Forest of Wyrd Session #21 - The Giant of Wickerwood

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:
Vergarious (Changeling 2)
Gnarl (Wood Gnome 4)
Ranza (Changeling 3)
Hobbs (Hedgefey 3)
Jonesomon (Specialist 4)

With Stonethorn gained and foes defeated, the party returned to the ruined tower to settle in for a night of rest and recovery. The next day they followed the ruined road to the east, hoping it led them to the hamlet of Wickerwood, their next destination. Working along the scattered cobblestones, late in the morning the party passed a gully on the left. Hobbs, walking point, noted that it was filled wilth fallen autumn leaves. This was quite odd, as it was in the early days of Heat and high summer. However, before he could he could raise this oddity with the rest of the party, the close leaf litter stirred and three strange creatures fell upon the party; humanoids made of leaves, with no features except a dull red glow deep in their “faces”. The things attacks, driving blood sucking proboscis into Gnarl and Jonesomon. A short and furious fight ensued, and at several points the creatures propelled a storm of leaves but with no apparent effect. In the end all three were slain, bursting into a cloud of leaves upon death, leaving behind just a web of tendon and veins which quickly dissolved into the forest litter. Before heading on, Ranza scuttled down over the embankment to root through the leaf pile, finding three humanoid skeletons and a leather bag containing 107cp. 

Having no further difficulties, they continued along the trail until it petered out atop a low barren rise. But no matter, for below them they could see the little town of Wickerwood clustered around a small cove on the River of Sorrows. At the north end of town was a new watchtower, while to the south was a partiality ruined keep. Watching for a few minutes, they noted something odd. There was little or no activity in the town. At a time when farmers should be in the field, fisherman at their boats and everyone else going about their business, they saw only a furtive few duck out of doors then scurry back in again.  Thinking something was not right, the party descended the hill and headed first to one of the farms at the edge of the town. There they hoped to ask some questions and find out what was going on before stepping into the middle of it. After some serious door pounding and sweet talk, the farmhouse door flew open and they were confronted by a man threatening them with a pitchfork. He was not particularly friendly or forthcoming, insisting there was nothing going on and everyone was too busy to be out and about. Every now and then, he would furtively glance behind and around himself, as if he though someone as sneaking up behind. This would prove a common peculiarity in all their forthcoming interactions with the townfolk. 

Taking leave, they next went to the watchtower and received much of the same response from the man standing guard at the top. He directed them to the "Nine Cups and a Cask" Inn if it was a meal and a bed they wanted. So the party moved on once more. Arriving at the inn they were greeted reluctantly by the innkeeper Grimel. Again they asked questions and again were brushed aside. Grimel did serve them pints of ale and some greenish cabbage soup with no meat, but otherwise repeated much of what the others had said. Oddly, there was no one else in the inn on this fine afternoon. Changing tack, Hobbs asked about the ruined keep. At this, Grimel opened up a little, explaining he was a former huscarl of the local Thayn, and knew the keep quite well. It was unfortunate that Thayn Lorgan decided, 5 years before, to rise in revolt against his liege-lord, the Earl of Brackenrae. The Thayn  insisted  he had better claim to the earldom than Olfric, for reasons Grimel did not elaborate upon. However, Earl Olfric crushed the insurrection, smashing the keep in the battle. Thayn Lorgan was drawn and quartered, and Wickerwood punished for supporting him by the ban of 3 and 3; the protection of the Earl was withdrawn for 3 x 3 years and no Thayn appointed until after that time has passed.  Wickerwood had been on it's own since then. 

