What doing stuff gets you

[Asinjin]

To start, the following characters get xp for their down time, which is 12 months:

Haas
Lennie
Grant
Spaz
Valizar
Reik

They each get an amount equal to 120 times their current level.

[Asinjin]

Each character needs to be aged one year, the time will be the 10th month of 786.

[Asinjin]

For Claude and Ash, 10 months will have passed.  Each of them gets 100 times their current level in xp.

Again, let me know if you got a level.

[Asinjin]

After the Start of the Fey War (there will be four parts of three months each)

11th month of 785 to 1st month of 786

Riek, Valizar, Lennie, Haas, and Grant are at the Fellos estate shortly after the end of the last season.  The plane has been cut off and the Fey and Scalehome appear to be forming an alliance.  Ellic, the strategical if not literal leader of the estate is glad to have you there.  He appears to be coordinating, to your pleasure, the forest's response to this threat.  He hopes, as happened before, to unite the forest against a common foe.  He fears correctly that this will be more challenging, since it is an internal enemy.  In the weeks after the realization that war is coming, Ellic send out messengers and Sendings to the forest realms.

The five of you, at the behest of your deities join with Ellic.  Tyrogatore sees Greenfellow as a great threat to his base and the fey have never been allies of Tyrogatore.  As for Riek, Drunnbar has thrown his lot in with Tyrogatore and will not abandon him.  The Fellos estate, while filled with some excellent people and a ghost, is not the ideal place for Tyrogatore worshipers.  Even in a time of war, it is free spirited and happy.  Pain is not seen as a good thing.  Magic is embraced.  What you are taken by is Ellic's leadership.  As before, the lightly bearded halfling takes command like few others you have haven seen.  His ability to organize and motivate are 2nd to no military leader you have seen.  This is only made greater (to you at least but not apparently to the halflings and fey that are here) by the relic old horned helm he dons for the occasion.

Your first mission, as decreed from above and agreed to by Ellic, is to travel the forest and secure the remaining clerics of Tyrogatore.  With the help of the fey and spellcasters of the estate, you travel the forest for two months doing that.  In addition, you find and warn the clerics of Stasis.  Sadly, many are already gone or dead and others refuse to do anything but remain at their homes and defend them.  You set traps and lay in wait for those that come for these clerics, but you are rarely successfully and your plan becomes untenable after only a week or two.  Left with no other choices, and with the blessing of the high temple, a decree is made that the clerics of Tyrogatore must gather at the Fellos Estate or the high temple in Jaswap.  Even with that, clerics that choose to die fighting for their home are seen as valiant and praised.  By the end of the three months, Haas and company doubt that any clerics of Tyrogatore remain in the forest and not at the Fellos Estate.  Likewise, Stasis' clerics, rangers, and paladins in the forest are given similar orders.  There are fewer and they are more likely to follow commands from above.  They gather to fight at the estate.

After two months, Riek is made ware that the clerics of Drunnbar have been put on the list as well.  The last month is spent traveling the forest bolstering morale, gathering allies, fortifying settlements, and warning clerics of Drunnbar.  You find none, but do not know if there were none of they are now dead.

No large battles take place in those first three months.  The fey and their scalehome allies, or vise versa, choose small engagements.  They usually win, never lose, and never engage any of the strongest allies of the forest coalition.  The forest thins of communities as smaller ones go to larger ones for protection.  The Wooduke calls soldiers of the of Boiling Line, thankfully its winter, and brings his outer communities in line, putting more under his protection.  Little happens or changes in the three large cities of the forest.

The most chaos occurs in the Vass lands, where no one is in control and factions battle one another.  The remaining Tyrogatore faithful battle with the new allies of Scalehome, who battle with the communities that don't want any leader, who battle with several warlords.  Ellic is wary to get involved in the internal lizardfolk battles, and warns that if all of you get involved, it may end up worse for the Vass that you try to aid.  It is clear from his intelligence that by the end of the three months your group of five is a prime target of the enemy.

[Asinjin]

Chaos into War is a Disaster

1st month 786 to 4th month 786

The method of war chosen by the enemy is now clear to Ellic.  They are attacking only in small engagements.  They are targeting high value assets.  They are using fear and intimidation.  The primary tactic taken by the peoples of the forest is to group together.  Some small villages are abandoned.  Forces mass waiting for a large engagement they feel they can win.  Ellic coordinates further with the leaders and his plan begins to take shape.

