Ch 3: Part 1: The Path into Peril: Session 35

[15:19] <Kilarra> *****Second Darkness*****
[15:19] <Kilarra> ~~~Chapter 3: The Armageddon Echo~~~
[15:24] <Kilarra> -Session 35-
[15:25] <Kilarra> After a dicey encounter with a gorgon, the party decided to take a break for the day before continuing their travels. The following morning, Kilarra is the first to be awoken as her horse starts licking her hooves.
[15:25] * Kilarra gasps a bit, then starts giggling uncontrollably.
[15:27] * Kilarra seems to be having some difficulty reasserting her ability to move with her hooves being licked. "Hey *gigglesnort* c'mon! Quit it!"
[15:29] * Aluthyra wakes to Kilarra's giggling. She sits upright, looking towards the cleric, and smirks. She's glad to see Kilarra look happier, or laughing, at least for the time being.
[15:29] <Kilarra> The pony eventually stops.
[15:30] * Kilarra looks a little exasperated. She hasn't yet noticed others being awake, "Please don't do that... they're sensitive."
[15:30] <@Aluthyra> Tognik groans, rolling back over and covering his ears.
[15:30] * Aluthyra chuckles at Kilarra, shaking her head. "Good morning, Kilarra."
[15:31] * Kilarra eeps and blushes, "Y-you didn't see anything."
[15:32] * Aluthyra chuckles again."I did." She smirks. "You know I cannot lie."
[15:33] * Kilarra looks completely embarassed. No one was supposed to know about that unless she had them under her heel.
[15:34] * Aluthyra smiles, standing up, now that she's already awake. "I suppose we should be heading out soon?"
[15:35] * Kilarra flusters a bit and excuses herself to go take care of her usual morning devotions behind a rock.
[15:37] <Kilarra> Kjell wakes up a bit later, being a deep sleeper and not having noticed the giggling. He stretches and stands up, before plucking out his spellbook as Kilarra's usual 'morning noises' become evident. "guess we're waiting a bit."
[15:37] <@Aluthyra> Tognik keeps his head buried in his bedroll until Kilarra finishes. He doesn't need to hear that in the morning!
[15:41] * Kjell politely ignores it. "She seems to be as enthusiastic as ever at least."
[15:41] * Aluthyra nods. "Perhaps that means an end to her irritation?" She shrugs. "I am still... not quite sure as to why she has been so moody."
[15:44] <Kilarra> Kjell looks to Aluthyra, "As I recall, she was moody when you came back from her temple."
[15:45] * Aluthyra frowns. "I do not know why she would be moody after that. What information we gathered did not ever pertain to her..."
[15:46] <Kilarra> Kjell blinks, "What information did you glean exactly?"
[15:49] <@Aluthyra> "That I am an Aasimar, one with Celestial blood." She shakes her head. "And yes, I have noticed her irritation since then... seems to be towards myself."
[15:50] <Kilarra> KJell blinks, "A Celestial in your heritage? That's certainly interesting. Kilarra is a tiefling, one with an infernal mixed into her bloodline."
[15:51] * Aluthyra sighs. "Yes. I know that. I would not think that that alone would cause her grief."
[15:53] <Kilarra> Kjell nods, "She made it quite clear that she is not fond of her own heritage when Zincher insulted her. Perhaps she is jealous of yours?"
[15:55] * Aluthyra blinks. "I will... try to speak with her about it."
[15:56] <@Aluthyra> "Though she has not been that forthcoming with me since then."
[15:58] <Kilarra> Kjell shrugs, "I can only guess." He turns a page in his spellbook. "You do not necessarily need to burden yourself with it, but left untended, it might become a burden to all of us."
[16:00] * Aluthyra nods, turning away to feed her horse, along with eating some of her own trail rations.
[16:03] * Kilarra rejoins the group after finishing and looks at least a little less strung out. She feeds Precious and then goes about donning her armour.
[16:04] <@Aluthyra> Tognik gets out of his bedroll once Kilarra is finished, feeding himself and Paco.
