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Story Hour
Steel Dragon's "Tales of Orea"
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<blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 5800243" data-attributes="member: 92511"><p>Coerraine struck out with his spear. The invocation for a "smite" from his lord went unanswered. </p><p></p><p>Despite its "monstrous" appearance, this was not a creature of "evil" merely a creature of nature following its instincts.</p><p></p><p>Still, divine assistance aside, the spear struck with telling effect.</p><p></p><p>The massive snake hissed loudly and showed its fangs to the disagreeable meals before it. Then it slunk back into the mud from whence it had come and could be seen winding its way away, a trail of blackish fluid noticeable across the muck's surface as it went.</p><p></p><p>Fen's and Alaria's spells went off as the creature retreated. It could not be determined if the fans of flame harmed the creature or not...much of them going up in bursts of steam against the brackish water/mud.</p><p></p><p>But the snake was soon gone from view.</p><p></p><p>Coerraine immediately poured some of his vial of "anti-toxin" potion into the grey-pale elf's mouth and massaged it down his throat.</p><p></p><p><<em>Author/Dm's note: The party had invested heavily in "neutralize poison" and "healing" potions as part of their preparations for the Feldmere. Wise beyond belief. A healing potion for each member, all 9 -including Buttercream at Haelan's insistance- and 3 neutralize poisons. Haelan is of level to "slow" poisons, but not neutralize them</em>> </p><p></p><p>Fen came rushing up next to the fallen Miralostae. "Haelan!" the half-elf called.</p><p></p><p>A moment after administration, the elf's face took on its usual color and the labored, almost non-existent, breathing became smooth again. </p><p></p><p>Erevan roused himself to sit up as the paladin then laid his hands upon the fang punctures on the elf's shoulder.</p><p></p><p>A golden warm filled Erevan.</p><p></p><p>The wounds closed and the bleeding seemed to fade into the elf's exposed skin.</p><p></p><p>All of the companions backed away from the mucky edge of the mound before Alaria used another <em>prestidigitation</em> cantrip to mend the elf's black shirt and leather "armor".</p><p></p><p>"I am in your debt, champion of Celradorn." Fen said matter-of-factly.</p><p></p><p>"No debt, is there, in the protection of a fallen ally." Coerraine responded with a smile at the half-elf. He was more quoting Redstar doctrine than answering the "heathen" druid. But was filled with a warming sense of purpose, that he had done everything that he <em>should</em> have done. The young paladin was sure of that.</p><p></p><p>Erevan and Coerraine clasped arms, when the elf rose to his feet.</p><p></p><p>"My thanks, Redstar Knight." the elf began. Before turning to the druid and muttering, <em>"You worry too much.</em>"in the elvin tongue.</p><p></p><p>"My furry satyr arse!" interjected Festus with typical lack of tact.</p><p></p><p> The company looked at the satyr in surprise at the exclamation.</p><p></p><p>"That was a Blackmuck-Viper" the satyr said as if that were an explanation. "A giant one, to be sure...but still, a <em>blackmuck viper</em>!"</p><p></p><p>Seeing the lack of comprehension on most of the companions, Festus continued with surprise and energy, "One of the most poisonous serpents in the known realms! Another three moments, my good friend elf, and you would have been lost! 'On the boat to the moon', as your people say." </p><p></p><p>The use of the elvish idiom did reveal some shock to Fen and Erevan.</p><p></p><p>Erevan looked at Fen.</p><p></p><p>Fen nodded his agreement.</p><p></p><p>"For humans," Fen continued the explanation to the others, "its bite is fatal in two breaths."</p><p></p><p>"Wut 'bout dwarves?" asked Duor.</p><p></p><p>Fen scowled in the dwarf's direction but did not meet his eyes.</p><p></p><p>The party crested the small mound and gained a much better perspective of their position...or lack thereof.</p><p></p><p>The"mound" was all of 20 feet wide and seemed to extend, roughly, 60 feet. The grasse and reeds brew up, tll, all around the base. A few young narrow trees, leafless in the late-ish autumn, and short thickets dotted the top and sloping sides.