End of the Trail

Posted on Fri Jan 12th, 2024 @ 8:23pm by Dungeon Master God-Emperor Taral & Priest (Level 2) Alden Mourningstar & Priest (Level 2) Leslie Aryz

Mission: We're Forming A Party
Location: Woods outside Fairfell
Timeline: A few hours after "The Party's First Outing" and "Meanwhile, Along the Trail..."

Alden and Leslie continued following the trail they identified after finishing their short rest. The trail wound through the woods and thankfully did not cross paths with the footprints of any other creatures that might wish them harm. The encounter with the two giant lizards had been more than enough.

The only sounds they were hearing were the gentle noises of nature (though the flute a few hours earlier had been out of place).

So for Alden, the sudden new sound was instantly detected, and instantly recognizable.

Leslie was looking at her leg, where the bleeding had stopped but bite wound was still feeling raw but bound up by the limited first aid she knew. Fortunately, she knew she healed quickly and if they could just take another rest, she’d likely feel right as rain on a warm summer day. As such, she missed whatever was happening around her.

Alden grabbed Leslie by the shoulder and stopped her in her tracks. He guided the two of them toward a bush behind which they could hide.

Ahead of them in a small clearing were two dragon-like Kobolds and a much larger creature that they seemed to be trying to keep under control. Around them were a variety of crates and barrels, some open, some not. There were also a couple of dead goats and one dead resident of Fairfell. There was also a bell of some kind on a stake in the ground.

"Oh shit..." Leslie whispered quietly, "What the hell is that thing? If it were just the Kobolds..." She considered for a moment, "You know, I could talk to them and see who sent them here and maybe get them to leave. If I tell them I'm an emissary from a 'local' dragon and that they're encroaching on his territory, might sent them running."

“Good idea,” Alden said. “I’ll stay here. I can jump in and help if it goes wrong.”

“All right.” She unfastened the cloak and handed it over to him, leaving her dressed rather more revealing than with the covering cloak on. It could feasibly be something a dragon would have a minion could wear to ‘impress’ local ‘resources’, also known as food. She backed out of the bush and got back into the trail, strolling around the bend as if she hadn’t a care in the world even while her eyes tracked around. The medallion was tucked into her exposed cleavage.

As she rounded the corner, she saw the kobolds nearly at the same same time as they saw her and she scowled at them as they brought their daggers to bear on her, one growing a command at the beast to hold, in Draconic. Leslie stopped where she was, propping her hip out casually, owning the area she was in. Draconic was second nature to her, just as common was, and she spoke in the former, “And just what are you doing here in this territory, which belongs to Aventrix the Green?” She asked rather casually, throwing out the name of one of the Order’s overseer ‘guardian’ dragons, though he paired much further away typically, “I’m sure it’s a complete accident, you boys being here, isn’t it?”

Their larger companion, a hyena-like Gnoll, snarled at the Aasimar monk but stayed back at the instructional gestures of the Kobolds. “What you mean?” one of them asked in Draconic. “Who Green Aventix?” They held off attacking, willing to hear her out. He turned to his companion. “You no say other dragon here.”

“I not know!” said the other Kobold. “Speak!” he yelled at Leslie. “Answer question!”

“You haven’t heard of Lord Aventrix?” Leslie asked aghast, putting a look of shock on her face, shaking her head slowly, but taking note of the words ‘other dragon’, “You should be ashamed. His breath is death itself to those near him, ‘The Whispering Death’ they call him, for he loves the forests like this one, and those who displease him hear only the whisper of his intake of breath before they take their own last. He has claim to these lands, even if he tolerates others trespasses when he isn’t actively around. It’s a good thing for you two that he sent me, one of his Heralds, to warn those in his territory that he is coming and soon.”

“Boss not tell us of Dragon,” Kobold One said. “We no want bother Dragon Lord.” It looked to the Gnoll. “We leave.” The Gnoll snarled at it, presumably speaking in some language that none of them knew. “I know Boss tell us to get food but Dragon scarier than Boss.”

