DnD 5e: My mouth is dry...

[chkflip]

The Party:

Virgil Shadowbane, Half-Orc Rogue I
Vekna, Hill Dwarf Sorcerer I
Corin Thorngage, Stout Halfling Ranger I
Savionne, Half-Elf Sorcerer I
River Clearwater, Variant Aasimar Cleric I

Quest:

My Mouth is Dry...

Spoiler: information

The humble hamlet of Thode has lived peacefully near the Splint stream as a place with fertile grounds and plump livestock for many generations. Recently, the stream has begun to shallow and -- on some days -- nearly dry up entirely. What's going on?

[chkflip]

The one-road thorp of Thode is oft times seen as a small farming community of happy, healthy, salt of the earth types of people. You could see farms being tilled, sheep being shaven, crops being pulled, or other types of work of that sort at any given time of the day. But today is different. Several farmers are furiously arguing with the one portly guard they have over something seemingly serious for all their well being. It seems the stream has once again gone dry.

"Now, now... folks, I'ma doin' all I can in regard to this situation and the health and, uh... safety! Yeah. Health and safety of all of us here in Thode. I've sent word East to Cobble and, well, I'm gonna have to wait for them to get back to me about this. And I know! I know this means another day of no water. We're figuring it out as best we can here, folks. I can't go wandering off and get myself, y'know, killed or somethin'! Who knows what's out in them there parts. Not me. And not you. So if you could all please just--"

You see at least three-quarters of a dozen people surrounding this guy, each grumbling or moaning at the words coming out of his mouth. Each having their own worries or grievances with the current dilemma. Crops potentially wilting, farm animals getting slim, amongst other worries. He asks if they've tried mead on the crops or animals and they all about lose it. This poor guy seems way over his head here and it's looking like the crowd might turn on him at any moment.

[chkflip]

The Dwarf's words bring the arguments to a silence among the crowd. If not by the words, if not by the appearance, then surely the confidence in his voice brings the detraction of the townsfolk of Thode down to mere murmurs. The guard, a portly bearded Human with a shiny bald head, springs to the moment as an opportunity to take control of the spiraling situation oncemore. With waved hands he steps forward to the brave soul that hushed the inevitable riot in an effort to nonverbally disperse the crowd for a moment.

"What'd I tell ya, folks? Nothing to see here, nothing to see... return to your homes. Cobble answered our cries of worry and sent forth these, uh... sellswords? Adventurers? Do-gooders of some form or another. So if'n ya don't mind, guys, we're gonna talk business. Home... return home, folks. Go on, now."

Still barely able to find the words, the crowd seems pacified if only for a moment by the look of the motley assortment of strangers before them. Seems they've never seen folks like you all in the flesh. The guard waits for the crowd to completely shuffle away before turning to the four of you with a sigh of relief.

"Dunno whereabouts you lot came from... but boy am I glad you did. Now, I'm not sure what the hell's stoppin' the water. Some farmboys went out there a couple days ago and, well, they haven't returned. So my guess is it's something dangerous. Maybe deadly. Or maybe they just got lost or something. I couldn't tell you. All's I know is all's I've told the people here. And by the Gods it seems Cobble's response time is getting a bit better now."

He looks up toward the sky, the sun beaming down heavily upon all of you, and takes one more heavy inhale and exhale.

"Oh, um... name's Bobert, by the by. I dunno what they offered you to come out here but I thank you for doing so. Is this the lot of you? Day's about half done it seems so you might want to head out soon."

Bob looks to each of you as if to visually size you up at a glance.

[chkflip]

Bob snorts, but quickly hides his smile and straightens up before waving about and looking around the one-road stopping post of a community.

"I don't mean ta laugh, but look around. Most of these people aren't exactly well off. You might be able to pinch something from the tavern, maybe the blacksmith or the shop, but these folks that just left? They got food. Or livestock. They got a livin' and that's really it. I thought Cobble was compensating you? It's really strange that they'd hire someone and no pay 'em."

He looks to all of you a little confused before thinking of something.

"Let me talk to them, the owners of the bigger establishments, mayhaps I can strike a deal with them while you're out doing us a great service. Surely they'll chip in. Anything else before you go?"

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The portly fella gives an accepting nod to the Aasimar on holding back. You're really unsure how much he could've done anyway. He runs his fingers through his beard a moment, pondering the question of origin. His hand then points due Northeast.

"Whelp, they headed up the stream due North. That's, uh, where the water comes from ya see. And it ain't no more. So that's which way they want. Watched 'em follow the stream up until they were outta sight m'self. Didn't see any funny business or fellers followin' or, y'know, nothin' like that. But, uhm, if'n that's it I'll go ahead and get going. Lord of Justice guide you..."

