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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Sniktch" data-source="post: 457249" data-attributes="member: 7704">Eldred Moonthistle was out for his afternoon run with Blackfoot, the wolf that followed him everywhere, when he heard the disturbance in the woods.  It sounded like some sort of beast crashing through the underbrush while letting loose a keening child-like wail.  He was easily able to follow the sound to its source, and he stifled a chortle of amusement when he at last beheld the strange figure.  A halfling ran through the woods alone, both hands clasped on top of his head as he screamed unintelligibly and his legs pumped along almost faster than the eye could follow.  Eldred stepped out in the path of the sprinting warrior and called, “Hold!” but the figure did not slow or change course and Eldred felt a crushing impact as the small man bowled him over and continued on his way.  Eldred lay winded for a moment before regaining his feet and staring curiously at the back of the departing figure.He shrugged.  The halfling was moving too quickly for him to catch up now.  Besides, if he really wanted to know what had happened, he would probably have more success following the trail back in the direction from which the halfling appeared.  “Let’s go, Blackfoot,” he said and as the wolf fell into step beside him he started off through the forest.*****The companions had a hard time getting out of the cave.  Welby did not stop running for an instant and the others were unable to keep pace, loaded as they were with Eli’s corpse and the loot they had gathered thus far.  Also, Ike discovered another secret door in the room that had contained the cube, this one leading to a flight of stairs that descended to a lower level, and Artimas argued that they should explore further before leaving since no one was really injured other than the elf and the barbarian.  When they finally convinced him that exiting now was in their best interest, they discovered that the halfling had taken the lift back to the surface and raced off without sending it back down the shaft.   In the end Grick was forced to climb the walls level by level until he reached the top then ride the lift back down to collect everyone else.  They exited the cave perhaps an hour after Welby’s frantic shrieks faded into the distance.  His trail was easy to follow and made a beeline in the direction of Travensburg.  As they prepared to follow a tall elf with raven tresses wearing clothing of soft deerskin stepped into the clearing and regarded them silently.  A large black wolf interposed itself protectively between the elf and the party. “What d’ya want, elf?” Jack growled.  “Either state yer piece or get outta our way, ‘cause I ain’t in the mood fer games.”The elf stared at them and saw sadness and weariness weighing down their hearts.  His gaze rested on the large misshapen bundle wrapped in a thick blanket that was soaked through with blood.  Finally, he spoke:“Are you friends of the halfling that passed through not long ago?”“You saw Welby?  Where is he and what did you do to him?”  The Crow’s voice was filled with worry for his little friend.“He ran past me screaming about an hour ago.  I could not tell what was troubling him, but he would not slow to speak with me.  I backtracked along his trail looking for answers.”“Yeh, he got kissed by some floatin demon ‘ead an’ he freaked out.  Speakin o’ answers, who’re ya an’ what are ya doin ‘ere?” Jack spoke abruptly.“My name is Eldred, and these woods are under my protection.  Anything that happens in the forest is my business.  This noble animal is Blackfoot, my only and constant companion.”“Are you a druid, then?” queried Artimas.  “Maybe you would consider joining us for a time, for we have found a great evil under the surface of your woods.  Also, you may have noticed that we just lost a companion,” he indicated the stiff bundle with a wave of his arms at this point, “and thus reinforcements would be welcome.”“Yes to the first question,” the elf answered.  “For the second, I must admit to being a little intrigued.  If you say an evil lives within these boughs then it is my duty to discover its nature.  I will follow you for a time, but I cannot say for how long.”“Welcome aboard, Eldred,” Ike stepped forward with a toothy grin on his face.  “Your life is now guaranteed to become more interesting.”*****When they got back to Travensburg Eldred excused himself from their company, explaining that he felt uncomfortable in settlements of any size and would rejoin them when they reentered the forest.  They entered the Foaming Mug and found Welby waiting for them, downing a large tankard of ale and animatedly describing their adventures to Ned and a group of farmers that had gathered.“Welby, you’re alright!” the Crow exclaimed.  “What happened?”“Priest say kiss was curse.  Want money to help but me convince him help free.  He pray and head stop itching.”  It was the most talkative they had ever seen the little savage, and they soon discerned the reason.  Welby was drunk.“What do you mean ‘convince him help free,’ Welby?” Quinn inquired.  She found the statement rather ominous.“Oh, that easy.  Like this.” Welby leveled a murderous stare at her, gripped his axe until his knuckles turned white, and growled fiercely.  She was startled by the change to her normally cherubic companion – for a moment she found herself frightened of him, and she understood how the poor village priest must have felt.“Oh, Welby, that wasn’t good,” she chastised him.  “In the morning we will have to go back to the chapel so that you can apologize and we can properly reward the church for his aid.”“Okay,” the halfling shrugged and turned back to his flagon.The next day they all went to the local shrine.  Quinn forced Welby to make amends for his threatening behavior of the day before and then they obtained burial services for the fallen Eli.  The cost of the healing spell and the funeral nearly drained the resources they had accumulated.Jack’s heartbroken sobs rent the air throughout the service and then he spent a silent and sullen night in the tavern drowning his sorrow.  In the morning he was still sitting downstairs nursing a mug of ale, although he looked his usual stern self again.“C’mon,” he barked when they were all assembled.  “Its time ta get back – my axe is thirsty.”Despite the complaints of Welby, who had time neither to raid the chicken coop nor to consume any of Ned’s famous pancakes, they packed up and hit the road again.  Eldred joined them as soon as they passed the village limits and soon they were ready to delve deeper into the hold of Duernfast.</blockquote>

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