The figures approach the light and as the first enters the light, revealing a large tan and green scaled lizardfolk with a jagged red frill on his head, he speak "We wisssh to discussss mutually beneficcccial topiccssss with you. Where isss your friend going? Pleassse ssstay in the light ssso we can ssspeak with honesssty and not worry about knivvvesss in the back. We come in peaccce. Will you ssstay and talk?"
Keegan's eyes smolder in anger at the failure of his plan.
"F-f-F@@*!"
A few sparks fly from his mouth.
Effan scratches his head wondering what he knows of any lizardmen in the area.
When the lizard-leader objects to Keegan leaving Effan speaks softly to Jaden. "It's all very fine for them to keep us here in the firelight, while they skulk in the dark. Should I light the perimeter?"
If Jaden agrees Effan quickly casts light on a few stones or chunks of wood, and after announcing his intention, tosses them about 30' out from the camp.
"Uhmmm... Wess are returning to Falconsss Hollowsss, with medisssinesss for our sssick." Hozs says in his best Lizardfolk. "Uhmmm.... We are sssimply trying to get homesss asss fassst asss posssible. Can you helpssss usss get home fassster?" Hozs pauses trying to remember lizardetiquette for a moment. "Uhmmmm... Howsss can we helpssss you?"
Several of you have heard about a tribe of lizardfolk living in the wood and how they were always friendly to the townsfolk although lately they are opposing the logging trade. Mostly through passive means like sabotaging or stealing the equipment, absconding with empty wagons, or generally causing discord in the logging camps.
"You may tossss your lightsss, ssmall one, we have nothing to hide." Four more smaller lizardfolk step into the light, each with a light green tint to their headfrills. They appear to be unarmed although one is holding a brace of pheasant in his hand, tied together with a leather strap. "We can help you travel down the river. We will givve you a ssstandard to hang from your vessssel that will allow sssafe passssage to you through our landssss." He looks at Jadens axe then into Jaden's eyes with a slight flaring to them "Are you a woodsssman? Why do you bear an axe? We have issssue with the lumberjacksss ssstealing from the land without givving back to it."
Jaden looks down to his axe, move his wight from on side to side and leans on it a little.
"This was my father's axe, I carry it in his name. I do work the land to live, but i take nothing more then is needed.If not for these woods, we would not be here."
Jaden waves his hand to Hors "Of all our band, this man is the one who talks to nature, he will tell you we do no harm to the woods when possable."
He thinks for a moment. "What do you need of us?"
Jaden looks down to his axe, move his wight from on side to side and leans on it a little.
"This was my father's axe, I carry it in his name. I do work the land to live, but i take nothing more then is needed.If not for these woods, we would not be here."
Jaden waves his hand to Hors "Of all our band, this man is the one who talks to nature, he will tell you we do no harm to the woods when possable."
He thinks for a moment. "What do you need of us?"
Taking what isss needed from the land isss acccceptable. What do we neeed of you? Our only wissshhhh iss for you to do what you may to halt the lumberkingsss' ambitttiiiions from dessstroying the foressst. My people know thisss will take time, but it isss important for the land. If you see a way to remove the lumberlordssss from power you would do a great servicccce to the land and to our peoplessss. We have lived for many generationssss together, humanssss and the Ssscalykind, and never have we met in violencccce. My people are refraining from attaccccking the humanssss in the wood but asss the foressst dissssappearssss we are getting more desssperate for sssomthing to change. Pleassse, if the chance comes to help ussss please do. For that and for good faith, we grant passssage through our land and offer up dinner. *he gestures to the lizardfolk clutching the pheasant, who gathers some good sticks with which to spit the birds and then starts cooking them up. He rubs them with a mix of spices from a small pouch, and the scent of rosemary fills the air with a delicious scent.*
Would you ssspend the eve ssssupping with ussss human?
Pleassse, if the chance comes to help ussss please do. For that and for good faith, we grant passssage through our land and offer up dinner. *he gestures to the lizardfolk clutching the pheasant, who gathers some good sticks with which to spit the birds and then starts cooking them up. He rubs them with a mix of spices from a small pouch, and the scent of rosemary fills the air with a delicious scent.*
Would you ssspend the eve ssssupping with ussss human?
Effan eyes the gamebirds, and considers. Last night's boar was very fine, but the bits we have left have seen better times. I hope Jaden accepts.
"I do not think my companions would let me turn down a meal as nice as this."
Jaden thinks for a mininte, and goes to where their "guest" is sleeping, and grabs the little lizard, takeing him to the fire.
