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Redd snaps off an arrow that sticks into the trunk dealing minimal damage to the tree. Something in her mind throws off her shots. She realizes what it is as a foreign voice enters her mind.
Meanwhile the massive tree continue's its rampage.
Redd (15/15)
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Warden (-71; shield -9)
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Ogren (9/21)
Marcus (20/26)
Katami (3/14)
Zelphari
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Ogren gives a hoot of delight as he goes flying through the air. "Lookit me! I'm FLYING! Ehehehehe!" He lands with a bounce, clearly unharmed by the flight, but he does look rather battered and bruised by the shield impact.
He takes a second to run a bluish white glowing hand over his wounds knitting the worst of them together before rushing back up to the tree with a happy glee to his step. "Again! Again! Though this time could you hit a little lighter? I liked the flying but that first impact hurt!" He then gives a small sigh as he looks at everyone else and Katami, "Buuuuutttt I guess everyone is scared of you and you keep trying to hurt Katami, so we should cut you down. I'm sorry. It has been fun!"
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Marcus considers his options, but seeing Zelphari wade into the melee slowly whittles them down. "Try not to die... I can fix many things but not death."
He gives a false chuckle and raises his voice a bit. "But worry thee not! We most certainly have this foe at the end of his branch!"
He hurls another stone at the tree, conserving what little energy he has left for emergency medical attention should it prove necessary.
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Ogren blocks some of the damage with his shield as he is tossed backwards. Skidding on his heels the squishy goblin leaps back at the tree, surprised as the stone sword comes around full circle.
The stone sword smashes into him, smashing him right into the ground. The goblin lays unmoving and bleeding.
Marcus continues to inspire as the jagged stones miss. Katami doesn't seem to be having much luck either as she seems to hold back some after seeing Ogren nearly killed.
Katami feels much better as Zephari tends to her wounds.
Redd (15/15)
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Warden (-71; shield -9)
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Ogren (0/21; Dying 1; 7 damage to shield)
Marcus (20/26)
Katami (14/14)
Zelphari
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Ogren feigns his injury for what it is. As Redd sinks a couple more arrows in Ogren leaps up and slashes his blade across the trunk. The tree wavers and with a resounded crash it falls into the forest.
Though the quiet remains, the stillness is once again broken with a flash of green light behind you. You turn to see Dorobu next to the bonsai tree, which lets out another pulse. Suddenly the light is replaced with a small person with mossy skin and a bamboo hat! It looks up at you and speaks. Its voice has a ringing to it the giant would have been hard-pressed to manage, and while its words are in Tien, the echoes are Taldane.
"I thank you, brave ones. With this foe swept from the world, I was able to emerge. I am now free to purge the rest of this profanity. Returned to its former glory, you will always be welcome in this forest. Do take your lantern, of course, as I no longer need reside there." The kami throws Dorobu a look somewhere between stern and jesting. "Not to mention the other tokens you were parted from, despite their swindler's good intentions."
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Marcus breathes a heavy sigh of relief and pats Ogren on the back. "That'll do Ogren... that'll do."
At the appearance of the Kami, Marcus bows deeply. "You honor us with your presence and kind words. It was fortuitous that our paths crossed and that we were able to render aid. May your task to cleanse these woods be swift and easy."
With that he looks over the pilfered items and checks them against the list of items known to be missing.
"Well friends? I suppose we shouldn't leave the caravan waiting. And as for you Dorobu... If you feel like turning over a new leaf perhaps you should return with us. A skilled burgler is always in need during dungeon delves, and while most prefer not to admit it, you certainly wouldn't be even close to the sketchiest of our ranks. What do you say, use your skills for... mostly good?"
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Zelphari is briefly taken aback by the sudden appearance of what he takes to be a kami but recovers quickly. Learning from the customs of what he has observed thus far, he gives him a respectful bow.
"It seems that my earlier understanding of the spirits of this forest was based on misinformation. And I am glad. I am thankful that we have managed to do some good this day."
He turns as Marcus begins conversing with the kitsune, listening in with interest.
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Ogren sees the giant sword flying towards him and lets his body go soft, expecting to go flying through the air again. He grimaces some as the weapon slams into him and then stays still expecting the beloved sensation of flying through the air to come to him. After a second or two to realize that he is still firmly earthbound he cracks open an eye and verifies he was. With an angry frown and look he stands back up and slams his longsword across the tree. "I think you're just trying to hurt me and not send me flying! Rude!"
He gives a huff as the tree goes down clearly not happy having his expectations betrayed. When Marcus comes over and soothes over his wounds the little goblin looks back up at the man a smiles again. "Well at least I got to go flying! I should record this!" He starts to dig through his pack, pulling out this and that, but stops for a moment when the spirit shows itself. He gives it a bow that might be called respectful if he wasn't trying to squirm closer to get a good look at the same time.
"You're very pretty!" He watches her and then Marcus and Dorobu interact for a bit until he notices his half unpacked pack and remembers what he was trying to do. He finally fishes out a book that clearly looks self-bound and handmade entitled Wise Monks on Mountains with Monkeys and the Monkey are Flying and Cute and on Fire and Teaching Little Goblins How to Fly! A Journal. He pries it open and then flips past a few pages until he finds an empty one and then with a bit of charcoal scribbles about his flying experience today.
