The group is able to get going in the rain. At some points the cover of the leaves provides a bit of respite from the downpour but overall it seems Fenric is probably having the best time of you all. Not too long after starting out you come across a group of 14 travelers coming from further down along the way. Despite the rain some of the whittle as they walk, carving art into wood. They're mostly lizardfolk, along with a goliath, gnome, and dragonborn. They keep mostly to the side of the road, making use of the foliage for cover.
[[ Will give you guys a chance to do anything you might want. ]]
Lyra plays a verse from a soulful ballad in greeting to the travelers, dark harmonica to her lips and hands gesturing her tonal Minor Illusion amidst the rain.
"Down pours the torrent as an ocean And in the winds it swirls and calls Each drop a wonder of devotion The touch of sky 'neath trees so tall Embrace the storm like an emotion Upon us all a little rain must fall"
Lyra is on the verge of asking the strangers if they have seen a bandit camp, but considers that they may be allies of the bandits. Or even the bandits themselves! Though they are whittling, not riding the large reptiles she thinks she remembers YugJug mentioning. And wouldn't the half-elven merchant have recognized them if they were the bandits? In any case, without outright lying, she is more circumspect with the information she offers in greeting:
"Well met, fellow forest wanderers. I am Lyra Ravenscale. My companions and I wish you safe passage through these wet woodlands and a warm, dry campsite wherever you may journey. Have a care, we glimpsed an owlbear this dawn, off behind us where you seem to be heading. In return, we ask that you tell us true, what news up ahead? Any perils or people of note that you may have passed on your way?"
Despite her sodden clothing and hair, she favors them all with her most fetching smile.
Lyra'sPersuasion: 21 (Nat. 1, but due to Eloquence Bards' Silver Tongue, any roll for Persuasion below a 10 on the die becomes a 10, plus her +11 bonus, so minimum 21.)
It was quite a curious sight, at least to Fenric. Such a large group to be traveling on foot, especially given the weather conditions. He couldn't help but wonder what their purpose was. At the moment, his best theory was that they were some kind of religious group, or even a cult, and the whittlers were carving idols from the wood.
During breakfast, Zephyr eats entirely too fast, talking the entire time. At the same time, he seems to have a few different projects going at once, tinkering with various arcane devices and a separate set of alchemical concoctions. (You hope that he manages to keep his tinctures and his breakfast separate!) Zephyr is optimistic after how well the three of them handled the owlbears, but he still asks for advice and conjectures about what they'll face when they find the bandit camp. "When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail! But I'd hate to have nothing but a hammer when it turns out that I need a rope-and-pulley!"
[[ From earlier in the day... ]]
Fenric When they sat down for breakfast, Zephyr showed Fenric a metal pin, very small, with a sharp point and a sort of bulb on the end. He explains that since Fenric was the only one actually harmed by the owlbear, Zephyr infused the needle with a Shield spell for him! "Well, not the needle exactly," he clarifies, "that's just the 'delivery mechanism' if you take my meaning." His meaning is that the spell is bound up in the inks and cedarwood oil in the bulb at the end of the needle. To "attune" to the item, Zephyr apparently wants to tattoo Fenric by jabbing him with the needle repeatedly for an hour or so during breakfast. It's a small tattoo, and the location doesn't actually matter. "But for Shield, I'd normally tattoo your off-hand or wrist." He makes a gesture like reflexively raising his left hand to deflect a blow to demonstrate why.
Lyra After breakfast, Zephyr asked for Lyra's help in finishing off a fipple flute (a wooden version of a penny whistle or a sort of recorder) that he was working on. He just wanted a true musician's help to ensure that it was properly tuned. When they finished, he offered the instrument to Lyra, saying, "Like I said, I'm no musician, but this may help if we have to fight the bandits. It's made of aspen wood, whose flowers are said to represent fear and an excess of sensibility, and I infused it with nectar from the red columbine, which is associated with trembling and anxiety. You can use it to strike fear into our enemies hearts."
