The night was unexpectedly cool; the oppressive and sticky heatwave that had plagued Breland for the past week was over, making Starlan Benex’s trip to the King’s Forest more bearable. It was enough that he would have to work only by moonlight to harvest the night-blooming flowers Zillia requested. Working through the night in the suffocating heat of a tropical forest, combined with his normal courier duties, would probably pull the normally perky Halfling over the edge into the realm of exhaustion.
This minor blessing in mind, Starlan uttered a quiet prayer and took off on Dragonheart, up and out of tower filled Sharn and toward the King’s Forest. Trading spires of stone for the spires of tall-growing trees, he pressed his Glidewing deep into the forest. Recently, Breland had increased logging activities around the forest, gradually shaving down the perimeter of the wood. If Starlan was to harvest a substantial amount of such a rare and elusive flower, he would have to get to the oldest and tallest trees; he would have to fly on to the heart of the forest.
Handling his mount expertly, he made good time and covered a significant distance. However, as he ventured deeper into the wood, he began to feel the slightest anxiety well up inside him. He had no intention of getting lost or stranded, but if he did, he may not be found for some time. Working at such heights, even for a native of Sharn, could prove dangerous with even a tiny slip.
Before too long the telltale flowers of the ‘Demon Bane’ plant appeared; they began their midnight dance as they opened in response to the moonlight. Starlan’s sensitivity to these kinds of events sent a buzz running through his whole body; soon enough the quiet forest was alive with a kind of primal electricity. Insects began to respond to the silent communication of the flowers, and in turn, predatory creatures began to respond to the insect activity. Starlan smiled to himself as bats and nocturnal birds began to swarm around him; on his large mount, his movements echoed their own, but he dwarfed them considerably.
He, too, was drawn to the flowers’ call. He needed them, but he wasn’t sure why. He had been put through enough tests as part of his Druidic initiation, that he had moved beyond simple blind faith, into a kind of trust.
Setting upon his work, Starlan began to harvest the fragrant blossoms, eager to meet Zillia’s expectations.
Starlan is glad for the chance to get back to nature once again, and Dragonheart seems to feel the same. A touch of worry lingers with him from the somber tone Zillia had with him.
The importance of this mysterious mission adding a soberness to the otherwise beautiful moonlit forest, he makes sure Dragonheart is staying alert as well as his own self, as they're right above the tree canopy, and dangerous creatures abound here -- At least that's all that he knows from Goran, and he hasn't visited these woods at night before outside of Goran's presence.
Soon he has located the region of the forest where the flowers are blooming; they seem to be growing on the uppermost parts of the trees themselves. Setting to work, he gathers the flower-parts with the silver sickle Zillia lent him for this task, carefully placing them in his spell component pouch, making sure to not damage them.
He hears many sounds of creatures scurrying and flapping around in the dark around him, some of which he recognizes, some of which are a mystery. An owl swoops silently past him as he is harvesting from one tree top, but beyond that, the forest creatures seem to leave him alone, and he is quite a distance above the forest floor in any case.
At a certain point in the night, he may wish to take a drink of water, and he would give Dragonheart a sip, perhaps along with some of the salt meat he keeps as a treat for his winged companion.
If everything passes smoothly once he has gathered a sufficient amount, he heads back to Sharn with Zillia's Demon Bane. He will meet Zillia in Goran's house/garden, which she caretakes while Goran is away, and return the flowers and silver sickle to her. He doesn't have to work for the Guild, but if possible, will still try and catch at least a few hours of sleep before the sun rises.
The harvesting appears to be going well, and Starlan almost loses himself in the task. The repetitive nature of gathering the flowers combined with the nightsong of the forest, pulled at Starlan’s energy reserves. Feeling himself drift away slightly, his Halfling ears alert him to a nearby presence.
Both he and Dragonheart snap to attention at the sound of rustling on the forest floor. Something was moving around underneath them. They could spot the movement for sure, but from their distance could not pinpoint the thing making the noise. Judging by the parting of the foliage, the thing couldn’t be very big.
OK, I kindof will assume whatever is down there already knows we're here, but I'll try to stay quiet, and make sure Dragonheart does as well, just so that I can keep my ear peeled for any more movement. I'll VERY quietly secure any of the harvesting stuff back in my spell bag. If something starts climbing up the tree, hopefully I could either hear or feel the vibrations thru the tree?
otherwise... "Readying an action "
A small glowing orb floats from below the canopy up toward you. It pulses gently, and a sound erupts from all around you that sounds like something between speech and a child's laughter.
After a moment, the sound repeats itself, this time louder and closer.
(What's the best way to handle checks like this?
One roll + different modifiers? Or 3 rolls like I did?)
