RL catches Dar Gremath at work in the stables, followed around by Gnasher, who greets RL enthusiastically. It seems now the battle is over Dar Gremath is back to his old job and has some catching up to do.
Dar Gremath tells RL that Willet Reedfoot, the halfling would be the best person to ask.
RL catches Dar Gremath at work in the stables, followed around by Gnasher, who greets RL enthusiastically. It seems now the battle is over Dar Gremath is back to his old job and has some catching up to do.
Dar Gremath tells RL that Willet Reedfoot, the halfling would be the best person to ask.
RL will wander around town, presumably down the docks, to find Willet and ask how much it would cost to hire his boat for a day or two to try to find a friend. RL will ask if Willet has been down that way and seen a dragonborn in that area?
Willet Reed's keelboat is tied up next to the bridge. The crew have put up covers to protect them from the rain. Rustling Leaves board and find most of the halflings smoking their pipeweed and fishing. Willet Reedfoot nods at RL and invites the shifter to sit with him. The rain patters on the canvas cover and the White River is calm. Willet offers RL some pipeweed. Do you accept?
Willet Reed's keelboat is tied up next to the bridge. The crew have put up covers to protect them from the rain. Rustling Leaves board and find most of the halflings smoking their pipeweed and fishing. Willet Reedfoot nods at RL and invites the shifter to sit with him. The rain patters on the canvas cover and the White River is calm. Willet offers RL some pipeweed. Do you accept?
RL thanks Willet but says 'i dont know how to smoke it, is it difficult?'
Nature check to see if RL can determine what pipeweed is. 16
You know pipeweed to be a mild intoxicant, different varieties have different flavours. Halflings are apparently resistant to the intoxicating effects of the pipeweed - or perhaps are better able to mask its effects - but they take mischevious delight in watching its effects on others.
You know pipeweed to be a mild intoxicant, different varieties have different flavours. Halflings are apparently resistant to the intoxicating effects of the pipeweed - or perhaps are better able to mask its effects - but they take mischevious delight in watching its effects on others.
RL feels a mild relaxing effect and just the hint of intoxication. He thinks another one will probably have more significant effect.
Willet smiles and nods.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"
Apart from your company, I was wondering if you know of a dragon born down the river named Dar? I am keen to find him and talk to him. Also how much would it cost for you to take me to the forest along the river?
"We don't usually go along the river into the Harken Forest, well only one of us does - Sandy. His keelboat is much better armoured than the rest of my clan's. So he'd probably take you for a reduced fee, you being heroes of Albridge an' all. Anyways we hear there is a dragonborn named Drith who has made the bullywugs his vassals or slaves or something. It's actually been a good thing, we got a message saying he wants to trade and he gave us a list of what he wants. Sandy is going there the day after tomorrow, after the dwarf merchants get here. Of course if you all wanted to provide security for Sandy's ship, then he'd probably waive the fee."
"We don't usually go along the river into the Harken Forest, well only one of us does - Sandy. His keelboat is much better armoured than the rest of my clan's. So he'd probably take you for a reduced fee, you being heroes of Albridge an' all. Anyways we hear there is a dragonborn named Drith who has made the bullywugs his vassals or slaves or something. It's actually been a good thing, we got a message saying he wants to trade and he gave us a list of what he wants. Sandy is going there the day after tomorrow, after the dwarf merchants get here. Of course if you all wanted to provide security for Sandy's ship, then he'd probably waive the fee."
How often does Sandy go that way?, we have a few other things to do in the next couple of days. Can I buy a bit of that pipeweed from you I quite enjoyed that
It is a cold day with fog rising from the river in the morning and drizzly rain from grey clouds forecast for the afternoon.
Esa asks where Shepherd the tiefling might be found.
"What you want with her? She's as cranky as a mule with a burr under its saddle!" says a farmer.
"She ain't one of us. Ye can't trust devil-folk," says another.
"She's stirrin' up trouble, accusin' us o' messin' wiv her land. We got better things to do wiv our time!" complains a third.
But they relent, shaking their heads and give Esa directions.
Shepherd's land sits about a mile south of the King's Road, about a mile north west of the Druid Grove, and about four miles from Albridge village as the pixie flies.
Does Esa wish to take this journey now?