[[ FYI - I put both infused items in the Party Inventory on our character sheets. Zephyr's sheet ties his infusions to items in his inventory, but I think that you can equip and attune to the items on the Party Inventory section under your sheet's Inventory tab.]]
Trudging along the wet road behind Lyra, Zephyr doesn't have the best view and doesn't initially notice the travelers. It's no fun hiking in the pouring rain, so he's mostly looking at his wet shoes.
Once he hears Lyra's poem, Zephyr flies up (10-ft altitude) to get a better look at the line of travelers. He's very interested in what they're whittling. Thinking that he could show them some of his own work, he lands again next to Fenric and waits for them to approach. He remarks, "They must be superstitious. 14 -- avoiding an unlucky number of travelers," but he says it more to himself, so it's probably not audible to anyone other than Fenric and maybe Lyra.
Zephyr waits to see how they respond to Lyra, but out of an abundance of caution, he does equip his shield and fit his All-Purpose Tool into his arcane rod.
As Lyra speaks the travelers look up from their conversations and whittling. They walk slightly further down, finding the cover of a pine tree to stand under while taking some time to talk. One of the travelers, the dragonborn, responds, "Well met, Lyra Ravenscale. I am Shirdias Otinaar. And while some of my companions are bit shy around strangers, may good fortune bless your travels too." Through the clouds and rain some light still refracts off his greenish scales. "An owlbear ahead? Thank you for the warning. We ourselves saw some folks digging some holes neaby the road. Gave us some pause and we decided to take to the woods instead of meeting up with them."
As the dragonborn speaks with Lyra a young lizardboy walks over to Fenric, after a slight protest from his mother, to ask him about what it's like to be an elf and the gnome, noticing Zephy'rs mechanical inclinations, begins talking with the fairy about various aspects of engineering and showing off a small device he made for more easily sanding pieces of wood.
Before parting Shiridias asks, "Perchance would any of you be purveyors of the carved arts?" he opens his cloak to reveal some carved pieces of wood. A deer, a boar, a dragon. "Say 1gp for a beauty to the eyes?" Other travelers also showcase some of their own designs.
As you continue your walking the rain starts to let up around the 4th hour of the journey. (So 2 hours Normal at 3mph and 2 hours slow at 2mph means ~2 miles from ambush location.) The woods so far have had nothing too special, just the expected forest fauna.
(Earlier in the day): Lyra accepts the infused fipple flute (Pipes of Haunting) from Zephyr, lightly touching the stops with her fingers and getting a feel for the way it plays. She shakes her head with a smile at the fairy's explanation of the crafting, having fairly quickly stopped listening.
"I will gladly take your word for it, Zeph. Thank you. Charm them or scare them or slay them to a man, we shall find a way."
(Later with the woodcarvers along the forest path): Lyra taps a slender finger to her lips and glances at her companions, wondering thoughtfully...
Digging holes? Are these our liqueur-looters, then? Perhaps burying the booze? Or corpses? Or is this another group entirely?
"I thank you for the foreknowledge of what may lie ahead, Shiridias. It seems wise to avoid the hole-diggers. Were they also lizardfolk primarily?" She studies the green dragonborn. "I am curious. What do you and your colleagues seek in the Silverwood? The right wood to whittle?"
She produces three gold pieces to pay for Shiridias' carved dragon and any other pieces which catch her fancy from the others. (3gp subtracted on sheet).
"As far as I could see, all lizardfolk." Shirdias replies to Lyra's question about the hole-diggers. He smiles at her second question. "As fine as the wood is here, we're in search of of even greater things. The woodcarvers of Minubkhu are renowned for their skill at the craft. It'll be quite a trek but we're hoping to find the tutelage of a true master and have our works gracing the halls of noble houses." He looks lovingly towards a lizardwoman, "My wife and I sold the house and all back home to get ready for this journey. Gonna miss the times we've shared here but the adventure should be grand."
As far as Lyra can tell, she senses no deception on his part.