How far away is the orb roughly
(I don't think Knowledge checks take any time in game, it just springs to mind)
The orb continues to hover approximately 60 feet away from you. While you are not able to discern what is being communicated, your knowledge of Fey would give you a smattering of terms in Sylvan. You are able to discern the words 'friend', 'flower', 'guardian' and 'danger'. The tenses don't make sense, and you're not sure if the terms refer to you, it, or your mount.
The signs point to you most likely dealing with a sprite of some kind, the hovering orb is reminiscent of something that is attainable through a simple spell; a spell which many Fey can wield with ease.
There does not immediately seem to be any malevolent intent, and the orb begins to dance playfully around Starlan.
I'll let it see my silver sickle, that might suggest that I'm harvesting it in accordance with the Druid way.
If I can make another Know:Nature check (25), I'll try to stutter out some words in Sylvan: HARVEST FLOWER HELP GNOME DRUID
Have I gathered sufficient flowers yet?
I don't know any better way to communicate, I only have a Speak with Animals scroll... I'll ask it if it speaks Druidic in Druidic.
I'm guessing it could have been trying to use a telepathy spell to 'talk' to me, but since I'm not sure of it's intentions, I don't really want to forgoe a Will save. Would I be able to 'delay an action' so I can find out what it casts on me, and then immediately resist it with my will if I don't like it? (I think you get new saves every round anyways with Pathfinder)
The sound of quiet laughter echoes around Starlan as the glowing orb disappears. The word "Help" is repeated back to Starlan just as he said it, with a giggle afterward. "Help, Help, Help, Help. *giggle* ".
The 'helps' sound as if they are rising from Starlan's height to above him, toward the top of the trees. A moment later, and a handful of 'Demon Bane' flowers come floating toward Starlan.
"Help, Help."
Oh, great! The glowing ball seems to be friendly, I'll just gather all the flowers it drops down, and if it I think I already have enough, I'll try and communicate somehow, waving "GOOD FULL" or something.
If I have enough Demon's Bane, I'll pack everything away good, and jump into the harness for Dragonheart, telling the glowball "FLY FUN", and see if it wants to play acrobat in the air with Dragonheart.
(If this is all that happens, I'll fly back to see Zillia, after telling the glowball "DRUID GO, PLAY FRIEND AGAIN")
"Good Full! Good Full!" The flowers float down to Starlan, and before he can even finish putting them away, more blossoms come floating down to him.
As Starlan takes off on Dragonheart, the sounds of the chirping "Help! Help!" appear to die down.
Dawn begins to crack as Starlan glides into Sharn. The sprawling towers are just beginning to bustle with activity as the day begins. Starlan has had a busy night, however.
As he approaches Zillia's compound, he hears a familiar voice just in front of him: "Play Friend Again".
I'll try and stutter out something like:
FRIEND CLOSE TALK GOOD
and nearing Zillia/Goran's place,
will tighten my hold on the harness, and cue Dragonheart into a tight barrel roll,
rolling 2 or 3 times while yelling BANZAAAIIII in Halfling as we dive toward the garden where Zillia should be.
as we approach nearer, I yell in Druid "We're back... With a Fey stow-away!"
and I'll try to land Dragonheart ASAP.
The sound of laughter once more erupts around you as you execute the barrel roll. You imagine, even if for a moment, that the creature flying with you is also doing a barrel roll as well.
"Again, Again"
Even if Starlan did not continue to Barrel Roll with the thing, he could tell that it was still doing it, by the "Wheeeeee!" sounds that it was emitting.
Touching down outside of the compound, Zillia is waiting there. Her curly hair falling loosely around her face. She had the look of someone who had clearly stayed up all night, but her features remained warm and welcoming.
"A Fey stow-away?", she replied in Druidic. "Where? In your pack? Did you get the flowers?"
Landing near Zillia once Dragonheart coasts down into the garden,
I jump off, thankful that she IS here.
Nodding at her question about the flowers,
I unstrap my bag holding the flowers and silver sickle, and hand it over to her.
"Zillia..." "I think this is plenty of flowers. We ran into this... creature... while harvesting the last tree top. I was scared at first, it appeared like a glowing ball and floated up toward us, and I felt some magical force in my mind, but I managed to remember a few words of Fey -- whOAH! That's it zooming around in loop-de-loops! -- but then it seemed happy to help me gather the rest of the flowers. I told it PLAY FRIEND LATER since we had to be back here by dawn, but I guess it turned invisible and followed us back. Can you talk to it or do something? I don't know what else it can do..."
"It helped you gather the flowers?," Zillia asks, taking the package of blossoms from the out-of-breath halfling. "Did it use the sickle? The flowers are useless unless they were cut with silver!"
"It's unfortunate that there was such a language barrier. Perhaps I can communicate with it..." Zillia moves about twenty feet away from Starlan, and begins to speak in a flowing and flowery language. While he's able to pick up words here and there, he can't really piece it together. After a short moment, Zillia's speech is reflected back to her, this time from a point just above them.