You mission now is to boost morale and draw out the enemy.  Marching unabashed from location to location, offering open challenges to the enemy that never go answered.  Those you visit gain hope from your arrival.  They gain courage from you stories.  You are giants among the people of the Great Forest, Lennie and Valizar literally so.  During your travels, you encounter or hear about the other great heroes of the forest.  These come up often when you visit a place and they ask about the hero.  Grant often fills you in on who they are, and later Ellic tells you what side they have chosen, if any.

Froom, known as the Bloody Demon, is a raging werebadger.  To call him a hero would be odd to most, but to clerics such as yourselves it is not so outlandish.  The halfling has romaed the forest for nearly a century, during which time he has become a folk hero, even though after further review many of his actions are not noble.  Most believe he is fighting his own war against the fey out in the forest.  Ellic assumes so as well, although he also believe the demon will fight whoever.

Tamil the Treewalker is an elven guardian of the forest.  He is actively helping Ellic with reconnaissance and one of few that can keep ahead of the Fey in the field.

Larysa, a halfling Nightengale , has approached you and asked you to work for peace.  She is lover for her efforts on behalf of the forest dwellers for the past three decades.  She does not like Ellic nor you.  Ellic believes she has been working for the fey, but does not beleive she will work towards anyone's death.

Memin, a halfling and friend to Larysa, is a knight of the Order of the Trueheart.  According to Ellic, she left the forest after the war started.  It is unknown why.

Tomas and Vergil, the Grovetender of the Forest and the leading warden of nature of Habastly are both working to prevent any destruction to the forest.  They have reportedly berated both sides and continue to do so.  They do not like your group.

There are many questions about a halfling named Juno, the halfling dragonslayer.  He has not been seen since his release from Scalehome.

One name that strikes your attention is that of Hulile Fendis, who Grant notes is a worshiper of Tyrogatore.  In your earlier travels, you had never been able to locate him, and assumed he was gone.  However, you hear reports that he is fighting the fey in the forest.  One eye witness tells you he fought off a giant dark skinned fey by himself, although he could not kill it.

Who go searching for him when, that day comes...

For you traveling the forest, it is just another day.  However, as soon as you come upon a town of Dukalia, it becomes clear that something significant happened two days before.  You soon contact Ellic and learn that everywhere, in the world, strange things happened on one day.  Countless scorpions appeared for a brief time and killed and attacked.  Elementals appeared throughout the world and did random things.  Dark energy appeared an destroyed random things.  Celestials appeared and have not left.  All of this sounds terrible.  When all of you pay on it, Tyrogatore and Drunnbar and furious and you are all driven into unconsciousness momentarily by their rage.

For the next month, the war pauses.  The chaos caused by that day is so great that you was calm the masses down.  They are very receptive to your preaching.  Even though the forest was spared any great calamity, or so it seems; a sense of unease brews on the shoulders of all of you.  Something has changed in the forest.  Tali, when you speak to him and Ellic, confirms it to you.  But there is nothing you can find, nothing tangible.

By the end of the 4th month, Ellic deems that things are calmed enough.  His plan to win this war will now proceed and he things the chaos of the month and more since that day has given him a window and a break to allow it to move forward.  On the 29th of the 4th month, he gathers you and his other counsel and tells you of his plan.

[Hero]

Larysa, a halfling Nightengale , has approached you and asked you to work for peace.

I do not want this war either, we have more important things to concern ourselves with. I am open to any suggestions to end this dispute diplomatically so we can move on. What does Larysa suggest?

[Asinjin]

This meeting comes during one of your walks from village to village in the great forest, during the moon filled night.  She approaches after sending ahead a warning that she will near and asks to speak.  She is thin, for a halfling.  She has a cloak that shines as if it were the moon and is encompasses almost all that you see of her.  Her face is round and pale in color but healthy in fullness.  It is all you see of her except for her hairy feet.  She speaks to Haas, Reik, and Grant; although Lennie and Valizar are present.