When they sat down for breakfast, Zephyr showed Fenric a metal pin, very small, with a sharp point and a sort of bulb on the end. He explains that since Fenric was the only one actually harmed by the owlbear, Zephyr infused the needle with a Shield spell for him! "Well, not the needle exactly," he clarifies, "that's just the 'delivery mechanism' if you take my meaning." His meaning is that the spell is bound up in the inks and cedarwood oil in the bulb at the end of the needle. To "attune" to the item, Zephyr apparently wants to tattoo Fenric by jabbing him with the needle repeatedly for an hour or so during breakfast. It's a small tattoo, and the location doesn't actually matter. "But for Shield, I'd normally tattoo your off-hand or wrist." He makes a gesture like reflexively raising his left hand to deflect a blow to demonstrate why.
Fenric listens as Zephyr explains the process, and he opts to take the tattoo on the palm his off-hand. Fenric knew of some druids who had used tattoos to imbue themselves with spells, but he had never done it himself. The needle stung at first, as he expected it would, but it wasn't as painful as what he had imagined. He got used to the sensation after a few minutes, but the feeling of the needle's bite never fully went away. After the process was complete, Fenric examined the fairy's work and gave him a smile, satisfied with the results. "Thank you. I'll be sure to use it wisely."
Fenric does his best to entertain the child's questions, and he manages to put his ear wiggle to use once again during the conversation. Seeing Lyrapay for the trinkets, Fenric chooses to take the deer, as he felt the woodland creature represented him best. He wishes the woodcarvers well on their quest, and briefly ponders why his Elven nature is considered so much more of a spectacle than the goggle-wearing fairy beside him.
Once they come close to the site, Fenric volunteers to scout ahead for any remaining bandits at the site, but he is open to other ideas as well.
and the gnome, noticing Zephy'rs mechanical inclinations, begins talking with the fairy about various aspects of engineering and showing off a small device he made for more easily sanding pieces of wood.
Zephyr is thankful to get out of the rain under the pine trees for a moment, and he's especially happy to speak with another engineer. He is impressed by the wood sander and politely asks the gnome questions about the device.
Zephyr doesn't tell the gnome this, but he feels that gnomes are often too focused on mechanical devices made of metal that seem to him to have about twice as meany gears and moving parts than they really need. He prefers to work with wood and natural extracts to create simple and elegant devices infused with fey magic, like the flute that he made for Lyra or his own magic rod. Zephyr studied with sages among the fairies and elves in Laephny, and he learned many ancient magical symbols of power whose proper use is a closely-guarded secret. (That's why the Gildaran's captured Zephyr and forced him into service. They even hoped that he'd teach non-fairies this craft!) Zephyr carves his wooden devices, using intricate designs to hide the true symbols of power, and he uses his alchemical preparations and the natural affinities of various flowers and trees to amplify and focus magical power or to channel that energy through the symbols of power.
Before parting Shiridias asks, "Perchance would any of you be purveyors of the carved arts?" he opens his cloak to reveal some carved pieces of wood. A deer, a boar, a dragon. "Say 1gp for a beauty to the eyes?" Other travelers also showcase some of their own designs.
Zephyr looks with interest, but he declines to buy anything. He's currently a little low on funds. Since he escaped from the Gildaran army, Zephyr no longer had the benefit of a quartermaster and the army's supply lines. When Tallisma recruited him for this mission, he spent most of his gold on tools, spell components, and other supplies.
Once they come close to the site, Fenric volunteers to scout ahead for any remaining bandits at the site, but he is open to other ideas as well.
Zephyr hovers up to be on level with Fenric and Lyra and asks, "What's the plan?" He asks in a breezy, care-free tone that makes it seem like he hasn't given it any thought himself. "Are you you want to scout ahead and just see how many we're dealing with? Once you find them, do we want to sneak up behind the bandits in the woods and attack with flame and fury?" (Here, he points with his rod and makes a sound effect effect with his mouth, like a whooshing sound of flames.) "Or...didn't you want to talk to them Lyra? I guess we could leave the ones who are trying to set up another ambush on the road and head straight for their meadow-camp that the faerie dragons mentioned. I'd think that a bunch of giant lizards would leave a clear trail now that the ground is wet, so I bet Fenric could find it."