[16:06] <Kilarra> Kjell closes his spellbook and then gets his new breast plate on, sucking in his gut a bit. He needed to get a bit more exercise.
[16:09] * Aluthyra saddles up her horse and climbs into the stirrups once she is done eating some of her rations. "Is everyone ready to leave|"
[16:11] * Kilarra mounts her horse and just nods silently.
[16:11] <Kilarra> Kjell also mounts his horse after getting his armour on.
[16:13] <@Aluthyra> Tognik hops onto his pony after setting his packs. He nods. "Let's get to it. Hopefully we won't run into another gorgon..."
[16:16] * Kilarra nods, "I don't fancy becoming a lawn ornament."
[16:19] <Kilarra> Kjell spurs his horse, getting the party underway once again.
[16:25] * Kilarra follows along, mainly keeping near Kjell so as to watch for their intended turn off.
[16:26] * Aluthyra follows behind Kilarra, beside Tognik.
[16:27] <Kilarra> The party rides along a riverside track heading north for much of the journey until they break clear of the mountain ridges north of Riddleport. The winding dirt road of a Varisian Caravan Path eventually branches off into a smaller, less traveled path that branches to the west about 45 miles north of the city.
[16:27] * Kilarra has Precious turn onto this path, "This is the way to Crying Leaf according to what Kwava showed me on the map."
[16:28] * Aluthyra nods, grabbing at her reins to follow Kilarra down the path.
[16:29] * Kilarra keeps ahead of Aluthyra
[16:29] * Aluthyra plans to speak with Kilarra when the circumstances allow a more private setting. For now, she tries to catch up with Kilarra, trying to spur her horse to riding alongside Kilarra's, just to confirm the other woman's reaction.
[16:31] * Kilarra stays in the lead. She didn't want to make it too obvious, nor did she want to turn it into a race. She maintains some distance though.
[16:31] * Aluthyra frowns, slowing her horse to allow Kilarra the distance as she lags behind with Tognik.
[16:31] <Kilarra> Kjell just shakes his head and continues
[16:35] <Kilarra> At around noon, Aluthyra can see a cloud of dust approaching the PCs position from further up the path.
[16:37] * Aluthyra raises an eyebrow, examining the dust. She points her hand to the cloud, directing her companions to it. "It may be nothing, but... I am not sure."
[16:41] * Kilarra stops her horse, "More company? Is it one big thing or a lot of normal sized things?"
[16:41] <Kilarra> Kjell stops as well. "Kicking up a cloud like that... I would wager on a group."
[16:43] <@Aluthyra> Tognik blinks, his eyes scanning through the cloud. "It... is a group. Armed men mounted on horseback." He frowns. "Not sure if that's good or bad, but they  don't have their weapons drawn."
[16:44] <Kilarra> Kjell nods, "Then we should keep ours sheathed until they do otherwise."
[16:46] * Aluthyra frowns, wary of the approaching riders, but keeps her bow away for now.
[17:05] <Kilarra> The cloud of dust dissipates as the riders at its head slow to a canter. They are barbarians by their dress, bearing distinctive patterns of war paint on their faces and shoulders, marks repeated in the same dark color on the necks of their equine mounts. They are twelve in number, although they are followed by a train of two dozen additional horses. As they pull to a stop, they hold up their right hands, showing that they brandish no
[17:05] <Kilarra> right hands, showing that they brandish no weapons.
[17:05] <Kilarra> Kjell nods to them and mimics the gesture as a show of good faith, although of course they wouldn't know he could just as easily use his right hand to set them on fire.
[17:06] <Kilarra> The leader of the group, a tall, sun-tanned man with dusty black hair, urges his mount forward a few steps before speaking. “Strange days these are when stars fall from the sky and the walled-folk wander the plains of the Velashan. I am Windbraid. What brings you here?”
[17:08] <Aluthyra> Tognik canters his pony up and nods his head to Windbraid. He doesn't return the gesture, as he has no weapons on him to begin with! "Greetings! I am Tognik, and we are currently on our way to the Crying Leaf."