</p><p></p><p>The party decided this was far enough to have lunch. Between Haelan's mystic bowl and Fen's capacity to <em>purify water</em>, expunging the sediment or plain muddy waters they encountered, the party had little fear of running out of food and drink. </p><p></p><p>They'd only brought two days of rations with them, figuring they'd be on foot, at least to Bridgetower where they could replenish. But when the Lord Chamberlain of Daenfrii says "come with me", you don't reply with "Hang on. Lemme just go to market." As Alaria had pointed out the previous day when their limited rations had run out.</p><p></p><p>They ate heartily from the magical food-producing bowl, which Haelan had decided should serve "Dartha's shrimp puffs" from their time at Shoal.</p><p></p><p>"Shame you can't get the Tyrisian's Pure Water from that thing." Duor mumbled as he crunched into a shrimp puff.</p><p></p><p>"I could try when we're done." offered Haelan, sincerely.</p><p></p><p>"Better you save it for the evening meal, Haelan. Or breakfast." Alaria interjected.</p><p></p><p>Noone argued that.</p><p></p><p>The "daytime" glare across the fog-filled landscape that surrounded them was definitely shifting to the west.</p><p></p><p>"We should continue on." Braddok mentioned as he wiped a few shrimp-puff crumbs from his week-old tunic. "There's only a few hours of daylight left."</p><p></p><p>The party gathered up their things and assumed their marching order, intent on following the mound and down the opposite side.</p><p></p><p>As they descended the opposite slop, a sound came from the reeds and weeds around the base of the mound.</p><p></p><p>Four, then six, then ten lizardmen emerged from the swampy vegetation all around them at the base of the mound.</p><p></p><p>"Yer kiddin' me!" Duor burst.</p><p></p><p>"Least they didn't distrub our lunch." responded Haelan softly.</p><p></p><p>Weapons were already drawn and pointed on both sides. A combat seemed imminent. </p><p></p><p>The lizardmen were, mostly hunched. But still large and broad of shoulder. The one standing seemed to top out at seven-feet tall. They possessed, from what the party could see, bone tipped spears and fang-edged swords.</p><p></p><p>Thick forked tongues flicked out from lizard or snake-like extended snouts and lips. The scales about their head and shoulders seemed much heavier than the rest of their torsos. Thick tails, reminiscent of an alligator or crocodile, flicked back and forth behind heavily-scaled thighs and lightly-scaled shins.</p><p></p><p>Then a call went up from one of the lizardmen on their flank. It...he?...was hissing and pointing at Fen.</p><p></p><p>A couple of gutteral growls and hisses later from the standing "commander" and the whole company of reptilian folk disappeared with all speed into the mists of the swamp with so much as a "by your leave."</p><p></p><p>"What was that about?" Braddok asked his companions, sincerely confused.</p><p></p><p>"It seems," Alaria, who was next to the druid and stared at him questioningly, "they were afraid of Fen."</p><p></p><p>"HA! Afraid of the half-blood?! Seriously? Well, not as bad as bein' 'fraid o' <em>fairies.</em>" the dwarf said pointedly at Festus.</p><p></p><p>The satyr frowned a return.</p><p></p><p>"We should track them and take their treasure! Festus, find their tracks!" Duor shouted. </p><p></p><p>"We'll do no such thing." Alaria stated plainly. "They left us alone. We will do the same. May the Blue Star grant we not cross paths again."</p><p></p><p>"But..." Duor began to protest.</p><p></p><p>"You are interested in the dragon treasure, are you not, friend dwarf?" Fen asked casually.</p><p></p><p>"Well...yes, but..." Duor tried to defend himself. He thought for a second. "Maybe they know where that is! Dragon..biiiiig lizard...lizardfolk? It could be a lead!"</p><p></p><p>"Why did they seem scared of you, Fen?" Haelan asked innocently. The dwarf seemed to be able to ignore <em>him</em> easily enough. The daelvar had begun to learn to do the same...though he still felt badly for being rude.</p><p></p><p>"I do not know, friend Hilltender." Fen answered honestly.