Ignatius does detect thoughts from another source in this room.
They come as thieves. Yes, but they will not have you. You are precious to me, little dove. Yes, most precious.
Ah, finally another "entity" in the room!
Ignatius proceeds closer to the "source" from which these thoughts seem to emanate. He thinks of casting Invisibility, but then realizes that it'd be unnecessary and useless, since no creature is apparently there, and if something is there, it would be cunning enough to detect him any way eventually.
@Nimran I know bless doesn’t cure light wounds. I was using the spontaneous casting ability of 3.0/3.5 clerics to dispose of an existing spell slot for a cure spell of the same level. So I was dropping Bless in the moment for Cure Light Wounds, just like I had exchanged a Sanctuary spell for cure light wounds the previous action. Sorry if I wasn’t very clear.
Ok, thanks for reminding me about Pathfinder. No channel energy. The two systems are so similar I always get them mixed up. I don’t even try to understand grappling since Pathfinder came out...
If there's enemy standing still, then yes. And if it not initiates an oppurtunity attack from the ogres, i'm not completely familiar with this rule, i read 3.5 a long time ago.
Kaled casts Magic Missile, and two bolts of energy strike the last wounded ogre in the back. The ogre lurches forward and falls to the ground, smoke rising from its corpse.
The remaining ogre, who was asleep during the first half of the fight, looks around at his dead comrades, then throws his greatclub to the ground and holds up his hands. He is surrendering.
The remaining ogre, who was asleep during the first half of the fight, looks around at his dead comrades, then throws his greatclub to the ground and holds up his hands. He is surrendering.
Great! We have a captive enemy now, so we can question him about the hag's location.
Ignatius suddenly feels something grab his leg, and a wave of weakening energy washes into him, but he manages to shake the feeling off. Standing just below him is the hag, her hand on his leg. She grins devilishly and croaks “Come to steal what is mine, have you, little thief?”
Ignatius suddenly feels something grab his leg, and a wave of weakening energy washes into him, but he manages to shake the feeling off. Standing just below him is the hag, her hand on his leg. She grins devilishly and croaks “Come to steal what is mine, have you, little thief?”
Ignatius smiles warmly and says in a relaxed manner:
"Alas, good granny, your hands are too dainty, And 'tis not fair they touch my muddy feet. I think we should first exchange some pleasantry, For I'm simply on a very friendly visit.
Seeing you absent, in I came, For I didn't see any door on which to knock. Might I ask you your good name, And then we can have some cordial talk?"
“If you wished to talk, then why didn’t you just say so?” the hag asks. “The boys would have let you in. They know not to delay visitors who come to see Granny Woodworm.” She lets go of Ignatius’ leg and cackles. “Now tell me, little one, what brings you so far into this forest?”
Vaga embrace first the pain from being beaten half to death.. well, more like an inch from death. Then he feels the surge of healing energy from the clerics. He smiles, he evaded death once more and this time, THIS time, he stood his ground and defended his friends. He clenches his fist, looks at it and tries to imprint the feeling of landing that stunning blow. It was his first time, but it won't be the last.
He tries to brush of the blood on him, to make him more presentable. He turns to the ogre who gave up and says "You fought good and with honor, defending your master." he turns to the others "We should let him go, he has done nothing wrong and I trust he will not attack us again."
Guston pulls some thick rope out of his pack and hands it to Kaled. “Tie him up,” he says. “Whatever the naked dwarf says, I don’t trust this guy to just walk away. He works for an evil, possessing hag, after all. He can’t be all that deserving of honor or mercy.”
Kaled nods with agreement to Guston's request, accept the rope and ties the ogre as proper as he could. "Let's see if Ignatius found any more than i. I think he left for the cave right after i arrived back here. I found the cave as empty, but maybe our odd friend had better luck to find the hag we are looking for."
“If you wished to talk, then why didn’t you just say so?” the hag asks. “The boys would have let you in. They know not to delay visitors who come to see Granny Woodworm.” She lets go of Ignatius’ leg and cackles. “Now tell me, little one, what brings you so far into this forest?”
"Indeed, it has been a distance too long, Trudging through the forest strewn with many a leaf, But before I speak more, on and along, Here is a little present for you that I'd like to give."
Ignatius takes out the Golden Bead Necklace, and holds it in front of the hag with a smile.
The hag looks at Ignatius suspiciously, then uses Mage Hand to take the necklace. “This is an interesting gift you bring to me,” she croaks.
"Oh really? Do you like it, good granny? Though I don't know what it truly is. But I found it in a place very uncanny, And perhaps it has some hidden bliss?
