23 - Call the Wild

"That went so much better than the first time!" Joe crowed as Earcellwen materialized out of the lush forest around them. "You were amazing. You never broke cover once. That was great!"

"Agreed. I was dubious about your ability to draw the monsters, but you are very good at it. I was worried I was going to watch them paste you across the clearing." Earcellwen pulled an arrow out of a fallen ape and began to check it for damage as she spoke. "You are in light armor, and those nuts hit like cannons. Now I see why my father so highly praised the battle healers of the Voiceless Dunes."

"I think my favorite part was that trap of yours. When that swarm landed on the ape looking for you, it completely lost its mind."

"Thank you. I have been trying to get my [Brass Ground Nest] to advance to [Steel Ground Nest] for a while now. I think it is getting close. Maybe at the next ape site." Looking around the clearing, she added, "Considering how well we did with this one, I think we will be able to address whatever advantage the next one has."

Joe stopped looting the apes and turned to look at her. "What do you mean by advantage?"

"I have noted that these multiple-target quests tend to get more difficult as they progress. I think we will find the next set of apes will either have higher numbers than this nest, or some sort of greater terrain advantage, or possibly an additional combat ability. I expect the one after that will be even more difficult. Thankfully, there are only two more ape squads to go."

"But isn't it just potluck? If we had come at these ape troupes in a different order, then they would not be getting progressively harder," Joe suggested as he looted another set of fangs and a pair of opals from the next slain badboon. Uncut stones and teeth seem to be the primary loot items from these fallen foes.

"You would think so, but it never seems to work that way. I have found that no matter how I have approached multi-stage quests, they always seem to get more difficult as they advance," the elf said with a shrug as she recovered another arrow. "The Giver of Quests is likely behind the progression, but that has never been adequately proven."

'I could ask.'" Joe thought to the sentient force behind the world of Illuminaria.

And I can choose to ignore such blatant fishing.

'Boo,' Joe mentally bemoaned. 'All good. I really didn't think that was going to work.'

Then there is hope for you yet, Joe.

'Hey!' he sent back before returning to the conversation with Earcellwen. "I agree. Definitely One Above shenanigans at work," he joked. As the quip left his mouth, Joe processed the rest of what she had said. "How do you know there are only two more nests?"

"Look at the quest, Joe," she said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Which, to a resident of Illuminaria, it was.

ENCROACHING APES (Uncommon)

Badboons have overrun the trail to Mount Serabuk. Clear the Badboon troops. Additional rewards are available for determining why the primates have moved from their territory onto the mining road.

Glenwood Pool Nest complete: 1 of 3

Reward (Glenwood Pool Nest): 400 gp & +20 Reputation with the Adventurers Guild

"Got it! I should have figured that one out."

Joe finished looting the apes while RC salvaged arrows. He ended up splitting with her a large pile of the fangs, which she said were sold as spell components, a few hides, and a nice handful of uncut gems and semi-precious stones.

"Are you ready?" the elf asked, as she swapped out her quiver from a dimensional locket she wore around her neck. "We should start looking for the next nest."

"I'm good to go," Joe replied, feeling quite happy with how well that fight had gone. He was finally getting to be the explorer he had hoped to be. Additionally, Earcellwen was a good combat partner for him. She dished out great damage while he was able to take the hits. He could easily see them questing together again after this one was completed.

Between her hunting skills and Joe's nose, they tracked the next band of badboons to a steep hillside crowned by a cluster of willow-like trees. The nuts on these trees were as large as those at the pool, but they were oblong instead of teardrop-shaped; more pecan than hazelnut.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Joe saw that his companion had been right. These apes would have a serious terrain advantage. The long drapes of ribbony branches gave the apes a complete screen of cover. Conversely, the hillside possessed only a few scrubs and a coating of knee-high grass. He and RC would be totally exposed getting into range while their adversaries would be thoroughly shrouded within the dangling canopies.

"You didn't knock on wood, did you back there?" Joe muttered glumly.

"What wood?" she asked, giving him an odd look.

"Huh, I would have thought that one would have translated. It's a superstition, slash, expression where I come from. The belief is you can avoid summoning a problem you have spoken about by tapping on a piece of wood."

"Does it work?" Earcellwen inquired with a very earnest expression. "Can't think of all the times I have had a worry, only to have that exact thing occur. My father always says, 'To speak of an ill is to invite it to dinner.'"

"Yeah. Happens to everyone, I think. The knock on wood is a superstition, so I doubt if it really works, but better safe than sorry," he admitted. "But we are getting sidetracked here. This is going to be brutal. Do you have any cool skills you haven't shown me yet?"