</p><p></p><p>Alaria and Erevan looked at the druid. </p><p></p><p>"I r<em>eally</em> don't know!" Fen repeated. "The lizardfolk are a superstitious lot...but not, necessarily, to use your iteration, friend Goldshield, 'evil.' They are capable warriors, to be sure...and we are, for all intents and purposes on their turf.</p><p></p><p>"Perhaps they've never seen a half-elf before?...or a leaf-tip spear?...or one of the Ancient Order? I cannot say." the half-elf supposed.</p><p></p><p>"What I <em>can</em> say is they are particularly territorial. And if they are here..." Fen began.</p><p></p><p>"Then, we are in their territory." Braddok finished. His tactician mind began opening up and recalling things of his experience and tutoring and training that he did not like at all.</p><p></p><p>"Close ranks." Braddok said with more command than any of the companions were used to. "I want a 3-4-1 formation."</p><p></p><p>"A whaaat?" Haelan replied.</p><p></p><p>Braddok set to redirecting the marching order, guarding the magess foremost. Though he did not know why. </p><p></p><p>"We'll try, Braddok, but this terrain is not conducive to a wide march." noted Festus. </p><p></p><p>So, with Braddok. Festus (for his tracking ability and knowledge), and Coerraine in the fore, followed by [left to right] Erevan, Alaria, Duor (insisting he be immediately behind the Redstar Knight), and Haelan in the next rank, with Fen bringing up the rear....with Buttercream "as she feels comfortable" (and the fact that Fen averred to the commanding swordsman that the ferret was<em> not</em> under his control!)</p><p></p><p>"Let us hope that we exit their territory with all speed." Braddok posed.</p><p></p><p>The party, cautiously, finished their descent of the curious mound in the midst of the swamp and continued along the broadest, most solid path they could find.</p><p></p><p>A few hours of marching later, the party stopped to make camp.</p><p></p><p>Erevan and/or Festus noticed lizardmen shadowing them but keeping their distance, until the day's light was fading into evening. Though the party continued on for a few more hours, the lizardmen were not seen or noticed.</p><p></p><p>"It is too cold for them." proposed Fen as an explanation. "They are lizards, afterall. This level of cold does not agree with them. Prdobably have retreated underground to their own lair.</p><p></p><p>"I would propose we get to moving before first light." the druid cautiously offered.</p><p></p><p>None of the company slept soundly at the start of that night. </p><p></p><p>But then, they didn't really have much chance before Haelan and Fen were rousing them in the midst of their slumber.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="steeldragons, post: 5800243, member: 92511"] Coerraine struck out with his spear. The invocation for a "smite" from his lord went unanswered. Despite its "monstrous" appearance, this was not a creature of "evil" merely a creature of nature following its instincts. Still, divine assistance aside, the spear struck with telling effect. The massive snake hissed loudly and showed its fangs to the disagreeable meals before it. Then it slunk back into the mud from whence it had come and could be seen winding its way away, a trail of blackish fluid noticeable across the muck's surface as it went. Fen's and Alaria's spells went off as the creature retreated. It could not be determined if the fans of flame harmed the creature or not...much of them going up in bursts of steam against the brackish water/mud. But the snake was soon gone from view. Coerraine immediately poured some of his vial of "anti-toxin" potion into the grey-pale elf's mouth and massaged it down his throat. <[I]Author/Dm's note: The party had invested heavily in "neutralize poison" and "healing" potions as part of their preparations for the Feldmere. Wise beyond belief. A healing potion for each member, all 9 -including Buttercream at Haelan's insistance- and 3 neutralize poisons. Haelan is of level to "slow" poisons, but not neutralize them[/I]> Fen came rushing up next to the fallen Miralostae. "Haelan!" the half-elf called. A moment after administration, the elf's face took on its usual color and the labored, almost