Thomas Hobbes
First Post
Now this is an unexpected interlude. Hadn't really thought about fey in this world, and the last place I thought we'd see them is Kettenek's crib (so to speak).
-
NOW LIVE! Into the Woods--new character species, eerie monsters, and haunting villains to populate the woodlands of your D&D games.
Welcome to the Halmae (updated 2/27/07)
- Thread starter spyscribe
- Start date
Fajitas
Hold the Peppers
All kinds of strange beasties can be found in the Ketkath. It's basically the part of the gameworld where I get to actually use my Monster Manual.Thomas Hobbes said:
If you notice, prior to the party's arrival in the wild lands near the Ketkath, the party almost never fought anything non-human (the shadow creatures at the Mages' Academy and Amelia's zombies being the only exceptions that come to my mind. I don't count the bear Reyu and Thatch fought, 'cause, while it's not human, it's still a natural creature and thus not exactly what you call high fantasy).
For a land consumed with the worship of the god of law, there's an awful lot of chaos in the Ketkath. In fact, some have speculated that the chaos of the Ketkath may be the reason that Kettenek worship is so popular. We'll learn a little more about the history of this area as we go on.
Oh, and I love the term "Kettenek's Crib". It's where all his righteous homies hang.
Thomas Hobbes
First Post
Fajitas said:
Like M.C Anvil.
... what?
spyscribe
First Post
Part the Eightieth
In which: I apologize to Fajitas for not finding a clever way to work in “Birchbraid,” the name of the third dryad.
Lira promptly freezes and puts her hands over her ears.
The satyr gives Reyu a very put-upon look. “Oh, come on.”
Reyu shakes her head. The satyr tries playing for a while, but Lira is either sufficiently deafened or sufficiently strong-willed that it doesn’t seem to have an effect. Eventually he gives up, and Lira cautiously removes her hands from her ears.
Reyu turns to address the woman with the swirling cloak.
“Whom do I have the honor of addressing?” she asks.
Her voice hisses like wind over dry snow. “I am… the winter.”
Reyu bows, not entirely sure what that means. “You travel with a large company.”
“It is… necessary.”
Reyu forges ahead. Hoping she is not digging herself into a hole from which she cannot emerge she asks, “Are you… allied with the ogre Sheesak?”
The woman’s fury is palpable, although her voice never rises. “The humans must be stopped. They encroach upon our lands.”
“These humans have not encroached upon your lands,” Reyu points out.
“That is why they are not dead.”
One of the dryads speaks. “You don’t understand,” she says, “for many hundred years we have lived adjacent to the humans. We in our part of the forest, and they in theirs. There has been no need contact or incident between us. But they have begun encroaching into our woods. They are cutting down our trees.” He voice is heartbroken as she says this. Eva and Anvil shudder in sympathy.
“And so you joined with Sheesak,” Reyu concludes.
The dryad exchange discomfited looks, and one steals a glance over at Winter. The satyr shrugs.
“It seemed to be the only way,” Honeyoak offers finally. Winter fixes Reyu with an icy glare.
So, thinks Reyu, perhaps not all of them are entirely comfortable with what they are doing here. Aloud she says:
“Perhaps they trespass in ignorance. They may not see that your lands are occupied, or that your trees are sacred.”
The cold voice again. “Why do they trespass at all?”
Then, much to the surprise of everyone, Anvil clears his throat. “There should be a line.”
“What?”
“You should establish a border, to keep different things apart from each other. It is pleasing to Kettenek,” he concludes.
Winter eyes Anvil with sudden interest. “You revere the Lord of Winter, human?”
Anvil is a bit annoyed to be distracted from Honeyoak’s lecture, but recognizes in his bones that his duties are paramount. “Yes.”
She continues to stare at him, eyes nearly penetrating in their intensity. “But you… you worship the Law, not the Cold.”
“I do.”
“Will you swear an oath, human follower of Kettenek?”
Anvil frowns, puzzled. “What kind of oath?”
“If we make this… line… will you be responsible if the humans cross it?”
Anvil speaks slowly and carefully, but more for his own benefit than for anyone else’s. “Those who cross the border should be held responsible for their own violation.” He turns to the dryads. “That is the nature of the Law.”
The dryads nod, although it is hard to read from their expressions whether this has any meaning to them.
Winter remains aloof. “Who here can create this line you speak of, human?”
In the background, Lira drops a quick curtsey, saying, “I’ll get Lord Agasha,” before taking to her heels.