"Our little friend here, might find better with you and yours, then with me and my workshop." Will you keep the little thing. I am finding it hard to keep Keegan from takeing him for a walk in the woods, from which he would not return."
Jaden tells him to sit by the fire and behave.
At Jaden's words, Effan smiles and relaxes his grip on the wand up his sleeve. A Desna-given opportunity if ever there was one.
During the meal's preparation, Effan hazards a greeting in Draconic. If it is well met he'll continue in that tongue, translating for any of the big men if they're interested. If not, he'll try common. He asks about their life, customs, home, etc. He will answer any questions put to him as well as he can.
At Jaden's words, Effan smiles and relaxes his grip on the wand up his sleeve. A Desna-given opportunity if ever there was one.
During the meal's preparation, Effan hazards a greeting in Draconic. If it is well met he'll continue in that tongue, translating for any of the big men if they're interested. If not, he'll try common. He asks about their life, customs, home, etc. He will answer any questions put to him as well as he can.
Effan manages to strike up a conversation with 2 of the 'lesser' lizardfolk who part with a lot of knowledge about their tribes living arrangements. They inhabit a stretch of the river just down stream where the trees along the banks are so large that their boughs intertwine above the river, forming a vegetative tunnel that the river runs through. In part of this naturally occurring area the tribe has holes dug into the river's banks, below water, that lead to dry, dugout caves beneath the roots of the huge trees lining the banks. Most of the Folk live in such areas, traveling from home to home beneath the water. They also utilize the natural canopy in such a manner as to grow a small amount of crops, house various small shops and use the area to help teach the rest of their society how to live at one with nature. They seem to be a patriarchal society, but great respect is given to females of the species allowing them to fill most rolls that a male can. The only position that cannot be filled by a female is that of High Scale (like a chieftain or mayor of sorts). The leader of this small band is called a Talon Leader while the other four are referred to as Talons.
"I do not think my companions would let me turn down a meal as nice as this."
Jaden thinks for a mininte, and goes to where their "guest" is sleeping, and grabs the little lizard, takeing him to the fire.
"Our little friend here, might find better with you and yours, then with me and my workshop." Will you keep the little thing. I am finding it hard to keep Keegan from takeing him for a walk in the woods, from which he would not return."
Jaden tells him to sit by the fire and behave.
The leader, who tells you his name is Sssethisson, speaks to Jaden,
"Ack! Where did you find him? There haven't been koboldssss in the area for over a ccccentury! They are dessspicccable little vermin, and a black mark on other ssscaled folk! It would be a pleasssure to take him off your handsss, human. We would like to find out what he isss doing near thessse wood and if hisss tribe isss nearby. If we can get any informatiiooon from him that pressentsss a danger to the human town, I will sssend an emisssary to contact you."He hands off the prisoner to one of his 'men' who pulls out an adhesive braided rope and binds the kobold tightly, sticking one end firmly to the side of a large tree.
As time passes the Pheasant are roasted to a crispy golden brown and the sweet fragrance of the game bird makes your mouths water. One of his 'men' reaches into a satchel, attached by more of that strange adhesive rope to his side, producing several large scales and a clay jug. He then uses his claws with surgical precision to cut up the pheasant, placing large chunks onto each scale/plate. More clay pottery is produced, this time cups, which are poured full by the jug and each party member is in turn handed a scale/plate and a cup of some sort of potent homebrew. When all the party is served then the lizardman begins serving his tribemates.
Keegan laugh harshly at the lizardman's statement about the kobold. He gives the small creature another kick, then sets about eating his portion of pheasant.
"Nh, bloody f***, droogies! 'Pologies for this one's little plan, I's bein' a mite suspicious-like lately, eh? Oh, but this flesh be tasty, heh heh..."
The scout cracks open one of the bones, and noisily sucks out the marrow.
Faldor offers a giant smile to the group and begins writing onto his leathers all that the lizards reveal to Effan making sure to be polite about it all the whole time.
After eating his small portion he calls his lute into his hands and begins singing a nonsensical song about nothing in general but Jahn jumps into the firelight and dances to the tune none the less. Seeing this he creates dancing lights that swirl around the fox and alters them to change colors as they swirl and twirl around the woodland creature and just as he is getting it all going good he adds his own back up music letting it sound like a full out band is playing with him making sure to add any bits of their new companions music styles in the song as well.