Jonesomon, sensing an opportunity to make his mark, asked after any ne'er-do-wells about town. Grimel mentioned two old 'witches', the trapper Vora Three-Finger just north of town and Wild Gerta across the river. Ranza inquired after the plant man, and was likewise directed north beyond the edge of town where Thorguld Red-Nose made his abode. Having no luck about Wickerwood, they party opted to head to the edges of civilization for help. First stop was Vora, with Jonesomon taking the lead. Vorna Three-Finger was a rail thin and wrinkled old woman, living in a log shack with curing and drying furs scattered about the yard. She met them on the porch with a loaded crossbow and a bad attitude. From her they learned nothing of the issues in town; she never goes there, preferring to do her business with traders that come to her. They did learn she was well versed in the country between here and the Mountains of Twilight. When asked of old Imperium ruins, she coyly noted she could find anything they were looking for, but they'd have to hire her on a guide. 

Noting that intelligence for later use, they next headed for the elaborate bough covered lean-to of Thorguld Red-Nose. The large hirsute mountain-man greeted them more fondly than did Vora. First business was to ask about the curious glowing plant Ranza had carried since the Barrow of the Woad Chief, this being their original purpose in visiting Wickerwood. After silver changed hands Thorguld explained the changeling was carrying a lanterna-bush. Not uncommon in the fey realm, the lords of twilight often used these bushes to light their elf-mounds and feast halls. He noted the plant must remain planted in fey soil; in mortal soil it would wither and die. Asked about town, he too could offer little direct information regarding what was going on. But he did note that two weeks ago, there was a great disturbance and movement of fey to the west of town. He did not elaborate how he knew this, but noted he could smell the taint of fey coming from Wickerwood. He suggested they head for the Shrine of St Myrrha, Leafborn, and speak to Sister Taritha while under the protection of the saint. 

This the party choose to do, after first purchasing a few healing poultices from Thorguld, who muttered some sour words about Wild Gerta's healing skills. They also made a short side-trek to the "Scarlett Squire" tavern, only to find the establishment of ill-repute had nothing of interest to them. They entered the shrine, walking past the statue of St Myrrha with the leaves growing from her upturned palms and from her ears and eyes. Inside they were greeted by Sister Taritha, a worried looking woman in green robes and headscarf. After making an offering to the saint, the party grilled the sister on the happenings in town. She struggled a moment with herself, unsure if she should trust the strangers. But in the end told her tale. The town people would not talk to them for they feared that spying fey lurked invisibly around them; such was not a worry here under the protection of the saint.  And why the worry? Two weeks previously, the giant Fugin and his unseelie band of hobs learned of the defenselessness of the town,  and moved into the ruins of  Wickerwood Keep. They demanded food, and took the all the children  as hostages. The townsfolk have driven all their animals (goats, sheep, chickens, cows) to the keep, but now have run out of meat on the hoof. And now fear the giant will start eating the children instead. Several of the towns men have tried to get into the keep and rescue the children, but all either died horrible deaths or have not been seen again. Right now, everyone feels helpless and fearful. Noting the party seemed capable folk, she asked if perhaps they could help? But they must take care to ensure the children come to no harm!  

To much rolling of Jonesomon's eyes, they party agree they would try their best to help. Laying low at the shrine to rest over the next rainy day (although sleep was disturbed that night by someone or something throwing pebbles at the walls of the shrine), the party also resolved to get a boat and visit Wild Gerta. This time Gnarl took the lead, and led most of the party to the old crones hovel amidst thorn bushes and brambles high above the left bank of the river. The old hag greeted them creepily, and agreed to sell them potions of healing. She plucked random bits of herbs and questionable substances hanging from the rafters and hobbling over to the pot bubbling in the hearth, dumped them in.  Mumbling a few words and waving her hands above the brew, she reached for a trio of dirty leather flasks, dipped them in the pot and handed them to Gnarl. Finding out the potions cost double what Thorguld had charged, the wood gnome demurred. But the old crone insisted they had a deal, and Gnarl could pay in silver or would by other means if he reneged. That frightened him enough that he dug deep into his coin purse and paid the witch. She then spit in each container, corked them, and handed them over before sending all on their way. But as a parting gesture, took the wood gnomes hand and licked wetly across the palm. Eeew.  