While waiting for Lord Agasha to return, Kiara (still in swallow form), pokes the satyr’s shoulder with her beak. He looks over at her. She whistles a few notes of his tune, as though asking why he has stopped playing.
Reyu reflects that Kiara always was a very direct individual, and this seems unaffected by whether she has arms, wings, or both.
Soon enough, Lira returns with Lord Agasha, who is quickly brought up to speed.
“It is a worthy endeavor,” Lord Agasha agrees, “but I cannot speak for Lord Fau Meen. It is his villages which continue to expand into the mountains.”
Winter gives a low hiss of displeasure. “This is useless.”
“I will certainly attempt to convince him,” Lord Agasha adds, “but I have no authority over his actions, and he is a stubborn man.”
The dryads, who had seemed so hopeful that an end was going to be reached, virtually wilt with disappointment.
And so Reyu steps forward and addresses Winter. “Will you have my oath?”
“You will swear that if these humans return, you will appear to answer for them?”
Reyu speaks very slowly and carefully. “You may have my oath. If the humans return in force to violate the dryads’ groves, I will return.”
“You swear this?” she asks.
“I do.”
The woman comes forward, not so much walking as gliding. Reyu notices, in a distant sort of way, that she also leaves no trail in the snow behind her. Winter stands before Reyu for a moment, then leans down and places an icy kiss on the center of her forehead.
Winter rises and backs away again, and the sensation of cold gradually fades from Reyu's forehead. "Come then," Winter says to Lord Agasha, "let us make this... line."
Anvil turns rather sadly to Elmsweet and the other dryads. “I must go..." he says, full of regret, "or they will make Law without me.”
Regretfully, Eva, Annika and the dryads watch him depart, following Winter. Reyu however, sits down to take his place. “You were saying?” she prompts Honeyoak.
In which: I apologize to Fajitas for not finding a clever way to work in “Birchbraid,” the name of the third dryad.
Lira promptly freezes and puts her hands over her ears.
The satyr gives Reyu a very put-upon look. “Oh, come on.”
Reyu shakes her head. The satyr tries playing for a while, but Lira is either sufficiently deafened or sufficiently strong-willed that it doesn’t seem to have an effect. Eventually he gives up, and Lira cautiously removes her hands from her ears.
Reyu turns to address the woman with the swirling cloak.
“Whom do I have the honor of addressing?” she asks.
Her voice hisses like wind over dry snow. “I am… the winter.”
Reyu bows, not entirely sure what that means. “You travel with a large company.”
“It is… necessary.”
Reyu forges ahead. Hoping she is not digging herself into a hole from which she cannot emerge she asks, “Are you… allied with the ogre Sheesak?”
The woman’s fury is palpable, although her voice never rises. “The humans must be stopped. They encroach upon our lands.”
“These humans have not encroached upon your lands,” Reyu points out.
“That is why they are not dead.”
One of the dryads speaks. “You don’t understand,” she says, “for many hundred years we have lived adjacent to the humans. We in our part of the forest, and they in theirs. There has been no need contact or incident between us. But they have begun encroaching into our woods. They are cutting down our trees.” He voice is heartbroken as she says this. Eva and Anvil shudder in sympathy.
“And so you joined with Sheesak,” Reyu concludes.
The dryad exchange discomfited looks, and one steals a glance over at Winter. The satyr shrugs.
“It seemed to be the only way,” Honeyoak offers finally. Winter fixes Reyu with an icy glare.
So, thinks Reyu, perhaps not all of them are entirely comfortable with what they are doing here. Aloud she says:
“Perhaps they trespass in ignorance. They may not see that your lands are occupied, or that your trees are sacred.”
The cold voice again. “Why do they trespass at all?”
Then, much to the surprise of everyone, Anvil clears his throat. “There should be a line.”
“What?”
“You should establish a border, to keep different things apart from each other. It is pleasing to Kettenek,” he concludes.
Winter eyes Anvil with sudden interest. “You revere the Lord of Winter, human?”
Anvil is a bit annoyed to be distracted from Honeyoak’s lecture, but recognizes in his bones that his duties are paramount. “Yes.”
She continues to stare at him, eyes nearly penetrating in their intensity. “But you… you worship the Law, not the Cold.”
“I do.”
“Will you swear an oath, human follower of Kettenek?”
Anvil frowns, puzzled. “What kind of oath?”
“If we make this… line… will you be responsible if the humans cross it?”
Anvil speaks slowly and carefully, but more for his own benefit than for anyone else’s. “Those who cross the border should be held responsible for their own violation.” He turns to the dryads. “That is the nature of the Law.”
