Kingmaker+Session+2


 * 2-14-15 **
 * Settling a Score with Kessle, New Arrivals in Oleg's, and Exploring the Area **

 In addition to other groups of adventurers sent out to other areas... our group of adventurers had been posted to explore and clear the area 36 miles to the east, 36 miles to the west, and 60 miles to the south of Oleg's Trading Post of any bandits or problems.

A young gnome fighter, traveled with two companions into Vaasa. One was a good natured human male who traveled in light armor with a shao sword on his hip and a mandolin strapped to his back, Cristos Medici. The other was a buxom red-head with a large sword and wearing shiny armor with the holy sun symbol of Lathander, Tanya Vosto.

Tanya bent down and shook the small gnome's hand, "I'm pleased to meet you, Mr?" "Vorst," the young gnome clasped her hand with a confident warrior grip, "Of the Rock Gathering Clan." "I have not met many of your people," she shook her head, "It will be a pleasure to travel with you. Me and my companion here are to travel a bit farther to the west into the Hooktongue Slough to fulfill our writ." The young bard stepped forward also shaking the gnome's hand, "My name is Cristos Medici. You are traveling to Oleg's ?" "Yes," Vorst nodded up to him. Tanya nodded, "We were planning to stopping there on our way to the west. We wouldn't mind accompanying you. Safety in numbers and all that. We arrived a bit late as well and the rest of our company has already passed through." "Very good! I will be well honored to travel with you," Vorst nodded, agreeing. "Great!" Tanya nodded.

They left the newer city of Bloodstone, passing through the enormous city gates and 100 ft tall walls. The enormous statues of kings past lined their way. They followed the river for a few days outside of the valley and came into the rolling hills of Vaasa. It was mid summer and the grasses were green. There was a small village called Last Stop where traders exchanged their wares without having to go down the pass into the main city of Bloodstone. The companions traveled west along the muddy road for 4 or 5 days through the wilds... only the rare trapper or hunter crossed their path.

The vast aloneness of the uncivilized wilds was strange to all three. Chatting among themselves, Vorst learned that the human god of Lathander had many aspects. He was the Morning Lord - the god of the dawn and new beginnings, as well god of the rising sun and light, and human perfection in an athletic sort of way. Tanya is from Ilmwatch in Impiltur where her family resides. She had plans to seize this opportunity to bring the worship of Lathander into the wilds...it would be a time to finally prove herself once and for all.

Cristos played music to pass the time in the evenings on their journey. Also from Ilmwatch, he traveled with Tanya... though the two didn't seem romantically involved in the least. Family seemed very important to him and he had recently fulfilled some familial obligation that allowed him to go off on his own to make his own path.

Finally they arrived at the large wood fort of Oleg's Trading Post. Close to lunchtime, they rode in to see the gates opening up as four individuals were preparing to leave. A young very rare catfolk in leathers, a robed elven woman, an elven woman in leathers carrying a fencing foil, and a strange young woman with an inner light - marking her as one with celestial blood, an aasimar.

<span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">As they were preparing to leave, a tether snapped on the aasimar's horse and it reared up, almost kicking her in the head! <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">A stout human man immediately ran to the stables, calming the horse, "I don't know what's gotten into Nessie!" <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"I don't think she likes you," Aeon - the young elven woman clad in light leathers shook her head at the pointed-ear aasimar. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Apparently not," Sen sighed. These things simply happened... the spirits that haunted her easily spooked horses and often caused her bad luck.

<span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Noting the arrival of the three newcomers, Aeon nodded up to them, tipping her hat, "Good morning to you." <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">The three newcomers nodded in greeting. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">The young short gnome had red eyes, black wavy hair, and a thin beard on his grey-toned skin. He wore a rust colored hat with a rounded tip and scalemail armor. He carried a wicked looking hooked hammer. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Clad in very light leather and wearing a hooded cloak, the catfolk crouched low with his furry paw extended, "It has been since I was a boy that I have seen any of the wee folk. It is good to see you. My name is Naahir of the Soft Foot Clan." <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Oh!" Vorst nodded, shaking the large furred hand, "It is good to see you, catperson. I have heard from my cousins in the south of your people." <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"It is very far south," Naahir nodded, "Where it is much warmer." <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Indeed," Vorst agreed. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Welcome to Oleg's," the young celestial born curtsied in greeting to the three newcomers. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">The robed elven mage came up beside her, nodding to the three, "A pleasure to meet you." <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Greetings, ladies," Vorst nodded to both. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">The paladin stepped forward, "I am Tanya Vosto, and this is my companion, Cristos Medici," She gestured to the raven-haired bard beside her, "We are other adventurers trying to catch up to the party that headed to the Slough . We traveled with Vorst here, and we're planning to stop to supply and rest a bit before moving on to the west. It is very fortunate that we happened to meet up, but you look like you're about to leave?" <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Indeed," Aeon nodded, "We're tracking a lone survivor from a bandit raid." <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Oh! A bandit raid?" Tanya asked. She, the bard, and the warrior looked around the area to see that it did look like there was a battle here quite recently. The balding heavy set innkeeper was dragging some scruffy looking male bodies to a back corner where he tossed them in with compost. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Aeon nodded, "We managed to send the rest to their makers, but the one escaped." <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Oh bugger! We just missed it!" Vorst looked disappointed. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Not by long," Aeon shook her head. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"You're tracking them down then?" Tanya turned back to the elven woman with the foil on her hip. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Aeon nodded, "We've believe that they make their headquarters to the south, near the narlmarches . I don't know much about the Slough, but certainly if you mean to make a stay here, we could use you." <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"We're at least going to stay here long enough to resupply. It is my duty as a paladin of Lathander to defend the commonfolk," Tanya glanced over at Oleg, the innkeep. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"The bandits have been harassing Oleg and his wife for some time," Lorwyn nodded. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Indeed," Aeon nodded, "Saying the most unspeakable things to the lady." <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"If those of you with the writ assigned to here wish to pursue them," Tanya nodded, "Then Cristos and I will stay here to watch over the couple until your return. We'll make sure no bandits seek reprisal while you're gone." <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"That would be excellent," Aeon nodded. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"And appreciated," Lorwyn added beside her. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Excellent," Tanya nodded to both, "I hope that we will see each other again in the future if you should head to the slough. For it is all of our jobs to stamp out banditry!" She nodded with firm affirmation. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Aeon pulled her sword striking the air in agreement. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Sen smiled and nodded to the paladin, "Perhaps we shall meet on the crossroads." <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Cristos nodded, unslung his mandolin, and followed the paladin into the inn to eat and rest.

