Embers of the Wilds: Episode 02

__NOTOC__
==Synopsis==
The party interrogate the captured draconian and find out he is here to investigate the thin layer of magic that is covering the land. The party escort the draconian though town to show him that the source isn't in town. The draconian is then allowed to leave. The party rest for some time before a group of magmin arrive at the edge of the town. The party fight off the magmin to prevent them setting the town on fire. The party convince the mayor to raise taxes on the bartender to pay for a new member of the town guard. After some more time a choker arrives in town and attacks a villager. The party fight off the choker. The choker hides from the party and the party keep searching for it.
==Recap==
===Sunday, 8th March, Year 20===
In the dark of night on the western edge of Trog Canyon in the aftermath of battle Kyra & Pearl stand over the unconscious Tristelle & draconian on the ground. Kyra ties up the draconian just before he wakes up from the spell. Pearl goes east into Trog Canyon to get help as Kyra watches over their prisoner and unconscious ally.
In town Pearl easily collects the cleric 
 as well as the two deputies, & . Upon returning to the scene of the battle, Annabelle heals up Tristelle to consciousness with a . Pearl reluctantly returns Tristelle's coin purse back to her. The party notice that the draconian is starting directly at Annabelle's Rod of Comfort, a precious magical item that is owned by the temple and has been passed down for generations. 
The questioning of the draconian, begins. Braxis says if he isn't release go there will be reprisals from his allies. Braxis came to Trog Canyon to investigate source of the thin layer of magic that allegedly covers the land for hundreds of miles. Braxis seems to be able to by sniffing and tasting the air with his tongue. Kyra decides to clear things up with Braxis and just escort them though the town to show them the source of magic isn't here.
After being escorted though the base of the canyon, Braxis claims to be satisfied that the source of the layer of magic isn't here and promises not to attack Trog Canyon in the future. Pearl feels that Braxis has no regard for the people of Trog Canyon and would attack in the future if he changed his mind. The party offer their help in finding out the cause of the magical aura, and Braxis seems to accept this offer.
Braxis is freed and his axe returned to him. Braxis doesn't care at all for his fallen troglodyte minions. Braxis says his camp is 3 days from here. Braxis then says he will return in the morning before heading off west out of the canyon.
===Monday, 9th March===
Braxis doesn't return in the morning.
Tristelle goes over draconian lore and they typically cannot speak common, yet Braxis was able to do so. They might be another species than a normal draconian.
Since Braxis didn't return, the party decide to rest in town for the week taking their next action.
===Days of Resting===
Life mostly returns to normal in Trog Canyon with no further attacks. The townsfolk are on edge because of the recent attacks. 
Pearl goes speak with her adoptive mother Lydia about the recent events. Lydia says since the war destroyed the Ferrin Empire 20 years ago things have been peaceful in the canyon, but Lydia fears the outside world will come looking for them one day. Pearl chares her own fears over future battles. Pearl borrows a children book that is filled with monsters to look up lizard people. Pearl then sleeps overnight on the couch at her mother's house for comfort.
Tristelle goes to the tavern and drinks to fend of her own anxiety. Tristelle however is inspired to create great art from her adversity. Somehow turning the story of Tristelle climbing the tree then coming down into an epic tale of a near death experience and rebirth.
Kyra speaks with her father, retired sheriff about the troglodytes and possible nearby cave systems that they could be from. Garrow mentions that upriver are couple of natural large cave systems and several abandoned mines. There used to be more villages along the river, but they were either abandoned or destroyed during the war. There are also abandoned mines from excavations that didn't yield good results. Garrow has no information about the supposed draconian and why they would be working with the troglodytes. Troglodytes working for a stronger creature isn't out of the question, but as to why is unknown.
==Experience==
267 exp each
==Recap==
===Tuesday, 17th March===
The party are together in the bar around 9pm when they hear shouts of panic. The party head to investigate and from the ledge of the bathhouse platform they see 4 fire creatures, magmin, approaching the canyon from the south. The risk of these creatures is their fiery nature could set the buildings and trees of the dry canyon on fire, so the party move to pacifiy or remove them.
Start of Combat: Party vs 4 Magmin
Combat starts after Tristelle casts causing 2 of the magmin to fall unconscious. Pearl tries to follow up with a at an awake magmin but it is immune to the fiery attack. Kyra fights with the awake magmin in melee range as they slowly wake their sleeping allies.
Pearl casts but the magmin dodge out of the way. Tristelle's lands on 2 of the magmin as they set some nearby trees on fire with their touch attack. Pearl casts however a wild surge occurs and 8 snakes snakes also appear in the river. One of the snakes climbs up Tristelle's leg while the others swim past her.
Kyra bashes with her shield one of the magmin into the river, causing the magmin to cool down, slow, and partially solidify. Pearl casts again, killing one magmin.