Next day, the skies cleared and investigation of the keep began. Vergarious and Ranza both cast invisibility, while Gnarl cast pass without trace on the pair as well. The two changelings then headed for the keep, walking around to size up the structure. It was in poor shape having had no maintenance in five years. But the walls were solid, except on the south west corner of the keep itself, where the Earls siege engines had battered down the wall. They also noted a pair of mangled bodies lying outside the main gate, obviously townsfolk who'd tried their luck against the fey inside. Vergarious and Ranza decided to try their luck through the ruined wall, but before entering noted movement in the shadows. Five huge beetles milled about, so the changelings waited until they moved aside before heading in. They found a door, which led into a long corridor with stairs at the end. Several other doors led off the corridor as well, and at one they could hear faint movement. 

But they ignored that for now, instead creeping up the stairs. This led into the main hall of the keep. Here they also found the giant, 20' of malformed ugliness perched on a 'throne' of broken stone and timber. As they watched he plucked a sheep from a pair of hobs and tore it limb from limb, gnawing down on the bloody flesh. They also noted a trio of hobs slow roasting another unfortunate villager over the long fire pit that ran down the centre of the room.  On the opposite side of the room were more stairs leading up. Taking their chances, Vergarious and Ranza creep past the hobs and giant and climbed up quietly. At this point they realized the pass without trace had ended and they would need to be extra careful. Confronted with a hallway with more doors, they listened at them all. One, they guessed, was another ruined room open to the elements.  But behind the second they could hear plain as day the children; crying, babbling, scared voices.  Though tempted to try breaking them free right now, they decided to wait and come back with reinforcements and a plan. Slipping back to the last visible door, then opened it to find the castle garderobe. Thankfully unused for years, they tied a rope under the seat and used it to slip down the chute and out of the keep. Leaving the rope in place for future access, they changelings headed back the the Shrine of St Myrrha, Leafborn to inform their comrades of all they had learned. 

TOTAL XP

236

GAINS
107cp

KILLS/VICTORIES
3 Leaf Rustlers

LOSSES
none

Forest of Wyrd Session #20 - Stonethorn

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:
Vergarious (Changeling 2)
Gnarl (Wood Gnome 4)
Ranza (Changeling 3)
Hobbs (Hedgefey 4)
Jonesomon (Specialist 4)

Vergarious and Jonesomon joined the trio post-battle, and all followed the trickle leading from the now clean pool down to the marsh, hoping to find the swan woman. Reaching the wetland, they did see a bevy of 8 swans swimming between the rushes and reeds towards them. The party stopped  and Hobbs greeted the birds respectfully and politely. One of the eight came forward, and swiftly transformed before their eyes into an elfin lady clad in a flowing white dress. She, much less respectfully and politely, confronted the party asking who they were, what they wanted, and just generally acting very dismissive and condescending.  Jonesomon grumbled back ,and it looked for a few minutes there would be trouble. But cooler party members intervened, and a reasonable conversation was had. The lady (Oliea) was grudgingly appreciative that the party had cleaned up the oily slick from the tuskfingers pool. She was uncaring about Cenric and the fate she had set on him, but was convinced to return with the party to the ruined tower so the thayn could return the feather and be released from the geas. She flew ahead with her swans, and landed as the party appeared in the clearing. Ceneric was overjoyed to see Oliea (who could care less), and with trembling hand handed her the feather. She ungraciously accepted it, and with a wave of her hand released the geas. At which point, Cenric crumbled into dust and bone, leaving behind only the sword pommel which was the parties reward. Scooping up the gem, the party intercepted Oliea as she was getting ready to leave; what did she do with the sword blade? She vaguely waved her hand towards the valley below, saying she dumped the pieces shortly after she took the weapon from Cenric. 