Esa will inform Augustin of her plans, before heading out. She decides that if Sheppard let's her, she may even just stay there to maximise her learning time while she has it, but she promises to return in time for their next endeavour in a few days.
How often does Sandy go that way?, we have a few other things to do in the next couple of days. Can I buy a bit of that pipeweed from you I quite enjoyed that
Willet rummages around in a pack and gives RL a pouch stuffed full of pipeweed.
"You can have the pipe you're using for free, it's a spare but I've never used it. Always kept my one close," he shows RL his elaborately carved long stemmed pipe. "We Reedfoot's keep pipes as heirlooms. This was my pappy's. The pipeweed you can have for free this time, if you will do me one favour. I want to hear about your adventures, both in the battle but also before you came to Albridge. You delvers are a popular topic at the moment and I make a living telling stories at the communities along the river."
Willet settles back into his seat, one elbow resting on the gunwale of his boat. He laughs as one of his crew hooks a fish on his pole, struggles with it and then the fishing line breaks, dumping the straining halfling on his backside on the deck. There is much laughter and cheering. Then he takes a few puffs on his pipe and turns back to RL and repacks RL's pipe with weed, showing RL how to do it.
"To answer your other question we hardly ever go further than the edge of the Harken Forest. We have traded with Harken's Heart, you probably know the folk I mean - extremist elf druids for want of a better description. They usually want textiles, tools, or blades or anything they can't make well themselves. In return they give us food and medicine from the forest, sometimes relics or trinkets they find in the ruins. But we only go to them when invited. Very occasionally we have to ferry someone or something through the forest to the Nentir River, sometimes to Fallcrest or sometimes to meet another boat heading south to the Barony of Therond or the Elisir Vale. Fallcrest is the furthest Sandy's boat will go. This doesn't happen very often and usually coincides with increased banditry on the King's Road. Going on the river takes longer, has it's own problems, but can be safer when the gnolls are active or the bandit gangs have been stirred up for some reason."
Willet pulls out a notebook with a piece of graphite he uses as a pencil. As he does so RL puffs on his pipe, feeling a little light headed in a nice way, but also very relaxed for maybe the first time in a long time.
"Now," says Willet, "would you tell me about your delver adventures, if you please?"
"Now," says Willet, "would you tell me about your delver adventures, if you please?"
' im not the best of story tellers but I will do my best.' RL will tell Willet about battling the Bullwugs and rescuing the villagers getting them back to Albridge.
"This bullywug champion, Ugglor, he had a magical amulet so you could understand him? Where did such a creature as he get such a thing, what did it look like?"
RL describes the magical amulet from memory, that it had an owl design. The shifter does not remember any discussion about the origin of the amulet - everyone was more focused on getting the encounter over with and getting the recently released prisoners back to the halfling's keelboat.
Willet nods and makes some notes.
"Tell me about what has happened since returning the prisoners to Albridge. I'm especially keen on hearing about your trip to recruit the Woodsinger Elves. Almost no-one gave you any chance of success."
Rustling Leaves takes another toke on the pipe and tells the story, of leaving Albridge, the discovery of Marl being decimated, the battle with the Iron Circle and then taking their wagon, and then heading to the Woodsinger Camp. He left out certain bits, like the magically hidden door in the bunker close to Dal Nystiere - in fact did not mention the name of the ruins at all - and the temple to the Mother underneath Marl. Willet was very interested in the spider battle, especially the teleporting spider. He wrote furiously when RL was relating that part. It would make a good tale, RL thought when he paused for the halfling clan leader to catch up. He also liked the part of how Grimbald turned the undead spellcaster to stone.
"So this undead warlock of the Dark One is still there as a statue? With all his books? And the young dragon skeleton? That's a great story. I better be careful how I spin that tale or young hopeful delvers might take it upon themselves to visit it. Although they would not know where to go. It could be any ruins in the Harken Forest The gods know there are enough of them."
After a few more tales Willet closes his notebook.
"Thank you, Rustling Leaves, for this. Your tale will live on for more than a generation I'm sure."
RL leaves the keelboat holding his pipe and pouch of pipeweed, waving in what he hopes is a friendly way as he goes. It is starting to get dark already, he must have been with Willet longer than he thought.
