The monkeys howling and dancing wildly. Something danger in the waters. So we follow their leads to use thick vines to swing across the narrow river. One after another till our cleric remains. We left our healing till last?! Sudieman swings halfway but his heavy armor is too much for the vine. “SPLASH.” The monkeys howl as the water churns. Piranha!
Diero quickly transforms into an alligator swimming to the cleric’s rescue. But the cleric ignores the gator as he strides toward safety; his armor protecting most of his flesh. Once on the far bank, the gator tail-slaps Sudieman…pissed the cleric ignored the rescue efforts that put Diero at risk. Diero returns to human form as we press into more trees.
21 July (Flamerule): Days before we come upon a clearing. Two cranes stand one-legged basking in the sun. Daisee startles their peace, “Hello? My, you are very colorful.” Surprisingly the birds respond in common. They are more than excited to describe the area even offering, “Come rest at our aviary. We have many treasures to offer in trade. Some magical.” Indeed, we follow.
Deeper into the forest coming upon a HUGE tree. It’s trunk almost 40 feet wide. We climb a spiraling wooden staircase that climbs to the top. The cranes flapping at our side, “Yes, we built these stairs to aid trademen who come to barter.” We enter a large circular room where another crane offers, “You come to buy? Trade? Yes, we have weapons, armors, gear. Whatever you need. How did we come by them? Mostly abandoned next to the dead. Yes, some magical like those scrolls on the walls, these bottles of elixir. He brings forth chain armor claiming it too is magic. But Diero knows better as he’s cast ‘Detect Magic’. He leans toward his companions ears, “They lie. Maybe the bottles and scrolls, but nothing else magical. I don’t trust…”
His words caught in his throat as the floor gives way, plunging the group down the hollow trunk of the tree. Above, cranes can be heard cawing, “We’ll be down shortly to get YOUR abandoned gear.” Kevar has cast ‘Feather Fall’ on the group; so, we lightly touch down into knee-deep water (chin deep for Daisee and Dyxon). No time to act on our anger as skeletons rise from the water to attack. Diero already attacking the nearest. Sudieman casts ‘Turn Undead’ scattering the other undead that flee his presence. We make short work of the lone skeleton before following the others, “There must be an exit.”
The water was but a pool, so we easily follow the footprints thru the dirt tunnel. Within minutes we exit to sunshine peeking thru the foliage. Quick plans by Sudieman, “Evil must be destroyed.” Diero is about to suggest the birds acted out of natural scavenger instincts, but he can see the cleric’s interpretation of actions. The birds didn’t just scavenge abandoned gear; they caused the abandonment.
Diero transforms into a crane acting as if his wing broken to explain his walking instead of flight. He leads the others back towards the great tree as if he’s bringing another clutch of prey to the slaughter. We climb the circular stairs once again, then enter the trap room. Dyxon makes quick work disabling the trap as Sudieman slays the lone crane who happened to be inside. Soon smoke billows from the flap entrance to the room; fire to draw the pack of crane to the tree. Dozens can be heard squawking as they fly to the tree in hopes of extinguishing their nest. One after another bird is either beheaded or crushed by the clerics’ swinging hammer and blade. Soon the only sound is that of crackling wood being consumed by fire. Once again Kevar casts ‘Feather Fall’ as we descend to the forest floor. A raging forest fire growing behind us as we press on to our destination, Nangalore.
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