Sacha joins Ylis and Dermot’s discussion with the dryads. Carefully and slowly approaching them, Sacha bows before joining the conversation. She makes nearby flowers bloom and grass stir to prove she’s a friend. 

“Hello, tree-friends!” She smiles, “I’m Sacha Sumaq of the Redmoss Leaf-Legs. Your northwestern kin are allies of my people! This oasis is beautiful. Surely the Wild Mother blesses us!”

Randa remained near the stockade and watched the others converse with goblin, turtle and dryad with a measured expression as her left hand idly stroked the ancient treasure that hung about her neck.

The Dryads of her own homeland were barely ever seen even by her folk, and were held in a kind of reverence as aspects of the Mother themselves...she couldn't imagine speaking with them as Sascha so easily did.  She checked her quiver and supposed she could make do with the arrows remaining.

She eventually moved up to join Ylis....

Ylis beams a smile at Randa and Sacha giving them a pat on the knee. She sees the archer check her flights and ponders for second before handing over the dozen arrowheads and a gold bar (10gp). "Maybe with the the arrowheads the vendors might give you a discount." 

---------

Somewhere along the line Ylis will search for seeds of flowers or plants then gather some soil and go the to edge of the oasis. She wants to see if she can expand the space into the barrens by a little, maybe just a foot or two. Green is better than brown and making more green is a good thing in this world.

Nature check 15

Randa looks down at Ylis gift and smiles back.

She casts her eyes over Ayos group then heads across to the goblins to buy fletching supplies.

Irvan looks at Ylis, then back over his shoulder. “Enemies? Worse. Family.”

DM: Perception Check for Ylis on looking for the crest.

As Ylis wanders toward the grilled meat seller, where the two he identified as family are, Irvan becomes a wraith. As she gestures to where Irvan was, Ylis notices that Irvan is gone. Ylis did not even hear him walk away. It was like he was never there at all.

The two dryads look at each other, clearly puzzled. “Is this some trick of the ‘civilized folk’ or have you lost someone?” one asks suspiciously.

However, as Sacha approaches, speaking of kin, the dryads turn smiles to both. “It is indeed beautiful. We are here to protect this small patch of forest and make sure that the people of civilization do not bring axe to our friends.” They share a knowing look. “But we have had to make concessions, given how active this waystation is. We do allow the gathering and burning of dead trees and branches. What brings you to our forest, Sacha Sumaq of the Redmoss Leaf-Legs? You are far from home.”

DM: Ylis is able to find sees that should serve her purpose. However, the edge of the forest is a fair distance from the clearing. Planting will have to wait for when you leave the Emerald Loop campsite.

***

Pops looks a little concerned, looking over Morgan’s wiry frame and obvious lack of armor. He shrugs. “As I said, we are meeting cousins. But yeah, I can share a bit. I used to serve on the Aurora Watch in my younger years. Even spent a little time in Bazzoxan. The people are good people. Surprisingly hardy too. You would have to be made of iron to live there, I think, and they are. So free advice? Be respectful. You won’t be able to scare nobody for nothing. Most are current and former soldiers that refused to give up the fight. Yeah, that’s right, a city of soldiers and their families. Heh. Also, learn what you can about demons and, if you can, learn how to control your stomach. The things that come up out of the ground there defy logic and can turn the stomach just to look at.”

***

DM: Randa, you should be able to get some fletching supplies. Double the cost of however many arrows you would want to make. 20 arrows are 1 gold, so they would be 2 gold to buy the fletching supplies needed to make 20 arrows here.

Ylis looks confused that Irvan disappeared (family? what?) but happy to have the company of Sacha, "Oh we are most thankful that you let us have some space in your forest! I promise not to axe the life plants." she says earnestly. "Come on Sacha let's go see Irvan's family, we got something belongs to them."

When she gets closer to the Wastewalker she waves in a cordial fashion but grips her spear firmly. According to some, these folks are bandits. Even though Irvan seems a decent fellow these are unknowns, family or not. Depending on the reception she gets, she lets them know her group found a dagger with their family name on it. 

Ylis Perception check 7

“Thanks for the advice. I’ll keep it in mind.” Morgan gives a friendly nod.
“We’ve had our share of unpleasant encounters coming from Jigow too, so keep your eyes open out there. I wish you safe travels.”

