Abe can sense Horz's reluctance to talk to the dog and thinks he understands, so he does not press the matter further for now. He looks at the stuff Horz pulls out with genuine interest. "The forest makes beautiful things doesn't it Horz?"
Abe can sense Horz's reluctance to talk to the dog and thinks he understands, so he does not press the matter further for now. He looks at the stuff Horz pulls out with genuine interest. "The forest makes beautiful things doesn't it Horz?"
"Does make a true wicked lot o' uglies, likewise."
Keegan's getting itchy. He hasn't eaten any fresh-killed meat in days.
"Aw, Keegan, there is beauty in all natural things, you just need to know how to look."
"Aw, Keegan, there is beauty in all natural things, you just need to know how to look."
"Pfft... Most's it just be looking like eats, eh, droogy?"
"Aw, Keegan, there is beauty in all natural things, you just need to know how to look.""Pfft... Most's it just be looking like eats, eh, droogy?"
"Uhmmm... Eats or be eatsed. That is the law," the druid misquotes. Then he says something else just as unclear, but when his jaw stretches into a muzzle and his ears grow long, it is clear magic is involved. "Uhmmm... Grr RRuff ssn woo a woo, eh doggy?"*
*
Jaden smiles as Hors speaks dog.... again. He wonders if gnolls would understand him, as he go about his tasks.
"Grrrr.. Roof Roof!"
Faldor finishes his mental notes about the poor girls transformation. Afterwards he begins making sure all his gear is packed up and ready to go for the trek back to the ruins.
"Ma'am would you be so kind as to watch the animals for us as we continue or journey through the forest in hopes of saving this settlement."
"Grrrr.. Roof Roof!"
Hozs chuckles an agreement. "Grroflroowo? Grr... Grrr... Oof."
Jeva (the presumably ex-lycan)awakens the next day around noon looking a little weak and dehydrated and with her voice gone, but without any signs of permanent damage or affliction. She hugs an exhausted Abe, a sign of thanks, rousing him from his bedside vigil. A tear rolls down her face as she tries to speak and can't, looking as if to say sorry and thank you with her eyes. Abe catches the scent of silver and spices coming from her body as the cure makes it's way out of her body slowly through her pores.
The house is roused with children playing and running about throughout the day as the party prepares to trek into the woods. The children take particular delight in asking multiple questions of Keegan until his little bit of patience wears and he bears his filed teeth in a terrifying growl. The paladin's mount is also quite the crowd-pleaser with the smaller children asking and pleading and cajoling Abe for a ride.
When Jeva awakens and joins the children they all gather around her asking all the who's, what's and how's they can think of until Elara threatens them with mopping duty if they don't let Jeva have some space.
Effan retreives and tries to mend his shredded ropes while he watches the children. While he works he thinks. Kids are kids, if they're human or gnomes. This seems a good place.
After Jeva awakes Abe tries to comfort her. "You poor thing, you will only get better."
Later, Abe lets the children take turns riding Leo. He takes out his parchment and charcoal, and draws some quick sketches and passes them out to the kids.
"Sometime maybe I can teach you all how to draw." he tells them.
Before the party leaves, Abe had a quiet word with Elara. "I will try to return here, and if I do I would like to stay here with the children for a time, and teach them about art and beauty if that would be allright with you." he says. "I have been looking for a place like this for a long time."
"Oh dear, I would love to have you back, Sir. I'm afraid my artistic talents are limited to the more immediately necessary variety and all I can teach the children about art is how to make warm quilts and sewing." she says in a happy yet self-deprecating manner. "If you would help broaden their minds with some type of drawing instructions or whatever else you are versed in, I would be more than thrilled for the children. I can't offer much in the way of recompense but I if you or your friends ever needed a room and a meal, you are of course always welcome."
Morganst sits lazily against a tree in front of the house. Several small children play around him as he lounged. Out of habit he starts to roll a silver coin along his knuckles. After several giggles, he flips his hands palm up to show the coin had disappeared. With a wave, it was back, then almost as quick it was gone again.
Reaching out to a mousy haired boy he winked. Making an overly grand gesture Morganst pulls the coin from small child's ear. "Best get that to Jeva, eh?"
He was ready to go. Children and houses in the woods require far more work than he was comfortable with.
Morganst sits lazily against a tree in front of the house. Several small children play around him as he lounged. Out of habit he starts to roll a silver coin along his knuckles. After several giggles, he flips his hands palm up to show the coin had disappeared. With a wave, it was back, then almost as quick it was gone again.
Reaching out to a mousy haired boy he winked. Making an overly grand gesture Morganst pulls the coin from small child's ear. "Best get that to Jeva, eh?"
He was ready to go. Children and houses in the woods require far more work than he was comfortable with.