Back in Albridge the blonde twins Jorgen and Anders carry the coffin to where Grimbald had lain the remains of Tholarn Goldspinner. They waited while he carefully wrapped the bones in linen bought for 2cp at the trading post, then placed them in the coffin. The lid was fitted tightly and then the boys carried it with Grimbald walking alongside to the Shrinehouse - a building which contained shrines to various deities.
The Shrinehouse was an old, poorly maintained building, and was attended by an old woman named Jendi who used a cane to walk and was stooped as if her back was frozen into a curve. She stopped cleaning and listened to Grimbald's request to store the body here until the dwarf merchants took it back to Hammerfast. Jendi agreed and the boys put the coffin in the corner. The boys nodded at Grimbald and walked back to their father's workshop. Grimbald sat with the coffin for a while, wondering about Tholarn Goldspinner and his research. Then, as it got dark, he headed to the pub.
Vakiel meets Danz, one of the Rascals of Harkenwold, who is currently working as a builder. Danz looks tired and wet from the rain. He sees Vakiel and nods.
"All right then?" Danz asks. Vakiel nods in return. In the secret language of rascals, this means "Do you have any news to share?" and Vakiel by nodding and not speaking, was saying no.
"How about you?" asks the barbarian.
"Good," replies the builder. Vakiel just asked if he had any information, and Danz replied that he had. They started walking together, looking to see if anyone was in hearing. No one was.
"Tough day," said Danz. "There's just so much work. Would be easier if someone could use that damned wand of mending that was donated to the town. Also there's some weird shit happening near that old tower. Can't really say what, but I reckon there's something there. One of the builders has been there a couple of times. I followed him and he was there, talking to no one. I would think him mad or psychotic, but I know he's not. So maybe talking to spirits? A ghost? I dunno. Weird shit. I'm staying well away."
Danz did not have any information other than that. Vakiel asked the name of the builder talking to the invisible ghost and he said it was Marco, who was a refugee from Marl. They shared a couple of drinks at the pub before Danz decided to call it a night, he was too tired to have a bender.
Esa heads off to Shepherd's farm. She sees Augustin walking on the road towards the Druid Grove. She briefly considered turning invisible and playing a prank on him, but decides to leave him alone.
The trip takes over an hour and drizzle is starting to fall, which does not improve Esa's mood. A narrow creek marks Shepherd's property line with a short wooden bridge spanning it. Esa, of course, needs no such assistance to cross the creek and flies over.
As soon as she crosses to the other side Esa feels that something is wrong here. There is a problem somewhere in this land. She can't explain it, but knows there is some corruption at work. She looks around and sees piles of unusual vegetation and investigates. These are small, humanoid looking creatures made from twisted roots and branches. They have been destroyed by elemental forces, some burned, some killed by frost, others by acid.
"They came at me yesterday," says a voice behind Esa. The pixie spins around to see a severe looking tiefling woman, tall and thin, with impressive horns. She holds a shepherd's crook in a way that makes Esa think she could use it as a weapon. A black and white sheep dog is next to the tiefling, looking at Esa curiously, perhaps wondering if the pixie could be rounded up.
"I am Shepherd," the tiefling woman says. "You are one of the fey folk. Are you here for a reason?"
Esa heads off to Shepherd's farm. She sees Augustin walking on the road towards the Druid Grove. She briefly considered turning invisible and playing a prank on him, but decides to leave him alone.
The trip takes over an hour and drizzle is starting to fall, which does not improve Esa's mood. A narrow creek marks Shepherd's property line with a short wooden bridge spanning it. Esa, of course, needs no such assistance to cross the creek and flies over.
As soon as she crosses to the other side Esa feels that something is wrong here. There is a problem somewhere in this land. She can't explain it, but knows there is some corruption at work. She looks around and sees piles of unusual vegetation and investigates. These are small, humanoid looking creatures made from twisted roots and branches. They have been destroyed by elemental forces, some burned, some killed by frost, others by acid.
"They came at me yesterday," says a voice behind Esa. The pixie spins around to see a severe looking tiefling woman, tall and thin, with impressive horns. She holds a shepherd's crook in a way that makes Esa think she could use it as a weapon. A black and white sheep dog is next to the tiefling, looking at Esa curiously, perhaps wondering if the pixie could be rounded up.