<span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Aeon turned to the gnome, "Unless you are road tired, you are welcome to join us." <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"I am ready to go!" Vorst nodded. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Excellent!" Lorwyn nodded to him. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">The five companions left the trading post, following the trail of blood and horse tracks through the wild rolling hills. Traveling a little slower to accommodate the gnome's stature as well as taking the time to track... brought them to the edge of the woods around sunset. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Naahir selected a lower spot in the hills to make camp. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">A small group of 2 or 3 elk moved in the distance during Sen's watch. She watched them graze and drink from the stream in the moonlight. Nothing else passed in the night.

<span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">In the morning everyone enjoyed breakfast and entered the dense untamed forest. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">A few narrow worn paths and the rare rabbit trap left in the area were the only thing that suggested people came here. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Vorst nodded up in greeting to a bluejay in the limbs above, "Hello there, friend bird." <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Hi! Hi! I'm a bird," the bluejay bobbed it's head cawing down to the gnome. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Have you seen any humans in the forest?" The gnome warrior called up. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"People here now," the bird nodded in reply. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Aside from us," Vorst gestured at the group, "And perhaps around yesterday afternoon or evening?" <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">The bird looked at him in confusion... too many strange words to understand the time frame. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Before nightfall, the previous sun," Vorst explained. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Ahh, yes yes! Two legs on four legs," the bird nodded, "Going very fast." <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"He says he seen a man on a horse," Vorst nodded to the others before turning back to the bird. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"He ran into many tree branches. Very funny!" the bluejay seemed amused by it's recollection. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"I'm sure," Vorst nodded in agreement, "Do you remember which direction he was going?" <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">The bluejay bobbed it's head, walking along the limb to gesture to the southwest. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Thank you, bird, you've been most helpful," The young gnome nodded up his appreciation. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Okay!" the bluejay nodded. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"That way," Vorst pointed to the rest of the group. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">The bird paused before flying off and looked down at Lorwyn, "Her hair is shiny." <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Vorst turned to look at the deep red hair of the elven mage and nodded back up to the bird, "Why yes it is. Birds like shiny things, don't they?" <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"It would be good for my nest," the bluejay blinked down at him expectantly. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Vorst chuckled and conveyed the request to Lorwyn who pulled out a few of her hairs and offered it up. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">The blujay swooped down to her hand, taking the hairs into it's beak and then flew off. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Sen was giggling watching Naahir's whiskers twitching as he fidgeted, his eyes fixed on the blue feathered bird. As the bird flew away, Lorwyn's gaze fell to the catfolk who's tail was still twitching as he stared at the bird that had been so close. The young mage patted his shoulder, "Next time." <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Oh dear," Vorst shook his head.

<span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Naahir continued to follow the broken tree branches, scouting slightly ahead, and leading the group deeper into the woods. Hours into the forest, the young catfolk came to a triangular clearing. The clearing looked a bit like an arrowhead. The catfolk noticed a couple of small creatures lying around. They appeared to be 2 or 3 feet tall with scaled skin. Naahir signaled the others to halt for a moment and he pulled out one of the wanted scrolls from the board at the trading post. He looked over the drawing and back at the creatures lying on the ground, rubbing their bellies. There were several baskets as well with some sort of tuber put into them... moonradishes by the looks of the plants in the area. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Lorwyn's ears perked up as she recognized a very broken use of the draconic language. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Oh! SO full! If I eat anymore I'm going to explode!" one of them called from his spot on the ground. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Oh, you might explode anyway," the other chided him from his own spot of overfull misery. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">A loud burp erupted from one of them, sending them all into yipping laughter. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Naahir's tail twitched with agitation as he watched the kobolds. Everyone moved up quietly, following the catfolk's signal. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">The gnome's eyes narrowed. Kobolds... a long time enemy of his people. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Are we supposed to kill them?" Lorwyn asked incredulously as she glanced skeptically at the bloated belly creatures in the clearing and back to the group. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Naahir shook his head, glancing again to the scroll in his hands, "According to this they don't normally cause a problem, but something got them all riled up... so we //could// slay them... //or// find out what's going on and make some sort of peace with them." <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Vorst glanced at the scaly creatures with distrust and hatred, "If you want to go make peace talks with them, I'll wait here. If I'm needed, I'll be along. I'll be happy to disembowel them and retrieve those root vegetables." <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Sen blinked wide eyes at the gnome.

