In reply to Morteft (msg # 103):

Alannon shrugs at the comments made by Warwick and Morteft.

"Not too bad considering they were waiting for you.  An encouraging thing is that they will probably underestimate you now.  I suspect their heavy fighters will want to see who can eliminate Shorty here."  he then makes some grunts and growls and the two animals beside him turn and go further into the forest.  The bear will stand on it's hind legs - over 8 feet now - and give shorty a lick on the face before departing.

"We shall go back to my grotto and discuss the coming day."  he turns  "Follow me." he begins walking.

Actions?

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 105):

Warwick looks at Morteft and shrugs as he follows behind the druid.

In reply to Warwick (msg # 106):

Morteft follows along. "Nice forest." He says as he looks around.

In reply to Warwick (msg # 106):

Shorty grins happily at the bear and follows along.  He begins to consider how to better in the coming fight

In reply to Shorty (msg # 108):

Trysk shrugs at how nonchalant everyone seems to be and follows.

In reply to Morteft (msg # 107):

You all walk deeper into the forest, the rain is still heavy but less reaches the ground as you go.

Alannon grunts a little at Morteft's comment.  "It was more majestic a year ago wizard.  The curse on the land has affected it greatly.  It may take a decade or more to recover .. if we win."

You follow Alannon for another 200 yards or so, the trees of the forest getting a little bigger, mostly oaks and maples, a few birch, hickory and walnut trees.  As you walk you notice that as Alannon passes between these two large oaks that he shimmers slightly and becomes less distinct.

You stop, not sure what this distortion means.  Alannon stops and turns, he may be 10' inside this zone or more, it is difficult to tell.  He waves you over, at least it looks like a wave.

Actions?

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 110):

Shorty shrugs and whispers.  "Me quest, me goes first."  Shorty the steps forward.  Glances at the two trees and steps between them.

In reply to Shorty (msg # 111):

Warwick follows Shorty.

In reply to Warwick (msg # 112):

Trysk follows as well.

In reply to Shorty (msg # 111):

Shorty looks at the two large oak trees.  There does not seem to be anything special about either of them.  Shorty walks between the two, me may feel a slight tingle as he goes.  Alannon stands and watches.

The others follow Shorty's lead, going between the oaks.  Both Morteft and Trysk may give each tree a brief once over before crossing.  As with Shorty neither sees anything special about the oaks.  The rest will feel a slight tingle when walking between as well.

Alannon spreads his hands out, "Welcome to my Grotto, my sanctuary."  He then turns and gestures behind him, "Please, sit and eat, rest yourselves for tomorrow will be a fight for Life."  You can see about twenty yards in front of you, in a slight depression is a large wooden table that looks to have been part of a trunk of a massive tree.  The table is about 20' across, there are wooden stools all around it.  On it are various fruits and vegetables, several wooden pitchers, presumably containing some liquid.
    Beyond the table is a small thatch hut.  The bear and unicorn are over by the hut, you can also make out a few pixies and perhaps a dryad.  Other than the table, stools and hut; it is a normal looking wooded area.
 Alannon: "As you eat, if you have any questions, pleas ask."

Actions?

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 114):

"Do ye have a plan?" asks Warwick.

In reply to Warwick (msg # 115):

Shorty takes a seat on the largest stool her can find and tosses his white healing marble over his head to heal his wounds.  He then takes a piece of fruit and munches while he listens for the plan/

In reply to Warwick (msg # 115):

"The plan."  Alannon responds to Warwick.  "The plan is to attack, at dawn.  A war of attrition."

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 117):

"Oh," replies Warwick.  "Well, thats how all are other adventures have gone.  Why should this one be different?"

Trysk examines the trees as he walks by.

After hearing about the attack at dawn, he sighs and takes a seat next to Shorty. Looking at the table, he grabs a cup and one of the pitcher to pour himself a drink.

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 117):

Shorty shakes his head and looks carefully at the trees and then asks, “war kill more trees right?  Lose many afore today.  How’s many more wanna lose?  War be fight hard and die lots.   Did last us time wid troll king.  Not go so good.  Gots to be better way.  Dem guys fights like team.  Been team longer den us.    We need way makes dem not team.  Maybe trap.  Me no how’s fight not smart.  But not likes it.”

In reply to Trysk (msg # 119):

Alannon looks at you all "Please eat you will need your strength for tomorrow."

