Brandt's greataxe, Seara's claws, and Nalys' club are all turned aside as the spider deftly uses its cover to advantage to avoid injury.
Isla continues her song and attempts to fire upon the spider.
Calum rides up to the wounded creature, blade still in hand.
William seems hesitant to strike a creature that could be covered in poison.
"Oh come on William, I thought we went through this the last time, your hooves have steel on the bottom, oh fine I will do it myself. Have it your way."
The armored horseman brings his sword down heavily upon the spider, aided by the magical song of Isla.
The sword crunches through sod and chitin, cleaving the spider's head in half. It collapses wetly into its hole in the ground, the sod falling apart around it, and you think that you see a human skeleton in leather armor in the dim light of it's burrow.
Whirling the greataxe around his head and embedding it in the body of the predator, Brandt drags it out of the lair. "Thanks for the help, everyone."
Peering deeper into the lair, "Should we see what that is in there? I donno what we'll find though. At least lay that poor fella to rest?"
Isla dismounts her horse and walks over. "You alright?" she asks.
"I suppose we should probably check the area." she says, in agreement with Brandt.
"Yes, spiders lair unlike many insects. It is possible that it has unknowingly collected some things of value." Begining to look, Geliglee gets himself caught up in webbing and takes more time freeing himself than looking for anything of interest.
You pull out the body of a Brevic man, his leather armor still intact and a short sword at his side (apparently caught unaware by the spider). There is an amulet around his neck, silver and with the head of a stag embossed on it. His belt pouch still jingles with coins, about ten crowns.
As you thoroughly check him over, you find in his boot a scrap of paper. It bears a simple charcoal drawing of a claw-shaped tree, set as though on top of a bald hill, and there is an 'X' scrawled in some dark brown substance at the base of the tree.
You find nothing else of interest in the spider's lair, and can resume your exploration of the land. The rest is like the first part of the day - flat and generally featureless, and it is still quite cold. You are glad to get to return to Oleg's at the end of the day for a warm meal and warmer beds. The others there are continuing their work, and ask you about what you have found.
The gnome looks over the equipment on the corpse but says, I prepared to read my new scrolls today but can check them for magic tomorrow. We must make note to look for a hill with a tree like this to see what this crude map may mean.
When you return to camp, the gnome takes time privately to work on the scrolls and spellbook.
Isla pulls out Happ's stag amulet from her pocket and compares it to the one worn by the dead man.
Intently focused, she jumps a little when Geliglee speaks. Processing what he said, she thinks to herself, I don't think this man was particularly wealthy or well-prepared...but it doesn't hurt to be thorough...
"Don't worry. I've got it..." she mumbles as she begins to cast a spell.
Isla is more that happy to relay the events of the day to anyone who asks. She also asks around camp about the location indicated on the map, trying to match up her own knowledge with anything they might add.
"Aye, keeping an eye out for that could be beneficial to us. Maybe it is where something is buried; 'X' marks the spot an all."
Brandt says, having bound and checked his own wounds.
None of the dead man's gear is magical, but the two amulets are a very close match - clearly crafted by the same manufacturer.
Calum sneaks some table scraps and heads out to the stables. The book was giving him some good information and he was going to start training geliglees dog.
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While everyone was roaming around, Nalys carefully investigated the spider, trying to understand it's major features and then when to take care about horses.
The medallions do not bear a distinguishing mark - their value is purely in the amount of silver they contain, not in their craftsmanship.
The next day you head out, beginning your exploration of the closest portion of the Knarlmarches. The going is much slower among the trees than on the plains. You estimate that it will take two days of riding out cover all the territory.
Day 1 - Encounters
Day 1 - Weather
Day 2 - Encounters
Day 2 - Weather
Your first day is spent mapping this "newer" portion of the forest. The trees here are lighter in growth, and as you get further in they seem to increase in size. It is a cool day, but not uncomfortably so, and by the end of your traveling hours you return safely to Oleg's for an evening meal.
Over dinner that night, the bandits request time to speak with you, one of them - Rorek - takes the lead. "You've offered us a chance to make a better life for ourselves, one within the law. We're all agreed to take you up on that offer, but we're needing a better place to sleep than that shed. We can build it, and you or Oleg'll own it, but until we get it we're not going t' be as productive as you might like. Something like a bunkhouse, even if it's just the beds, is all we're asking. What say you?"
Nodding thoughtfully at the words said by Rorek, Brandt motions to his companions, Svetlana, and Oleg to wander away from the fire and discuss the matter.
"I think this may be a grand opportunity for us to build some trust with these lads, honest work which will help us make them allies." Brandt looks from member to member of the group.
"Personally, I have no problem with the request, as long as they are willing to put in the work." Isla says with a shrug. "We may be punishing them, but they have been working hard and their current living arrangements aren't the most humane."
Turning to Brandt, she replies, "I agree that this is a great opportunity to build trust. I like that they presented their request in a civilized way. I think that is the kind of behavior we should be encouraging."
Nalys nodded:
"This is great, that they are planning to work on their facilities. We should keep them inside Post's walls for a while, just to sure they are not under threat of wild animals, which we meet quite often. It is step up from their previous way of life and probably, they will appreciate that in future."
"I agree, as long as it is built for more than just their needs. Say beds for fifteen instead of just them. That way they are serving themselves and others."
