As Hemlock loses his ability to see clearly, he allows the others to take the lead and hangs back a little. Tesfaye's manner of speech is completely alien to him, the concepts he talks about and words he uses may as well have been spoken in different language. He takes less and less notice of the tortle.
As they travel upon the trail, he often places a hand on a tree trunk or bends down and speaks softly in a manner not dissimilar to the way he spoke to the bear. Anyone caring to look behind them might well think he is speaking to the trees and plants themselves. And they would be right, although this time he is using the druidic tongue.
"Boed i'ch gwreiddiau a'ch dail guddio ein llwybr ni, gyfeillion y goedwig"
"May your roots and foliage mask our path, friends of the forest"
When he overhears talk of the True King, his mind flashes back to a conversation he overheard amongst the council of elders when he was much smaller. His grandfather was the chief elder of the clan and had been for many decades, and when he was young he had often been allowed in the proximity of the clan elders. Unfortunately he doesn't remember the details of the conversation, just that those words were mentioned.
(OOC: Hemlock is again using his racial feature: Speech of Beast and Leaf)
It would take an expert eye, or a particularly strong nose, to tell that your group had passed through. Any fern or blade of grass the Hemlock speaks to after you pass stands up taller, almost proudly, and none of them look as if they had been bent by recent feet.
This revery is spoiled a bit, when Muro suddenly manages to shake himself free of Lam's grasp, and falls more than 6 feet straight down from Lam's shoulder to the ground. The wererat is extremely dextrous, and would usually land gracefully on all 4 paws... but he is hogtied, and so instead thwumps to the ground, landing on his ribs, and it definitely sounds like that landing hurts. The sound is loud enough to startle a family of squirrels in their nest in a tree beside the road, and they chitter anxiously at you all. Muro thrashes around quite violently on the ground, although he is not able to escape the knots holding him.
As they walk, Lam listens with interest to Tesfaye’s rambling. His brow furrows as he makes a genuine attempt to understand the concepts they bring up. The parts about the ocean and the moon almost makes sense, but Lam has never encountered any of these concepts before, and he couldn’t hope to guess what some of the words even mean during the discussion about lycanthropy. It occurs to him that Tesfaye and Sha must be much smarter than him. Still, he does his best to follow along as Tesfaye talks.
Lam blinks at the back-and-forth about the True King. He is surprised people have such strong opinions about a figure he thought of as little more than a story. He had heard of the True King, but couldn’t imagine the Outlands being very peaceful even during such a king’s reign, and had never given the story much thought. Seeing the conversation get tense all of a sudden due to that story surprises Lam.
His train of thought is interrupted as Muro suddenly shakes himself off of Lam’s shoulder. Lam is unable to catch him in time, and winces as Muro hits the ground. “Sorry…!” he barks. He stands there dumbfounded for a moment. Then he reaches his arms out looking like he wants to pick Muro up again, but hesitates. It seems unclear whether Lam is afraid to try picking Muro up while he’s thrashing about like that or just guilty about having dropped him in the first place. He kneels down and tries just to gently put a hand on Muro.
Saoirsereplies to Tesfayeas she keeps walking next to them:
- I see your point. Perhaps the way of my order is notMuro's preferred choice to deal with his nature. In any case, I think it's good that he knows that the possiblity exists. Then he can choose whatever path that better suits his needs among all the possibilities.
When the conversation with the tortle moves to the topic of the True King, the genasi becomes rather serious:
- Conquer? I can understand it could be seen that way by some, but conquer was not what he did. He stood against evil. He rallied every faction, even goods and spirits from the elemental plane to do so. Together, they defeated it. It is because of him that we stand here today talking, instead of being slaved by creatures of nightmare - she shakes her head - No. He was a protector. And the Blood was created to keep his memory, and the ways used to achieve all of this, alive. Evil was defeated, but our watch has not stopped.
When Saffiintervenes, Saoirsestops walking all of a sudden and glares at her. She remains there for a few seconds, not moving, just staring at her. Then she says:
- I would ask that you don't speak of the True King in such a manner in my presence, Saffron.
Then her tone softens before continuing:
- I am truly sorry for what you experienced, Saffron, and I admit that this is the first time I have heard of such a treatment to your race. I am horrified by it. I do not know why that was done or who ordered it, but as I said, our Order keeps the True King's ways alive, and we have never considered Changelings as an enemy, nor we have the belief that they sould be registered or exterminated. As such, I cannot begin to imagine that this would have been done under his orders or knowledge.
In that very moment, Muroshakes and falls loudly to the ground, which changes Saoirse's priorities. She approaches Lam and as the bugbear is trying to calm the halfing wererat, she tries to calm Lam:
- You've done the best you can, Lam, don't worry. We knew this was going to be difficult and I think it's going far better than expected, taking into account all that could have happened. Village Tree shouldn't be that far now, do you think you can continue? Do you want me to try and carry him for a while?