Once Oliea and her swans had departed, the party themselves headed back into the valley the search for the sword. But to no avail; 200 years had either hidden it from view or it simply was no longer there. They climbed back to the tower to rest for the night and decide how to proceed. Before bedding down, Ranza decided to consult quilt of augury, to see if there was any risk to them in the tower. The quilt pattern rearranged itself to show the part asleep around the fire as a group of hobs crept up on them. So no one went to bed, but instead prepared to ambush their ambushers. Ranza turned invisible, Gnarl climbed up the tower bow in hand, Jonesomon circled around to lurk in the darkness, while Hobbs and Vergarious waited by the fire. As dark fell, five figures climbed the hill towards them, moving from shadow to shadow. The party opened up with missile fire and then Hobbs, Vergarious and Jonesomon waded in with sword and dagger. Unfortunately, the dark fey things fell upon Vergarious and pummeled her into unconsciousness, howling with glee at each solid blow. Eventually, three were slain and the other two ran off into the darkness. 

The rest of the night passed without incident, but with Vergarious in such rough shape they decided to stay at the tower the next day to rest and heal. Gnarl took the opportunity to do some magical investigation, first casting reflecting pool on a nearby small pond to search (but to no avail) inside the bee hive and in several of the nearby copses for the sword blade. He then used speak with animal to chat up a passing crow for information. The corvid knew nothing of the blade or any 'shiny things', but when asked about the hobs told him they laired to the south of the ridge along one of the rivers. Thinking that may be a place to start, the party resolved the head back down the track and up the streams the next day. 

Gnarl was able to easily find the creatures tracks, which lead to a waterfall cascading off a wall of rock. However, there was more water below the plunge pool than above, and closer inspection uncovered a second stream flowing out of the rock wall to join the first. A narrow passage next to this second stream headed into the hillside, and the party followed it along the the rushing water until it opened to the left into a serious of chambers in the limestone. Listening carefully, a faint shuffling could be heard ahead. Hobbs marched boldly on, confronted three hobs who lurked in ambush ahead. These were dispatched with relative ease, but suddenly another pair attacked Jonesomon at the rear of the line. These too were dispatched without too much trouble. Now searching the chambers, the party found a still warm fire pit, over which a human head roasted, impaled on a stick. In a another room was an iron ring set in the wall, blood stains on the floor below it. There also was a small pile of junk in which a jar of honey and one of a potion of healing were found. One of the hobs was also found to have a severed human hand, still wearing a pearl and gold ring, hanging around it's neck. They also found a hidden back entrance, obviously how the hobs had crept up behind Jonesomon. 

But there was no sign of the sword blade, so they went off to search the stream and pool. There was nothing in the pool, but Ranza discovered a large round rock in the middle of the stream at the point it headed back into the darkness under the hill. She could also see another cave opening to the right, just at the edge of the light. Suspicious of the stone, she poked it with her sword.  And the thing opened up in a huge maw, which turned to breath a paralyzing breath on her before closing up again. Attacking the now inert rock seemed to have no effect, so the party proceeded to try other ways to neutralize it. It took several bouts of paralysis (Hobs and Ranza), as well as a near-drowning thanks to a huge gripping tongue (Ranza) before they were able to kill the maw and then pass by it up the stream. There in the chamber was a pile of bones and debris. As the party approached closer, the bones started to move until the skeletal remains of a great cave bear towered over them. Once more turning to violence, the party lashed out to slay the undead thing with blade and holy water. Though the thing crushed and clawed mercilessly, it was eventually dispatched back into a pile of bone. Sifting now though the pile, the party uncovered several bits of jewelry and loose coinage. And a curious stone leaf. Hobs scooped this up, and combined it with the sword hilt and pommel. The stone leaf was transformed into a sharp glassy blade; they had found Stonethorn at last. 

Stonethorn 

Stonethorn is a short sword +2 made from a fossilized leaf encased in a harder than steel glass like material. The hilt and guard are fashioned of the same material, while the pommel is a black onyx encased in a filigree of silver and iron. The sword was made to be easily disassembled; in fact, the blade appears to be a simple stone leaf when separated from the hilt/guard and pommel. The weapon was crafted by Gyre, one of the greatest of the Wose, for use against the dark faerie. It was made to be easily disassembled so it could, at need, be hidden from the twilight ones.

