Bydar follows and while others are ready for an attack, he observes the structures with what he knows of such things.
Bydar almost loses himself in visions of how the ferry station could not only be repaired but also improved beyond its bare, frontier functionality.
However, Bydar focuses his attention upon observations that someone has recently been making very crude, untrained repairs to one of the buildings - blocking breaks in the walls with sticks and rotted planks, stuffing leaves into holes in the roof.
Cenna is the first to spot movement within the poorly repaired building, and Lord Christian then catches sight of the source. There appears to be a child trying to watch you without being seen, although she has not evaded your eyes.
Taking little at face value, Cenna explores around a corner - out of the child’s sight - and quickly weaves a spell around herself. Cloaked from sight, she moves back around the corner and approaches the child slowly to get a better look at them… the building’s interior, and anyone else that might be living there.
Bydar at first beams, "This has so much potential..." He starts to say then realizing that someone here is already working on things, albeit in a crude fashion, he says in a softer tone "Someone else is here...some very primitive repairs have been tried.. recently."
...wait for some details...
Christian picks up on the inhabitants and continues as if nothing has changed.
I agree with the potential. This crossing could bring a bit of stability to the region. Maybe even a small settlement. Housing and a small inn could bring merchants a reprieve on their way to the city. Of course, we would have to house guards here to maintain the law and keep the citizens safe. I like it and I think we should draw up some plans for this endeavor.
Magically obscured, Cenna discovers that there are a pair of human children hiding within the old ferry master's cottage. The one you glimpsed from the outside is a girl of about 9 or 10 summers. Cowering against the wall, clinging to her leg, is a boy of about 4 or 5.
Cenna sees that the girl is trying to quietly reassure the boy, but they are both obviously terrified of the party outside.
Damn.
She was too close to the skittish girl to risk casting a spell to inform the others.
Cenna didn’t want these little urchins to bolt because they could get hurt… but she also didn’t want to scare them to death by leading with restraining magics. And charming children wasn’t in her wheelhouse either. Double damn.
She opts to split the difference in her approach. She tries to sneak quietly past the children and into their ‘home’. She sits down in the middle of the floor, trying to give them the safety of perceived distance. She curls her legs beneath her, and makes herself look as small and non-threatening as possible before lifting the veil of invisibility. She plasters on the most sincere smile she can muster before quietly clearing her throat, to draw their attention. ”Hi. I’m Cenna. I like magic, making new friends, and food. I have some food. It's just jerky, nuts, and bread. I might have some dried fruit, too. It isn't great... but do you want to share?”
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Elenora waits at a distance while Cenna assesses the situation. Using children as lookouts is a common practice in the Shackles, so she is not relaxing at this point. "Are we waiting for a signal to rush in with war cries and snarling teeth?" she asks the lords. Elenora does not really like running but would to see the battle charge if nothing else.
"No war cries or snarling teeth I think." He strains to hear sounds..
...for now we wait and see what Cenna can accomplish. I also want you to be prepared to determine who we are dealing with. I want the truth of who this kid is. I want to help but a child surviving alone out here is unheard of. I pray it is just a child, and we can help them. However, trust but verify.
Bydar and Lord Christian can hear Cenna from outside the ferry master's cottage. From the sounds of it, she is trying to assuage their fears and convince them that she is a friend.
However, based on the frightened squeaks from the children inside, and the way you can see them move in response, it seems they remain on alert. Fortunately, the aren't immediately trying to bolt like a pair of spooked rabbits.
Christian smiles at Bydar.
Perhaps your tone and your Goddess can help Cenna calm not just one child but at least two. A daunting task for any parent let alone us.
He motions for all to prepare to advance on the old cottage.
As he approaches with his hands far away from his weapons, he keeps his body relaxed and unthreatening.
Hail to the cottage. My name is Christian, and I see you already met my friend Cenna. We mean you no harm and only wish to help. These are my companions, Bydar and Elenora. We have food blankets to help you warm up. Would it be ok if we came in?
When she gets only frightened stares from the children, Cenna shrugs as if this was normal. ”OK. Hope you don’t mind if I eat. I’m hungry.” She opens her rucksack and pulls out a couple days’ worth of rations and leaves them on the floor beside her. She takes one bundle and unwraps the cloth to reveal a stack of dried fruit. She starts eating them piece by piece, humming her enjoyment. Around a mouthful, she says, ”Did I tell you my name is Cenna?”
Bydar nods and joins Christian in approaching, "That's me. I'm a priest of Shelyn. I hope you've heard nice things about her? Are any of you hurt? I can heal if you need it."
With the additional prompting from Bydar outside, Cenna manages to get a reaction from the hitherto silent younger boy.
