We have seen no leaders among the cultists. Not to say there are none. Only that they have kept themselves hidden. No dragonborn, no half dragons. I have fought a mage, of middling power I would say. He deflected the first arrow, but not the second. Shadar Kai? That is a strange question. No, none that I would know, though would I know if I fought one here?
The attacks seem to come more from the north, though when we search, we find nothing. Magic seems likely, in moving their forces.
We have tried, and failed. It is difficult to follow a flying creature through a forest. None have been lost this way, that I know of. But perhaps in Altand they have fresh news.
I have not, not to the weapons of the enemy. I have family who have fled, and family who have stayed, and strife between them. So I have lost something in that, though others have lost much worse. It's Gea who answers, but Lirime nods in agreement; it seems both have been spared the worst so far.
Soar listens and hopes Tangle gets the information she seeks. She will at some point try to describe the mushrooms and see if the elves have seen such fey fungi in their forest. She asks Gwen if anything is jogging her memory, and asks the elves if Gwen reminds them of anyone in town, trying to locate kin.
She introduces Candelabra to Gea and Lirime, offering his services in scouting and keeping watch, or simply being a draw for attention.
Around the campfire she tries to brainstorm with Tangle, Jalt, and Bazavur how they might handle this dragon, who will likely be using hit and run tactics on short notice, unable to be trapped in a lair, and the party does not have flight capability.
“If it is smart, it will flee when we show it that we bite,” Tangle says about the dragon. “If we are to kill it, we must lure it into a trap. If we cannot, we must convince it that it cannot win against us. Perhaps if we tell it that we are the ones who bested Arauthator, it will cause it to be rash, or fearful. Either might serve.”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
You walk through the forest, more and more mist obscuring your path; your guides do not falter, but you can see easily how this forest gained its name. More and more spruce trees dominate, and as the mist seems to fade a little in the afternoon it is replaced by heavy rain. As experienced travellers, you are not much slowed by this, especially with the trees sheltering you from the worst of it. Yet it's cold, and not the most pleasant travelling conditions - depending on your tastes, of course.
Late afternoon, and you see before a settlement, though you may have had trouble spotting it from afar. Altand is primarily a wood elf settlement, blending almost seamlessly into the forest around it. The village exists on two levels, with a few structures built on the ground around an ancient monument, a statue of an elf. Looking up, it seems like most residences are built above, in the upper boughs of the forest. Your see rope bridges here and there, and circular walkways around the trees above you. Gea calls out a greeting, and two elf guards come over to speak quietly with her; Lirime gestures for you to walk towards a platform that seems to be connected to ropes and pulleys, likely a way up to the higher level.
It's so pretty, Gwen says, seemingly to herself more than anyone else.
Tangle seems unaffected by the cold (as was said, experienced, but also Ring of Warmth, but also warmed by her inner angry fire!). She takes in the village with her usual keen eye, but moves to the platform without hesitation. She trusts this situation. Or her ability to get out of it.
"It is,"she agrees with Gwen, but she doesn't sound dreamy about it.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Soar is similarly unbothered by the cold thanks to her armor and she takes in the sounds and sights of the forest. She's curious if the mushroom descriptions prompt anything and she listens for any remembrances of Gwen.
Once arriving at Altand, she's charmed by it, and eagerly steps on the platform with Tangle and helps Gwen if she needs it. She's trying not to dote but she does help when she can.
You are brought up to the upper part of the village on the platform, without any problem. There, you are led to a to a residence that is part constructed, part shaped from the living wood of the tree, modest and welcoming. Gea shows you inside, but your escorts remain outside; the four of you and Gwen find yourselves in a cozy sitting room. A slim elf sits at a desk, standing to greet you with a forced smile as a raven perched in a nearby cage caws hideously.
Welcome to our village, the elf says. How can I be of service?
Tangle goes through introductions again, full Sylvan name, everybody else, but not Candelabra, who is surely not here. Then she waits for the elf to introduce themselves.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Candelabra is, I would think, outside. But he did come up the pulley-lift, unless Soar chose to leave him behind. The lift and the walkways are large enough.