Alden tried to stay hidden behind the bushes. The Gnoll, however, began sniffing the air. It snarled again to the lead Kobold, who looked back to Leslie. “We leave now, but Friend wants to know about human behind bush. It not like hiding human.”

Leslie looked over her shoulder and sighed, “I shall have to punish him, he was to remain on the trail WELL behind me. My servant, you see, Lord Aventrix does like his Heralds well served and received.” She changed her language spoken to Common, “Alden, come out, they know you’re there. We shall see about your beating for disobeying my orders soon enough.” She wasn’t sure that the Kobolds understood Common, but best not to tempt fate too much.

The Druid was no actor, but he did his best to play the part. He stayed close to the ground, groveling. “A thousand pardons, Mistress. Whatever punishment you deem appropriate, I deserve.”

The Kobolds and Gnoll seemed satisfied with this. “We go. Kobold village on South Coast take us in. No more stealing from human town. At least not in Aventrix Land.” With that, the creatures started heading South, leaving their stolen goods strewn about the clearing.

When they were far enough away, Alden stood up and handed Leslie her cloak. “That was easier than I expected,” he said. “But he kept talking about a boss.”

Leslie took the cloak and slung it around herself once more, then took a couple steps forward and knelt to pick up a small trinket that looked to be made of silver, but a closer look at it showed it to be a very shiny and polished iron. She dropped it on the ground again before standing and brushing her knee off, "Can't be anything powerful at least, though a dragon would drive off even some rather strong types. Of course, Aventrix would likely be amused that he could command that respect. They were saying 'other dragon', but there is no dragon around these parts aside from their sort and maybe some Dragonborn. If I weren't so good looking, they'd never have believed what I was saying, that's for sure!"

“I don’t disagree with your premise,” Alden said, grinning, “but I get the feeling that a Kobold’s sense of beauty is different from ours. Plus I don’t think it’s that smart. The fact that it said ‘other dragon’…it might mean anything it looked toward with reference. Maybe with scales, maybe with wings.” He studied the stake that was in the ground, with a brass bell that looked like it might ring in a very high pitch. The citizens of Fairfell had not mentioned a loud bell. Maybe this was meant to signal something that could hear outside of normal range.

“I bet that this will bring their ‘boss’,” Alden said. “Think we should ring it?”

Leslie wrestled with her inner thoughts. The Order never backed down from a challenge, which led to many mixed results when they inevitably left the Monastery to explore and gather treasure. But, she still felt the pain in her leg and arm where the lizard had bitten her and that made her wary given that she knew she wasn't in her best condition. It only took a second as she reached out and rang the bell, "No duh, of course we should!"

The sound of the bell went far, and while the Aasimar’s ears heard it clearly, the human druid heard nothing. As he expected, it probably was meant to attract something — or someone — else.

The sound permeated the woods and was unmistakable to the Water Genasi Ranger named Jaene of Saint Clair. She and her partner had resumed their journey when the sound made Jaene stop in her tracks. “We need to find that bell,” she told Alicea urgently.

Once again, Alicea had been distracted by something else, a dragonfly alighting upon a twig in this particular case, but her head shot up at the tone of voice that Jaene used and she nodded, hearing the tone dwindling in the wind at last, "Right." She reached out for Jaene's hand.

Jaene took Alicea by the hand and they began running at top speed for the source of the ringing.

Hindsight was always 20-20 and it didn't fail this time to register for Leslie even as her hand left the bell. "You know what?" She asked as she took a tentative step back, "Maybe this wasn't the best idea I've had? Perhaps we should get out of here?"

Before they could do anything, the air around them stirred into a whirlwind as a winged creature descended. After it had landed, Alden and Leslie could see that it was a woman, nude, with large talons for hands and feet and large feathery black wings coming out of her back.

“You aren’t my minions,” the Harpy said to Alden and Leslie. “Not yet anyway. If you killed them, I’ll need replacements. You could have at least left the bodies. Kobolds are dim but they’re delicious when cooked right.”

