Impressed by his Little Teacher's thrilling display of acrobatics, Helios dives out of the crowd and onto the ground next to Risl. "You can count on me to keep the community safe Mayor, I'm in!" he shouts as he props himself up from the dusty ground with a huge smile.
Alton reaches out his hand to Risl to help her up.
Talis weaves her way through the crowd, readjusting her backpack as a strap threatens to slip over her shoulder. She watches Alton, Risl, and Helios as they respond to the mayor's traditional entreatment, a half-smile on her lips. She steps next to Risl as Alton offers to help the gnome up from the ground. "Aye, Mayor Uptal. I am one who would help to bear this flame's light, to banish the threats of darkened heart and winter-chill." Talis nods to the mayor, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
After the brief pause, the Mayor beckons for all four to approach. "Talis, you say you would help bear the light, and for that I choose you as the lanterns bearer," He picks up the tarnished lantern, "Use this to bring back a fragment of the everflame and light our town through the dark winter ahead." Once she accepts the lantern he moves over to the cart, "These are the goods sacrificed by the town, they represent the effort of the commonfolk to support those who would risk their lives on such a perilous journey. There is a package for each of you, and a backpack, should you need it."
The mayor once again speaks to the townsfolk. “I present to you the brave heroes who will follow in Kassen’s footsteps to retrieve the Everflame! Some of them may not return, but I say to you that their sacrifice shall not be forgotten. Go, brave heroes, and do not return until you have the eternal fire.” With that, the mayor points to the south, the direction of Kassen’s tomb. The townsfolk begin waving goodbye with cold, solemn looks on most of their faces.
Helios gathers up his gift from the townspeople, looks about in the crowd for Sir Dramott and if he spots him, gives a final wave before he turns south, waits for his companions to be ready, and departs.
Talis nods once more to Mayor Uptal and accepts the lantern. "I thank you for honoring me, a mere newcomer to these lands. I shall strive to sow goodwill between this village and the wander-ways of my people."
Examining the package, she packs most of its contents tightly into her backpack; the potion and map-piece disappear into her belt pouch. Satisfied that the pack is secure, she attempts to shoulder it.
Talis neglects to take all the extra weight into account; she stumbles gracelessly, nearly falling to her side. She manages to catch her footing and stands up--arms outstretched for balance--with a hiss of embarassment. Her face reddens, her teeth clench, and a strained grin (or grimace) paints her features.
Helios takes note of Talis's troubles and offers to help carry her pack.
Talis smiles sheepishly and manages to pry the pack from her shoulders, lift it to Helios, and let him take it. "Thank you, Squire Amrek. You have lightened my load considerably." She digs her crossbow out of the pack, loads it, and regards her party-mates. "Shall we be off, then?"
Alton loads the items into his pack and shoulders it, looking at the crowd he says "Thank you for the supplies, they will help us in our journey." He turns to the others "I am ready when you are."
Risl thanked the others for their help as she stood from the ground. She brushed herself off as she moved toward the Mayor, though she's so dirty anyways, it hardly made a difference.
She watched as each of her companions gained a package, and as hers is placed in her hands, squeals with excitement. Rarely had Risl been given anything; she had to forage for, or build anything she had needed living alone in the forest. Risl tore through the twine holding the package together, scrambling to see what was inside.
Risl opened her backpack which was already filled with various items for the journey, and one by one placed each of the new items inside after thoroughly inspecting them. She was so engrossed in finding the perfect spot for all her new goodies, that she didn't even hear the Mayor hint to how dangerous the upcoming journey might truly be.
Once everything was placed, she swung the backpack over her shoulders, with fairly little trouble. She tightened her leather armor with a grimace, following Alton's example, even though she hated the constrained feeling it presented. Grabbing her club and quarterstaff, Risl whistled a series of high pitched notes, and Ooro dove down from the air to perch on her custom gauntlet.
Waving her ornately decorated quarterstaff in the air, the gnome skipped up behind the rest of the group, exclaiming with way too much naive excitement, "Let's go!"