The elf introduces himself: I am Galin, Warden of Altand. I am sorry, travellers, but there is little we can offer you in hospitality. You are welcome nonetheless. May I ask why you have come? He speaks in elvish first, but switches to common, sensing that some of the party do not understand.
Tangle continues to take the lead. "We have come of our own volition to drive off or defeat the green dragon assailing the misty Forest,"she says succinctly.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
That is good to hear, the man named Galin replies. Our people would be very glad to hear news that the dragon has been killed or driven off. But we do not have strength left to join you; we must see to our community, the wounded and homeless. Is there other aid we can offer?
Tangle shakes her head minutely. “We do not expect your warriors to help us. For ourselves we ask only to speak with any who encountered it, that we may be prepared. Atland may not be the place from which to begin.”
She glances at Gwen. “For the girl, we ask that someone see if they can help her with her memories, though again, this may not be the place.”
We had a fine healer, the Warden of our village, but she perished in the first attack of the dragon. It is my responsibility to do the best I can, and continue her work, but I am not skilled in her arts. Others have come since, to tend to our wounded, but they have done their work and left. I don't know if they can help with memories, though. You can ask. I'm afraid I didn't see much of the attack; I was at home in the beginning, and when I left it was to search for my wife. I saw humans for the most part, some other races too, wearing the garb of dragon cultists. The fighting was ferocious, and so many died.
But there are others who can tell you more than I; all of us are survivors, I suppose. Perhaps you can start with the guards outside, who took part in the fighting. Talk to anyone in the village who has time to speak to you. Some will be reluctant perhaps; our memories are too fresh. But it is good there are elves among you, and no humans - I think people will share what they know with you, and that is better than hearing it second-hand through me.
Soar says, in elvish, "I'm very sorry to hear that you lost so many. We would like to try to take care of this problem for you. I would welcome any help you can offer to introduce me to people here. People who are willing to talk, who might have seen something that could help us in our task."
Even if he does not want to, Soar happily goes around the settlement, gently and politely asking who might be able to tell them about the dragon, where it came from, where it went, what it or those with it said, any details.
The Warden nods, and shows you out. He doesn't offer to come with you and introduce you to people, though he reassures you that the villagers will be cooperative.
Outside the small home, you see a few people you might talk to: one is a group of four young adult elves, standing by a walkway some feet away. Another is the two guards who are standing outside the Warden's front door. A third is a pair of small elf children playing a game of what looks like darts, and a fourth is an elf man hanging freshly-washed laundry outside his house; the door looks badly damaged suggesting it took a direct blast of some kind of magic.
You can approach them as a group, or split up. Please let me know, and also how you approach them, and what questions specifically you ask.
Tangle will immediately introduce herself to the two guards. "We seek every advantage in fighting the dragon and the cult," she adds. "Were you involved in the defense? Will you speak to us?"
If they agree, she will talk to them about the attack(s), and will want to know a couple of specific things.
How did the cultists come? On the ground? From what direction?
Did they attack in surprise?
Did the dragon come at the same time? Before? After?
Why did the cultists leave? Were they thrown back by the defenders?
Why did the dragon leave, if they did not kill it?
What did the cultists come for? Treasure? Conquest? Wanton killing?
Did someone follow the fleeing cultists to track them? If so, who did that, can she talk to them? If not, why?
Mostly, she wants to know why the cultists/the dragon have not come back (did they achieve their goal?), and where the party can most likely find the dragon (vague ideas are better than no ideas, but Tangle is sure some enterprising scout must have trailed the cultists who fled on the ground).
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
(My post apparently didn't post, so I missed Tangle's post, so I am trying to pre-retcon the following...
Soar approaches the guards, first, and reintroduces herself. She joins Tangle in some polite, gentle questioning. She says, allowing time for questions to be answered, "The Warden said you may know best about the dragon. You may know we're here to help. We've defeated a white,"she indicates her and Jalt's armor, "and drove off another. This one is a green, and seems to favor hit and run, correct? How many times has it attacked Altand? From what direction did it fly? The Warden said it was accompanied by humans -- did they fly on its back or come on horseback or foot? What did they do? Did they take anything, or just seem to want to destroy and kill? Have you heard from others in other places in the forest who have faced attacks?"