Alden has his hand to his scimitar but waited for Leslie to react. She was closer.

Leslie took a step backwards, fists clenched as she did, "I would never admit to having eaten kobolds, because I haven't, but they aren't dead. They just... Left a few minutes ago, went that way." She leaned around to see behind the harpy, pointing off into the woods, "You could catch up to them in in time."

“Charming,” the Harly replied, unmoved by the suggestion. “But I’ll replace them. You two will do fine, once you’re softened up. I’ve never had Aasimar before.”

Alden knew he had to do something. Leslie was still a bit hurt from that last fight. So while one hand was ready at his scimitar, he rushed the Harpy firmly gripping his focus with the other. He got right into her face and cast Poison Spray. Noxious gas, the same type that did so well against the lizard, came from his hand and into the Harpy’s face.

The Harpy was completely unprepared and took the full blow right into its nose and mouth. She coughed and sputtered, and managed not to inhale too much of it.

“That stung!” she exclaimed. In a rage, she swung at Alden with a clawed talon.

She missed him, and ended up embedding her claws into the stake on which the bell was mounted. She tried to pull free but for a moment she was stuck.

Leslie danced forward as she saw her opportunity to strike a really good blow. She punched first with her left fist, hitting the harpy a solid blow in the chest, knocking the bird-woman loose from where she was stuck in the stake. A followup roundhouse kick missed by a hair, disturbing the air in front of the harpy's face with how close it came to hitting her.

Standing off to one side, Alden decided a more direct approach was necessary. He set his focus in his pocket and drew both of his blades. Scimitar in one hand, dagger in the other, he slashed at the Harpy with both. The scimitar cut weakly across the creature’s arm but the dagger took a chunk out of the shoulder.

The Harpy shrieked in pain and proceeded to try to gut the Druid with her claws. She tore a section of his leather armor and drew blood from his stomach but not deeply.

“I’ve not forgotten about you,” she said, sneering at Leslie. She picked up a good sized branch from the ground and swung it at the Monk, but Leslie dodged it nimbly.

Suddenly, from the nearby woods about 30 feet away, an arrow came within millimeters of Alden’s head and even cut a piece of his hair. The surprise made him let go of both of his weapons.

“Sorry!” called out a certain Water Genasi Ranger. Jaene was mortified. She almost killed a fellow adventurer. Worse still, her string had snapped. She would have no bow until it could be fixed.

Alicea kept moving forward, passing Jaene as she drew her rapier and brought it up in a salute. Her eyes danced around across all of the parties as she spoke, magic infused in her voice, "Sharp claws you may have, foul beast, but you do naught but scratch us as we slaughter thee! Ha!" She cast Vicious Mockery at the Harpy even as she strode forward, the Harpy cringing as the psychic energy rammed home into it's limited intellect. Alicea's eyes had flickered across the two other adventurers, but she couldn't decide who needed inspiring more and the song she was about to sing fell from her lips.

Leslie came back around after dodging the tree branch on the side of the harpy, swinging with a jab from her left before unleashing a strong right punch with a clenched fist. Both struck home hard, Leslie dancing back a half step with elation as she finally seemed to stagger the bird-woman. Finally! Something was going more akin to her plans!

There was no time to reach for his weapons, so Alden lunged forward again and cast Poison Spray. It burned the Harpy’s throat but again she coughed away the worst of it.

Injured and afraid, the Harpy tried to turn the tide with her magical Luring Song. But it was imperfect. Her body ached and the magical mockery she endured had messed with her head. Alden, Jaene, and Alicea were able to shake the song from their heads. Leslie, however, was not so lucky. Her eyes glazed over as she became enthralled by the Harpy’s song.

Jaene had to act if she was to save the Monk. She rushed in to close range and tried to hit the Harpy with her quarterstaff. Unfortunately she missed. Badly. The staff slipped from her slightly wet hands and went flying, missing Alden’s head by millimeters.

