Stranger Creatures
The farmer looks very disgruntled walking you out into the fields. He doesn't explain anything until he's shown you the big plot of flattened crops that lies in the middle of his field. The stalks of the corn which he was growing are frozen to the ground which isn't that odd this time of the year. Save that this is the only place that there's frost at all. He motions angrily toward the flattened corn. "Some big white bird just up and landed here!" The bird in question would have had to be at least thirty feet across to make this depression; so quite a large bird indeed.
"What with my wife running off with my three lads I was already looking to pull in only half my usual crop and now this!"
Darius raises an eyebrow, looking at the depression, then at the farmer and then back at the depression. He says slowly, "A big bird landed here?" He walks over to the depression and says, "That's a pretty big bird indeed... Has this ever happened before Sir Farmer?" He asks this politely as he studies the frosted area and depression.
Tomas looks at the area of the damage, his expression as flat as the crops. "A... bird." It's hard to tell if that's a question or not. The relative size of the bird isn't lost on him, no... he just doesn't look like he quite believes it. "...Can you just imagine the amount of roasted fowl that would produce?"
Brianna nods as she moves with the others and purses her lips just a little, "A bird, might be hard to track a bird." she comments after a moment.
Walking up a little late, Arynne simply looks to the farmer and touches her amulet for a moment, then heads for the depression, and begins to look at the ground for any sort of magic.
Heinrich sits atop his horse and takes advantage of the slightly higher elevation to get a better perspective on the depression. He asks. "So, just to be clear, had you never before nor since seen this bird or others like it? And all it did was land here, sit a while, then take off again? Did you happen to note where it came from or where it went to? Was it part of a flock that remained airborne? What kind of a bird did it resemble? The details /might/ give us a little more to work with."
The farmer looks irritated, and it shows in his voice. "The bird's been flying over my land back and forth for months but I assumed it was some wizards pet. Goodness knows there's enough magic folk around that someone's gonna have a big magic bird. So I didn't say nothin." He looks at the depression and then at Heinrich. "I said creature/s/ didn't I?" He hits the 's' hard.
"Look, I didn't complain when the weird stags with plants growing where their antlers should be ate my apples. I didn't say two bits when the bird landed in my crops yesterday and froze 'em hard to the ground. But now some snake-thing's taken off with my prized cow! You all's got to do something!"
Tomas shakes his head. "Beginning to sound like the misshapen creatures are a symptom of a greater problem," he points out. "Are there any weird ruins or strange natural formations near here?" he inquires. "Might have some kind of magical relic leeching magic into the environment. Either that or you've managed to make an enemy of a wizard with very... interesting ideas of what animals ought to look like."
Arynne looks at the depression on the ground and lets out a bit of mist from her nose....mostly due to the fact that it's rather cold outside. "It is a symptom of a greater problem." She then looks to the farmer. "Did the bird just look like a common variety type of bird...just larger?" She's speaking curiously, but it could unnerve others around her...since her eyes are glowing blue at the moment.
Darius listening to the farmer sighs and says, "Yeah, sounds like the Black Ooze is around here somewhere... Great..."
Heinrich's horse seemingly neighs at Darius's comment
"No weird ruins, or strange formations. Just a few miles of farmland a'fore you hit the forest. No black... ooze either. Not that I've seen. Just the weird creatures stealing my livelihood." He huffs and looks over at Arynne. "I didn't rightfully get a good look at it. When it started to land I got going. All I saw was that it seemed to have scales /and/ feathers."
GAME: Arynne rolls knowledge/arcana+2: (15)+13+2: 30 GAME: Darius rolls survival: (11)+0: 11
Arynne says, "Scales AND feathers!?" She is very VERY alarmed at hearing this. She then runs her hand over her face. It's clearly a very nervous reaction. "Farmer....get the essentials. Clothes, a bit of food, maybe an heirloom or something...then run to Alexandria and find the guild house. If we don't return....write off your farm.""
Darius frowns and looks around and says, "I can't tell if the farm is close to the black ooze pool in the forest... but I can't say it's definitely not either... those creatures definitely sound like what Fluffy turned into (thank goodness Fluffy was a pampered housecat before she was turned...) ..." He stops and then turns to Arynne and then says, "What? You know something?"
"Scales and feathers both... that's a strange-looking creature, to be sure..." Tomas muses. Though then Arynne seems alarms, and he blinks. Darius has asked what the matter is, so he waits for the answer.