Seeing Saoirse try to calm him, Lam takes a deep breath and resolves to try again. "I can continue," he says. One hand on Muro, he attempts to figure out how to get a good hold of the were-rat again.
Would it be a strength check to pick him up again? I rolled a nat 4 for that, which would end up a 7. I'm going to guess that isn't sufficient? (I can edit if any of this is wrong!)
After a few moments, it becomes clear that Lam is struggling. He can usually pick up anyone who isn't resisting with ease, but he seems to struggle to know how to pick up Muro while he's thrashing so much in a way that won't hurt either one of them. He looks back at Saoirse- he doesn't say anything out loud, but he seems to be silently asking for help.
Seeing Lam struggling, the genasi thinks for a moment:
- What if I grab him by his shoulders and you you do the same with his legs? This way we'll split the weight and we'll have to deal with only a part of his limbs (and head) instead of all at once? You'll probably have to guide me the rest of the way, as I think it's easier if the one holding him shoulders goes last.
(IDK, couldn't think of anything else! haha. Could this work? Should I roll too? Or can Lam do it with advantage?)
Hemlock sees Muro fall from his spot at the back of the group.
"There is time to rest a little, Lam", he suggests. "We are all tired, but I think we have gone far enough to be safe for a short time", he says putting a hand gently on the bugbears tired shoulder and rubbing it.
He then kneels down beside Muro, and starts to speak to him like he is just another beast, not knowing if he will understand.
"Calm Muro. Do you remember who you are? You are Muro, our friend. We are not trying to hurt you, just keep you safe".
I rolled for Hemlock - animal handling (charisma) with advantage: Dirty 20. Saoirse and Lam carrying Muro together after that - easy enough to not really require a roll, so whether we call it Saoirse's 13 or Lam's 11 with advantage is moot. It works out.
Muro calms down a bit, and his eyes do show a humanoid intelligence. He stops thrashing about as he stares at Hemlock, and does not resist when Lam and Saoirse pick him up again, one at the legs and one at the arms. Tesfaye gives space as Lam bends to pick Muro up, recognizing that this is more important than being able to lean on their new friend. You are able to get moving again.
You continue down the path, and the trees grow older and wider. Soon you are walking among giants, whose roots are thicker than you are tall. A whole ecosystem exists at the base of these ancient trees, including shelf mushrooms more than 10 feet in diameter, which emit a soft glow.
When you round a corner, a figure suddenly appears out from behind one of those roots, and stands with her arms in a spellcasting position. "Halt! You approach the village tree with a creature bound and gagged, in a time where outsiders threaten our land and our lives. We are not so welcoming as we like to be, and even in the best of times you would be cause for suspicion. What is your business here?" She then continues in Elvish: "Muéstrate, listo para el combate. Espero que vengan en paz, y que no sea necesario.."
Show yourself, ready for combat. I hope they come in peace, and it won't be necessary.
Another Dryad materializes out of one of the tree roots you had just passed, standing behind you with a glowing, enchanted club raised and ready.
Hemlock is pleasantly surprised when his words get through to Muro and he calms down, allowing them to continue their journey.
When the first dryad appears, he is taken aback, so consumed was he in in the plant life around him. As she bids them halt and explain themselves, he gets a little flustered, as he often does when meeting folk for the first time.
He understands the words spoken in elven as the second dryad appears behind them, and tries to placate the pair.
”We…yes…peace. We are not a threat, this is…friend, our friend”, he says, bundling his words a little, as he motions to Muro. ”Cylence!”, he says suddenly before he stops talking.
He looks at the others hoping someone else would take over.
Sha looks at the old growth forest in true wonder at the sheer size of the giant plant life, when the Dryads materialize it seems like a surreal event. The trees from which the Dryads materialize from I assume are nearly ideal examples of their species.
"Não pretendemos fazer mal. Ajudamos a libertar Cylence e fomos convidados a viajar aqui para Village Tree. Nosso amigo que está amarrado está ligado à sua permissão como uma forma de controlar sua condição. O arnês é seu próprio design. Não estamos em condições de lutar, pelo menos vários de nós não estamos de qualquer maneira. Por favor, envie uma mensagem se pudermos encontrar descanso aqui. Sua árvore é uma visão para meus olhos cansados, a mais bonita que eu já vi." Spoken in sylvan
"We intend no harm. We helped to free Cylence and were invited to travel here to Village Tree. Our friend who is trussed up is bond with his permission as a way of controlling his condition. The harness is his own design. We are in no condition to fight at least several of us are not anyway. Please send word if we may find rest here. Your tree is a sight for my weary eyes the most beautiful I have ever seen."
When Hemlock calms Muro down, and Saoirse helps Lam carry Muro, a wave of gratitude washes over him for the friends he has found. As they walk, Lam gazes in awe at the sheer size of the trees around them. His eyes wide, the look of wonder on Lam’s face would almost be childlike.