In addition to being a +2 weapon, the sword also has the following  powers:

• Affects fey creatures as cold iron (i.e. double damage, bonus does not double)
• Once per day: levitate a nearby stone or rock and hurl it 300’ for 3d6 damage.
• Three times per day: cast barkskin (+1 AC, +1 save except vs magic)

TOTAL XP
4320

GAINS
Blade and Pommel of Stonethorn.
64cp
53sp
Gold and pearl ring (300sp)
7 gold rings (200sp total)
Bag of 1" crystal spheres (100sp)
Potion of Healing

KILLS/VICTORIES
8 Hobs
Fey Maw
Cave Bear Skeleton

LOSSES
none

Forest of Wyrd Session # 19 - The Birds and the Bees

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:

Gnarl (Wood Gnome 3)
Ranza (Changeling 2)
Hobbs (Hedgefey 3)

Leaving Thrax with Feedbag and the wagon, the rest of the party moved cautiously towards the tower. Getting closer, they could see someone in the  clearing in which the partially ruined structure stood. He was dressed as a Sarsen Thayn; earth tones, short hair with a long lock in the front, drooping walrus moustache. Gnarl noted right away he looked a little anachronistic, like the man in Clodwin's painting. The thayn alternated between pacing back and forth, sitting and watching the sky, and in general just looking deeply despondent. Circling around the tower to ensure there were no surprises lurking there, the party then approached the man. He was at first excited to see them, particularity Ranza. But quickly fell once more into despondency, muttering to himself "Alas, it is not she". Opening a conversation, they were told an extraordinary tale. The man said he was Cenric, the name of the brave knight from the treasure map's tale. But that was where  the similarities ended. He told a story of hunting one day, here in these woods at the edge of his lands. He shot a bird, a swan, with his bow. But when he went to look for his kill, there instead came to him a beautiful elfin woman in a long white dress. She chastised him for harming the fowl, and geased him to find the feather lost by the bird in the encounter, and return it to her in the old watchtower clearing. She would then  free him if he swore to never hunt swan again. Cenric held up a large white feather, saying he found it long ago but the lady never returned. Had the party seen her?  The party had to break to the Cenric that they had not seen anyone of that description. Questioned further, they learned he had been here nearly two centuries, protected by the power of the geas from death, hunger and physical weirdness.  He could tell little about the surrounding area beyond what the party could see from the ridge; he had been no where but the clearing for the two centuries. Asked about any other people nearby, he mentioned only some marauding hobs in the woods below the ridge. 

Ready now to take leave of the thayn, Hobbs gallantly told the desperate man the party would bring back the woman if they found her. At this Cenric brightened, and reaching into his pouch, hauled out the pommel of a sword. It was a great black onyx, covered with a filigree of silver and iron. This he said was part of his sword, Stonethorn, forged by the Wose to fight the dark fey. The lady had taken the blade and hilt when she laid the geas. He promised the party the pommel as reward if they return with her to free him from his woes. From her they could get the remaining pieces. 

Taking on Cerwin's quest, the party first climbed the ruined tower to have a look around. Although it made sense to search the waters or marshes first for swans and perhaps the lady, they were intrigued by the huge cottenwood and headed there initially. Hiking down the hillside towards the tree, a nagging buzzing sound rose louder and louder. Getting closer, they could see why. The cottonwood was essentially one massive bee hive. Combs of honey hung from branches, and filled holes in the trunk. Around the tree and all across the surrounding meadows were masses of bees. Most were regular honeybees, but there were more than a few giant bees and even bigger soldier drones.  Gnarl cast speak with animals and struck up a conversation with one giant bee that buzzed close to the party. He learned the hive was home to the Queen of all Bees, a massive creature some 20' long. The bee knew nothing of the swans or the lady in white, but spoke of men made of leaves in the area, and a black monster of fang and tusk in a dark pool along the north side of the valley. Asked if the bees would harm the party, they were told the party would be safe as long as they did not disturb or interfere with the bees and the tree. 