Zephyr still wonders what the lizardfolk artisans meant when they talked about people digging holes 'by the road.' Did they mean 'in the road'? That would make more sense to Zephyr, a sort of hazard to disable wagons or injure a horse. That way, the bandits could attack their victims when they couldn't easily flee. But if it's really 'by the road' and not 'in the road,' he's less sure. Maybe it was just a sort of ditch for staying unseen but close to the road?
Lyra thanks Shiridias and the other woodcarvers, places the carving of the dragon in her pack, and promises to call on them in Minubkhu (has she ever heard of Minubkhu?) should she ever venture there. Departing, she sings a soft verse of farewell, this time with her voice only.
"The Silverwood gleams dark and deep, Yet we have promises to keep, And leagues to cross before we sleep, And leagues to cross before we sleep."
Once she and her companions are on their way once more and the discussion turns to the plan, Lyra chimes in:
"I cannot divine the purpose of the roadside holes, assuming it is the bandits we seek that are doing the digging. Perhaps underground caches to hide barrels of liqueur, or worse, corpses? Or perhaps traps for the unwary to plummet into." She sighs, shaking her head, then continues.
"I admit, at first I wished to speak with the bandits to explore the chance to recover the Kelpvine without bloodshed. I can be... quite persuasive. Yet now I am less sanguine about such an endeavor given the bloodthirsty image YugJug painted of them. If Fenric can scout and we approach unseen, perhaps even abduct or slay one of them covertly, I may disguise myself magically as them and infiltrate. Then... perhaps weave an arcane musical charm to suggest that their leader... bring forth the liqueur? Mistrust his fellows and start a civil war? Create an opening for us somehow?"
Lyra keeps watch on the road (or off-road path) as the party proceeds (Passive Perception: 17). If and when Fenricdoes forge ahead to scout, she brushes close and whispers in his ear a couplet of quiet encouragement. (Bardic Inspiration - 1d6 to add after a d20 roll in next 10 minutes).
"Leaves and whispers and shadows dread, May none grow wise to whence you tread."
(If the party thinks it wise, after a discussion with Zephyr who also could do this, Lyra also is happy to cast and concentrate on Enhance Ability, Cat's Grace on Fenric for advantage on all his DEX checks for up to an hour and no damage from falls up to 20' while he scouts.)
(If the party thinks it wise, after a discussion with Zephyr who also could do this, Lyra also is happy to cast and concentrate on Enhance Ability, Cat's Grace on Fenric
Since the situation is so uncertain, Zephyr thinks that it might be best to conserve our magical power (i.e., spell slots) until we know which way this situation is going to go. For example, if it's a large group, we may need Zephyr to disable half of them like he did with the Owlbears. Or if it turns into an all-out fight, then he may need all of his spell slots for offense or healing. Or maybe Lyra really will have a chance to convince the bandits to give up the kelpvine liqueur. (But if YugJug is to be believed, Zephyr doubts that the bandits will be open to negotiation.)
"If Fenric wants to ensure that he isn't spotted, he could use his own magic, or I could spray him with a vanishing vapor so that he won't be seen even if they hear him."
[[ OOC:
Since Fenric's spell list is shorter and more focused, it may also make sense for him to use Pass Without Trace, though that's most powerful when the whole party is sneaking around as a group.
Zephyr can cast Invisibility without expending a spell slot, so he'd prefer to go use that spell vs. Enhance Ability just to maintain more flexibility for later.
If we anticipate a lot of skill checks today, Zephyr can get Guidance via his All-Purpose Tool (quoted below). Of course, that's only good for checks made in the next 1 minute, so it's less useful here.
As an action, you can focus on the tool to channel your creative forces. Choose a cantrip that you don't know from any class list. For 8 hours, you can cast that cantrip, and it counts as an artificer cantrip for you.
