The party makes their way back through the fey forest. Fatigue is beginning to catch up with everyone; it's been a long time since most of you have slept. The wooden horse is heavy and cumbersome, as is the dollhouse.

You find the way to Wayward Pool twisted and frustratingly indirect. When you try to come within a thousand feet of the pool’s shoreline you find that any path you take through the forest leads you back to where you started. ...And then you remember the need for horns. 

Just as you look around to find makeshift headwear, you see a figure approaching through the brambles, swearing to himself, covered in mud and thorns. You recognize him as the old dwarf, Elkhorn, carrying Ben's spear and shield as if ready for imminent combat. He looks up and sees Titaani and Matilda. "Ah! I found you! The two boys are looking for you! Oh..."

He subsequently notices Ben and Horatio, as well as Ben's new gear. "And you found them! Excellent! And my sword and shield, too! Outstanding! Truly." He relaxes.

Ben:

”Elkhorn,” smiles Ben, “I thought we’d lost you.”  Ben trades the dwarf’s sword and shield for his own scavenged shield and spear.  

Holding his makeshift horn on his head, he adds, “Come on and join us at the wayward pool.  We could all use a good rest.”

Horatio looks over Ben's shoddy equipment and adds, "I know we cannot forage wood and do substantial crafting at Will's, and suspect the same will be true for the Unicorn's island. But, if you can just give a few uninterrupted days, I can at least fashion some basic armor and arms for us using wood and metal. I have the tools now, and only need the time and a place to do it in that won't cause anyone fuss. I really don't want to keep jumping into trouble without at least trying to better equip ourselves."

Matilda looks over her gilded armour and shiny new blade, " I think I'm ok but the others may well need it."

She dabbed the end of a stick in some treesap and stuck it to her forehead.

"I'm also ok," Titaani says, dismounting. "It'll definitely be nice to rest a while in the wayward pool." 

She smiles and casts disguise self to make herself look like a unicorn once again and enters the area.

“Horatio, if you’re taking orders, I could use help with my armor. Ya know, I wasn’t planning on going on an adventure like this. No rush though. I can make do for a bit.”

Pud turns and looks at Matilda with a curious expression. “Uh, what’s with that stick on your head?”

" Fashion."

" You should try it.", she said handing him a stick.

Pud snatches the stick from Matilda.  "...fashion, huh?" 

He pokes at the gooey blob of tree sap with the end of the gnarled crooked stick. He sniffs the sap and cracks a little smirk before gluing the stick to his forehead. "How's it look?"

Ben:

Taking pity on Pud, Ben looks over with a stick on his own forehead lashed into place and says, “Only unicorns or those who honor them in this way may approach the Wayward Pool.”

Pud looks at Matilda, scrunches his nose and sticks his tongue out at her. 

Squirt the Oilcan already has a spout protruding from what serves as its head, so it foregoes gluing any shrubbery to itself. It's been in a soaringly manic mood ever since watching Loomlurch go up in purple flames. "Are we going to burn this place, too?" it shouts.

The party now finds it is able to approach the small, misty lake directly. Forested crags line the shore on one side, and mossy rocks protrude from the shallows. Near the center of the lake is a rocky islet. Perched atop the islet’s highest point, you recall, is an iron bowl filled with coals. You can just make it out from here. Lighting it summoned Lamorna last time. 250' of fresh, still water separates the islet from the party at the moment.

The lake and shore are still, although plant and insect life are plentiful. A colorful school of fish glides beneath the surface of the still waters nearby.

Ben:

Setting down much of his equipment neatly, Ben says, “We need to light that bowl, but unless my curse has lifted, I will not be able to light a fire.  I do intend to go for a swim before resting, though—the water was fantastic last time!”

Ben gets into the water and swims around, enjoying its purity after the swampy mess he has been through these last long hours.