"I can summon a stag mount. Does that count?"

His first thought was just how cool that sounded, but his second was how it might be just what they needed. "It might," Joe stated, tugging on his ear, thinking. "How fast would it be on that hillside?"

"Very," the ranger answered, staring at the knoll. "Though I would have a hard time shooting if Naenaeon was running at full speed across that terrain."

"You would just need enough shots to get their attention while I crept into range. If I could reach a couple of those bushes," Joe indicated, pointing at one of the larger patches of shrubbery, "I could try and defoliate their screen with a few [Grit Razors]. I think it would only take a couple of blasts. It would be better if I could do so from a few different spots. If we could see them, we could make a good fight out of this."

"Your stealth is pretty awful, Joe," RC stated bluntly. "So I hope you would be willing to accept a boon from me."

"Of course. Why wouldn't I?" Joe pondered, surprised that this was even a consideration.

"I teamed up with a warlock a few weeks ago who got pissy every time I offered to buff him," she replied with a shrug. "You are not nearly as arrogant as Lexaroth was, so I should have known you would not be as unreasonable."

"First, I fully expect you to accept my heals and cures, right?"

Earcellwen smiled back at him. "Good point. What's the second thing?"

"Anyone who names their kid Lexaroth is clearly trying to raise a douche-noggle."

RC covered her mouth and giggled loudly. Joe usually did not laugh at his own jokes, but her chortle was so infectious he could not help but join her.

"He really was. That was such a bad day. Bad quest." She snickered once more before getting back to business. "Ok, great. Woodland concealments are my specialty. I have a spell [Cape of the Forest] that will give you a major boost to your ability to blend into vegetation. I like your plan for my stag and me. If they are focused on me, you will be able to move and throw your shards. Once you tear down their cover, we switch roles. I hide and snipe while you draw their attacks again." She nodded her head, looking speculatively at the stand of willows. "This could work."

She turned and headed back into the forest, with Joe following her. When she entered a small clearing, she pointed at him and then at a spot by a tree. He stopped and waited there. She moved a few yards further before kneeling down in the middle of the little glade.

RC closed her eyes and whispered something that Joe could not hear. A moment later, he sensed something. There was a scent in the air that seemed to seep out of everywhere and nowhere at the same time. It smelled like cut grass and horses. It reminded him of spring and summer. A green-white haze spread between two of the great trees, and from it, a large pale stag stepped into view. Joe could not tell if it was gated through that haze or conjured by it. It was just suddenly there.

The creature was far bigger than any deer from Earth. Joe would have thought it was a male elk, but Earcellwen had said 'stag'. Its coat was a pale green, almost white. The gaze it leveled at him was not the soft, shy look of a deer either. The antlered beast assessed him with a proud surety, devoid of any sense of the skittishness that Joe normally associated with these creatures.

The beast was possibly the most beautiful and regal animal Joe had ever seen.

"Wow," he breathed, standing perfectly still.

"Come and meet him," the ranger urged, gesturing for Joe to come closer. "His name is Naenaeon. It does not translate well into common. The closest would be 'Fearless runner under the dappled sky'. Naenaeon has answered my call several times now. He is becoming a good friend."

Joe reached out a hand and, when RC gave him a large nod, he placed his palm on the creature's neck. The fur was a little coarser than he expected, but it was the animal's warmth that really surprised him.

Naenaeon's head and Joe's were at the same height, and they met eyes. "Hi," was all he could think of. Normally, when meeting a new dog, Joe would ramble warm-sounding nonsense, but he felt like that would insult this dignified creature.

The stag dipped its head back at him and leaned against Joe's hand, returning his greeting.

"I don't know about this, Earcellwen," Joe uttered, suddenly feeling unsure about their plan. "I would hate to see him get hurt."

"Don't worry. Naenaeon can take care of himself," she replied, and was interrupted by a snort from the stag. "Ok fine. We will take care of each other."

"Wait? Can he understand us?"

"He understands ideas and intents more than he does actual words," she answered, scratching her fingers through the glacial green coat. "The white stags are as much beings of spirit as they are flesh and forest. He likes you. That is a good sign."

"Let me guess. He was not a fan of ol' Lex," Joe guessed.

"Oh, lords, no. I thought he was going to run the warlock over instead of the shellycoats we were fighting," she replied with rolling eyes.

"Well, I hope he knows I think he is amazing," which earned him an increase in pressure against the hand he was stroking down the amazing creature's neck. "If you two are sure, then let's go tackle nest number two."

Earcellwen wrapped her [Cape of the Forest] spell around Joe and vaulted onto Naenaeon's back.

"Nest number two," She agreed.

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