He waves goodbye, then slips his hands into his pockets and strolls toward Ylis and Sacha.

Quote from Erik_Soong >>

 

However, as Sacha approaches, speaking of kin, the dryads turn smiles to both. “It is indeed beautiful. We are here to protect this small patch of forest and make sure that the people of civilization do not bring axe to our friends.” They share a knowing look. “But we have had to make concessions, given how active this waystation is. We do allow the gathering and burning of dead trees and branches. What brings you to our forest, Sacha Sumaq of the Redmoss Leaf-Legs. You are far from home.”

"Old Redmoss, the eldest treant of my people has become infected with some unnatural infection. A scarlet, crystalline blight so vicious my tribal elders' wouldn't let anyone near our Tree Father for fear it would spread." Sacha explains, fully trusting the dryads, "The druids consulted the spirits and determined the only road to curing Redmoss started at Jigow. Being the most experienced warrior in my tribe, and avoiding infection through happenstance, I volunteered to go. That road led me here." 

Small tears well up in Sacha's eyes. She wipes them away. She can't show weakness; she's the strong one. The last strong member of her clan. She has to be, or she'll fail her people. And, worst of all, Sacha hasn't heard from her people since she left. Months have already passed. For all she knows, Old Redmoss has already passed away and her quest was for naught. 

But that cannot be true. Redmoss wasn't just a respected grandfatherly figure. He was their shelter, their sustenance, their lorekeeper, and connection to their ancestors. If Redmoss dies, her people dies. And Sacha cannot allow that. She cannot believe that until it's undeniable. 

"Thank you for maintaining this small patch of life in this seemingly endless wasteland. Please let me know if there's anything I can do for you or the oasis. Anything that could help it thrive or ward off danger. My people know the importance of ensuring the flow and preservation of nutrients within an environment." 

Sacha will then join Ylis in her search for Irvan. 

Perception (if necessary): 22

Randa purchases her supplies then heads over near the stockade to make her shafts, occasionally glancing up to try and keep some kind of track of all of her companions from both groups.......she doesn't realize she already missed one departure.....

( Spends 2 gold)

The two dryad’s eyes widen in horror as Sacha reveals the blight that has afflicted her people. “That sounds awful. For a treant to fall ill to a mysterious disease like the one you speak of, my hear breaks for you and your people.” They nod to each other in agreement.

“The cultivation of life is difficult in Xhorhas, as you may well have seen by now. The land is deeply resistant to allowing the prosperity of things that grow here. We noticed your little friend gathering seeds and have a guess as to her intentions with them. Help her, as we cannot leave this place for fear of the outsiders doing what they wish to maintain that abominable blaze.” They stiffly point to the campfire surrounded by dozens of travelers. “Do that, and we will call you friend here.” They nod to Sacha and Ylis respectfully, indicating an end to the conversation.

Sacha and Ylis withdraw and begin to make their way to the two humans Irvan was avoiding. The two humans, one male and one female in their early twenties, see Ylis and Sacha approaching. They are scarfing the meat they just purchased down as though they fear Ylis were coming to take it. After ravenously consuming their food, they hold themselves in a prepared stance, their eyes deeply suspicious. The male’s hands are not visible from beneath a hide cloak while the woman grips her battleaxe with two hands. “What do you want?” The male asks with a gruff, artificially lowered voice that he thinks makes him sound tough.

DM: Ylis sees nothing that remotely resembles the crest on the jewels or very fancy, lightly magical jacket.

DM: Shockingly, Sacha’s Perception Check fails to find Irvan.

Morgan will be making his way over to Ylis as she and Sacha have already begun conversation with the two young adult humans. Both notice Morgan from across camp and bend their knees slightly, as his direction indicates he is wandering over to them.

"Helloo there Mr. Wastewalker sir and Miss Wastewalker ma'am. My companions and I," She gestures to her companions,  "found a battleground on the way here. While searching the area we discovered this dagger. It has one of your people's names on it and we thought you'd like to have it back."

She holds out the dagger and shows the engraved name while smiling.

The young woman sees the dagger offered to her and nearly drops her battleaxe as she goes to cup her mouth to smother a gasp. “Y-you.” She reaches out to touch the male’s arm. “You found my father’s dagger.” Tears immediately run down her cheeks and the male comforts her with a squeeze of her shoulders.