"I am Shepherd," the tiefling woman says. "You are one of the fey folk. Are you here for a reason?"
Esa takes a moment, captivated by the being before her.
"My apologies for intruding. I am Esa, a delver who has been studying magic and mystery. Recently, I've come across devils and fiends, my life very nearly being ended by their kind. You could say the experience has peaked my curiosity, and I desire to learn more. Infernal is unknown to me, and after asking around, you were suggested as a possible teacher."
Shepherd seems surprised. She lowers her shepherd's crook to the floor. The dog runs forward, looking up at Esa with his tongue lolling.
"I could do that. But not all day. I only have 10 sheep left after the Iron Circle hobgoblins butchered the others for no reason while I was in town, helping defend it. But the remaining sheep keep me busy. And since the Iron Circle have been here things have been weird on my property. You probably felt it as soon as you crossed the creek. Yesterday a bunch of twig blights appeared from nowhere and attacked me - you've seen their remains. Birds don't come close to the house. The sheep stay far away as they can. Rollo here," she nodded towards the black and white dog, "would probably like to stay away too, but dogs are loyal. At first I thought the locals were doing it somehow but now I think it's something else. I wish I knew what, then maybe I'd sleep better."
She sighs. "Part of me half thinks your offer is some kind of trick to give me hope, or make me look stupid. I haven't had an easy time of it here. Tieflings are not well regarded, sadly for good reason most of the time. But you are one of the fey, if it's a trick it would not be so blatant. I will take you on your word, Esa the Delver. Were you thinking daily lessons? Regardless it will cost you 1sp per daily lesson."
RL catches Dar Gremath at work in the stables, followed around by Gnasher, who greets RL enthusiastically. It seems now the battle is over Dar Gremath is back to his old job and has some catching up to do.
Dar Gremath tells RL that Willet Reedfoot, the halfling would be the best person to ask.
RL will wander around town, presumably down the docks, to find Willet and ask how much it would cost to hire his boat for a day or two to try to find a friend. RL will ask if Willet has been down that way and seen a dragonborn in that area?
Willet Reed's keelboat is tied up next to the bridge. The crew have put up covers to protect them from the rain. Rustling Leaves board and find most of the halflings smoking their pipeweed and fishing. Willet Reedfoot nods at RL and invites the shifter to sit with him. The rain patters on the canvas cover and the White River is calm. Willet offers RL some pipeweed. Do you accept?
RL thanks Willet but says 'i dont know how to smoke it, is it difficult?'
Nature check to see if RL can determine what pipeweed is. 16
You know pipeweed to be a mild intoxicant, different varieties have different flavours. Halflings are apparently resistant to the intoxicating effects of the pipeweed - or perhaps are better able to mask its effects - but they take mischevious delight in watching its effects on others.
RL will try it.
RL feels a mild relaxing effect and just the hint of intoxication. He thinks another one will probably have more significant effect.
Willet smiles and nods.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"
Apart from your company, I was wondering if you know of a dragon born down the river named Dar? I am keen to find him and talk to him. Also how much would it cost for you to take me to the forest along the river?
Willet unexpectedly grins.
"We don't usually go along the river into the Harken Forest, well only one of us does - Sandy. His keelboat is much better armoured than the rest of my clan's. So he'd probably take you for a reduced fee, you being heroes of Albridge an' all. Anyways we hear there is a dragonborn named Drith who has made the bullywugs his vassals or slaves or something. It's actually been a good thing, we got a message saying he wants to trade and he gave us a list of what he wants. Sandy is going there the day after tomorrow, after the dwarf merchants get here. Of course if you all wanted to provide security for Sandy's ship, then he'd probably waive the fee."
How often does Sandy go that way?, we have a few other things to do in the next couple of days. Can I buy a bit of that pipeweed from you I quite enjoyed that
Esa will inform Augustin of her plans, before heading out. She decides that if Sheppard let's her, she may even just stay there to maximise her learning time while she has it, but she promises to return in time for their next endeavour in a few days.
Willet rummages around in a pack and gives RL a pouch stuffed full of pipeweed.
