"like some automatic kobold cannon" hector says, thinking out loud, but then looks embarrassed for having said the quiet part out loud.
As Elthana writes the note back and sends it off, (along with any items you wish to send with their own instruction) the group waits about ten minutes before a crinkling of paper can be heard once again from the bag, taking out the hastily scrawled response, Elthana reads;
Hey thanks, I'll tell them about everything and ask to hold onto the bag, citing the interplanar cataclysm and all that. The intruder did break in through the kitchen door whilst I was at the treasury, though the kobolds tell me that it was during the mass evacuation, they stayed behind, certain that the basement would protect them, but apparently looters had used the lack of people at this end of town to take advantage, there were reports of other break-ins when people started returning. This guy had items from others houses but they also got fed to the mimic because I didn't wanna go wandering round town with stolen items and get falsely accused. The guy himself looked like he came from the tangles, maybe WFM affiliated but I couldn't really ask questions as Adda and Edda had long since slit his throat when I found him.
I'll look into the items bit it might take a week, thanks for the payment, I gave it to the kobolds as they need it more, and I'll get what you guys owe me when you return. Especially with these new materials and item requests.
Vin adds little note asking how his mimic is, and whether it has grown, and to remind him if he named it yet. He also lets Hog know that he found someone to fix his broom.
He smiles at Sam's threat to send undead kobolds through the bag.
"That is likely to be a crap ton of undead kobold by the time we are done here".
Muir would write a little note about the mosses he's collected in this world and put them through the bag. He's hoping to study them and replicate them for the poor folks of the city who don't have enough to eat. He tells Hog this in his note as well as mentioning if there's any left over after the studies and trying to replicate it to see what he can make from them. Enjoy the crafting!
"Well then shall we move on? I would like to stop back and check on the Rocs, make sure the male is healing, see if there's anything else I can do for them."
"Two birds with one stone," Sam mutters in response to Hector. "Less undead kobolds here, more for those who steal the bag!" Sam then nods to Vin and smiles at his addition.
"Now that's just stereotyping!" he then grumbles when Elthana reads that Hog is blaming the break-in on the Tangles and WFM. "Someone living nearby who knew we were gone is far more likely than someone from the Tangles taking a break from fleeing for their life to run across town towards the falling Treasury to do a little light looting first..." Sam knew he didn't like this Hog fella. Not from the get go. He'll probably make a whole mess of the pendant and ruin it...
"Move on? Sure... Where exactly we going next? After the Rocs?"
"I'm sure I've no idea of that to which you refer, Sam. When have I ever been anything other than totally forthcoming?" Gewyn feigns offense.
"I'd like that,"he says to Vin. "I feel like we haven't had an opportunity to really connect since you died, yet we have more to talk about now than ever."
Vin gives Gewyn the thumbs up and a smile. So much had happened, and it would be good to speak to his friend about in private, or at least away from the people he didn't know as well.
"Neferox said she heard the Roc's close by in the mountains. I think the injured one must be feeling better. If we can persuade them to give us a lift, it will save a lot of time and walking", he suggests, glancing at Muir.
With Sam's undeath cured, answers still not found about Elthana's nightmares and a new destiny found for gewyn. The group feel well fed and rested, some even bathed, as you say your farewells to Delores and Mireah. Knowing that in the coming years when Delores has passed, mireah will seek you out, to guide you.
One final parting gift from the pair, as Delores hands over a water skin to Muir, "for the group, for your travels, we wish you luck", Muir detects the familiar smell of goodberry wafting from within. But contained as a preserved liquid suspension "enough for the whole group for a few days, one swig and you'll be nourished" she explains.
Mireah gives gewyn one final hug and wishes him well, his back still stinging slightly from the previous nights changes.
(Since no active or arduous activity has happened for near 24 hours you all gain the benefits of a long rest)
The path back out of the forest is the same as the way in, lush vegetation, odd Fae flowers, the buzzing of insects and giggling of pixies in the breeze, the smell of the lake disappears as you get further toward the mountain and up towards the cave, and with one last look over your shoulders you leave the hidden Fae forest behind and descend into the dark once more.
Neferox and Muir with their heightened senses as well as the more perceptive members of the party detect the smells and shuffling of the Roc's in the dark ahead as you all make your way toward the cavern where they reside.