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The Kami squints and looks again at the Bonsai Tree. "Yes, not a lantern indeed, but a Bonsai Tree. I fear I have been in there for so long now that my mind has grown a bit addled." Marcus checks the items off of his list and finds that they are all indeed there.
Dorobu looks a bit taken aback. "Really?!" He brushes the fur back behind his ear. "I suppose it would be best for me to learn." And with that he joins your company back to the caravan.
*****
Your return to the caravan and passing through Suboyashi brings forth another round of thanks and well-wishes. You journey alongside Lin Po and Ti Lan back to Sakakabe, where Amara Li can be found. "I trust all went well in the end," she says with a smile. At her instruction, the pair of agents and their cargo are both whisked off to be attended to. "But how did you manage it, and what befell our allies?"
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Redd steps forward and respectfully bows to the Venture Captain.
Oh, Miss Amara, it was quite the journey. And very interesting. At a stop in a small village where the locals were very hospitable, some evil pine trees attacked us just when we were leaving to follow the trail of our missing Pathfinders. After a few days journey in the beautiful Forest of Spirits we found Lin Po and Ti Lan. Then, a giant moldy tree with a big stone sword and shield was trying to take over the forest but the good forest spirits, called kami, helped us and we defeated it in battle. And a fox person named Dorobu, which means "thief" in Tien (I think), stoled a pretty little bonsai tree to release the good kami trapped inside. Dorobu caused no harm, he was just trying to help. Everyone worked very well together. Oh! I think Ogren should get a badge from the new Pathfinder Society for "First in Flight", by the way. I've never seen a goblin fly like that, and survive. It was really sumthin', I tell ya!
Redd then addresses her companions.
That was such a special journey. I learned so much from all of you. Her eyes well up with tears.
*sniffle*
I do hope to adventure with each and every one of you again. Thank you all so very much for the wonderful times we had together and the true camaraderie we shared.
With tears streaming down her face, Redd hugs each one of her companions.
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Zelphari smiles and let Redd go ahead to do the sharing with her enthusiasm. He gently adds though, "Somewhere in between, we were also attacked by walking statues, but they did not pose much problem for our team."
With that he turns and smiles at them. "Thank you for accompanying me on my first journey with the Pathfinders. Indeed, if this is the nature of the work, then I look forward to continue serving. You were a worthy team to work with, and I hope our paths cross again." He gives everyone a bow, except for Redd, accepting her tear-filled hug.
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Marcus shoves Dorobu forward. "This Dorobu. It seemed to be with good... erm... well... reasonable intentions. He was pretty quick on the take though from what the Kami said, and I figured that may be useful in the future. So if he can keep his sticky fingers off of things he shouldn't be taking I think he may well be Pathfinder material."
He smirks, knowing how short-handed the society is.
"Anyhow, nobody lost their lives, the cargo was retrieved, and Ogren learned to fly..."
He bows to Amara Li. "Another mundane entry for the Pathfinder Chronicles..."
With that he turns to his compatriots. "...but an exceptional team with which to share the experience."
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Venture-Captain Amari Li looks over to the kitsune as she listens intently to your report. "Pathfinder materiel you say." She thinks for a few moments. "I can think of a few tasks if you are willing Dorobu." The kitsune's head jerks up in surprise and nods eagerly. "For now, I believe you all have earned some rest."
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Ogren makes sure to gather some parts of the wooden bark from the giant tree and the keeps himself distracted on he trip back by trying to carve things with the wood.
In Amara's office he listens to everyone's input not really have much to add, but he does almost tear up the comments about him flying. "It's not the first time I've gone flying though. But I can't jump off buildings anymore cause I promised Meemaw I wouldn't... Oh you ant to read about it?" He digs out hsi journal and shows it to Amara, proud grin on his face.
He then bounds over to everyone in turn. He turns to Katami, smiling at the Tian woman. "You are really, really good with that sword！ You clearly have the power of the gods and Amara on your side! I'd love to fight with you again!" He hands the woman a small wooden figure that if you squint might be a woman with a sword... Or a lump with a stick. Hard to tell.
He nest turns to Zelphari extending a figure that sorta looks like him, though a bit misshapen. " You are really cool! I loved it when you threw all that lightening around! But also you healed us up so much! Thank you!"
Next, he hands Marcus a figure you might generously call human "Marcus! You speak so many languages! I've never known anyone who can speak with trees! That's so cool! Can you teach me sometime?"
Finally he turns to Redd, giving the woman a halfling with a bow figure, though highly abstracted to say the least. "Awww! Don't cry! We can adventure together again! These should be happy memories! Thank you for nominating me for a medal! I think you're amazing with a bow! You killed that giant tree with arrows! That's awesome!"
He gives everyone a bow and then pauses for a second before deciding to break Tian protocols and hugs everyone instead, including he Venture-Captain. " This was an amazing adventure! The Society dies have the BEST people! I hope we travel together again in the future!"