Talis laughs despite herself, her previous embarassment banished by Risl's enthusiasm. "Southward, we go! Alton, let us sing a wander-song! I doubt you know this one, but my people favored it when beginning a journey. My voice is not as fine as yours, but it should be simple for you to pick up--after the first verse, or so." She clears her throat, hums to find the right note, and begins a song of far-roads and waiting lovers.
The crypt is located roughly 40 miles south of Kassen, leaving in the morning the group should arrive midday tomorrow. Despite its name, the Fangwood is known for being relatively safe. After the first two hours of the journey the sun has risen properly and burned away most of the autumn mist.
Risl bounds ahead of the others looking under every rock and listening to every tree. Now in the forest she appears carefree and childlike, full of joy. Helios tries to stay a few steps behind her, laden by his two packs. Just behind him Alton and Talis match his pace. The silent form of Ooro is seen flying from tree to tree once the group has moved far enough.
The narrow path winds through the raking claws of the trees, now bereft of their leaves, which crunch loudly underfoot. Up ahead, a fallen tree trunk blocks the path. Suddenly a trio of snarling humanoids leaps up from behind the log, all greenish skin and fearsome tusks, bellowing vulgar challenges.
Helios
Risl
Talis
Orcs
(16) Talis
(13) Helios
(8) Risl
(2) Orcs
Helios is no friend of orcs and upon seeing them burst out of the woods he knows that they must be dispatched quickly lest they hurt his newfound friends. He charges to the frontlines and attacks with an overhead slash!
"By all the gods, these are ugly fellows!" Talis calls out, following with a colorful Varisian curse. Not wanting to become orc-meat, she makes a beeline toward a nearby tree, crunching through the underbrush that surrounds the trunk. Leaning against the trunk, she mutters a few arcane words and produces a bit of cured leather, touching it to her forehead. An unseen field of protective energy washes over her like a second skin.
Alton steps forward, shirking his pack from his shoulders and drawing his equipment. "We've no quarrel with you."
Risl spotted the orcs immediately as she unwittingly danced her way into the area, ahead of all her companions. Frightened by the group of orcs, having not expected anything to happen so soon, she turned to run. As she did, she witnessed her companions readying themselves for a possible fight, and Helios charging forward to attack the orcs right off the bat.
Risl took a deep breath and turned around. She pressed her eyes shut and tilted her face toward the sky, whispering something unintelligable and listening very carefully. After a brief pause, she suddenly snapped her head forward, determination in her eyes. Risl now knew what to do.
She called out a loud command, "Ooro, assist Helios!" As she did, Risl knelt to the ground and pressed both of her palms to the cool earth, her eyes focused intensely toward the orcs. "Forest flora, hear my call, bind my enemies to your soil where they stand!"
As Risl dug her fingers and hands into the earth, thick vines sprouted from the ground at the feet of the orcs, their tendrils creeping their way upwards.
Round 1, Forest Path
Alton steps forward, shirking his pack from his shoulders and drawing his equipment. "We've no quarrel with you."
"By all the gods, these are ugly fellows!" Talis calls out, following with a colorful Varisian curse. Not wanting to become orc-meat, she makes a beeline toward a nearby tree, crunching through the underbrush that surrounds the trunk. Leaning against the trunk, she mutters a few arcane words and produces a bit of cured leather, touching it to her forehead. An unseen field of protective energy washes over her like a second skin.
Helios is no friend of orcs and upon seeing them burst out of the woods he knows that they must be dispatched quickly lest they hurt his newfound friends. He charges to the frontlines and attacks with an overhead slash!
Helios sweeps the blow down to the orc on his right. It crashes through leather, flesh and bone, dark blood spraying over the paladin. As he pulls the blade free the orc still stands, fury in it's eyes.
Risl spotted the orcs immediately as she unwittingly danced her way into the area, ahead of all her companions. Frightened by the group of orcs, having not expected anything to happen so soon, she turned to run. As she did, she witnessed her companions readying themselves for a possible fight, and Helios charging forward to attack the orcs right off the bat.
Risl took a deep breath and turned around. She pressed her eyes shut and tilted her face toward the sky, whispering something unintelligible and listening very carefully. After a brief pause, she suddenly snapped her head forward, determination in her eyes. Risl now knew what to do.