Elthana is pretty quiet as they say their goodbyes, unsure of what to say and knowing what is looming up ahead. She does hope the Rocs remember them and they don't have to win them over again.
Vin thanks Mireah profusely for helping Sam and Bry'ze before they take their leave, and ensures Bry'ze is free to fly alongside them as they travel. He occasionally jumps on to get a better view of the path ahead, or if he feels like giving his feet a breather.
When they head back into the dark, he and Bry'ze move closer to Neferox who has no problem seeing.
"Neferox can hear the rocs up ahead. Do you want to approach alone, Muir? I mean, is that necessary even, they should remember us all right?".
Since being unundeaded the most arduous thing Sam has done, besides bathing, is sneak little bits of time here and there to study his little magic primer that he picked up. He's done it when nobody else has been around to see him and quickly shoved it into a bag whenever he heard anyone near, finding it a little bit silly and embarrassing. By the time they were all ready to leave he thought perhaps he was ready to try the spell he was studying... But he'd need some time to sit down and do it and there wasn't time before there was people around. So even as they said their goodbye's Sam was a bit distracted trying to keep the spell in his head and hoping he didn't lose it. He did, of course, thank Mireah profusely and all... but kept it short. His head can only hold so much, ya know...
On the journey Sam's conversation with others was brusque. Polite, but short. Still not wanting to allow himself to be distracted from what he had memorized. Even Hootie couldn't distract Sam so the little owl instead mostly perched on Elthana's shoulder and occasionally pull on a stray hair or two with their beak. Before entering the darkness to get to the Roks Sam considered having the others go on ahead... But he couldn't put them at risk over a little nothing spell that would likely blow up in his face. So with a sigh he nodded to Muir and prepared to follow them in...
The cave is dark for those without the necessary vision, there are a few hands on shoulders as the group steadily moves forward, Griff being one of those needing a sighted guide.
The shuffling and snuffling of the massive feathered beasts is heard by all, and as you get closer there is a chittered keening by one of them.
As you enter the chamber those who can see lay eyes upon the one male roc, bald spots across its chest show the red wounds underneath which have begun the scarring process, healing up nicely. It regards you all with beady eyes, wary and ready to fight though it hesitates as it sees Muir.
Suddenly behind you the entire tunnel you entered through is blocked off. As the female shuffles through and stops directly behind you, a small sky whale, about 10ft long hangs limply from it's mouth, the smell of fresh blood fills your nostrils and it chitters a warning as it regards you all.
For those of you completely in the dark the sounds are haunting, the fact that something so large and encompassing has approached you from the rear and begun a warning caw as well as the sounds of one in front, is frightening to say the least.
"No, really," Sam mutters to the female Roc with the dead thing in her beak. "Payment for saving your lives really isn't necessary..."
Even as Sam says it a soft white glow with a pale pink around the edges begins to form around him, as if his spirit itself was aglow... Or a glowing spirit formed around him. It is bright enough to illuminate the area but hopefully not so bright as to harm anyone's eyes who had grown accustomed to the darkness. (Light cast for our non darkvisioned pals. If they stay within 20' of Sam, anyway...)
Hootie, ascared, gives a hoot and takes flight and seeks to get out of the reach of these two giant crazy birds...
Vin stays quite still, his hand grabbing at Neferox's fur in order to stop her from engaging as well. He can see she is not happy with the situation, but she doesn't move either, although hackles rise.
Neither have a problem seeing, but Sam's light is welcome all the same.
He lets out the breath he was holding as the female bustles past the group, and they are no longer trapped.
After much squeaking from he Rocs and the loxodon, the tension in the air eases, the Rocs look to one another in consideration before appearing to ask something of Muir. To those relying on the light, the shine from the Roc's beaks glints on the edge of the lights reach until the female steps forward regarding the group with a beady eye, she caws at them slightly amused and lowers a head in acceptance.
"like some automatic kobold cannon" hector says, thinking out loud, but then looks embarrassed for having said the quiet part out loud.
