The old woman studies Hymnal thoughtfully. “The bullywugs and I have a common goal: to see the fall of a great evil, but we cannot this on our own. Thus, when adventurers such as yourselves happen to travel through this lonely forest, we can afford to take no chances.”
She draws her cloak closer about her shoulders and awaits your reply.
"Great evil, you say? I have felt such in these woods. See, friends, I told you we were being drawn here by the gods!" Hond exclaims. A thought crosses his mind and Hond frowns at the old lady. "Though, the only one we've met here is you. How do we know you're not the evil presence I've been feeling?" Hond will use Divine Sense again. "Professional courtesy, you understand."
The old woman nods calmly as Hond calls upon his deity. The dark presence from earlier remains, but Hond can confirm with reasonable assurance that it does not emanate from the old woman, or her cat for that matter.
"What do the gods say, Hond?" Hymnal inquired.Perhaps a prayer of his own would help. Hymnal reached into his shirt and rifled through his medallions. He was a pantheist; there were so many gods that honoring just one seemed short-sighted.
Hond nods at Hymnal, "There is great evil here, but it isn't this lady. Nor is it her cat, oddly enough. I'm inclined to hear what she has to say, perhaps we can all be of help to each other."
”I’ll wait no longer for you fools.” She exclaims. “If you have no interest in answers and a warm meal, you’d best be on your way.” So saying, she disappears into the cottage, followed by her cat, leaving the door open.
Hymnal looks at Morton and Damn, shrugging. "She does not need to tell Hymnal twice, hey? Besides, if she were going to eat us, her house would be made of gingerbread!" The young tabaxi follows Hond inside, and even just imagining a fire and a hot meal seems to revivify a smidgen of his usual cheerful self.
When you enter, the old woman is busy spooning a pot of soup into five bowls. “Welcome.” She says, with the hint of a smile. “This is a place of safety and comfort. You have nothing to fear while beneath my roof.”
You sit down to a simple but hearty meal of soup and hot rolls, and for several minutes there is no sound but the clatter of spoons and bowls, and the occasional “could you pass the butter?” When you have all eaten your fill, the woman rises and retrieves an ancient leather bound book, which she sets on the table.
”I believe introductions are in order.” She says. “My name is Elenara, priestess of Lathander.” As she speaks the tattered cloak falls from her shoulders, revealing clerical white robes trimmed with gold. “And you are?”
“Morton Millhouse.” He says as he takes a deep bow, his weariness has now turned confident and relaxed after the meal. A smile stretches across the goblins face revealing sharp pointed fangs.
Elenara opens the book and regards it grimly. “Allow me to tell you a story.” She begins. “This is The Tale of the Pumpkin King.”
”Once upon a time, there was a noble prince. Under his benevolent rule, the rivers ran with wine and the heavens rained gold. But there was one in the kingdom with a bitter taste in his mouth, and this was the brother of the prince. He was as greedy as his brother was generous, and he resolved to bring ruin to the beautiful land and his hated brother. He made a pact with an elder demon, and with his newfound power he created an eldritch portal leading to an alternate dimension, a grim mockery of the material plane which we inhabit. The noble prince disappeared, and his evil brother seized the throne. Now he rules the ruined kingdom as the Pumpkin King, his sanity lost with his brother.”
Elenara stops, her eyes sad. She appears lost in thought.
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(The woman is visible to everyone at this point.)
The old woman studies Hymnal thoughtfully. “The bullywugs and I have a common goal: to see the fall of a great evil, but we cannot this on our own. Thus, when adventurers such as yourselves happen to travel through this lonely forest, we can afford to take no chances.”
She draws her cloak closer about her shoulders and awaits your reply.
"Great evil, you say? I have felt such in these woods. See, friends, I told you we were being drawn here by the gods!" Hond exclaims. A thought crosses his mind and Hond frowns at the old lady. "Though, the only one we've met here is you. How do we know you're not the evil presence I've been feeling?" Hond will use Divine Sense again. "Professional courtesy, you understand."
Damn quietly draws his rapier and crouches down in the shadows of the house.
Skameros - Bugbear Barbarian - Out of the Abyss - By Kerrec
Follow your Arrow where it Points - Tabaxi Monk - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
Citron Pumpkinfoam - Fairy Monk - Project Point: Team Longsword
The old woman nods calmly as Hond calls upon his deity. The dark presence from earlier remains, but Hond can confirm with reasonable assurance that it does not emanate from the old woman, or her cat for that matter.