To sum up, this is what she has to offer:

"I am glad you have met with me.  The peoples of forest will take a terrible toll from this war.  You must stop bringing them towards war.  I believe your faiths blind you to what can be done without violence.  Calm yourselves and parley with your enemies.  Ellic can use his skills as a diplomat, not a warmonger.  Preparing for war only makes it more likely that it will come.  We have been wise in our protection for many years.  We defend against attack but do not seek it.  Look to the Woodduke and the Boiling Line for example.  Want must be done is only to find and destroy the Unseelie, they are the corruption, without their influence, Scalehome would not be so aggressive."

[Valdis]

"I am glad you have met with me.  The peoples of forest will take a terrible toll from this war.  You must stop bringing them towards war.  I believe your faiths blind you to what can be done without violence.  Calm yourselves and parley with your enemies.  Ellic can use his skills as a diplomat, not a warmonger.  Preparing for war only makes it more likely that it will come.  We have been wise in our protection for many years.  We defend against attack but do not seek it.  Look to the Woodduke and the Boiling Line for example.  Want must be done is only to find and destroy the Unseelie, they are the corruption, without their influence, Scalehome would not be so aggressive."

"With all due respect, if there is a way to single out these Unseelie from the rest of the tricksom fey, please enlighten us."

[Asinjin]

"With all due respect, if there is a way to single out these Unseelie from the rest of the tricksom fey, please enlighten us."

"Some are obvious, but if you talk to one for a bit, it becomes clear."

[Asinjin]

When Planning is Done By Planners

4th Month 786 to 8th Month 786

At the meeting on the 29th of the 4th month, Ellic greets those who have gathered, which include Haas and company as well as the trusted advisers of the Fellow Estate.  He wastes little time and gets to the point.

"My plan is to defeat what our enemies are trying to do.  They want to make trade and travel dangerous and difficult.  We will make it quick and easy.  We will demonstrate that Scalehome and the Fey do not have the power to control the trade of the forest through thuggery and trickery.  We will provide, at no cost bulk transport of heavy goods via the Shrikeship.  We will provide magical transport, again at no cost, to important messengers.  We will send you out to guard large traveling parties and hope that they come out to fight you.  We will direct the forest's pathfinders to find new routes that the fey don't know well, and once discovered we will use them.  We will look to new trade partners outside the forest and bring goods in that way, avoiding the tactics our foes use within the forest.  Our enemy do not want a direct war, and we cannot bring it to them, so we will defeat them at this game they want to play."

None gathered give any complaints or criticisms of the plan (unless one of you steps forward).  The plan goes into action days later.  For the next three months; Haas, Valizar, Lennie, and Grant travel from place to place, preventing attacks on mayors, important clerics, and others.  The Shrikeship delivers cargo, and despite several attacks on it by the forces of Scalehome and the Fey, it is not seriously damaged.  Ellic's plan works well, and all reports are that the disparate communities of the Great Forest feel relief and hope.  With some exceptions, as the Lizardfolk communities are in too much a state of chaos to take advantage of the efforts.  The ogres are in hiding, figuratively, they don't want to be bothered by anyone.

It is near the end of the 8th month, that the reports of the small scale attacks change throughout the forest.  Although the fey continue their efforts, the forces connected to Scalehome are absent from the attacks.  Scowlbears and humanoids bearing the symbols of Scalehome, which had been often seen and involved in the attackers, are no longer there.  Scaled creatures, either created or infected forms of normal creatures, which had been growing in number and harassing the villages, also are no longer seen.  The forest dwellers cautiously hope for respite and victory, but the wise, Ellic among them, know that Scalehome has changed tactics and await to see what new threat emerges.

[Asinjin]

8th month 786 to 10th month 786

As autumn settles upon the Great Forest, the first reports of the new strategy to be employed by the forces of Scalehome come to the Fellos Estate.  These reports are shared with Haas and the group, although rumors of what they are spread nearly as quickly, and you assume the rumors are made wider known thanks to the efforts of Scalehome and its chief emissary known as the Voice.

All communities are put on notice that the Fellos Estate is to be attacked and that anyone that supports the estate will feel the full wrath of Scalehome.  It only takes two weeks before the first casualty occurs.  A town in Dukalia, to the east and nearer the Boiling Line, defies the order and sends a contingent of seasoned warriors to the Estate.  In response, the town is annihilated.  Reports, and later confirmation is made by the estate, are that the town does not exist anymore.  Leveled and grown over as if it had never been there.  The returning warriors find no trace of their lives.  For good measure, Ellic has the spellcasters confirm that it is not a trick.  They are certain the residents are dead.