As soon as someone he doesn’t know starts to speak, Lam freezes, keeping his grip on Muro to make sure he doesn’t fall again. As they demand answers with raised weapons, Lam feels grateful that these folks are giving the group a chance to explain themselves before they attack. He waits before speaking, allowing Hemlock and Sha who both have better ways with words to speak first. Hemlock… gets the main point across, and Sha says… something wise, probably.
After both are done speaking, Lam slowly speaks up, searching for each word: “We are here for peace. We met Cyclence. He told us to come here. Find… North Branch.”After a pause, he gestures with his head towards Muro. “He is friend. He is… lycan,”he says, turning to Saoirse seeking confirmation that the word lycan is correct. “He asked us to… verhält… to tie him,” he finishes, mixing Goblin into his sentence as he finds the right phrasing.
Saoirse also marvels at her surroundings, though not as much as she would if the party where not so tired after everything that has happened. The need for rest is claiming her and it doesn't seem they're going to get it just yet.
When the dryads appear, she crouches to put Muro on the soft earth carefully, and when she goes back up she raises her hands to show that she means no harm. Nodding at what her friends have said so far, she adds in Elvish:
- Tal y como han dicho mis amigos, hemos sido invitados aquí y no pretendemos causar ningún daño. Ni a nuestro compañero Muro, ni a vuestra gente.
As my friends have stated, we were invited here and mean no harm. Not to our companion Muro, nor to your people.
Then she continues in Common:
- Unfortunately, we also carry bad news: on our escape from Coldwater we run into a group leaded by the captain from that facility. Captain Jonah. He wasn't in Coldwater when Rhys and his people rescued Cylence, but has already found out what happened and he means to make them pay. They need to be warned.
When Hemlock speaks, the dryad in front of you looks at him, unbelieving. "Did you seriously just tell me to be silent? What sort of a friend is bound, gagged, and carried against his will?" Each of the other members of your party speaks up, however, and the dryad seems more and more convinced. - "Oh, Cylence! Por supuesto" - She exclaims while Sha-Gravis is speaking.
Of course!
The dryad behind you giggles, and lowers her shillelagh. "A lycan! oh, I see. He must be on his way to Weretown, and got the timing wrong. Poor ratman."She continues,"You're an odd bunch! The armored one talks like my grandmother, and the swordswoman has the strangest accent I ever heard!" She imitates Sha's very serious Sylvan, although her accent is clearly Elvish. "Oh, olhe para mim! Eu leio livros antigos e fico em Feywild, de onde... em, personas... como você realmente são." The dryad in front of you also laughs at this, but it is a friendly, welcoming laugh.
Hey listen to me! I read old books and travel to the Feywild, where people like you are really from.
Dryad in front: "The ones who mean us harm never bother to learn our languages. (in Elvish) Ambos hablan muy bien, no dejes que mi amigo te avergüence. (in Common) If all you say is true though, then we must make haste. It is late, and we do not wish to wake the whole village, but we will take you to the tree. (in Elvish) Esmerelda, adelante y despierta a Rhys, querrá inspeccionar a nuestros invitados."
You both speak very well, don't let my friend embarrass you.
Esmerelda, go on ahead and wake Rhys, he will want to meet our guests.
Tesfayeis standing with their hands open and above their head, clearly willing to trust you all to handle the conversation, and hoping no more violence breaks out. Saffi's features have become more elvish again, with pointed ears and a slightly thinner frame. She had been standing to the side of the rest of you, and avoiding Saoirse's eyes since her comment about the True King. She has her crossbow loaded, but pointed at the ground. "How do we know we can trust you?"
The dryad looks at her and considers. "This is our home, and you've walked into it with weapons on the same day that we fought the foreign intruders. You'll follow us, and put your crossbow away, or you will have it taken from you, and come with us anyway. Entiendes?"
Understood?
Saffi reluctantly unknotches the crossbow bolt, and places the weapon back on her hip.
The dryad who had been behind you steps into the tree, for a moment the wood and her both seem fluid, as what was solid absorbs her easily.
Hemlock's nerves start to subside a little as the dryads become more friendly, more thanks to his companions than himself.
"Gracias, lo siento por la torpeza de mis palabras", he says to the dryad in front of him in elvish.
"Thank you, I am sorry for fumbling my words"
As he looks around and sees Esmerelda disappear, he uses his innate ability to perceive magic to look around and view just how magical this area is.
Casts Detect Magic using his Firbolg Magic racial feature
"This place is wondrous, it reminds me very much of home", he says as he follows after the lead dryad. He then looks to Muro to explain using his ability to speak to be understood by animals, "These folk will help you, they know of your kind and are not afraid".