"You can have the pipe you're using for free, it's a spare but I've never used it. Always kept my one close," he shows RL his elaborately carved long stemmed pipe. "We Reedfoot's keep pipes as heirlooms. This was my pappy's. The pipeweed you can have for free this time, if you will do me one favour. I want to hear about your adventures, both in the battle but also before you came to Albridge. You delvers are a popular topic at the moment and I make a living telling stories at the communities along the river."
Willet settles back into his seat, one elbow resting on the gunwale of his boat. He laughs as one of his crew hooks a fish on his pole, struggles with it and then the fishing line breaks, dumping the straining halfling on his backside on the deck. There is much laughter and cheering. Then he takes a few puffs on his pipe and turns back to RL and repacks RL's pipe with weed, showing RL how to do it.
"To answer your other question we hardly ever go further than the edge of the Harken Forest. We have traded with Harken's Heart, you probably know the folk I mean - extremist elf druids for want of a better description. They usually want textiles, tools, or blades or anything they can't make well themselves. In return they give us food and medicine from the forest, sometimes relics or trinkets they find in the ruins. But we only go to them when invited. Very occasionally we have to ferry someone or something through the forest to the Nentir River, sometimes to Fallcrest or sometimes to meet another boat heading south to the Barony of Therond or the Elisir Vale. Fallcrest is the furthest Sandy's boat will go. This doesn't happen very often and usually coincides with increased banditry on the King's Road. Going on the river takes longer, has it's own problems, but can be safer when the gnolls are active or the bandit gangs have been stirred up for some reason."
Willet pulls out a notebook with a piece of graphite he uses as a pencil. As he does so RL puffs on his pipe, feeling a little light headed in a nice way, but also very relaxed for maybe the first time in a long time.
"Now," says Willet, "would you tell me about your delver adventures, if you please?"
' im not the best of story tellers but I will do my best.' RL will tell Willet about battling the Bullwugs and rescuing the villagers getting them back to Albridge.
"This bullywug champion, Ugglor, he had a magical amulet so you could understand him? Where did such a creature as he get such a thing, what did it look like?"
RL describes the magical amulet from memory, that it had an owl design. The shifter does not remember any discussion about the origin of the amulet - everyone was more focused on getting the encounter over with and getting the recently released prisoners back to the halfling's keelboat.
Willet nods and makes some notes.
"Tell me about what has happened since returning the prisoners to Albridge. I'm especially keen on hearing about your trip to recruit the Woodsinger Elves. Almost no-one gave you any chance of success."
Rustling Leaves takes another toke on the pipe and tells the story, of leaving Albridge, the discovery of Marl being decimated, the battle with the Iron Circle and then taking their wagon, and then heading to the Woodsinger Camp. He left out certain bits, like the magically hidden door in the bunker close to Dal Nystiere - in fact did not mention the name of the ruins at all - and the temple to the Mother underneath Marl. Willet was very interested in the spider battle, especially the teleporting spider. He wrote furiously when RL was relating that part. It would make a good tale, RL thought when he paused for the halfling clan leader to catch up. He also liked the part of how Grimbald turned the undead spellcaster to stone.
"So this undead warlock of the Dark One is still there as a statue? With all his books? And the young dragon skeleton? That's a great story. I better be careful how I spin that tale or young hopeful delvers might take it upon themselves to visit it. Although they would not know where to go. It could be any ruins in the Harken Forest The gods know there are enough of them."
After a few more tales Willet closes his notebook.
"Thank you, Rustling Leaves, for this. Your tale will live on for more than a generation I'm sure."
RL leaves the keelboat holding his pipe and pouch of pipeweed, waving in what he hopes is a friendly way as he goes. It is starting to get dark already, he must have been with Willet longer than he thought.
Back in Albridge the blonde twins Jorgen and Anders carry the coffin to where Grimbald had lain the remains of Tholarn Goldspinner. They waited while he carefully wrapped the bones in linen bought for 2cp at the trading post, then placed them in the coffin. The lid was fitted tightly and then the boys carried it with Grimbald walking alongside to the Shrinehouse - a building which contained shrines to various deities.