non-existent, breathing became smooth again. Erevan roused himself to sit up as the paladin then laid his hands upon the fang punctures on the elf's shoulder. A golden warm filled Erevan. The wounds closed and the bleeding seemed to fade into the elf's exposed skin. All of the companions backed away from the mucky edge of the mound before Alaria used another [I]prestidigitation[/I] cantrip to mend the elf's black shirt and leather "armor". "I am in your debt, champion of Celradorn." Fen said matter-of-factly. "No debt, is there, in the protection of a fallen ally." Coerraine responded with a smile at the half-elf. He was more quoting Redstar doctrine than answering the "heathen" druid. But was filled with a warming sense of purpose, that he had done everything that he [I]should[/I] have done. The young paladin was sure of that. Erevan and Coerraine clasped arms, when the elf rose to his feet. "My thanks, Redstar Knight." the elf began. Before turning to the druid and muttering, [I]"You worry too much.[/I]"in the elvin tongue. "My furry satyr arse!" interjected Festus with typical lack of tact. The company looked at the satyr in surprise at the exclamation. "That was a Blackmuck-Viper" the satyr said as if that were an explanation. "A giant one, to be sure...but still, a [I]blackmuck viper[/I]!" Seeing the lack of comprehension on most of the companions, Festus continued with surprise and energy, "One of the most poisonous serpents in the known realms! Another three moments, my good friend elf, and you would have been lost! 'On the boat to the moon', as your people say." The use of the elvish idiom did reveal some shock to Fen and Erevan. Erevan looked at Fen. Fen nodded his agreement. "For humans," Fen continued the explanation to the others, "its bite is fatal in two breaths." "Wut 'bout dwarves?" asked Duor. Fen scowled in the dwarf's direction but did not meet his eyes. The party crested the small mound and gained a much better perspective of their position...or lack thereof. The"mound" was all of 20 feet wide and seemed to extend, roughly, 60 feet. The grasse and reeds brew up, tll, all around the base. A few young narrow trees, leafless in the late-ish autumn, and short thickets dotted the top and sloping sides. The party decided this was far enough to have lunch. Between Haelan's mystic bowl and Fen's capacity to [I]purify water[/I], expunging the sediment or plain muddy waters they encountered, the party had little fear of running out of food and drink. They'd only brought two days of rations with them, figuring they'd be on foot, at least to Bridgetower where they could replenish. But when the Lord Chamberlain of Daenfrii says "come with me", you don't reply with "Hang on. Lemme just go to market." As Alaria had pointed out the previous day when their limited rations had run out. They ate heartily from the magical food-producing bowl, which Haelan had decided should serve "Dartha's shrimp puffs" from their time at Shoal. "Shame you can't get the Tyrisian's Pure Water from that thing." Duor mumbled as he crunched into a shrimp puff. "I could try when we're done." offered Haelan, sincerely. "Better you save it for the evening meal, Haelan. Or breakfast." Alaria interjected. Noone argued that. The "daytime" glare across the fog-filled landscape that surrounded them was definitely shifting to the west. "We should continue on." Braddok mentioned as he wiped a few shrimp-puff crumbs from his week-old tunic. "There's only a few hours of daylight left." The party gathered up their things and assumed their marching order, intent on following the mound and down the opposite side. As they descended the opposite slop, a sound came from the reeds and weeds around the base of the mound. Four, then six, then ten lizardmen emerged from the swampy vegetation all around them at the base of the mound. "Yer kiddin' me!" Duor burst. "Least they didn't distrub our lunch." responded Haelan softly. Weapons were already drawn and pointed on both sides. A combat seemed imminent. The lizardmen were, mostly hunched. But still large and broad of shoulder. The one standing seemed to top out at seven-feet tall. They possessed, from what the party could see, bone tipped spears and fang-edged swords. Thick