She keeps an eye on the four young adult elves, for any of them who seem interested in them more than she'd expect. If anyone is, she'd approach them and ask them if they noticed anything notable or strange about the dragon attacks, with a similar preamble about the Warden giving her permission to talk to people.
If she has a chance to talk to the others, she'd walk over to the children with Gwen and seek to start a conversation with them and include Gwen. She'd dance around the topic of the dragon but would not hide her intent if they asked.
She'd also be interested in asking the man hanging laundry about anything he saw during the attack, with a similar preamble as the young adults.
Tangle, the guards nod politely and introduce themselves as Selia and Thyrus. They look very tired, and Selia is clearly still nursing a wound in her side that hasn't fully healed yet.
We were among the lucky ones. We fought, and lived to fight again. We will share what we know.
In answer to your questions: How did the cultists come? On the ground? From what direction? The cultists came from the north, and on the ground.
Did they attack in surprise? Yes, it was a surprise. The first sign of danger was the dragon, and only seconds later its breath filled the upper village.
Did the dragon come at the same time? Before? After? A little before, though it was clearly co-ordinated.
Why did the cultists leave? Were they thrown back by the defenders? We do not know. We were holding the line, and probably could have held them off successfully if the dragon had not been here.
Why did the dragon leave, if they did not kill it? This is the great mystery. In the other settlements the dragon and cultists have attacked, there have been few or no survivors. We do not know why the dragon left. Nothing we did, as far as we know, caused it to retreat.
What did the cultists come for? Treasure? Conquest? Wanton killing? Not treasure, and again, this was surprising. The other villages were destroyed and then looted. The cultists took nothing of value from Altand.
Did someone follow the fleeing cultists to track them? If so, who did that, can she talk to them? If not, why? I know of two scouts who followed. They did not return.
Mostly, she wants to know why the cultists/the dragon have not come back (did they achieve their goal?), and where the party can most likely find the dragon (vague ideas are better than no ideas, but Tangle is sure some enterprising scout must have trailed the cultists who fled on the ground).
The guard suggests tracking the dragon or cultists to the north, but has no idea about their goal or their reason for withdrawing.
To the guards: This one is a green, and seems to favor hit and run, correct? No, not in general, not from what we have heard from other villages. It favours utter destruction. Why Altand was spared, we do not know.
How many times has it attacked Altand? Only once so far. Many other villages have been attacked and destroyed.
From what direction did it fly? North.
The Warden said it was accompanied by humans -- did they fly on its back or come on horseback or foot? I did not see anyone mounted on the dragon's back.
What did they do? The dragon's breath slaughtered everyone in the upper village, or almost everyone. There are a few survivors who were in their houses.
Did they take anything, or just seem to want to destroy and kill? They took nothing of value that we know of; they seemed to want to kill, but it's a mystery why they did not complete their task, as they have elsewhere.
Have you heard from others in other places in the forest who have faced attacks? We have heard from those who found the ruins, yes.
She keeps an eye on the four young adult elves, for any of them who seem interested in them more than she'd expect. If anyone is, she'd approach them and ask them if they noticed anything notable or strange about the dragon attacks, with a similar preamble about the Warden giving her permission to talk to people. What the young elves tell you is mostly the same as you learned from the guards; they do engage in a heated discussion though, one that you feel they have had several times already. One of the group insists that they saw a human riding on the back of the dragon; the others did not and do not believe the speaker.
If she has a chance to talk to the others, she'd walk over to the children with Gwen and seek to start a conversation with them and include Gwen. She'd dance around the topic of the dragon but would not hide her intent if they asked. The children seem to welcome Gwen into their game, but do not speak of the dragon easily. If you want to try to coax something out of them, you can make the attempt.