As Elthana writes the note back and sends it off, (along with any items you wish to send with their own instruction) the group waits about ten minutes before a crinkling of paper can be heard once again from the bag, taking out the hastily scrawled response, Elthana reads;
Hey thanks, I'll tell them about everything and ask to hold onto the bag, citing the interplanar cataclysm and all that. The intruder did break in through the kitchen door whilst I was at the treasury, though the kobolds tell me that it was during the mass evacuation, they stayed behind, certain that the basement would protect them, but apparently looters had used the lack of people at this end of town to take advantage, there were reports of other break-ins when people started returning. This guy had items from others houses but they also got fed to the mimic because I didn't wanna go wandering round town with stolen items and get falsely accused. The guy himself looked like he came from the tangles, maybe WFM affiliated but I couldn't really ask questions as Adda and Edda had long since slit his throat when I found him.
I'll look into the items bit it might take a week, thanks for the payment, I gave it to the kobolds as they need it more, and I'll get what you guys owe me when you return. Especially with these new materials and item requests.
Stay safe and keep me updated,
Hog.
Vin adds little note asking how his mimic is, and whether it has grown, and to remind him if he named it yet. He also lets Hog know that he found someone to fix his broom.
He smiles at Sam's threat to send undead kobolds through the bag.
"That is likely to be a crap ton of undead kobold by the time we are done here".
Muir would write a little note about the mosses he's collected in this world and put them through the bag. He's hoping to study them and replicate them for the poor folks of the city who don't have enough to eat. He tells Hog this in his note as well as mentioning if there's any left over after the studies and trying to replicate it to see what he can make from them. Enjoy the crafting!
"Well then shall we move on? I would like to stop back and check on the Rocs, make sure the male is healing, see if there's anything else I can do for them."
"Two birds with one stone," Sam mutters in response to Hector. "Less undead kobolds here, more for those who steal the bag!" Sam then nods to Vin and smiles at his addition.
"Now that's just stereotyping!" he then grumbles when Elthana reads that Hog is blaming the break-in on the Tangles and WFM. "Someone living nearby who knew we were gone is far more likely than someone from the Tangles taking a break from fleeing for their life to run across town towards the falling Treasury to do a little light looting first..." Sam knew he didn't like this Hog fella. Not from the get go. He'll probably make a whole mess of the pendant and ruin it...
"Move on? Sure... Where exactly we going next? After the Rocs?"
"I'm sure I've no idea of that to which you refer, Sam. When have I ever been anything other than totally forthcoming?" Gewyn feigns offense.
"I'd like that," he says to Vin. "I feel like we haven't had an opportunity to really connect since you died, yet we have more to talk about now than ever."
Vin gives Gewyn the thumbs up and a smile. So much had happened, and it would be good to speak to his friend about in private, or at least away from the people he didn't know as well.
"Neferox said she heard the Roc's close by in the mountains. I think the injured one must be feeling better. If we can persuade them to give us a lift, it will save a lot of time and walking", he suggests, glancing at Muir.
With Sam's undeath cured, answers still not found about Elthana's nightmares and a new destiny found for gewyn. The group feel well fed and rested, some even bathed, as you say your farewells to Delores and Mireah. Knowing that in the coming years when Delores has passed, mireah will seek you out, to guide you.
One final parting gift from the pair, as Delores hands over a water skin to Muir, "for the group, for your travels, we wish you luck", Muir detects the familiar smell of goodberry wafting from within. But contained as a preserved liquid suspension "enough for the whole group for a few days, one swig and you'll be nourished" she explains.
Mireah gives gewyn one final hug and wishes him well, his back still stinging slightly from the previous nights changes.
(Since no active or arduous activity has happened for near 24 hours you all gain the benefits of a long rest)
The path back out of the forest is the same as the way in, lush vegetation, odd Fae flowers, the buzzing of insects and giggling of pixies in the breeze, the smell of the lake disappears as you get further toward the mountain and up towards the cave, and with one last look over your shoulders you leave the hidden Fae forest behind and descend into the dark once more.
Neferox and Muir with their heightened senses as well as the more perceptive members of the party detect the smells and shuffling of the Roc's in the dark ahead as you all make your way toward the cavern where they reside.
Elthana is pretty quiet as they say their goodbyes, unsure of what to say and knowing what is looming up ahead. She does hope the Rocs remember them and they don't have to win them over again.