Pud let's his homunculus flutter about, exploring the surroundings while he takes in the beauty of this setting. He's in awe, but he quickly snaps out if it when he hears Ben mention his inability to light fires. He shuffles after Ben as he begins walking towards the water for a swim. Just as Ben dives in Pud calls out "Ben! You can't light fires either?..."  Pud was a hair too slow and couldn't catch him in time. "Dang it!"

Pud sits down next to Ben's gear and empties the contents of his pockets and leather satchel in a heaping mound next to Ben's orderly arrangement of gear. He sits there cross legged trying to pass the time. He cleans his tools and alchemist set. He consults his alchemical journal and then he begins separating various ingredients from his possibles pouch, doing his best to measure precise amounts into an empty glass vial.

------

Once Ben returns from his dip in the water, Pud will attempt to make small talk with him. He'll beat around the bush for a bit before getting to the point.

"Hey...uh...Ben. Earlier, did you say you can't light fires? Cuz neither can I! Back home I could light fires real good! I miss making fires. I prolly miss it more than I miss my leg!

If you don't mind me asking...what else did you lose when you got here?"

Ben:

”For me, I haven’t been able to light a fire ever since I visited the Witchlight carnival as a youth.  I dreamed of glorious adventure before that day, but for some reason after I left the carnival I lost that ambition and settled down to become a stonemason”, replies Ben.

Now dripping wet but considerably cleaner, Ben moves over to the bound rocking horse and rests his hand on it, hoping Lamorna has the key to restoring her mate.

Pud stands up, raises his raggedy pant legs and points at his knobby knees. What might have been hard to notice before, is now clear as day. Pud's left knee is 3 or 4 inches lower than his right! "See that?! That's what I lost! I can't make fire aaaand I got a wonky leg! See that? Someone or something stole parta my leg!" Pud shuffles around in circles demonstrating his odd walking gait. "Ya see that? I used to run like the wind and climb trees like a squirrel. And...and...now I walk with a gimp and fall outta trees"

Pud turns and begins gathering up his stuff.

"Ya know. I kinda lost all hope that I'd ever find the rest of my leg. But now that I'm with you guys and seeing Horatio find what he lost...I kinda got some hope again. Maybe we all can find what we lost. I hope so. Anyway, sorry for rambling on. I'm gonna go take a nap." 

Titaani drops her illusion and stretches out on the shore net to Pud. "A nap? That's not a bad idea...you know, I can't light fires either," she yawns. "Not the normal way, anyway...I have to take the round about, arcane route...some would even call it cheating..." 

The little gnome's mumbles turn into soft snoring as she falls asleep, tired out from the day's adventures. Tiny sits protectively beside her, keeping an eye out for any danger. 

Perception: 10

As the group approach the water once more, Horatio becomes quiet and reflective. But, as Ben and Pud talk about what was lost, he snaps out of his malaise a little. "No worries folks, I can get the fire." 

(( Survival 4 )(

Struggling a bit, he looks to the others, "Uh, maybe if someone blows on the kindling wood?" (( Requesting Help ))

Quote from VosBeyond >>

As the group approach the water once more, Horatio becomes quiet and reflective. But, as Ben and Pud talk about what was lost, he snaps out of his malaise a little. "No worries folks, I can get the fire." 

(( Survival 4 )(

Struggling a bit, he looks to the others, "Uh, maybe if someone blows on the kindling wood?" (( Requesting Help ))

Matilda assists with kindling.

Help Action.

Elkhorn and Will talk quietly for a bit as Ben takes a dip. The water is invigorating, and he can feel his fatigue draining away after a minute in the water. Rizzo flits around in perfect circles, as does Squirt in chaotic loops. Tiny keeps an eye out for danger, but sees nothing but the tranquil dancing of fireflies over the water.

Ben, Matilda, Pud, and Titaani all have fire-starting handicaps (at least the normal sorts of fires), but Horatio normally does not. Here, however, on the shores of the Wayward Pool, even with Matilda's help, he cannot seem to get a blaze going. Each time he lights one, it is immediately extinguished.

All remains calm and peaceful.

(Question - how long would we have to rest before we can take the benefits of a long rest? Titaani could use the spell slots)