Hemlock has learned from birth to access and shape the magical potential of the natural world, and with that comes an ability to focus in, and recognize magical auras and potentials of all schools of magic. Hecan see
The dryad in front of you still hums with the energy of a prepared spell. Entangle, if you had to guess. The trees around you have a similar energy to the innate magic almost all living things carry, but multiplied by hundreds of thousands in strength and intensity. They are alive with the magic of nature, ready to be shaped and reformed. The mushrooms growing from them seem to subside on life's magic just as much as they do on borrowing some of the trees' sugar and nutrients. Esmerelda's trick is one common to all dryads, stepping through and among trees as a form of travel. It would not be the first time he's seen that.
Saoirse and Sha both have faint magical auras of their own. Saoirse's connection to elemental magic can be seen, but also an aura of something darker, foreign to you. It must be that "blood curse" she mentioned earlier. Sha's connection to his goddess is also clear, a dusky violet aura, an access to some of his goddess' power. Lam has a strong aura of life to him, vibrant and strong, but you do not sense any connection to deeper magical power.
Other than these things, which do remind you of home in both ecology and ambience, there doesn't seem to be any active magic here at the moment.
Saoirse can't help but chuckle when the first dryad understands "silence" instead of "Cylence", and then raises her eyebrows when her own accent is mocked. Hadn't her teachers said she had a pretty good Elvish accent..? In any case, she relaxes visibly when the dryad's tones change from the initial distrust to the more humorous one.
She tenses for a moment when hearing Saffi's exchange with the dryad that has stayed with the group, but luckily, it ends well. The blood hunter sighs softly noticing how the changeling is keeping away from her, and thinks of speaking later with her. She doesn't like the idea of leaving things as they are right now...
As it seems they'll need to wait a little to be received by the famous Rhys, Saoirse decides to speak with the remaining dryad:
- My name is Saoirse - she bows slightly, and she introduces her companions one by one - Your home is beautiful .. thank you for allowing us in. We've been through some tense hours a while back. Though I guess it has been the same for you, right? Were you at Coldwater to rescue Cylence, too? - The fire genasi allows a moment for the dryad to answer before asking again - By the way... Weretown? Where is that? I'm sure that's the place Muro was speaking about. He was looking for a place where he could learn more about his nature.
When Saoirse lowers Muro to the soft earth, Lam lowers him with her and mirrors her movements, raising his own hands to show he also means no harm. He will not try to pick Muro up again until it looks like they are going to get moving.
He stands listening to the conversation, feeling a little embarrassed about the amount of it he doesn't understand, especially after the comment about the ones who mean them harm never bothering to learn their languages- the Elvish and Sylvan all goes right over his head. He does visibly relax as the tension seems to dissolve from the conversation, tensing just a bit again at Saffron’s exchange. He resolves to make no sudden movements and to do his best to appear unthreatening. He listens to the conversation the others are making with the dryad, curious about the answers to Saoirse's questions.
If we have a little wait Sha will use this moment to change into his common clothes maybe pack a little catnip in his cheek. Sha much more comfortable smiles at Lam, “Albträume reiten auf Mondstrahlen wie Spinnen in Netzen. Es wird höchste Zeit, dass wir den Weg zu ein paar Betten finden. Möge die Göttin dir heute Nacht Ruhe geben, Lam für die Dienste, die du geleistet hast, um uns durchzubringen. Mein Dank gilt Ihnen, Freund.“ (goblin)
“Nightmares ride moonbeams like spiders in webs. It’s high time we find our way to some beds. May the Goddess give you rest this night Lam for the services you’ve rendered to see us through. You have my gratitude, friend.”
Lam looks over at Sha as he starts speaking, relieved to hear a language he knows well. He blinks at the reference to a Goddess- he knows Sha is a religious man, but is still not used to hearing words such as Sha’s in his own language just yet. He might ask Sha more about his beliefs later if they ever get a moment of safety. Lam thinks for a moment and then responds in Goblin, the weariness clear in his voice, “Gern Geschehen. Deine Güte war unermesslich. Ohne dich und die anderen, hätte ich heute einen großen Fehler wahrscheinlich gemacht. Ich hoffe, dass wir alle bald ausruhen. Du brauchst es besonders.”
“I am glad I was there to help. Your kindness has been immeasurable. Without you and the others, I would have likely made a huge mistake today. I do hope we all get to rest soon. You especially need it.“
"Debes haber recorrido un largo camino, hermano del bosque." the dryad says to Hemlock. She smiles as she sees him check in with Muro. "Los hechos sonmejores que las palabras, de todos modos."
You must have traveled a long way, forest brother
Deeds are better than words, anyway.
She listens intently as Saoirse introduces you all, doing her best to commit each of these foreign-sounding names to memory.
"Your names are beautiful! Is Saoirse from the elemental language? 'Lam,' where does that name come from? Sha-Gravis. Am I pronouncing that right? I am Sempre-Verde, or you can just call me Semmer if you like. It means Evergreen, isn't that lovely?"
Semmer'sface becomes more serious again when you mention coldwater.
