"Why do you believe that I would remove this curse without telling me what the curse is?," she continues. "What did the hag say to you as she cursed you?"
We misread the situation of their claim on your territory. We understand now-hags should remain unharmed , as this is the will of the dragon lord of this realm. We are simple strangers here, in our realm some may find that acceptance as craven. Our misunderstanding. We do not mean to trouble you - clearly we didn’t expect your wearying from the encounter. If you have no other use for us we shall leave and let you return to your needed rest, great Balenfoiliunmax.
"Sssimple human. It is no wonder dragonsss are meant to rule over all of you. The Hagsss will die for their challenge of my dominion," her voice continues more relaxed with the elongated S sounds again. "Continue forward and tell me of this curssse. I can free you from it if I know what it isss."
They claimed this curse of weakness binds us until WE kill YOU. An impossible task which they surely thought would cause our demise and annoy you.
But they underestimated us. When faced with a choice - become abject slaves to the vile hags, who extort babies to stave off the very misfortune they cause - or align ourselves with YOU, a being of immense power and authority, whose strength we witnessed firsthand.
Pausing
We watched in awe, as you fought our enemies and even struck one down. We have seen no cruelty from you, which we have seen firsthand from the hags. On the contrary, Balenfoliumnax shows the kind of force that is to be respected. Those hags are our true enemies, and there is wisdom in the saying, the enemy of my enemy is my ally.
"Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!......," she laughs. "Until YOU kill ME! Is that what you have come to do, human?"
She pauses a moment.
"You do show promise is coming to me to seek alliance against the hags. They are strong. Perhaps too strong for you to face."
Again, she pauses.
"I will spare your lives for intruding upon my lair uninvited on the condition that you destroy the hags, now. As we talk they are looking to reform their coven with a new addition to complete the three. Hurry to Titan's Rib pass. The little one with you will know how to get there. Hurry! If you can arrive before their coven is made whole again through the ritual your task will be much easier. Return with the heads of the hags. I will end your curse then."
"Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!......," she laughs. "Until YOU kill ME! Is that what you have come to do, human?"
She pauses a moment.
"You do show promise is coming to me to seek alliance against the hags. They are strong. Perhaps too strong for you to face."
Again, she pauses.
"I will spare your lives for intruding upon my lair uninvited on the condition that you destroy the hags, now. As we talk they are looking to reform their coven with a new addition to complete the three. Hurry to Titan's Rib pass. The little one with you will know how to get there. Hurry! If you can arrive before their coven is made whole again through the ritual your task will be much easier. Return with the heads of the hags. I will end your curse then."
Gneuman whispers to Ajax, "Usually, I would be the smallest. But, now that you are part of our group, you get that honor." "Are you willing to lead us there, my friend?"
Starker holds up his hand in the universally understood gesture of ‘Let me think a second.’
He thinks his thinky thoughts about the arcana of this all. Is it likely that a dragon like greeny mcmeany here could really remove the curse. Another way to ‘end’ the curse would be to kill us.
Dragons are magical beings. It is possible that this evil dragon could be capable of removing a curse if old and powerful enough. That would be unusual for a chromatic dragon rather than a metallic dragon.
Great Balenfoliumnax, your power, and wisdom are unmatched! We are grateful for your mercy. Yet, we admit - the strength of the hags and the curse they hold over some of us - it fills us with doubt.
We fear their combined magic will be overwhelming without an inspiring presence such as yours. We humbly beg for your guidance. Just your nearby majestic presence will shatter their confidence. Them seeing the one who weakened their coven should tip the scales for us in the battle.
"Yesss. Weakened from an already weak state, you are," she replies. "I will be there to assisst you. Together we will find victory. Be ready for my pressence."
Quick goodbyes are said to Balefoliumnax and you exit the thickets. Haste is made to put distance between you and the dragon's lair. The air becomes more clear and less acrid in your nostrils. You find the hair on the back of your neck is no longer standing on end as well. Ajax leads you on through the Feywild and out of the Dismal Swamp. It is a journey of three days to find yourselves climbing hills and then mountains. This area seems to be in autumn with the leaves changing colors to brilliant reds, oranges, yellows and the occasional lavender. The air is cool, but not uncomfortable. As you climb the mountains become more desolate appearing. The familiar feeling of wrongness comes over you from when you last met the coven of hags, I mean lake fairies. Selune is to be full tonight. Likely, no coincidence for the planned ritual to refill the coven. Hopefully, you have arrived in time to stop the hags before they can regrasp the power of a coven to marshall against you. There has been no sign of the dragon on your journey,
(( Assume long rests for everyone. Reset spell selections to what you want for the upcoming trial. Let me know when you are ready to proceed. ))
"Why do you believe that I would remove this curse without telling me what the curse is?," she continues. "What did the hag say to you as she cursed you?"
