Your trip back to Oleg's is uneventful, although at one point you think you hear something.
Are you bringing your captive and do you want to ask him anything?
Your return is greeted with enthusiasm from Oleg and Svetlana and also from Jhod and a wry smile from Kesten. Oleg turns a little pale when it turns out that you haven't found Svetlana's ring, but he's happy that they don't have to worry about the bandits any more.
Making their way back to camp, Mim's keen senses stay aware of what is going on arund him. The dwarf had enough experience with bandits to know that they always hit when a group is loaded down with goods.
Stopping, with one hand at his side and the other placed comfortably on Pip's shoulder, Mim gazes intently into the woods as he said, "Hold up lads. Thought I heart something in tha woods. Something like a giggle or the likes." Standing for a minute as he tried to spot the source of the sound, Mim continued walking, thinking it better to explore that area once the group was fully rested.
On the way back, Worryn asks the bandit about Svetlana's Ring, the earrings, the music box, and the liquor.
-----
Worry glances around, but does not hear whatever alerted Mim. "Sorry, Mim, I don't hear it either. Let us know if you hear it again."
The bandit is rather talkative. "Well, most of the stuff was from passing merchants. We didn't really ask for their names - if we left them alive, so it would be hard to give the stuff back. The rotgut is for the boss. He swears by the stuff, drinking himself into a stupor. He's not half the man he used to be, I swear to you, but you still wouldn't like to cross him, and I sure am glad not to be near if he doesn't get his liquor. About the ring you're asking, I don't know. There was a bunch of mites that stole a couple of bags of trinkets just yesterday. I guess they went back to their lair under the sycamore, but none of the stuff was really worth the bother getting back."
It takes two days at 20 feet speed to explore one hex, 1 day if you can get your speed up to 30 or more. Which hex would you like to start with?
"Mites in an ol' sycamore ye say?" Running his hands over his beard, he thinks for a minute on what he knows about mites.
|
Hearing the nature of Worryn's enquiries, Magnus pipes up,
"Didn't Oleg lose furs to the bandits? If these Furs aren't his, he might like them anyway as compensation.".
When he hears about the Mites, he adds,
"Mites! Little vermin! Surprised you let them hang about. My father had to deal with an infestation once. He said they are always stealing stuff and quite dangerous to the unprepared."
As you travel southeast you notice in exploring, that there is an unusual amount of bones strewn around: boars, deer, bears and a few humans.
Riding on the back of Maribel, the roan he walked into the outpost with, Mim plodded along with the others, Pip moving about 15feet to the side of the horses. When the group came upon the bones, Mim said "Whoa thee little Mari. Just a few bones." Also wary of the large number and variety of bones, Mim scans the area, looking for anything dangerous.
Worryn also slows down and pulls his crossbow, fitting a bolt into the groove. He continues moving forward, scanning around for anything out of the ordinary.
|
|
Magnus unconsciously pats Mjolnir as he whinnies and mutters soothing words while scanning the area.
"What kills Bears and Humans?" he asks. "Bears are pretty tough customers, anything that can kill them on a regular basis is not to be dismissed lightly." he tightens his grip on his lance and shifts uneasily.
Suddenly a huge red and black spider the size of a pony darts out, bites Maribel in the flank for 2 points of damage and darts back to its hidey-hole.
Initiatives, please. If you beat 8 you can take an action.
Worryn fires his crossbow at the spider!
Horse neighing in fright, Mim nearly tumbles from his saddle. Fortunately, his way with animals helps him to calm the beast down before it bucked him form the saddle. While Mim drew his pick, Pip, whose weapons are always ready to bear, lunges at the spider as it retreats.
Since the spider has cover while in its lair, none of your attacks hits. The spider itself lashes out at Pip, who's the only one in reach, but Pip's thick fur protects him.
You are up again.
Worryn reloads and waits to fire until the spider shows itself again!
The spider is still too well protected, and Pip also misses, while Mim delays.
The spider bites Pip for 5 points of damage, and then you are all up again.
Grumbling to himself, Mim commands Pip to back off as he too backs Maribel away from where the spider hid before getitng off his horse, pick axe still out.