"No, everyone who helped free Cylence is on break now - it's no good for anyone to be on guard for so long at a time. Rest is important, so I hope you can rest soon too... How do you mean, your escape from Coldwater? Why would you be there and need to escape? You aren't from here. So if you don't work for them, why are you in the Valley? She gestures around, and continues "Obviously we are not alone, and you are surrounded. Just in case this is some sort of trick. I hope it is not a mistake to trust you."
"Weretown is in the Northern corner of the Valley. From what I hear, it's a wonderful, peaceful place. I've never been, but I'm sure Muro here will find peace there. Rhys will probably help him get there, he's done that for other werefolk. For now, though, follow me to the Village Tree. It is not far, and Rhys should be ready for us when we get there."
As Hemlock loses his ability to see clearly, he allows the others to take the lead and hangs back a little. Tesfaye's manner of speech is completely alien to him, the concepts he talks about and words he uses may as well have been spoken in different language. He takes less and less notice of the tortle.
As they travel upon the trail, he often places a hand on a tree trunk or bends down and speaks softly in a manner not dissimilar to the way he spoke to the bear. Anyone caring to look behind them might well think he is speaking to the trees and plants themselves. And they would be right, although this time he is using the druidic tongue.
"Boed i'ch gwreiddiau a'ch dail guddio ein llwybr ni, gyfeillion y goedwig"
"May your roots and foliage mask our path, friends of the forest"
When he overhears talk of the True King, his mind flashes back to a conversation he overheard amongst the council of elders when he was much smaller. His grandfather was the chief elder of the clan and had been for many decades, and when he was young he had often been allowed in the proximity of the clan elders. Unfortunately he doesn't remember the details of the conversation, just that those words were mentioned.
(OOC: Hemlock is again using his racial feature: Speech of Beast and Leaf)
It would take an expert eye, or a particularly strong nose, to tell that your group had passed through. Any fern or blade of grass the Hemlock speaks to after you pass stands up taller, almost proudly, and none of them look as if they had been bent by recent feet.
This revery is spoiled a bit, when Muro suddenly manages to shake himself free of Lam's grasp, and falls more than 6 feet straight down from Lam's shoulder to the ground. The wererat is extremely dextrous, and would usually land gracefully on all 4 paws... but he is hogtied, and so instead thwumps to the ground, landing on his ribs, and it definitely sounds like that landing hurts. The sound is loud enough to startle a family of squirrels in their nest in a tree beside the road, and they chitter anxiously at you all. Muro thrashes around quite violently on the ground, although he is not able to escape the knots holding him.
DM: Heavy is the Head
As they walk, Lam listens with interest to Tesfaye’s rambling. His brow furrows as he makes a genuine attempt to understand the concepts they bring up. The parts about the ocean and the moon almost makes sense, but Lam has never encountered any of these concepts before, and he couldn’t hope to guess what some of the words even mean during the discussion about lycanthropy. It occurs to him that Tesfaye and Sha must be much smarter than him. Still, he does his best to follow along as Tesfaye talks.
Lam blinks at the back-and-forth about the True King. He is surprised people have such strong opinions about a figure he thought of as little more than a story. He had heard of the True King, but couldn’t imagine the Outlands being very peaceful even during such a king’s reign, and had never given the story much thought. Seeing the conversation get tense all of a sudden due to that story surprises Lam.
His train of thought is interrupted as Muro suddenly shakes himself off of Lam’s shoulder. Lam is unable to catch him in time, and winces as Muro hits the ground. “Sorry…!” he barks. He stands there dumbfounded for a moment. Then he reaches his arms out looking like he wants to pick Muro up again, but hesitates. It seems unclear whether Lam is afraid to try picking Muro up while he’s thrashing about like that or just guilty about having dropped him in the first place. He kneels down and tries just to gently put a hand on Muro.
Saoirse replies to Tesfaye as she keeps walking next to them:
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Seeing Saoirse try to calm him, Lam takes a deep breath and resolves to try again. "I can continue," he says. One hand on Muro, he attempts to figure out how to get a good hold of the were-rat again.
Would it be a strength check to pick him up again? I rolled a nat 4 for that, which would end up a 7. I'm going to guess that isn't sufficient? (I can edit if any of this is wrong!)
After a few moments, it becomes clear that Lam is struggling. He can usually pick up anyone who isn't resisting with ease, but he seems to struggle to know how to pick up Muro while he's thrashing so much in a way that won't hurt either one of them. He looks back at Saoirse- he doesn't say anything out loud, but he seems to be silently asking for help.
Seeing Lam struggling, the genasi thinks for a moment:
- What if I grab him by his shoulders and you you do the same with his legs? This way we'll split the weight and we'll have to deal with only a part of his limbs (and head) instead of all at once? You'll probably have to guide me the rest of the way, as I think it's easier if the one holding him shoulders goes last.
