Adventures in Everlund
Adventures in Everlund
Chapter 14 - Distressed Rags and Riches
18th of Mirtul, 1492 DR
Stars twinkle brightly in the still dark morning. The half moon shines down on the Evermoor Way to light the empty expanse of road before the adventurers. The dense overgrown path beckons to Valeria. Nimly and Yávië watch as the knight turns and begins following the hidden trail into the forest, in pursuit of the silver stag. Thorn chirps softly as Valeria disappears into the enveloping greenery.
“Well, she’s off. We could scout out that next ambush point.” Nimly pauses. “Hang on. Yávië, can you watch my back for a second?”
“Yeah, sure.” She looks around the area, seeing nothing of interest. Turning back, she sees Nimly stripped down to his green underwear. His leather armor is cast off to the side, along with a pair of simple black breeches. He’s shaking out a worn long-sleeved shirt. She pays less attention to the forest as her eyes linger on the gnome. “That is a roundabout way to ask me to admire your body.”
Nimly laughs and pulls the shirt back over his head. “Some twigs worked their way in when we ghosted through the forest back there and … I know you have dibs, but may I use the armor from earlier? Since you aren’t wearing it right now, I thought I might try it out. Take it for a spin? Warm it up?” Nimly grins and holds up the studded leather.
Yávië laughs. “Sounds good.” She helps him don and buckle down the armor. Nimly rolls his shoulders and tests the fit, nodding in satisfaction. “It’s great! What do you think?”
The elf chortles. “Well, your undies are looking a little worse for wear… I could almost see through ‘em.”
Nimly shrugs. “Uh, that’s the style. I bought them that way. The shopkeeper called them ‘distressed’. It’s all the rage, apparently.”
Yávië gives the gnome a doubtful look and they begin walking down the road. “I’ll have to remember that one.” Thorn squeaks and wrinkles his nose at Nimly. Yávië cackles.
After a half hour, the road begins to narrow. A high rock outcrop rises steeply from the edge of the road on the right. The left side is hemmed in by encroaching trees and brush. Exchanging glances, the party slips into the forest, seeing potential in the approaching terrain as a good ambush point. Nimly whispers, “That high ground is worth a look.” Yávië nods and casts Pass Without a Trace, granting them incredible skill in moving quietly through woods.
The party picks their way through the lush forest in a wide arc, keeping well clear of the road as they head for the vantage point. A fox moves away with haste and care as Yávië leads on through a tangled thicket of lilacs. Nimly marvels at the effect of the spell, feeling an increased awareness in where to step and how to move, leaving no more trace than a ghost would across a frozen lake. The underbrush and the trees thin out somewhat as they near the top of the rock outcrop without incident.
Thorn drops to his belly and scoots up to peer over the rock ledge, testing the air for helpful scents. Nimly whispers, “He hasn’t smelled anyone nearby. Safe to wait and watch here.” After about ten minutes, Yávië nudges Nimly with her elbow. “Did you see that?”
He squints into the treeline below and scans for slight movement, soon noticing the same glint Yávië picked up. “Yeah. Could be armor. A weapon. I think we found the right spot.”
They crouch a bit lower, making sure not to betray their position to the figure below. After a few more minutes of staying hidden, they see two bandits quietly move closer to the foliage near the road. A dwarf in chainmail and a tabaxi with some of the fur missing from his left arm are visible as they crouch behind some bushes, taking a moment to look in both directions down the Evermoor Way before moving back to the cover of a few spruce trees.
Yávië moves her head close to the gnome. “Any doubts? They look like they are waiting for travelers.” Nimly gives a grim nod. “And this could be the narrow pass. I’ve got a web ready, but it won’t work if they’re scattered back in those trees.” Nimly scratches his head as he considers how they might lure out any hidden bandits. Yávië looks down the road. “Well… they’re waiting to rob someone, right? I have a spell where I could make wagon noises.” Nimly’s eyes light up. “Yes! I’ll use an illusion that might help sell that deception. It could work! I’m headed down; watch for my signal from that bush next to the road.”
Yávië opens her mouth as Nimly steps out of sight and disappears. “But the high ground…” She trails off as the gnome is quickly out of sight. The elf rolls her eyes and joins Thorn in peering over the ledge.