“We would ask that you not use that name unless you are trying to get us in trouble.” The male says. “I am Moghra. This is Tyvak.”

“Moghra…” The woman groans. She presses him back, easy to do as she is the larger of the two, and she approaches Ylis. She bends down to one knee and accepts the dagger. “We saw him fall. Our father. Saw him fall to that awful udaak. It wasn’t going down, so we fled.” Moghra tries to interject, but Tyvak talks over him. “We are recovering from our wounds here, then we will leave to return to the rest of our clan. Here.” She offers Ylis her battleaxe. “We don’t accept nothing for free. We pay in iron or blood.”

DM: The battleaxe is of a fine make. Oddly unblemished given the likely heavy use. 

“As you wish, Children of Our Mother,” Sacha bows and quickly begins work. 

She will search for mature seeds, ripe berries and other fruit, and any dense patches of grass that she could move to the edge of the oasis. 

Survival: 10

However, even if she finds what she’s looking for, plants cannot grow in poor soil. Which she assumes is the standard for the Xhorhas wastes. 

Sacha was taught some rudimentary tests for determining soil quality growing up. Can she tell if there’s any specific issues with it? Too much sand, clay, rocks, etc? 

Nature: 14

Regardless of any specific issues with the soil, her people are masters at creating artificial, rich soil that plants love. Every Leaf-Leg knows how to make terra preta. Determined to help the sacred dryads, Sacha goes over to the giant tortoise and looks up at the goblin watchman on top. 

“I have a request for the whole camp. Would you kindly restrain your magnificent tortoise so I can safely climb up there? It would be easier to do the announcement from high up. I’ll pay you if you let me.”

Persuasion: 0

If the goblin accepts, Sacha climbs to the top of the structure on the tortoise’s back. If the goblin says no, she’ll go to the tallest boulder or tree surrounding the camp, close enough everyone can hear her. Once high up, she loudly says, 

“Attention, everyone! I apologize for the interruption! I am Sacha Sumaq, Emissary of the Leaf-Legged Elves, Warden of the World Tree! On behalf of the dryads that so graciously allow us to rest here, I’m going to need your assistance expanding this pocket of paradise!”

”In my homeland, my people create a type of black earth that helps plants grow. It is simple to make, lasts for thousands of years, and is almost as good as magic!”

”If any of you are eating meat, I will collect any left over bones. Especially fish bones. If anyone has any old or broken pottery, I will need that as well. Once the campfire goes out, I will need the remaining ash and charcoal. And, finally, I will need to collect all waste from the camp’s tortoise, oxen, and humanoids to mix into the soil. So if would lend me a shovel and bucket, I would greatly appreciate it.”

Intimidation: 12

Intimidation says it works if you’re trying to use “awe” to get someone to do what you want. I think standing on a building on top of a tortoise while asking to collect the camp’s feces inspires some type of awe. 

OOC: Sorry for the strange post. While writing the last bit I couldn’t stop thinking about this Puffin Forest video. I figured terra preta made the most sense for what the dryads requested. And Sacha is very eager to please them. 

Huh. Let’s try those rolls again. 

Survival: 9

Nature: 13

Persuasion: 17

Intimidation: 17

"Oh sorry! I did not mean to get you into difficulties." Ylis says a little abashed. "We didn't bring this to you for a reward but um..ok thank you!" She takes the axe and admires its quality "This is an excellent piece of work, thank you again."

"Um, for what it's worth your people did manage to take down the ugly beast thing. That dagger was buried in its guts. You should be proud of them." From the looks of the battlefield the udaak was something she never wants to see ever. It's frightening that they might run into one, she shivers.

Ylis bows and waves then heads towards the meat vendor.

OOC: Putting the axe in the party inventory. Whoever wants it can just pull it out.

DM: Sacha is able to rummage around camp and find an assortment of seeds, berries, and dense patches of wild grass, but nothing spectacular in origin. As best as Sacha can tell, this land is extremely fertile. When Sacha was beyond the forest earlier in the day, Sacha noted that the Wastes is a densely packed clay earth, but also, there is a kind of 'heat' to it, or vibration, or charge. Something about it is off. A simple sampling in the mouth is like licking a battery.

