Chapter I: Ending
I'll give the party some OOC time to catch up on determing
what happened over these 3 days since a concrete plan hasn't been hammered out yet, but to move on IC...
Tyrla, Larian, Siobhan
The town of Drellin's Ferry is empty. Houses stare vacantly out at silent roads. The sun has just vanished behind the formidable scar on the horizon that is the Wyrmsmoke Mountains. SPeaker Wiston takes a deep breath and wipes tears from his eyes with the back of his hand.
"It seems we're about out of time," he says.
"We'd best be going now if we want to keep ahead of the worg riders."
Captain Soranna nods to the adventuring group.
"You've done us some good here, I think. If you hadn't stumbled into our town I'm afraid we might have woken up tomorrow with our throats slit. I hope this is for the best. I guess luck was on our side. For all your efforts, you have my thanks. Things may be rough here... I don't think there's anything that will stop the Horde between here and Brindol."
"If there's anything more you can do to slow down the Red Hand, we'd be mighty grateful. I'll personally make sure Lord Jarmaath knows what you've done for us."
Soranna turns her horse around after the wagon starts moving.
"I realized last night that not once did any of you ask for any sort of reward for what you did. You took on an entire army on a whim. Somehow the speaker hadn't noticed, nor most of the townsfolk, but I did." She pulls a miniature wooden rowboat out of one of the bags. She presents it as a gift.
"This was originally created by the wizard Drellin. I don't know which came first, this, or the township; but they share the same title. Where I'm going, it won't serve much purpose. I think it might be more useful in your hands. If you rest it on water and speak the words 'Cogito Ergo Sum', it will transform into a boat for three hours. It only seems to work once each day."
[Sblock=Drellin's Ferry]This magic item does exactly what Soranna described. It transforms into a full sized rowboat, complete with oars, for up to 3 hours. It can only be summoned once per day. The rowboat is large enough to accomodate up to 8 passengers (mounts count as 3) and has a rowing speed of 40 ft.[/sblock]
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Warren
The Shadowbanks clan (the halfling family) are completely enthralled with your exploits. It seems only Kellin can keep his manner even. On the final day before the families departure, he pulls you aside briefly. He asks you to a table in his completely bare inn, one just out of sight of the windows.
"You know, I think you're a bit better than I ever was. Years ago, before I settled down here, I did some adventuring myself. I worked with a great big mix of people. Greed and curiosity were all the fuel I needed back then. We did some good, and we did some bad, but then I met the love of my life. At the time, she was the daughter to the former innkeeper here. He was the original proprietor, and he was never one for the life of a dungeon delver. He didn't like my past, and it took me years to win him over. There was no shortage of suitors looking for his daughters, and I had to work hard to come out ahead."
He seems somewhat lost in his abject nastalgia. He pulls a small wooden box out from somewhere hidden under his chair. How he managed to hide it from you with his close-fitting clothes makes it a bit suspicious. The box is roughly 9 inches square, and 6 inches tall.
"Casualties in that line of work are always bad. Most of them happen on worse terms than my own. I was a casualty of love and family, probably the best way a man can go. I feel really bad about leaving this place. My wife's father built this with his own two hands, and building something meant for people twice your size isn't exactly easy work. If I see him in the here-after, I know I'm going to hear about it a thousand times... but it's a lot better to let a building die than let some stinkin goblins take his daughter, and I'll stand by that till I die a second time."
He thumbs the box open, it clicks much like a jewelry case. He pulls two halfling-sized shoes out of the container and pushes them to your side of the table.
"I originally intended to give these to one of my sons or daughters that took up their father's other trade, but I think they would serve us all better on your toes. These were the best score I ever found while working, and trust me when I say they make the difference. Believe me or don't, but these will let you get back the difference in speed between yourself and the tall-folk."
He pulls a classic halfling emotional twist, going from heartfelt and earnest to the voice of a savvy tavernkeeper and trader.
"Let's make a deal. I noticed that you acquired a change of shoes on your adventure, by whatever means. I don't care what they are, but I'll give you mine for yours, and we'll call it even. It would mean a lot by me."
[sblock=Warren]He's offering you boots of Springing and Striding in exchange for your Boots of the Marshes.[/sblock]
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Avril & Pender
While the others are back in Drellin's Ferry, the two of you are investigating the forests along the road for the third consecutive day. Avril's new pup works hard to try and track down Jorr's scent, but not much luck is had so-far. The various creeks, streams, and rivers in the Witchwood make the task more difficult than it might otherwise be.
