Hollow's Last Hope [IC]
- Thread starter YeOldeAlbatross
- Start date
Voadam
Legend
"I'll be right back, I want to get a good view of where we are heading, and what views this Tree offers!"
Loricallior clambers up the Tree again as high as can be safely accomplished. The great Tree towers over the others here so the elf wants to get this unique view of the Land and where the party is headed. After tasting the breeze from above and feasting his eyes on the vista the elf will return to the party to head out.
Loricallior clambers up the Tree again as high as can be safely accomplished. The great Tree towers over the others here so the elf wants to get this unique view of the Land and where the party is headed. After tasting the breeze from above and feasting his eyes on the vista the elf will return to the party to head out.
YeOldeAlbatross
First Post
No one recognizes the flaming hawk insignia on the ring Loricallior recovered.
YeOldeAlbatross
First Post
Loricallior climbs further up quite safely, finding the great tree's branches so large and abundant that falling would be extremely unlikely. After several minutes of climbing, the elf can see out over the tops of most of the other trees nearby. The forest sprawls away in all directions, a sea of green. The view is actually quite spectacular from here, and Loricallior still hasn't even covered all the distance to the elder tree's top. Looking up, he estimates that the tree is likely as much as 300 feet tall.Voadam said:
Loricallior savors the beautiful view and cool, clean air for a moment more, then reluctantly begins his descent, mindful of the people of Falcon's Hollow and their plight.
YeOldeAlbatross
First Post
OOC: I'll pause before moving on, to see if anyone responds to Jared's request. I would also remind you that, although Jared identified a patch of Elderwood Moss, no one has actually collected any yet.
Voadam
Legend
Before coming down Loricallior tries to make out any identifying features for their next two destinations. Then he will see about how the corpses are hanging to see about bringing them down. He will work on the one who bore the ring first.
"They are human and quite heavy. Could one of you climb up here and give me a hand getting them down when you are done gathering the elderwood moss?"
"They are human and quite heavy. Could one of you climb up here and give me a hand getting them down when you are done gathering the elderwood moss?"
YeOldeAlbatross
First Post
Loricallior cannot see any sign of the hut of the witch Ulizmila, but he assumes from woodsman Rhodam's directions that it must be off to the southwest, lost somewhere in the leafy canopy of the treetops. Likewise, the dwarven monastery which hopefully hides the ironbloom mushrooms cannot be seen, for it is too far away. But, the elf's keen eyes can see where the rocky hills meet the forest's edge and extend on up to the great snowcapped peak of Droskar's Crag. The landmark is a reassurance that the party has held to the correct course so far.
An examination of the grisly corpses reveals that they are not attached in any way to the ancient tree's branches, merely draped over the great boughs like so much dirty laundry. They could be carried down with some unpleasant effort, or even unceremoniously thrown to the grassy forest floor below.
An examination of the grisly corpses reveals that they are not attached in any way to the ancient tree's branches, merely draped over the great boughs like so much dirty laundry. They could be carried down with some unpleasant effort, or even unceremoniously thrown to the grassy forest floor below.
YeOldeAlbatross
First Post
OOC: Let's go ahead and move on...
Hakkara, impatient to get the group moving again, begins scaling the low boughs of the giant darkwood, so that she can use her strength in helping Loricallior to retrieve the bodies from the trees. It is unpleasant work, given the partially eaten state of the poor souls, but the pair manage to lay all three corpses on the soft green grass of the clearing.
As they labor, Jared borrows a dagger from Cyryn and scrapes a generous amount of the distinctive Elderwood Moss from the nearly black bark of the tree. He places the moss in his spell component pouch for safekeeping. Jebbo flashes the priest a wide grin, pleased that the first stage of their mission has been a success.
Jared then turns to the dead, lying in their repose where Loricallior and Hakkara arranged them. The priest intones a prayer to Sarenrae that the souls of these dead men will be welcomed into the afterlife, and that they would not be found wanting as they face the cleansing flame of Sarenrae's fiery judgment. With no easy way to bury or entomb the bodies, the group can see little recourse but to leave them in a state of gentle repose beneath the sentinel of the vale. To those of the party with a more natuaralistic view on things, it seems quite fitting.