She'd also be interested in asking the man hanging laundry about anything he saw during the attack, with a similar preamble as the young adults. The man does not tell you anything new.
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We have seen no leaders among the cultists. Not to say there are none. Only that they have kept themselves hidden. No dragonborn, no half dragons. I have fought a mage, of middling power I would say. He deflected the first arrow, but not the second. Shadar Kai? That is a strange question. No, none that I would know, though would I know if I fought one here?
The attacks seem to come more from the north, though when we search, we find nothing. Magic seems likely, in moving their forces.
We have tried, and failed. It is difficult to follow a flying creature through a forest. None have been lost this way, that I know of. But perhaps in Altand they have fresh news.
I have not, not to the weapons of the enemy. I have family who have fled, and family who have stayed, and strife between them. So I have lost something in that, though others have lost much worse. It's Gea who answers, but Lirime nods in agreement; it seems both have been spared the worst so far.
Soar listens and hopes Tangle gets the information she seeks. She will at some point try to describe the mushrooms and see if the elves have seen such fey fungi in their forest. She asks Gwen if anything is jogging her memory, and asks the elves if Gwen reminds them of anyone in town, trying to locate kin.
She introduces Candelabra to Gea and Lirime, offering his services in scouting and keeping watch, or simply being a draw for attention.
Around the campfire she tries to brainstorm with Tangle, Jalt, and Bazavur how they might handle this dragon, who will likely be using hit and run tactics on short notice, unable to be trapped in a lair, and the party does not have flight capability.
“If it is smart, it will flee when we show it that we bite,” Tangle says about the dragon. “If we are to kill it, we must lure it into a trap. If we cannot, we must convince it that it cannot win against us. Perhaps if we tell it that we are the ones who bested Arauthator, it will cause it to be rash, or fearful. Either might serve.”
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
You walk through the forest, more and more mist obscuring your path; your guides do not falter, but you can see easily how this forest gained its name. More and more spruce trees dominate, and as the mist seems to fade a little in the afternoon it is replaced by heavy rain. As experienced travellers, you are not much slowed by this, especially with the trees sheltering you from the worst of it. Yet it's cold, and not the most pleasant travelling conditions - depending on your tastes, of course.
Late afternoon, and you see before a settlement, though you may have had trouble spotting it from afar. Altand is primarily a wood elf settlement, blending almost seamlessly into the forest around it. The village exists on two levels, with a few structures built on the ground around an ancient monument, a statue of an elf. Looking up, it seems like most residences are built above, in the upper boughs of the forest. Your see rope bridges here and there, and circular walkways around the trees above you. Gea calls out a greeting, and two elf guards come over to speak quietly with her; Lirime gestures for you to walk towards a platform that seems to be connected to ropes and pulleys, likely a way up to the higher level.
It's so pretty, Gwen says, seemingly to herself more than anyone else.
Tangle seems unaffected by the cold (as was said, experienced, but also Ring of Warmth, but also warmed by her inner angry fire!). She takes in the village with her usual keen eye, but moves to the platform without hesitation. She trusts this situation. Or her ability to get out of it.
"It is," she agrees with Gwen, but she doesn't sound dreamy about it.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Soar is similarly unbothered by the cold thanks to her armor and she takes in the sounds and sights of the forest. She's curious if the mushroom descriptions prompt anything and she listens for any remembrances of Gwen.
Once arriving at Altand, she's charmed by it, and eagerly steps on the platform with Tangle and helps Gwen if she needs it. She's trying not to dote but she does help when she can.
You are brought up to the upper part of the village on the platform, without any problem. There, you are led to a to a residence that is part constructed, part shaped from the living wood of the tree, modest and welcoming. Gea shows you inside, but your escorts remain outside; the four of you and Gwen find yourselves in a cozy sitting room. A slim elf sits at a desk, standing to greet you with a forced smile as a raven perched in a nearby cage caws hideously.
Welcome to our village, the elf says. How can I be of service?
Tangle goes through introductions again, full Sylvan name, everybody else, but not Candelabra, who is surely not here. Then she waits for the elf to introduce themselves.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Candelabra is, I would think, outside. But he did come up the pulley-lift, unless Soar chose to leave him behind. The lift and the walkways are large enough.