The dryads nod, although it is hard to read from their expressions whether this has any meaning to them.
Winter remains aloof. “Who here can create this line you speak of, human?”
In the background, Lira drops a quick curtsey, saying, “I’ll get Lord Agasha,” before taking to her heels.
While waiting for Lord Agasha to return, Kiara (still in swallow form), pokes the satyr’s shoulder with her beak. He looks over at her. She whistles a few notes of his tune, as though asking why he has stopped playing.
Reyu reflects that Kiara always was a very direct individual, and this seems unaffected by whether she has arms, wings, or both.
Soon enough, Lira returns with Lord Agasha, who is quickly brought up to speed.
“It is a worthy endeavor,” Lord Agasha agrees, “but I cannot speak for Lord Fau Meen. It is his villages which continue to expand into the mountains.”
Winter gives a low hiss of displeasure. “This is useless.”
“I will certainly attempt to convince him,” Lord Agasha adds, “but I have no authority over his actions, and he is a stubborn man.”
The dryads, who had seemed so hopeful that an end was going to be reached, virtually wilt with disappointment.
And so Reyu steps forward and addresses Winter. “Will you have my oath?”
“You will swear that if these humans return, you will appear to answer for them?”
Reyu speaks very slowly and carefully. “You may have my oath. If the humans return in force to violate the dryads’ groves, I will return.”
“You swear this?” she asks.
“I do.”
The woman comes forward, not so much walking as gliding. Reyu notices, in a distant sort of way, that she also leaves no trail in the snow behind her. Winter stands before Reyu for a moment, then leans down and places an icy kiss on the center of her forehead.
Winter rises and backs away again, and the sensation of cold gradually fades from Reyu's forehead. "Come then," Winter says to Lord Agasha, "let us make this... line."
Anvil turns rather sadly to Elmsweet and the other dryads. “I must go..." he says, full of regret, "or they will make Law without me.”
Regretfully, Eva, Annika and the dryads watch him depart, following Winter. Reyu however, sits down to take his place. “You were saying?” she prompts Honeyoak.
Last edited:
Thomas Hobbes
First Post
So. Very. Cool.
spyscribe
First Post
(Pfew! Got my brain back from GenCon SoCal, mostly, and so... time for an update.)
Part the Eighty-First
In which: the party begins to suspect that someone doesn’t want them in the woods.
“You were so stoned,” Lira giggles. “I can’t even describe it.”
“Do you think you could stop trying, then?” Eva asks, not finding the situation of having been put in the thrall of a tree spirit nearly as amusing as her friend seems to.
“Right. Sorry.” Lira turns her eyes to the path in front of her horse, but can’t stop the occasional giggle from sneaking out unbidden.
Having granted the dryads, Winter and the others in agreement what Sheesak insisted they would have to fight for, the pixies lead the group to a large pile of snow under which is found the party’s cold weather clothing and the rest of their gear.
The group camped overnight, and now, are once again following the goblin tracks, track which they hope will lead them straight to Sheesak.
Lord Agasha has brought with him six regular guardsmen, as well as six more specialized operatives. Three of these are scouts in wing and tail positions surrounding the column as it makes its way through the woods. The other three are clerics of Kettenek, who keep to themselves for the most part, and hang towards the back of the party.
Thatch rides towards the front with Anvil, Reyu, and Lord Agasha. Although the group has managed to skirt an owlbear den earlier in the day without rousing the inhabitants, he is under no delusions that they are traveling quietly.
“So… Ummm… do you think Sheesak knows we’re coming?” he asks Anvil.
“It matters not,” the Justicar replies. “We will find her in her lair and smite her no matter what preparations she makes.”
“Uh…. Yeah.”
“We were not able to track down all of the goblins attacking Lord Fau Meen’s village,” Reyu points out, “we must assume she has some knowledge of our approach.”
And as though on cue, the trees the group is marching through are suddenly transformed into a snare of reaching, tearing branches. As a branch comes swinging down at her head, Eva’s eyes go wide. She’s seen Reyu cast entangle more than once, but now, not only is every piece of vegetation in the area attempting to snare her, the trees and shrubs are growing vicious spines.
She hears Benedic cursing not far away as a tree puts a long scratch down one arm. “What the—?”
“It’s a briar web,” Reyu calls over the noise of shouting goblins and panicking horses. “Watch out for the thorns!”
“Yeah!” Yells Thatch, hacking at a tree near him. “Thanks!”