Tristelle gets the snake off her leg but having it crawl up her arm and curls up her shoulder. Tristelle then casts to create the image of a large water snake coming towards the magmin in the water. The magmin in the water which slowly moves away from the illusionary snake. Pearl casts on a magmin, but it dodges. Kyra knocks one magmin prone.
2 magmin are facing the snake and one faces Kyra. Pearl finally lands her spell and cools down the prone magmin, sticking them in a prone position. Kyra kills the one magmin that is still heated up then faces off against the 2 magmin slowed down by the water.
Pearl dashes to try to reach the nearby bridge to cross the river. The 2 remaining magin realise the snake is an illusion and focus again on Kyra. Tristelle crosses the river and melees the magmin with Kyra. Tristelle kills a magmin and it explodes upon death, injuring Tristelle & Kyra and killing the snake on Tristelle's shoulder. One magmin remains.
Pearl throws her dagger at the last magmin, landing a hit. The magmmin tries to burn Kyra but misses. Kyra hits with her sword. Tristelle collects the remains of her deceased snake friend, then throws a dagger at the magmin but misses. Kyra finishes off the magmin, and it also explodes upon death, injuring Kyra.
End of Combat
Townsfolk cheer the victory of the party from a safe distance just before Biggs and Wedge arrive on the scene. Kyra and Tristelle are down to 1 HP each and badly burnt. Tristelle is upset about the loss of her snake friend. Pearl puts out the nearby fires with her . After the fire is out the party wonder why the magmin were here. Tristelle thinks the magmin were commanded or lured to come to Trog Canyon.
The party then discuses distributing weapons to the townsfolk so they can defend themselves at the very least, however there are no spare weapons except 2 old spears. The party go meet with Mayor about their proposal. Mayor Barnaby says that in order to hire more guards they will have to raise taxes on the town. It costs 150 gold per year to hire a guard full time. To hire 1 more guards will cost a 6% rise in taxes for the whole town. Sheriff Kyra agrees it is necessary, but suggests increasing Selena's tax rate to match that of the blacksmith, as blacksmith Horst has been complaining about for some time. Mayor Barnaby agrees and will talk with Selena to make it work.
Pearl suggests a town meeting about the current situation and Mayor Barnaby agrees, but is irritated by the sass of the party.
The party then go back to the river to find the daggers Pearl & Tristelle threw. They find Pearl's dagger and not Tristelle's dagger.
The party then go rest.
===Wednesday, 18th March===
Tristelle goes to blacksmith Horst to get a new dagger made, which takes 1 day to make. Tristelle then goes to the leatherworker to turn the dead snake's skin into a sling for her lyre.
During the day a town meeting is called. The Mayor explains a new deputy will be hired. The Mayor also explains the need for self defence in these trying times. Sheriff Kyra then gives a short inspirational speech. Some townsfolk ask why violent means were use with the interlopers and Kyra explains the party did attempt peaceful measures before violence, and the draconian was dealt with peacefully.
 ends up hired as the new deputy and Kyra is in charge of her training.
===Days of Resting===
The mood in town is more on edge due to these attacks on the town.
==Experience==
133 exp each (400 exp total each)
* Kyra levels to level 2
** Max HP from 13 to 18 (+5)
* Pearl Riverdale levels to level 2
** Max HP from 6 to 10 (+4)
* Tristelle levels to level 2
** Max HP from 8 to 11 (+3)
==Recap==
===Thursday, 26th March===
Business at the old inn has increased since Tristelle is performing her popular songs there with Pearl in the audience as well.
The calm times are interrupted by the arrival of a choker who attacks a townsfolk gardener. Pearl jumps up to the roof of the inn.
Start of Combat: Party vs Choker
The fight starts with Pearl casting , dropping the choker to half health. Tristelle climbs down from the inn platform to the platform below. The choker retreats into a nearby house and the door is shut behind it. The sounds alert Kyra who was across the river training with Jessie, and she rushes over to join the fight.
Pearl tries to leap from her height to a tree above the choaker's position the branch snaps, causing Pearl to fall to the ground, knocking Pearl unconscious. Tristelle rushes over to Pearl and casts , bring Pearl to full health.
End of Combat
Tristelle opens the door to where the choker went into and steps inside and can't see the choker in the 3 room residence inside. Kyra arrives and joins in the search. Not finding it inside, Kyra leaves to search around to see if the choker is attacking somewhere else. Kyra thinks maybe the choker is like chameleon and can camouflage itself.
Tristelle casts her new spell, . Tristelle sees the thin layer of magic that Braxis was talking about a few weeks ago. The actively flowing water of the nearby river appears to have less magic than everything else. Everything else is equally coated in magic. The spell reveals an aura of all the schools of magic.
Category:Embers of the Wilds Episodes
Category:Embers of the Wilds