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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mahiro Satsu" data-source="post: 305107" data-attributes="member: 4970">Episode XIII Into the Woods part 5From the Journal of Aoth Sepret26th of Ches, Year of Rogue DragonsWhen we awoke, the ration that Lenet had laid out was gone. Throughout the night we had heard rustling in the undergrowth around our camp, but whenever someone went to investigate, there was nothing. We discussed where we should go next. All of our options had seemingly run out. Through breakfast we talked, sipping on honeyed tea that Kaemris produced from his magical cloak.Then I remembered that Henwen from the chapel had a monkey-like creature sitting on her shoulder. I check my sack to make certain. They have to be the same creature. She also had a staff that was enchanted with necromantic magic. After telling my companions my revelation we set off for the chapel. We marched to the southwest hoping to meet the trail and follow that back to the chapel. Artemus realized that he could become more than a simple squirrel and kept watch from above in the shape of a hawk.It was not long after we started walking when the trees around us animated. Before I could move two arrows struck Kaemris. A large viper appeared at Van’s feet and sunk its teeth into his leg. A hawk dived in at Lenet. I saw a tiny man who looked like a tiny elf. He had gossamer wings and wore brightly colored clothing with a funny hat and funny pointed shoes. To the north, west, and east were wild elves. Kaemris said, “We did not come to fight you. We seek the ones who have brought evil to this place.” He cast a spell to alert him of evil, and finding none, visibly relaxed. Artemus landed in the woods under a tree and changed back to his human form. Van was yelling to get the viper off of him and thrashing about. Afraid that Van might do something rash Kaemris cast a spell called shield of faith on him for protection against the deadly snake.A voice from the trees, high and musical, demanded that we put down our weapons. I calculated the odds in this fight, and came to the conclusion that we might lose. I was the first to drop my rapier and quiver.“Are you doing the village’s bidding,” the voice asked.Kaemris spoke for the group and said no.“Did you destroy the ghost?”This reply was longer in coming. I translated as Kaemris described what had transpired with the paladin’s shade, and that we had given him a proper burial.A short dialogue followed, with the elves asking questions and Kaemris answering them through me. They wanted to know why we did not destroy the trees when we were attacked and why we first attacked then healed their friend. Kaemris answered well; he is a born diplomat. I felt a presence in my thoughts probing me to confirm the story we told. Apparently I passed their test because the elves then told us their story.They had been a peaceful tribe, living their lives in the Halleck forest, until one day the animals began to disappear. Soon the elves were starving and they sent representatives to Ossington to bargain for food. The humans were understanding and arranged a meeting to the west of town where the two groups could make their exchange. Fifty elves were sent to meet the humans. A day passed, then two, and the rest of the tribe became worried. They sent out scouts to the location of the meet only to find that they had been slaughtered. That’s when they began to ambush and kill the humans. When asked about the paladin, they had no answers. They did not encounter him while he was alive, but they loved him as a ghost for he slaughtered the villagers whenever they met.Kaemris asked them if they knew what had been tampering with the stones, to which they replied, “We have seen the human called Dyson with the stones, but we know not what they do.” And then we discovered the name of the evil creatures that had been shadowing us throughout the forest. They are Hobyahs and the elves believe that Henwen uses them to spy for Dyson.In the next few moments an alliance was forged to destroy Dyson and his followers.</blockquote>

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