As the party, Lord Agasha, and the soldiers attempt to avoid the ensnaring woods, a cry goes up from the left flank of their formation. “Archers!” Benedic shouts, just seconds before a hail of goblin arrows comes raining down on the group.
Lira whirls just in time to see an arrow flying straight at her head. She’s got no place to dodge and is just bracing herself against the impact which she is sure is about to follow… when a thorny branch suddenly whips in front of her face, knocking the arrow aside harlessly. Lira just has time to reflect that the bright side of being under attack by a bunch of arches while caught in a magically enhanced thorn bush before the branch whips back and scratches her across the face.
What becomes evident however is that, despite of the damage they are doing, the archers are only a distraction from the actual object of the raid. From behind the party, three goblins on worgs come riding up towards the party’s flank. Each one whirls a large net overhead. Closing in, they send them flying towards Lord Agasha’s three clerics.
Two of the clerics had just managed to avoid the effects of the briars that stymies most of the group, only to now find themselves trapped in a pair of goblin nets. One already bleeds from an arrow lodged in his thigh while the other struggles vainly against his bindings.
No one is under any illusions about what will happen if the goblins are allowed to escape with living hostages.
The third cleric is so twisted in the grasping trees that the goblin attempting to snare finds it impossible to get him in his net. Seeing that objective is not going to be achieved, the goblin takes out his javelin and launches it at his target, skewering him through the gut.
The party and Lord Agasha’s men are caught between trying to deal with the goblin archers to one side, the goblin raiders behind, and simply trying to extract themselves from the effects of the briar web spell. Anvil hacks his way back through the trees, attempting to reach the entangled cleric before he bleeds to death.
Mindful that he is making himself even more of a target if the goblins realize what he is, Anvil pulls out his holy symbol, ready to cast a cure light wounds as soon as he is within reach of the Sovereign cleric. He just hopes that the writhing trees will continue to give him sufficient cover.
The worg-riding goblins chatter among each other wildly when they catch sight of his holy symbol, but the trees prevent the one with the free net from snaring him, and the others are unable to launch ranged attacks.
Which is when a flaming sphere suddenly blooms in front of Anvil, right on top of the wounded cleric.
Reyu quickly appraises the situation, but realizes that she will not be able to move quickly enough to the clerics to be of any aid. Instead, she nocks an arrow, and placing a hand on the bear’s back whispers, “Go.”
The bear wheels around in his tracks, crashing through the twisting trees towards the goblin riders. His massive bulk makes short work of the enchanted trees trying to halt his progress, and in one smooth motion he comes out of the effect and lunges for one of the worgs, jaws gaping.
As his mount goes out from under him, that goblin turns on his captive, stabbing with his javelin over and over, before finally turning to flee into the woods.
The last goblin rider eventually abandons his wounded mount entirely, and—dragging his victim behind him with super-goblin effort—follows his compatriot as fast as he can.
Almost immediately thereafter, the arrows from the woods stop. The flaming sphere vanishes.
(“Of course it’s right after I get shield up,” Lira grumbles.)
“Do not let them get away!” Anvil calls. A few seconds later, he finally reaches the wounded cleric entangled in the thorny branches, but it is too late to save him.
As the troops and party members that can run back into the woods in pursuit of the captured cleric, Reyu stays where she is and summons a celestial eagle. The giant bird appears above the trees, and immediately dives into the canopy, prey within its sight.
###
A few minutes later, the rescuers emerge from the woods. They lead the cleric, and carry the head of the goblin with them. Reyu notes with satisfaction that it appears to have had one eye ripped out by a giant talon.
Part the Eighty-First
In which: the party begins to suspect that someone doesn’t want them in the woods.
“You were so stoned,” Lira giggles. “I can’t even describe it.”
“Do you think you could stop trying, then?” Eva asks, not finding the situation of having been put in the thrall of a tree spirit nearly as amusing as her friend seems to.
“Right. Sorry.” Lira turns her eyes to the path in front of her horse, but can’t stop the occasional giggle from sneaking out unbidden.
Having granted the dryads, Winter and the others in agreement what Sheesak insisted they would have to fight for, the pixies lead the group to a large pile of snow under which is found the party’s cold weather clothing and the rest of their gear.
The group camped overnight, and now, are once again following the goblin tracks, track which they hope will lead them straight to Sheesak.
Lord Agasha has brought with him six regular guardsmen, as well as six more specialized operatives. Three of these are scouts in wing and tail positions surrounding the column as it makes its way through the woods. The other three are clerics of Kettenek, who keep to themselves for the most part, and hang towards the back of the party.