The elf introduces himself: I am Galin, Warden of Altand. I am sorry, travellers, but there is little we can offer you in hospitality. You are welcome nonetheless. May I ask why you have come? He speaks in elvish first, but switches to common, sensing that some of the party do not understand.
Tangle continues to take the lead. "We have come of our own volition to drive off or defeat the green dragon assailing the misty Forest," she says succinctly.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Soar nods at Tangle's explanation, impressed and happy for her to lead their efforts here. If she can be of any help she will do her best.
That is good to hear, the man named Galin replies. Our people would be very glad to hear news that the dragon has been killed or driven off. But we do not have strength left to join you; we must see to our community, the wounded and homeless. Is there other aid we can offer?
Tangle shakes her head minutely. “We do not expect your warriors to help us. For ourselves we ask only to speak with any who encountered it, that we may be prepared. Atland may not be the place from which to begin.”
She glances at Gwen. “For the girl, we ask that someone see if they can help her with her memories, though again, this may not be the place.”
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
We had a fine healer, the Warden of our village, but she perished in the first attack of the dragon. It is my responsibility to do the best I can, and continue her work, but I am not skilled in her arts. Others have come since, to tend to our wounded, but they have done their work and left. I don't know if they can help with memories, though. You can ask. I'm afraid I didn't see much of the attack; I was at home in the beginning, and when I left it was to search for my wife. I saw humans for the most part, some other races too, wearing the garb of dragon cultists. The fighting was ferocious, and so many died.
But there are others who can tell you more than I; all of us are survivors, I suppose. Perhaps you can start with the guards outside, who took part in the fighting. Talk to anyone in the village who has time to speak to you. Some will be reluctant perhaps; our memories are too fresh. But it is good there are elves among you, and no humans - I think people will share what they know with you, and that is better than hearing it second-hand through me.
Soar says, in elvish, "I'm very sorry to hear that you lost so many. We would like to try to take care of this problem for you. I would welcome any help you can offer to introduce me to people here. People who are willing to talk, who might have seen something that could help us in our task."
Even if he does not want to, Soar happily goes around the settlement, gently and politely asking who might be able to tell them about the dragon, where it came from, where it went, what it or those with it said, any details.
Persuasion? 16 with help? 12
The Warden nods, and shows you out. He doesn't offer to come with you and introduce you to people, though he reassures you that the villagers will be cooperative.
Outside the small home, you see a few people you might talk to: one is a group of four young adult elves, standing by a walkway some feet away. Another is the two guards who are standing outside the Warden's front door. A third is a pair of small elf children playing a game of what looks like darts, and a fourth is an elf man hanging freshly-washed laundry outside his house; the door looks badly damaged suggesting it took a direct blast of some kind of magic.
You can approach them as a group, or split up. Please let me know, and also how you approach them, and what questions specifically you ask.
Tangle will immediately introduce herself to the two guards. "We seek every advantage in fighting the dragon and the cult," she adds. "Were you involved in the defense? Will you speak to us?"
If they agree, she will talk to them about the attack(s), and will want to know a couple of specific things.
Mostly, she wants to know why the cultists/the dragon have not come back (did they achieve their goal?), and where the party can most likely find the dragon (vague ideas are better than no ideas, but Tangle is sure some enterprising scout must have trailed the cultists who fled on the ground).
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
(My post apparently didn't post, so I missed Tangle's post, so I am trying to pre-retcon the following...
Soar approaches the guards, first, and reintroduces herself. She joins Tangle in some polite, gentle questioning. She says, allowing time for questions to be answered, "The Warden said you may know best about the dragon. You may know we're here to help. We've defeated a white," she indicates her and Jalt's armor, "and drove off another. This one is a green, and seems to favor hit and run, correct? How many times has it attacked Altand? From what direction did it fly? The Warden said it was accompanied by humans -- did they fly on its back or come on horseback or foot? What did they do? Did they take anything, or just seem to want to destroy and kill? Have you heard from others in other places in the forest who have faced attacks?"
