins," she asks quietly, hoping her voice doesn't carry past the group.
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"Can't be that bad..."
Moon's eyebrow rises at that hopeful assessment. "I agree with circling around, but you should pray they don't have spellslingers or alchemists."
As the goblins disappear from view, Maidie realizes that they have likely been discovered and heeds the wisdom in Erigga's suggestion.
"Wait a moment and cover me, while I summon up a friend to help us. His tremorsense should find anyone moving around in the undergrowth. Moon, can you get Histya to sniff them out?"
He nods to the halfling quietly. Seems too soon to spring out the bigger rituals and magics on his half so he just keeps his weapons ready
Moon's eyebrow rises at that hopeful assessment. "I agree with circling around, but you should pray they don't have spellslingers or alchemists."
"You can go ahead and pray then. I have snow up to my waist and my bean could freeze and fall at any moment. A little fire isn't looking too bad."
Hearing the fear in Emerald's voice, Erigga decides she needs a serious talk later.
"Moon, can you get Histya to sniff them out?"
Moon snorts, "We can try. You didn't think I was going to play 'turtle', did you?" She pats the cat on the shoulder and points in the direction they plan to go and pulls her sword.
As Moon and Histya circle around, she begins singing, trying to throw the goblins off:
Roamin’ thru the woods you’ll see
Ain’t no elf got skills like me!
Seeing my sword, makes gobbos pee.
My blade bites deep cuz I’m half-breed!
Arrows (45):
Blunts (45):
Iron Arrows (3):
Human Bane Arrows (3):
Lead Blades (1):
Hero Points (3):
Kassen Battle Boon: 1x
Kassen Death Boon: 1x
The cat bounds through the snow, sniffing the air, eyes wary for predators.
Moon moves in among the trees, her eyes and ears straining to pick up any sign of the goblin that had been on this side of the clearing before she stumbles over it. A fortunate glance over her shoulder lets her spot the other goblin that had gone missing as it moves to get a better shot at one of the others. Before she can call out a warning, however, some sixth sense causes the hairs on the back of her head to rise. It's faint, and she almost missed it thinking it was Maidie's spellcasting, but there's another goblin, this one different from the one that had been pointed out earlier, and this one is casting a spell!
Expecting an ambush doesn't render one immune to the effects of surprise. After all, the ambusher still has the advantage of deciding when, where, and whether to attack. So it was that Red Lips, the Salacious Slash, was able to sink an arrow deep into Betzolte's thigh. The dwarven warmage is extremely lucky that the goblin-made arrowhead misses a major artery. Unfortunately, that doesn't stop a veritable flood of steaming crimson from washing down her leg and staining the snow.
Just as Betzolte is clutching at her new wound, it becomes apparent that Moon's comment about spellcasters was prescient as the chanting that had distracted her for just an instant finishes in a crescendo of power. A bead of fire arcs high over the trees and explodes into a massive conflagration just before it would have landed between Erigga and Emerald. On the bright side, Erigga doesn't have to worry about her nether regions freezing off anymore.
Emerald bites back a scream after dodging the worst of the blast, but it seems that there is more to come as yet another goblin rushes to within a few paces of Moon before batting her eyelashes at the ranger.
"Do you wanna be my friend," the goblin asks Moon, the words infused with subtle arcane power.
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Well, being friends is always preferable...
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Erigga's eyes go wide as the ball of fire courses towards them.
"You jinx!" She yells at Moon as she crouches, making herself smaller while trying to save Maidie.
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Grobradon is a big fellow who wears a breast plate, which weighs him down a little, made of wood... the results of a fireball are about what you expect! He catches the blast in its fullness, unable to even mitigate it.
Indeed, he maybe missing hair after this iF he somehow lives.
His scream thunders as he burns!
Even locked in the concentration of spellcasting, Maidie sees her life flash before her eyes as the ball of fire explode around her.
The Erigga and her shield is there, deflecting the flames and keeping her completely unscathed.
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Betzolte BELLOWS in pain and anger as she looks down at the arrow, before feeling the heat bearing down upon her and looking up...
...just in time for the flame to rain down right on her face, knocking her off her feet and charring her skin. She barely has time to think of protecting her friends or of the sheer burning pain or the fear it may be the end as the dark falls upon her.
Seeing Betzolte scream and fall, and that the so-called Heroes of Kassen are in bad shape, Krosk smirks and shakes his head. This is what has that fool Lugruk in such a tizzy? He'd laugh if it wasn't so pathetic. Red Lips and Fire Fingers should be more than enough to finish off those who are left, he thinks as he sticks his fingers in his mouth.
===
As Betzolte lies still on the ground, smoke streaming from her body as blood from the wound in her thigh continues to pour out, a high, shrill whistle cuts through the air. Something moves through the snow and underbrush as the goblins you do see grin menacingly at the badly wounded Heroes of Kassen.
Emerald acts first, realizing that Betzolte doesn't have long if she isn't dead already.
"No! You can't die! I won't let you die," she cries as she drops to her knees and lays her hands on the fallen dwarf. She chants in draconic in a voice that resonates with the arcane weaves and the very stones themselves as she pulls on the threads of fate to save one of the ones that had saved her. While it's not enough to bring Betzolte back to consciousness, it is enough to pull the young warmage back from the brink.