Taking leave of their buzzy buddy, the party set out to loop around the tree to recon from all sides. Talk turned greedily to the potential magical properties of bee honey, particularly the queen's royal jelly. But how to get in and out alive?  Reaching the far side of the tree, their discussion was interrupted by another sound rising in a crescendo above the buzzing of bees. The sound of birds, many of them, now drifted down from a copse of trees on the hillside above. Climbing up, they found a small birch wood, but at the eastern end stood a large oak. Here was the source of the sound, for in the branches were hundreds of songbirds of all species, raising quite a racket. Getting closer, they could see letters carved in the tree: RTLLNM SGD EHMBG. Assuming it was some sort of code, the trio pooled their brains and figured it out. Shifting the letters by one down the alphabet  gave the phrase: SUMMON THE FINCH. So Ranza whistled a finch song, and in a few moments a brightly coloured bird fluttered down to a branch in front of them. Unsure of what to do next, they trio was startled when the finch spoke: "Ay then; whot you want then?" In the ensuing odd conversation, the bird told them if one of them ate him whole, they'd become completely undetectable for one hour (invisible, silenced, etc). Offer only good until sundown however. Reassured that the bird would return unharmed later, they figured here was their chance to get into the hive/tree. So the finch hopped on Gnarl's shoulder and, leaving Ranza and Hobbs in the birch wood, they headed down the slope. 

When Gnarl started to get close to the cottonwood, he opened wide and the bird crawled down his gullet. Checking to ensure the bird told the truth, he then headed for a large opening in the trunk they'd seen earlier; the one the giant bees entered and exited. Crawling in, the wood gnome avoided the passing bees as much as possible, crawling up the gooey, honey dripping tunnels until he reached a large chamber somewhere near the crown of the tree. In here he observed what could only be the Queen of all Bees; a massive anthropila moving among honeycombs cells along the floor of the chamber, all the time accompanied and assisted by a cloud of giant worker and soldier bees.  Figuring these must be the daughter larva with royal jelly, Gnarl waited until the Queen and her entourage moved further along before creeping closer, and started scooping up honey into every container he had. He managed to fill four before one of the solider bees noticed the honey mysteriously disappearing and buzzed closer to investigate. Gnarl opted to not push his luck and moved away; in the process getting close to what was he found was a huge pile of jewelry. And sitting atop it was the hilt and cross-guard of a sword, which matched the pommel shown them by Cenric. Gnarl snatched this up, as well as a couple of other flashy items before the odd movement of items once more caught the attention of a soldier bee. The wood gnome once more stopped, then carefully retraced his steps out of the hive and back to Ranza and Hobbs in the woods. There he reappeared, dripping honey and covered in grass and leaves. He tasted some of the honey coating his arm, and was pleasantly surprised to find it healed his previous wounds. Tasting the rest of the gathered royal jelly, the party found each container gathered exhibited different curative properties; cure disease, neutralize poison, sweetwater, and healing. 