<span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"They certainly don't pose any //immediate// threat," Lorwyn glanced back out to the clearing, "But give them time and they might." <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Certainly," Naahir nodded to her, "Or if they are able to call in more aid... how many more might be out in the trees?" <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"I'm ill prepared to strike a bargain as I know very little of them or what their problem may be," Lorwyn shrugged, "but we can try." <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"We'll ask the last. Fair enough?" Aeon chimed in before she moved toward them with the other following her. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Seeing the group walk into the clearing, one of the kobolds shouted, "Intruders!" <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">The others scrambled to their feet, "Ahh! This is //our// radish patch! You can't have any." Several shouted around the group, "They're ours! They're ours! They're ours! Go away!" <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Lorwyn shook her head and spoke draconic, "We don't want your radishes..." <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Then go away!" One of the kobolds answered her. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Ask them about Oleg's," Naahir nudged her. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">She nodded, turning back to the kobolds, "Why have you been bothering the trading post to the north?" <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">One of the kobolds shook his head a little confused, "We're soot scales. This //our// forest!" <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">The elven arcanist frowned, "Are you saying that the trading post is on your land?" <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"No..." the kobold cocked his head at her, "You ask why we mad?" <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Yes," Lorwyn nodded, "Or why else are you bothering them?" <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"We fight with mites! They steal our idol. Big powerful magic idol of our god! It gives soot scales strength. Theiving blue midgets stole it!" the little kobold ranted angrily. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Lorwyn turned back to the group, "He says something about thieving blue midgets... he calls them mites... Have you heard of such a thing?" <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Sounds like kobold crap to me," Aeon shook her head. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"They apparently stole the magic idol of their god," Lorwyn continued. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Naahir shook his head, "This guy better be a real charmer." <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Sen laughed and nudged him. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">The kobold continued talking to Lorwynelle, "We looking for secret way to sneak into mite tree! Take them out! Klthhhh." He drew a finger across his throat with the last word. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Naahir nodded, "I understood that part." <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Lorwyn grinned at him before asking the kobold, "Where is this tree?" <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Aeon raised an eyebrow at Vorst, "Are you okay with helping these things?" <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"If it brings peace to this area... yes," he nodded slowly. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Okay," she nodded. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Lorwyn crouched down with Naahir's map near the kobold, pointing at it, "Where is the tree?" <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> "Mmm tree there," the kobold pointed two days south on the map. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> Aeon asked with Lorwyn translating, "If we get your idol back... you wont bother the trappers and hunters anymore?" <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> "We ask chieftan," the kobold nodded, "Take you to chieftan. You talk talk. Be happy to get idol back." <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> "Take us to the chieftan," Aeon nodded and pointed at the map, "Where is the chieftan?" <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> The kobold pointed east of the mites on the map. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> "What are you doing way up here?!" Aeon asked. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> "Radishes grow here, mmm!" the kobold replied.

<span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> Vorst looked at Aeon, "What about the bandits?" <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> She nodded, "Let's continue tracking this guy... tell them we will meet them at their home." <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> Lorwyn nodded, translating to the kobolds, "Tell your chieftan we will be coming... In the meantime, you don't bother us... we wont bother you or your radishes." <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> "Okay," the kobold nodded his agreement and he and the others slumped back down, "So full!"

<span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> Naahir took his tracking back up and lead the group onward after the horse tracks and blood drops. At the beginning of twilight, he smelled a campfire near a stream just ahead. He waited for the others to catch up and relayed the information. <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> Senathliel laid her hands on the catfolk giving him divine guidance before Naahir crept with skillful silence closer to see a big burly woman with a pair of handaxes giving orders to her men... Kressle.

<span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> 5 bandits huddled around a fire, eyeing the area around them alertly. Kressle appeared to be chastising her men, especially the one who appeared wounded... likely Haps who we had been tracking from Oleg's. Naahir took a careful look around the clearing and noticed a man hiding by a log, obviously waiting for the attack they assumed was coming. Everyone seemed on high alert. The catfolk doubled back to relay the layout to the group.