She produces three gold pieces to pay for Shiridias' carved dragon and any other pieces which catch her fancy from the others. (3gp subtracted on sheet).
[[ If Lyrawas buying those for the group, then I guess Zephyr gets the boar, unless one of the pilgrims had a rough cut of a bear that we could get instead. (Zephyr would want that one so that he can modify it later to make it an owlbear figurine!) ]]
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[[ bit tired, but want to get at least a bare bones readied ]]
Random Encounter roll: 3
2 hours normal pace
3 hours slow pace
Hour: 1
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny |
Eggo Lass, Bone and Oblivion | Tendilius Mondhaven Paxaramus, Drakkenheim
Karl Erikson, No Guts No Glory |
Silverwood Group 1 | Silverwood Group 2 | Hacking the Hackett
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 51, 10/23/25, Viva La Vida
The group is able to get going in the rain. At some points the cover of the leaves provides a bit of respite from the downpour but overall it seems Fenric is probably having the best time of you all. Not too long after starting out you come across a group of 14 travelers coming from further down along the way. Despite the rain some of the whittle as they walk, carving art into wood. They're mostly lizardfolk, along with a goliath, gnome, and dragonborn. They keep mostly to the side of the road, making use of the foliage for cover.
[[ Will give you guys a chance to do anything you might want. ]]
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny |
Eggo Lass, Bone and Oblivion | Tendilius Mondhaven Paxaramus, Drakkenheim
Karl Erikson, No Guts No Glory |
Silverwood Group 1 | Silverwood Group 2 | Hacking the Hackett
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 51, 10/23/25, Viva La Vida
Lyra plays a verse from a soulful ballad in greeting to the travelers, dark harmonica to her lips and hands gesturing her tonal Minor Illusion amidst the rain.
"Down pours the torrent as an ocean
And in the winds it swirls and calls
Each drop a wonder of devotion
The touch of sky 'neath trees so tall
Embrace the storm like an emotion
Upon us all a little rain must fall"
Lyra is on the verge of asking the strangers if they have seen a bandit camp, but considers that they may be allies of the bandits. Or even the bandits themselves! Though they are whittling, not riding the large reptiles she thinks she remembers YugJug mentioning. And wouldn't the half-elven merchant have recognized them if they were the bandits? In any case, without outright lying, she is more circumspect with the information she offers in greeting:
"Well met, fellow forest wanderers. I am Lyra Ravenscale. My companions and I wish you safe passage through these wet woodlands and a warm, dry campsite wherever you may journey. Have a care, we glimpsed an owlbear this dawn, off behind us where you seem to be heading. In return, we ask that you tell us true, what news up ahead? Any perils or people of note that you may have passed on your way?"
Despite her sodden clothing and hair, she favors them all with her most fetching smile.
Lyra's Persuasion: 21
(Nat. 1, but due to Eloquence Bards' Silver Tongue, any roll for Persuasion below a 10 on the die becomes a 10, plus her +11 bonus, so minimum 21.)
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(Druid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(Sorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(Monk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(Cleric3/Sorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
It was quite a curious sight, at least to Fenric. Such a large group to be traveling on foot, especially given the weather conditions. He couldn't help but wonder what their purpose was. At the moment, his best theory was that they were some kind of religious group, or even a cult, and the whittlers were carving idols from the wood.
[[ From earlier in the day... ]]
Fenric
When they sat down for breakfast, Zephyr showed Fenric a metal pin, very small, with a sharp point and a sort of bulb on the end. He explains that since Fenric was the only one actually harmed by the owlbear, Zephyr infused the needle with a Shield spell for him! "Well, not the needle exactly," he clarifies, "that's just the 'delivery mechanism' if you take my meaning." His meaning is that the spell is bound up in the inks and cedarwood oil in the bulb at the end of the needle. To "attune" to the item, Zephyr apparently wants to tattoo Fenric by jabbing him with the needle repeatedly for an hour or so during breakfast. It's a small tattoo, and the location doesn't actually matter. "But for Shield, I'd normally tattoo your off-hand or wrist." He makes a gesture like reflexively raising his left hand to deflect a blow to demonstrate why.
