Combat will likely end if you do not pursue, as both reptiles have retreated, and vanished out of sight into the brambles. Cad's tether is now broken, but Titaani may continue to concentrate on the fear effect, sight unseen.
Matilda still has an unused action, and Horatio may have an opportunity attack if he chooses. Then, everyone may act again if they wish.
He was certain he was about to die. The brute's first strike had knocked the breath from his lungs and doubled him over. But then they just ran away. Or slithered, rather. Cad sits heavily on the bottom step, feeling his ribs for any life-threatening injuries. The snake's fangs had fortunately skidded off his ribs, so nothing vital seemed to be damaged, though he was bleeding freely. He presses a hand to the wound to slow the bleeding. "I think, if no one needs me too urgently, I may just sit for a moment, take a minute to gather myself..." His face is grey, and shivers run through his body. "I suppose that was the knight the snake ate? Pity we couldn't save him..." His words have a detached air, as though talking about someone else's picnic being rained out.
At the top, Ben says, “Let’s head down—I think the snakes are gone for now.” Looking at Matilda, he says, “You are remarkably brave,” as he picks up the cage and starts heading down the steps.
As he descends, he adds, “I know we need to get the key, but can anyone heal Cadwallader—he isn’t looking too good after that snakebite?”
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Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
At the top, Ben says, “Let’s head down—I think the snakes are gone for now.” Looking at Matilda, he says, “You are remarkably brave,” as he picks up the cage and starts heading down the steps.
As he descends, he adds, “I know we need to get the key, but can anyone heal Cadwallader—he isn’t looking too good after that snakebite?”
" Brave?", Matilda queried.
" Just needed doing is all."
She punched him on the hip and headed downstairs.
" One of you bigguns is volunteering to suck out the poison! He doesn't smell great that close up."
Fortunately, the snake bite does not appear to be venomous.
Also fortunately, the massive snakes do not reappear. One wounded, one sated, and both spooked, the serpents remain in retreat. Combat is over.
"Poor Wigglewog," intones Sir Talavar, "He was a loyal friend indeed. The bullywugs of Downfall are quite courteous and welcoming, provided one does not offend them, but Wigglewog was a brave and true ally."
"Those two serpents are in Bavlorna’s service, I strongly suspect," he continues. "We should leave this place while they remain absent. Had I been freed I would have smitten them by your side, my friends, but alas, I am caged. Would you do me the service of taking me to Telemy Hill to find the key to this accursed prison? You would be doing a service to the Summer Queen as well as this poor old dragon."
Reaching the bottom of the steps, Ben sees the miserable state of poor Cadwallader and says, “Can someone bandage him up? I am going to fetch the remains of the basket so he can float on the water and keep that wound away from this swamp water.” Wading/swimming through the water, Ben goes to tow over the basket, hoping that enough remains to be a stable platform for Cadwallader to lay on and recover as they travel.
OOC: If we need to leave the tower right now, Ben is trying to find a way for Cad to stay dry and get a short rest to recover some hp.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Horatio lets oit a low whistle while looking at Cad's wounds. "Brother, we were both going to be someone's lunch!" He looks back towards the retreating snakes. "I wonder what made them run off like that?"
Head clearing, he manages to stop the bleeding. It isn't as deep a wound as he'd feared, but it does hurt like mad. He finally notices the tiny caged dragon. "You're the Summer Queen's champion? How did you manage to get caged?" He hoists himself to his feet with a groan. "It's okay, Ben. I can still move, and we need to be gone whenever those serpents return. What scared them off anyway? I felt a spell go off -- did you do that, Sir Talavar?"
The wicker material that comprises the basket would likely keep an injured person immobilized and stable, but it would not protect them from getting wet. Fortunately, Cad is well enough to walk or swim, even if that foul water is likely to sting.