Nimly smiles into the darkness as he leaves his friends and once out of sight, he begins his descent by casting Earth Glide. In the span of three steps, he sinks fully into the ground and moves in a direct line through the earth itself to the bushes at the base of the rock outcrop. Yávië watches the scene below intently until, faster than she expected, she sees a thumb sticking out of the bush. She begins to cast Thaumaturgy, making the sound of a rumbling cart approaching from the direction of Olostin’s Hold. Using Silent Image, Nimly causes a horse, wagon and traveler to appear 60 feet down the road and roll slowly towards the narrow gap. The illusionary figure is tall and willowy, with their head down and paying no attention to the road ahead.
Two burly mastiffs burst from the edge of the road, standing to attention once they see the apparent victim, growling while casting glances back into the woods. Close on their heels comes the gray-furred tabaxi in leather armor and a stout blond-haired dwarf in chainmail. “Ho ho, Dale,” the tabaxi yells out, “Got ourselves a ripe one!”
Roll Initiative.
Round 1
Waiting until the very last moment as the four surround the wagon, Nimly flicks his wand of Web, flinging a spell that ensnares the mastiffs and bandits alike. He spins on his heel and phases into the rock behind him, using Earth Glide again to travel through it. A moment later, he rises from the ground next to Yávië with a grin.
The bandits share a look of confusion which quickly becomes alarm when the wagon vanishes as the sticky web entangles them. The two mastiffs, snarling and drooling, attempt to rip through the sticky webs with their teeth. Yávië looks at her companion and the unbroken soil at his feet. “Dammmmmmmn, let’s revisit that.”
Thorn stays hidden next to his friends, waiting to help protect the higher position if needed.
Yávië looks down at the webbed figures below her as she stands from concealment, pulling out her wand of Magic Missiles. A gust of wind whips through the elf’s hair as she points the wand at the likely leader. Yávië shouts, “Fancy armor can’t stop this.” Six flickering darts fly from her toward the dwarf, sinking into his shining chainmail without slowing. The webs tremble as each one hits. Nimly stares a bit slack jawed as the flood of red missiles topple the armored foe. “You really started with the finale there…” Yávië giggles quietly and then refocuses on the scene below.
Photo Credit - Dr4gonartz
Yávië points to a spot behind the dogs and summons her Spiritual Weapon with a bonus action, causing a spectral morningstar to appear. The mace dips into a windup and smacks the larger animal on the head. Yelping and angry, the mastiff looks around to see who he might bite, yet he finds no attacker except the floating weapon.
Round 2
The tabaxi whistles at the injured mastiff. “Ace, attack!” The mastiff yelps in frustration and tries to leap free. It’s no use; the dog wallows in the sticky strands and whimpers in frustration.
A mighty roar startles all the combatants. Nimly looks to the east to see Valeria charging out from the bushes at the road’s edge, straight at the distressed dog. “Don’t worry, Ace; I’ll cut you free!” The knight’s sword comes sweeping down, cutting a long slash in the mastiff’s shoulder. Blood flows from the wound and over the white webs, turning them crimson.
Thorn squeaks a shrill ear-piercing battle cry as he dashes down the gentler slope of the rock outcrop to get closer to Valeria, gravel and bits of grass flying as he sprints down the hillside.
Green light flickers in Nimly’s hand as he sends an Eldritch Blast at the tabaxi. The man looks up toward the shout, just in time to go a bit wide-eyed as the bolt of force strikes his chest squarely. He watches as the gnome melts into the very earth, only to reappear on the path below. The tabaxi looks around anxiously, terrified by the charging knight and the abrupt loss of his companion.
Yávië pulls out her crossbow and fires a bolt at the entangled Ace. “Good timing, Valeria!” Stowing the crossbow, she turns and begins making her way down the rock outcropping as her floating morningstar smacks the mastiff in the skull. There is a whine and oomph from the creature as he falls dead in the webs, never understanding the masterless weapon that dealt the final blow.
The tabaxi roars in rage, muscles flexing as he rips his way free of the sticky webs, using precious time to clear his weapon of the gooey strands and step free of the mess. “Who are you people? You are no merchants!” Valeria grins, watching his advance. "We are not, but you are surely filthy bandits!"
The second mastiff, still stuck in the sticky webs, lunges fruitlessly and snaps at them with her massive jaws, but to no avail. Though her position changes a few feet, she is still quite entangled.
Round 3
Valeria eyes the approaching tabaxi. With impeccable timing and a forward lunge, she shoves him right back into the clinging gobbets of web. “Oh, watch your step!” The bandit glowers at Valeria as he lets out a wordless shriek of helpless anger.