The spider runs out and tries to bite Pip yet again, triggering readied actions from at least Pip, Worryn and Magnus. You may take a shot at it.
Lashing out as the spider approached, Pip attempts to maul the creature.
Worryns bolt finds its target and Magnus manages to get behind it as Pip bites off one of the front legs. Wounded and surrounded, the spider turns around and bites Magnus, but his armor proves too much for it.
You are up again, finally having lured it out.
Magnus drops the torch and pulls out his Greataxe, the swings at the spider.
but his blow bounces off the spiders tough skin.
Worryn reloads and fires another bolt at the spider.
... and the bolt flies over the monstrous arachnid!
"Keep at it Pip!" Mim shouts as he moves in, swinging his pick axe, aiming for the body of the large arachnid. Pip listens to Mim, lashing out with a bite.
Mim:
Pip:
Your combined efforts hack the spider to pieces.
|
|
"Ha! that was some fight, eh! blasted thing wouldn't stand still! At least we know what killed all these creatures. I wonder if there are any more of these spiders? Perhaps we should look around. let's also check the bodies for any personal effects, so that we can pass them on to the rightful owners!"
The spider's nest is a shaft, that's pretty easy to climb (DC 10). A few bodies lie at the bottom of the shaft, including the body of a dead bandit, still dressed in leather armor and carrying a short sword and 10 gp. He also wears about his neck a silver Stag Lord amulet worth 20 gp.
Worryn stows his crossbow and climbs down into the nest to continue the search.
"Comrades, this bandit has a small hand-written note that appears to be a map!"
Keeping an eye out while Worryn went into the hole, when the ranger returned, Mim replies, "What got me more interested is dis medallion. Dis must be the symbol of the Stag Lord dat bandit talked about. What, he think himself some kind of god or something?"
Worryn climbs back out and examines the note. With a grin, he replies, "Well, 'x' usually marks the spot. Perhaps we'll find some buried treasure!"
More seriously, he indicates the medallion. "If this Stag Lord does think himself a god, then it seems like it's up to us to correct him."
You are able to search the rest of the spider's hex and bed down for the night without incident. As you wake the next day, where do you want to go?
You continue your explorations to the NE, east of Oleg's and in the afternoon you come across a tiny hut. An old man sticks his head out as you approach, blinking. His manner brings to mind a nervous bird, and his hands flutter all over the place as he speaks.
"Visitors, heh? What brings you to old Bokken? You want potions perhaps? I'm all but out of fangberries, I'm afraid, but I still got some."
He breaks off suddenly and stares at you.
His eyebrow raising, Mim's face slits into a big grin as he notices the similarities to a small sparrow. "Well met Old'n. Tha name is Mim and this furr ball here is Pip. These other two young'ns are Worryn and Magnus. Please, show us yer wares and we will see if something interests us enough ta buy."
"Aye, well met indeed. Out of curiosity, you wouldn't know of a claw-shaped tree atop a barren hill, would you?"
"Oh, I get along. Far better out here. Not too far into the woods. Nasty things live down there. Had a brother once, but we fell out."
He holds up his right hand which is missing his pinky finger. "Bastard took that off me the last time he hit my mother, Desna rest her soul. Took off south to live in a hollow tree. Was going to come after him, but... as I said, nasty things live down there. You're not going south, are you? There is a large patch of fangberries growing some 55 miles southwest of Oleg's I'm told."
He eagerly shows you his supply of potions. He's got two Cure Light Wounds, two Endure Elements and one Cure Moderate Wounds, but he says he can make them on demand if he only knows the spell.
"Well Old'n. We'll be sure ta keep an eye out fer both yer berries and yer brother. By tha way..." Pulling out the Staglord medallion that the group had found, "...ye happen ta know anything about this Staglord fella. We been running into some o' his man, all wearing this strange medal. But we have no idea who his guy be."
The old man scratches his head. "Sure, Oleg pays well, but why not cut out the middle man, I say. Staglord, staglord... nope, none of my customers."
"Interesting, if we do come across these fangberries and gathered some for you, what would it be worth to you? Perhaps a trade of some sort?"