"I'm afraid this blasted cage deflects most of my arcane skills," replies Sir Talavar to Cad. "I have a wide variety of magical tricks I can perform for you if you can find the key. Jingle Jangle has it, I heard. She lives atop Telemy Hill, which was just past that thicket there," he says, pointing to a clump of trees in the distance, "if it hasn't moved on already. It's a wandering hill, you know. And no, I'm no champion, although I've had my day in battle with the best of them. I will tell you some stories! But first, we should go find this Jingle Jangle. I must bring my news to the Seelie Court with all haste: The Hourglass Coven has used an artifact called 'Iggwilv’s Cauldron' to freeze time in Zybilna’s palace, trapping the archfey inside."
”Well, Cadwallader, if you say you’re okay, we should get going,” says Ben. Leaving the basket at Cad’s side in case he wanted to avail himself of the additional buoyancy, Ben offers to carry the cage above the water while wading slowly towards Telemy hill.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Titaani leaves the tower in a daze, keeping her concentration on the fear effect. Tiny notices this, and gently nudges her towards the rest of the group. Hearing Cad's words about her spell, however, returns Titaani to her normal energetic and excitable self.
"Oh! That was me!" she beams, not really listening to Sir Talavar. "Well, it wasn't actually me me, I suppose, the magic stuff comes from one of my friends, but I was the one who cast it."
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Pronouns: She/her/her's
Currently playing as Titaani Leelathae in The Wild beyond the Witchlight
The party moves on, in the direction Sir Talavar directs. You wade for a bit, then follow a scrubby and muddy ridge. Finally, you are forced to swim again. A swirling fog continues to hug the ground.
But then the ground rises again, and you find yourselves on dry ground – a meadow of brilliantly colored sunrise flowers, gradually becoming a steeper gradient upward, where the mist is thinner. You are greeted by the scent of sweet-smelling fruit. Damp, downy, silvery-green moss blankets a gentle upward slope before giving way to a craggy ridge that marks the top of the hill. Dozens of enormous willow trees dot the hillside, swaying as though in a breeze despite the absence of one.
Horatio is the first to notice that some of the trees are not just swaying, but approaching. Four willow trees converge to block your way, about ten feet ahead.
"Welcome to Telemy Hill," grumbles one in a low, rumbly voice. "How long do you plan to stay?"
Shrugging as he looks back at the others, Horatio replies, "I'm not really sure, we're trying to help this fellow find a key." He points at Sir Talavar. "May we take a look around?"
Cad does not enjoy slogging through this swamp. He's hurting, tired, filthy, and thoroughly wet, and he would swear something he stepped on in one of the pools moved under his foot. This part doesn't make it into the storybooks. It's always, "the heroes crossed the deadly swamps." No mention of pruned feet, scraped knuckles, the way one single grain of grit gets under your belt and starts to wear a hole in your hide.
He suddenly becomes aware that the patch of dry land they're climbing is different from all of the other small rises they'd crossed. For one thing, his feet aren't sinking into sucking mud. In fact, the ground is covered in a springy turf of moss, dotted with wildflowers. He leans down and smells the moss. It smells green -- it is the smell of the color green, greener than any green he's ever experienced. It's intoxicating, and he wants to drop his load and rest in the soft, soft moss. Then Horatio begins talking to trees that have somehow snuck up on him. "What is this place?" he asks the trees, and maybe the world.
"This is Telemy Hill," rumbles the willow tree, slowly. "A sentient hill that travels throughout the Feywild."
Looking around, you see that the hill is approximately half a square mile wide. A narrow game trail leads upward to the pinnacle of the hill.
"Looking around? No, it is best you climb the hill and find Jingle Jangle. She is friendly. She has keys. She wears a coat of keys that jingle and jangle when she walks. But three days ago, while rooting through the swamp for truffles, she was attacked and robbed by brigands. She hasn’t left her hilltop den since returning to the hill. She must be hungry by now," continues the willow.
The willows continue to cluster and shepherd you forward and upward.
