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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Carlo-One" data-source="post: 8277507" data-attributes="member: 7015827">As Aerikoth and Darrow continued discussing plans for getting to the contents of the hag’s chest, Dermot focused his attention on the now-conscious former victim, who slowly took in the room as he regained full control of his senses, looking very confused. The ranger apologized, telling him they would like to explain, but were in a bad place, which earned a nod of recognition. Dermot then quickly went to the chest, held his breath and after a wary look, opened it. The trap only caused relatively minor damage to him, so he shrugged it off and walked back over, carrying a bundle of equipment in his arms, reckoning that it was the victim’s effects.The man looked over the armor and sword and acknowledged they were his – for all the good it did him, he said with a bitter tone. (Killian's fate is an object lesson in why solo adventuring is a bad idea. --R) Standing up slowly, he introduced himself as Killian Gryphonhawk, of Reddansyr. His three rescuers were intrigued by this, Aerikoth mentioning that Killian’s father had been looking for him. Killian thanked them for coming there and walked a little unsteadily over to the armor, putting it on over the rags he was wearing. He then picked up the sword and swung it through a short arc. Looking at the remaining items Dermot held out for inspection, Killian indicated that the belt was his, but he did not recognize the ring and gloves in the ranger’s possession.Dermot asked if anyone would disagree with burning the place down, which Killian supported, saying he would prefer to burn it from his memory, but perhaps it was a start. Dermot set about the cabin interior with a lit torch, the fire slowly taking hold in the floor planks. Darrow suggested they get out of there before it got going and the four exited, going down the winding exterior staircase to the base of the tree. From there, they moved a safe distance away and watched smoke start to rise from the cabin, followed by flames.The three adventurers were satisfied with the destruction of the hag’s lair, but expressed their regret at not being able to get more information from her. Killian asked what they wished to know, and was informed there were vampire doings afoot in Westgate by Dermot and Darrow. The former victim knew nothing of vampires, but said that the hag had called herself a “supplier” for a “client” near there. He went on to explain that he had been drawn to the forest by shining, dancing lights, then had found the treetop cabin, its entrance appearing to be decorated by maypoles rather than bones. Hanging his head, Killian lamented how stupid he had been and his foolish adventurer’s longing, vowing to better appreciate his father’s inn. (Is this not the lesson life provides us, no matter what our path? That we do not truly appreciate what we have, until it is taken from us and the pain of the world is demonstrated to our chagrin? Yet generation after generation fails to learn this from its predecessors. --C) After some discussion, it was decided the best way to get Killian home would be for Aerikoth to teleport directly there with him; the former victim was impressed by the wizard’s magical power. Dermot and Darrow said they would find Shanni, who likely had not gone far into the forest, then meet back up with Aerikoth at the skull markers on the path. Before they could do anything, however, their roguish companion approached along the path, evidently having been drawn back by the burning treetop cabin, smoke and flames from which were visible against the sky.</blockquote>

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