Lyra
After breakfast, Zephyr asked for Lyra's help in finishing off a fipple flute (a wooden version of a penny whistle or a sort of recorder) that he was working on. He just wanted a true musician's help to ensure that it was properly tuned. When they finished, he offered the instrument to Lyra, saying, "Like I said, I'm no musician, but this may help if we have to fight the bandits. It's made of aspen wood, whose flowers are said to represent fear and an excess of sensibility, and I infused it with nectar from the red columbine, which is associated with trembling and anxiety. You can use it to strike fear into our enemies hearts."
[[ FYI - I put both infused items in the Party Inventory on our character sheets. Zephyr's sheet ties his infusions to items in his inventory, but I think that you can equip and attune to the items on the Party Inventory section under your sheet's Inventory tab.]]
Trudging along the wet road behind Lyra, Zephyr doesn't have the best view and doesn't initially notice the travelers. It's no fun hiking in the pouring rain, so he's mostly looking at his wet shoes.
Once he hears Lyra's poem, Zephyr flies up (10-ft altitude) to get a better look at the line of travelers. He's very interested in what they're whittling. Thinking that he could show them some of his own work, he lands again next to Fenric and waits for them to approach. He remarks, "They must be superstitious. 14 -- avoiding an unlucky number of travelers," but he says it more to himself, so it's probably not audible to anyone other than Fenric and maybe Lyra.
Zephyr waits to see how they respond to Lyra, but out of an abundance of caution, he does equip his shield and fit his All-Purpose Tool into his arcane rod.
As Lyra speaks the travelers look up from their conversations and whittling. They walk slightly further down, finding the cover of a pine tree to stand under while taking some time to talk. One of the travelers, the dragonborn, responds, "Well met, Lyra Ravenscale. I am Shirdias Otinaar. And while some of my companions are bit shy around strangers, may good fortune bless your travels too." Through the clouds and rain some light still refracts off his greenish scales. "An owlbear ahead? Thank you for the warning. We ourselves saw some folks digging some holes neaby the road. Gave us some pause and we decided to take to the woods instead of meeting up with them."
As the dragonborn speaks with Lyra a young lizardboy walks over to Fenric, after a slight protest from his mother, to ask him about what it's like to be an elf and the gnome, noticing Zephy'rs mechanical inclinations, begins talking with the fairy about various aspects of engineering and showing off a small device he made for more easily sanding pieces of wood.
Before parting Shiridias asks, "Perchance would any of you be purveyors of the carved arts?" he opens his cloak to reveal some carved pieces of wood. A deer, a boar, a dragon. "Say 1gp for a beauty to the eyes?" Other travelers also showcase some of their own designs.
As you continue your walking the rain starts to let up around the 4th hour of the journey. (So 2 hours Normal at 3mph and 2 hours slow at 2mph means ~2 miles from ambush location.) The woods so far have had nothing too special, just the expected forest fauna.
What's the plan?
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny |
Eggo Lass, Bone and Oblivion | Tendilius Mondhaven Paxaramus, Drakkenheim
Karl Erikson, No Guts No Glory |
Silverwood Group 1 | Silverwood Group 2 | Hacking the Hackett
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 51, 10/23/25, Viva La Vida
(Earlier in the day): Lyra accepts the infused fipple flute (Pipes of Haunting) from Zephyr, lightly touching the stops with her fingers and getting a feel for the way it plays. She shakes her head with a smile at the fairy's explanation of the crafting, having fairly quickly stopped listening.
"I will gladly take your word for it, Zeph. Thank you. Charm them or scare them or slay them to a man, we shall find a way."
(Later with the woodcarvers along the forest path): Lyra taps a slender finger to her lips and glances at her companions, wondering thoughtfully...
Digging holes? Are these our liqueur-looters, then? Perhaps burying the booze? Or corpses? Or is this another group entirely?