Vin thanks Mireah profusely for helping Sam and Bry'ze before they take their leave, and ensures Bry'ze is free to fly alongside them as they travel. He occasionally jumps on to get a better view of the path ahead, or if he feels like giving his feet a breather.
When they head back into the dark, he and Bry'ze move closer to Neferox who has no problem seeing.
"Neferox can hear the rocs up ahead. Do you want to approach alone, Muir? I mean, is that necessary even, they should remember us all right?".
"Certainly but let me lead the way and announce ourselves. We don't want to scare them"
Since being unundeaded the most arduous thing Sam has done, besides bathing, is sneak little bits of time here and there to study his little magic primer that he picked up. He's done it when nobody else has been around to see him and quickly shoved it into a bag whenever he heard anyone near, finding it a little bit silly and embarrassing. By the time they were all ready to leave he thought perhaps he was ready to try the spell he was studying... But he'd need some time to sit down and do it and there wasn't time before there was people around. So even as they said their goodbye's Sam was a bit distracted trying to keep the spell in his head and hoping he didn't lose it. He did, of course, thank Mireah profusely and all... but kept it short. His head can only hold so much, ya know...
On the journey Sam's conversation with others was brusque. Polite, but short. Still not wanting to allow himself to be distracted from what he had memorized. Even Hootie couldn't distract Sam so the little owl instead mostly perched on Elthana's shoulder and occasionally pull on a stray hair or two with their beak. Before entering the darkness to get to the Roks Sam considered having the others go on ahead... But he couldn't put them at risk over a little nothing spell that would likely blow up in his face. So with a sigh he nodded to Muir and prepared to follow them in...
The cave is dark for those without the necessary vision, there are a few hands on shoulders as the group steadily moves forward, Griff being one of those needing a sighted guide.
The shuffling and snuffling of the massive feathered beasts is heard by all, and as you get closer there is a chittered keening by one of them.
As you enter the chamber those who can see lay eyes upon the one male roc, bald spots across its chest show the red wounds underneath which have begun the scarring process, healing up nicely. It regards you all with beady eyes, wary and ready to fight though it hesitates as it sees Muir.
Suddenly behind you the entire tunnel you entered through is blocked off. As the female shuffles through and stops directly behind you, a small sky whale, about 10ft long hangs limply from it's mouth, the smell of fresh blood fills your nostrils and it chitters a warning as it regards you all.
For those of you completely in the dark the sounds are haunting, the fact that something so large and encompassing has approached you from the rear and begun a warning caw as well as the sounds of one in front, is frightening to say the least.
Muir bangs his staff off the ground so that he can talk to the rocs. To the others he sounds like he is speaking bird....well a really large Roc
"Hello there friends. As promised I came back to check on you both. Are you feeling better?"
"No, really," Sam mutters to the female Roc with the dead thing in her beak. "Payment for saving your lives really isn't necessary..."
Even as Sam says it a soft white glow with a pale pink around the edges begins to form around him, as if his spirit itself was aglow... Or a glowing spirit formed around him. It is bright enough to illuminate the area but hopefully not so bright as to harm anyone's eyes who had grown accustomed to the darkness. (Light cast for our non darkvisioned pals. If they stay within 20' of Sam, anyway...)
Hootie, ascared, gives a hoot and takes flight and seeks to get out of the reach of these two giant crazy birds...
The male roc chirps back, a deep gutteral chirp, but one nonetheless.
The female gingerly bustles past the group, flinching slightly at the light and dumps the dead skywhale child in front of her mate for his strength.
Muir continues to squawk
Vin stays quite still, his hand grabbing at Neferox's fur in order to stop her from engaging as well. He can see she is not happy with the situation, but she doesn't move either, although hackles rise.
Neither have a problem seeing, but Sam's light is welcome all the same.
He lets out the breath he was holding as the female bustles past the group, and they are no longer trapped.
"How is it going?", he whispers to Muir.
Muir nods “All is well. We are discussing plans”
Elthana waits patiently for the discussions to be over. A ride would be nice...
After much squeaking from he Rocs and the loxodon, the tension in the air eases, the Rocs look to one another in consideration before appearing to ask something of Muir. To those relying on the light, the shine from the Roc's beaks glints on the edge of the lights reach until the female steps forward regarding the group with a beady eye, she caws at them slightly amused and lowers a head in acceptance.