(IDK, couldn't think of anything else! haha. Could this work? Should I roll too? Or can Lam do it with advantage?)
I did a STR check just in case and got a 13.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Hemlock sees Muro fall from his spot at the back of the group.
"There is time to rest a little, Lam", he suggests. "We are all tired, but I think we have gone far enough to be safe for a short time", he says putting a hand gently on the bugbears tired shoulder and rubbing it.
He then kneels down beside Muro, and starts to speak to him like he is just another beast, not knowing if he will understand.
"Calm Muro. Do you remember who you are? You are Muro, our friend. We are not trying to hurt you, just keep you safe".
I rolled for Hemlock - animal handling (charisma) with advantage: Dirty 20. Saoirse and Lam carrying Muro together after that - easy enough to not really require a roll, so whether we call it Saoirse's 13 or Lam's 11 with advantage is moot. It works out.
Muro calms down a bit, and his eyes do show a humanoid intelligence. He stops thrashing about as he stares at Hemlock, and does not resist when Lam and Saoirse pick him up again, one at the legs and one at the arms. Tesfaye gives space as Lam bends to pick Muro up, recognizing that this is more important than being able to lean on their new friend. You are able to get moving again.
You continue down the path, and the trees grow older and wider. Soon you are walking among giants, whose roots are thicker than you are tall. A whole ecosystem exists at the base of these ancient trees, including shelf mushrooms more than 10 feet in diameter, which emit a soft glow.
When you round a corner, a figure suddenly appears out from behind one of those roots, and stands with her arms in a spellcasting position. "Halt! You approach the village tree with a creature bound and gagged, in a time where outsiders threaten our land and our lives. We are not so welcoming as we like to be, and even in the best of times you would be cause for suspicion. What is your business here?" She then continues in Elvish: "Muéstrate, listo para el combate. Espero que vengan en paz, y que no sea necesario.."
Show yourself, ready for combat. I hope they come in peace, and it won't be necessary.
Another Dryad materializes out of one of the tree roots you had just passed, standing behind you with a glowing, enchanted club raised and ready.
DM: Heavy is the Head
Hemlock is pleasantly surprised when his words get through to Muro and he calms down, allowing them to continue their journey.
When the first dryad appears, he is taken aback, so consumed was he in in the plant life around him. As she bids them halt and explain themselves, he gets a little flustered, as he often does when meeting folk for the first time.
He understands the words spoken in elven as the second dryad appears behind them, and tries to placate the pair.
”We…yes…peace. We are not a threat, this is…friend, our friend”, he says, bundling his words a little, as he motions to Muro. ”Cylence!”, he says suddenly before he stops talking.
He looks at the others hoping someone else would take over.
Persuasion: 8-1=7
Sha looks at the old growth forest in true wonder at the sheer size of the giant plant life, when the Dryads materialize it seems like a surreal event. The trees from which the Dryads materialize from I assume are nearly ideal examples of their species.
"Não pretendemos fazer mal. Ajudamos a libertar Cylence e fomos convidados a viajar aqui para Village Tree. Nosso amigo que está amarrado está ligado à sua permissão como uma forma de controlar sua condição. O arnês é seu próprio design. Não estamos em condições de lutar, pelo menos vários de nós não estamos de qualquer maneira. Por favor, envie uma mensagem se pudermos encontrar descanso aqui. Sua árvore é uma visão para meus olhos cansados, a mais bonita que eu já vi." Spoken in sylvan
"We intend no harm. We helped to free Cylence and were invited to travel here to Village Tree. Our friend who is trussed up is bond with his permission as a way of controlling his condition. The harness is his own design. We are in no condition to fight at least several of us are not anyway. Please send word if we may find rest here. Your tree is a sight for my weary eyes the most beautiful I have ever seen."
When Hemlock calms Muro down, and Saoirse helps Lam carry Muro, a wave of gratitude washes over him for the friends he has found. As they walk, Lam gazes in awe at the sheer size of the trees around them. His eyes wide, the look of wonder on Lam’s face would almost be childlike.
As soon as someone he doesn’t know starts to speak, Lam freezes, keeping his grip on Muro to make sure he doesn’t fall again. As they demand answers with raised weapons, Lam feels grateful that these folks are giving the group a chance to explain themselves before they attack. He waits before speaking, allowing Hemlock and Sha who both have better ways with words to speak first. Hemlock… gets the main point across, and Sha says… something wise, probably.
After both are done speaking, Lam slowly speaks up, searching for each word: “We are here for peace. We met Cyclence. He told us to come here. Find… North Branch.” After a pause, he gestures with his head towards Muro. “He is friend. He is… lycan,” he says, turning to Saoirse seeking confirmation that the word lycan is correct. “He asked us to… verhält… to tie him,” he finishes, mixing Goblin into his sentence as he finds the right phrasing.
“Restrain.” Lam got a 17 persuasion check.