[17:08] <Aluthyra> Tognik raises an eyebrow. "We are in a hurry though, if you would let us pass."
[17:10] <Kilarra> Windbraid nods, "The elves do not take kindly to intruders in the great woodland. More recently, they have become hostile to those that encroach, barring the outlying areas of the Meirani to hunters."
[17:11] <Aluthyra> Tognik shrugs. "We have business there, so I'm sure that won't be a problem."
[17:14] <Kilarra> Windbraid looks a bit skeptical, but doesn't press it, considering Tognik was being polite at least. "There have been rumours of pitched battles deep within the forest, but the elves keep their secrets, and we know little else. If you truly do have business there, then I presume you are equally secretive about it."
[17:16] <Aluthyra> Tognik nods. Curious of the battles, he asks, "Do you have any more detail than rumor of the battles? Maybe who they're fighting?"
[17:17] <Kilarra> Windbraid shakes his head, "None. Perhaps though you could share with us. We are heading to Riddleport to sell these horses. Is the market for them good right now?"
[17:20] <Aluthyra> Tognik shrugs. "I'm not sure what the prices and demand have previously been... but we just bought these horses yesterday." He points to Kilarra's mount. "She purchased that horse for 75 gold, while they..." He points to Aluthyra and Kjell. "Purchased theirs for 200 each."
[17:20] <Kilarra> Windbraid doesn't seem impressed with the party's mounts, "Common stable bred horses. Our fare are proper, wild horses."
[17:21] * Kilarra urges Precious forward a little, "You're probably better off avoiding Riddleport for a while anyways. One of the crimelords is out of the picture as of recently and things are gonna be a bit turbulent."
[17:24] * Aluthyra nods. "It is your choice, however, as you seem capable of handling yourself if you have any trouble with the crimelords."
[17:28] <Kilarra> Windbraid nods, "I would prefer to avoid Riddleport during one of it's semi-traditional uprisings."
[17:29] * Tognik chuckles. "It'd be best. Before we go, anything else you could tell us about Crying Leaf or the elves?"
[17:31] <Kilarra> Windraid shakes his head, "They are a secretive and suspicious lot, so be wary. Whatever it is they're doing in there, keeping others from finding out about it is most certainly a priority for them."
[17:32] * Aluthyra nods. "If nothing else then, we wish you luck in selling your mounts. It is best we keep moving."
[17:34] <Kilarra> Windbraid nods, "Good luck and swift manes." He then spurs his mount, with the rest following behind him. They ride to the southeast, leaving the party by themselves once more.
[17:36] * Aluthyra looks to her companions, kicking her horse into a light walk. "We should continue, to make our journey quick."
[17:36] <Kilarra> Kjell nods and spurs his horse on as well.
[17:37] * Kilarra follows, keeping to Kjell's opposite side from Aluthyra.
[17:37] * Aluthyra sighs, then continues to follow behind with Tognik.
[17:40] <Kilarra> The next day of travel continues uneventfully until the party starts to close in on the Meirani forest, at which point Kjell suggests taking a break and getting up early the following day so as to take their journey into the forest slowly, not wanting to alarm the elves or run unprepared into lurking drow.
[17:43] <Kilarra> The follow morning plays out much the same, with the party doing their usual morning preparations before heading onto the final leg of the forest.
[17:44] * Aluthyra is alert, watching for any sign of what might be attacking the elves.
[17:45] <Kilarra> After a bit of travel, the hunter's trail dips under the dense canopy of the Meirani. The forest itself is a place of ancient life, with immense firs, pine trees and redwoods making up much of the flora.
[17:45] <Kilarra> Small, winding paths branch off the main hunter's trail, winding into the dense undergrowth, but the trail given to the party by Kwava's instruction is the most well travelled.
[17:49] * Aluthyra asks, "Should we dismount for the rest of the path? Just being cautious."
[17:50] <Kilarra> Kjell stops, then nods, "We may be better served by that. Taking it slow will keep us ready for any dangers, of which I am certain there are plenty in this forest."
