Stormraider Keep (A M.E.T.A.L. Campaign)

Aurelius dismounts and greets his friend warmly.  "Yes, we are all well, thank you.  The forest was full of magic and danger, but I... er, we overcame great odds and fulfilled our quest.  Your people should continue to take care and avoid the forest, however, as it is protected by a powerful dragon.
"We have received a message from our captive companion, and we are in haste to find her.  If we could trouble you to study these fungi, and see if an antidote to their effects could be made, we would be most grateful.  We wish to leave at first light tomorrow."

"Yes, our venture into Gwyllinwald was successful." Elyria says to the Harengon herbalist, smiling warmly, then leaving for Aurelius and Flynt to elaborate on what has transpired.
"I have mushrooms for you. If we are welcome to stay we will be staying until tomorrow morning at which time I will return to Lady Sylmare." She says plainly.

Flynt opens a pouch filled with dried dark brown leaves, and larger whole leaves presumably from the same plant. He creates a little trough out of the whole leaf then sprinkles in a little of the shredded. With a skillful twist of his hand he rolls the leaf around the shreds and into a cylindrical shape.  He goes back into the pouch and pulls out a small piece of straw. Walking over to the nearest flame source his lights the straw then the cylindrical tube that is now clutched between his lips. Drawing deep he blows out a large puff of smoke. "Yeah, we saw somethings and those will never be seen again. Found somethings too. Maybe somebody round here can tell us what they are." He shows the herbalist the trinkets given to them by the dragon.

The herbalist gasps at Aurelius mention of a dragon. "Dragon? Here? In our forest? Right here?" She is completely baffled, perplexed, and beside herself. "How could we have a dragon RIGHT HERE and not know! Oh my goodness!  Did you see it?  What did it look like? How did you escape?"  

She is also quite interested in the mushrooms from Elyria. "Why don't we take these to my workspace?  I'll take a look at them. Although, begging your pardon, I'm not sure I can accomplish much by morning." She then turns to Flynt.  "I'm not sure I follow you sir. 'Somethings' you won't see again and 'somethings' you found?  I'll help you best as I can.  But come, let's go - I'll need some of my tools."  

She leads you all back to the space where you had first met her.  The place has a number of work benches and she walks over to one of them.  "So, might I see one of these mushrooms.  I presume you can spare one or two?"  Once she gets one, she sets to work.  She hardly seems to be touching it, but peers at it, grabs one magnifying glass and then a briefly dons a pair of goggles.  She takes them off then grabs a tiny little knife.  She seems to cut a piece although it's so tiny you can barely tell.  It is a little strange, you aren't sure you have ever seen her this quiet.  

"This is it! I have only read about these.  But they are growing right here in our forest! And I have one right here in front of me.  This is so amazing.  Do you see the stripes?  And such an interesting color of purple!  Oh, these are potent! Potent I tell you!"

It is all you can do to get her to calm down a bit.  She eventually explains that the mushrooms are indeed much as she expected.  They would make a powerful mind control potion if in the right hands.  Even as is, the mushrooms would probably provide strong hallucinations and might even be poisonous.  "It's as I feared. I could learn much studying this. And likely come up with antidotes.  But it is going to take time." 

"I'm certain the dragon is a benevolent one, only interested in protecting it's domain Gwyllinwald." Elyria says, trying to calm the herbalist. 
She then follows the herbalist to her workspace and gives her the mushrooms she needs.
"How much time would it take then?" She says, looking really worried.

"Benevolent? So why should we avoid the forest then?" the herbalist asks. "Wait! How do you know that? Did you TALK to the dragon! Oh my! You really talked to him! Wow!" 

Later at her workspace she looks over at Elyria. "It's probably going to be at the very least a week.  I'd guess a couple.  This is a touch complicated to come up with a whole new formulation."  She pauses, "I'm sorry." 

Elyria just smiles and nods, confirming they spoke to the dragon of Gwyllinwald, leaving to Aurelius and Flynt to possibly expand on that.

"I...we don't have that time." Elyria says, looking over at Flynt and Aurelius. "Finding our teammate is a most urgent matter. We must move on at first light." She says like it is not open for debate. "We would still appreciate if you could make an antidote though. We might return later in dire need for one." She adds quickly.

"The dragon is not hostile, but is very protective of her territory.  If you wanted to enter, I would take great caution to demonstrate your peaceful intentions and that you mean no harm to the forest.  It might be best to wait until we are here to accompany you.

"Elyria is correct, a delay of two weeks is not one we can afford at the present.  We'll have to hope that Sylmare is not so wicked as to use any potion she brews on Elyria herself.  I would caution you to be wary of any gifts that arrive from the Eldarin, as they might be a trick to use the power of the mushrooms against your people.

"Er... are we welcome to rest here for the evening?  Also, Elyria, you might want to repeat what that charming little creature said to you in Sylvan to the village elder to see if he knows what it might signify."

