The old woman stares at Omen for a moment after he explains his situation. Then she laughs, "Oh alright then. Five gold now and the rest later is fine with me! Haha!" She trails off speaking the next part under her breath so it's barely audible, "It's not like I get much business nowadays anyways, a little gold is better than none."
After he hands over the coin, she passes the kenku the flower pot. "I'm not sure how this will help solve the murder but I wish you luck! Once this disappearing problem is solved folks will start coming back after all!"
(Alright, is there anything else you two want to do?)
Omen takes the pot and hands over the gold. "Thank you, I am sure I will have the rest of your coin shortly." The kenku says with a smile before turning to his companions. "Alright, let's go."
once he as out of sight if the merchant, he pulls out the racoon head charm and begins to look it over.. trying to determine what it does.
ooc: he would attempt to attune with it if needed as they walk.
(I'll just go ahead and push ya'll to the forest. Just cause I know I can post right now lol)
Making your way to the treeline, you search for a section that looks the most easily accessible. Strangely, you find a path not far from the fairy's house.The trees here are growing in a strange manner, almost forming a tunnel like structure and there seems to be a semi-natural path leading through the woods. Even in broad daylight, under the tree canopy is as dark as a night with a full moon.
A few paces into the trees, a midsized plant has risen from the soil, bearing a single red rose.
A few paces into the trees, a midsized plant has risen from the soil, bearing a single red rose.
At the sight of the plant Kit freezes, a cacophony of emotions stirring in her chest. Fear grips at her heart as she remembers vividly the events of the previous night, the wolf-things and the wall, the rose blooming from her injury, how close she had come to death, and how it was only mere chance and the kindness of a Drow (of all things) that allowed her to be standing here in this moment...
But the fear is quickly washed away by something else. As visions of wilted roses play through her mind she's gripped by an amorphous melancholy that's hard to define... mourning for the lives that were lost, a lament for those left behind, and... underscoring it all... the grief and regret that she had failed to save Twig.
Kit's first instinct is to reach for her longsword. To let herself be comforted by the familiar grip and the heft of the steel. Instead, she fights the instinct and reaches for one of the less imposing but supposedly more effective torches. With a snap of her fingers and a touch of Prestidigitation, she sets the torch alight.
"Let's go to work," she says to Omen and Thar, masking her true feelings behind bravado and a false smile.
Omen would light a torch and hold it in his left hand while wielding the enchanted dagger in his right. As he made his way into the forest, he kept his eyes peeled for threats. As the forest path became darker, Omen became even more cautious. He pace slowed and his head twitched back and forth... looking for any signs of movement. When the plant rose in front of the group, the kenku shoved the torch forward, illuminating the plant.
With a nod in acknowledgment to Kit, The kenku would step closer with his torch outward... "Lead us to your leader!" Omen shouted as he swiped the torch through the air. "We just want to talk... and we have a gift for them... Unless you would rather us burn down this forest." The kenku says sternly.. not entirely sure the plant could understand him...
Omen, you recognize this charm as a Masque Charm. You have now attuned to it.
Omen shoves the torch towards the unsuspecting bush, and it immediately seems to shrivel a bit in the torchlight. However, it doesn't respond to the bird-man's questioning. It stands there in utter defiance...
(Apologies if my wording confused things, but the plant was already there. You didn't witness it grow right in front of you lol.)
Eventually you figure out that the rose bush isn't going to respond to any of your questioning since it is just a plant....even if it smells like blood.
As you travel deeper into the woods, you once again get the feeling that they are being watched. Every so often you hear a shuffling sound in the trees, and noise of snapping twigs. Though whatever it is stays just on the outside of the your vision.
Eventually the path begins to narrow. Kit, who has taken the lead, starts having to bat spider webs off the trail. These webs get thicker and thicker the farther you go. After what seems like hours, the path slowly starts to widen again. Small beams of soft moonlight bleed down from the branches above, dancing along the silky spider’s threads. Strange, as it should still be daytime. One of these beams faintly illuminates a figure up ahead, standing motionless in the center of the path.
"ROSE? Is that you? We come in peace. We just want to talk to you about what's happening in town."
As Kit calls out she steps cautiously forward. She focuses a great deal of attention, probably far too much, on the movement of her body as she tries to thread the needle between concealing her own fear and appearing overly aggressive. The last thing she wants to do is give the figure cause to flee or, worse, provoke an attack.
Omen would have carefully pinned the Masque charm to the interior of his jacket as they made their way towards the forest.
When the rose refused to move, Omen would have advanced with his torch and burned the plant if it attempted to prevent their passing.