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Round 1: Moon & Histya
At the explosion and heat wave behind her, the ranger involuntarily ducks then glances back over her shoulder to assess the damage. Betz is down, possibly dead. Grob is badly burned. Only Maidie and Erigga seems unscathed. She turns back to glare at the goblins standing before her.
Arnama had taught her well – Anger can be valuable when put to constructive uses.
She taps the cat and points at the goblin in the open snow. ”Make me proud. Tear that whore’s throat out.”
The cat crouches and growls, tail swishing. She takes two long bounds across the snow before leaping at the goblin, tail windmilling to keep her perfectly balanced in the air. Claws seem to spring from all four paws and her bared teeth seek the goblin’s throat as she lands on the small creature in a tumble of blood and snow.
Moon follows along the cat’s path more slowly before ducking beneath the tree to attack the other goblin. She wasn’t sure which goblin had thrown the fireball, but it was important to engage as many as possible. Without preamble, she speaks the word that sends lightning coursing along the length of her blade and slashes at the little git before her.
Arrows (45):
Blunts (45):
Iron Arrows (3):
Human Bane Arrows (3):
Lead Blades (1):
Hero Points (3):
Kassen Battle Boon: 1x
Kassen Death Boon: 1x
Some of the worst burns recede from Betzolte's face, as she clings to life.
As the goblin realizes her spell hasn't taken hold, the look on her face goes from affable to terrified as Histya launches herself at the green-skinned bard. Whatever else may be true about goblins, this one is quick and her armor is better than what most goblins have. Still, Histya draws blood as she bites and swipes at the goblin.
The other goblin, the one that had done such damage to Moon's friends, screams as the ranger's blade parts cloth and skin and the lightning arcing along the blade rampages through the little mage. While the goblins both still stand, they are clearly questioning the wisdom of their actions.
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From her cover behind Erigga's protective tower shield, Maidie completes her summoning spell. The now familiar form of Cragg-el rises from the snow-covered ground close to where Moon and Histya are busy cutting goblins to ribbons.
"Noble Cragg-el, these cowardly goblins have ambushed us. Break their bones and use your tremorsense to find those that are still hiding."
The tough pile of living rock salutes in acknowledgement before gliding towards Sweet Honey. A stone fist lashes out and slams into the goblin's skull.
Allowing herself the briefest of seconds to appreciate Cragg-el's handiwork, Maidie then turns her attention to the goblin sniper that shot Betzolte.
"Hide from this, you little sneak!" she says acidly as the air around the goblin archer explodes in multicolored glitter.
With her life on the line, the goblin that had tried to charm Moon and is in the process of getting mauled by Histya appears to have developed a preternatural sense of her surroundings. She just barely moves her head and angles her body enough to turn what would have been a concussion into a bad bruise on her shoulder. Fortunately for the goblin, her armor turns the blow, preventing, however temporarily, any lasting harm.
"Tiny mistress, there is something several paces beyond the child of foreign stones," the elemental calls out.
Meanwhile, the goblin that had stuck Betzolte with an arrow blinks in surprise as a tiny Maidie appears and bends the arcane energies around her to her will. A moment later, the goblin is surrounded by a glittery cloud. She drops her bow and screams as her eyes burn and water from the fine, arcane dust in the air.
Maidie quickly translates Cragg-el's message.
"Grobradon, another goblin lurking in the bushes a few paces north of Moon's position. Drop an entangle to keep it occupied."
Maidie quickly translates Cragg-el's message.
"Grobradon, another goblin lurking in the bushes a few paces north of Moon's position. Drop an entangle to keep it occupied."
"Fine, but after this I got to get to Betz," Indeed, he was heading that way but Emerald kept the dwarf alive. I should have dropped the damn entangle on the first one I saw, maybe this wouldn't have happened like this! He curses himself... trying to ignore the smell of his own burned flesh.
and calls "Gozreh's little children, grip and grab and hold..."
A high-pitch shriek comes from where Cragg-el had said there was something. With her cover blown, Everyone still on their feet can see the other goblin that had been spotted earlier. She manages to keep clear of the grasping vines. The goblin mage Moon is facing does not. The grasping vines, stalks, and roots trip her as they wrap around her feet and legs.
Erigga looks between the blinded rogue and Betzolte's unconscious body. Strike the enemy when it is vulnerable, or stick to help a fallen ally? Only way is to follow her heart and Erigga is foremost a bodyguard.
Digging her heel's, she stays put and rises her shield once more.
What had started off as a fairly successful ambush swiftly turns sour for the goblins. Seeing how deadly Moon and Histya are, the freshly revealed goblin flees for her life. The archer that had helped down Betzolte scrubs the magical dust from her eyes and blinks blearily as her sight returns mostly to normal. The goblin mage that had cast the spell that had downed the brave dwarven warmage, struggles to get free, only find herself even more tightly bound. As she looks up with panic filled eyes, the goblin that had tried to charm Moon tumbles out of the reach of Histya and the freshly arrived Cragg-el as she pulls out a needled. With an arcane phrase she sends it zipping at the half-elven ranger, or more speficially, her pants. Moon feels something tug at the seams and the kiss of the frigid winter wind on her legs, but she manages to keep both her breeches and dignity intact.
Seeing Betzolte is still down, the dragon turned human redoubles her efforts to bring the dwarf back from the brink.
After a few moments, she's successful as Betzolte's eyes flutter open and more of her wounds close up.
The panicking goblin shrieks in fear.
"S-Surrender! I surrender!"