"I think a frontal assault might be best as the rest of you aren't so good at the stealthing," he nodded to them, "Unless you're feeling sneaky?""I'm a little sneaky. I could perhaps help with some flanking," Vorst nodded to him.Lorwyn glanced over at the oracle who //always// seemed to have bad luck, and then turned back to the catfolk, shaking her head... Aeon followed Lorwyn's gaze and nodded to Sen, who was yet again pulling her boot lace from a tangle that had caught on some bramble in the tall grass, "Do the gods that spawned you not love you?" Sen looked up to see everyone looking at her and blushed, "I'm sure they love me..." She nodded."I'm pretty sure that they don't," Aeon shook her head."Why do you say such things?" Sen tilted her head."You have bad luck!" Nahiir patted her shoulder. Aeon nodded her agreement.Sen laughed softly, "You're not the first to tell me that... I heard it many times growing up."Aeon looked her over and turned to the catfolk, "She's not sneaking in...""Maybe we could send her out as bait... I mean a distraction," Lorwyn suggested, patting the oracle's other shoulder."Hey!" Sen nudged her. She took a drink from her waterskin, only to find that it had sprung a leak and doused the front of her in water. Lorwyn put her hand to her forehead and shook her head, her shoulders sinking slightly. "Aww, that's horrible," Naahir shook his head, and gestured to her wet dress clinging to her skin, "This is why we put you in front.""To distract the bandits," Vorst nodded his agreement."It's just the balance of my divine influence to bring good into the world," Sen nodded, "It happens all the time."Lorwyn just shook her head.Aeonill nodded, "I'll go with her front and center, and Lorwyn can follow us."Naahir nodded, "I'll go this way and you can go through there," He pointed out a path for the gnome."Give me a headstart," Vorst nodded, "I have short legs."The catfolk nodded, and the two of them snuck into the camp in opposite directions.Lorwyn wove her magical armor around herself and nodded to the others. Aeon broke the edge of the woods beside Senathliel, pointing ahead of them, and shouting a battlecry of, "There they are!"Haps looked up, paled and pointed back toward Sen and Aeon's charge, "That's them! They're the ones who killed them //all//!"

Kressle hefted up her axes, "Kill them!" She pointed one of her handaxes toward the oracle, "Save that one. She's pretty. She'll make a fine bedwarmer." Sen blinked surprised eyes, but continued forward next to the elven swashbuckler.Vorst slipped into sneak attack position as Aeon moved forward flourishing her blade in front of her, "I accept your challenge! En garde!"

Naahir leapt onto the bandit hiding near the log, piercing his longsword through the man's chest and leaving him for dead as he pulled his blade back out. No one in the camp even noticed his presence.Sen charged Aeon with divine guidance beside her and pulled her shield in front of her.Haps fired a bow at the elven fencer and the arrow went wide.Aeon shouted out a challenge to him, "What's the matter, Haps? Hands still shaking?"One of the bandits on a cleverly hidden lookout platform up in the trees fired arrows toward the soft squishy arcanist, piercing into her chest!

"Ugh!" Lorwyn rocked backward and coughed up blood from the hit, but she took notice of the platforms above them, "Senathliel... Aeonill... in the trees!" More arrows hit the ground beside Aeonill from two different platforms.The elven arcanist moved quickly to close the gap between her and the oracle and swashbuckler, spinning around to throw an arc of flame back at the bandit who shot her!"Holy shit!" the bandit backed up quickly, barely avoiding a direct hit, but the platform and tree caught fire around him.Vorst ran up and hit one of the bandits in the knee with the blunt hammer side of his gnome weapon, spilling the surprised bandit to the ground!"What the hell?!" the bandit called out in shock, "Look out for the wee folk!"Aeon struck out with her fencing foil into one of the closing bandits, leaving him gasping and paling, "Away from me, dog!"Kressle closed the gap with a double swing of her handaxes, cutting into Aeon with one of them.Naahir crept quietly, hunting the archer on the platform where he had seen an arrow shoot down toward Aeonill. Positive life energy moved out in a circle from Sen, healing both Aeon and Lorwyn beside her."Healer! Healer!" A couple of the bandits called warnings back to the others!

A flurry of arrows came for the healer from four different directions! A couple of them bounced off of her chain shirt, but one hit solidly into her thigh, causing her to cry out from the pain. The last arrow knicked her cheek as she turned toward the pain in her leg."Senathliel!" Lorwyn sent out a magic missile into one of the archers, dropping him to the ground, "I told you not to reveal yourself as a healer!"One of the bandits closed in to help Kressle surround Aeon, striking her in the back with his shortblade!Vorst cleaved the sharp hook of his gnomish weapon deep into the bandit in front of him, claiming his life! Aeon whirled to slice through the throat of the bandit behind her, dropping him to the ground to die before coming back around to face Kressle, "How are you one on one, bitch?""We'll find out once that healer of yours is down!" the bandit leader retorted before striking with both handaxes at Sen, knocking her in the head to send her to the ground, unconscious!

