Stormraider Keep (A M.E.T.A.L. Campaign)

Noting the bones, Aurelius will ask Yoë to help him excavate among the roots to see if anything else of interest might  be found.

(I apologize for taking a while to get a post.) 

While Flynt resumes his rest (or if Flynt wanted to help, he can and resumes his rest soon with the others), Yoë is certainly willing to help Aurelius with some excavation. "And since we're digging anyway, perhaps we can try to get a few good roots from the tree to save?  I think they might be useful."  You realize there are at least 3 or 4 separate skeletons beneath the tree.  You find: 

- A small polished pale lavender stone, elliptical in shape.

- A small obsidian figurine of a horse. 

- A cloak with a pattern of vibrant green leaves. Although it feels like cloth, it appears they are actual leaves.

- A suit of studded leather armor. It is in remarkably good shape, especially for being buried. 

From a cursory inspection these items would appear to be magical.  

As he starts to dose, Flynt is disturbed by the sounds of physical exertion and scraping as Aurelius and Yoë begin digging. Seeing the other two toiling away makes him feel a bit guilty for attempting to go to sleep so soon. Jumping up he pitches in using his Giants Might to move larger rocks and relocate stubborn roots.

Once the area has been sufficiently excavated he steps back to examine the spoils with the rest.

Aurelius thanks Yoë  and Flynt for their help retrieving the artifacts.  He is mildly interested in them, particularly the figure of the horse, but he is also physically exhausted, so as soon as they have finished the task he will excuse himself and go back to sleep.  As he drifts off, he wonders how Elyria is getting along, and if the treacherous Eladrin have double-crossed her.

Having collected the items, you all decide to get back and complete your rest.  (Which I would say doesn't have to be restarted. Aurelius gains back his hp maximum.)  In the morning Yoë chats away about how wonderful the pair of you were in fighting the bloodroot. "Wow, the way you stood in there Aurelius and kept hitting the tree with that fiery sword! And Flynt constantly firing off all those shots at the things.  And it was so weird how I just woke up and instantly new something was attack us! Weird!" She also collected a number of pieces of the roots, and a few leaves for good measure. "I'm not sure there's a use for the leaves, but for sure the roots are useful.  Hey! Maybe Rakeshi will know something about the leaves! I'll have to remember to ask her when we see her! That is what we're going to do once Elyria gets back, right? Try and free her?' 

The group packs up and continues on under Yoë's guidance.  It is several hours later you are in a dense part of the forest and you find yourselves in front of a large, rather old looking tree.  Yoë knocks in a certain pattern and a small door opens up.  She steps inside beckoning you all to follow.  

The inside is small, more or less round with a 20' diameter - about the size of the tree.  There is a small semi-circular stair to one side, and you see a trap door in the floor to another. There seems to be a small hearth as well, and a neat row of coat pegs.  A handful of plain looking upholstered chairs.  Once you are all in inside the door closes.  "Here we are!" Yoë calls out.

"Tres bien!  This is magnifique, lovely Yoë!  However did you come across this quaint tree-house?  Who made it?  To whom does it belong?"

"Oh! Well! This place has belonged to my family for many generations. Family history says that a family member - she was a druid I think - rescued a dryad who had been trapped by some nefarious wizard.  Anyhow, it is said the dryad helped her build this secluded house inside a tree.  The tree is still alive! It's just growing around us here!" Yoë delivers this with her usual enthusiasm.

"There should be some provisions in the cellar. And a few sleeping quarters above. The hearth is magic - produces heat and cold food with no flame! Wouldn't want to risk the tree. Family uses it for little getaways now and then.  Or a place to hide when the need arises."

"Your place is lovely Yoë. Thank you for your hospitality. If you two don't mind I think I'll spend some time with those items we found. It would be good to know if they're worth bringing back to M.E.T.A.L." says Flynt as he gathers up the found armor and heads up stairs to meditate and examine the artifacts.

(This is how Flynt will spend his time while waiting for the return of Elyria. He'll slowly work his way through all the items leaving the horse statue to Aurelius.)

The paladin will doff his armor, and proceed to clean and polish it, buffing out scratches or dents.  He will also sharpen his weapons, and send Lady back to her home plane, to be re-summoned when she is next needed.  He will spend some time in the evenings studying and pondering the statuette, as well as performing his devotions to the deities.  And of course, he and the satyr will share songs, and maybe collaborate on some new ones.

Every few hours, he will exit the tree to check for any signs of Elyria's approach or for Aelric.  He will also ask Yoë  to explain more, perhaps with diagrams, the layout of Leilatha's fortress, where Rahkeshi is located, possible points for attack, defense, escape.

Yoë is overjoyed at playing music, singing along with Aurelius and especially composing a few songs.  She does seem to fall back on songs about a sarcastic female half-orc a number of times.  But she insists on putting together a tribute to Aurelius and Flynt, conquerors of the maleficent Bloodroot Tree.  

She eventually gives you a tour of the place.  Above are two floors divided in half into two sleeping quarters, then the top floor is a single large bedroom.  The small spiral stair accesses all the levels.  The trap door on the lower floor leads into a cellar. It is fairly large, with shelves lines with preserved fruits and meats. "If we want anything fresh we'll have to hunt for it - be it animal or plant. Perhaps we can do that tomorrow.  Though we have provisions for days if you're fine with these rations." 

Yoë also spends some time talking about Leilatha's fortress. Presuming they can pass the magical barriers, she thinks entering through the servant's entrance would be easiest.  She feels that even without the magic, the other entrances would still be well guarded. The guards are satyrs and she isn't aware of any others. Between other activities she is happy to discuss the layouts. 