When they arrive at the illuminated figure, Omen would stand ready with his torch and dagger. "We just want to talk..." The kenku would say with a smile. "We even brought you a gift... a magical flower pot where you can grow something that is a little less dangerous... Maybe a tulip or sun flower perhaps?" Omen says as he carefully places the torch at his feet before pulling out the flower pot. He then places the flower pot on the ground and picks the torch back up.
The rose plant does not object to your passing by it.
As you slowly approach the figure, you quickly realize that this is not Rose Whithermore. Taking the lead intending to present the figure with the flower pot, Omen quickly recognizes the drow bounty hunter. Kit, if she also approaches recognizes him as well. His limp body seems to be held up only by the spider webs that cling to him, keeping him hanging with his feet about an inch above the forest floor. He has a large gash in his left arm with several vines growing from it. Blood drips from the wound and each drop that hits the ground gives rise to a budding rose.
Once you get within ten paces of him, his eyes open and he coughs. “Trap” Then suddenly he is yanked backwards and disappears into the darkness.
With a curse in Elvish on her lips, Kit reacts instinctively, charging recklessly after the Drow long before her rational mind catches up. Later, she might try to explain that there was no room for hesitation, or that she knew that she owed her life to the Drow, or that the trap was already sprung regardless...
But in the moment there was only one truth. When the fear hit and the adrenaline took over, there was only fight or flight... and Kit Forthall was a fighter.
Omen curses before racing after Kit. He leaves the pot on the ground and drags the torch across the top of the newly sprouted blood roses as he runs past them. With his torch held out front, he keeps his dagger ready to strike anything threats he encounters.
Continuing down the path, the eerie light continues to seep through the trees. The path continues to widen, eventually opening into a small meadow. Even in the meadow, the trees have a large enough canopy to keep the entire place hidden from the sun, it even blocks out some of the strange moonlight. No light touches the outer rim of the circular clearing, however a single god ray illuminates a large pool in the center. Four 12 ft stone arches circle the pool, only two are still intact. The entire floor is a maze of rose bushes and spider webs, but across the sea of thorns the path continues. (The area is considered rough terrain.)
As soon as Kit steps foot into this area small spiders start to descend from the trees. If you look across, you see a flash of light from above the circular pool. Focusing in on it, it appears to be something reflective hanging above the water. You can't tell what it is from where you are right now.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Where did the drow go?" The kenku would ask as he quickly scans the area. The flash of light catches his attention... as does the descending spiders. holding his torch out in front of himself, he attempts to burn away the webs and thorns that block his path. "We need to be careful... and what is that above the water?" Omen asks as he squints towards the water.
perception to see what is sparkling above the water 20
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Kit holds her torch aloft and reaches for her thelarr, mentally preparing herself should she need to bring her magic to bear.
"Go check it out, I'll keep an eye on them," she says as she moves to protect the Kenku's back, scanning in all directions using her torch to deter any spiders foolish enough to approach the pair...
(Perception to watch for any threats emerging from the webs above or approaching from behind 12)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(This area looks like it had been one of those rose hedge gardens shaped into a maze pattern.) As Omen proceeds through the thorny plants, he raises his torch to burn away a mass of webs blocking the easier path. The webs burn easily, but he hears a loud clattering screech and a giant spider bursts out of the webs skittering away from the bright flames. This makes you both all the more thankful for bringing a torch, and now you know each of those thick webbed masses may house spiders...
Now closer to the pool, Omen can make out what is hanging above it.
The object hanging above the pool appears to be an ornamental brass key. It’s about the size of a child’s hand and has been ornately shaped with twisting vines and a rose at the top. It hangs about six feet above the water, and 20ft away from the bank.
Kit, as you turn to scan the area, you brush some of the spider webs. Another giant spider lunges at you from out of it's den. It tries to bite you before retreating back into it's nest.
To hit: 15
Damage: 9 and 4 poison or half if you succeed a con save DC11
(You can try to hit the spider as it retreats if you want.)
If you try to proceed towards the water, both of you can make Acrobatics checks DC 12 to avoid touching the webs and alerting the spiders.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Kit feels the sharp stab of the bite followed by the burning sting of the venom and curses. As bad as it hurts, the injury could have been worse, though she isn't aware of that fact.
She flails with the torch, ineffectively and far too late to pose any real treat, before switching the torch to her left hand and drawing her longsword. The comforting weight of the blade gives her the confidence to continue carefully picking her way around the thorn bushes and webs.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The kenku is stsrtled by the fleeing spider and then fascinated by thenstrange key. Hearing the commotion behind him, he turns around to see the large spider skitter away from kit. "Are you alright?!" Omen whisper shouts towards Kit after she is bitten.
