A little over an hour, you arrive at your next checkpoint.
The sounds of the forest become suddenly distant as the trees part, opening into a small, almost perfectly circular glade. The nearest stands of pine, eyln, and darkwood - all typically sturdy woods - twist away from the clearing, as if bent by some impossibly strong wind or seemingly in an attempt to flee despite their paralyzed roots. At the glade's center squats an ugly cottage, little more than a pile of twigs, shoots, and ivy stacked upon mud walls. From the thatched roof dangle bundles of gnarled roots, old dried beast carcasses, and knucklebone bangles, all clattering together like gruesome wind chimes. A dozen small thatched fetishes, each shaped like a tiny man, imp, or rearing serpent, stand propped in the yard, keeping guard before a rickety plank door.
"By the look, I would say this is the witch's humble abode. Shall we see if she has any rat tail?" Dorsera comments as she walks toward the unkempt hut.
Daegan strides up adjacent to Dorsera and nods in agreement, adding,
"Perhaps we should announce ourselves before tresspassing; having been isolated in these woods, alone for a time only she can recall, may have left her ill-tempered at anything she deems an intrusion."
Although his insight on the matter seems self-observed, Daegan does not follow through with his own suggestion, awaiting someone else's call to go forth. He takes note of the surroundings, and any adjustments to the terrain to suggest an alternative entrance to the cottage.
The moldering door has rotted off its hinges, but still blocks the way inside (STR check to open).
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"I humbly request that we tread carefully friends," Binjion cautions, "A witch is no small thing to trifle with and most of the old stories are most unpleasant. Better to be forewarned than forgone, my father always said."
Deelin reluctantly follows his companions to the threshold, bow and arrow in hand. I too find myself reluctant to enter here without permission, the stories I've heard best bear no repeating, he says as he crosses himself. He looks about carefully searching for signs of life.
"Outta the way, I'll open her fer ya!"
Dirktakes a few steps back toward a twisted tree and hunkers down into a sprint position.
"There'd better be a good fight in there..."
With that being said, Dirk charges at the door, slamming his shoulder into the door with all his might.
"Outta the way, I'll open her fer ya!"
Dirktakes a few steps back toward a twisted tree and hunkers down into a sprint position.
"There'd better be a good fight in there..."
With that being said, Dirk charges at the door, slamming his shoulder into the door with all his might.
Daegan reaches for the barbarian, attempting to deter him from his action.
"Wait, Dirk!" he shouts desperately. "We're not here to harm her! We're here to trade for wares or favor!"Daegan hoped he could stop Dirk in time.
Vs. Dirk's Touch AC
The door falls down easily against Dirk's charge. Inside, the dank cottage smells of mold, and is coated in shadows. Irregularly hung shelves line the walls, topped with jugs, bottles, carved rocks, rotted herbs, and such. A rusted iron cauldron sits in the middle of the room, standing three feet tall, its mouth almost five feet in diameter. Its surface is covered in ash, but a relief of fiends and devils is apparent.
On the other side of the cottage is a high-backed chair made of wicker, a very large animal's tusks, and thousands of humanoid teeth. In the chair is human-sized bundle, wrapped in burial linens, pungent herbs, and patches of thick while mold.
One rumor states the witch Ulizmila is a monstrous hag, descended from Baba Yaga, while another says that she was a harsh woman who would nonetheless share her secrets for debilitating costs. In fact, the local herbalist, Laurel, had a grandmother who is thought to have given up her sight in exchange for secrets from the witch.
After the rampaging Dwarfs charge Deelin is still rooted to the ground in trepidation while the dust settles. Well, that's creepy. Deelin says as he peers into the dark cottage. Do you think that could be her, he says, pointing at the burial shrouded figure in the wicker chair. I think she's dead.... he utters with some relief.
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"What and interesting way to go!" Binjion chimes in enthusiastically. "Be wary friends, all of the old stories speak of both Uzimilla's great power and her great cruelty in exacting a price for such power. The is a great desire in me to give the body a proper burial, but something deep within tells me that as strange as it is, this is what she wanted."
Well I for one, won't be touching her, while a look of disgust crosses his face. Do you think she'd mind if we had a bit of a look around for this rats tail stuff were looking for, he says as he edges up to the huts entrance peering inside.
Slowly following after Deelin and Binjion, Daegan steps into the room with his right hand on the hilt of his rapier, his left hand wrapped around the leather strap holding his satchel.