Combat will likely end if you do not pursue, as both reptiles have retreated, and vanished out of sight into the brambles. Cad's tether is now broken, but Titaani may continue to concentrate on the fear effect, sight unseen.
Matilda still has an unused action, and Horatio may have an opportunity attack if he chooses. Then, everyone may act again if they wish.
Matilda calls down, " Let them go...I think we broke their house..."
Cadwallader:
He was certain he was about to die. The brute's first strike had knocked the breath from his lungs and doubled him over. But then they just ran away. Or slithered, rather. Cad sits heavily on the bottom step, feeling his ribs for any life-threatening injuries. The snake's fangs had fortunately skidded off his ribs, so nothing vital seemed to be damaged, though he was bleeding freely. He presses a hand to the wound to slow the bleeding. "I think, if no one needs me too urgently, I may just sit for a moment, take a minute to gather myself..." His face is grey, and shivers run through his body. "I suppose that was the knight the snake ate? Pity we couldn't save him..." His words have a detached air, as though talking about someone else's picnic being rained out.
Ben:
At the top, Ben says, “Let’s head down—I think the snakes are gone for now.” Looking at Matilda, he says, “You are remarkably brave,” as he picks up the cage and starts heading down the steps.
As he descends, he adds, “I know we need to get the key, but can anyone heal Cadwallader—he isn’t looking too good after that snakebite?”
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
" Brave?", Matilda queried.
" Just needed doing is all."
She punched him on the hip and headed downstairs.
" One of you bigguns is volunteering to suck out the poison! He doesn't smell great that close up."
Fortunately, the snake bite does not appear to be venomous.
Also fortunately, the massive snakes do not reappear. One wounded, one sated, and both spooked, the serpents remain in retreat. Combat is over.
"Poor Wigglewog," intones Sir Talavar, "He was a loyal friend indeed. The bullywugs of Downfall are quite courteous and welcoming, provided one does not offend them, but Wigglewog was a brave and true ally."
"Those two serpents are in Bavlorna’s service, I strongly suspect," he continues. "We should leave this place while they remain absent. Had I been freed I would have smitten them by your side, my friends, but alas, I am caged. Would you do me the service of taking me to Telemy Hill to find the key to this accursed prison? You would be doing a service to the Summer Queen as well as this poor old dragon."
Ben:
Reaching the bottom of the steps, Ben sees the miserable state of poor Cadwallader and says, “Can someone bandage him up? I am going to fetch the remains of the basket so he can float on the water and keep that wound away from this swamp water.” Wading/swimming through the water, Ben goes to tow over the basket, hoping that enough remains to be a stable platform for Cadwallader to lay on and recover as they travel.
OOC: If we need to leave the tower right now, Ben is trying to find a way for Cad to stay dry and get a short rest to recover some hp.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Horatio lets oit a low whistle while looking at Cad's wounds. "Brother, we were both going to be someone's lunch!" He looks back towards the retreating snakes. "I wonder what made them run off like that?"
Cadwallader:
Head clearing, he manages to stop the bleeding. It isn't as deep a wound as he'd feared, but it does hurt like mad. He finally notices the tiny caged dragon. "You're the Summer Queen's champion? How did you manage to get caged?" He hoists himself to his feet with a groan. "It's okay, Ben. I can still move, and we need to be gone whenever those serpents return. What scared them off anyway? I felt a spell go off -- did you do that, Sir Talavar?"
The wicker material that comprises the basket would likely keep an injured person immobilized and stable, but it would not protect them from getting wet. Fortunately, Cad is well enough to walk or swim, even if that foul water is likely to sting.
"I'm afraid this blasted cage deflects most of my arcane skills," replies Sir Talavar to Cad. "I have a wide variety of magical tricks I can perform for you if you can find the key. Jingle Jangle has it, I heard. She lives atop Telemy Hill, which was just past that thicket there," he says, pointing to a clump of trees in the distance, "if it hasn't moved on already. It's a wandering hill, you know. And no, I'm no champion, although I've had my day in battle with the best of them. I will tell you some stories! But first, we should go find this Jingle Jangle. I must bring my news to the Seelie Court with all haste: The Hourglass Coven has used an artifact called 'Iggwilv’s Cauldron' to freeze time in Zybilna’s palace, trapping the archfey inside."