Seeing that she appears OK, he attempts to.move closer to the key...
acrobatics 22
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
The old woman stares at Omen for a moment after he explains his situation. Then she laughs, "Oh alright then. Five gold now and the rest later is fine with me! Haha!" She trails off speaking the next part under her breath so it's barely audible, "It's not like I get much business nowadays anyways, a little gold is better than none."
After he hands over the coin, she passes the kenku the flower pot. "I'm not sure how this will help solve the murder but I wish you luck! Once this disappearing problem is solved folks will start coming back after all!"
(Alright, is there anything else you two want to do?)
Omen takes the pot and hands over the gold. "Thank you, I am sure I will have the rest of your coin shortly." The kenku says with a smile before turning to his companions. "Alright, let's go."
once he as out of sight if the merchant, he pulls out the racoon head charm and begins to look it over.. trying to determine what it does.
ooc: he would attempt to attune with it if needed as they walk.
(I'll need an arcana check for the charm)
(I'll just go ahead and push ya'll to the forest. Just cause I know I can post right now lol)
Making your way to the treeline, you search for a section that looks the most easily accessible. Strangely, you find a path not far from the fairy's house.The trees here are growing in a strange manner, almost forming a tunnel like structure and there seems to be a semi-natural path leading through the woods. Even in broad daylight, under the tree canopy is as dark as a night with a full moon.
A few paces into the trees, a midsized plant has risen from the soil, bearing a single red rose.
ooc: arcana for Omen 17
At the sight of the plant Kit freezes, a cacophony of emotions stirring in her chest. Fear grips at her heart as she remembers vividly the events of the previous night, the wolf-things and the wall, the rose blooming from her injury, how close she had come to death, and how it was only mere chance and the kindness of a Drow (of all things) that allowed her to be standing here in this moment...
But the fear is quickly washed away by something else. As visions of wilted roses play through her mind she's gripped by an amorphous melancholy that's hard to define... mourning for the lives that were lost, a lament for those left behind, and... underscoring it all... the grief and regret that she had failed to save Twig.
Kit's first instinct is to reach for her longsword. To let herself be comforted by the familiar grip and the heft of the steel. Instead, she fights the instinct and reaches for one of the less imposing but supposedly more effective torches. With a snap of her fingers and a touch of Prestidigitation, she sets the torch alight.
"Let's go to work," she says to Omen and Thar, masking her true feelings behind bravado and a false smile.
Omen would light a torch and hold it in his left hand while wielding the enchanted dagger in his right. As he made his way into the forest, he kept his eyes peeled for threats. As the forest path became darker, Omen became even more cautious. He pace slowed and his head twitched back and forth... looking for any signs of movement. When the plant rose in front of the group, the kenku shoved the torch forward, illuminating the plant.
With a nod in acknowledgment to Kit, The kenku would step closer with his torch outward... "Lead us to your leader!" Omen shouted as he swiped the torch through the air. "We just want to talk... and we have a gift for them... Unless you would rather us burn down this forest." The kenku says sternly.. not entirely sure the plant could understand him...
Omen, you recognize this charm as a Masque Charm. You have now attuned to it.
Omen shoves the torch towards the unsuspecting bush, and it immediately seems to shrivel a bit in the torchlight. However, it doesn't respond to the bird-man's questioning. It stands there in utter defiance...
(Apologies if my wording confused things, but the plant was already there. You didn't witness it grow right in front of you lol.)
Eventually you figure out that the rose bush isn't going to respond to any of your questioning since it is just a plant....even if it smells like blood.
As you travel deeper into the woods, you once again get the feeling that they are being watched. Every so often you hear a shuffling sound in the trees, and noise of snapping twigs. Though whatever it is stays just on the outside of the your vision.
Eventually the path begins to narrow. Kit, who has taken the lead, starts having to bat spider webs off the trail. These webs get thicker and thicker the farther you go. After what seems like hours, the path slowly starts to widen again. Small beams of soft moonlight bleed down from the branches above, dancing along the silky spider’s threads. Strange, as it should still be daytime. One of these beams faintly illuminates a figure up ahead, standing motionless in the center of the path.
"ROSE? Is that you? We come in peace. We just want to talk to you about what's happening in town."
As Kit calls out she steps cautiously forward. She focuses a great deal of attention, probably far too much, on the movement of her body as she tries to thread the needle between concealing her own fear and appearing overly aggressive. The last thing she wants to do is give the figure cause to flee or, worse, provoke an attack.
Omen would have carefully pinned the Masque charm to the interior of his jacket as they made their way towards the forest.
When the rose refused to move, Omen would have advanced with his torch and burned the plant if it attempted to prevent their passing.
