4th of Planting
As the wagon trundles down the path North towards Drekarr village [DM: RED X], Heste looks at the party. In his high pitched voice he murmurs to all, "Interesting discussion on options to get my destination and very much appreciated! You seem to have a dilemma but.." and he stops to look at Skrit and then Corrin here, "but don't realize you may have the tools to navigate North." With a shrug the merchant dozes off again..
Vencer notes these glances to the 2 party members and gets the wizard thinking to a previous task he had just after finishing his training where deception and guile worked over strength and force in working an event he was involved in..
As they heroes travel North, they have met an old woman. Ol' Greeta.
The old woman carefully sorts the vegetables, roots, herbs and fruits back into her large pack/bag. A muttered, "thank ye.." to Corrin as he helps.
With a sideways glance at the party as the group's wagon rolls up.
"Friends of yers maybe?" She looks at Corrin squinting. Clamping a pipe in her mouth she snaps 2 fingers and a flame ignites on her index finger to light it and a very pleasant tobacco smell emanates as she puffs blowing out a stream of smoke.
Corrin looks back and then at the woman, “Yes they are. Like I said earlier, it’s considered dangerous to travel alone. Where did you come from?”
She finishes putting the remaining fruits carefully in the large bag/backpack. Corrin notices there are a variety of compartments built in made of thin wood slats and thick canvas to create a support structure so the various fruits and vegetables don't get crushed. "Heehee.. I live here Boyo.." Nodding towards the Eastern hills slightly south she points with the stem of her pipe. "Lived here all m'life."
Clamping the pipe in her teeth, which you find surprisingly white and even, in contrast with her wrinkled and weathered skin, she looks back at Corrin. "Now where do ye come from?"
The old lady looks at Corrin then at the wagon of adventurers pulled by the war horse.
"Speak up sonny, ol' Greeta's ears are not like they used to be.." She reaches for the straps on the bag to close it.
“We came from down south. Just a group of adventurers helping out this merchant here get to where he needs to go.”
The old crone nods and takes a long pull on the pipe, blowing out a small puff of smoke. "Well.. if yer headin' North.. I'd be mighty obliged for a ride.. and the company.. as you say it IS dangerous." She grins at them, her pearly white teeth flashing in the setting sun..
"I would be interested to hear how you survived out here. If there is one thing I learned from my master it is that if you live this long-" Vencer gently gestures towards her with a sly smile "Than you must be either very lucky... or very crafty."
Ol' Greeta gazes up at Vencer in the wagon. "Ahh.. crafty.. and? Lucky." She puffs on the pipe.
"Well kobolds enjoy a certain fruit, it's like.." she pauses and looks out to the mountains, "it's like catnip for a cat. The commander.. he's no kobold, something bigger like a dragon man. He LOVES it. Addicted." She opens the flap to her backpack. Holds up a bunch of red berries they have a white sparkle to them. "Tulsanri".
She looks at Skrit, "Want to try?" A twinkle in her eye.
Skrit gulps a bit as she describes it, and he glances at the berries nervously. As much as he is curious his better judgement is convincing him not to.
“N-no thank you. Maybe another time.” Eager to try and ease a bit of his nervousness he takes out one of his notebooks and a makeshift charcoal pencil from a satchel, and sketches a quick diagram of the berries, studying them he makes a few notes. Skrit has heard and seen these berries before. To his people, they are called 'Doocassa' in Draconian. Rare and difficult to grown or acquire.
The group can see why Ol'Greeta may be popular with the kobolds.. Skrit has also heard rumours these have similar affect on infernal and demonic creatures.
The berries if eaten give kobolds an alertness or extreme level of awareness, as well as increased speed. Lasts for about 20 rounds for a berry or so.
Can be addictive..
There is a sudden lethargic reaction after where the eater is tired and slow.. lasting around 5-10 rounds.
The party discusses much with the old woman, she seems to be a scavenger whom lived here before the kobolds took over the area. She was once a mid-wife healer. whom had a mate a woman who was the leader of the town guard, now passed.
Ol' Greeta seemed to sense that the kobold Skrit was not the leader which was interesting to her. There was discussion of payment for a ride to the village, then the party decided to change that - not wanting to confront the kobolds yet, but take Heste to the town of Rastor first.
They spend a night camping and talk late into the night. They discussed more on payment, and agreed upon a price. The adventurers were able to gain some good knowledge of the mining village of Drekarr:
• Over 50 kobolds she knows of maybe more.
• Worship some goddess, “cursed they say..”
• Supposed to be slaves working in the mines - 100s rumour has it
• Digging up something..