He nods in general to your group and begins to move on.

[chkflip]

The Halfling takes point and heads off in the direction the portly guard showed them. It doesn't take long to find what was once the stream, soft earth still moist from years of water traveling through. He notes several sets of footprints heading North up the stream and recalls the farmers ahead of them on this mystery. The Aasimar and Half-Orc have their eyes peeled as the Ranger continues forward up the path. This goes on for what feels like hours, the sun beaming down upon the lot of you.

Then you hear it and look further into the distance. Running water. It appears that whatever stopped the water -- by building some sort of dam out of a few large boulders, also dug a different path for the stream to follow. A narrower, faster path that heads directly for the deep forest just West of you. It is at this point that the tracks split off. There was a scuffle. There are darker sprays in the dirt that don't appear to have come from water. You look forward to the trees and see no signs of being watched.

Only silence.

[chkflip]

And with that, Vekna he nabbed a thick and sturdy branch to begin anchoring underneath the rocks of the dam. He shoved once, twice, thrice over before figuring it deep enough to make a difference before twisting it against the bank. The branch held just long enough as he strained against it. The dam loosened, then shifted, then crumbled after about a minute or so with Vekna's assistance along the way. What he hadn't accounted for, however, was the added influx of water from the manufactured waterway. What once held a calm stream now gushed, if only for as short amount of time as this excess would last, like a river. This would certainly bring the attention of whomever they were sabotaging here... and hopefully whatever followed would continue going all according to plan.

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Before they can lay down much of a plan, however, River sees three huge lumps barreling down the waterway. Before he can utter a syllable --

FLOOMPH FLOOMPH FLOOMPH

-- the creatures make their presence known by taking to the sky with leaps through the air. These frog-like creatures stand before you, their feet impacting the ground with force, with weapons at the ready and eyes glowing a deep red. River also sees motion coming from the forest, then again from another section. Before you know it, these things are everywhere... and they're not here to talk.

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Virgil fires off an arrow from his position near a tree, exposing himself but completely taking one of the croakers out in a single shot. This catches the attention of the others; however, the one nearest to River snaps with a bite that gets nothing but air and lashes out with it's spear only to connect with her shield. It croaks at her in anger, it's red eyes glowing in the sunlight.

Then, from the thicket to the North, another pops it's head out. Only this one looks more like a fish than a frog. It postulates before pointing a finger at the unsuccessful frogman. The magic that shoots from its finger bursts in a flash of greens momentarily. Then, just as suddenly, vines begin to sprout from underneath it's armor until every inch of the leather is wrapped in it. The vines then find no motion and harden instantaneously after having apparently increased the frogman's armor in some way.

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Savionne and one of the farther fishmen move simultaneously, make eye contact, and immediately trade spells. The fishmen's spell goes wide as Sav's spell -- an ice knife -- connects with it's chest and explodes. Then something strange begins to happen. Ice begins to envelop the spellcaster, completely enveloping him before he can do so much as scream for help. And just as quickly as it began to form... it begins to crack.

Meanwhile, the frogman nearest Vecna is licked fiercely by flame. It groans out in pain before leaping at its assailant and connecting with both it's bite and spear attacks. Vekna looks like he's in dire straits here, hanging on by a thread at the end of this creature's primal rage.

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It croaks with aggression as it stands over Vekna, ready to strike again, when the rogue comes in for a one-two slice that drops it with a swiftness. The whole of you stand ready for the fight to continue as your numbers seem to be evening out. Unfortunately, the Half-Orc put himself between a rock and a hard place as the other frogman turns it's gaze to him and lashed out with a bite that connects. It attempts to continue it's onslaught but meets two blades with it's spear and misses the rogue.

The fishman pops it's head out from behind the shrub, firing a magical bolt of fire that cleanly misses the Half-Orc as well... which is good considering the size of it probably would've dropped him where he stood. The group comes together and, through strength and spell, take down the last frogman before them. Wiping the sweat from his brow, the Half-Orc looks to the little fishy hiding behind cover. Though he couldn't quite make it out behind the greenery, from what he saw he could tell more clearly that these two monstrosities that attacked the lot of you were fundamentally as well as aesthetically opposite. Where the frogfolk were aggressive and hefty... the fishfolk seemed more fickle and frail. Their grey color stood out behind the growth.

[chkflip]

A look of intensity comes over the fish-faced creature's eyes as it peeks over the bush again. It shakes it's head... then again... and you notice something happen to it's eyes. The red inside it's iris dims for a second, then intensifies to the point that it appears to pain the monster. A wail exudes from it as it violently lashes around for a moment. And then it's gone. The eyes return to a deep, dark hue of yellow. It looks... confused.