"Go away! Before the trolls eat you, like all the others!" he finally blurts out, loud enough for even those outside the dilapidated cottage to hear.
The older girl looks momentarily horrified that he said that. In the moment, Cenna takes stock of a resemblance between the two children, leading her to suspect they may be siblings.
"Be quiet, Samil," she hisses at the boy.
The warning doesn't work.
"I don't care anymore if the trolls eat me. Just let it all stop!" he cries out.
Lord Christian is distracted from the scene unfolding in and around the ferry station. He hears new sounds coming from the far, southern side of the river, almost drowned out by the burble of the running water and the raised voices near at hand.
Some rustling underbrush gives way to splashes, like large bodies stealthily slipping into the water to cross the river.
"Well trolls do sound pretty bad. Maybe we should scoop up those kids and..." she was going to say run, but she sees the duty in the others faces and sighs. Her voice continues in a less hopeful tone "... defend the nation by eliminating a threat?"
That is what we do...
The mercenary tilts his head to the side slightly as he listens to something far away.
...and we may be defending the nation sooner than later. We have company. Unknown if they are fleeing or coming at us. Looks like we are not going to get these kids out of here just yet.
Christian moves quickly towards the sound as his hand draws forth his blade. He looks back at the group.
Anyone with range spells...if these are trolls, I want to hit them as much as we can while they are still in the river.
Everyone else...
Get to the children and prepare to defend your new charges.
"Go away! Before the trolls eat you, like all the others! … I don't care anymore if the trolls eat me. Just let it all stop!"
Cenna merely raises an eyebrow at the outburst. ”Trolls? ’Preciate the warning, Samil.” She rises and hands her bundles of food to the kids. ”Enjoy the snacks and stay behind me. Only trolls are dying today.” She leaves the building, moving to get her eyes on the river, scanning for targets.
Elenora was about to start shooing kids back to defend, but sighs when her employer orders those with range to get ready. He did say range spells, and her powers are not spell related, even if she had not idea what they truly were.
But arguing that point seems inappropriate (or irritating) at the eve before blood and screaming, hopefully from the trolls.
"Yes, sir lord of ours" she says with mild resignation. She looks around for the largest of rocks and begins to lift them mentally into a nice pill for quick tossing. "Ready" she cracks her knuckles and waits.
Bydar casts bless upon them all, and moves closer to the children.
Until he sees a target, he must wait.
He looks back at the Bydar.
Thank you; we will need all the help we can get if these are trolls.
"They been using us as bait for days...maybe longer," the girl adds, "Attacking and dragging away anyone who tried to help us."
As the older child offers her warning, you can see the trolls' heads breach the surface of the water as they enter the shallows. A total of four come into view, including one that looks especially vicious, even compared to its monstrous peers.
"Smart trolls" Bydar is surprised.
Cenna sees the trolls and directs the children with a wave, never taking her eyes off the enemy. "Get to where the roads meet, NOW."
"Ugh, that one looks like all the worst parts of a swamps married the backend of a sewer" the former pirate says, maybe to settle herself.
Then small rocks, clumps of moss, even her own brown hair rise up around her as Elenora gathers her power, enhancing it and then slams a rock toward the vicious looking troll.
I have a single vial of Alchemist Fire with me. So, when the go down we can make sure they stay down.
Seeing the creatures coming towards them.
Nicely done Elenora. Keep pounding on them. I agree...well they are all ugly...but that especially ugly one may be a leader type.
He nods at the trolls.
I would say come uglies but that would be stating the obvious.
As she moves away from the building, ensuring she can see the perfect spot, Cenna muses with a hint of a laugh, ”Alchemist’s Fire? Good precaution.” Then she casts a spell and flicks an ember in between the trolls. It explodes in a bright, roiling ball of flame, searing three of the creatures.
3rd Spells (4): x
2nd Spells (6): x
1st Spells (7): x
Dancing Lights (3):
Stunning Fist (2):
Vest (1):
Rod (3):
Effects:
Mage Armor = +4 AC for 8 hours
Elenora's shot of aggregate rocks, moss, and hair strikes the vicious troll with such force that it takes out one of its eyes and much of that side of its face. This does nothing to improve its attitude or appearance.
Cenna's fireball explodes above the surface of the water, creating a terrific hiss as many gallons of water turn to steam. Two of the trolls duck down beneath the water and evade the worst of the fiery spell.
The third, however, has nearly its entire head incinerated away. There is so little of its brutish skull left, you're baffled how it somehow manages to keep scrabbling forward with the rest of its band.
The vicious troll swings itself up onto the ferry dock and rushes towards Lord Christian, while two more of its fellows hurry ashore and also close the distance to their prey.