He glanced around at the surroundings, a look of disgust on his face from the stench of the dead mixed with the molded-covered spices.
"We should be careful not to disturb anything... at least until we find what we're looking for. The rat's tail is a pickled root... so chances are we're looking for a jar or mug, possibly sealed with some sort of fluid."
After twenty minutes of searching, you find the ingredient you're looking for. Sitting on one of the shelves, inside a jar, the root floats inside a liquid.
Dirk picks himself up off the dusty floor of the cottage, and brushes himself off.
"By The Forge, will yer look at tha'!" Dirk points at the human sized bundle wrapped in funeral linens. "I wonder what got her, and I wonder if it be still here."
Dirk looks around for anything dangerous in the cottage.
"It seems we have found what we came for. Best we leave soon, who knows what the witch has setup for trespassers." Dorsera wearily denotes, walking back toward the destroyed door.
"I have ter agree with yer there, Dorsera, whate'er got the with, might still be here, and if it ain't, then so be it, time to find another of those ingredients we need."
With that being said, Dirk walks out of the cottage and sits outside on a fallen log, humming tunelessly.
"All the old stories speak of Uzimilla always demanding a payment of some kind for her help. It is always more costly than what is sought. I suggest we leave a symbolic token to honor her spirit for the help her herb will bring. Does anything fitting come to mind?" he asks morosely.
After examining thoroughly the location where the jar was stationed, Daegan plucks the container froms its dusty/moldy home and opens his satchel to receive it.
Overhearing Binjion's words, the half-elf nods and appears to lose himself in thought for a moment.
"Well, depending on how lonely she was, perhaps the witch wouldn't mind a some company? Someone sporty and energetic... someone who likes to smash in doors to defenseless homes."
Placing his attempt at humor aside, Daegan considered the possessions he had witnessed around the witches hut, and regarded her taste in exotic materials.
"The dead do not care for worldly possessions, and I have nothing to give to someone that no longer lives among the living. My token, if anything, is to rid myself of this... standing grave."
On that note, Daegan starts for the door.
Just as Daegan starts for the door, the large, rusted cauldron in the middle of the abode animates. It moves and twists towards Daegan, attacking him, it's mouth widening and then immediately clamping shut towards's the apothecary's direction, grazing his armor, but otherwise doing no damage.
Hearing the cauldron come to life and make an attempt at attacking Daegan, Dorsera draws her crossbow and lets a bolt fly toward the cauldron.
Dirk hears the creak of metal coming from inside the cottage, noting that this sound like battle, Dirk rushes over to th door, almost barreling Dorsera over in his attempt to fight this thing.
"Finally, somethin' ter fight. Outta tha way, Dorsera, I'm goin' to make this thing regret ever living."
Not caring if this thing has actually ever lived before, Dirk pushes past Dorsera, readying his axe.
Initiate:
Daegan expects the worst as the cauldron animates and advances on his position.
Given the chance, he considers breaking for the opening [that once was the door leading out of the cottage].
Daegan tries to escape the fury of the cauldron, but gets pinches on the entire right side of his ribcage (4 non-lethal dmg) on his way out. Dorsera's bolt soars over the cauldron, as it again attacks, its mouth clamping down onto Binjion's leg this time (2 non-lethal dmg and grappled). Daegan squeaks by Dorsera on his way out while Dirk reaches the doorway and skirts by to confront the animated object (you can attack next round). Deelin begins to hightail it out of the clearing.
Initiative order:
Daegan, Dorsera
cauldron
Binjion, Dirk, Deelin
Stepping back fearfully from the unnatural sight, Deelin says I'm not sure whether this will damage its metal hide but oh well as he launches an arrow at the cauldron
Dorsera tosses her crossbow to the floor of the cottage and draws her morningstar moving up to bash the cauldron. "Hold on Binjion, we will get you free!"
Dirk again, starts to sweat and grow a few inches, his eyes going blank, a primal roar issue from his lips as he enhances his strength with primal fury.
Dirk steps toward the metallic opponent and swings his axe at the contraption, all thought disappearing, only battle remaining.
Daegan's scrape with the cauldron earns him several bruises, of which seem to slow him down considerably. He staggers out of the cottage in a tumble, the pickled jar still in his hand.
"The root was trapped! Save the caretaker!" he screams, trying to clear the door before anymore arrows are fired.
Once hes in the open, he deposits the jar into his satchel and fishes around for his rope. If it can't be harmed, perhaps it can be restrained, he thinks to himself.