[chkflip]

The spell hits the fish-faced monster and you see it freeze. It pulls a lance off its shoulder and shambles around, looking in every direction for the location of this strange voice in a dark tongue. A tongue it is familiar with.

"You say this before... you offer peace. You offer sanctuary. Now me only have pain. Disconnection from tribe. BLBLBLBLBL!!"

The end of the message back is perhaps in its native tongue. The voice was fearful and confused. It clearly doesn't have a complete gauge on what's going on, that much is certain.

[chkflip]

"You... not flappy monster. You... different. Not fish like me. What say you different good, not different bad?"

The creature's comprehension level seems staggeringly low, but the premise seems clear. It trusts another voice in its head like it trusts not to be stabbed in the back by any one of you. The creature clutches it's weapon... though it's grip seems to waver if slightly.

I should remind you that there were two fish-like creatures and one ran away during the first round of combat. Just something to keep in mind.

[chkflip]

The creature seems to lax a bit further on its weaponry, still unsure of any of your true intentions; however, it doesn't seem to go to battle with any of you.

"Peace no option to her. Fare luck to you, creatures. Me get out while still make breath."

And with that the creature begins heading East, leaping over the manmade stream before disappearing into the wooded surroundings. The silence is unsettling, but it's still nice to not be fighting for your lives in the moment. A hard fought victory to you, heroes, and a partial win as the river flows where it once did. There still seems to be something more ahead, though, and the rest of your story here is still up to you.

[chkflip]

Your crew gather their wits, hopping over the dwindling stream, and make your way down a trail of footsteps one by one with your roguish companion hefting the heavy frogman over their shoulder. Thickets and trees quickly get more and more dense as you traverse North and, if it weren't for the ranger, it isn't difficult to see how some could get lost in this place. But not you. Bumbling through, you power down the increasingly difficult path you're paving until you suddenly find yourself surrounded!

"Halt, or I'll skewer you where you... wait a minute. I-is that one of those monsters!?"

The band of would-bes happen to match what you'd expect a bunch of farmers to look like. Worn clothing, calluses hands, and rickety weapons or farming tools amongst the lot.

"...who are you people?"

[chkflip]

The group begins to relax slightly as they lower their weapons. A larger farmer approaches the little magic user with a strained smile and a nod.

"Aye, Bobert is a drunkard but I'm glad he got someone to help. We don't know nothin' about no magics, but we do have a spot in a clearing nearby. We've been holed up here. Not too proud to admit we've been a bit... well, afraid of what we could do and get out with our lives, y'know? We're simple people. And as soon as we came upon the problem those creatures chased us off. Barely got out whole but we've been stuck here ever since. They seemed to only care about chasin' us off... didn't follow, just sorta watched us flee into the trees. Here, follow me."

They all begin to slowly make their way North.

"Did you see the little red flying one? Probably the nastiest of them all. Foul beast nearly took my soul from my bones. Can't explain how or why, but I could feel it happening. Ah, here..."

It doesn't take long for you to reach their little outpost of sorts. Slings and stones are pocketed away in corners and it appears they've been staying in this spot for most of the day. Blood spatter marks much of the ground here.

"If you took care of the beasts and the dam, well... from all of Thode, I thank you. Not sure if we can be much help but we'll do anything we can."

The hodge podge of farmers appears to be five in total, none looking any better off than the next as you look at them.

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"It looked like a... like a... I don't know. Not a fish or a frog, that's certain."

The villagers help you rest and recooperate, handing out food rations and bandages for your wounds. These people aren't fighters by any means, just the only ones in Thode that seemed to want to find out what was going on with this whole mess. And after about an hour or so it became a little more obvious where their hearts truly lied.

"Here... come with me. I'll show you where the water went."

The trek through the forest was quick but quiet. Though there were so many of you, the villagers guided the lot of you adventurers on where to step to get to where you needed to be. The lead villager gives a hand signal to halt, then to approach slowly.

"Just up there,"

he says in a hushed tone.

"There's a hut. Used to be a lovely, if reclusive, couple of Halflings lived there. Not sure if they're still there. Been several moons since we've seen them in Thode. And... well... if we're honest here, gentlemen, I think this is where we part ways. This is just too much for us. Gods bless you... best of luck."

And without another word, if you don't have any other questions, the villagers would begin on their way back home. All things considered, you've stopped the water interruption and found the villagers. But to make certain this stops here you must soldier on. Before you is most certainly a great danger, but would you truly be heroes if you didn't end it all?