She keeps an eye on the four young adult elves, for any of them who seem interested in them more than she'd expect. If anyone is, she'd approach them and ask them if they noticed anything notable or strange about the dragon attacks, with a similar preamble about the Warden giving her permission to talk to people.
If she has a chance to talk to the others, she'd walk over to the children with Gwen and seek to start a conversation with them and include Gwen. She'd dance around the topic of the dragon but would not hide her intent if they asked.
She'd also be interested in asking the man hanging laundry about anything he saw during the attack, with a similar preamble as the young adults.
Tangle's post first:
Tangle, the guards nod politely and introduce themselves as Selia and Thyrus. They look very tired, and Selia is clearly still nursing a wound in her side that hasn't fully healed yet.
We were among the lucky ones. We fought, and lived to fight again. We will share what we know.
In answer to your questions:
How did the cultists come? On the ground? From what direction?
The cultists came from the north, and on the ground.
Did they attack in surprise?
Yes, it was a surprise. The first sign of danger was the dragon, and only seconds later its breath filled the upper village.
Did the dragon come at the same time? Before? After?
A little before, though it was clearly co-ordinated.
Why did the cultists leave? Were they thrown back by the defenders?
We do not know. We were holding the line, and probably could have held them off successfully if the dragon had not been here.
Why did the dragon leave, if they did not kill it?
This is the great mystery. In the other settlements the dragon and cultists have attacked, there have been few or no survivors. We do not know why the dragon left. Nothing we did, as far as we know, caused it to retreat.
What did the cultists come for? Treasure? Conquest? Wanton killing?
Not treasure, and again, this was surprising. The other villages were destroyed and then looted. The cultists took nothing of value from Altand.
Did someone follow the fleeing cultists to track them? If so, who did that, can she talk to them? If not, why?
I know of two scouts who followed. They did not return.
Mostly, she wants to know why the cultists/the dragon have not come back (did they achieve their goal?), and where the party can most likely find the dragon (vague ideas are better than no ideas, but Tangle is sure some enterprising scout must have trailed the cultists who fled on the ground).
The guard suggests tracking the dragon or cultists to the north, but has no idea about their goal or their reason for withdrawing.
Soar's questions:
To the guards:
This one is a green, and seems to favor hit and run, correct?
No, not in general, not from what we have heard from other villages. It favours utter destruction. Why Altand was spared, we do not know.
How many times has it attacked Altand?
Only once so far. Many other villages have been attacked and destroyed.
From what direction did it fly?
North.
The Warden said it was accompanied by humans -- did they fly on its back or come on horseback or foot?
I did not see anyone mounted on the dragon's back.
What did they do?
The dragon's breath slaughtered everyone in the upper village, or almost everyone. There are a few survivors who were in their houses.
Did they take anything, or just seem to want to destroy and kill?
They took nothing of value that we know of; they seemed to want to kill, but it's a mystery why they did not complete their task, as they have elsewhere.
Have you heard from others in other places in the forest who have faced attacks?
We have heard from those who found the ruins, yes.
She keeps an eye on the four young adult elves, for any of them who seem interested in them more than she'd expect. If anyone is, she'd approach them and ask them if they noticed anything notable or strange about the dragon attacks, with a similar preamble about the Warden giving her permission to talk to people.
What the young elves tell you is mostly the same as you learned from the guards; they do engage in a heated discussion though, one that you feel they have had several times already. One of the group insists that they saw a human riding on the back of the dragon; the others did not and do not believe the speaker.
If she has a chance to talk to the others, she'd walk over to the children with Gwen and seek to start a conversation with them and include Gwen. She'd dance around the topic of the dragon but would not hide her intent if they asked.
The children seem to welcome Gwen into their game, but do not speak of the dragon easily. If you want to try to coax something out of them, you can make the attempt.
She'd also be interested in asking the man hanging laundry about anything he saw during the attack, with a similar preamble as the young adults.
The man does not tell you anything new.