Nimly’s hands glow again as he casts Eldritch Blast at the restrained figure, sending the tabaxi bobbing wildly in the web. “We are not merchants. Who do you work for?” The bandit looks around blearily, seeing the dead piling up around him. He whines, “If I tell you... will you let me go?"
Thorn continues his full sprint down the hill and onto the road, dashing up to join Valeria, body checking her leg to announce his presence. He growls at the remaining mastiff.
Yávië continues to pick her way down the slope while making a casual gesture that causes the spiritual weapon to lash out. The morning star dips again and collides with the mastiff. His eyes roll back in his head as he whimpers his last, legs giving out as he sags bonelessly into the webs. She answers the tabaxi with chilling finality. “Not a chance. You could rot in a cell, but we won’t be taking you.”
The tabaxi drags himself to his feet, injuries mounting and panic soaring. “Fucking webs!” He tries to push his way free, but his strength is wavering and the spell holds him fast.
Round 4
Valeria moves up next to the tabaxi. “May Selûne’s light cleanse your wicked soul.” She brings her sword down in a glinting arc, slicing through leather, flesh and bone. The bandit’s eyes lose focus as his fur is drenched in his own blood and he fades quickly. With all the foes defeated, Nimly dismisses the web with a thought. The bodies of the luckless bandits and their dogs collapse to the earth in unison.
Valeria sits down, more tired than she initially let on after that grueling march. “I caught up as quickly as I could. I worried that I might find… something else.” She waves her hands and mumbles a halting melody in Giant, as the flowing magic of Prestidigitation washes over the party. "Cleanliness is divine, Papa always said."
Nimly smiles as a grass stain disappears from his boot. “Not to worry, my friend. We would have waited for you if the odds were off.” He begins humming to himself as he channels Mold Earth, scooping out a wide trench in the forest floor to hide the corpses. Yávië begins poking around the area looking for traps and anything else of note while Valeria helps Nimly to strip the bodies down before tossing them into the hole. On the bandits and mastiffs, they find:
1 Scimitar
2 Light crossbows with 20 bolts
1 Mace
1 Studded leather armor
1 Chain shirt
1 Round shield
33 gold
5 small gems
1 Silver locket
1 Set of thieves tools
1 Flask of strong liquor
1 Wooden carving of a wolf
1 Intricately designed knife
2 Leather collars
1 Basic poison vial
1 Paper with commands for the mastiffs
Valeria begins sorting through the loot while Nimly calmly continues with Mold Earth until the corpses are hidden in the embrace of Geb. Yávië yells out, “Hey! I didn’t see any traps, but I did find a small chest! It wasn’t even locked.” Nimly gives her puzzled look as he detects disappointment in her voice, moving over to the chest. Valeria glances up from her own study of treasure. “Good! We don’t have a key. Where would we even get a key?” As Yávië grumbles and opens the chest, they find:
50 gold
2 Small rubies
3 Amethysts
1 Emerald
1 Scroll of Detect Magic
1 Sealed letter
1 Intricately carved wooden box
1 Pouch of rare spices
1 Pouch of finely crafted gems worth 250gp
After they dump the chest near the rest of the loot, Yávië beams. “Nimly! Keep that armor, as you already have your stink on it. We found some more!” Nimly does a little twirl into a pose. “I’ll keep it, and the rest of my designer clothes, too!”
Valeria sits back against a stump and snatching the flask from the pile, she takes a drink. “This is turning out to be a hell of a day.” Nimly looks with a level of concern at Valeria. He flicks his fingers toward the flask, spinning a Minor Illusion that causes the vessel to resemble a vial of poison. Valeria shrugs and smiles. “Might be stronger this way!” She takes another long pull on the drink. Nimly laughs and shakes his head, dismissing the illusion and turning back to the task of dividing the spoils.
Yávië looks through the pouch that was attached to the mastiff’s collar and pulls out a list of commands and a green vial of liquid. “Hey, these might come in handy if we run into more.”
‘Command Signals and Care’
Whistle once: Attack
Whistle twice: Return
Click tongue: Guard
Snap fingers: Follow
Ensure mastiffs are well-fed and rested before any action.
Use the green tranquilizing liquid if needed for obedience.
Nimly picks up the silver locket and pops it open. “Hey. This is odd. This locket has a picture of Sister Elara inside.” They all exchange glances, wondering what a bandit would be doing with a picture of the priestess of Selûne.
Intrepid adventurers and DMs, I hope you enjoyed this tale!
May your rolls be critically high or dramatically low, adding flavor and excitement to your campaigns!