Saoirse also marvels at her surroundings, though not as much as she would if the party where not so tired after everything that has happened. The need for rest is claiming her and it doesn't seem they're going to get it just yet.
When the dryads appear, she crouches to put Muro on the soft earth carefully, and when she goes back up she raises her hands to show that she means no harm. Nodding at what her friends have said so far, she adds in Elvish:
- Tal y como han dicho mis amigos, hemos sido invitados aquí y no pretendemos causar ningún daño. Ni a nuestro compañero Muro, ni a vuestra gente.
As my friends have stated, we were invited here and mean no harm. Not to our companion Muro, nor to your people.
Then she continues in Common:
- Unfortunately, we also carry bad news: on our escape from Coldwater we run into a group leaded by the captain from that facility. Captain Jonah. He wasn't in Coldwater when Rhys and his people rescued Cylence, but has already found out what happened and he means to make them pay. They need to be warned.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
When Hemlock speaks, the dryad in front of you looks at him, unbelieving. "Did you seriously just tell me to be silent? What sort of a friend is bound, gagged, and carried against his will?" Each of the other members of your party speaks up, however, and the dryad seems more and more convinced. - "Oh, Cylence! Por supuesto" - She exclaims while Sha-Gravis is speaking.
Of course!
The dryad behind you giggles, and lowers her shillelagh. "A lycan! oh, I see. He must be on his way to Weretown, and got the timing wrong. Poor ratman." She continues, "You're an odd bunch! The armored one talks like my grandmother, and the swordswoman has the strangest accent I ever heard!" She imitates Sha's very serious Sylvan, although her accent is clearly Elvish. "Oh, olhe para mim! Eu leio livros antigos e fico em Feywild, de onde... em, personas... como você realmente são." The dryad in front of you also laughs at this, but it is a friendly, welcoming laugh.
Hey listen to me! I read old books and travel to the Feywild, where people like you are really from.
Dryad in front: "The ones who mean us harm never bother to learn our languages. (in Elvish) Ambos hablan muy bien, no dejes que mi amigo te avergüence. (in Common) If all you say is true though, then we must make haste. It is late, and we do not wish to wake the whole village, but we will take you to the tree. (in Elvish) Esmerelda, adelante y despierta a Rhys, querrá inspeccionar a nuestros invitados."
You both speak very well, don't let my friend embarrass you.
Esmerelda, go on ahead and wake Rhys, he will want to meet our guests.
Tesfaye is standing with their hands open and above their head, clearly willing to trust you all to handle the conversation, and hoping no more violence breaks out. Saffi's features have become more elvish again, with pointed ears and a slightly thinner frame. She had been standing to the side of the rest of you, and avoiding Saoirse's eyes since her comment about the True King. She has her crossbow loaded, but pointed at the ground. "How do we know we can trust you?"
The dryad looks at her and considers. "This is our home, and you've walked into it with weapons on the same day that we fought the foreign intruders. You'll follow us, and put your crossbow away, or you will have it taken from you, and come with us anyway. Entiendes?"
Understood?
Saffi reluctantly unknotches the crossbow bolt, and places the weapon back on her hip.
The dryad who had been behind you steps into the tree, for a moment the wood and her both seem fluid, as what was solid absorbs her easily.
DM: Heavy is the Head
Hemlock's nerves start to subside a little as the dryads become more friendly, more thanks to his companions than himself.
"Gracias, lo siento por la torpeza de mis palabras", he says to the dryad in front of him in elvish.
"Thank you, I am sorry for fumbling my words"
As he looks around and sees Esmerelda disappear, he uses his innate ability to perceive magic to look around and view just how magical this area is.
Casts Detect Magic using his Firbolg Magic racial feature
"This place is wondrous, it reminds me very much of home", he says as he follows after the lead dryad. He then looks to Muro to explain using his ability to speak to be understood by animals, "These folk will help you, they know of your kind and are not afraid".
Hemlock has learned from birth to access and shape the magical potential of the natural world, and with that comes an ability to focus in, and recognize magical auras and potentials of all schools of magic. He can see
The dryad in front of you still hums with the energy of a prepared spell. Entangle, if you had to guess. The trees around you have a similar energy to the innate magic almost all living things carry, but multiplied by hundreds of thousands in strength and intensity. They are alive with the magic of nature, ready to be shaped and reformed. The mushrooms growing from them seem to subside on life's magic just as much as they do on borrowing some of the trees' sugar and nutrients. Esmerelda's trick is one common to all dryads, stepping through and among trees as a form of travel. It would not be the first time he's seen that.
Saoirse and Sha both have faint magical auras of their own. Saoirse's connection to elemental magic can be seen, but also an aura of something darker, foreign to you. It must be that "blood curse" she mentioned earlier. Sha's connection to his goddess is also clear, a dusky violet aura, an access to some of his goddess' power. Lam has a strong aura of life to him, vibrant and strong, but you do not sense any connection to deeper magical power.
