The
Quest
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The
Quest
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Chapter 3: The Cage
Chatham continues to scan the surrounding forest through the bars, but he refuses to go more than a foot or two inside of the cage.
Nova continues on further inside of the cage and finding more of the same: dried blood and bones in various conditions from shattered to whole. His mind reels at what is before him, he finds the shear number of crushed bone fragments from different creatures is incredible.
Lars stares at the signs with confusion. "I am certainly no woodsman, but this seems very odd to me. It looks as though the animals were held inside this cage? And that a great many of them died when they attempted to leave it?” He shakes his head in disbelief; “I find no sense in any of this..."
When confronted with death on such a massive scale, Lars falls back on his faith to give him strength. The young priest bows his head and intones a brief prayer to Arilus. He renews his promise of fidelity and beseeching his lord for his continued favor. When he looks up, he says, "What now? Can any of you make sense of this scene? Nova, which way to this trove and are there any ominous signs in that direction?"
At first Nova doesn’t answer. He continues onward deeper into the cage, his mind numb from trying to take in the scale of this operation and trying to avoid that one nagging thought that keeps cropping back up again and again. Finally he realizes that the others are more than ready to leave this place. He thrusts the errant thought away from him mercilessly and turns back, “I don’t know about this place, I’ve never heard of anything even remotely like this. But we should still be headed south. There is a depression ahead and we need to go down into it. I’m not sure how much further south it is though.”
He looks back at the cage as he leaves it. Then putting it behind him in mind as well as in body he returns to his old chipper self, “Whatever happened here, happened a long time ago and we don’t need to worry about it anymore. Reorienting himself he turns and starts heading south for about three steps before tripping on an exposed rib and falling face first to the ground with a crash. Nova curses himself for being clumsy and rubs his ribs. He hurt himself in the fall when he landed on another skeleton. Taking a closer look at this one, he suddenly leaps up giving a surprised yelp. This skeleton was crushed into the ground under the animal hooves but retrained its basic shape.
The newly discovered skeleton seems to be that of a small humanoid creature, not quite as tall as a dwarf and a lot thinner. It might even be considered a child’s skeleton. Where the hand would be is a small fine sword, with a grip that is much too small for any of those gathered here to use.
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Lars gasps as he sees the remains. A thought occurs to him that this might be a wondrous discovery. His feelings are plain as he speaks, "Could it have been a...halfling? How sad to see a legend, in such a condition. Are there more about?"
Inspired by the discovery, the young priests, begins searching around while Simoneous examines the sword.
Crovic stands quietly nearby. The unnatural silence has already made him extremely nervous and yet something about the skeleton they found makes him even more so uneasy. He finally decides to go and check out the woods to the south nearby just to be away from this place.
Simoneous joins Lars in looking at the skeleton and finds a couple more similar skeletons in worse condition. Also there was one directly in the path of the so-called stampede. The bones have been pulverized and pounded into the ground so that the only thing left is a bone-colored-slightly humanoid shaped depression.
After getting over his initial shock, the gears in Nova’s mind starts to turn, “You know these guys could be worth some money. I mean legendary halflings...live ones would be worth more, but just the skeleton is proof enough that they exist. People will come for miles around just to see it...”
Simoneous interrupts him, "We should make sure a proper burial is done. Appease and restless spirits."
Nova attempts to put up some resistance to the plan, but the others agree with the priest and proceed without him.
Between Simoneous, Chatham, and Lars they quickly have the remains of the humanoid creatures buried in several shallow graves.
Lars performs the last rites over Nova’s continued objections.
Afterward Chatham says, “Can we go now? This place is really creeping me...” he stops as he sees something rather large in the shadows of the woods to the south. When the others look the shadow seems fades into the darkness.
A few moments later, Crovic strides into the clearing coming from that same direction looking left and right puzzled. He rejoins the group, “Did you see something just a moment ago? I could have sworn I saw a giant winged creature but it vanished like a ghost.”
Nova snorts derisively grunting that the shadows are just that shadows and there isn’t anything living here but them.
Simoneous picks up the creatures sword. “We should take this to a sage when we return and see if they can shed any light on it."
Seeing that there is nothing left to do here, Nova starts out again and this time he manages to avoid tripping up on any skeletons or other protuberances. Deliberately heading due south.
They haven’t gone very far back into the woods when the sun seems to be eclipsed and an ominous rumble rolls through the air. Within moments the forest comes alive behind them with the sound of water slamming down on treetops, branches, small bushes and hard earth. Like a marching wall of water, the thunderous downpour advances. Swift as a flying roc it overtakes the small group, who are forced to seek shelter from the severity of the storm.
Of everyone in the group, Crovic seems not really to care so much while Lars seems to be enjoying the huge gusts of wind that blast through them chilling the water in their clothing and making them quite chilly.
Thanking his foresight Nova quickly sets up a small three-man tent that he had intended to use just for himself and the group gathers in there to escape from the torrential downpour. There is almost no room as people move to the corners of the tent. The wind picks up and soon they are the only things keeping the tent from taking flight. The men are relatively silent and the only sound inside the shelter is the chattering of teeth from those whose sopping wet cold clothing bothers them.