She called out a loud command, "Ooro, assist Helios!" As she did, Risl knelt to the ground and pressed both of her palms to the cool earth, her eyes focused intensely toward the orcs. "Forest flora, hear my call, bind my enemies to your soil where they stand!"
As Risl dug her fingers and hands into the earth, thick vines sprouted from the ground at the feet of the orcs, their tendrils creeping their way upwards.
The two unarmed orcs tear their feet away from the grasping roots and grass. The last finds himself being held to the ground.
Ooro flies from his branch, darting through the trees and scythes his beak at the injured orc.
His beak connects and tears at the orcs throat, the creature falls to the ground dead. After the strike the owl hoots softly and looks about as if confused.
The middle orc steps around the rock and swings it's ax sideways at Helios.
The blow is brutal, cutting a huge gash in Helios' side.
Once the orcs attack is complete the roots at it's feet shoot up and wrap around tightly.
The final orc carefully moves through reaching roots and brings a vicious attack to the paladin.
Helios is still bleeding heavily from the first blow as the blade of the axe sweeps down strikes his head from his body. The paladin's body falls to the ground and his head rolls to a stop next to the rock in the road.
"PAH! HUMANS! We will feast on dis one!" shouts the orc standing over Helios' body.
The grass underfoot works meekly to entagle the orc, but fails.
Orc 2 - unharmed
Orc 3 - unharmed
Forest Path (map)
Alton focuses his will on his blade, giving it a blue tinge along the edge. He rushes forward, swinging his sword in a wide arc to bring down the orc that killed Helios "You will pay for that foul beast"
Risl gasps with horror as Helios is ripped asunder by the orcs. She hadn't known him long, but she couldn't help but hold a soft spot for the simple brute who had sworn to protect her. Somehow, Risl felt as if she had failed him in some way.
Anger rose up in her body as she clambered to her feet. She simultaneously pulled her sling from her pack and moved a bit closer to the orcs. Risl began aiming at the entangled orc, her arms unsteady from the rush of adrenaline and ire toward the pair as she called out, "Ooro! The one caught in the vines. Go!"
She was ready to release the sling, but took pause as the orc spoke. After the orc swore to eat the remains of her companion, the tiny gnome went from angry to truly pissed off, and suddenly found her arms steadied and her aim improved.
Risl narrowed her eyes and let the bullet fly toward the prone orc.
Talis peers around the trunk, just as the orc fells Helios with its savage attack. Anger swells up within her, but she bites it back and concentrates her anger on the closest of the surviving orcs. "May your trip to the nether-realms be filled with horrors," she whispers as she takes aim and looses a bolt.
Round 2, Forest Path
Alton focuses his will on his blade, giving it a blue tinge along the edge. He rushes forward, swinging his sword in a wide arc to bring down the orc that killed Helios "You will pay for that foul beast" The attack carves a wicked slash across the orcs shoulder and chest, it stands despite the wound.
Talis peers around the trunk, just as the orc fells Helios with its savage attack. Anger swells up within her, but she bites it back and concentrates her anger on the closest of the surviving orcs. "May your trip to the nether-realms be filled with horrors," she whispers as she takes aim and looses a bolt. Alton and the orc are trying to strike each other, and in trying not to hit the duelist the bolt goes wide and is lost in the forest.
Helios is dead.
Risl gasps with horror as Helios is ripped asunder by the orcs. She hadn't known him long, but she couldn't help but hold a soft spot for the simple brute who had sworn to protect her. Somehow, Risl felt as if she had failed him in some way.
Anger rose up in her body as she clambered to her feet. She simultaneously pulled her sling from her pack and moved a bit closer to the orcs. Risl began aiming at the entangled orc, her arms unsteady from the rush of adrenaline and ire toward the pair as she called out, "Ooro! The one caught in the vines. Go!"
She was ready to release the sling, but took pause as the orc spoke. After the orc swore to eat the remains of her companion, the tiny gnome went from angry to truly pissed off, and suddenly found her arms steadied and her aim improved.
Risl narrows her eyes and lets the bullet fly toward the entangled orc. It strikes him square in the side of the head with a loud crack.
Her eyes go wide as the sling stone falls to the ground. There was something completely wrong with the way it struck the orc and how he reacted. Now that she looks it appears to fade to a shadow. The one she struck must have been an illusion.