forked tongues flicked out from lizard or snake-like extended snouts and lips. The scales about their head and shoulders seemed much heavier than the rest of their torsos. Thick tails, reminiscent of an alligator or crocodile, flicked back and forth behind heavily-scaled thighs and lightly-scaled shins. Then a call went up from one of the lizardmen on their flank. It...he?...was hissing and pointing at Fen. A couple of gutteral growls and hisses later from the standing "commander" and the whole company of reptilian folk disappeared with all speed into the mists of the swamp with so much as a "by your leave." "What was that about?" Braddok asked his companions, sincerely confused. "It seems," Alaria, who was next to the druid and stared at him questioningly, "they were afraid of Fen." "HA! Afraid of the half-blood?! Seriously? Well, not as bad as bein' 'fraid o' [I]fairies.[/I]" the dwarf said pointedly at Festus. The satyr frowned a return. "We should track them and take their treasure! Festus, find their tracks!" Duor shouted. "We'll do no such thing." Alaria stated plainly. "They left us alone. We will do the same. May the Blue Star grant we not cross paths again." "But..." Duor began to protest. "You are interested in the dragon treasure, are you not, friend dwarf?" Fen asked casually. "Well...yes, but..." Duor tried to defend himself. He thought for a second. "Maybe they know where that is! Dragon..biiiiig lizard...lizardfolk? It could be a lead!" "Why did they seem scared of you, Fen?" Haelan asked innocently. The dwarf seemed to be able to ignore [I]him[/I] easily enough. The daelvar had begun to learn to do the same...though he still felt badly for being rude. "I do not know, friend Hilltender." Fen answered honestly. Alaria and Erevan looked at the druid. "I r[I]eally[/I] don't know!" Fen repeated. "The lizardfolk are a superstitious lot...but not, necessarily, to use your iteration, friend Goldshield, 'evil.' They are capable warriors, to be sure...and we are, for all intents and purposes on their turf. "Perhaps they've never seen a half-elf before?...or a leaf-tip spear?...or one of the Ancient Order? I cannot say." the half-elf supposed. "What I [I]can[/I] say is they are particularly territorial. And if they are here..." Fen began. "Then, we are in their territory." Braddok finished. His tactician mind began opening up and recalling things of his experience and tutoring and training that he did not like at all. "Close ranks." Braddok said with more command than any of the companions were used to. "I want a 3-4-1 formation." "A whaaat?" Haelan replied. Braddok set to redirecting the marching order, guarding the magess foremost. Though he did not know why. "We'll try, Braddok, but this terrain is not conducive to a wide march." noted Festus. So, with Braddok. Festus (for his tracking ability and knowledge), and Coerraine in the fore, followed by [left to right] Erevan, Alaria, Duor (insisting he be immediately behind the Redstar Knight), and Haelan in the next rank, with Fen bringing up the rear....with Buttercream "as she feels comfortable" (and the fact that Fen averred to the commanding swordsman that the ferret was[I] not[/I] under his control!) "Let us hope that we exit their territory with all speed." Braddok posed. The party, cautiously, finished their descent of the curious mound in the midst of the swamp and continued along the broadest, most solid path they could find. A few hours of marching later, the party stopped to make camp. Erevan and/or Festus noticed lizardmen shadowing them but keeping their distance, until the day's light was fading into evening. Though the party continued on for a few more hours, the lizardmen were not seen or noticed. "It is too cold for them." proposed Fen as an explanation. "They are lizards, afterall. This level of cold does not agree with them. Prdobably have retreated underground to their own lair. "I would propose we get to moving before first light." the druid cautiously offered. None of the company slept soundly at the start of that night. But then, they didn't really have much chance before Haelan and Fen were rousing them in the midst of their slumber. [/QUOTE]
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