Quite chuffed with their finds, they now decided to head towards the marsh. But by a round-about route, the check out this black monster of which the bee had spoken. Moving along the hillside, they came to a cleft or gully in the rock. At the mouth below them they could see a pool of thick black liquid, a trickle of which headed down to foul the marsh. The pool and extended back into the gully below their feet. Hobs tossed in a pebble, causing a ripple to extend out in the thick liquid. Just as it should have stopped though, the ripple started up again and suddenly a hideous beast emerged dripping from the pool. It was humanoid, roughly 8-9’ tall, and appeared to be made of hardened tar. Five white eyes and a toothless mouth gave it a very inhuman look, as did the massive 2’ spikes which it had in place of the forefinger. This thing started to climb the cliff towards them, but Gnarl trapped in with entangling shrubs, holding it fast. Standing back, they party then showered it with arrows until it died. Ranza then chopped off the spikes, while Gnarl poured the potion of sweetwater into the pool, transforming it into crystal clear waters. Ranza then stripped down to dive in and explore (revealing in the process her, until now hidden, webbed feat), and found in the tangle of bones at the bottom a curious ebony statue of a bear. She brought this to the surface just as Gnarl was jumping in to search as well. And suddenly Hobbs shouted a warning. Gathered above them on the hillside were 5 figures; withered old-man figures, in tatters of leather, with wicked cruel grins and large clubs. These jumped down to attack. Gnarl was caught unprepared in the water, and Ranza took some time to respond as she was just emerging from the pool. But Hobbs held the line, and soon a combination of magic and melee ended the threat with little harm to the party. Except as usual, Gnarl took a bit of a beating ...

TOTAL XP
8875

GAINS
Hilt/cross-guard of Stonethorn.
Jeweled box (1300sp)
Clasp of the Imperial Dragon and Eagle, covered in amethyst and amber (1200sp)  
Ebony statue of a bear standing in a fairy ring of silver mushrooms (900sp)  
Potion of Healing x2
Potion of Sweetwater
Potion of Cure Disease
Potion of Neutralize Poison

KILLS/VICTORIES

Tuskfinger
5 Hobs

LOSSES
none

Forest of Wyrd Session # 18 - Goblyn Fair, Part Deux

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:

Gnarl (Wood Gnome 3)
Ranza (Changeling 2)
Hobbs (Hedgefey 3)
Thrax (Fighter 3)

The children now seen off, the party (with the exception of Jonesomon and Vergarious) decided to head for the Goblyn Fair to look around and do some shopping. Unlike their first visit, this time they actually  had coin to spend. First order of business was to offload some of the high end loot they'd been carrying about: Silver Chalice with bloodstones (1000sp), Ring with ruby, diamond and emerald (1000sp), Garland of crystallized spring flowers (250sp) and Decorated helmet with a silver boar crest (250sp). They quickly encountered a rambunctious crowd of goblyn merchants, who swarmed over them and their stuff. The chalice turned them off immediately; anything tainted with the touch of the Church was anathema to the fey traders.  But the other three items were of interest, so the party followed them back to their booth to see what the goblyns had in trade. It was, however, impossible to ask them for anything. The goblyns would simply roll out one outlandish thing after another and try to sell it to the party. In the end, the party did turn over the three special items, as well as the pair of protection scrolls and still more coin for the following items:

• A weird suit of plate armor crafted from the shell of a massive purple-black beetle. It fit Hobbs perfectly, and he found it was just as light and easy to wear as his chainmail. But kind of creepy looking [3 significant items/1500sp];
• A small green figurine of an unusual looking warrier, carrying an oddly shaped weapon and wearing only a helmet for armor. [2x scrolls];
• A fey mirror, in which the viewer sees themselves as the opposite sex. Thrax was quite fascinated by this, though Ranza was careful to not look in the mirror herself [100sp]; and
• A cute little black kitten in a basket; to Ranza's demi-fey eye, the kitten was probably more than it seemed [500sp]. 

They passed on the offer of an ugly, troubling statue involving a tentacle creature and a fey maiden, as well as a bottle of black dust said to detect traps (single use only). When Ranza asked if they had anything that could help them in the fey realm, the goblyns became suddenly grim and quiet before simply answering "no" and ushered the party out of the tent. 