DM: To simplify the explanation and for clarity to the players, the Calamity was so destructive and so much energy was released in the Wastes, that there is residual chaotic and caustic magic in the earth that is somewhat like irradiated earth after the explosion of an atom bomb. It kills plant life, warps the living to create abominations in the Wastes, and thins the firmament that divides the planes. 

Pops regards Sacha and the unusual behavior she is exhibiting. He estimates that she is not dangerous and is more or less interested in what the elf has planned. He pulls a rope over to her that takes her up to the command post just behind the horizonback's head. "Not liable for any injuries or damages if you fall, miss, but go right ahead."

DM: Clever observation and employment of the rules. I agree and Sacha gains Heroic Inspiration for you putting in the work here. 

Most of the people around camp look up at the proselytizing Sacha from on high. Most seem to fall into three categories: amused, bemused, or simply boozed. Most exchanged looks or hushed words at the request to root around in their dung and some chuckle at the person who is clearly insane up on the horizonback. Those that arrived at that conclusion mockingly point to where the chamberpots are emptied just beyond the tree line and tell Sacha to help herself to a hearty meal. Some people note the dryads approving expressions and find understanding. These few fall into a fourth category: enthused. They begin to assist in gathering the discard piles where bones and other foodstuff is thrown near the campfire. 

When Sacha does descend, Pops has a look that says this is the strangest day he has had on his travels in some time. "You want some horizonback dung? Okay, heh, follow me." He leads Sacha to the edge of camp to find Big Yuyo's dropping site. 

Quote from Wysperra >>

"Oh sorry! I did not mean to get you into difficulties." Ylis says a little abashed. "We didn't bring this to you for a reward but um..ok thank you!" She takes the axe and admires its quality "This is an excellent piece of work, thank you again."

"Um, for what it's worth your people did manage to take down the ugly beast thing. That dagger was buried in its guts. You should be proud of them." From the looks of the battlefield the udaak was something she never wants to see ever. It's frightening that they might run into one, she shivers.

Ylis bows and waves then heads towards the meat vendor.

OOC: Putting the axe in the party inventory. Whoever wants it can just pull it out.

 Tyvak clutches the dagger close to her chest as the tears continue to run down her cheeks. "He died protecting his clan and the wastefolk." Tyvak says. Moghra adds. "He died with his pride, allowing us to live with his pride. Thank you, small one." And just like that, Ylis is off again.

The drow meat vendor is grilling up some savory smelling food. She sees the harengon approach and slides a greasy slab of meat the size of a pie onto a plate. "Mastodon! Marbled goodness you wont soon forget! It's got my secret ingredient added to it, making it the prize of the camp tonight." She begins cutting it up into smaller slides and pulls out a rice bowl from a steamer. Then she adds slides of some kor'run to the rice bowl. Kor'run is a deep red squash-like vegetable from Rosohna's sunless gardens. A delicacy even in Rosohna and a rarity outside the city. "C'mere, bunny girl." She shoves a bowl into Ylis' hands. "Thank me later." She adds with a wink. 

"Thank you, gracious elder," Sacha thanks Pops, realizing that she is probably older than him. She pulls out 2 gold pieces and hands them to him. 

She follows him to the tortoise shit, with a smile. She then goes back to the camp to gather any offered supplies. If anyone has a large container such as a jar, especially large bucket, or even an empty sack, she enthusiastically takes it as well as a shovel. If she can't find a shovel, she will look for any good sized stick that she could use to mix the materials together. 

Once Ylis is done talking with the Wastewalkers, Sacha approaches her to ask a question. 

"Does mold earth work on shit?" She asks, "If it does, I would love your help. If not, I don't need you, but would still appreciate some assistance."

Sacha will then gather up all the necessary materials and move them to the edge of the oasis. The soil seems mostly serviceable, clay is good in moderation, but the strange energy does worry her. Hopefully her people's tradition of soil enrichment can overcome the tainted soil, or at least significantly improve its quality. Before starting, she looks around the area for any left over charcoal or ash from previous visitors. Charcoal is the most important ingredient and is what enriches the earth for centuries. She doesn't expect to find much given they've had to make due with just burning dead branches and twigs. 