• The Marshal - “Marshall Dosgarr - leads the forces, a dragonman (Draconian) they say.” She sits up proudly, he is the one who like my fruities and veggies!” She shows a small basket of bright red and white, “these are the Marshal’s favourites.”
• The town has been fortified, makeshift walls across streets
• The clutch nest is in or under the townhall
• The Marshal lives in a central tower 1/2 knocked down near the hall.
- kobold guards roam the streets “.. and the flying ones.. they’re amazing the..” she thinks for a moment, “Kratcheek, they are called in their tongue.” Anyone whom can speak draconian knows this means ‘elite’
They ask why she sells to the kobolds, she shrugs and says, “ahh it’s not the little ones faults they don’t know any better, the cursed goddess seems to drive them to this, her and the Marshal.. “ trailing off she stares out and then “he’s a bad one.. She shivers, then with a toothy grin, “but he loves m’berries, that he does!”
An uneventful night and they travel on. When a three or four hours ride to the village, then they drop off the old woman and head East off the path next to the river. The travel was slow and difficult, but with the excellent survival skills of Skrit [Natural 20 on skill roll], they made fairly good time moving along the river, carefully bypassing large logs and boulders and small pools off the river even bypassing a waterfall. [DM off topic, a discussion on Blitzkrieg took place which could have taken the rest of the session]
The day was warm, a clear sunny Spring day. Ahead a patrol is noted coming down the road, which is higher along a ridge. The wagon is down below, where Skrit and Corrin are hiding. They hide the wagon. A group of kobolds eight or more as well as four of the flying elite - Kratcheek. Using a variety of spells, they are able to avoid the patrol. Vencer uses his multi familiars, Corrin uses his message spell to keep the party in contact, and Pyra uses her minor illusion to camouflaged the wagon.
Without event, the patrol moves on. Later in the afternoon..
The party has no further contact with kobold patrols but passing along a barren slope they note something strange. [DM: Blue X on map]There at the base of a small hill are the remains of a griffon -
ballista bolt still lodged in chest at the bottom. Skrit's medical/nature check or show it has been dead for at least a few-3 weeks - scavenger animals have been at it. The bolt as well as burns along the wings.. Ol'Greeta's words come back about the kobolds using bots of flaming oil thrown with a staff-sling.
Survival checks show someone dragged their self away. Vencer sends his owl to scout and notes the tracks lead to the top of a small hill, where a young human woman is leaning against a standing stone Between 3 moss covered trees. She wears the armour and tabard of Overlord Romack’s army.
Skrit's further medical skills show surprisingly no scavengers have been at the young woman. The body does not look to be that long passed, investigating further, she has been up here for same time period 2-3 weeks but for some reason not decaying - seemingly only dead less than a day.
Nature/Arcana skilled - both Vencer and Skrit feel there is some sort of.. presence, or feeling of an energy or power.. of life, here.
Further investigation by Vencer with discussion with Skrit and Corrin makes them realize this is an ancient leyline that connects to the astral plane. A source of life/nature is just beyond the portal or connection to the line that has kept the young woman's body.
Has a satchel, dagger, belt pouch. A long lance - well made - are found
Ruined leather armour
Dagger looks to be well balanced (+1 to hit when thrown)
Satchel, Contents:
• canteen h2o - 1/2 empty
• cloth wrapped sandwiches (moldy)
• 1 scrollcase wax seal of Romack (Vencer recognizes the Controller’s seal)
• Small leather journal and charcoal pencil - reading this looks to be the personal journal of the young woman. She joined the Griffon riders about 3 months back, and did a number of courier runs. Before that, it speaks of time at a small college west of Greyhawk. Before that, she talks of a troubled and bored young life growing up at a mill just outside of Greyhawk city - Sendall's Crossing. From the writings, it appears she has 2 sisters and 1 brother whom all were younger. There is no indication of the rider's name. But does list the Uncle's 1st name (Jantz), and 3 siblings (Sera, Teelie and Bork-head (not sure if the name for the boy is correct or more of a nickname)
• A small tin
• A chipped fragment of Elven pottery - shows tall white tree - with 2 elves standing below - possibly a ceremony - Elvish/1/2 elvish will know this shows "heart-twine" (elvish - Liassa' tlar - wedding ceremony)
Belt pouch contents: 4 Greyhawk minted gold, 15 cop and 21 silver
Corrin takes most of the gear and all, making notes and a good sketch of the young woman - for his changeling skill.
Travelling on until in the later evening, the adventurers see a campfire twinkling in the distance. Vencer
sends out his familiar and scouts. He finds a patrol of kobolds, that seem to have made camp AND have at least four prisoners. The party makes ready for a fight..
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