While they huddle in their shelter, the flash of lightning and the sound of rolling thunder comes more often as the rain pounds mercilessly at the outside of their shelter. Eventually everyone falls asleep, whether comfortable or not. Sometime during the next morning the rain slackens a bit. Still in their wet clothing they wait it out until it stops and exits.
Nova asks, “So whose collecting fire wood so we can dry ourselves out?” Before anyone can point to him he says, “I bought the tent, so I’ve done my bit.”
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Without a word Crovic leaves the tent and strides off into the woods, his brow furrowed and his thoughts anywhere but on firewood.
He heads out to scout the area around the camp for signs of...something... anything as long as it is living out there. He didn’t like the looks of that swiftly moving storm. He has been worried that something strange is going on, ever since he spotted the vanishing shadow near the cage and he has been edgy. Being confined in that tent with the suffocating smells of the other people didn’t help that much.
It also doesn’t help that the only sounds he seems to be able to detect are either from the storm ahead or camp behind. None of the usual forest animals are out and he can find no game for breakfast.
While out scouting around he can find nothing to calm the sense that everything around him is simply put, ‘not right’.
After traveling for a bit, he notices dark clouds above him and the smell of something burning. He turns to see a huge mass of black roiling smoke rising up from the area near the campsite. Worried that something might be wrong he hurries back; only to find out that letting Simoneous and Lars pick the wood for the fire was a mistake. There is a large pile of soaking wet green wood in a cone shape and it is the cause of the billowing clouds of black smoke as the sap filled wet wood burns.
*****
Stretching, Simoneous looks around, "Well I could do with a walk, get the creaks out of the old bones. I will help get some wood. Who is with me?"
Lars chuckles at Nova's request, seemingly tickled by the way it was framed. "Certainly, do not stir yourself, my friend! I would be happy to collect a bit of wood. Such delightful weather we are having..."
Chatham’s only response is, “You could have gotten a bigger tent...”
Simoneous goes to leave the tent and pauses at the exit. "I just thought of something. The gatherers that were mentioned back where the moss men attacked... Does anyone know what they are?”
The others pause and look to one another. It seems no one can answer the question.
Simoneous continues and the reason for his question becomes clear, “Could they have had something to do with the cage? It looks like a lot of animals were being 'gathered'. Just a thought..."
Chatham sighs, “I was kind of hoping I was the only one who thought that way. I bet that old man would know. Why didn’t he tell us about that cage? And what else is out there that he should have told us about?”
The worried warrior crawls out of the shelter and draws his blade, the sound of which echoes through the woods before fading. After which the silence is broken only by the distant sound of thunder from the fast retreating storm.
No birds trill at the newly uncovered sun, no insects swarm in to taste the blood of the travelers, no forest animals skitter away at the sound of their footsteps.
Chatham pours the water out of his scabbard and gets an oilcloth and begins to clean his weapon.
Nova begins to work on a way of getting the water out of the inside of the tent.
Lars and Simoneous head out to gather firewood. The wind is oddly still, much to Lars disappointment. There were a few moments during the storm when it seemed as if the wind was going to carry them away shelter and all. During those times Lars seemed to be having a wonderful time while the others worried about whether tomorrow would even come for them.
Unfortunately, as a life-long city boy Lars really doesn't know what comprises good fire wood. He plops a couple of pieces of sodden, spongy windfall by the fire pit, then spends several minutes trying to break a green branch off a tree before Simoneous points out that there are several good branches wet deadwood on the ground. What neither of them take into account is a lot of that deadwood is quite wet and some of it has only been recently ripped from trees by the storm, so it’s not quite dead yet.
*****
After the pair gather a large pile, Nova sets thing ablaze with his flint and stone. As he steps back thick black choking smoke soon covers the area heading south. There are lots of crackling, snapping and sizzling as soaking wet branches drop water on the fire causing pops and branches burn slowly as the water inside of the branches dries out.
Crovic returns, empty handed as the worst of the cloud of smoke rolls off into the sky leaving a beacon for all to see. He seems quite disappointed and concerned at the same time.
Everyone gathers near the fire to dry off their clothing. After a while they begin feasting on the dried rations they brought at the last town.
After a cold quiet meal, the slightly damp group of adventurers waits until Nova packs his shelter away and joins them at the fire.
Chatham is busy oiling his armor and Crovic sits alone with his thoughts. The slight breeze blowing through the area is enough to bring a slight chill to his damp skin.
Nova looks at the map again and checks his location with the sun. “I guess we are still going in the right direction. If we continue to go due south we should hit the depression not too long from now.
While the others are ready to go, Chatham refuses to budge until his armor is properly oiled. By the time he is done it is nearly noon. But the good news is, that it gave everyone plenty of time to dry off completely near the fire.
The trip for the rest of the day is fairly uneventful and that evening they sleep under the stars as for some strange reason it is warmer now than it was in the morning. The next day they wake up and begin trudging through the forest when they spot an strange area with several uprooted trees.