Perception or Survival, Sacha has the same bonus for both: 5

Sacha fills her container about halfway with the clay-filled soil, picks out any big rocks, and starts adding in the ingredients. She starts with any pottery, breaking it into small pieces before mixing it into the dirt. Then the bones, which she also breaks up into small fragments. Then she adds the ash, charcoal, and finally manure. Using a shovel or stick, she begins stirring together the materials until it's thoroughly mixed. If she did it right, the soil should be darker and richer. 

Once she's finished with the process, Sacha dumps out the terra preta and begins planting the seeds, berries, and harvested grass into it. She uses druidcraft to speed up the germination process. 

Sacha repeats the process until she has used all of her ingredients. She will still have plenty of manure after running out of the other ingredients, and continues mixing that into the local soil until it's all gone. This will still fertilize the earth, but isn't as good as true terra preta. 

Once finished, Sacha returns to the dryads and shows them the finished product. It currently doesn't look like much, just a small patch of healthier earth next to the oasis, with infantile plant life scattered across it. 

"I've done what I can to improve the soil. If the Wild Mother wills it, the oasis should be able to grow a bit further. I didn't have as much charcoal as I would like. Periodic, controlled forest fires are good for the health of the ecosystem, but I understand you are hesitant to burn healthy trees. However, when a tree dies from old age, disease, or strong winds, please bury it away from the living trees and set it on fire below the earth. This should turn most of the wood into charcoal, which you can use to make more black soil to further grow this oasis. If you can get any future visitors to help you with this, this pocket of life may eventually grow to cover all of Xhorhas."

"Life, uh, finds a way," She bows to the dryads again, hoping they see the respect she intends, "And I believe this is the way."

Ylis looks at Sacha, nods and takes off at a run. "Rumble we got work to do!" she hooks up to the wagon and rolls it over to help Sasha with her duty. 'Ha! she thought dootie!'

Using Mold Earth and, Magically Thinking (logically thinking) shifting a block (5 feet x 5 feet x 5 feet) of "earth" back and forth a few times should mix it really well. The spell only says 'along the ground'. So they would have to shovel it into the wagon. Excavating a few blocks of bad soil away from the forest edge should help the process along as well.

Passive Perception to be aware of surroundings 16

"This reminds me of a...Shush Rumble I know your wagon stinks now, we'll fix it...a uh story about a man who had trouble in the outhouse. He sat for a long time and hemmed and hawed, grunting and groaning. Finally, pow! it came out. Needless to say, it made a mess. He passed a man on the way out and they saw the resulting mess. When accused of ruining the outhouse, he said, "Tough Shit."

Sacha finds nothing in terms of charcoal around or just outside of camp; it does not appear that this forest has ever had to worry about widespread fires. Fortunately, the campfire is a source of charcoal; the fire pit has been used and reused and when camps are broken down, they often would bury whatever firewood was left over as it still burned, creating the low oxygen conditions that would result in charcoal. The drow who is cooking up some amazingly ignored cuisine on her grill points this out and offers what is left of the coal lumps she had previously harvested from the pit after smothering her grill.

Ayo watches Ylis and Sacha work their dark and rich soil around in their wagon with amusement. “Glad it’s not our wagon, and no, we won’t be trading you later no matter how much you complain.”

Galsariad sees the ‘honest work’ and retches off to the side. Dermot tries to comfort the dark elf as best he can without mentioning food. Not easy for him, as that is his go-to to comfort others.

Maggie watches Sacha with newfound respect. Irvan is still nowhere to be found, and Entropy is busy stabbing her mastodon steak and eating with a ravenous passion. She grabbed the rice bowl but insisted on having a hunk of meat, plating be damned.

Rumble seems uncertain with the decisions of the upright folk, but they often do things he thinks are silly. He pulls the wagon along to perform his duty, even offering some contributions of his own to the soil project. But he enjoys the story that Ylis tells, even if he is not sure he understands the punchline. He whinnies his approval anyway.

The dryads are most heartened by the effort. They examine the rich earth, magically sped along and nod approvingly. “I can sense that the magical energy that wounds the earth has faded some. Perhaps because you diluted it, or maybe something specific about the process having healing properties to the earth?” One questions. The other simply weeps. “Thank you for sharing this knowledge,” the first adds.

DM: Now that you played in the mud, so to speak, is there anything else the party would like to do before bedding down and continuing the journey the next day?