“Whose side are you on?!” Alden asked, incredulous. That was twice that she almost took off his head.

“I am so sorry!” Jaene repeated. “This isn’t going well for me! Alicea, luv! Finish it! Please!”

As she moved forward, it only appeared that Alicea's feet didn't touch the ground, blades of grass barely bending at the touch of her feet. She began to whistle a bright tune, now it was clear who needed her help even as she moved into range and slashed with her rapier. The blade cut perfectly across the harpy's neck, breaking the song it had been singing as the hands flew to the throat to try to stem the spray of blood. Alicea's eyes brightened as she recognized the lethal blow and with her free hand grabbed Jaene and turned her own back on the fountain, bringing her face down to kiss the unarmed ranger even while she grabbed the edge of her cloak and brought it around to cover the ranger from the blood spray.

The harpy's song ended, Leslie's eyes cleared just in time to close them against the blood spray that splashed against her face even as it had been raised to the beautiful song that the harpy had been singing, only hearing the thud as the beast hit the ground.

Jaene, who had to that point had the worst fight of her life, simply melted into the kiss. Time seemed to stop as the beautiful, the artistic, the passionate Alicea ended the fight with one perfect slash of her rapier and then directed her passions back toward Jaene. When the beast fell and the kiss broke, Jaene was at a loss for words. All she could do was stare into Alicea's eyes, lost in their purity and light. "Hi," she eventually croaked out.

“You looked like you needed a pick-me-up given how bad of a day you were having.” Alicea grinned as she felt the last of the patter of blood hit her cloak, which was expendable when it came down to it. She gracefully threw the cloth back and straightened up, bringing the water Genasi with her, then swept into a flourishing curtsy for their other fellows, “Apologies on the delays, Milord, Milady.” Courtesy being required.

"Thank you for the help," Alden said to the two Genasi, though it was actually directed just to the Bard. He figured the Ranger had been trying to help and just having a bad time of it. Suspected it at least. Part of him wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt but really he wasn't 100% sure. But the Bard killed their quarry. She earned part of their reward, so he explained. "This creature had control over some Kobolds. They were raiding a nearby town called Fairfell for food. Stole a lot and killed a few animals, and later a resident. We were hired to find the culprits, end the threat, and bring back proof." He picked up his scimitar and put it away, and then found his dagger, which he kept in hand and began cutting off the dead Harpy's head. Seemed like proof enough. "The offer was twenty gold pieces each. We wouldn't have done it without you, so I'm sure they'll pay you too."

"Here, let me help," Jaene said, standing on her own two feet and drawing her dagger. She turned to Alicea. "Fairfell isn't far. We could follow them there. And we could use the coin." She went to the other side of the Harpy's head and helped with the cutting.

Unfortunately, when they ripped the head free of the body, more blood sprayed out, and directly into Leslie's hair and on a few remaining clean patches of Leslie's already torn clothing.

Even as Alicea had been cleaning her blade on an edge of her cloak, which had obtained more a pattern than a soaking of blood, Leslie once again had turned the wrong way at the wrong moment and a torrent of blood hit her. At this point, she fell to her knees in her blood soaked and now entire form’s soaked outfit, then screamed to the heavens, “ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME???” There was no telling what had been her own blood and what had been their enemies..

“Oh dear me.” Alicea murmured, quickly unfastening her cloak as she approached the Aasimar, “Here, child, why don’t you use this for the time being, until we can… Get you and your own clothes a bit cleaned up.”

Leslie snarled at the graceful (and sparkling CLEAN) ethereal woman, yet still accepted the cloak, removing her own and dropping it with a squish to the ground, “Thanks.” She ground out, albeit unwillingly, then looked over at Alden and Jaene, “Unless you two have a couple more buckets to pour over me?”

"It won't do much good without soap and continuous scrubbing," Jaene said. "Sorry."