Ooro swoops towards the next orc and attacks with his beak again. The orc ducks as the owl approaches and voids the slash.
Shaking his head, the stone struck orc moves to Alton's side and slashes wildly trying to get him off balance.
The vines continue to pull at the orc, there are now some on his arms hindering attacks.
Bleeding, angry, and staggered from the wound the remaining orc slashes his large ax at the duelist.
Alton's efforts to avenge his fallen companion come to an end. While dodging the first orc's attacks his defenses are dropped just enough that the second one strikes true. Blood and viscera spray from a jagged wound across his abdomen. The arcane duelist has fallen to the ground beside the paladin. Roots and grass tear at the save orc entangling the creature.
Orc 2 - stoned, entangled
Orc 3 - slashed, entangled, staggered
Forest Path (map)
Risl whipped around to her right, immediately facing Talis. She had witnessed another of her companions fall by the hands of what had originally seemed to be a group of orcs. As the realization of what had just happened fully set in, she alerted Talis, "The orc! It's an illusion! No wonder my bullet missed and Ooro couldn't bite him. Still, they're down, one of them must be real!"
With that, she gave another series of sharp whistles as she began to load up her sling, "Ooro, set your talons upon the other orc! Tear him to shreds!"
Risl turned back toward the orcs and concentrated hard at aiming her sling perfectly at the third orc. With a whispered prayer to the Forest Spirits, she again let the bullet fly.
Talis meets Risl's gaze for a brief moment and nods at her insistence that illusory magics are afoot. She steels herself and quickly steps southward from the safety of the tree, winding her way through Risl's animated vines. Talis utters a harsh arcane phrase and points at the orc that felled Alton, a mad dance in her eyes. "There are things worse than death I can inflict you with!" she shrieks to the orc, her smile becoming skull-like in its intensity.
Round 3, Forest Path
The bard continues to bleed, but is still breathing.
Talis meets Risl's gaze for a brief moment and nods at her insistence that illusory magics are afoot. She steels herself and quickly steps southward from the safety of the tree, winding her way through Risl's animated vines. Talis utters a harsh arcane phrase and points at the orc that felled Alton, a mad dance in her eyes. "There are things worse than death I can inflict you with!" she shrieks to the orc, her smile becoming skull-like in its intensity.
"Bwwaahh!!! Devil woman!" the orc bellows as Talis strides from the woods. It bolts into the forest moving as quickly as it can. Once it is beyond the first tree it fades from sight.
The final orc gives a wide smile, does a short jig and fades from existence. The orc corpse melts into the ground, and the wounds on both Helios and Alton vanish. The two lay on the ground and appear to be sleeping fitfully.
ZZZZzzzzzz
Risl did her signature wobbly gnome waddle-run up to the men, extremely happy they were alive, but also concerned for what this may have done to them. She dropped to her knees between the men and gently shook each of them.
"Wake up?" Risl uttered it as if she didn't quite believe that they were still alive. After that kind of illusion, she really didn't know what to believe.
At Risl's prompting the two passed out companions suddenly awake. They lay there in the dust without a cut or wound on them.
Helios opens his eyes and sees his Little Teacher above him. One of the Ghost Orcs must have knocked him out and she must have vanquished them. Once again he is impressed with her prowess in battle; regular Orcs are tough enough to fight, but knowing that she was able to so handily deal with these Ghost Orcs just goes to show how much of an unstoppable killing machine she really is. He makes a mental note not to get on her bad side. As he sits up he says, "Those Ghost Orcs sure packed a punch. Glad we're through with them. You guys ready to get back on the road?"
Talis shakes her head in disbelief. She walks to where Risl as she shakes the men awake and smiles ruefully. "Aye, Helios. I suppose I'm as ready to return to the road as I'll ever be. You and Alton gave me a scare, truth be told."
She drops to a knee, lightly touching Alton's arm. "Hey, big boy, are you here among the living?" She turns her attention to the gnome. "If this was a glamer, who did the witchery? I didn't think that orcs had the brains for magics such as these."
Alton snapped awake and pushed himself up from the ground. "What exactly just happened?" Alton moved to his pack and picked it up, scanning the nearby area for any signs of a source of the spell.