Ben:
”Well, Cadwallader, if you say you’re okay, we should get going,” says Ben. Leaving the basket at Cad’s side in case he wanted to avail himself of the additional buoyancy, Ben offers to carry the cage above the water while wading slowly towards Telemy hill.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Matilda nods and takes up position at the rear of the group, looking out for any sneaky things....
Perception: 8
Horatio takes point, prepared for another attack from giant snakes.
Titaani leaves the tower in a daze, keeping her concentration on the fear effect. Tiny notices this, and gently nudges her towards the rest of the group. Hearing Cad's words about her spell, however, returns Titaani to her normal energetic and excitable self.
"Oh! That was me!" she beams, not really listening to Sir Talavar. "Well, it wasn't actually me me, I suppose, the magic stuff comes from one of my friends, but I was the one who cast it."
Pronouns: She/her/her's
Currently playing as Titaani Leelathae in The Wild beyond the Witchlight
The party moves on, in the direction Sir Talavar directs. You wade for a bit, then follow a scrubby and muddy ridge. Finally, you are forced to swim again. A swirling fog continues to hug the ground.
But then the ground rises again, and you find yourselves on dry ground – a meadow of brilliantly colored sunrise flowers, gradually becoming a steeper gradient upward, where the mist is thinner. You are greeted by the scent of sweet-smelling fruit. Damp, downy, silvery-green moss blankets a gentle upward slope before giving way to a craggy ridge that marks the top of the hill. Dozens of enormous willow trees dot the hillside, swaying as though in a breeze despite the absence of one.
Horatio is the first to notice that some of the trees are not just swaying, but approaching. Four willow trees converge to block your way, about ten feet ahead.
"Welcome to Telemy Hill," grumbles one in a low, rumbly voice. "How long do you plan to stay?"
Shrugging as he looks back at the others, Horatio replies, "I'm not really sure, we're trying to help this fellow find a key." He points at Sir Talavar. "May we take a look around?"
" Talking Trees........sure, why not."
Cadwallader:
Cad does not enjoy slogging through this swamp. He's hurting, tired, filthy, and thoroughly wet, and he would swear something he stepped on in one of the pools moved under his foot. This part doesn't make it into the storybooks. It's always, "the heroes crossed the deadly swamps." No mention of pruned feet, scraped knuckles, the way one single grain of grit gets under your belt and starts to wear a hole in your hide.
He suddenly becomes aware that the patch of dry land they're climbing is different from all of the other small rises they'd crossed. For one thing, his feet aren't sinking into sucking mud. In fact, the ground is covered in a springy turf of moss, dotted with wildflowers. He leans down and smells the moss. It smells green -- it is the smell of the color green, greener than any green he's ever experienced. It's intoxicating, and he wants to drop his load and rest in the soft, soft moss. Then Horatio begins talking to trees that have somehow snuck up on him. "What is this place?" he asks the trees, and maybe the world.
"This is Telemy Hill," rumbles the willow tree, slowly. "A sentient hill that travels throughout the Feywild."
Looking around, you see that the hill is approximately half a square mile wide. A narrow game trail leads upward to the pinnacle of the hill.
"Looking around? No, it is best you climb the hill and find Jingle Jangle. She is friendly. She has keys. She wears a coat of keys that jingle and jangle when she walks. But three days ago, while rooting through the swamp for truffles, she was attacked and robbed by brigands. She hasn’t left her hilltop den since returning to the hill. She must be hungry by now," continues the willow.
The willows continue to cluster and shepherd you forward and upward.
"Perhaps we freed her memories?" Horatio muses to the others as the walk forward.