"I thank you for the foreknowledge of what may lie ahead, Shiridias. It seems wise to avoid the hole-diggers. Were they also lizardfolk primarily?" She studies the green dragonborn. "I am curious. What do you and your colleagues seek in the Silverwood? The right wood to whittle?"
Lyra's Insight: 17
She produces three gold pieces to pay for Shiridias' carved dragon and any other pieces which catch her fancy from the others. (3gp subtracted on sheet).
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(Druid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(Sorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(Monk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(Cleric3/Sorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
"As far as I could see, all lizardfolk." Shirdias replies to Lyra's question about the hole-diggers. He smiles at her second question. "As fine as the wood is here, we're in search of of even greater things. The woodcarvers of Minubkhu are renowned for their skill at the craft. It'll be quite a trek but we're hoping to find the tutelage of a true master and have our works gracing the halls of noble houses." He looks lovingly towards a lizardwoman, "My wife and I sold the house and all back home to get ready for this journey. Gonna miss the times we've shared here but the adventure should be grand."
As far as Lyra can tell, she senses no deception on his part.
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny |
Eggo Lass, Bone and Oblivion | Tendilius Mondhaven Paxaramus, Drakkenheim
Karl Erikson, No Guts No Glory |
Silverwood Group 1 | Silverwood Group 2 | Hacking the Hackett
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 51, 10/23/25, Viva La Vida
Fenric listens as Zephyr explains the process, and he opts to take the tattoo on the palm his off-hand. Fenric knew of some druids who had used tattoos to imbue themselves with spells, but he had never done it himself. The needle stung at first, as he expected it would, but it wasn't as painful as what he had imagined. He got used to the sensation after a few minutes, but the feeling of the needle's bite never fully went away. After the process was complete, Fenric examined the fairy's work and gave him a smile, satisfied with the results. "Thank you. I'll be sure to use it wisely."
Fenric does his best to entertain the child's questions, and he manages to put his ear wiggle to use once again during the conversation. Seeing Lyra pay for the trinkets, Fenric chooses to take the deer, as he felt the woodland creature represented him best. He wishes the woodcarvers well on their quest, and briefly ponders why his Elven nature is considered so much more of a spectacle than the goggle-wearing fairy beside him.
Once they come close to the site, Fenric volunteers to scout ahead for any remaining bandits at the site, but he is open to other ideas as well.
Zephyr is thankful to get out of the rain under the pine trees for a moment, and he's especially happy to speak with another engineer. He is impressed by the wood sander and politely asks the gnome questions about the device.
Zephyr doesn't tell the gnome this, but he feels that gnomes are often too focused on mechanical devices made of metal that seem to him to have about twice as meany gears and moving parts than they really need. He prefers to work with wood and natural extracts to create simple and elegant devices infused with fey magic, like the flute that he made for Lyra or his own magic rod. Zephyr studied with sages among the fairies and elves in Laephny, and he learned many ancient magical symbols of power whose proper use is a closely-guarded secret. (That's why the Gildaran's captured Zephyr and forced him into service. They even hoped that he'd teach non-fairies this craft!) Zephyr carves his wooden devices, using intricate designs to hide the true symbols of power, and he uses his alchemical preparations and the natural affinities of various flowers and trees to amplify and focus magical power or to channel that energy through the symbols of power.
Zephyr looks with interest, but he declines to buy anything. He's currently a little low on funds. Since he escaped from the Gildaran army, Zephyr no longer had the benefit of a quartermaster and the army's supply lines. When Tallisma recruited him for this mission, he spent most of his gold on tools, spell components, and other supplies.
Zephyr hovers up to be on level with Fenric and Lyra and asks, "What's the plan?" He asks in a breezy, care-free tone that makes it seem like he hasn't given it any thought himself. "Are you you want to scout ahead and just see how many we're dealing with? Once you find them, do we want to sneak up behind the bandits in the woods and attack with flame and fury?" (Here, he points with his rod and makes a sound effect effect with his mouth, like a whooshing sound of flames.) "Or...didn't you want to talk to them Lyra? I guess we could leave the ones who are trying to set up another ambush on the road and head straight for their meadow-camp that the faerie dragons mentioned. I'd think that a bunch of giant lizards would leave a clear trail now that the ground is wet, so I bet Fenric could find it."