Hozs claps and whinneys. "Do it again, do it again!"
As the group trails into the woods Effan tries to stay in the middle of the pack, but soon finds himself drifting to the rear. His short ("long for a gnome!") legs just can't keep up with the "longshanks," especially with his out-sized pack.
"Ok! OK! I'll do it again Hosz. It'll have to be a copper though... I don;t have all THAT much silver laying about."
Morganst continues to walk along beside the cart flipping the copper piece along his fingers and making it disappear and reappear. Several times he reaches out to "magically" pull it from Hosz's ear and hair.
"Ok! OK! I'll do it again Hosz. It'll have to be a copper though... I don;t have all THAT much silver laying about."
Morganst continues to walk along beside the cart flipping the copper piece along his fingers and making it disappear and reappear. Several times he reaches out to "magically" pull it from Hosz's ear and hair.
Hozs shakes his head vigorously, but all he can get to drop out are bits of hay.
The party heads into the wood, saying farewells and getting wished well by the children and their caretaker. Jeva, looking much better, gives everyone in the group a big hug and a smile.
The group is quite familiar with the Wood by now and as they travel the game trails and open areas they see the Darkwood trees becoming larger and more abundant, as is the ground covering of tangled burrs and brush. Luckily the party is finding game trails and such to be prolific in this area of the wood.
As night approaches the party makes camp in a good defensible hollow. Wood is gathered, tents are erected, and a fire is made.
What is each person doing in camp(job-wise or socially) before sleep and what is the arrangements for watches?
Effan pitches his tent, helps gather firewood, and does what he can to help cook. As he settles down with the others to eat, Catharine curls up at his feet. He occasionally gives her a morsel.
Over dinner he opens the conversation, "So Abe, as a religious man do you know anything about easing the final rest of dead fey?"
***
He'll also volunteer for first shift on watch. (got to get some good sleep to prep spells)
Jaden will take the 2nd watch, normal clean kit, small talk routine.
Faldor plays a small quite tune that he has been working on but as of yet hasn't named. Jahn curls up by his feet after finding her own dinner. But he turns in early with little words actually spoken. He seems still lost in his own thoughts since they left the children.
Abe helps out around the camp as best he can and offers to take the first watch.
"So Abe, as a religious man do you know anything about easing the final rest of dead fey?"
"Well, I am not exactly a priest, so my knowledge of, uh, such practical religious matters is limited. However, if you want to tell me more specifics of the situation, maybe I can help."
"Well, Abe, last time we were out here we ran across a tree with some fey, Keld Piskies, they were, spiked to it. They had kind of melded into the tree. And the tree had died. However you feel about the fey, I don't mind 'em much myself, you had to feel sorry for them. We didn't have time to pry them loose or burn the tree, and weren't quite sure what the best course would be anyhow. I don't think they'd be resting easy, not to have died that way, and I'd like to help them out."
From page 6:
Keegan and Effan both identify the Fairies as Keld Piskies. Why they are here and in this state is a mystery.
***
The tree looks to have died from the defiled fey blood and subsequent spiking of them into the tree....
You could try cutting them out and burning the wood to release them into nature, burying them would be a much, much longer process of renewal as the wood would need to decompose fully to release the feys' spirit energy but would eventually do the trick also...
Morganst settles in by the fire. While eating, he checks through his equipment to make sure everything is in good shape and it's proper place.
Without trying he listens in to the conversation.
"Nailed to the tree? What would do something like that?"
"Nailed to the tree? What would do something like that?"
"Don't know. Maybe the loggers. They were long dead when we found them. "
Hozs offers last watch as it gives him a chance to perform his katas early in the morning. Around the camp he and Miss Squeak will circle the area gathering firewood and watching for signs of foresty-dangers.
"Uhmmm... and pixies. Watch for pixies," he says to himself.
"Well, Abe, last time we were out here we ran across a tree with some fey, Keld Piskies, they were, spiked to it. They had kind of melded into the tree. And the tree had died. However you feel about the fey, I don't mind 'em much myself, you had to feel sorry for them. We didn't have time to pry them loose or burn the tree, and weren't quite sure what the best course would be anyhow. I don't think they'd be resting easy, not to have died that way, and I'd like to help them out."
"That sounds like evil doings to me. Are we going to pass by that tree on our journey? I would like to examine the dead pixies before I speculate further"
"No, it is out of the way to the east. Here, I can show you. Hey, Keegan! Can you show Abe your map?"
If Keegan comes across with the map:
The numbers on the map are as follows:
1. is the Main Logging camp
2. is the suspected location of the Eldest Tree
3. is the Ulizmila's Hut (the witch)
4. is the old dwarven ruins
"No, it is out of the way to the east. Here, I can show you. Hey, Keegan! Can you show Abe your map?"
