The travel towards Sosanopa was cold, but otherwise uneventful. Arriving in the fishing village we find the T'Skrang still celebrating the new year. We were invited to the feast and were happy about the opportunity to warm up. When we mentioned crossing the river though, the music and dancing stopped. Apparently our tale of visiting the Wyrm Wood has lead to the fishermen not crossing the river anymore. We did however convince one boater sporting an eye-patch who is willing to take us across. He also agrees to check the river daily if we need a passage back.
While crossing the river we notice a dense fog on the northern bank. Right as the boat reaches the riverbank and we start getting off the boat, we notice two Bullfrog-type Lizard-frog, sitting in a kind of rock-boulder. Along with it there are some wavering balls of light, casting spells at us. And while we try to sort ourselves, getting attacked right after making land, two giant lobsters erupt from the ground, shredding into Dubhan and Xeviouz. I swiftly killed one of the Bullfrogs, then start taking care of one of the lobsters. My magic serves me well, not getting hit once. Dubhan and Xeviouz however got some good tear from the lobsters' Pincers.
Apart from the Toads we didn't kill anything, as these creatures all burrowed into the ground once severely wounded.William communes with an Earth Elemental and finds us a safe path to a good resting spot.
We searched the area for signs of Bears and found bloody markings and some fur. William follows the foottracks, I found it using some fur a bear lost. We came upon a Honey Bear which notices us approaching, threatened us shortly, but ran off quickly. We followed it and see it enter a mouth of a burrow. Approaching cautiously we heard sounds of what could be a bear fighting some other creature. Entering the cave we see the Bear fighting several huge lizards. Also around are several pieces of Bear and Lizard lying around.
Immediately we joined the fight, disposing of one of the lizards with our combined forces and one hit from each of us. We did however not get as lucky with our hits when going against the next one. All luck left us. Few of our strikes hit, and those who did glanced off of the beast's thick armor. We did manage to knock it over eventually, though it did not stop fighting. William tried to absolve this creature from its pain, but got caught between its massive legs and got trampled to death. Lucky for us, and William especially, we managed to kill the second lizard. Looking at the third, I spot it not moving away from an indenture in the ground, protecting a nest and eggs. In the far off corner is a Bear Cub in hiding.
I have a slightly risky idea and manage to dominate the bear's will and command it away from the lizard. Luckily I am correct in that the last Lizard isn't suddenly free and kills all of us, but stays there to protect its eggs. I tell Xeviouz and Dubhan to get William out and I will follow with the Bears when they made it out safely. The cub also joins in and senses that I mean him no harm. I got both bears out of the cave, give them a treat, and sent them off. They did make it roughly a hundred yards towards the treeline when my dominating their Willpower wore off. They turned around and seemed to wait for me.
After bringing William back from the grasp of death thanks to Alchemy, I follow the bears. The wounds and strain from the long fight tear at me, so the walk is strenuous, but it seemed to be the same for the Bears. I joined up with them, offering the occasional treat, and walked besides the Cub, following the big one.
"Big one" is an interesting term however, as we reach our destination about an hour after and find the real "big bear". It seems the one who guided us to the cave was a nearly grown youngling, and it led me to its Momma Bear. She was struck by even more wounds. Apparently she also was the one who had fought savagely in the cave, and lost a good portion of blood over there. I tended to the bears' wounds and fed them with water, my rations, and what flora I found around us. I then took care of my own wounds, and spent the night with them.
On the next day, the bears got ready to move on. I tried my hands at bonding with the Bear that fought alongside us, and we both felt the connection. The mother bear and the cub looked at us and moved along, back to the direction of the Wyrm Wood. My new companion and I went back to my namegiver friends. William was well again, and also Xeviouz and Dubhan looked way better than the day before.
Approaching the river got us really strange looks from the T'Skrang, but he did ferry us across. Arriving back in Throal I spent the nexst weeks working with my bear. I named him Reuben.Statistics:Posted by Aegharan — Mon Jun 22, 2020 11:50 pm
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