--DM2

In reply to Shorty (msg # 120):

Alannon regards Shorty.  "If only one of us remains with one tree then we will have won.  If we lose, all trees will be lost.  It is what it is, one must be able to accept loss.  Perhaps not like it; but accept it."  Alannon looks around and up.  "Once this was a green world, crystal clear streams and lakes.  Small villages scattered throughout, plenty for all, no war, perhaps a small skirmish due to misunderstanding but relatively peaceful.  A young world, full of life, perhaps a bit too naive as young ones can be.  All that is needed is one tree to bring it all back."  You see him glance at his hut, actually more like just past it.  Then you notice it a tree in the background .. it actually is the background.  It is perhaps 100' across, not much taller than any other tree; but with limbs of all shapes and sizes that it would look like several trees.  Indeed even its leaves show many types of tree styles, maple, oak, hickory, pine, walnut, cherry, tulip, a conglomeration of types.


--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 122):

Morteft takes and drink and says, "I will look to my spells. Will we fight in the forest or the desert? I would not want to use a fireball in the forest. Also, if those have been here for a while, do you know of their weaknesses?"

He grabs a roll and butters it. "If it is a war of attrition, then we should try to make sure we kill one per encounter. We should all focus on one. If we can figure out a weakness for each, then that might make it easier. Or if we know how they fight and defend, that could also help. Do you have such information, Alannon?"

He looks to Alannon as he eats the roll.

In reply to Morteft (msg # 123):

Trysk drinks and behind to eat in earnest as he listens in.

In reply to Trysk (msg # 124):

Warwick nods at Allanon's words and grabs a few pieces of fruit at random and beings to eat.

In reply to Morteft (msg # 123):

Alannon listens to Morteft.  "We will attack on the edge of the forest, where they camp.  They know I am strongest here and they will want to weaken me by destroying as much forest as they can.  However your arrival have given them some pause; so they wait and discuss."  he breathes deep.  "Their weakness, their wanton destruction and evil.  Completely out of balance, which unfortunately make them more dangerous.  Besides that they are not really a team.  There is some respect which keeps them from being easy targets.  The most dangerous are the Death Knight, as you call them, and the one who bends reality with his mind.  I will dare say he will be the most difficult."

He then gives a slight chuckle, "You misunderstand my reference, by attrition I mean 2 battles, at most 3, not one and done.  That is all my time.  If we lose any we lose all."

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 126):

Shorty nods at the discussion, pops a roll in his mouth and wanders over to find a spot where he has a clear view of the wonderous tree and its wonderously varied branches.  He takes a seat on the ground before it and spreads his cloak before him.  He then carefully opens his pouches and pack and pulls out his special treasures in preparation for the battle in the morning.  First he lays out his black great sword and places it before him.  He speaks to it.  “Tomorrow be important.  Ifn ever wants to find other pieces.  Must win dis fight.  Save friends.”  Shorty then lays it on his cloak and places his troll slayer beside it.  Next Shorty brings out his small ball that he was given by the King.  “Must have extra strong for dis fight.”  Shorty checks that hasn’t lost his rings or amulet and then pulls out two of his most treasured toys.  He places the figuring of a large saber tooth cat and a second one of a large mammoth before him.  He strokes the cat first and tells it.  “You no fights wid me tomorrow.  You must protect dis tree.  Me know you keep bad peoples not hurt it.  He then strokes the mammoth and says, “Me ride in battle an you squish all.  Be portant fight.  Lastly short reaches into his bag of marbles and begins to fish out his flying marbles and lay them on the cloak before him.  He places the a pale white stone at the top of the circle and places a purple stone beside it.  “Fix hurts and stop magics.  Shorty needs deese ones.  Shorty then places two matching blue stones in front of him.  “Shorty not need be know more.  So one fer drud an one fer fuzz face.  Dem need use.”  Shorty then pulls out a red and blue stone and says, Make magic stronger for mage.  Share dis one too.”  Shorty finally places a pink and green stone on the cloak.  “Dis only good fer getting girls.  Not need be pretty fer fightin.”  Shorty then looks to his frriends pointing at the stones.  “Magic rocks fly over head.  Helps fer fight ifn will use.  Maybe take?”

In reply to Shorty (msg # 127):

"Aye, lad," says Warwick in a gentle voice.  "If that's what ye want."

"Allanon, I'm not familiar with drudic spells as they aren't many dwarven druids.  What spells, magical and clerical do ye want us to avoid casting for fear of harming yer forest and yer allies?"

In reply to Warwick (msg # 128):

Alannon sighs a bit, breathes deep and then you see a deep determination in his face.  "This world has lost quite a bit already, a little more loss, while painful will probably be necessary to win the world.  I do not want you to hold back for fear of destroying a portion.  If this sanctuary remains the world will return as it was, that is the most important.  Do what you feel you need to do to win.  Even if we fight from within here, which sadly we may, do not hold back.  I will protect this sanctuary with my last breath and ounce of strength.  It will hold ... it must."

--DM2