The two communicate for a few minutes, while Starlan catches his breath.
Eventually Zillia turns to Starlan, speaking in Druidic again: "His name is Wing. He says that it's his responsibility to watch over that part of the forest. He knows how important those flowers are, which is why he is their guardian. When you felt a pull on your mind earlier, it was probably his attempt to read your mind. He said he couldn't get through, so he tried speaking to you. He wanted to make sure you knew the importance of the plant, and that you weren't wantonly destroying that. Even though you could only provide a smattering of a response, he surmised that you were probably using them wisely and with good intent. He wanted to help, but he didn't know he had to use the sickle, and he feels bad now." Zillia pauses for a minute, her eyes closed.
"I think that's all Wing had to say. Being mediator is weird, because Sylvan is such a playful language. I'm sorry you don't know it very well, but should you ever want to learn it, I would gladly teach you. At another time. I need to prepare these flowers for the noonday ritual. Wing has expressed interest in helping me.
Do you have any courier duties to attend to?"
"Oh... I was worried about that... See, here, this compartment of the bag is all flowers I cut myself with the sickle, and this other one is just the flowers from Wing's help..."
I'm relieved now that Zillia seems to be talking to the creature. Who knows what it could have done if I had gotten a word wrong...
"Yeah, that'd be great if you could teach me some Fey sometime, I remembered a few words that Goran had used with some sprites once, and some that I catch from gnomes here around Sharn, but it'd be great to really learn it."
"<YAWN>... Oh, Actually, I don't have to work for the Guild tomorrow at all, having Dragonheart with me means I don't need to pay for the stable service anymore, so I don't need to work half as much anymore. But it IS practically dawn now -- If it's alright with you, it'd probably do me some good to catch at least a cat-nap so I'm well-rested tomorrow. But I'm free to help you further with all this tomorrow, if you'd like."
"Fantastic. I don't want to hurt Wing's feelings any further, but I won't use his flowers. Maybe I'll let him hold them during the ritual. It won't do anything, but he won't know!", Zillia giggles. "And Goran. He was a fantastic teacher. It's no surprise that you learned so much from just watching him."
Zillia moves to Starlan and Dragonheart, placing a hand on each of their hearts. "Then rest, sweet guardians. Trust that you worked hard enough for Nature herself to notice. I think Wing's appearance is a blessing. Really. You dealt with such a problematic encounter without violence, anger, or fear; I can feel it."
Gesturing at Dragonheart, Zillia continues; "Take him home. He's carried you far today. Know that his appearance, likewise, is a blessing. Something is watching you, Starlan Benex. And I think it likes what it sees."
Zillia turns, taking the flowers with her inside her compound. She calls out to the still-invisible Wing to join her.
"Well, if you REALLY don't need me... <YAWN> I COULD catch some rest now."
"But should I return here tomorrow at noon, or...?"
I'll thank Zillia for explaining it, but it's probably best for me to be rested if the s+&+ will be hitting the fan tomorrow, and I might screw up the ritual if I'm too sleepy.
I'll ask whether she would like me to meet up with her again after noon-time, either here at Goran's, or elsewhere.
....Telling Zillia that's he's glad it worked out and that he completed his mission well, Starlan hoists himself back upon Dragonheart with some effort, and tells his companion that they are going home. Once they are aloft, Starlan hardly needs to steer them on their course, letting Dragonheart take a relaxed, gliding path back, floating between towers on their way down to the garden where they both get a well-deserved rest.
Turning back to answer Starlan's question,"You needn't return back here tomorrow. I will call for you if anything arises, but we shall all have our hands full these next few days. If you notice anything because of the ritual's magic, be sure to return and share your information with us. Fly safe."
Zillia heads inside, leaving Starlan to head home for rest.
--
Gliding between the towers, Starlan lazily looks around him. Leaving the steering to Dragonheart, he is free to take in his surroundings. Nearing Lyrandar tower, he spots a bit of a commotion on a sky bridge about halfway up the tower. He is too high up to see exactly what figures are causing the commotion, but his Halfling ears alert him to a screeching sound; most likely city birds.
Dragonheart is probably interested by the noise too.
It does seem like something out of the ordinary for the hoity-toity House Lyrandar, so there might be an interesting story here to share with the Guildies... I'll circle round and do a flyby pass or two to see what's going on.
Circling around the affair, Starlan makes out what seems to be a small flock of city birds. They are squawking and hopping about a centre object, but at this distance it can not be seen whether they are attacking or defending it.
Intrigued by this point, I nudge Dragonheart into making a closer pass,
also giving Dragonheart a cue to let loose a suitably intimidating screech.
(Handle Animal check: 19)
I'm presuming the flock will chaotically disperse somewhat,
and Dragonheart will swoop by within 20 or 30 feet of the center of activity.