"No, sir. He can rightly look at my map..."
Effan is nonplussed by Keegan's answer. Keegan can't show it, but Abe can look. Then he realizes that Keegan is playing his games again, a comfortingly annoying state. The gnome tells Abe, "See if he'll hand it to you."
Looking over Abe's shoulder--well his head actually--Hozs sticks a thick finger to the word 'ferry' on the map. "I can see my house!"
"Old tales tell of magic properties of my fey kin that can change metals into gold. I believe that is what was tried there."
"No, sir. He can rightly look at my map..."
"Come on, Keegan...please?"
"Old tales tell of magic properties of my fey kin that can change metals into gold. I believe that is what was tried there."
"Changing pixies into gold?"
"Changing pixies into gold?"
"Actually their blood used in a alchemical mixture spread over lead to change it into gold. An old tale but people are always trying ways to get more gold."
"Changing pixies into gold?""Actually their blood used in a alchemical mixture spread over lead to change it into gold. An old tale but people are always trying ways to get more gold."
"This'd rath'r have the piskies, if y'ask me, eh? Piskies better to be looking at, and ye can't eat shiny, can you?"
It quickly becomes apparent to the party that Keegan has most likely eaten pixie at some point.
"Actually their blood used in a alchemical mixture spread over lead to change it into gold. An old tale but people are always trying ways to get more gold."
"That makes sense. I was wondering what pixies nailed to a tree had to do with turning metal into gold."
"Keegan. Come on man, may I see the map?"
Hozs stops to collect moss from the magic side of trees. And when a feather floats from out of the trees he carefully catches it on an oak leaf and sticks it into his bag.
"Actually their blood used in a alchemical mixture spread over lead to change it into gold. An old tale but people are always trying ways to get more gold.""That makes sense. I was wondering what pixies nailed to a tree had to do with turning metal into gold."
"Keegan. Come on man, may I see the map?"
Keegan offers the map.
"Wherefore not asking earlier?"
The night passes uneventfully for the party as they begin to get more of an idea of who the various members are through the activities of making camp, fireside chatter, and breaking camp the next morning.
Dawn comes, clear and bright, making even the dense wood seem much brighter and less dangerous. The animals in this area of the wood are much less afraid than in the other sections of the forest and tend to watch the party and stay distant instead of immediately flee on sight. There is a noticeable lack of the ever present Dunlied deer in the area though, possibly a side-effect of the child-lycan's rampaging in the area.
As the afternoon begins to darken the party hears a voice call out ahead of them, "Halt! Who treadssss into the land of the folk? Are you friendsss or are you foesss?!"
The caller's location is unknown besides a general direction of 'ahead of the party' maybe 50-80 feet away. He and any co-patriots are well hidden, though the the party gets the feeling that there are many eyes on them.
Morganst startles as the voice calls out. He glances around, seeing everyone ready themselves.
"Uhhh... We come in peace?" He glances around to the others for help.
Faldor reaches into his shirt and pulls his medallion out holding it up by the thong. "We are friends and have proof of our friendship."
Faldor also holds his weapon arm up as a sign of peace.
Jaden walks forward in a none agresive stance to sound of the lizard man.
"We come to you with word on the black sickness and the bastard king Merlokrep. We make for his camp and hope to enter your's."
"Friends!" The big man mimics faldor's motions but a puzzled look hovers on his face. Finally he offers, "Uhmmm... I mean. Friendsssss!"
A large lizardman steps out of the undergrowth, a huge glaive in hand, and leans the weapon against a tree before addressing the group "You bear our sssymbol of friendsssship. Ssstep forward and be welcomed." he extends a scarred and clawed hand in a gesture of greeting. "What newssss do you have of the outer wood? Be at home and met me take you to our cccity, we will prepare sssome food and drink. What brings your group to our territory?"
"The kobolds are up to mischief and have poisoned our people. We seek to chase them away from ouur lands."
Effan keeps quiet and lets Faldor speak. With his sugared tongue we might and up with a troop of lizardman allies.
"Come, I will take you to our Talon Leader. He would here of your ssstory and he may have sssome help to offer." He turns, indicating with a wave that your group should follow. Two other Folk fall in next to him and five more pull up beside the group and begin walking next to the party.
One of the five looks at Jaden and says "Hello, Jaden-human, it isss good to ssssee you again!" Jaden suddenly realizes that this particular warrior was part of the first meeting that the group had with the Folk, "The Talon Leader wasss hoping your party would come by. He wasss hoping to offer ssssome help. We didn't expect you to come from thisss direction though, we thought you would use the lumber camp roads to get to us. By what path did you travel?" He offers a full skin of wine to Jaden and gestures for him to pass it amongst the group if they wish.