[ooc]Alton casts detect magic and looks around.
Perception check:
The center of the path has a faint lingering aura of illusion magic. Alton detects a two more auras deeper in the forest at the edge of his spell. One is illusion and the other is transmutation, just as Alton detects them though they disappear. As the wind blows there is a familiar scent of Holgast 's pipe smoke carried through the air.
After dealing with the illusionary orcs, the new adventurers are able to travel for several hours in peace. Following the map is relatively easy, at least for Risl. She seems able to figure out exactly where they are and where they are going just by glancing at the map and the surrounding woods. At noon the group stops for a short lunch, eating a a few strips of dried meat and preserved fruit. A cold wind begins to rattle through the leafless forest as they continue. There is now no sign of civilization in sight. If not for the map and Risl's keen sense of direction it would be difficult to find a way back to the town.
With three or four hours left of light the map leads to the shores of the Gray Lake, an ideal spot to refill waterskins and take a short rest. The trees thin, revealing a field of short, green grass that leads to the shores of a wide, calm lake reflecting the overcast sky above. A dense fog hangs over the center of the lake, obscuring the far side. Near the shore of the lake, a dark form lies next to the water.
Risl pulled the map out of her bag once again as she noticed the forest coming to an end. She could likely find her way anywhere she needed to go without the map in the forest, but to make the others feel more comfortable, she had used the map anyways. She looked up to Ooro has he soared above her, becoming increasingly nervous as the trees became increasingly sparse.
Looking down at the map without really looking over at the lake, she nodded and stopped, pointing out rather uselessly, "We're here. It's marked on the map, I wonder what they wanted from a la..." She cut herself off as she finally looked at the damn lake. She caught one glimpse of that fog and the dark form and immediately felt stupid for even questioning why they were sent here. It really should have been obvious, considering what they had experienced earlier.
Risl took a deep breath and took a few steps back into the group, finding a nice, safe-looking spot beneath the arch of Helos's legs. She sent out Ooro to take a closer look at the dark form with her typical series of whistles. After, Risl looked to the other two in the group, "Any thoughts?" It was not unintentional that she hadn't asked Helios for his thoughts as well; she hoped that due to her nervous leg-clinging, he wouldn't notice.
Talis regards Risl with a quizzical stare, eventually raising her gaze to Helios. "Please, my pack?" she asks, her hands outstretched.
After retrieving her backpack from the paladin, she begins to dig out her tent as she speaks. "After yon owl surveys the shore, I would set up camp here, for the evening. Between the five of us, I wager we can set up a watch that would stymie potential foes, be they beast or orc, mind-phantom or otherwise."
She clucks her tongue at Emrys as she unthreads him from round her neck. As he coils around her hand she rubs his head with her thumb, looking into his unblinking eyes. "See what you can from your dust-crawl, Emrys, but ware the owl's talons. After, find yourself a wood-mouse for your supper." Talis releases him into the grass; his pale green scales glint in the fading light as he weaves his way to the lakeshore.
The form is that of a decaying body, the clothes are tattered and one hand reaches out with a waterskin. Ooro is able to spot the glint of fine steel laying near the body and Emrys nudges a fallen coin pouch near the mans waist. The animals can only report so much about the body. Before returning to Risl the owl spots what looks to be the remains of a campsite half a mile down the shore.
"Helios, shall we take a closer look?" Alton begins to move toward the lake, drawing his sword as he moves.
"That sound like a good idea, Alton." says Helios as he draws his greatsword and advances towards the corpse. Assuming nothing eventful happens in the interim, Helios bends a knee and examines the body.
Helios finds a finely crafted short sword laying on the ground just outside of the dead man's reach. The coin pouch is heavy with gold, and it is immediately apparent that there are too many pieces for the paladin to count without slow and accurate stacking involved. The smell of the body is still faintly present in the air when near it. At this point there is not much left besides rotten clothing, armor, taught skin, hair, and bones. Only someone familiar with anatomy would be able to accurately describe what might have happened to this man.
Risl lifted her arm into the air as the owl alighted onto her gauntlet. She furrowed her brow after a series of hoots and ruffles from Ooro, "It doesn't look good."
