Mazin is completly distracted checking on Wazzock. As Kestrell goes to move her, he will pick up Wazzock.

"I will carry her across. It is a small jump." With that, he will jump across.

athletics 11 for the landing. 

He will look back to the group. "Come, we don't have time to waste."

Carefully placing the goodberry into Wazzock's mouth and helping the unconscious halforc to chew and swallow it, Alwin is dismayed to see no noticable change in his companion's condition.

As Kestrell stirs the waters on the opposite side of the island, successfully drawing the attention of the swarm of voracious eels, Altani begins making preperations to transport the comatose priestess across the lagoon's waters, only to see Mazin reach down suddenly to gather the smaller form in his massive arms and in a single mighty leap clear the jump to the other side, before looking back to encourage the rest of the party onwards. 

A light mist clings to the marshland floor in the cool but clear morning light, even as the sun makes a seemingly reluctant appearance above the surrounding shrubs and trees.

Kestrell follows Mazin to the other shore. 

"Let's go."

Altani takes a few steps backwards and charges towards the river, taking a massive leap.

Athletics 19

Landing on the shore, she looks back over at the island and then turns to Mazin.

"Is she still breathing Mazin?" Altani says, worry in her voice.

"We must hurry, we have not time to waste. Lets head back and show the Frogmaiden that we have killed the foul creature that haunted the woods."

"Go, go go!"

Kestrell casts Prestidigitation and creates a shower of sparks at their feet.

Alwin just nods standing up as he begins to charge towards the shore that the rest of his companions are jumping to, he just takes a deep breath and tries to make the jump.

OOC:

athletics check to make the jump: 13

Once everyone has made it across, Altani circles impatiently. 

"Let's go, no time to waste. Make sure we have proof of the kill and let's head to Cypress."

When the group is ready Altani leads them back into the swamp towards Cypress.

Mazin, Altani and Alwin all make prodigious leaps to land safely on the far shore, Altani and Mazin pausing to ensure that Wazzock's condition was not worsened by the activity. The three turn back to see Kestrell and Cinder swimming across, for the most part seemingly unhindered by the swarming eels, which the sorcerer had cleverly drawn off with a magical distraction. However, as the charming half-elf stands dripping with a satisfied air about himself, a singular sharp sting pierces his rump, and with a suprised hop, Kestrell turns to see the fast hands of Cinder yank something from the seat of his robes - a singular writhing black eel, it's red-lined, white-fanged maw snapping almost mindlessly before the disgusted martial artist tosses it back into the water behind.

Heading South back towards the Frogmaiden's lagoon-side grove, you notice the unpredictable and oft-times dangerous fauna and flora of this area allowing easy passage, as if by magic or some other command. Indeed, the cloying mist and stagnant air of the ancient island camp and the harpy's lair seems to be fading even as you head South, though the wildness of this region remains undiminished. 

Eventually reaching the lush vine and flower adorned grove on the side of the lagoon, Cypress is nowhere to be seen. Multi-coloured insects flitter about as a range of amphibious life frolicks in the lagoon's waters.

"Ow!  Thank you Cinder!"

When they reach the grove and can't find Cypress, Kestrell turns to Altani: "Maybe you should call for her? "

As they arrive the Centaur breaths in deep, taking in the forested surroundings and feeling at home. At Kestrell's words, Altani nodes and calls out across the lagoon.

"Fair maiden Cypress, maiden of this land. We have returned from your errand and vanquished the beast foul of feather that has threatened you and yours. Please we wish for an audience and if you will lend us your aide further, help with our companion who was gravely injured during the fight."

OCC: Persuasion roll just in case Persuasion 7

A pair of large luminous, bulbous eyes appear in the lagoon near the water's edge, but even as Leap's frog-like head emerges from the liquid, a soft, caressing breeze glides across the bank, bringing with it the smell of tall grass and summer rain. In the wind's wake, a scattering of leaves rise from around the base of the vine-laden trees, and from the risen veil of leaves, the beautiful form of the nature spirit steps, wearing what appears to be a gown made entirely of swamp flowers and lillie pads.

"Returned you have and bringing the foul stench of that creature with you, I sense. But news of its demise is welcome, as is your voice, plainstrider. Done well you all have in vanquishing its ugliness. And you, elfget. So handsome! Was it your fair hand that slew the putrid singer? Or perhaps the large, fearsome one? No... do not approach me, giantspawn. Your presence I find... unsettling. 

Regardless of who slew it, my gratitude and help you have earned. Questions you had, sent here by the scaled witch to ask... yes?

Injured your friend is not. Sleeping she is. Resting. Perhaps with me you should leave her... hmm? Fewer places you will find more restful than my glade. Should she choose to wake... here you would find her. Or elsewhere she may find you. Only as she herself and nature wills it, of course. Hehehehe."

The hunched, slimey green-skinned servant Leap waddles ashore to stand behind his incomparably beautiful mistress, his large eyes watchful and one hand clutching his crude spear, the other never straying far from the dagger and net hitched on his vine belt. 

Altani boldly steps forward with her hands outstretched so she does not appear threatening to Cypress or Leap.