Heinrich muses, "A giant lizard bird? Or do some dragons have feathers?"
Brianna cocks her head to the side as she listens and just watches for the moment not commenting since she doesn't really have anything to add.
The farmer looks alarmed. "But my farm is all I have /left/. I can't /leave/ it!" He grows even more alarmed at the word 'dragon'; glancing skyward as though you might be set upon by the thing at this very moment. "You know... that going to the guild house sounds like a good idea." He starts backing away.
Darius draws his greatsword and says, "If it's a dragon, I kind of left my armor of invincibility and my sword of dragonslaying +99 at home with Aika and Fluffy..." He at least tries to make a joke about it... badly.
Arynne points to Alexandria. "Go. If we don't return....sell this farm and get another one." She then takes a deep breath.....and it still doesn't calm her. "Yeah....we're screwed." She says out of earshot of the farmer. "The only species I know of that has feathers AND scales is a Cockatrice. Yes, the chicken monster that turns your to stone if it meets your gaze. But I've never heard of one getting this big, or leaving a cold spot on the ground."
Heinrich shakes his head. "Well, I think I'd rather meet a cockatrice in battle than a dragon, and as for leaving a cold spot, it is winter. Even so, the rumors abound of creatures being corrupted from their usual forms lately."
Darius says, "That's why I think the Black Ooze mutated it, those pools in the sewers of Alexandria and in the forest have the ability to alter creatures into bigger, more dangerous versions of them. I REALLY wish I had Azteg's map, I'd know where the pool in the forest is in relation to this farm. I'll BET you the Cockatrice or whatever it is, is there drinking from it right now. Most of the creatures that get changed end up returning to it periodically from what I've seen." He kneels down and says, "Sir Farmer... show me where the snake took your cow... then get the hell out of here, I'm going to try and track the snake and see if it leads us to the pool and whatever else is around that's causing problems."
...Except that the farmer is already gone. He was given permission to leave and having heard the magic word 'dragon' he's taken off like there’s a real one chasing him to his nearest horse. In this short time he's already made it there and is urging the poor thing off as quickly as it can be made to move.
Darius mutters then, "<Expletive>..." He says, "Great... alright then... guess I'll just have to make do with my meager <arse> skills then... Anyone good with tracking here?"
Arynne says, "then you're an idiot, Heinrich. All a Cockatrice has to do is meet your gaze and you are helpless." She is clearly nervous, but does look relieved that the farmer is leaving. She looks to Darius. "I can only detect magic, and my Arcane Sight is about to run out." She then thinks. "Scales, feathers, snake, dragon. Who knows....maybe there's a goat in there too."
GAME: Darius rolls Survival: (20)+0: 20 GAME: Arynne rolls survival: (11)+2: 13
It's not that difficult to locate the spot where the cow was abducted. There's a huge swath in the ground where the snake came in and presumably did to the cow what snakes do when they're constrictors that have found food. Then it seems to have wandered off again. This trail too is easy to follow, right until you reach the forest. Then it becomes a bit more of a challenge. Thankfully in spite of his initial misgivings Darius is able to track the thing through the various paths that the animal took. Eventually leading you to a heavily flowing stream. The stream is naturally colored, but... shimmers in the darkness in a way that isn't natural. Also the snake is curled in a tree beside it, clearly sleeping off its massive meal.
Thankfully the snake itself looks completely ordinary in spite of being much larger than your average anaconda.
Darius sighs and says, "Yep... great..." He says this quietly as to not wake the snake and kneels down by the stream and says to himself, "I wonder..." he tries to look for landmarks to see if he's nearby the black pool.
GAME: Darius rolls survival: (5)+0: 5
Darius takes a look around and frowns, now he's completely lost in the middle of the forest, no way is he going to figure out where the black pool is in relation to the stream. He mutters, "I should have listened harder to Ga'Elian when he talked about tracking things in the forest... Or should have just brought Fluffy... but then Aika would be completely alone and have wanted to come, so... meh..." He sighs and says to the group coming back, "Well... the question is, do we try to kill it while it's sleeping, or leave it be?"
Arynne says, "The snake or something else?"
Darius replies, "The snake... obviously, I don't relish leaving it to attack other farms or settlements nearby. But I'm not the leader of this party, I've just dealt with the creatures of the black pools a lot, if anyone has a better suggestion or wants to take charge... be my guest."