Since the journey was long, and tiring too Would you please regale me with a tale? And speak with your wisdom, great and true, Of your legendary deeds, so I may learn something as well?"
Granny Woodworm cackles and says “Oh, it is quite the gift, indeed. Ah, these old bones can recall a time for you, little one, when they were young and full of life. A traveler, this old bag once was. A woman filled with a passion for adventure. Her parents had wished her to live a safer life, and so they forbade her from living her dream. But one day, she came to an old woman not unlike myself, and asked for a solution to her dilemma. You see, she wanted so much to go on her adventures, but she also wished to make her parents proud, and so she was torn between following their wishes, or her dreams.
“‘A solution does exist,’ the old woman answered, and she took a strand of the young girl’s hair. ‘By tomorrow, your parents will be happy to see you leave.’
“The girl was ecstatic, and she returned home with a spring in her step. Little did she know that that would be the last time she smiled, for when she had gone inside, she found her parents indeed, and they were very happy to see her leave.” Granny Woodworm cackles again. “In fact, they forced her out, with stones and knives. They no longer saw her as their daughter, no, but as a monster! It did solve the dilemma, however, for then there were no parents to please. This young girl ran back to the old woman’s cottage, but when she entered, she found no one inside. Believing the old woman to be at fault, she swore revenge, but far too much time had passed, and she too became old and haggard.” She finishes the story with another cackle and then says “Not a happy ending, I know, but a true one. ‘It’s far more useful than a prettier version ever could be.”
"Alas, that is too sad a tale to hear! But worry not, for I've friends who can help you, They are still gossiping with the boys outside, I fear, But they'll come very soon, in a minute or two!
If you'll allow me, I can call them in, And you can share with them your sad tale, They are good boys and girls, and always have been, And they can surely make you feel well!"
It's better not to take her by surprise since that can make her suspicious or even hostile.
I'm going off to sleep, so if now the others enter, Ignatius will introduce them to the hag politely, and try to make a negotiation. But even then, we should not rush, lest we unnecessarily make her hostile.
Even Vaga is surprised by that, he who normally have no problem switching mood from combat to peaceful, but he would have never thought the creepy spider kid to be having a civil conversation with the hag. Actually he assumed the kid would have pulled some tricks by now making the hag aggressive!
"What a pleasant surprise! There are truly some redeeming qualities in the kid", Vaga thinks to himself. "Perhaps the kid would want some sage-like advice in the future.. perhaps I should take him in under my wing and tutor him? Yes, the next time we setup camp I should do that.. "
Vaga goes in and introduce himself to the hag. Healed up, he's spry as ever, though half-naked and with his own semi-dried blood all over himself, he's not a pretty sight. But neither is the hag, and Vaga's lack of social skills doesn't even make him realize that. He just walks in and talks, as usual, without hesitation.
"Hello there, hag! I am Vaga, and these are my friends. Except the gnome, he's.. an acquaintance of sorts.. eeeh.. or something. (He did heal me though.. she did.. damn, I will never understand that gnome!). We need you to release a young maiden from her curse! Can you please do that now?"
Aah yes. a direct approach is always the correct approach! I should teach the kid that.. yes, he will like that.
*Anduin, who had previously been clucking after Vaga, and then chasing after Fiora, to cluck after her, suddenly puts on his best smile.*
Ah! A fellow Granny. Please may I introduce myself as... Nanna Andaweena. This is my boy Vaga…
*Anduin elbows him painfully in the ribs.*
Off with the fairies some times... Always wanting to save every damsel he meets. Although, the only person who could save the girl from a lifetime of misery is you.
The girl is in a hut a good walk away from here. Everything she touches dies and withers. Please can you help?
*Anduin who half heard the story being told Ignatuis uses what he heard.*
We don't often get happy endings, perhaps the girl will waste the chance you could give her, but at least she gets a chance at not wasting it... You could even break the cycle Granny Woodworm.
Guston, still invisible, takes this opportunity to carefully, quietly search for the hag’s “eye”. She seems distracted enough by all the conversation. He also keeps his eye open for any traps.
Comments
Ignatius proceeds closer to the "source" from which these thoughts seem to emanate. He thinks of casting Invisibility, but then realizes that it'd be unnecessary and useless, since no creature is apparently there, and if something is there, it would be cunning enough to detect him any way eventually.
Ok, thanks for reminding me about Pathfinder. No channel energy. The two systems are so similar I always get them mixed up. I don’t even try to understand grappling since Pathfinder came out...