The last troll comes ashore south of the cottage where the children hide, circling around to threaten Cenna.
Seeing them spread out and the terrain too open for him to survive a direct assult, Christian moves to engage the troll on his left.
Attack and move back by the wagon. The area is too open to affect a direct assault.
Bydar truly wishes he hadn't used his Searing Light power already on that shambler. Instead he'll have to deal with a less effective (at least against trolls) attack.
Even as he moves back to the wagon as directed, he calls out, "Eternal Rose, I pray you, smite and blind those who would harm the innocent or use them so cruelly!" And the light of a minor miracle cascades down upon the two most northerly enemies.
With the kids hiding in the house, Cenna needs to ensure the troll stays focused on her. She angrily taunts the creature, ”You just don’t learn, do ya?! I’m the Dragon’s Daughter and YOU will burn like a scarecrow!”
She hurls a ball of fire in the troll’s face then sprints around the corner of the house, trying to lure it into a chase… and praying it can’t charge toward her.
3rd Spells (4): x
2nd Spells (6): xx
1st Spells (7): x
Dancing Lights (3):
Stunning Fist (2):
Vest (1):
Rod (3):
Effects:
Mage Armor = +4 AC for 8 hours
Elenora sees a rather alarming situation happening. All her allies shifting to the left, leaving nothing between herself and two rather big mean trolls. Quickly she shucks another massive rock at the leader, feeling her mind being taxed to the point of dull ache, then runs.
At seeing the explosion that was a fireball erupt on the other side of the building, Christian flinches and turns towards the heat.
Dragon's daughter....Jasrella? How did you...
He stops mid-sentence as he sees Cenna running towards the group.
You and Lady Domas will get along just fine.
The mercenary laughs at the words.
Bydar's spell burns the two trolls with holy power and leaves them blinded, and then Elenora's next blast of rocks leaves another serious crack in the biggest troll's thick skull.
Christian runs past the blind but feral troll, and a wild swing of its claws manages to rake past his armor. Nevertheless, the noble's charge puts down the troll he targets. However, this victory is soured as the most vicious of the trolls shambles forward and manages to bite down upon Christian's shoulder even without the benefit of sight.
Cenna's next fiery spell reduces the southernmost troll to a charred carcass.
The last troll charges blindly at Bydar and actually manages to sink its teeth into the Shelynite.
Bydar!!!
Christian yells and then advances on the large troll.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
”They’re persistent.” Cenna notes with respect. It was a trait she admired... just not in creatures trying to eat her.
In the swirl of melee, threading the needle with a spell was possible… but it wasn’t elegant. And the trolls were doing a credible job of tearing the men apart. Cenna would normally prepare people for what came next but she just didn’t have that kind of time to waste.
She pulls the rod from its holster and triggers the eldritch object, weaving its power flawlessly into her spellcasting. An ember flies between the four combatants and explodes. The trolls, along with Christian and Bydar, are engulfed in a large globe of fire, like a miniature sun.
Inside the globe, in all directions, there is only a loud roar and roiling flames. The fire consumes everything it touches… except for the two men. The flames somehow refuse to touch them even as they devour the trolls and incinerate the wagon.
3rd Spells (4): xx
2nd Spells (6): xx
1st Spells (7): x
Dancing Lights (3):
Stunning Fist (2):
Vest (1):
Rod (3): x
Effects:
Mage Armor = +4 AC for 8 hours
Bydar grits his teeth in pain and hears Christian call out his name, "It's okay, Christian! Focus should stay on protecting the children and taking these things.. down!" He strikes with his glaive.
Bydar delivers a potent slash with his glaive to fend off the troll accosting him. Likewise, Lord Christian's follow-up strike lands true, even if the vicious troll's thick hide resists his first swing.
Before either brute can even possibly begin to regenerate these injuries, Cenna's latest fireball utterly incinerates the both of them, leaving naught but ash where the foul trolls once stood.
As the smoke clears, Cenna smiles at the ash drifting down. She spins the rod on her palm then re-sheathes it before heading around the building to the front door, calling. ”Kids! You can come out. The trolls are gone… Hey, did you leave any of those dried fruits? I really am hungry.”
he hears Cenna ask for food after she and Elenora obliterated the trolls just like that... with a little help from himself and Christian.
"Amazing." He chuckles despite his light wounds. Which reminds him "Children if you're hurt, we can heal you."
Christian nods as the fireball explodes over them and the last of the trolls falls.
Tend to the children and then yourselves.
He kicks at the dead trolls to make sure they are dead.
I will tend to these things.
Blood still lingering on him from his wounds, Christian goes about searching the trolls. Making sure that they are not able to regenerate. Once the bodies are completely searched, he sets them on fire and lets them burn to ashes.