Ellic gathers those at the estate and voices his concerns.  "If Scalehome has decided upon this level of destruction as a tactic, I do not know what we can do to combat it.  We can only hope that are allies do not abandon us and we can take this case to the rest of the world to form a greater front against Scalehome."  As Ellic puts his diplomatic agents on to the case, the forest quickly folds.  Within two more weeks, no one is reportedly willing to stand with the estate against the attack.

[Asinjin]

Many of the heroes that had previously come to the aid of the estate now leave.  They flee to their homes hoping to protect them, and most of you believe them to be cowards.  You berate some of them as they leave.  Fironi and halflings of Dukalia hear it from Haas and the group of you.  Those that had pleaded for restraint and parley berate you back, "You have brought this upon yourself." Larysa scolds before she leaves.

Two other halflings, well known and well received by Haas, Grant and the others, arrive a midst this turmoil.  Bartlet Felltree and Kellen Brownclaw, the former Graplore Champion and the current Emenotan champion arrive.  As hundreds of others leave the area, these two arrive.  "We have come to aid Grant and Haas," says the elderly former champion.  He won the tournament 110 years ago and shows his age.  He is weathered and has a cane and is stooped down to under 3 feat tall.  The much younger Kellen smiles broadly and greets Grant happily, having met several times before.  "Pleasure to see you again, "says the hard as a dwarf halfling.  They are the sole bright spot for two weeks and more leave and reports of abandonment come in from all corners.

Garlee Westerfall, the halfling captain of the watch for the estate reports that almost every foreign recruit has left.  But the good news is that trade continues from the other towns, and supplies and offers of assistance of other sorts continues.

[Asinjin]

As the 10th month opens, a quiet calm has fallen over the estate.  Things have settled into a routine of waiting.  No new recruits have arrived and no existing ones have left.  Ellic has made all necessary preparations to defend the estate.  "We can hold against any siege that comes." he proclaims.  "If ancestors held out against the fiends and devils, we can hold against whatever Scalehome throws at us."  His words are bolstered by the appearance of a Firbolg giant named Burkel.  He is based around the estate, but is known as one of the forest's great lumberjacks.  Along with him come a variety of fey.

To this point, while you have heard that there are fey loyal to the estate, you have seen few.  Tales have been told since you arrived of the long standing alliance between the fey and the estate, and you only imagine the toll these events have taken on that.  However, within a few days, you are convinced that whatever fey are here are loyal to the estate.  Spaz comes to say hello and assures you of their intentions.  The fey are to guard the eastern side of the estate.  You see all manner of them, including the purple skinned giant voadkyn and several unicorns.

On a particularly brisk day, Ellic calls for all of you, and he has you called psionically.  Tina is the local cleric of Celetal and she is the one that does it.  Calling you to his keep (which rests on the opposite side of the estate from Dryoll's keep), he is awaiting you outside.  "Reliable word has reached me of the nature of the assault that will come to our door.  The Lord of Scaelhome has unleashed The Mad Beast."  While that means nothing to little to most of you, Grant's face contorts in a mix of disbelief and near fear.  Seeing your faces, Ellic continues, "It is a mythical creature, although not truly.  I would tell anyone not of your esteem it was myth.  It is a centuries old half breed scaled fiend.  Many legged and dark green and black in color.  It was born out of desperation during the time of the hunt.  It is said to not come out for fear that its appearance will spark a backlash among the rest of the world.  For whatever those tales are worth, what matters is that we must prepare as if it is coming.  I am making every effort to find Juno, he is a slayer of these beasts, but he has not been heard from in some time.  Other than that, I will tell the leaders of the forces here and let them decide.  When this word gets out, we will certainly be alone in this fight."

[Hero]

"It is a centuries old half breed scaled fiend.  Many legged and dark green and black in color."

"Is there not a representative of the Guardians present at the Estate? Surely that organization would have interest in such a creature."

If not, I can use sending to inform Dovin.

[Asinjin]

Ellic looks at you cross eyed and then smiles, "There are several guardians in the forest...but I did not mean fiend in the literal sense."