She followed Alton and the rest down to the body, gagging at the scent of decaying flesh. She pulled a flower from the garland in her hair and pressed it to her nose to avoid having to smell it any longer. "I should at least check and see how long he's been dead. Maybe I can figure out what did him in. I've seen a lot of death in the Forests, from many different things."
Risl inspected the man's body, contorting her face here and there as she poked and prodded with a large stick; more long, than thick, really, as she didn't want to get too close to the corpse.
From her inspection Risl determines that the man likely died of the very large and fatal bite marks covering his upper torso. There is more skin than would be expected on a corpse laying at the waters edge and this is likely attributed to some sort of poison within the body at the time of death. Risl remembers seeing a rat killed by a snake lay curiously untouched by other vermin for days. Based on the stage of decomposition he has probably been dead for a few months.
Risl purses her lips as she comes to the final conclusions of what brought around the end of this man, "The rat, like this man, was not tasty." She only half-explained the rest of her comment, expecting them all to perfectly deduce what she meant. She rattled off the rest of her diagnoses as she bounded toward the campsite. There wasn't anything left for her to do, and the gnome certainly wasn't going to stay around to keep the dead guy company. Whatever other business they had with his shiny things, was their business.
Risl arrived to the campsite, Ooro in the lead and began poking around it curiously.
Helios was a bit confused, but decided that this man's belongings would be best put to good use rather than rotting in the middle of a forest. He grabs up the coin pouch and the blade. "We can split up this coin along with any other we find when we get back into town. Does anyone have use of this blade? If not, I can hold onto it for the time being so as not to weigh the rest of you down.
"Does anybody recognize this man?" asks Talis as she squints at the decaying face in concentration.
After examining the corpse, she extends a hand to Helios. "I would examine this blade. It may be enchanted, or merely of fine craftsmanship."
Alton looks the dead body over, searching for any clues as to his identity. "Quite a way to go, even if the body is older we should still be wary of what caused this." After his search Alton looks around, "We should find a place to bury him I suppose. Anyone bring a shovel?"
Helios hands the blade over to Talis to inspect.
"No shovel here. We could always come back?"
It is difficult to tell for sure but Talis and Alton come to an agreement that the man was not from Kassen. No one had been reported missing in the last six months, and what features remain are not familiar at all. He might have been a foreign trapper or traveler who became lost.
Aside from a few tatters there is nothing remaining on the body. When Helios puts away the coins he notices that they are newly minted from the capital city of Tamran; they bear the likeness of Forest Marshal Gavirk, nominal leader of Nirmathas. Helios remembers seeing him in a parade, his armor was particularly shiny. Talis hands the sword back to him after determining it is not magical. It is however masterwork and bears the stamp of Braggar Ironhame, Kassen's resident dwarven blacksmith. His goods are known throughout the country for their quality. The perfect balance and fine etchings on the blade mark it of excellent quality, worthy to be worn at the side of a knight.
Meanwhile Risl investigates the nearby campsite. It was a simple one when it was used. Several logs had been rolled around a fire pit. There are several cleared spots on the ground for tents, it was likely made by half a dozen men around the time of the dead fellows demise. She finds a small pile of seasoned wood gathered and waiting to be used for a fire. The cold autumn winds are still blowing and with the lake nearby seem even chillier
"Let's settle down for the night. We'll have a full day ahead of us in the morning. I can take first watch duty," Helios suggests.
Risl ushered in the others after rifling around the small campsite, It doesn't look like this is worrisome. In fact, look! They left us some firewood. Isn't that kind of them, to have thought of us all this time later?"
She unhitched her blanket and bedroll from her pack and rolled it out, claiming a spot for her own. "If someone wants to roll those big logs over here, I can light them on fire, it's getting a little cold." As she sat down to enjoy some of her day's rations, Risl couldn't help but think how creepy it was to be camping not so far away from a dead body. She kept thinking about that rat, that damn dead rat that nothing would touch after the snake had its way with it. A chill overcame the small gnome as she continued pondering the demise of the unlucky poisoned fellow.
At Helios' offer for first watch, she added, "I will take third watch, when it is darkest. I've got good eyes for the dark."