Zephyr still wonders what the lizardfolk artisans meant when they talked about people digging holes 'by the road.' Did they mean 'in the road'? That would make more sense to Zephyr, a sort of hazard to disable wagons or injure a horse. That way, the bandits could attack their victims when they couldn't easily flee. But if it's really 'by the road' and not 'in the road,' he's less sure. Maybe it was just a sort of ditch for staying unseen but close to the road?
Lyra thanks Shiridias and the other woodcarvers, places the carving of the dragon in her pack, and promises to call on them in Minubkhu (has she ever heard of Minubkhu?) should she ever venture there. Departing, she sings a soft verse of farewell, this time with her voice only.
"The Silverwood gleams dark and deep,
Yet we have promises to keep,
And leagues to cross before we sleep,
And leagues to cross before we sleep."
Once she and her companions are on their way once more and the discussion turns to the plan, Lyra chimes in:
"I cannot divine the purpose of the roadside holes, assuming it is the bandits we seek that are doing the digging. Perhaps underground caches to hide barrels of liqueur, or worse, corpses? Or perhaps traps for the unwary to plummet into." She sighs, shaking her head, then continues.
"I admit, at first I wished to speak with the bandits to explore the chance to recover the Kelpvine without bloodshed. I can be... quite persuasive. Yet now I am less sanguine about such an endeavor given the bloodthirsty image YugJug painted of them. If Fenric can scout and we approach unseen, perhaps even abduct or slay one of them covertly, I may disguise myself magically as them and infiltrate. Then... perhaps weave an arcane musical charm to suggest that their leader... bring forth the liqueur? Mistrust his fellows and start a civil war? Create an opening for us somehow?"
Lyra keeps watch on the road (or off-road path) as the party proceeds (Passive Perception: 17). If and when Fenric does forge ahead to scout, she brushes close and whispers in his ear a couplet of quiet encouragement. (Bardic Inspiration - 1d6 to add after a d20 roll in next 10 minutes).
"Leaves and whispers and shadows dread,
May none grow wise to whence you tread."
(If the party thinks it wise, after a discussion with Zephyr who also could do this, Lyra also is happy to cast and concentrate on Enhance Ability, Cat's Grace on Fenric for advantage on all his DEX checks for up to an hour and no damage from falls up to 20' while he scouts.)
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(Druid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(Sorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(Monk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(Cleric3/Sorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
The travelers exchange farewells as they head off, with some humming Lyra's ditty as they leave.
[[ For Fenric, if you want to roll stealth/survival/perception, the usual jazz. And planning on sticking with the road or going off-road? ;p ]]
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny |
Eggo Lass, Bone and Oblivion | Tendilius Mondhaven Paxaramus, Drakkenheim
Karl Erikson, No Guts No Glory |
Silverwood Group 1 | Silverwood Group 2 | Hacking the Hackett
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 51, 10/23/25, Viva La Vida
Since the situation is so uncertain, Zephyr thinks that it might be best to conserve our magical power (i.e., spell slots) until we know which way this situation is going to go. For example, if it's a large group, we may need Zephyr to disable half of them like he did with the Owlbears. Or if it turns into an all-out fight, then he may need all of his spell slots for offense or healing. Or maybe Lyra really will have a chance to convince the bandits to give up the kelpvine liqueur. (But if YugJug is to be believed, Zephyr doubts that the bandits will be open to negotiation.)
"If Fenric wants to ensure that he isn't spotted, he could use his own magic, or I could spray him with a vanishing vapor so that he won't be seen even if they hear him."
[[ OOC:
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[[ If Lyra was buying those for the group, then I guess Zephyr gets the boar, unless one of the pilgrims had a rough cut of a bear that we could get instead. (Zephyr would want that one so that he can modify it later to make it an owlbear figurine!) ]]