[17:50] * Aluthyra nods, dismounting. She guides her horse along, reins in one hand, bow in her other.
[17:51] * Kilarra shrugs and dismounts, not really feeling like arguing.
[17:54] <Kilarra> The path seems to wind around the outskirts of the forest. However, not long after plunging into the forest...
[17:54] <Aluthyra> Tognik hops off of his pony, following from the back.
[17:55] <Kilarra> Aluthyra and Tognik catch rustling in the trees above them
[18:00] * Aluthyra draws her bow, looking up and calling to the group, "Above us!"
[18:00] <Aluthyra> Tognik grabs his curing wand, just in case.
[18:01] <Kilarra> A Trio of Forest Drakes burst from the trees 100ft above the party.
[18:02] <Kilarra> Two long, leathery wings sprout from the green-scaled back of these ferocious creatures. Their heads bear a long snout full of razor-sharp teeth, and a green vapor drifts from its mouth. Two emerald eyes peer from its brow with the cunning of a skilled predator. A foot peer from its brow with the cunning of a skilled predator. A footlong side, waiting to strike.
[18:05] * Aluthyra frowns, staring up into the trees as she aims her bow. She draws an arrow from her quiver, firing it at the closest drake. In rapid succession, she fires another pair at the same drake, her last arrow carefully aimed.
[18:05] <Kilarra> Kjell warns the group, "Drakes, lesser dragons. They aren't as powerful, but they still spit acid.
[18:05] <Kilarra> "
[18:11] <Kilarra> Aluthyra manages to hit the larger creature easily even from 100ft below.
[18:13] <Kilarra> The drake screeches as it takes two arrows to the chest and another grazes its neck. The trio of them each spit a small ball into the middle of the group, each of which bursts into a cloud of acid.
[18:15] <Kilarra> Kilarra, Kjell and Aluthyra are dexterous enough to avoid the bulk of the acid burst, Tognik however is less fortunate.
[18:16] <Kilarra> Aluthyra, because of her Aasimar nature, is all but unscathed by the acid
[18:17] * Kilarra curses in infernal.
[18:17] <Aluthyra> Tognik's eyes tear up from the acidic blast. He groans, clutching at his chest in pain. Luckily, he has his curing wand in had, and fully intends to use it once he regains control of his muscles in spasm.
[18:19] <Kilarra> Kjell aims at the injured drake and throws a lightning bolt at it, intending to bring it down before it could do that again. He could handle the acid burn sufficiently for now, thanks to the extra resistance provided by his cloak
[18:21] <Kilarra> The pincushion drake is felled by the lightning bolt, plummeting to the forest floor.
[18:22] * Kilarra groans, acid sucks. Naturally, miss perfect wasn't even touched by it. She puts a hand on Tognik and casts Protection from Acid to keep the little gnome from melting further.
[18:23] <Aluthyra> Tognik smiles at Kilarra, thankful for the slight relief.
[18:27] <Aluthyra> Tognik isn't going to linger in the poison cloud! He runs out of its reach, then points his wand to his chest, attempting to activate it.
[18:28] <Kilarra> Tognik feels a little less melty
[18:28] <Aluthyra> Tognik breathes a sigh of relief at the small amount of healing done.
[18:31] * Aluthyra fires another trio of arrows, aiming at the next nearest drake.
[18:32] <Kilarra> Aluthyra lands two arrows in the drake.
[18:32] <Kilarra> Before the drakes can swoop in to attack the party, a hail of arrows fires out of the forest.
[18:33] <Kilarra> The arrows make a pincushion out of both drakes, killing the one Aluthyra injured and sending the other one fleeing further out of the forest, badly wounded.
[18:34] <Kilarra> A group of elves emerges slowly from the forest, their bows out but pointed down and not drawn. There are five of them in all, with the presumable leader of the group stepping forward.
[18:34] <Kilarra> -End Session-
[18:35] <Kilarra> Rewards: 3 CR 5, 1200 Experience each