Round 2
Deelin arrows slips past both Dirk and Dorsera, hitting the cauldron, but reflecting off harmlessly. Dorsera gets in position and bashes the animated object, bouncing the head of her morning star off the its iron hide and doing no noticable damage. Stubbornly gripping Binjion, the cauldron too-easily lifts the cleric, who can do nothing to stop it, off the ground, pulling him inside of it, closing its mouth and trapping Binjion. The large pot shakes violently, battering its victim (4 non-lethal dmg).
Dirk tries his metal against the cauldron's. The blade of his axe doesn't quite hit squarely, skipping off the rounded-body of its target and failing to do any destruction to the construct.
Dirk screams a primal scream, angering at missing the opponent. He grips his axe tighter and swings yet again, waves of heat rising in a shimmer above his head, like the heat shimmers above a rock in summer.
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A muffled wail escapes the cauldron as the cleric is thrashed about within, "If anyone can here me," he pleads, "Someone please pull me out of here. I fear there is little more of this punishment I can endure. When I suggested we leave an offering for the witch I didn't suggest I be dinner!"
Tears begin to run down the man's face as he fights for his life to be free of the animated cauldron.
Dorsera starts frantically trying to think of something that will have some effect. She then takes a step back and recites a quick prayer to Milani while grasping her holy symbol "Defender of freedom, please grant this weapon your grace and power." Dorsera's morningstar begins to glow.
Good idea Daegan, Deelin says before dropping his bow and setting off into the cottage. Quick someone help me get Binjion out of here. Deelin says through gritted teeth as he grabs onto the old mans flailing hands and starts trying to pull him out.
"What and interesting way to go!" Binjion chimes in enthusiastically. "Be wary friends, all of the old stories speak of both Uzimilla's great power and her great cruelty in exacting a price for such power. The is a great desire in me to give the body a proper burial, but something deep within tells me that as strange as it is, this is what she wanted."
Daegan barely heard the caretaker's screams as hes swallowed up by the cauldron. Desperation appears in his eyes as the half-elf searches franticly for something else in his satchel, the rope coiled imperfectly in his hands.
"The herbs inside the shop are nearly priceless; we'll be hard-pressed to leave something that's worth more than this little rat-tail root... unless... ."
Daegan uncovers one of the other jars in his satchel. He drops his rope to his feet, and examines the empty container, producing the pickled root in his other hand. He begins to wave each jar in opposite hands, as if he were weighing them.
He attempts to examine the jar for any indication of tampering - or possible arcane inscription.
Perception
Round 3
The cauldron ignores Dorsera as she enchants her weapon, intent on its prey. It shakes and rattles some more, knocking Binjion out cold, then spitting him out, onto the floor adjacent (3 non-lethal damage). Dirk swings and hit air, while Deelin reaches through the threshold, grabs onto the unconscious Binjion's arm, and drags him outside the cottage.
Dirk, his swings missing, angers and roars at the cauldron, foam forming in the corners of his mouth.
Dirk swings again, angering at second that passes with this thing still alive.
Gathering up his bow and the unconscious Undertaker, Deelin starts heading for the treeline. Maybe we should be away from this accursed place if we've got what we came for. That things hides too thick to hurt and the gods only know how to stop such an unholy appliance from bouncing about.
Dorsera sees the cauldron spit Binjion onto the floor unconscious and rage fills her heart. "You will harm no more of my companions!"
Gathering up his bow and the unconscious Undertaker, Deelin starts heading for the treeline. Maybe we should be away from this accursed place if we've got what we came for. That things hides too thick to hurt and the gods only know how to stop such an unholy appliance from bouncing about.
Daegan sees Deelin dragging the Caretaker from the cottage and immediately stows the jars. With one swift move, he reaches for the rope at his feet, and then finds himself reaching for Binjion's other arm; the wiry half-elf appears much stronger than his gaunt frame initially indicated as he deftly aides Deelin's effort.
"We flee the area - we have what we came for. <looking to Binjion and nodding towards a level patch of field> Over here, quickly."
Round 4
Daegan and Deelin drag Binjion's body across the clearing towards the woods. Dorsera swings her weapon and connects solidly, causing a modest-sized dent in the cauldron. The rusted iron object retaliates, looking to catch Dorsera's arm, but fails. Dirk strikes the cauldron, barely nicking it's hide.
Dorsera swings again, lost in the fury of battle.
Crazy rolls. Not sure if it is critable.