"Well, it's too late for the cow," Tomas intones. "But that's a good point too -- if it was left alive it would probably attack again. And it might be a child the next time."
Arynne says, "Well...let's take care of the snake then."
Heinrich says, "It would be unchivalrous to attack a sleeping foe, but can we really be sure the beast is asleep? Snakes are said to be sneaky; perhaps it is feigning sleep?"
"Curssssesss." There's a hollow whisper that slides through the air, a hissing from the snake as one luminously golden eye flickers open. <draconic>
Arynne says, "it knows we're here...."
"<Expletive>..." is all Darius says when the snake opens it's eye and says, "Yeah, I gathered that, get ready folks... I have a feeling this is going to be bad..."
Brianna cocks her head to the side and after Arynne says that she nods, "It just swore." she says and then blinks a little as she notices the eye.
Darius raises the greatsword and says, "By the way... just so everyone knows..." He takes a breath and admits, something that makes his manhood shrivel up a bit, "I hate snakes... a LOT..." He shudders, the Indiana Jones syndrome is clear in his features.
Arynne says, "I'd ask 'where's the beef', but I think we know the answer."
Heinrich grins in that unsettling way that is characteristic of goblinoids and oruch. He grabs up his lance and prepares to charge the honorless monster.
"Yesssss it doessss." The hissing is almost irritated as the snake shifts minutely in the tree. It's other eye opens and in the near-dark the eyes do glow. They slide over you and settle on Arynne. <draconic>
GAME: Arynne rolls will +2: (1)+7+2: 10 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Arynne rolls will: (14)+7: 21
"Protect me." The snake demands with a hiss and climbs further up into the trees so as to protect itself from your attacks. <draconic>
GAME: Brianna activates her Titan Armor, gaining: +4 Str GAME: Arynne casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16
Brianna activates her armor, lines glowing across it as she seems to be a bit bulkier. She holds off on attacking though, "It tried to get someone to defend it, but didn't attack any other way." she says mostly to herself.
GAME: Arynne casts Arcane Sight. Caster Level: 5 DC: 19 GAME: Tomas casts Resistance. Caster Level: 2 DC: 12
"Lovely," Tomas mutters as he realizes what almost happened. He aims a hand towards Arynne then, speaking the words while making the required gestures for a spell to hopefully bolster her resistance to such a thing, should it happen again.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+10: (17)+10: 27 GAME: Arynne rolls 5d6: (17): 17
Arynne grabs her head as the snake tries to get her to defend it. She lets out a growl as she resists the command, until finally....."NO!" She then looks at the snake again. "I WAS GOING TO SAVE YOU...." She yells....and electricity arcs from her amulet. "NOW YOU CAN EAT LIGHTNING!" And the lightning bolt arcs from her hands...AND HER AMULET....to graze the side of the snake's head.....
GAME: Heinrich used a Javelin of Lightning. GAME: Heinrich rolls 5d6: (15): 15 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+10: (14)+10: 24
As the snake moves up the tree, Darius sheaths his sword (bad idea likely) and pulls out his longbow and slots in an arrow to shoot it.
Heinrich mutters, "Coward." and tosses a javelin at the snake. As the javelin flies from his gauntleted hand, it transforms into a shaft of lightning
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (18)+8: 26 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4+2: (2)+2: 4 GAME: Arynne rolls fort: (9)+4: 13
The snake rushes out of the tree, suddenly lightning fast in spite of how lazily it had been moving before. In moments it has reached Arynne, biting her and dropping her to the ground where she lays death-like.
Tomas winces. "That looks bad. Sorry, I didn't come out here to die. I'll take her with me and see if I can get her some help, but I'm not staying here with something that can drop somebody that fast."
GAME: Brianna rolls fist: aliased to bab+strength+1: (16)+3+6+1: 26 GAME: Brianna rolls fist: aliased to bab+strength+1: (3)+3+6+1: 13 GAME: Brianna rolls fdam: aliased to 1d8+strength: (6)+6: 12
Brianna shakes her head as she watches the snake drop Arynne like that, "Now that wasn't nice." she says and moves a bit closer and then slams first one and then the other fist at the snake. The first one hits soundly, but the second misses.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (14)+8: 22 GAME: Tomas rolls fortitude: (15)+2: 17 GAME: Tomas rolls strength: (17)+1: 18 GAME: Darius rolls weapon6: (13)+8: 21 GAME: Darius rolls damage6: aliased to 1D8+5: (6)+5: 11 GAME: Heinrich rolls Lance: aliased to Weapon2: (4)+0: 4
Darius blinks as the snake strikes and then quickly steps back and pulls the string on the bow, letting loose an arrow that pierces the heavy scales of the snake high on it's torso, he calls out, "Everyone back off and use ranged weapons, don't let it get close to you and look you in the eyes or you'll fall under it's spell!"