Once the skittish pony has been rounded up again, and the newest loot strapped to the sturdy beast's back, the party is ready to make way again. Setting off into the forest, each one cannot help but marvel at the great elder tree, and wonder what other incredible sights await them on their quest.
The site of the witch's hut, as identified by Milon Rhodam, is too far away to reach before nightfall, so the party makes camp once more as the sun sets. As before, the forest comes alive with the night, and the party keeps a burning fire and a careful watch to ensure the safety of the group. For the third consecutive night, the watches pass without incident, and the adventurers cannot help but consider themselves fortunate that, for the vale's dangerous reputation, they have been unmolested in their slumber thus far.
So it is that in the late morning of the fourth day from Falcon's Hollow, the sounds of the forest become suddenly distant as the familiar trees part, opening into a small, almost perfectly circular glade. The nearest stands of pine, eyln, and darkwood—all typically sturdy woods—twist away from the clearing, as if bent by some impossibly strong wind or seemingly in an attempt to flee despite their paralyzed roots. At the glade’s center squats an ugly cottage, little more than a pile of twigs, shoots, and ivy stacked upon mud walls. From the thatched roof dangle bundles of gnarled roots, old dried beast carcasses, and knucklebone bangles, all clattering together like gruesome wind chimes. A dozen small thatched fetishes—each shaped like a tiny man, imp, or rearing serpent—stand propped in the yard, keeping guard before a rickety plank door.
Your actions?
Hakkara, impatient to get the group moving again, begins scaling the low boughs of the giant darkwood, so that she can use her strength in helping Loricallior to retrieve the bodies from the trees. It is unpleasant work, given the partially eaten state of the poor souls, but the pair manage to lay all three corpses on the soft green grass of the clearing.
As they labor, Jared borrows a dagger from Cyryn and scrapes a generous amount of the distinctive Elderwood Moss from the nearly black bark of the tree. He places the moss in his spell component pouch for safekeeping. Jebbo flashes the priest a wide grin, pleased that the first stage of their mission has been a success.
Jared then turns to the dead, lying in their repose where Loricallior and Hakkara arranged them. The priest intones a prayer to Sarenrae that the souls of these dead men will be welcomed into the afterlife, and that they would not be found wanting as they face the cleansing flame of Sarenrae's fiery judgment. With no easy way to bury or entomb the bodies, the group can see little recourse but to leave them in a state of gentle repose beneath the sentinel of the vale. To those of the party with a more natuaralistic view on things, it seems quite fitting.
Once the skittish pony has been rounded up again, and the newest loot strapped to the sturdy beast's back, the party is ready to make way again. Setting off into the forest, each one cannot help but marvel at the great elder tree, and wonder what other incredible sights await them on their quest.
The site of the witch's hut, as identified by Milon Rhodam, is too far away to reach before nightfall, so the party makes camp once more as the sun sets. As before, the forest comes alive with the night, and the party keeps a burning fire and a careful watch to ensure the safety of the group. For the third consecutive night, the watches pass without incident, and the adventurers cannot help but consider themselves fortunate that, for the vale's dangerous reputation, they have been unmolested in their slumber thus far.
So it is that in the late morning of the fourth day from Falcon's Hollow, the sounds of the forest become suddenly distant as the familiar trees part, opening into a small, almost perfectly circular glade. The nearest stands of pine, eyln, and darkwood—all typically sturdy woods—twist away from the clearing, as if bent by some impossibly strong wind or seemingly in an attempt to flee despite their paralyzed roots. At the glade’s center squats an ugly cottage, little more than a pile of twigs, shoots, and ivy stacked upon mud walls. From the thatched roof dangle bundles of gnarled roots, old dried beast carcasses, and knucklebone bangles, all clattering together like gruesome wind chimes. A dozen small thatched fetishes—each shaped like a tiny man, imp, or rearing serpent—stand propped in the yard, keeping guard before a rickety plank door.
Your actions?