Playing for twenty minutes or so he slowly lets his spells wink out before yawning and wishing all a pleasant dream and with a snap of his fingers his lute vanishes and Faldor lets his head fall heavily back upon his bedroll.
Effan is equally delighted that the lizardmen will speak with him, and with their answers. The food and drink don't hurt either.
***
As Faldor entertains the party, Effan sidles over to the lizard headman. In Draconic, "Ssssir, the Lumberkingssss are no friendsss of mine. They rule the people of Falcon'sss Hollow assss they rule the foressst: taking much, returning little. The people have nowhere to go, no way to live beside the lumber trade. What shall become of them were the lumber trade to end?"
The music and show seems to have a magical effect on the evening as the rain finally dissipates and both parties start to feel comfortable in each others presence.
At Effan's words about the lumberkings' ruling of the town the Head Lizardfolk speaks up "Perhapsss they could learn or be taught to take from the wood in a manner that doesssn't do harm to the wood. We could teach them. If the townsssfolk ever find the courage to ssstand up to the oppressssorsss, my folk would sssstand with them. Our numbersss are far lesssss than that of the townsssfolk but we are a hearty folk and we would have a duty to help the oppresssssed to earn their freedom. Come find usss if the time isss right."
Jaden looks in his pack and kit, and remeber's the masterwork composite Shortbow (+1 str bonus), and gives it to the leader as a partin gift, and offers him a drink from his flask before he too go to takeing care of the raft for the night.
At Jaden's display of goodwill the Leader reaches into a pouch fastened to his thigh and pulls out a number of amulets, handing one to each of your party. "Your actionsss are friendly and your gift is worth more in gessssture than you could know, human. I offer you all itemssss that may help turn a blade from harming you. These amuletsss will afford you sssome natural protection. They will toughen your ssskin to help turn asside attacksss. Accept thessse giftsss asss a token of our kin-ssship."
The amulets all vary in design from a small turtle shell on a strip of leather to a small animal bones, to a snake skull on a twisting piece of tough fibrous vine.
Hozs has never been a conservationist, mostly because he lacks the vocabulary to include the 'al' before the 'ist' in the word. He finds nothing unusual about talking lizards however and forgets for the night that they are needed back home. He quickly loses himself to dancing good food and concern for the forest. Once he does remember home however, the big man makes a point to ask about the sickness. "Uhmmm... Have the scaled folk suffered any of the sickness?"
"Uhmmm... Have the scaled folk suffered any of the sickness?"
Hearing the question, Effan looks at Hozs. Aye. Good question, and well meant too I wager.
No, we don't sssuffer from thingsss like that. Humanss sssuffer thosse illss becausse of clossse living, bad water sssourcess and ssometimesss by poisssssoning from their fellowsss. Our watersss have ever flowed clean and cool from the lake.
No, we don't sssuffer from thingsss like that. Humanss sssuffer thosse illss becausse of clossse living, bad water sssourcess and ssometimesss by poisssssoning from their fellowsss. Our watersss have ever flowed clean and cool from the lake.
"Damn f!&!ing right, droogy. F&!*ing tree-f#~$s dumping they's poisons inter the waters, stealings me swag, F*%~IN' with me, see? I says f#$& 'em all. Kill 'em, I says."
The night passes peacefully with no interruptions. The group feels truly rested after a good evening of food, drink and warmth not overshadowed by pounding rain. As you stir in the morning various members of the group spot some of the lizardfolk at the edge of sight. It appears that they had posted a perimeter guard about the camp to ensure a peaceful night for the group. As they notice the party stirring they turn and walk silently toward the river, slight nods of parting are given to the party members as they slip into the water and disappear.
Jaden affixes the banner given to him by the Talon leader to the raft and the party prepares to shove off after having a light breakfast.
Jaden-
Effan-
Heading down stream for about 45 minutes the party notices the trees are huge and their branches begin meeting overhead, creating a thick canopy above the river. Occasionally party members spot almost hidden lizardfolk in the foliage, getting a nod of recognition from them, although the party members can tell that these are not the same ones from the prior evening.
After about an hour of this the river rounds a small bend and off to the side the group sees a bunch of young lizardfolk swimming and splashing around by the eastern bank, performing various maneuvers in the water under the tutelage of a grizzled old lizardfolk male. He watches closely as the party passes, his eyes frequently darting from each member to the banner and back again.
This section of river seems to be very deep, the poles are unusable in this area. All about on the banks are mud huts built against the enormous tree-trunks, and made to look like part of the trees. Overhead can be seen netting and wooden walkways that seem to be connecting the entire area for traveling across and within the canopy. Various sounds echo overhead giving the impression of an entire town's activities going on up there.