Naahir watched the tree above him where the arrows were coming from, and he stalked carefully up the trunk, tail twitching as he seen the bandit cheering quietly that the healer went down. The bandit whispered to himself just loud enough that the catfolk heard it, "Get her, Kessle! That arcanist bitch is next!" Naahir crept silently toward him. Two arrows passed over Vorst's head to stick in the ground and he laughed mockingly up at the trees!Kressle shook her head, shouting commands, "He's heavily armored! Shoot the elfy woman in robes! She shoots fire!"Two more arrows flew for Lorwyn, but clashed against her mage armor and fell, "She has some sort of magical defenses! Bitch!"Vorst moved in behind Kressle, smacking his hammer in to her spine!Kessle grunted in pain, eyeing the swashbuckler in front of her, "Where is our one on one?""I was always more of a three-way girl," Aeon winked at her."Not much of a sense of honor," Kessle scoffed at her.Aeon glanced at Sen lying on the ground and back to Kessle, striking her twice with her fencing foil, "I don't give dogs the choice of honor!"Kessle struck out angrily, catching Aeon with one of her hand axes to gash her side, leaving the elven woman battered bloody! The bandit leader shouted out to her archers, "Just shoot! Just shoot!"Naahir climbed the tree, stalking up behind the archer on the platform who was poised to launch more arrows. He blasted the bandit with a hefty strike and growled in the shadows of the tree.Sen continued to bleed on the ground as the bandit strwynuck back at the catfolk! Haps fired another arrow that managed to pierce through the mage shield to graze Lorwyn. The arcanist released a magic missile back into Haps.Vorst clawed his hammer across Kressle's back, dropping her body to the ground!Aeon charged across the field to pierce her sword through a bandit's eye, dropping him to the ground as Naahir dropped the archer from the tree!The last bandit dropped to his knees, "Don't kill me! Please! I'll tell you anything you want to know!""What could you tell me," Aeon flourished her foil about."Anything! Anything you want to know!" the bandit continued to plead."Where is the loot?" she asked, returning her fencing foil to her scabbard and nodding to Naahir and Vorst, "Tie him up!"

While the gnome and catfolk tied up the remaining bandit, the girls looked over Senathliel. Aeon pulled bandages from the oracle's pack and worked with Lorwyn to bandage her up. Together they managed to stop the bleeding. Aeon turned to the tied up bandit, pointing at him, "You! Healing potions. Where?"The bandit pointed at the leader, "Kressle had one."Aeon searched the bandit leader and found a red vial, pouring it carefully down the oracle's throat. Sen was breathing and her open wounds healed, but she remained unconscious. Naahir, Vorst, and Lorwyn searched the bandit horde while Aeon watched over the oracle.

321 Silver90 GoldSilver Earrings worth 150 goldWooden Music Box worth 90 gold3 Crates of Furs and Hides worth 150 gold8 Bottles of Potent Green Liquor worth maybe 20 gold7 Suits of Leather worth 35 gold6 Longbows worth 180 gold1 Longbow for Vorst2 Masterworked HandaxesComposite Bow for Naahir

Sventlanna's wedding ring was still unaccounted for...

Naahir took the composite bow and Vorst took one of the longbows. The rest was piled onto a cart to take back to Oleg's. The bandit pleaded to be released, "I don't want to die! I'll tell you anything you want to know! We've been in this area for awhile. You could just let me go! I swear I'll give up my life of banditry and I wont go back to the Stag Lord !""Stag Lord?" Aeon's ears caught the name and she turned to the bandit, "Tell me more about this Stag Lord.""Our boss is a monster of a man... calls himself the Stag Lord. He's a dead eye with a bow, and I seen him crush a prisoner's hand to mush in one fist! Come to think of it... I aint never seen him without his creepy stag helm on. One of my friends thinks he aint got a face underneath it... but not me... I think that creepy helm //is// his face! ...You just killed his lieutenant. I don't think he's going to be very happy with you," the bandit shook his head.Everyone exchanged a glance and Aeon asked, "How many other lieutenants does he have?""3," the bandit nodded.Aeon looked at the group, "I think he may have earned his freedom." She turned back to the bandit, "What could you possibly offer or promise me to make me believe that if I let you go... You don't just head straight for this Stag Lord? ...mind you, I'm pretty suspicious.""Well..." the bandit answered thoughtfully, "You could take me back to the Trading Post... to be honest, I think if I went back to the Stag Lord... he'd kill me. He's not been... well... things aren't going too well. He's a bloody drunk. All that booze there," he pointed to the green liquor, "was for him. He's half of what he used to be... and he's never been quite right in the head, but even drunk out of his mind... he's still got a fair amount of fight to him. A few weeks ago he punched my horse for spitting in the yard! Personally I wouldn't care if he dropped dead tomorrow."Aeon nodded, satisfied, "We'll take him to Oleg's with us then."Lorwyn pointed to Naahir's map, "Where does this Stag Lord reside?" The bandit put a dirty finger on the map, "That's where his fort is. It's a dangerous place.""How many?" Aeon asked."Maybe a dozen? They're a lot tougher there though! It's hard to keep track of who all is working for the boss... so there's a masterphrase as a password to get into the fort. Unless it's been changed recently, it's //By the bloody bones of Saint Gilmorg, who wants to know?//" The bandit replied and shook his head, "And no... I have no idea who Saint Gilmorg is... but I got one more thing. Stag Lord keeps an old man in the basement... I suspect the old guy might be running the show, I don't know... but he could be using the Stag Lord as a puppet. I got a look in the old man's eyes once, and it terrified me! He aint someone I'd want to cross.""But he's locked up in the basement? ...like a prisoner?" Aeon asked."Yeah," the bandit nodded."But he's running the show from the prison?" she asked again."I don't know that for sure... but when I looked him in the eyes, it gave me the shivers," the bandit shook his head, goosebumps running down his arms in memory.Aeon nodded to him.Lorwyn nodded to the bandit, "So you'll go to work at Oleg's? Help out the trading post?"Aeon nodded to her, "That's not a bad idea," She turned to the bandit, "If you prove your worth, you could earn your freedom.""That's better than the hangman's noose," the bandit agreed."The hangman's noose is a lot faster," Aeon shrugged, "A lot less work too.""Yeah, but I kinda like livin," the bandit replied.She nodded, "Then you've got the right attitude."