(Suggestion in ooc)
We misread the situation of their claim on your territory. We understand now-hags should remain unharmed , as this is the will of the dragon lord of this realm. We are simple strangers here, in our realm some may find that acceptance as craven. Our misunderstanding. We do not mean to trouble you - clearly we didn’t expect your wearying from the encounter. If you have no other use for us we shall leave and let you return to your needed rest, great Balenfoiliunmax.
"Sssimple human. It is no wonder dragonsss are meant to rule over all of you. The Hagsss will die for their challenge of my dominion," her voice continues more relaxed with the elongated S sounds again. "Continue forward and tell me of this curssse. I can free you from it if I know what it isss."
They claimed this curse of weakness binds us until WE kill YOU. An impossible task which they surely thought would cause our demise and annoy you.
But they underestimated us. When faced with a choice - become abject slaves to the vile hags, who extort babies to stave off the very misfortune they cause - or align ourselves with YOU, a being of immense power and authority, whose strength we witnessed firsthand.
Pausing
We watched in awe, as you fought our enemies and even struck one down. We have seen no cruelty from you, which we have seen firsthand from the hags. On the contrary, Balenfoliumnax shows the kind of force that is to be respected. Those hags are our true enemies, and there is wisdom in the saying, the enemy of my enemy is my ally.
"Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!......," she laughs. "Until YOU kill ME! Is that what you have come to do, human?"
She pauses a moment.
"You do show promise is coming to me to seek alliance against the hags. They are strong. Perhaps too strong for you to face."
Again, she pauses.
"I will spare your lives for intruding upon my lair uninvited on the condition that you destroy the hags, now. As we talk they are looking to reform their coven with a new addition to complete the three. Hurry to Titan's Rib pass. The little one with you will know how to get there. Hurry! If you can arrive before their coven is made whole again through the ritual your task will be much easier. Return with the heads of the hags. I will end your curse then."
Gneuman whispers to Ajax, "Usually, I would be the smallest. But, now that you are part of our group, you get that honor." "Are you willing to lead us there, my friend?"
Ajax's head becomes visible as it sticks out from the brambles and thorns, behind Gneuman. He nods his grinning head 'YES'.
Starker holds up his hand in the universally understood gesture of ‘Let me think a second.’
He thinks his thinky thoughts about the arcana of this all. Is it likely that a dragon like greeny mcmeany here could really remove the curse. Another way to ‘end’ the curse would be to kill us.
sending an arcana roll
13
Dragons are magical beings. It is possible that this evil dragon could be capable of removing a curse if old and powerful enough. That would be unusual for a chromatic dragon rather than a metallic dragon.
(Suggestion in ooc)
Great Balenfoliumnax, your power, and wisdom are unmatched! We are grateful for your mercy. Yet, we admit - the strength of the hags and the curse they hold over some of us - it fills us with doubt.
We fear their combined magic will be overwhelming without an inspiring presence such as yours. We humbly beg for your guidance. Just your nearby majestic presence will shatter their confidence. Them seeing the one who weakened their coven should tip the scales for us in the battle.
"Yesss. Weakened from an already weak state, you are," she replies. "I will be there to assisst you. Together we will find victory. Be ready for my pressence."
The party (Trolkarl that is) closes with flowery salutations and departs for Titan's Rib Pass.
/agreement with Kragen's plan?
I agree with leaving to kill the hags.
Agree
Concur
Quick goodbyes are said to Balefoliumnax and you exit the thickets. Haste is made to put distance between you and the dragon's lair. The air becomes more clear and less acrid in your nostrils. You find the hair on the back of your neck is no longer standing on end as well. Ajax leads you on through the Feywild and out of the Dismal Swamp. It is a journey of three days to find yourselves climbing hills and then mountains. This area seems to be in autumn with the leaves changing colors to brilliant reds, oranges, yellows and the occasional lavender. The air is cool, but not uncomfortable. As you climb the mountains become more desolate appearing. The familiar feeling of wrongness comes over you from when you last met the coven of hags, I mean lake fairies. Selune is to be full tonight. Likely, no coincidence for the planned ritual to refill the coven. Hopefully, you have arrived in time to stop the hags before they can regrasp the power of a coven to marshall against you. There has been no sign of the dragon on your journey,
(( Assume long rests for everyone. Reset spell selections to what you want for the upcoming trial. Let me know when you are ready to proceed. ))
Hoid has been ready.