"What do the gods say, Hond?" Hymnal inquired. Perhaps a prayer of his own would help. Hymnal reached into his shirt and rifled through his medallions. He was a pantheist; there were so many gods that honoring just one seemed short-sighted.
Chasing Hymnal - Tabaxi Bard - The Tale of the Pumpkin King
Enzo the Nightmaw - Human Blood Hunter, Order of the Lycan
"Dovie'andi se tovya sagain."
Hond nods at Hymnal, "There is great evil here, but it isn't this lady. Nor is it her cat, oddly enough. I'm inclined to hear what she has to say, perhaps we can all be of help to each other."
Hymnal turns to Damn. "What was it like inside her home?"
Chasing Hymnal - Tabaxi Bard - The Tale of the Pumpkin King
Enzo the Nightmaw - Human Blood Hunter, Order of the Lycan
"Dovie'andi se tovya sagain."
"Bright......so very bright.....and a cat...." and he hisses a bit and points at the old lady's cat
Skameros - Bugbear Barbarian - Out of the Abyss - By Kerrec
Follow your Arrow where it Points - Tabaxi Monk - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
Citron Pumpkinfoam - Fairy Monk - Project Point: Team Longsword
Morton waits skittishly for the others to go in. Used to not being accepted by “normal” people
The old woman taps her foot impatiently.
”I’ll wait no longer for you fools.” She exclaims. “If you have no interest in answers and a warm meal, you’d best be on your way.” So saying, she disappears into the cottage, followed by her cat, leaving the door open.
Hond laughs and turns to his friends, "No humor in that one! I guess we'd better hurry up!" Hond enters the cottage.
Hymnal looks at Morton and Damn, shrugging. "She does not need to tell Hymnal twice, hey? Besides, if she were going to eat us, her house would be made of gingerbread!" The young tabaxi follows Hond inside, and even just imagining a fire and a hot meal seems to revivify a smidgen of his usual cheerful self.
Chasing Hymnal - Tabaxi Bard - The Tale of the Pumpkin King
Enzo the Nightmaw - Human Blood Hunter, Order of the Lycan
"Dovie'andi se tovya sagain."
“Oh, urrgh. Fine let’s get inside.” Morton says cautiously.
When you enter, the old woman is busy spooning a pot of soup into five bowls. “Welcome.” She says, with the hint of a smile. “This is a place of safety and comfort. You have nothing to fear while beneath my roof.”
You sit down to a simple but hearty meal of soup and hot rolls, and for several minutes there is no sound but the clatter of spoons and bowls, and the occasional “could you pass the butter?” When you have all eaten your fill, the woman rises and retrieves an ancient leather bound book, which she sets on the table.
”I believe introductions are in order.” She says. “My name is Elenara, priestess of Lathander.” As she speaks the tattered cloak falls from her shoulders, revealing clerical white robes trimmed with gold. “And you are?”
"That Damn Tabaxi is back.....devout instrument of Bhaal....."
Skameros - Bugbear Barbarian - Out of the Abyss - By Kerrec
Follow your Arrow where it Points - Tabaxi Monk - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
Citron Pumpkinfoam - Fairy Monk - Project Point: Team Longsword
“Morton Millhouse.” He says as he takes a deep bow, his weariness has now turned confident and relaxed after the meal. A smile stretches across the goblins face revealing sharp pointed fangs.
"I am Hond Hrayek, and I honor Our Lady of the Forest, Mielikki." Hond bows. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Elenara."
"I am Hymnal, and Hymnal is me, hey?"
Chasing Hymnal - Tabaxi Bard - The Tale of the Pumpkin King
Enzo the Nightmaw - Human Blood Hunter, Order of the Lycan
"Dovie'andi se tovya sagain."
(Your noble DM has returned. I’ll recommence the story in a few hours. Thank you all for your patience.)
Elenara opens the book and regards it grimly. “Allow me to tell you a story.” She begins. “This is The Tale of the Pumpkin King.”
”Once upon a time, there was a noble prince. Under his benevolent rule, the rivers ran with wine and the heavens rained gold. But there was one in the kingdom with a bitter taste in his mouth, and this was the brother of the prince. He was as greedy as his brother was generous, and he resolved to bring ruin to the beautiful land and his hated brother. He made a pact with an elder demon, and with his newfound power he created an eldritch portal leading to an alternate dimension, a grim mockery of the material plane which we inhabit. The noble prince disappeared, and his evil brother seized the throne. Now he rules the ruined kingdom as the Pumpkin King, his sanity lost with his brother.”
Elenara stops, her eyes sad. She appears lost in thought.