Thatch rides towards the front with Anvil, Reyu, and Lord Agasha. Although the group has managed to skirt an owlbear den earlier in the day without rousing the inhabitants, he is under no delusions that they are traveling quietly.
“So… Ummm… do you think Sheesak knows we’re coming?” he asks Anvil.
“It matters not,” the Justicar replies. “We will find her in her lair and smite her no matter what preparations she makes.”
“Uh…. Yeah.”
“We were not able to track down all of the goblins attacking Lord Fau Meen’s village,” Reyu points out, “we must assume she has some knowledge of our approach.”
And as though on cue, the trees the group is marching through are suddenly transformed into a snare of reaching, tearing branches. As a branch comes swinging down at her head, Eva’s eyes go wide. She’s seen Reyu cast entangle more than once, but now, not only is every piece of vegetation in the area attempting to snare her, the trees and shrubs are growing vicious spines.
She hears Benedic cursing not far away as a tree puts a long scratch down one arm. “What the—?”
“It’s a briar web,” Reyu calls over the noise of shouting goblins and panicking horses. “Watch out for the thorns!”
“Yeah!” Yells Thatch, hacking at a tree near him. “Thanks!”
As the party, Lord Agasha, and the soldiers attempt to avoid the ensnaring woods, a cry goes up from the left flank of their formation. “Archers!” Benedic shouts, just seconds before a hail of goblin arrows comes raining down on the group.
Lira whirls just in time to see an arrow flying straight at her head. She’s got no place to dodge and is just bracing herself against the impact which she is sure is about to follow… when a thorny branch suddenly whips in front of her face, knocking the arrow aside harlessly. Lira just has time to reflect that the bright side of being under attack by a bunch of arches while caught in a magically enhanced thorn bush before the branch whips back and scratches her across the face.
What becomes evident however is that, despite of the damage they are doing, the archers are only a distraction from the actual object of the raid. From behind the party, three goblins on worgs come riding up towards the party’s flank. Each one whirls a large net overhead. Closing in, they send them flying towards Lord Agasha’s three clerics.
Two of the clerics had just managed to avoid the effects of the briars that stymies most of the group, only to now find themselves trapped in a pair of goblin nets. One already bleeds from an arrow lodged in his thigh while the other struggles vainly against his bindings.
No one is under any illusions about what will happen if the goblins are allowed to escape with living hostages.
The third cleric is so twisted in the grasping trees that the goblin attempting to snare finds it impossible to get him in his net. Seeing that objective is not going to be achieved, the goblin takes out his javelin and launches it at his target, skewering him through the gut.
The party and Lord Agasha’s men are caught between trying to deal with the goblin archers to one side, the goblin raiders behind, and simply trying to extract themselves from the effects of the briar web spell. Anvil hacks his way back through the trees, attempting to reach the entangled cleric before he bleeds to death.
Mindful that he is making himself even more of a target if the goblins realize what he is, Anvil pulls out his holy symbol, ready to cast a cure light wounds as soon as he is within reach of the Sovereign cleric. He just hopes that the writhing trees will continue to give him sufficient cover.
The worg-riding goblins chatter among each other wildly when they catch sight of his holy symbol, but the trees prevent the one with the free net from snaring him, and the others are unable to launch ranged attacks.
Which is when a flaming sphere suddenly blooms in front of Anvil, right on top of the wounded cleric.
Reyu quickly appraises the situation, but realizes that she will not be able to move quickly enough to the clerics to be of any aid. Instead, she nocks an arrow, and placing a hand on the bear’s back whispers, “Go.”
The bear wheels around in his tracks, crashing through the twisting trees towards the goblin riders. His massive bulk makes short work of the enchanted trees trying to halt his progress, and in one smooth motion he comes out of the effect and lunges for one of the worgs, jaws gaping.
As his mount goes out from under him, that goblin turns on his captive, stabbing with his javelin over and over, before finally turning to flee into the woods.
The last goblin rider eventually abandons his wounded mount entirely, and—dragging his victim behind him with super-goblin effort—follows his compatriot as fast as he can.
Almost immediately thereafter, the arrows from the woods stop. The flaming sphere vanishes.
(“Of course it’s right after I get shield up,” Lira grumbles.)
“Do not let them get away!” Anvil calls. A few seconds later, he finally reaches the wounded cleric entangled in the thorny branches, but it is too late to save him.