Having heard rumor that the Bishop of Brackenrae (Wulfgard of St. Viglis of the Shield)  may be interested in buying any religious artifacts, they party decided to head to the local church of St Viglis to make an appointment to see his Most Virtuousness. As they were leaving the fair, they passed a scene most familiar, to Gnarl at least; a cluster of folks standing around an old man sitting on a bucket. Gnarl suddenly felt a deep troubling and physical weakness, then noted the group around the old man included him! And Jonesomon. And their dead companions, Baihu and Ethanna. The other-Gnarl raised his head to look at Gnarl, and started to move towards him. Gnarl also felt an urge to do so, but shook it off. The rest of the party then grabbed the wood gnome, dragging him away and out of sight. Gnarl recovered once away from the other-Gnarl, and then proceeded to go hide in their cottage until time came to depart on another adventure. No one wanted to find out what would happen if he confronted his past-self. 

It took several days before they received an audience with the Bishop, during which time they resupplied rations and rope. The Most Virtuous was indeed interest in the chalice, explaining it was an artifact from the  time of the Imperitor Vilorian II and would be much cherished. They also took the opportunity to ask about the paintings they still carried. He told them much the same story about the Imperitor's tomb and the fortress town as they had already heard form Coldwin and Timpanious. Except the bishop was able to give them some idea of where the two were likely located. Both would lie somewhere along the Mountains of Twilight, on the borders of the  fey realm. The tomb was built there as a monument to the Imperitor's victory over the dark fey, and in the hope it would act as a ward against their return. Fortress Iacarta was likewise placed to watch the passes from the dark realms beyond the mountains. The Bishop also note Fortress Iacarta did not stand guard long, falling into ruin some 50 years after its founding due to some combination of internal strife and the insidious influence of the unseelie. 

Now loaded with more information and a cart full of gear, the party headed out of town the next day. Before doing so, Ranza re-hired Agnor and Beck to guard their cottage and it's growing pile of silver pennies in their absence. Next stop was to be Kreland's Ford, to sell the three Cuthbin paintings to Thayn Clodwin, then north to follow the treasure 'map' to the sword in the tower. They arrived in Kreland's Ford without incident, and met with the Thayn. While somewhat irritated by the party leaving him in the lurch when they left town in the dead of night, he was still more than happy to buy the paintings from them. Hobbs cleverly asked to see the other Cuthbin paintings in Clodwin's collection, they having learned important hints to future treasures and adventure in their own paintings. The Thayn was a little surprised by the interest, but was not ready to allow them access to his collection just at the moment. Perhaps visit again when they were next in town? 

Speaking of town, they decided to get out of it quickly before any of the local thugs tracked them down. Heading north on the road to Twitten's Hollow, their plan was to cut across country from there to the location of the sword tower. This plan was derailed when a pair of humanoids, skin like green leaves and with long prehensile arms, leapt down in ambush onto Gnarl who was walking point. The poor wood gnome was cut down, knocked unconscious. He was being dragged off into the trees until Ranza stunned the two humanoids with a colour spray, then Hobbs and Thrax charged in with swords swinging to drive them off. They then loaded the wood gnome into the cart, and turned about, heading for the satyrs fountain to bring him back to full health. This took a few days, to get there and to heal up. One night, while camped in the fountain clearing, they were interrupted by bush imps pelting them with sling stones from the darkness. This they addressed with relative ease, killing two imps and driving off the rest. But it was curious that the satyrs did not watch over them and guard as they had in previous visits. When confronted in the morning ,the two fountain guardians noted simply that they'd had other issues to deal with that night. 

With everyone now rested and healed, the party pushed on again. This time they followed their previous path, along the rivers past the Barrow of the Woad Chief, and into the hills beyond where lay the tower. Approaching the first rises, they could see the tower ruins planing on the bare ridge. Following a ruined road, they climbed up the ridge. Arriving on the open ridge just below the tower, they could see below them a lightly wooded valley between the arms of the hills. At the mouth of the valley glistered a marsh of reeds and lily pads, while at the upper end was a massive cottonwood tree, some 200-300' tall ...

TOTAL XP
10xp

GAINS
none

KILLS/VICTORIES

2 bush imps

LOSSES
none