The remaining ogre, who was asleep during the first half of the fight, looks around at his dead comrades, then throws his greatclub to the ground and holds up his hands. He is surrendering.
"Alas, good granny, your hands are too dainty,
And 'tis not fair they touch my muddy feet.
I think we should first exchange some pleasantry,
For I'm simply on a very friendly visit.
Seeing you absent, in I came,
For I didn't see any door on which to knock.
Might I ask you your good name,
And then we can have some cordial talk?"
“If you wished to talk, then why didn’t you just say so?” the hag asks. “The boys would have let you in. They know not to delay visitors who come to see Granny Woodworm.” She lets go of Ignatius’ leg and cackles. “Now tell me, little one, what brings you so far into this forest?”
He tries to brush of the blood on him, to make him more presentable. He turns to the ogre who gave up and says "You fought good and with honor, defending your master." he turns to the others "We should let him go, he has done nothing wrong and I trust he will not attack us again."
"Let's see if Ignatius found any more than i. I think he left for the cave right after i arrived back here. I found the cave as empty, but maybe our odd friend had better luck to find the hag we are looking for."
Trudging through the forest strewn with many a leaf,
But before I speak more, on and along,
Here is a little present for you that I'd like to give."
Ignatius takes out the Golden Bead Necklace, and holds it in front of the hag with a smile.
"And you.. " Vaga adress the ogre "Don't be stupid."
Though I don't know what it truly is.
But I found it in a place very uncanny,
And perhaps it has some hidden bliss?
Since the journey was long, and tiring too
Would you please regale me with a tale?
And speak with your wisdom, great and true,
Of your legendary deeds, so I may learn something as well?"
“‘A solution does exist,’ the old woman answered, and she took a strand of the young girl’s hair. ‘By tomorrow, your parents will be happy to see you leave.’
“The girl was ecstatic, and she returned home with a spring in her step. Little did she know that that would be the last time she smiled, for when she had gone inside, she found her parents indeed, and they were very happy to see her leave.” Granny Woodworm cackles again. “In fact, they forced her out, with stones and knives. They no longer saw her as their daughter, no, but as a monster! It did solve the dilemma, however, for then there were no parents to please. This young girl ran back to the old woman’s cottage, but when she entered, she found no one inside. Believing the old woman to be at fault, she swore revenge, but far too much time had passed, and she too became old and haggard.” She finishes the story with another cackle and then says “Not a happy ending, I know, but a true one. ‘It’s far more useful than a prettier version ever could be.”
"Alas, that is too sad a tale to hear!
But worry not, for I've friends who can help you,
They are still gossiping with the boys outside, I fear,
But they'll come very soon, in a minute or two!
If you'll allow me, I can call them in,
And you can share with them your sad tale,
They are good boys and girls, and always have been,
And they can surely make you feel well!"
*Fiora leads a charge into the next room of the cave*
"What a pleasant surprise! There are truly some redeeming qualities in the kid", Vaga thinks to himself. "Perhaps the kid would want some sage-like advice in the future.. perhaps I should take him in under my wing and tutor him? Yes, the next time we setup camp I should do that.. "
Vaga goes in and introduce himself to the hag. Healed up, he's spry as ever, though half-naked and with his own semi-dried blood all over himself, he's not a pretty sight. But neither is the hag, and Vaga's lack of social skills doesn't even make him realize that. He just walks in and talks, as usual, without hesitation.
"Hello there, hag! I am Vaga, and these are my friends. Except the gnome, he's.. an acquaintance of sorts.. eeeh.. or something. (He did heal me though.. she did.. damn, I will never understand that gnome!). We need you to release a young maiden from her curse! Can you please do that now?"
Aah yes. a direct approach is always the correct approach! I should teach the kid that.. yes, he will like that.
Ah! A fellow Granny. Please may I introduce myself as... Nanna Andaweena. This is my boy Vaga…
*Anduin elbows him painfully in the ribs.*
Off with the fairies some times... Always wanting to save every damsel he meets. Although, the only person who could save the girl from a lifetime of misery is you.
The girl is in a hut a good walk away from here. Everything she touches dies and withers. Please can you help?
*Anduin who half heard the story being told Ignatuis uses what he heard.*
We don't often get happy endings, perhaps the girl will waste the chance you could give her, but at least she gets a chance at not wasting it... You could even break the cycle Granny Woodworm.
Ooh. I swear my hotflushes are causing global warming... Can I take a seat? Cor blimey.
*Without waiting for an answer, Nanna Andaweena takes a seat whilst furiously fanning herself with her fingers.*
Cup of tea? Biscuit?