Naahir and Vorst found a wagon and the bandit warned them of the bear traps, so they could get it without trouble.Aeon nodded her approval to the bandit, "I'm liking you more and more.""I'm a helper," he nodded to her."See to it that you keep helping," Vorst nodded to him.Lorwyn turned to the bandit, "What is your name?""Falgrim Sneed," he nodded to her."That's a bad name," Aeon shook her head."I can't help what name my momma gave me," Falgrim shrugged, "You can call me whatever you want.""Sneeg is a criminal name," Aeon shook her head, "You may want to change it before you head into the real world."Falgrim nodded to her, "I'll come up with a new name to go along with my new leaf. You can call me New Leaf."Aeon nodded her approval. The gear was loaded onto the cart along with the unconscious Sen amid the furs.

The young aasimar's eyes fluttered open as she felt the bump of the wagon beneath her. She was surrounded by furs to cushion and warm her. Her body and head ached from the beating, and she seen Naahir's face appear over her with a grin, "She was right. You //are// a fine bed warmer." Sen laughed with relief to see him and looked around, "Thank you! All of you!""It aint pretty work," Aeon nodded to the bandages, "But it'll get you by."Sen nodded to her gratefully and wove a divine spell over herself, healing her wounds. A positive burst of life energy waved out from her, healing the others as well.After the better part of 2 days, the group made it back to Oleg's.

The bald innkeeper nodded happily, "You're back! And in one piece too.""Mostly," Aeon nodded with a grin."Your friends, Cristos and Tanya, moved on yesterday," he nodded, "let me introduce you to Kestin Garris and company," he gestured to a sullen looking human man, dressed in a soldier uniform of Bloodstone and Damara, wearing the telltale black tabard with a red gemstone that had green flecks in it. There were three others in the same uniform beside him.Kestin nodded a greeting, "I'm from one of the noble houses of Bloodstone sent along by the Swordlords to help reinforce your efforts here.""So you'll be guarding Oleg's now?" Aeon nodded to him in greeting. "Aye," the four soldiers nodded."Most appreciated," Aeon nodded, "I've heard the name Garris... why do I know that name?""We're just a minor noble family in Bloodstone.... I'm sure you couldn't have heard much about //my// name, especially compared to an elven high noble," he seemed a little embarrassed by the question and deferred to her, noting her own nobility, "We're here to serve as best we can. We're expecting a priest on the morrow... a priest of Sylvanus, the god of nature. Jhod Kavken ... he's offered his aid to tend to the sick and wounded.""That will be a welcome thing," Aeon nodded."Jhod was traveling with us... but he stopped at a holy grove of his god," Kestin nodded, "But we expect him in the morning."

Oleg nodded to the wagon, "I see you've recovered some goods from the pilfering bandits. Come in and I'll have Sventlanna put stew on for you all.""We've also found you a volunteer," Aeon nodded to him, nudging Falgrim forward, "This wayward soul here would like to right his ways. He's offered to help you here in any way that he can for a year to help earn his freedom."Oleg nodded, looking the former bandit over, "Well there's lots of stuff that need fixin around here and I could use a person to help clean out the stalls.""He's got a strong back," Aeon nodded.Kestin nodded, "We'll keep an eye on him... make sure he's a good worker."

Aeon nodded her thanks to the soldier. Falgrim Sneed sighed heavily, and whined to no one in particular, "I'm going to be cleaning shit for a year..." Aeon grinned over at him, "Yes you are." "You have quite the stain you have to clean off of your life," Vorst nodded to him. "Aww," Sen patted him softly, offering encouragement, "But you'll get to start over... introduce yourself as Falgrim Newleaf... start a new life." He nodded to her, trying out the new name, "Falgrim Newleaf..." he nodded to her, "I like it." Aeon nodded, "Oleg here is full of knowledge, and I'm sure he can teach you a number of ways to make money //honestly//." "Alright, I'll learn," Falgrim nodded earnestly.

