Six From Gate Pass - Chapter 2: The Indomitable Fire Forest of Innenotdar

[Gregor]

Torrent looks over the wooden map on the table and then peeks out an arrow slit to have a look at the village itself. After returning she points to a wooden building in the middle of the map, presumably where the town square is, and says: "I'm not sure if that is the shrine, but its a large weeping willow in the middle of a fountain and out in the village itself it looks rather dramatic and takes up alot of space in the center of town. Something to consider. As for the mouth of the river and the lake, I think its stab in the dark as to which direction we walk. The river could flow from the the lake or to the lake."

Following Kirio's lead, she begins to look everyone over for wounds and burns that still remain after a day in the inferno. As she examines you, she asks: "Anyone else have any thoughts?"

Torrent then falls into a trance, mumbling sacred words and grasping her holy symbol. A burst of positive energy fills the room with golden light. The light bathes all of you and you can feel it mending and healing your wounds. Seeing that Alric's wounds are still particularly raw, she expends a spell of cure light wounds to help him.

GM: All this time I have been forgetting that Pathfinder Clerics can channel energy to heal allies or harm undead within 30 feet. Totally sweet. Torrent has just used 2 of her 4 daily uses.

 

[The Bashar]

Hrimr ponders this puzzle. He plays back the conversation that the party had with the Fire Dragon Spirit.

"You know I remember that spirit saying that we should follow the river DOWN to the lake and deal with the forty-tongues.

Does anyone know the geography of this area to confirm the direction of the lake?"

 

[Bannock]

Bannock raises his eyebrows at Hrimr and looks at him, deadpan.

"Hmmm, let me think now. Why yes, I think used to skip through here as small boy. Me and me mates would play 'catch the flaming dog', and hide-and-go-seek in the in the burning grove. Those were the days. Every week I'd beg me dad, 'Please, please let us go hike miles into the endless forest inferno! Ever so much fun it is!'"

He furrows his brow and seems to think hard for a few moments.

"Can't remember which way that lake is though."

 

[The Bashar]

Hrimr is not amused.

"Bannock there are these magical things called maps, pretty drawings of where things are on the planet. Some people use them to find out where things places are, like cities and lakes. The forest has been on fire for 40 years, I bet our Elf friends here are at least a hundred years old and maybe they had a map of all the places Elves lived."

Hrimr sit there for a moment and says

"I am pretty sure the spirit said this:

The voice responds again.

“Free me from captivity! You must follow the river down to the singing lake. I lie trapped beneath its surface. Silence those who sing the song that holds me captive. Set me free! Agree and I shall empower you with my boon. Do this not and perhaps another ... one whose blade has crossed yours ... shall receive my power instead."

So the lake must be down river."

 

[Gregor]

After stifling a laugh, Torrent responds: "Alright lets agree that barring any geographic knowledge from Arnir or Kirio, the lake is down stream. That means whatever Bhurisrava hid is upstream. There is also the shrine in town. So what's first? Alric, wants to investigate the lake and the supposed forty-tongues, whatever the heck they are, and Kirio mentioned wanting to inspect the shrine. What say the rest of you?"

 

[funkmamagoat]

Kirio laughs as the druid and warrior trade verbal blows...

"remember that this Anyariel was a central figure in this community. We are essentially flying blind, and I for one want to know what is happening before we start lopping off 40 heads or whatever. I'd also like to point out that she was a powerful warrior, equipped with a magical greatsword and no doubt other powerful artifacts. If we are destined to play out this story, I for one would not mind profiting a little from it down the line, no?"

 

[Adjuntive]

Alric smirks at the exchanges. Clearly Hrimr is very passionate about which direction the lake may lie.

"You speak your reasoning well, Kirio. Where I would seek a more direct approach I can appreciate the wisdom of scouting. I will change my vote to investigating the shrine and the village based on your argument. Perhaps we may find a more expansive map of the region within the village."

 

[The Bashar]

"I agree with Kirio, the town is right here. We need a better idea of what's going on in this cursed place"

 

[Gregor]

"I agree with investigating the shrine," says Torrent, "its the closest objective and it may give us some information. Plus, who knows what we can find in the village itself. I don't want to rush into helping or hindering this entity until we have a better picture. I think that is the majority opinion, but does anyone else feel strongly that we not start here?"

[sblock="for Kirio"]Kirio, you're relatively familiar with the geography of the region. Innenotdar sits in a small valley surrounded by mountains. The White River begins from some glacial source and flows into the woods. While you're not completely sure of the location of the lake, you know the river does not continue out of the forest. Thus, you can infer that the river flows into the lake.[/sblock]

 

[funkmamagoat]

"By the by, Hrimr is right, the lake will likely be downstream. From what I remember, the White River begins from some glacial source and flows into the woods, and does not in fact exit, so it must flow into the lake."