As the troops and party members that can run back into the woods in pursuit of the captured cleric, Reyu stays where she is and summons a celestial eagle. The giant bird appears above the trees, and immediately dives into the canopy, prey within its sight.
###
A few minutes later, the rescuers emerge from the woods. They lead the cleric, and carry the head of the goblin with them. Reyu notes with satisfaction that it appears to have had one eye ripped out by a giant talon.
spyscribe
First Post
Part the Eighty-Second
In which: the party either makes a brilliant tactical ploy, or a really big mistake.
Some hours later, as the party passes out of the woods and into one of the grassier areas of Ketkath foothills, Reyu notices a lone raven high up against the sky.
An hour later, it is still there. Reyu brings her horse up beside Lord Agasha’s. “Do not look back. I believe we are being spied upon.”
“More goblins?”
“A raven.”
Lord Agasha is skeptical. “A raven?”
“The worgs who just attacked us did not leave tracks in the snow. There are many other signs that Shesak is a powerful druid. I believe this to be one of her companions.”
“If she is so powerful, why does she have a raven while you have a bear?”
“I said one of her companions.”
Agasha nods.
“I will inform my friends,” Reyu continues. “When I give the word, we will all attack in concert. Hopefully we can kill it before it can report back to its mistress.”
“In this instance, my bow is at your command.”
“Thank you.”
Reyu gradually works her way to the other members of the party, informing them of her suspicions and her plan. Soon, all are in readiness.
Reyu stealthily lets an arrow fall into her hand, still hanging easily at her side. She catches Eva’s eye and nods, following the silent sign with a shout of, “Now!”
Reyu, Eva, Thatch, Anvil, Kiara and Lord Agasha all turn and fire their bows at once. At the same moment, Lira and Annika each loose a pair of magic missiles. Naturally, the magic missiles hit and when the bird hits the ground it has been skewered no fewer than four times with various arrows and a bolt from Anvil’s cross-bow.
“Well,” Eva comments, “that bird is really, really dead.”
Lira casts detect magic to see if the creature is under any kind of enchantment. What she sees makes her heart skip a beat, regardless of the circumstances.
“What’s the matter?” Eva asks.
Lira swallows. “I think we just killed someone’s familiar.”
“I thought only witches and those of their ilk had familiars,” Anvil announces.
“The proper term,” Annika informs him, “is wizard or sorcerer.”
Anvil barely acknowledges the correction. “But they are the only ones who have familiars.” He addresses Reyu, “Those of your kind do not have them.”
“That is true,” Reyu is forced to allow.
“Umm…” says Thatch. “I hope that bird didn’t belong to the archmage we’re supposed to find.”
The party eventually puts that thought aside—quite rightly deciding that if they have murdered the near companion of one of the four most powerful wizards of the Halmae, there’s not a lot they can do about it now—and concentrates on what else is implied by the raven’s presence.
If the bird was someone’s familiar (someone else’s familiar), and it was acting as a spy, then it seems likely that they are very close to Sheesak’s lair.
The party decides to stop and make camp while Kiara goes on a scouting mission.
She tries to behave as much like a swallow as she can under the circumstances (circumstances being that it’s the middle of winter and any self-respecting swallow would have migrated north or at least headed for the valleys in search of warmer climes). So in the end, she splits her time between being swallow-like and being stealthy.
Stealthy, when you are a very small bird, isn’t much of a problem.
Skimming along the tops of the trees she soon comes to a cliff, looming overhead. At the base of the cliff, a mound—almost a bulge of earth—rises nearly twenty feet up the cliff-face, creating a half-dome plateau outside what looks like the entrance of a cave. Outside the cave entrance is a large stone alter, ringed by four immense standing stones, laid out in a semi-circle.
Growing on the sides of the slope up to the plateau are four concentric hedges, Kiara looks, but she doesn’t see any obvious route through them. She is about to fly in for a closer look when she notices a shadow gliding along the ground in front of her own.
She glances back and sees a raven, circling above her. She can’t be sure if it’s following her or not, but she takes cover in a small cranny of the cliff-face until the other bird flies on. Then, she quickly wings her way back to where the rest of the group is encamped, to let them know what she has seen. As far as she can tell, she isn’t followed.
In which: the party either makes a brilliant tactical ploy, or a really big mistake.
Some hours later, as the party passes out of the woods and into one of the grassier areas of Ketkath foothills, Reyu notices a lone raven high up against the sky.
An hour later, it is still there. Reyu brings her horse up beside Lord Agasha’s. “Do not look back. I believe we are being spied upon.”
“More goblins?”
“A raven.”