Perception check: 14
With Dragonheart's impressive screech, the birds disperse upwards, flying furiously all around you.
As you approach the site of their gathering, you notice that they had all gathered around another bird. It lay on the ground, amid a heap of rubble.
Huh.
I'll land Dragonheart and jump off to investigate the dead(?) bird and rubble. Is it dead, injured, or what?
Starlan's probably semi-paranoid since he's not used to landing on arbitrary non-public balconies of Lyrandar Tower
Does it look like some piece of the tower broke off and hit the poor bird?
Investigating more closely reveals a bird barely clinging to life. Some falling debris must have struck it; a shard of wood has impaled one of its wings, obviously rendering it flightless. Additionally, one of its legs is twisted, revealing that it was probably struck midair, and had a bad landing.
Closer inspection shows numerous wounds covering it's body. It's now clear that the other birds were pecking the creature to death. Knowing it was in pain, they were killing the poor thing.
As Starlan approaches, it raises its head weakly, and tries to flap its other wing before both collapse, defeated. Rubble and debris lies all around it.
Seeing it's torturted body collapse as I approach,
I hurriedly check to feel if it's still alive or not.
I considered trying a Heal check, but it sounds like it's wounds from the pecking on top of that from the falling debris would not make for a pleasant life, even if it somehow could pull thru.
Death is part of nature, but it does seem a horrible ending for a bird.
What does the surrounding debris seem to consist of?
I check it out to seek some clue as to it's origin.
The bird's breathing is slow and heavy. It may not last for very long in this condition. The other birds' beak-wounds are not particularly deep, but they are numerous.
Searching the debris reveals very little. Splinters of wood from a box or crate or chest of some kind are scattered around. They seem to be pieces from something much larger; the mystery object must have continued its crashing downwards.
Near a handful of broken pottery, Starlan notices a glint of gold.
Hoping to at least ease the bird's pain, if not save it's life,
Starlan applies what knowledge he has of healing and birds' anatomy.
"There, there, just breathe now...."
I'll cast Stabilize Wounds on it first.
Wild Empathy check to calm the bird: 29, Heal check: 18
I'll also cast Guidance on the bird, giving it +1 to a skill/ability check.
I'll gently take the bird with me back to the garden, where it can be better cared for if it lives, or buried if it dies before we get back (I'll lay it amongst soft leaves in my spell pouch.)
I'll quickly check out that glint of gold, as well. If it seems valuable, I'll grab whatever it is before jumping back on Dragonheart. It seems those who so carelessly throw heavy objects out tower windows also don't check them for valuables first.
The bird is safe for now. It's breathing steadies as you use your magic to help pull it through. Removing the most troublesome debris gives it some small piece of comfort.
The glint of gold is a simple ring. It is beautifully crafted, with a single gem shard embedded on the inside of the loop.
It bears no mark of it's maker; it bears no mark whatsoever, actually. It looks like it would fit easily on one of Starlan's small fingers.
Finding the ring, and thinking it looks pretty valuable, maybe even the work of one of those up-and-coming avante-garde craftsman by the weird design with the gem, Starlan instinctually wants to pocket it.
His paranoia about House Lyrandar, even if technically it's just a skybridge attaching to their tower, however, urges him to palm it quickly, and slip it onto a finger one-handedly -- Just in case if any-one might be observing him, he won't appear to be putting anything in his pocket.
Sleight of Hand check: 25 in case anyone is observing
Wounded Bird and Golden Ring taken care of,
this Halfing is headed home...
Starlan deftly slips the ring onto his finger as he takes off with Dragonheart.
He feels an electric buzz flow through his body. It's energizing, and not disturbing at all. Like the feeling after a sneeze, it runs through his entire body, coalescing at a point running across his shoulder-blades.
In addition, it is as if he is suddenly privy to a conversation being held entirely in his head.
cool!
OK, I'm assuming I got back to the garden with Dragonheart
as the conversations were drifting into my head.
Between the banter, I will have taken care of the bird, and maybe found a cousin running around who has a knack with animals, and can check in on the bird a couple times of day, so that I won't have to worry about it.
Back to my new best-friends-in-my-head...
Between all of you, you can muster enough healing (magical and otherwise) to take care of the wounded bird in time.
Starlan is free to concentrate on the telepathic demands of his new acquaintances. Dragonheart senses something is a little off with his master, but gives Starlan enough space to sort everything out.
Hearing such interesting information thru this ring,
I'd like investigate these other powers the others mention.
I felt the power coalesce on my shoulder, which seems to be the location of a mark.
Ellirayne suggested that touching it could activate some other power, which she felt was somehow Druidic. I'll see what effects I can discover, and share them with the others telepathically.
"All you need do is touch it with the intent to use the power contained within."