(Depending on the time of night, Aurelius might retire for the evening, or he might socialize and visit with his friends until the village settles down for the night.)

Flynt sits by the fire looking over the fox trinket in quiet contemplation. At some point during the first four hours of rest he gets this idea to drop it into the flame. He's startles a bit when the elemental appears but getting no warning from Betsy he simply watches at the fox trots off to the forest. It returns quickly carrying a couple dead branches in its jaws. It drops them onto the fire and then curls up next to it.

"The dragon, protecting its realm. I can understand that," the herbalist says. "If you must depart, then I...  could come and find you later!  Sure, I could do that."  This last she says mostly to herself. "And definitely, you can stay the night. And I'll get you some food. Just give me a moment to make sure a place is set up for you." 

(It is later in the evening. The herbalist offers you some food - leftovers really from an earlier meal - and it would be time to retire. Everyone can take a long rest.) 

Also, at this point everyone has reached Level 7!

"No, I'm fairly certain there is no more mystery to that message." Elyria responds to Aurelius with a quick smile and follows the herbalist, gratefully accepting the food she is offered. She will then try to rest, by herself, wearing the amulet, hoping that she will sense its purpose and its powers.

(If you want to identify or attune let me know and we can go back and resolve it.  You have all completed a long rest.) 

It is early the next morning and you are all preparing to go.  The herbalist is there with a few treats packed up for you to take as a breakfast on the road.  "How do I find you if I make some headway with these mushrooms?"  She seems determined to come find you in a week or so. 

Just then a small creature comes running towards the group - a small, brown squirrel.  "Yikes Elyria! Are those ears of yours getting pointy-er!?!  You are seriously going to poke my eye out!"  Once again, the voice is the familiar orc-tinged Common of Rahkeshi.  And the insult has a hint of playfulness to it. (Elyria - WIS save DC 10 or take 2 psychic damage)

Rataosk scurries up onto a table, looking directly at Elyria, speaking in Rahkeshi's voice. "You made it! I'm so happy! Some of my friends are coming to see you.  A little spirit insisted. Not sure he'll be much help.  And Yoë - if she can find you. Whatever you do, take care. Leilatha and her sisters are not what they seem!  It may be tricky to get to me. But I do so want to see you."  And with that the squirrel runs down from the table and disappears. 

The herbalist is stunned.  Finally she blurts out, "WHAT was that?"

Elyria is about to answer the herbalist as Ratatosk comes scurrying up to her.
Wis save: 13
She simply smiles at the cute joke of the squirrel, then overjoyed to hear the familiar voice of Rahkeshi again, a tear coming to her eye as the message ends. "And I want to see you." She whispers.

"Oh, that, a messenger from our teammate." Elyria says simply, quickly removing the tear, looking as the squirrel scurries away, having a sudden instinct to just follow Ratatosk back.
She then packs up her things and is ready to leave, travelling acoording to the plan made earlier.

(Elyria wore the amulet as she slept. She will try to find out more about it as she wakes up. Honestly not sure how the herbalist could find us. Any ideas?)

"That was our friend Rahkeshi... or at least her voice.  Apparently after all this time in captivity she's gone mad.  Although, come to think of it, she was a bit batty even before.

"Our destination lies in the mountains north of Sylmare's domain. The fortress of Leilatha.

"And do pardon me, but I've neglected to learn your name, which I'm sure is as lovely as you are. Thank you for breakfast, and thank you for helping us with the antidote. You are too kind.  Please accept these small tokens as a gesture of gratitude and affection.  "

Aurelius gives the magical Koi and Cube to the herbalist with a warm smile and a wink.  

Elyria glares angrily at the narcissistic half-man as he comments on Rahkeshi.

(Her player chuckled a bit though ;-)

The paladin smirks and pretends not to notice the elf's angry look.

Flynt wakes refreshed and ready to go. He gathers up the fox trinket and He bids his farewells along with the other two before following them.

(Elyria I know is heading back to Sylmare. Traveling across the grassland would get you there in 2 days.  But much of that would be in Lady Sylmare's land. You recall something about a river marking the border. To go that way, Elyria would mostly travel alone.

Backtracking the way you came would be 3 days to get to where you left Sylmare's realm.

Backtracking though you end up essentially where you'd want to go be to go from Sylamre to Leilatha.

And the herbalist really wants to join you later. But has no ideas on how to find you.   She'll stay, and recommends you come back to her if you need her help.) 

Elyria starts backtracking :-)

Survival if needed: 27
Aelric perception: 10

Aurelius will attempt to draw a rough map to the place where they will rendezvous with Elyria after she visits Sylmare, and give it to the herbalist with no name.  He will accompany the druid as far as he can without entering Sylmare's realm.   He will spend his free time hunting game and composing an epic ballad about his mighty deeds.