As for studying the items recovered from the roots of the tree, you learn the following about each.  Aurelius is left to study the obsidian figurine (take about 1 hour), while Flynt examines the rest (a total of about 3 hours): 

- A small polished pale lavender stone, elliptical in shape.  When you toss it in the air it will orbits your head.  It allows you to use a reaction to cancel a spell of 4th level or lower cast by a creature you can see and targeting only you.  Once it cancels 20 levels of spells it turns grey and loses its magic. (Ioun Stone of Absorption)

- A small obsidian figurine of a horse. Speaking a command word, it becomes a nightmare for up to 24 hours. It fights only to defend itself. Once used, it can't be used again until 5 days have passed.  (Figurine of Wondrous Power (Obsidian Steed))

- A cloak with a pattern of vibrant green leaves. Although it feels like cloth, it appears they are actual leaves.  While in a forested area or amongst heavy brush, Wisdom (Perception) checks made to see you have disadvantage, and you have advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide. (Cloak of Elvenkind)

- A suit of studded leather armor. It is in remarkably good shape, especially for being buried. This is simply a suit of Studded Leather +2.

(Flynt, make one Arcana roll as well associated with your investigation of the items.)  

 (OOC: Ha, I see you conveniently left off the part about the horse figurine randomly transporting you to Hades ;)

After informing the others of what he has discovered about the figurine, Aurelius, holding it somewhat gingerly, will place the statuette on a table or shelf.

"I will just leave it there, mes amis.  Perhaps one of you might find it more useful, as I prefer the company of my Lady.  The creature that it summons will be interesting... "

He had intended to make a joke about it being a perfect match for Rahkeshi's disposition, but realizes somberly that the two party members he enjoyed teasing the most are not currently with him.  Flynt doesn't really seem the banter-y type, and he's not sure how Yoë would react to his jesting about the object of her affections.

He does, only half in jest, inquire if there might be any nearby taverns, as he hasn't had an audience in a while to "impress" with his  usual antics.  Aurelius knows that would defeat the purpose of hiding in the treehouse, but he grows restless as the days pass.  Inaction is not his usual modus operandi, and waiting not his forte.

Early the morning after you arrived, Aurelius steps outside and spots an owl flying through the trees.  It is clearly Aelric.  He alights on a nearby branch, and you can see he carries a small note in one claw.  Once he spots the paladin though he swoops silently off the branch and manages to drop the note right before him.  He then returns to perch on the branch again. 

The note reads: 

Dear friends,
I hope all is well with you and that you have reached Yoë's hideout. I am on my way and will hopefully reach you within a day. All is fine with me, but I have ominous news to share I'm afraid.
Elyria

Aurelius waves at the owl, and calls "Thank you!".  If Aelric seems to be waiting for a response, he will hurriedly scrawl on the back of Elyria's note:

"We are here at the hideout, all is tranquil for the moment.  Glad you are safe.  See you soon."

He will then offer it to the owl, unsure what the protocol is for sending messages this way.

Aelric watches as Aurelius writes out the message.  He then flies down, snatches it in a claw, and disappears back into the forest. Essentially back the way you had come from. 

Arcana:2

Flynt suggests Yoë take the items. "Might be good to have something more than a wooden sword to protect yourself with if we find more trouble." Flynt says as he sets down the folded cloak and armor. He places the stone on top. 

"I too grow restless with this inactivity. Perhaps we should scout the area around the stronghold in preparation for Elyrias arrival." Flynt suggests. 

When Flynt works to identify the Cloak of Elvenkind he notices that there seems to be something more to the cloak, but he can't really tell what it is.  It does not seem to be in any way detrimental to him, merely like there's something more to the magic. 

Yoë is taken aback by offer of taking the items.  She takes some time later in the day to investigate and attune to the items.  Soon she is porting the new armor and cloak with a strange stone now constantly circling over her head.  All the rest of the day she spends an inordinate amount of time finding spots to hide herself, then when either Aurelius or Flynt comes by she jumps out and yells, "BOO!"  And then she laughs and laughs.  

The day Aelric arrived passes and it moves onto the following day.  It is now early afternoon.  Yoë has mostly given up on hiding and jumping out at people at this point.  But she is once again trying to compose a ballad about the fabulous potions of a beautiful half-orc.  And dancing around in circles, trying to burn off some of her energy. (Though thus far no matter how much she runs around she never seems to run out of energy.  But maybe some day!)  

Anticipating his friend's return, Aurelius will don his armor. He will ask Yoë  to accompany him outside.  If she agrees, they will try to find a vantage place along the trail where she can hide with her cloak and observe anyone who approaches, and anyone who might be following.  Aurelius will then move further back and take cover (behind rocks, trees, whatever) completely obscuring himself from the trail, relying on Yoë  to alert him once she sees Elyria and is sure that no one follows her.

A bit later in the afternoon you spot Aelric approaching through the forest, hooting as if acknowledging his and Elyria's arrival. Shortly after Elyria herelf emerges from the woods looking up at Aelric and then glancing about, looking for Yoë's hideout. Not entirely sure what to expect she cautiously moves closer to where Aelric has guided her, hoping nothing has befallen her friends, Acorn and Sozi following her closely.

If Yoë  alerts him, the paladin will creep nearer to the road until he can see who is approaching.  He whispers to the satyr to remain hidden for now to watch for anyone that might be following Elyria, and then he goes to meet his friend.

"What a relief, mon chéri.  I was worried for you.  Did they attempt to follow you here?"

Elyria, visbly relieved by seeing Auelius, walks to greet him. "Good to see you again Aurelius. I don't think I am followed, but I have dire news regarding Lady Sylmare. I think Flynt should hear this as well." She says, still scanning the surroundings for threats.
Perception: 10 Aelric perception: 20