Lord Agasha is skeptical. “A raven?”
“The worgs who just attacked us did not leave tracks in the snow. There are many other signs that Shesak is a powerful druid. I believe this to be one of her companions.”
“If she is so powerful, why does she have a raven while you have a bear?”
“I said one of her companions.”
Agasha nods.
“I will inform my friends,” Reyu continues. “When I give the word, we will all attack in concert. Hopefully we can kill it before it can report back to its mistress.”
“In this instance, my bow is at your command.”
“Thank you.”
Reyu gradually works her way to the other members of the party, informing them of her suspicions and her plan. Soon, all are in readiness.
Reyu stealthily lets an arrow fall into her hand, still hanging easily at her side. She catches Eva’s eye and nods, following the silent sign with a shout of, “Now!”
Reyu, Eva, Thatch, Anvil, Kiara and Lord Agasha all turn and fire their bows at once. At the same moment, Lira and Annika each loose a pair of magic missiles. Naturally, the magic missiles hit and when the bird hits the ground it has been skewered no fewer than four times with various arrows and a bolt from Anvil’s cross-bow.
“Well,” Eva comments, “that bird is really, really dead.”
Lira casts detect magic to see if the creature is under any kind of enchantment. What she sees makes her heart skip a beat, regardless of the circumstances.
“What’s the matter?” Eva asks.
Lira swallows. “I think we just killed someone’s familiar.”
“I thought only witches and those of their ilk had familiars,” Anvil announces.
“The proper term,” Annika informs him, “is wizard or sorcerer.”
Anvil barely acknowledges the correction. “But they are the only ones who have familiars.” He addresses Reyu, “Those of your kind do not have them.”
“That is true,” Reyu is forced to allow.
“Umm…” says Thatch. “I hope that bird didn’t belong to the archmage we’re supposed to find.”
The party eventually puts that thought aside—quite rightly deciding that if they have murdered the near companion of one of the four most powerful wizards of the Halmae, there’s not a lot they can do about it now—and concentrates on what else is implied by the raven’s presence.
If the bird was someone’s familiar (someone else’s familiar), and it was acting as a spy, then it seems likely that they are very close to Sheesak’s lair.
The party decides to stop and make camp while Kiara goes on a scouting mission.
She tries to behave as much like a swallow as she can under the circumstances (circumstances being that it’s the middle of winter and any self-respecting swallow would have migrated north or at least headed for the valleys in search of warmer climes). So in the end, she splits her time between being swallow-like and being stealthy.
Stealthy, when you are a very small bird, isn’t much of a problem.
Skimming along the tops of the trees she soon comes to a cliff, looming overhead. At the base of the cliff, a mound—almost a bulge of earth—rises nearly twenty feet up the cliff-face, creating a half-dome plateau outside what looks like the entrance of a cave. Outside the cave entrance is a large stone alter, ringed by four immense standing stones, laid out in a semi-circle.
Growing on the sides of the slope up to the plateau are four concentric hedges, Kiara looks, but she doesn’t see any obvious route through them. She is about to fly in for a closer look when she notices a shadow gliding along the ground in front of her own.
She glances back and sees a raven, circling above her. She can’t be sure if it’s following her or not, but she takes cover in a small cranny of the cliff-face until the other bird flies on. Then, she quickly wings her way back to where the rest of the group is encamped, to let them know what she has seen. As far as she can tell, she isn’t followed.
PhoenixAsh
First Post
Wonderful storyhour, one of the few I can read and reread and enjoy just as much each time I read it.
Great world, great PCs, and truly inspiring insight into familiars.
Great world, great PCs, and truly inspiring insight into familiars.
spyscribe
First Post
(Hey PhoenixAsh, glad you're enjoying the story hour, and thanks for posting!)
Interlude:
A map, and some explanation thereof
Given their prior experience, the party decides to attempt to draw out and attack Sheesak herself as quickly as possible without wasting their resources on her minions.
The party devises a three-pronged attack plan:
Group 1 (I) is made up of Lira, Anvil, Eva, Benedic, three of Lord Agasha’s fighters, the three scouts, and one cleric. They will circle up behind Sheesak’s lair, stationing themselves at the top of the cliff, above the cave entrance. Lira will be in position to cast magic missile at Sheesak—on the theory that she’s one of the few party members for whom hitting Sheesak won’t be a problem. Anvil, Eva, and Benedic are also in good sniper range. Lira also casts cat’s grace on Eva, Anvil, Reyu and herself. (Note: this is still 3rd ed., so the spell lasts for hours, not minutes, making the plan feasible, even though Reyu won’t be in the same group.)