Elenora gives Lord D'Elagante an appraising look as he kicks each of the downed foes, seemingly letting out his aggression. She understands, truly. She feels like dropping a boulder on each, maybe two, but the lord seems much, well, Gooder than her.
Then he burns their corpses!! The small round woman keeps her amazement to herself.
The two children emerge with noticeable trepidation, their fear of the trolls only diminishing once the bodies are put to the flame.
"My name is Elish," the girl explains, "And this is my little brother, Samil."
As you learn, they fled from fallen Galt some weeks ago - they have lost track of how much time has passed. Finding a dearth of welcome and an abundance of danger, they passed through the River Kingdoms until they reached this river. They were forced to struggle across when the trolls emerged to pursue them, and they attempted to hide in the old ferry station.
This led to the days of being trapped inside as the trolls kept watch and descended upon and consumed any travelers or woodsmen who attempted to help the children.
Meanwhile, you find a surprising bit of wealth upon the trolls, much of it likely stolen from those they ambushed.
+1 hide armor
Ring of Jumping
Ring of Swimming
Elixir of Fire Breath
Potion of Barkskin
Potion of Bull Strength
Amulet of Might Fists +1
315 gp in various coinage
425 gp in miscellaneous precious stones, belt buckles, rings, earrings, flagons, and other trinkets stolen from eaten travelers.
Bydar tends to Samil and Elish's wounds if they have any. "Well, you're both rather amazing youngsters to have come this far on your own and survived. We'll get you to our small town, it's new and not large, but it is full of good people. Have you any other family in the area or still in Galt?"
Cenna makes an ease off gesture to Bydar. ”These kids are tough and smart to get here. I couldn’t a done it at their age. I doubt you could, either. Maybe they have their own plans. They don’t need anyone telling them what they will do.”
She takes a section of dried fruit from the rations she handed the kids but leaves the rest with them. She addresses Elish like an adult. ”I know you didn’t expect the trolls. Did you have a plan if you ever got away from them? Because, if you don’t or if you could use a place to rest up while you figure out what’s next… you can come with us to town. It's a few days from here.”
She indicates Christian with a nod, ”He’s got connections with the lord of this land. You’d be welcome in town… with food, beds, whatever you need. Besides, I owe Samil a debt for the warning about the trolls. The least I can do is get you somewhere safer, put some food in your bellies, and give you a little help.” She tries her best to offer a reassuring smile.
Bydar nods to Cenna. He had not thought his approach too assertive but better safe than sorry "My apologies if I presumed too much. The offer is open. He says to the children.
After tending to the trolls, Christian returns to the others. As he approaches, he wipes of his blade and returns it to his scabbard.
The dirt and gore still on his clothing but he seems to not care at all.
He walks up to the two children and kneels down in front of them. HIs voice is gentle yet strong and reassuring.
Children, I am Lord Christian of Charis. I see you have met my companions.
He acknowledges the group.
We are glad you are safe. Please allow Bydar to take a look at you. He has a way with healing. I promise you that he will be gentle and will respect your wishes.
He takes a hand from each child into his.
You both have endure much and have been incredibly brave. I have to ask you to be brave once again.
He gently squeezes their hands.
While yes, we dealt with the immediate threat that was those trolls. There could still be a bigger threat out there. Now I will not force you to answer questions that you cannot or do not feel comfortable with. We are here to help you as best we can. When you are ready just let me know and we will discuss it.
He stands up again, squeezes their hands one last before releasing them. He waits to see their reaction before talking again. His stance is welcoming and friendly.
I remember being their age and being scared of the dark. Nothing like this. I do so miss mom. Her hugs were so powerful.
He looks to the cottage.
Granted you may not want to stay here but it is a defensible position and a good place for us to heal. Cenna has some really good food and we can provide a warm fire for the night.
He pulls forth a glass bead from his pocket.
I will need some help with the campfire. When it is time...who would like to help?
Cenna and Christian's overtures put the children at ease. They remain on edge, keeping close to each other, which is fairly understandable given what they've been through, but they are clearly opening up to trust you.
"Our parents were taken away by the Gray Gardeners. That's what gammy always said, at least," Elish begins. "When the soldiers invaded, gam and gammy said it was time to leave home. A lot of people in our village left, too. But when the soldiers sent riders after us, we got split up. We couldn't find them or anyone else again, so we just kept going north."
With nowhere else to go, and still wary about trolls or other terrible things coming across the river or from out of the forest, the children are eager to find safety in your camp.
"Gray Gardeners? I don't think I've run into them." She adds, "I'm very sorry about your parents but I'm glad you and some of your townsfolk escaped."
"We'll keep an ear out for news of your gam or gammy."