Other than these things, which do remind you of home in both ecology and ambience, there doesn't seem to be any active magic here at the moment.
DM: Heavy is the Head
Saoirse can't help but chuckle when the first dryad understands "silence" instead of "Cylence", and then raises her eyebrows when her own accent is mocked. Hadn't her teachers said she had a pretty good Elvish accent..? In any case, she relaxes visibly when the dryad's tones change from the initial distrust to the more humorous one.
She tenses for a moment when hearing Saffi's exchange with the dryad that has stayed with the group, but luckily, it ends well. The blood hunter sighs softly noticing how the changeling is keeping away from her, and thinks of speaking later with her. She doesn't like the idea of leaving things as they are right now...
As it seems they'll need to wait a little to be received by the famous Rhys, Saoirse decides to speak with the remaining dryad:
- My name is Saoirse - she bows slightly, and she introduces her companions one by one - Your home is beautiful .. thank you for allowing us in. We've been through some tense hours a while back. Though I guess it has been the same for you, right? Were you at Coldwater to rescue Cylence, too? - The fire genasi allows a moment for the dryad to answer before asking again - By the way... Weretown? Where is that? I'm sure that's the place Muro was speaking about. He was looking for a place where he could learn more about his nature.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
When Saoirse lowers Muro to the soft earth, Lam lowers him with her and mirrors her movements, raising his own hands to show he also means no harm. He will not try to pick Muro up again until it looks like they are going to get moving.
He stands listening to the conversation, feeling a little embarrassed about the amount of it he doesn't understand, especially after the comment about the ones who mean them harm never bothering to learn their languages- the Elvish and Sylvan all goes right over his head. He does visibly relax as the tension seems to dissolve from the conversation, tensing just a bit again at Saffron’s exchange. He resolves to make no sudden movements and to do his best to appear unthreatening. He listens to the conversation the others are making with the dryad, curious about the answers to Saoirse's questions.
If we have a little wait Sha will use this moment to change into his common clothes maybe pack a little catnip in his cheek. Sha much more comfortable smiles at Lam, “Albträume reiten auf Mondstrahlen wie Spinnen in Netzen. Es wird höchste Zeit, dass wir den Weg zu ein paar Betten finden. Möge die Göttin dir heute Nacht Ruhe geben, Lam für die Dienste, die du geleistet hast, um uns durchzubringen. Mein Dank gilt Ihnen, Freund.“ (goblin)
“Nightmares ride moonbeams like spiders in webs. It’s high time we find our way to some beds. May the Goddess give you rest this night Lam for the services you’ve rendered to see us through. You have my gratitude, friend.”
Lam looks over at Sha as he starts speaking, relieved to hear a language he knows well. He blinks at the reference to a Goddess- he knows Sha is a religious man, but is still not used to hearing words such as Sha’s in his own language just yet. He might ask Sha more about his beliefs later if they ever get a moment of safety. Lam thinks for a moment and then responds in Goblin, the weariness clear in his voice, “Gern Geschehen. Deine Güte war unermesslich. Ohne dich und die anderen, hätte ich heute einen großen Fehler wahrscheinlich gemacht. Ich hoffe, dass wir alle bald ausruhen. Du brauchst es besonders.”
“I am glad I was there to help. Your kindness has been immeasurable. Without you and the others, I would have likely made a huge mistake today. I do hope we all get to rest soon. You especially need it.“
"Debes haber recorrido un largo camino, hermano del bosque." the dryad says to Hemlock. She smiles as she sees him check in with Muro. "Los hechos son mejores que las palabras, de todos modos."
You must have traveled a long way, forest brother
Deeds are better than words, anyway.
She listens intently as Saoirse introduces you all, doing her best to commit each of these foreign-sounding names to memory.
"Your names are beautiful! Is Saoirse from the elemental language? 'Lam,' where does that name come from? Sha-Gravis. Am I pronouncing that right? I am Sempre-Verde, or you can just call me Semmer if you like. It means Evergreen, isn't that lovely?"
Semmer's face becomes more serious again when you mention coldwater.
"No, everyone who helped free Cylence is on break now - it's no good for anyone to be on guard for so long at a time. Rest is important, so I hope you can rest soon too... How do you mean, your escape from Coldwater? Why would you be there and need to escape? You aren't from here. So if you don't work for them, why are you in the Valley? She gestures around, and continues "Obviously we are not alone, and you are surrounded. Just in case this is some sort of trick. I hope it is not a mistake to trust you."
"Weretown is in the Northern corner of the Valley. From what I hear, it's a wonderful, peaceful place. I've never been, but I'm sure Muro here will find peace there. Rhys will probably help him get there, he's done that for other werefolk. For now, though, follow me to the Village Tree. It is not far, and Rhys should be ready for us when we get there."
DM: Heavy is the Head