Aeon turned to Kestin, "What do you know of a 'Stag Lord'?" He shook his head, "Not much... we just heard word that that's the name of the bandit leader in this area." Aeon nodded, and asked Falgrim about Svetlana's ring. "Well... if you didn't find it with our horde... there were a couple bags of crip crap stolen the other day by those filthy little blue mites," he replied thoughtfully, "They fled once we chased them off, but I didn't see what was in the bags." Aeon nodded, "Those blue mites are becoming a problem." Lorwyn agreed with her, "They're like little cleptos." Falgrim was obviously trying to avoid the captain of the guard's gaze as he swept his cloak about him and turned this way and that through the conversation. Kestin looked at the bandit closer, "Is that you, Falgrim?" He shook his head and glanced back to the adventuring group, "This guy was working for me a couple of months ago. Passed himself off as a mercenary, and then robbed us and fled to The Green Belt to become a bandit. I was hoping to catch him alive and return him to Bloodstone for punishment... but it looks like you all have already served him with a punishment and that qualifies in my book. I'd rather have a hold of him for the next year over having him just rotting in some jail cell anyway." "Sneed, this doesn't bode well," Aeon shook her head at him, "It doesn't look like you're real good at turning over a new leaf." "That was the old Sneed," Falgrim protested, shaking his head, "I am Newleaf now. I've given up that life of crime." Aeon shook her head and sighed uncertainly, "I'm having a lot of trouble with this one." "Don't worry," Kestin shook his head at her, I'll make sure he serves out his term. In return for giving him to me, I'll give you 4 masterworked weapons of any kind made for you." "Oh!" Vorst nodded his approval. "That's very generous," Aeon nodded. Kestin nodded, "I'll speak with the blacksmith among my connections. It'll probably take a few weeks to get them out here, but I'll have them started right away." Aeon put in for a masterworked rapier, Vorst requested a masterworked rapier, Naahir showed Kestin his katana and asked to have a masterworked one, Lorwynelle asked for a masterworked elven longsword. Kestin told her that the order would be put into Myth Coramanth for it.

Falgrim seemed a bit less enthusiastic about his prospects here for the next year, but Sen tried to encourage him anyway, "You can do this! It'll be a new start. You can still introduce yourself as Newleaf now. The divine will help to guide you.""Alright," he smiled and latched onto her kindness.

Kestin removed the Wanted: Falgrim Sneed poster he had put on the board... but there were other new ones up.

Gathering Fangberries for Crazy Old Bokken Bokken is something of an eccentric, but he sure knows how to make delicious potions. His secret is fangberry juice, but he's running low. A large thicket of fangberries grows about 55 miles southwest of Oleg's. Bring Bokken enough berries to make fangberry juice for 7 potions. Make sure they're not dirty... Bokken wont bother to wash tem before he uses them. Reward: 25% discount on all potions for 1 month!

Moon Radish Soup for SvetlanaOleg's been under a lot of stress lately, and Svetlana would love to cook him his favorite meal moon radish soup to help him relax. Unfortunately moon radishes are relatively rare, but a patch grows about 16 miles south of the trading post. Gather a basket of moon radishes and deliver them to Svetlana at Oleg's Trading Post.Reward: 250 gold

The group still held onto three bounties from before...

Kobolds in the hills! The sootscale kobolds dwell in a cave somewhere in the Kamlands. Normally they are not a problem, but something has them all riled up lately. Find their lair and ensure that the kobolds will no longer be a threat. Reward 800 gold!

Wanted: Tatzelwurm! The way everyone talks about tatzelwurms, one might think they're swarming all over. This isn't true. Tatzelwurms are quite rare. A tatzelwurm head would make a great conversation piece at Oleg's. Deliver the head to Oleg's. Reward 600 gold!

Wanted: Tuskgutter! Everyone in Green Belt has a story about ol' Tuskgutter, each wilder than the last! Whoever manages to kill the beast will get a nice reward from old retired Vekkel Benzen, who lost his leg to the monster pig a year ago. Deliver his head to Oleg's. Reward: a masterworked longbow and 6 +1 animal bane arrows... and headcheese? ...ew.

The soldiers had set up tents near the stables, and the bunkhouse was kept clean and ready for the adventuring group.

Most of the loot was sold to Oleg and the gold was divided among the 5... at 143 gold and 64 silver each. Kessle's masterworked hand axes were given to Oleg to hang up in his bar. We also completed the Bandits Wanted bounty and divided the reward gold between the five... each getting another 80 gold. Everyone browsed the new stuff he'd gotten in his shipment. Sen traded her armor in for a new chain shirt... lighter and easier to use. Aeon an Naahir each bought chain shirts as well. Vorst traded in his armor for a new breastplate. Lorwynelle and Vorst each bought a cure light wounds potion (1D8 +1) as well.

When Jhod Kavken arrived the following day, he spoke of recieving a vision from his god about a lost temple to Sylvanas somewhere to the south of Oleg's, "In the vision, there was a large bear guarding the temple, but there was something... just not quite right about the bear. If you find the temple and put that tortured bear to rest, I'd appreciate it... in return I could provide most of my priest spells to you for free... except for those that require costly spell components, of course." Like everyone else in the area, he didn't talk much about his past.

The four guards worked on building a guard house inside the Trading Post over the next few days, using Falgrim for assistance. They also worked on repairing some of the walls here. They spoke of getting an engineer from Bloodstone to fix the catapults in the four old towers.