When they arrive at the illuminated figure, Omen would stand ready with his torch and dagger. "We just want to talk..." The kenku would say with a smile. "We even brought you a gift... a magical flower pot where you can grow something that is a little less dangerous... Maybe a tulip or sun flower perhaps?" Omen says as he carefully places the torch at his feet before pulling out the flower pot. He then places the flower pot on the ground and picks the torch back up.
The rose plant does not object to your passing by it.
As you slowly approach the figure, you quickly realize that this is not Rose Whithermore. Taking the lead intending to present the figure with the flower pot, Omen quickly recognizes the drow bounty hunter. Kit, if she also approaches recognizes him as well. His limp body seems to be held up only by the spider webs that cling to him, keeping him hanging with his feet about an inch above the forest floor. He has a large gash in his left arm with several vines growing from it. Blood drips from the wound and each drop that hits the ground gives rise to a budding rose.
Once you get within ten paces of him, his eyes open and he coughs. “Trap” Then suddenly he is yanked backwards and disappears into the darkness.
With a curse in Elvish on her lips, Kit reacts instinctively, charging recklessly after the Drow long before her rational mind catches up. Later, she might try to explain that there was no room for hesitation, or that she knew that she owed her life to the Drow, or that the trap was already sprung regardless...
But in the moment there was only one truth. When the fear hit and the adrenaline took over, there was only fight or flight... and Kit Forthall was a fighter.
Omen curses before racing after Kit. He leaves the pot on the ground and drags the torch across the top of the newly sprouted blood roses as he runs past them. With his torch held out front, he keeps his dagger ready to strike anything threats he encounters.
Continuing down the path, the eerie light continues to seep through the trees. The path continues to widen, eventually opening into a small meadow. Even in the meadow, the trees have a large enough canopy to keep the entire place hidden from the sun, it even blocks out some of the strange moonlight. No light touches the outer rim of the circular clearing, however a single god ray illuminates a large pool in the center. Four 12 ft stone arches circle the pool, only two are still intact. The entire floor is a maze of rose bushes and spider webs, but across the sea of thorns the path continues. (The area is considered rough terrain.)
As soon as Kit steps foot into this area small spiders start to descend from the trees. If you look across, you see a flash of light from above the circular pool. Focusing in on it, it appears to be something reflective hanging above the water. You can't tell what it is from where you are right now.
"Where did the drow go?" The kenku would ask as he quickly scans the area. The flash of light catches his attention... as does the descending spiders. holding his torch out in front of himself, he attempts to burn away the webs and thorns that block his path. "We need to be careful... and what is that above the water?" Omen asks as he squints towards the water.
perception to see what is sparkling above the water 20
Kit holds her torch aloft and reaches for her thelarr, mentally preparing herself should she need to bring her magic to bear.
"Go check it out, I'll keep an eye on them," she says as she moves to protect the Kenku's back, scanning in all directions using her torch to deter any spiders foolish enough to approach the pair...
(Perception to watch for any threats emerging from the webs above or approaching from behind 12)
(This area looks like it had been one of those rose hedge gardens shaped into a maze pattern.) As Omen proceeds through the thorny plants, he raises his torch to burn away a mass of webs blocking the easier path. The webs burn easily, but he hears a loud clattering screech and a giant spider bursts out of the webs skittering away from the bright flames. This makes you both all the more thankful for bringing a torch, and now you know each of those thick webbed masses may house spiders...
Now closer to the pool, Omen can make out what is hanging above it.
The object hanging above the pool appears to be an ornamental brass key. It’s about the size of a child’s hand and has been ornately shaped with twisting vines and a rose at the top. It hangs about six feet above the water, and 20ft away from the bank.
Kit, as you turn to scan the area, you brush some of the spider webs. Another giant spider lunges at you from out of it's den. It tries to bite you before retreating back into it's nest.
To hit: 15
Damage: 9 and 4 poison or half if you succeed a con save DC11
(You can try to hit the spider as it retreats if you want.)
If you try to proceed towards the water, both of you can make Acrobatics checks DC 12 to avoid touching the webs and alerting the spiders.
Con save:11
Kit feels the sharp stab of the bite followed by the burning sting of the venom and curses. As bad as it hurts, the injury could have been worse, though she isn't aware of that fact.
She flails with the torch, ineffectively and far too late to pose any real treat, before switching the torch to her left hand and drawing her longsword. The comforting weight of the blade gives her the confidence to continue carefully picking her way around the thorn bushes and webs.
(Acrobatics: 6)
The kenku is stsrtled by the fleeing spider and then fascinated by thenstrange key. Hearing the commotion behind him, he turns around to see the large spider skitter away from kit. "Are you alright?!" Omen whisper shouts towards Kit after she is bitten.
Seeing that she appears OK, he attempts to.move closer to the key...
acrobatics 22