"Let's get back to Fairfell," Alden suggested. "We'll all get clean there." He scooped up Leslie's ruined cloak (it might be salvageable) and offered a hand to help her up. He gestured with his head down the path that would lead them back to Fairfell, so that their new companions would know where they were going.

Leslie ignored the hand and pushed herself to her feet by herself, even as Alicea reached out for Jaene's, "Then I suppose that some hiking music would be in order, wouldn't it?" She smiled brightly as she pulled the flute out of the holder on her belt.

And so, in the company of Alicea’s lovely flute music, the party of four made the journey back to Fairfell.


Check Results:

Perception check with advantage:
Alden: 19 + 5 = 24
Leslie: 6 + 2 = 8

Leslie’s Persuasion vs Kobold Perception:
Leslie: 5 + 3 = 8
Kobolds: 5 - 2 = 3

Alden’s Stealth vs Knoll Perception:
Alden: 5 + 2 = 7
Gnoll: 15 + 0 = 15

Leslie Bluff
8 + 3 =11

Alden Bluff
19 + 1 = 20

Leslie Insight on the area:
8 + 2 = 10

Alden Investigation on the area:
14 + 0 = 14

Leslie Wisdom Check for Common Sense:
1 + 2 = Natural 1. FAIL

Insight or Investigation checks to see if they understood what the bell was doing:
Jaene: 18 + 4 = 22
Alicea: 5 + 0 = 5
Leslie: 19 + 2 = 21
Alden (can’t hear it, did not roll)

Initiative:
Alden: 12 + 2 = 14
Leslie: 3 + 2 = 5
Jaene: 11 + 2 = 13 (skipping first round)
Alicea: 7 + 2 = 9
Harpy:13 + 1 = 14

Alden attacks with Poison Spray:
Harpy CON saving throw: Natural 1
Damage: 2 x 2 = 4

Harpy attacks Alden with Claws:
Natural 1

Leslie attacks Harpy with Left fist:
14 + 4 = 18
Damage: 4 + 3 = 7

Leslie Bonus Action attack with roundhouse kick:
6 + 4 = 10: Miss

Alden attacks with scimitar and dagger:
9 + 4 = 17: Hit
Damage: 1 + 2 = 3
17 + 4 = 21: Hit
Damage: 4 + 0 = 4

Harpy attacks Alden with claws:
11 + 3 = 14: Hit
Damage: 1 + 1 + 1 = 3

Harpy attacks Leslie with club:
2 + 3 = 5: Miss

Jaene attacks Harpy with bow and arrow:
Natural 1

Alicea Casts Vicious Mockery at Harpy
7 + 4 = 11: Hit
Damage: 1 = 1
Harpy Wisdom Save: 2 + 0 = 2: Fail Harpy has Disadvantage on next attack during its turn

Bonus Action:
Alicea rolls Perception to discover who needs her Bardic Inspiration
Natural 1: Alicea loses her bonus action this round

Leslie Attacks With Unarmed and Bonus Unarmed Attack:
13 + 4 = 17: Hit
18 + 4 = 22: Hit
Damage:
3 + 3 = 6
2 + 3 = 5

Alden attacks with Poison Spray:
Harpy CON saving throw DC13: 11 + 1 = 12: Fail
Damage: 3

Harpy attempts Luring Song (everyone does WIS saving throw, with advantage because of Vicious Mockery, DC11)
Alden: 15 + 5 = 20: Pass
Leslie: 8 + 2 = 10: Fail
Jaene: 14 + 2 = 16: Pass
Alicea: 12 + 0 = 12: Pass

Jaene attacks with quarterstaff:
Natural 1

Alicea attacks with Advantage:
4 + 4 = 8 (Discarded)
11 + 4 = 15: Hit

Damage Roll:
3 + 2 = 5

Alden Insight check about whether Jaene was actually trying to help:
7 + 3 = 10

How cleanly are Jaene and Alden cutting off the Harpy's head? (straight d20 roll):
3


Current HP:
Alden: 8
Leslie: 5
Jaene: 10
Alicea: 10