GAME: Brianna rolls fist: aliased to bab+strength+1: (7)+3+6+1: 17 GAME: Brianna rolls fdam: aliased to 1d8+strength: (3)+6: 9 GAME: Darius rolls weapon6: (14)+8: 22 GAME: Darius rolls damage6: aliased to 1D8+5: (8)+5: 13 GAME: Heinrich rolls CompanionMelee: (19)+3: 22 GAME: Heinrich rolls 1d4+3: (4)+3: 7
The snake sees its prey leaving and takes off after her... and incidentally the man carrying her.
Once the snake moves to attack the fallen Arynne and it then dies from everyone attacking it for forgetting to mind it's surroundings, Darius moves to pluck his arrows from the corpse and says, "Well... that... wasn't as bad as it could have been." He calls to the fleeing Tomas, "Get back here! You don't even know which way the town is!" He shakes his head, "Oh for <expletive>'s sake!" He looks at Heinrich, "Could you go get him, he's going to get lost and end up killing our companion and himself. If there's a changed snake here, there's bound to be worse things around that might scent him out, he needs to be brought back."
Heinrich sighs, reholsters his lance, and says, "He doesn't deserve it, but I suppose." He guides his steed to trot after the body-laden sorcerer.
Tomas stops at hearing the yell from Darius. "Then get her to town, will you? You know the way." He'll hand Arynne off to Darius then and then head off. Which way he doesn't know. Doesn't really care. But 'away from here' sounds like the best place to be.
Brianna cocks her head to the side. Her armor has powered down and then she shakes her head a bit, "It's safer in a group," she calls out but then looks to the others, "Is she just injured, I do have some healing contraptions."
There's a loud groan before Arynne sits up and holds her head. "Well....that was an experience." She then flops over on her side....but she's still breathing. "How DO you humans do that?"
Arynne rolls onto her back. "Just...lemme lie here for a minute." She then HURKS and spits up all over her face. "OKay, bad idea." She then rolls over onto her hands and knees and pukes the rest out. "Goose does NOT taste better the second time. YUCK!"
Brianna chuckles a little, "Do what?" she asks, "Are you okay?" she asks still with a bit of concern.
Arynne says, "No. I'm NOT okay. I just SLEPT! DO you realize how unnerving it is for a race that DOESN'T SLEEP!?"
Darius sighs and says, "Are you good to continue?" He asks Arynne, yep, no sympathy here.
Heinrich just stares.
Arynne sits up...eventually. "yes I'm fine. Apparently that snake had some sort of sleep poi........." She then looks back at the snake. "Uh.....Brianna, right? Get some of the snake's poison! Now!"
Brianna cocks her head to the side, "Have anything to keep it in, doesn't do much good to collect it if you don't have anything to put it in. Not much of an alchemist either."
Arynne says, "I've got plenty of vials, Brianna. Just go into the pouch on my left hip."
Heinrich tempts fate, "So, that's it then?"
Brianna nods her head and then will head over and gets a couple of the vials and then go to see what she can do about getting the snake venom.
GAME: Darius rolls survival: (18)+0: 18
Heinrich will accompany Darius.
While the hilarity is going on, Darius is focused on the business at hand, he moves around, looking for more signs of the creatures that attacked the farm intending to exterminate them all to let the farmer be able to farm on his farm again.
GAME: Brianna rolls survival: (19)+1: 20
There are signs that there have been several animals here of late. Including tracks from the farmer himself. There is no sign of the bird creature however though it's possible that it drinks further up or downstream. Meanwhile Brianna harvests the snakes venom.
Brianna cocks her head to the side as she gets the venom harvested, "So think the stream is like the pool? It has a strange look."
Arynne takes this time to slowly get back to her feet....
Darius glances at Brianna and says, "Probably, that snake definitely wasn't normal at least, that's pretty much a symptom of the black pool. I don't see anything suspicious so I think we'll push upstream and see if we can find the cockatrice or whatever it is further upstream."
Heinrich nods, "I agree." is all he says.
-TBC-