You can all see the lizardfolk watching your every move but none move to interrupt your passage or offer any harm.
In this deeper part of the river, Effan lays his pole aside and rests. He watches lizardfolk with interest. Fascinating. So like people! But they seem much more content than the Hollow.
The sight of the old lizardman reminds of another elder. He stares down into the river, thinking of Mary, and hoping they've been fast enough.
"Jaden, Keegan. Is the river this slow all the way down? Would we make better time on foot now?"
"ooohhh!"
In this deeper part of the river, Effan lays his pole aside and rests. He watches lizardfolk with interest. Fascinating. So like people! But they seem much more content than the Hollow.
The sight of the old lizardman reminds of another elder. He stares down into the river, thinking of Mary, and hoping they've been fast enough.
"Jaden, Keegan. Is the river this slow all the way down? Would we make better time on foot now?"
Jaden looks up to the sky, and down the river both ways
"We are doing double if not better then our running speed. I think Keegan will say the same thing." We will stay on watch all night, and keep the raft going without stoping, make another few hours down river."
Sitting in the center of the raft Faldor says little but glances at the view of the lizardfolk's town and makes mental notes as much as he can but doesn't budge from his spot as they travel.
Eyes wide from fear as they talk about staying the night on the raft Faldor tries to unfurl himself but another tostle of his footing bring him quietly wimpering agian into his ball.
"I do so hate the feel of water moving"
"I do so hate the feel of water moving"
"You and Catharine, but as Jaden says, even with the slowed current we're making good time. And saving shoe leather. If you let yourself go, travelling this way can be enjoyable, like swinging in a hammock. " A wavelet crests and is focused betwen the logs creatig a momewntary miniature geyser spraying Effan's left side. "Except a hammock stays dry."
Sitting in the center of the raft Faldor says little but glances at the view of the lizardfolk's town and makes mental notes as much as he can but doesn't budge from his spot as they travel.
Eyes wide from fear as they talk about staying the night on the raft Faldor tries to unfurl himself but another tostle of his footing bring him quietly wimpering agian into his ball.
"I do so hate the feel of water moving"
Keegan laughs mischievously, shifting his weight to rock the raft even more.
Effan walks to the front of the raft, eager to see what's beyond the next bend.
The lizardfolk town is left behind and the river picks up speed. The party is making great time and the day is bright and cheerful. Toward mid-afternoon the river makes a gradual left and connects at a fork with a similarly sized river, creating a larger river which should lead to Falcon's Hollow. The river runs deeply and fast here and it takes a great exertion on the party's behalf to keep the raft straight and afloat. The wood clears way and grassland sprinkled with small copses of trees can be seen to the south of the river. The bank of the river is fairly rocky and the river seems change from a deep running river into a shallow rocky river quite quickly. Luckily the massive amounts of rain has raised the river's water level, making what is usually rapids into a less dangerous affair.
in order 2 spot 2 ref 2 str (1d20=17, 1d20=1, 1d20=14, 1d20=7, 1d20=12, 1d20=11)
best spot 18, best reflex 16, best str 12
Effan and Keegan spot a large barely submerged rock directly in the path of the raft and yell out a warning as they reflexively grab paddles and try to steer the boat out of harm's way. Effan's efforts with the oar do little to alter the craft's course but between him and Raph they manage to get the boat turning a bit. Keegan's might pulls at the oar and some belated help from Hozs and Jaden with paddles manages to get the craft around the danger.
The rest of the afternoon is spent alternating between moments of intense observation looking for rocky outcroppings and submerged dangers and muscle-tearing labor at the paddles to keep the raft from coming apart on a rock.
As darkness begins to close in the river seems to give up and the dangerous area is left behind. A small landing site is spotted ahead that has a few trees clumped around it. It will probably be the landing site you see before nightfall. A family of river otters seems to be frantically scouring the beach for something....
"Ooohhhh!" Uhmmm... otter people swim even better than the lizard people!" Hozs shouts out to the otter family, "Squeekity squeek squeek?"
Effan and Keegan spot a large barely submerged rock directly in the path ... muscle-tearing labor at the paddles to keep the raft from coming apart on a rock.
***
As darkness begins to close in the river seems to give up and the dangerous area is left behind. A small landing site is spotted ahead that has a few trees clumped around it. It will probably be the landing site you see before nightfall. A family of river otters seems to be frantically scouring the beach for something....