Something about the trees themselves puts’ Crovic on edge. While the others are looking around trying to figure out what uprooted them, he examines one trying to figure out what about the trees bothers him. Suddenly he sees what is bothering him and he calls out to the others only to find that he is too late, they have also discovered the trees secret.
Nova moves quickly into the clearing moving around the exposed roots of the upturned trees. He finally climbs up on a log and starts jumping from log to log trying to find a path through before his foot slips and he cries out as he falls down.
Simoneous and Lars are nearby and peek over to check on him. Nova grins ruefully as he gets to his knees, “Ooops a little clumsy.” He cries out in pain as he tries to stand on his left foot and suddenly collapses.
Lars is the closest and moves in to check to see if he needs healing when suddenly he sees a Nova being dragged by his left leg toward one of the few small trees that haven’t been uprooted. In the trunk of the tree is a hole that seems oddly shaped almost like a maw. But this hole is opening and closing. Lars doesn’t have time to react as something wraps around his feet and pulls his legs out from under him. He lands hard upon his back.
***************
Nova rolls over the ground as the tree root drags him closer to the tree. He turns over to see where he is going and after taking one look at the tree he starts screaming at the top of his lungs and flailing outward until he grabs upon an outstretch root and holds on for dear life. The root pulls more insistently and it feels as if he is being ripped in two.
Crovic swiftly readies an arrow and fires. It flies toward the hungry creature hitting solidly, but if the creature paid it any mind none can tell as it mercilessly tugs at Nova and pulls in Lars as well.
Lars digs in his other heel trying to slow him down. He quickly tears at his scabbard pulling out his short sword, while he is being dragged over hard rocks. If he had any fear a bystander could not tell as in a cheerful voice, he calls out, "Carnivorous trees! I never knew that I was missing so many wonders by staying within city walls all my life. How do you fellows usually deal with these things?"
Simoneous pulls out a piece of wood and moves closer to get a clear view of the creature. He answers Lars question with a bit of magic as he speaks the rune inscribed on the piece of wood. The piece of wood nearly vanishes in a flash of light, which coalesces into a dark angry green arrow shape. With a gesture of the mage the arrow streaks forward slamming into the root that is pulling Nova’s ankle. It hits with a small explosion of light and the root severs neatly.
The creatures’ makes a noise that sounds a lot like a ghostly wind blowing through the forest.
Nova takes not a moment to wait for the creature to try again he crawls then half runs/half crawls and finally hops away from the tree as fast as possible.
Chatham comes to Lars rescue as he leaps up over a log and brings his down on the root severing it only a few feet from Lars’ foot. He quickly helps Lars up and the two look to see three more roots snaking their way, these much larger than the first two, but seem to have a much more limited range.
Crovic shoots again and again his arrow strikes true, but it is still hard to tell if he is having any affect on it.
Simoneous speaks a rune as Chatham helps Lars with his injured ankle back away from the incoming roots.
Small silvery lights appear out of the sky around the tree, but they seem to have no effect on the creature.
***************
Figuring that his bow is doing seemingly little good, Crovic takes out his Long sword and prepares to defend his companions. His eyes seem glued to every movement of the bastardly roots and his breathing is slow and steady as he tenses all of his muscles seemingly ready to leap into action at any moment.
Simoneous looks around to make sure there are no more advancing roots, drawing his dagger. "Fire! That should do it. Can anyone quickly make fire or does anybody have any oil that can be thrown at these things?"
He quickly retreats pulling at his backpack to get a torch and some fire making materials. Nova collapses on the ground next to him.
Once they have hobbled out of range of the new roots, Lars pats Chatham on the shoulder saying, "Thank you, my friend. That was a timely bit of pruning! I'd hate to end my first camping trip as plant food..."
Even Chatham spares to laugh before saying, “If I’d known we were fighting this kind of battle I would have brought an axe.”
Crovic slowly retreats making sure every one is safe and they aren’t attacked from behind.
Soon the entire group is safely outside the range of the giant roots as they start moving trees to one side or another in frustration at losing their prey.
When he is certain there are no more roots snaking toward him, Lars releases Chatham and leans against one of the deadfalls. Lifting his head, he calls out, "Beneficent Arilus, Master of breath and Lord of the sky! Your servant has become mired in the dirt. If it please you, blow away the dross and pain of earthbound life and make me whole again to serve your will!"
As if in answer to this plea a gust of wing blows through the clearing tossing up leaves, dirt, a few loose branches, ruffling their hair, swirling around the young as if he were the center of the tempest and putting out the newly lit torch that Simoneous was working on.
As quickly as it came the wind vanished and Lars sighs refreshed.
Nova lies on his back holding his badly swollen ankle and one arm over his middle, his face a mask of pain. “What the heck happened in this blighted forest? None of this is on the maps and no one ever mentioned stuff like hungry trees! You would think that someone would remember a minor little detail like trees that eat people!” He finishes off with a string of curses. Out of the corner of his eye she spots Simoneous getting the torch relit again and he says, “That’s a great idea, burn this entire accursed forest down that way we don’t have to deal with it anymore.”
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