Rorek nods in appreciation of your approval. "You won't regret this, we promise. None of us that're left really had our hearts in the bandits trade anyway. It'll take us a few weeks of work, but we should be able to make it happen. Would you be willing to back us out of your credit with Oleg to make this happen? We figure he'll need to be convinced , we'll need the raw materials , and then we can put in the work to make this happen. All told, this'd be no more than two hundred crowns, and you'd make that investment back in just under two months, once it's ready. We can work harder, too, if'n you're willing to make it worth our while, and it'd be ready in just under two weeks instead of... well, I"m guessing just over three weeks. Are you still up for supporting us in this?"
Isla nods, their requirements sounding reasonable. She turns to the group and asks, "Perhaps we should spend a couple days here until I make sure that Oleg and Svetlana are comfortable with the arrangement...and perhaps you boys could bring in some lumber for them, since we don't exactly let them wander the woods..."
"It would be great, if you could talk to them, you are hard to say 'No'", smiled Nalys, "I might check everyone health here." He thought on how to get Svetlana and Oleg agree on their plan. "This might ensure that those guys are healthy and we are not expecting any diseases. This might be useful for Levetons as well, since cold is nasty and for next several weeks, it won't get easy."
"Good, then I will assist in the design and building plans."
When Nayls mentions that she is hard to say no to, Isla turns bright red and replies, "Oh really? I..uh...never noticed..." Isla says drifting off into self-reflection.
Isla spend her first day talking things over with Oleg. She works on getting his permission, as well as determining where they can build and establishing his ground rules.
On the second day, Isla decides to bring Rorek into a meeting with Oleg. She acts as a mediator, having the two men discuss their concerns and demands with each other, hoping to establish a working relationship between Oleg and the former bandits.
Nalys checked everyone's health and since people were more or less healthy, he switched to animals. They also need no help, so he started working on lumber preparation, building a stash of good wood for further constructions.
Nodding to what the others say, Brandt sets to work gathering helpful items from the immediate surroundings of the camp, seeking to help offset the effort of the former bandits and keeping them, Svetlana, and Oleg happy.
You have a productive pair of days. Isla, indeed, easily wins over Oleg and Svetlana with the idea of getting the workers more installed as a group of hard workers with better lodgings.
Geliglee's plans come together quite quickly, and with enough time left over that he can talk with both Oleg and the laborers about the provisions they'll need inside: a stove for a fire, cots and blankets for all to sleep in, and even negotiating for a set of drawers to make room for more than one set of clothes each for the men (Svetlana is starting to complain about the smell).
Brandt and Nalys ride out to the forest with axes in hand, along with extra horses to help haul the lumber back. It's difficult work, but over two days they are able to collect a surprising amount of good wood that will not impact the overall ecosystem.
During those two days, and including the previous night, Calum continues training Geliglee's dog on keeping back from difficult fights...
...and suceeds in making progress during the two full days dedicated to training.
-----
On the morning of the 28th day of Calistril, it's a cool morning but the day looks promising for better weather. Rorek gives you each a firm handshake to thank you for your help in giving them a chance to start a new life, and promises that you'll see construction move quickly before your very eyes.
-----
You ride back out to the nearest part of the forest, following the furrows that the hauled trees created in the ground, and pick up where you left off on your exploration. The trees are, at times, somewhat difficult to navigate on your large mounts, but you think that you can be finished with this region by the end of the day.
Brandt double checks his axes, and strings an arrow to his longbow. Stealithy moving back toward his companions he motions for silence, holding up 4 fingers and pointing back over his shoulder, then holding his hands to the side of his head, closing his eyes and yawning while he does so and finally motioning for them to follow along with him back to the clearing.
Isla gives Brandt an inquisitive look, not quite sure what is going on. However, assuming that danger may be near, she grabs her shortbow and attempts to move quietly behind him.
x10 = 130'
Unfortunately, Brandt steps on an old, dry branch, and it breaks with a loud CRACK! While two of the creatures move sluggishly, the other two are quick look up, and use their spears to prop up onto their feet while grasping at their bellies. You see more clearly that there are baskets of round, white vegetables, clearly just dug from the ground.
Cursing his heavy boots, the dry weather, branches on the ground, and everything to do with today, Brant advances into the clearing and fires an arrow at a standing kobold.
'Darn Kobolds! Ruining a perfectly good walk in the woods! Surrender!'
Geliglee advances towards the kobold on dog-back, keeping the trees between himself and the threat.
The standing kobolds move a bit faster than Brandt, launching stones from their slings at you.
They scatter to the sides, dodging Brandt's arrow as they go.
Nalys moved his horse forward, found nice clearing and jumped of horseback.
Than he readied his longbow, in case those kobolds will move forward to opening.
Seara flew forward, but then noticed delayed master and waited him behind small tree.
Oh dear. I think these were the kobolds we were planning on approaching diplomatically...maybe this can still be salvaged...
Isla rides up near Brandt, waving a hand towards the kobolds. She shouts out towards them, "Hey there, woah, woah, woah...we don't need to fight each other. Can you understand me?"
However, she keeps her bow ready to attack, should the kobold refuse to talk.
Hearing Isla, Geliglee takes the opportunity to translate for her in Draconic in case the kobolds don't speak common.
Calum urges William to move forward through the forest, avoiding some of the narrower areas. He begins to dismount, the rough forest floor might not be a good place for William to be caught off guard.
"You stay here good friend, we don't want you getting hurt now do we? Yes, I know you care, turn to the side so I can grab my shield will you."
The kobolds are look ready to defend their prize - whatever the small white vegetables might be. They adjust their targeting, and the two sleepier kobolds launch stones at Brandt.
Both miss their mark, and the more alert kobolds launch sling stones at Isla.
One stone just manages to graze her shoulder .