After playing "dodge rock", Effan suggests the best swimmer, taking into account armour, be given possession of the cure ingredients, in case something does go wrong.
***
Spotting the landing, Effan suggests, "That looks good. Why not tie up there for the night?"
Seeing the otters, he whistles to gain their attention, whistles to get their attention, then talks with animals while dancing a cross between the Macaraina and the swim. He asks the otters what they're doing.
The otters all begin frantically chittering and squeeking at Effan and Hozs, running in erratic circles and hopping about excitedly. The larger one ends this 'performance' by rearing up on his hind legs and squeeking in an almost pleading manner.
To Effan and Hozs.....
Piecing it together from the disjointed speech of several overly excited and squeeking otters, you figure out that the otter's den has partially flooded and collapsed, trapping one of the siblings and the mother otter. The beach is pretty tore up from the frantic digging of the otter family, but several inches below the muddy sand is clay and the otters are having a really hard time getting through it and into the den where the the two trapped otters are slowly suffocating from lack of oxygen. The larger male otter stands on his hind legs and looks to be pleading for some help digging to his mate and child.
Effan translates for the rest of the group. "Does anyone have a pick or shovel?"
Hozs has no shovel, but he does have opposable thumbs so will look for a stick or rock to help dig. "Uhmmm... Keegan? You were burying stuff earlier right?" If nothing else Hozs will use his greater strength and size to help reach the burrow.
Hozs has no shovel, but he does have opposable thumbs so will look for a stick or rock to help dig. "Uhmmm... Keegan? You were burying stuff earlier right?" If nothing else Hozs will use his greater strength and size to help reach the burrow.
Hozs has no shovel, but he does have opposable thumbs so will look for a stick or rock to help dig. "Uhmmm... Keegan? You were burying stuff earlier right?" If nothing else Hozs will use his greater strength and size to help reach the burrow.
Keegan holds up his hunting knife.
"This hole's be needin' bigger, see?"
Sheathing his knife, he kneels, digging at the mud with his hands like a badger.
Faldor jumps off the raft exuberant from finally getting his feet on solid ground. Since Faldor was late at casting his spell he only caught the last end of the conversation but turns to Jahn and Yip-yipa-yap and bequeaths them to begin burrowing in the spot where the otters are trying to so they can help the friendly creatures.
The party tears into the beach with a great deal of determination, Keegan, Hozs and the fox taking the lead in the digging. After two or three minutes the hole is already a couple of feet deep and the otters and the rest of the party are busy clearing room for more excavation.
Suddenly the fox pulls his clay-covered head out of the hole and lets out a yap to let the group know that they have broken through to the trapped otter family members. Hozs quickly clears a bit more of the edges of the hole out and pulls out a limp, wet form, followed by Keegan dragging out a second. The otters hop about desperately as the two still forms are laid on the beach....
"Has any of these 'uns snuffed it? Otterskins make good cashy money, eh, droogy?"
Effan looks anxiously at the still forms. I hope they're all right after all this trouble. He looks at the thin trench he's made in the clay. Two fingers worth o' digging and all I did was teach myself that a walking stick isn't a shovel. He glances at Keegan's hands. At least I still have all my nails.
Hozs looks at the two soggy forms, trying to see if the efforts have been of use. Kneeling, Hozs reaches his hands into the sand chanting as he does so. White power seeps through the grains before bursting in a shower of sand. A white form soars from the ground almost landing on his chest. Turning gracefully the form swims to the next person in the circle, dives before moving to the third and so on through those present on the beach. "Mr Otter? You are an ally right?"
The two bedraggled otters draw a shuddering breath as the healing magic pours into them and after a moment they rise on shaking legs and are soon smothered by their family members racing in to sniff and lick their loved ones. The family of otters begins working diligently in cleaning off their battered kin as the patron moves in front of Effan and Hozs
After several minutes the otters all seem to be doing fine and are playfully leaping around the party as the raft is secured for the night and camp is set. A couple of the otters slide into the water and disappear, returning ten or so minutes later with three fat ring-finned salmon, each more than 2-1/2 feet long and characterized by their loop-like markings on their dorsal fin. Several other otters leave and return with a collection of freshwater clams, which they leave in a pile on some of the excavated clay of beach. Yip-yap the fox seems to have gotten into a game of tag with a couple of the younger members of the otter family as the sun begins to dip below the horizon.....one more day should get you home to Falcon's Hollow. Hopefully you arrive in time....