<span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> 1200 experience points! <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> (200 xp for session 1 for those who were in it)

<span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> A plan was made to go to the blue mites tree as well as exploring through the areas on the way...

<span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Taking about a week, the group searched and explored several miles around the trading post. To the east was Bokken 's Hut, the alchemist. A paranoid human man who lived mostly in seclusion, he behaved a bit like a jittery child or bird. His speech was swift and clipped as though eager to end every conversation as fast as he could... though quite eager to sell his potions. He was well known by both Oleg and the trappers in the area. He mentioned his younger brother and spit on the ground before raising his right hand with a missing pinky finger, "The bastard cut that off of me the last time he hit our mother, Dresna, rest her soul... but he took off to a hollow tree down south rather than facing the guards. I thought about tracking him down for revenge, but The Green Belt is too dangerous. I'd like to know what happened to him though and whether he's still alive. You could kick him a few times for me if you see him." <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> "Sounds like a nice brother you have there," Lorwynelle replied with sarcasm. "One hell of a family," Aeon agreed, nodding.The party bid their farewell, agreeing to make note... or perhaps bring back a finger if they found the man he spoke of.

They continued on toward the south. Naahir ran across several skeletons of boars, deer, bear, and humans. He shook his head, coming back to the others, "Something hunts here."Fifty to a hundred feet behind Naahir the others seen something lift up in the ground... an enormous spider, the size of a pony, crawled up out of it's hidden hole! "Naahir!" Lorwyn called out and pointed behind him, but it was too late! The spider leapt on top of the catfolk, biting into him! It's fangs just pierced the surface of Naahir's skin, but the slayer was strong and managed to fight off the poison. Super fast, just as soon as it bit him, the spider scurried back into it's hole. Sen ran to the catfolk's side to check him as he was already standing. He nodded to her that he was alright and took off after the arachnid, leaping on top of the lid to hold it inside it's hole. He could feel the thundering thud from beneath him as the spider again tried to charge out.The arcanist wove a magical armor around her body, ready to move in and Sen cast a sanctuary over herself, following the catfolk. As his friends ran over to help him, Naahir lifted the trapdoor for Lorwynelle to throw in a blasting arc of flame and Aeon and Vorst leapt in to hack it down!

Sen lead the way with her darkvision down the tunnel that was 25 feet deep. There they found a few scattered skeletons... and a dead bandit with a short sword, leather armor, and 10 gold. He wore a silver Stag Lord amulet worth 20 gold. "He did not make it back," Naahir shook his head, and noticed a scrap of paper tucked into the bandit's boot. A crude drawing on the paper showed a grey clawing tree reaching for the sky up above. An X was scrawled in blood near the roots of the tree. "It looks like a treasure by a tree that looks like a clawed hand," Naahir held up the paper for everyone to see, "I think like bandit sometimes... I am ashamed."The black-haired oracle patted his furry shoulder, "I wouldn't have thought of it Naahir, but I think you're right. It's good that you think like that."His face was still downcast, ashamed, but he leaned into her pat.

Continuing on, scouting the areas... a day later, the group ran into a lightning struck tree that looked rather like a grey clawed hand reaching for the clouds... it was the only tree in a 2 mile radius. Everyone looked among the roots to evenutally find a wet heavy leather cloak wrapped around a master worked dagger, an ivory wand, a silver ring worth 75 gold, and a spellbook. Much of the book was ruined to the rains, but a few of the spells were intact, [|Identify], [|Mage Armor] , [|Reduce Person] , [|Silent Image] , and [|Unseen Servant]. Lorwynelle pulled out her own spellbook, copying down the spells carefully and learning them as they continued to search and discover more area. Using the identify spell later on the wand, she discovered it had 4 charges left of [|Burning Hands].

As the group approached the fairly fast-moving river, there were the partial remains of a bridge on either side that now looked more like docks with a heavy rope strung between them. A sign hung on the dock that read Nettle's Crossing5 coppersRing bell for serviceA rusty old bell hung next to the sign, and it looked like another sign and bell were on the opposite dock. Vorst reached up and rang the bell, Aeon nodding. Climbing from the rubble of a nearby ruined building, a rotting body walked across the surface of the river as it was dry land. He carried a [|ranseur] in his hand. Lorwynelle closed her eyes, "Senathliel, I told you to keep your spirits to yourself. I don't believe. I don't believe. I don't believe." She opened her eyes to see that it was still coming.It reached the docks to look at the group and shook it's weary head, "You are not my tormentors. Throw the Stag Lord's body into the river so that I may look upon his death or join me instead."Aeon nodded, "We will bring you this Stag Lord."It nodded, dissolving into the water.

Naahir marked the crossing on his map and the group continued on toward the kobolds. A large outcropping of boulders emerged from the face of a nearby hill. A narrow opening in the rock lead to darkness below. A fallen sign leaned against the side of the cage entrance with a few fading words that read Oaktop Silver Mine. A cage made of branches and sticks sat on the other side containing a single sobbing mite, his eyes squinting tightly against the light of the day. A kobold jumped out from behind a boulder, "You the ones? You come to talk?""We come to make the talk talk," Aeon nodded."Okay, you come in," he lead them into the dark tunnel.