The group’s other main task is to drop a series of ropes down the cliff-face between the rows of hedges, allowing the main ground group (II) to advance past the hedges and up the slope.
That group is consists of Reyu, the bear, Annika, Kiara, Thatch, Lord Agasha, four of Lord Agasha’s men, and one of his clerics.
As soon as the ropes are dropped, Thatch, the bear, Lord Agasha, and his men will advance forward towards the plateau, climbing the ropes to the top of the hedges and then jumping across them to reach the plateau. Reyu will cast entangle on the hedges to the left of the advancing party in order to provide some cover for the advancing melee fighters. She, along with Annika, and Kiara (in hybrid form), will stay by the tree-line with ranged weapons and spells.
The third group (III) is purely a distraction: four more of Lord Agasha’s men and one cleric. They will be positioned on the other side of the hedges as the second group, equipped with torches (one with a flask of alchemist’s fire), and charged with setting fire to the hedges in order to draw Sheesak’s minions.
It’s late, just before the group’s spell-casters will have to turn in for the night in order to have all their spells ready. The strike will come just after dawn. Lira worries that there are variables the group still hasn’t taken into account.
“What about the standing stones?” she asks. “I mean, I suppose the purpose of the altar is evident, but are those something we need to worry about?”
“I can’t be sure,” Reyu says, “but powerful druids have been known to use large standing stones to store spells in. We should try to keep Sheesak away from them.”
“I’ll prepare web,” Annika offers. “If she leaves that cave, I can pin her to her own alter.”
“That’s good,” Eva points out, “it’ll make it easier for the archers to hit her.”
“What if she doesn’t leave the cave?”
Thatch pats the hilt of his sword. “Then, leave her to me.”
And with that, the party settles in for the rest of the night.
Interlude:
A map, and some explanation thereof
Given their prior experience, the party decides to attempt to draw out and attack Sheesak herself as quickly as possible without wasting their resources on her minions.
The party devises a three-pronged attack plan:
Group 1 (I) is made up of Lira, Anvil, Eva, Benedic, three of Lord Agasha’s fighters, the three scouts, and one cleric. They will circle up behind Sheesak’s lair, stationing themselves at the top of the cliff, above the cave entrance. Lira will be in position to cast magic missile at Sheesak—on the theory that she’s one of the few party members for whom hitting Sheesak won’t be a problem. Anvil, Eva, and Benedic are also in good sniper range. Lira also casts cat’s grace on Eva, Anvil, Reyu and herself. (Note: this is still 3rd ed., so the spell lasts for hours, not minutes, making the plan feasible, even though Reyu won’t be in the same group.)
The group’s other main task is to drop a series of ropes down the cliff-face between the rows of hedges, allowing the main ground group (II) to advance past the hedges and up the slope.
That group is consists of Reyu, the bear, Annika, Kiara, Thatch, Lord Agasha, four of Lord Agasha’s men, and one of his clerics.
As soon as the ropes are dropped, Thatch, the bear, Lord Agasha, and his men will advance forward towards the plateau, climbing the ropes to the top of the hedges and then jumping across them to reach the plateau. Reyu will cast entangle on the hedges to the left of the advancing party in order to provide some cover for the advancing melee fighters. She, along with Annika, and Kiara (in hybrid form), will stay by the tree-line with ranged weapons and spells.
The third group (III) is purely a distraction: four more of Lord Agasha’s men and one cleric. They will be positioned on the other side of the hedges as the second group, equipped with torches (one with a flask of alchemist’s fire), and charged with setting fire to the hedges in order to draw Sheesak’s minions.
It’s late, just before the group’s spell-casters will have to turn in for the night in order to have all their spells ready. The strike will come just after dawn. Lira worries that there are variables the group still hasn’t taken into account.
“What about the standing stones?” she asks. “I mean, I suppose the purpose of the altar is evident, but are those something we need to worry about?”
“I can’t be sure,” Reyu says, “but powerful druids have been known to use large standing stones to store spells in. We should try to keep Sheesak away from them.”
“I’ll prepare web,” Annika offers. “If she leaves that cave, I can pin her to her own alter.”
“That’s good,” Eva points out, “it’ll make it easier for the archers to hit her.”
“What if she doesn’t leave the cave?”
Thatch pats the hilt of his sword. “Then, leave her to me.”
And with that, the party settles in for the rest of the night.
Attachments
Last edited:
Similar Threads