"That we have fair Cypress. You said that you know the person or beast who is murdering the lizardfolk in the area and the place that we could find them at. We need to stop these murders and confront this monster as well so we may vanquish it like the breast that terrorized your lagoon".

The centuar looks over at the injured half-orc.

"It is comforting to know that she is still in need of rest rather than at the edge of death. Maybe this would be a good place to leave her as I know you care for all the creatures under your wing. But first I will have to talk further on this with my compatriots to make sure they agree".

Cypress momentarilly ignores Altani's words, stepping lightly forward towards Wazzock who is still held protectively in Mazin's massive arms. With a slight giggle, the dryad shakes her foliage like hair, sending a small spray of dust, or perhaps spores, out over the unconscious half-orc. The priestess's only reaction is to slump even more deeply into her slumber, though the large warrior holding her does detect what might be a levelling of her breathing. 

Turning back to Altani, the nature spirit offers, "As previously told, know of only one killing, I do. A lizardwoman, beset by many attackers, not far from my grove, though too far for me to have invervened... even should I have wished to. Her shouts of pain were distrubing, though no more so to me than the cries of the Balau bird taken by the Taraki serpent, or of the giant Delenewi frog slain by a moorcat on the hunt. Regardless, her deathsounds were short-lived. The little folk and their tamed beasts were brutal, but efficient in their slaying, though where they went afterwards I do not know, nor care to. 

Turning back to stare thoughtfully at the unconscious Wazzock, Cypress says, "Yes, sleep she does, and where better to sleep than here, amongst the frogs and dragonflies, the flowers and the lillies? When last you came, took her rest and ease here she did, finding peace I sensed. Perhaps more of the same will bring her back... or perhaps not. Either way, no harm will come to her here."

Mazin will look thoughtfully at the dryad. He tries to discern if she has any ulterior motives or if she's lying about Wazzock. insight 16

To the dryad, he will say "I do not mean to upset you. I might be, what did you call it, giantspawn, but I have met no other like me. We just wish to help our friend and put an end to these killings. What else can you tell us about those little folks and their beasts? What kind of beast were they? How big were the little folk? How many of them were there?"

Kestrell excitedly hops from one foot to the other, "Good questions, Mazin!"

"Have you not, Earthshaker? How interesting. Once upon a time, your ilk were common in these lands. Held keeps, forts and castles, they did. Before the serpents came, that was. 

The little folk? Count them I did not, though by noise and tread alone they numbered as many as the petals on some of my flower friends here about us. Half in size they may be, but equal in vigour and visciousness they are to even you, Titansghost. They and their beasts, hounds by nature and name, scouring the wilds of small game, and that day at least, taking the life of the scaled woman. 

That is all I know of the matter, I fear."

[OOC] Mazin or anyone with a passive insight of 15 or more may read the spoiler below:

"Little folk with dogs... could they be goblins with wolves? Orcs have attached the town recently."

Altani ponders on the clues. "But this does not really get an any closer to where we can find them. Did you happen to see which direction they left in Cypress?"

"Hehe, no, pleasant one. Goblin and orckin rarely come here. Superstitious such peoples are and fearful of the primal spirits that 'haunt' the land. Hehehe.

No, it is usually the so-called 'civilised' ones who intrude out here in the fens and bogs. Where they went, I do not know. But where do such peoples usually go, drawn to others of their kind and the paltry comforts of their squalid huts and hovels?

See the muddy bank where the attack happened yonder, you may, though the slaying took place some cycles ago, before the last moon even. Or rest here, as your sleeping friend should, if you wish before your journey onwards. 

Perhaps you would like to visit my treeview, handsome one. The sights are entrancing and perhaps you would show me something of the magic I sense in you? I would invite you also, plainsrunner, but I fear you were not born to visit such places."

The dryad says the last turning towards Kestrell, though she reaches out to kindly stroke the side of Altani's face as she does so. At some unspoken command, Leap waddles back towards the lagoon's waters and ambles in, disappearing beneath the languid surface. Cypress once again smiles coyly at Kestrell, before glancing up into the upper branches of the largest tree on the nearby shore. The wild and beautiful tree spirit then walks to its base and placing her back against it, turns back to you all a final time, saying,

"For slaying the foul creature whose cursed voice polluted the air here, you have my thanks. Welcome in this place, by the surrounding land and its beasts you shall henceforth be, though my influence does not stretch as far as it once did. Farewell, brave travellers. Farewell, Altani Openheart."

You all have but a moment to respond before you see the dryad sink backwards into the moss, vines and finally the bark of the tree itself, vanishing from view, though the scent of summer rain and tall grass and her faintly amused giggle seems to linger. A sense of calm falls across the glade, the shoreline and indeed the entire region of the lagoon. Unspoken as it is, you all have an indelible feeling that you are both welcome and safe here. The sensation somehow invigorates and emboldens your spirits.

[OOC] Congrats all. You are all now 2nd level. 

Kestrell blushes and stammers "Ah..than..thank you fair lady, but I should stay with my fellow travelers." before she vanishes.

OOC: Booya!

4

Edit: Booya again!