However, that isn't to say that everyone has tracking in the Witchwood.
Pender and Avril stumble upon a small shrine in a pool of crystal clear water (where most of the water in the Witchwood is the very definition of murky). A small stone statuette wrests on a mound of dirt at the center. The water is no more than 10 feet across and 5 feet deep, so wading is not particularly difficult. Once both Pender and Avril's feet rest on the mound where the statue rests, the leaves and wind begin to fall into the water from above forming a blanket.
[sblock=Statue]
[/sblock]
The statue seems plain, the features are human-like, but withered significantly. The breaks and damage to the statue are obvious. As the pair trudge a bit closer to the artifact, the horse on the other side of the whinies, and the dog barks twice, suddenly disturbed.
[sblock=Disturbance]
[/sblock]
A figure stands prominantly between the animals and their companions. A feminine figure, though all too obviously bound to the nature of the water around her. She glistens, covered almost exclusively in the leaves of the forest that have fallen into the pool. She speaks softly and simply.
"Your name is Avril? You were friends with another animal which passed through this forest very recently... she tells me you would like to call her... Scarlet? Scarlet says hi." She turns to Pender. She waves her "hand" towards the horse, outstretching a tendril of water to immitate a finger.
"You also seem to have some friends among the creatures of nature. I suppose you can hear this as well..." She pauses briefly, retracting her arm.
"The man known as Jorr was oathbound to this forest. He made a pact with me that he would protect it, and I would protect him. However, things did not go as I expected. It seems that I failed in my part of the bargain. Jorr was taken, albeit in critical condition, by an abombination not-of-this-world, a creature of the blood of dragons and demons, weilding magic and powerful poisons. The creature called itself Skather, and it attacked Jorr on his way to the human town. This much you must know, as you seem to be searching for him."
She submerges, if that's the right word, then comes up on the Northeast side of the pond.
"Skather took Jorr to the west, to a well-guarded place in the mountains. In time, Jorr will be interrogated, tortured, and killed at the hands of the foul demon-worshippers. This much is almost certain. As we speak, the armies serving those demons are beginning to sweep into this forest."
She whirls around halfway so as to face the pair again.
"Avril and Pender, your friends are now in the belly of the beast. If you go after them, and I see that you must, you will have to fight through an entire army of foes. While I do not doubt your bravery, I do not think the ebb and flow will work in your favor. However... there exists two other foes which you may be able to overcome, to open the path to victory."
She produces an exotic display of color changes in the water. After a moment, it begins to look not-unlike a map of the Elsir Vale.
"The monster Skather was created by magic and violation of the natural order. The invaders wish to make many more like him. As we speak, my sisters whisper into my ear that there is something wrong in the place you know as the Blackfens. The invaders are creating more monsters like the one that took Jorr. These monsters will be used to subvert nature, and to help crush the people of the vale." She highlights an area of the Blackfens near the fallen city of Rhest.
"There is something going on there that has disturbed the wind and water. I do not know exactly what circumstances are involved, but it does not bode well."
"To the south, there is a great desert. At one time it was ruled by a powerful arch-druid who protected the lands. Now, he has fallen into madness. The invaders have traveled there under the banner of peace. Under a stone lion's paw, a thorn has been placed. If the lion continues to be angered, there will be no hope for the Witchwood or for the people of the vale." She highlights the massive desert of the Thornwaste, south of Drellin's Ferry.
"I do not know why the horde has sent visitors to that place, but it is full of fearsome spirits and horrible servants of death."
"The people of the vale might have a chance against the invaders. If the people of the vale can stand against the army, then there may be a strong chance to save Jorr and the others. I am bound to the Witchwood, so I can only try to slow the invaders here, but I will do everything in my power to help, for poor Jorr."
The water suddenly shakes, a simple vibration going through the surface of the fluid. The entity within seems surprisingly disturbed.
"They come. I must attend to my responsibilities. Whatever path you choose, the spirits will aid you. These invaders serve a more sinister purpose than I know. Things must be more complicated than they appear."
The body rescinds into the water, and the colors fade. After a moment, there is only silence and a statue.