The Shrinehouse was an old, poorly maintained building, and was attended by an old woman named Jendi who used a cane to walk and was stooped as if her back was frozen into a curve. She stopped cleaning and listened to Grimbald's request to store the body here until the dwarf merchants took it back to Hammerfast. Jendi agreed and the boys put the coffin in the corner. The boys nodded at Grimbald and walked back to their father's workshop. Grimbald sat with the coffin for a while, wondering about Tholarn Goldspinner and his research. Then, as it got dark, he headed to the pub.
Vakiel meets Danz, one of the Rascals of Harkenwold, who is currently working as a builder. Danz looks tired and wet from the rain. He sees Vakiel and nods.
"All right then?" Danz asks. Vakiel nods in return. In the secret language of rascals, this means "Do you have any news to share?" and Vakiel by nodding and not speaking, was saying no.
"How about you?" asks the barbarian.
"Good," replies the builder. Vakiel just asked if he had any information, and Danz replied that he had. They started walking together, looking to see if anyone was in hearing. No one was.
"Tough day," said Danz. "There's just so much work. Would be easier if someone could use that damned wand of mending that was donated to the town. Also there's some weird shit happening near that old tower. Can't really say what, but I reckon there's something there. One of the builders has been there a couple of times. I followed him and he was there, talking to no one. I would think him mad or psychotic, but I know he's not. So maybe talking to spirits? A ghost? I dunno. Weird shit. I'm staying well away."
Danz did not have any information other than that. Vakiel asked the name of the builder talking to the invisible ghost and he said it was Marco, who was a refugee from Marl. They shared a couple of drinks at the pub before Danz decided to call it a night, he was too tired to have a bender.
Esa heads off to Shepherd's farm. She sees Augustin walking on the road towards the Druid Grove. She briefly considered turning invisible and playing a prank on him, but decides to leave him alone.
The trip takes over an hour and drizzle is starting to fall, which does not improve Esa's mood. A narrow creek marks Shepherd's property line with a short wooden bridge spanning it. Esa, of course, needs no such assistance to cross the creek and flies over.
As soon as she crosses to the other side Esa feels that something is wrong here. There is a problem somewhere in this land. She can't explain it, but knows there is some corruption at work. She looks around and sees piles of unusual vegetation and investigates. These are small, humanoid looking creatures made from twisted roots and branches. They have been destroyed by elemental forces, some burned, some killed by frost, others by acid.
"They came at me yesterday," says a voice behind Esa. The pixie spins around to see a severe looking tiefling woman, tall and thin, with impressive horns. She holds a shepherd's crook in a way that makes Esa think she could use it as a weapon. A black and white sheep dog is next to the tiefling, looking at Esa curiously, perhaps wondering if the pixie could be rounded up.
"I am Shepherd," the tiefling woman says. "You are one of the fey folk. Are you here for a reason?"
Esa takes a moment, captivated by the being before her.
"My apologies for intruding. I am Esa, a delver who has been studying magic and mystery. Recently, I've come across devils and fiends, my life very nearly being ended by their kind. You could say the experience has peaked my curiosity, and I desire to learn more. Infernal is unknown to me, and after asking around, you were suggested as a possible teacher."
Esa bows her head as a show of respect.
Shepherd seems surprised. She lowers her shepherd's crook to the floor. The dog runs forward, looking up at Esa with his tongue lolling.
"I could do that. But not all day. I only have 10 sheep left after the Iron Circle hobgoblins butchered the others for no reason while I was in town, helping defend it. But the remaining sheep keep me busy. And since the Iron Circle have been here things have been weird on my property. You probably felt it as soon as you crossed the creek. Yesterday a bunch of twig blights appeared from nowhere and attacked me - you've seen their remains. Birds don't come close to the house. The sheep stay far away as they can. Rollo here," she nodded towards the black and white dog, "would probably like to stay away too, but dogs are loyal. At first I thought the locals were doing it somehow but now I think it's something else. I wish I knew what, then maybe I'd sleep better."
She sighs. "Part of me half thinks your offer is some kind of trick to give me hope, or make me look stupid. I haven't had an easy time of it here. Tieflings are not well regarded, sadly for good reason most of the time. But you are one of the fey, if it's a trick it would not be so blatant. I will take you on your word, Esa the Delver. Were you thinking daily lessons? Regardless it will cost you 1sp per daily lesson."