Valrieth reaches out and touches the "tree" as she passes him, saying, "Thank you, Yalendril. May your roots grow deep and your branches reach high into the wide blue sky, and may the passing days bring you no storm or trouble that you cannot weather."

Valrieth follows Gan-Re up the trail, careful not to stray from the path. She looks around with interest for other creatures or activity or signs of the resident's interest (gardens, possessions, etc.)

perception: 8 (in game log)

It is idyllic setting where the foul swamp seems far away. It is peaceful with a few fairies flitting among the trees. There are even a few rainbow feathered birds roosting in the trees. For once you not walking in mud. You wonder if this was what Prismeer was like before the Bavlorna came.

Eventually the party crosses the bridge and arrive at the cave entrance shaped like a keyhole. Worn stone steps lead down into what feels like a cellar. It’s chilly in here, and you detect a subtle scent of iron in the air. From a distant spot within the chamber, sputtering candles illuminate a multitude of keys dangling from taut strings that crisscross the walls. Hundreds of other keys lie strewn across the dirt floor. As you take in the scene, you hear the sound of keys jingling as a goblin emerges from the dimness. She wears a coat lined with metal keys and carries a flail that has padlocks for heads. She manages a faint smile and says, “How might Jingle Jangle unlock a bit of happiness in your lives today?”

“Good day Jingle Jangle, what a pleasant greeting. It is so nice to meet someone whose first instinct is to offer to help others. If only everyone was focused on spreading happiness. Can I also compliment you on embracing a theme, why wear just one key when you can wear lots of them. My name is Gan-Re and these are my companions, the mighty Val and the ingenious Finley.” Gan-Re gives one of the little bows that he is so fond of when meeting new people. “We are also on a quest to help someone and increase the happiness in the world and having recently rescued Sir Talavar, they mentioned this would be a good place to come for rest and supplies.”  

Finley is distracted a bit by the atmosphere, but nods at Jingle Jangle after a moment. "Pleased ta meet ye, Lady Jingle Jangle."

"Yes Telemy Hill is safe place for rest the trees protect us. Follow Jingle Jangle and you may rest." says Jingle Jangle.

She leads the party deeper into her den where there are rugs on the floor and keys everywhere. She sits down on the carpet. You hear a growl come from her stomach.

Gan-Re looks grateful and says “Thank you for your hospitality good lady, it has been an eventful day. Please allow me to share this magic fruit, created by my good friend Val, as a small token of our gratitude. It is truly magical and very filling”

"Thank ye for yer hospitality. Have ye heard any interestin' news from beyond these hills? As Gan-Re has said we've had a helluva day in th' swamp so far." Finley says as he carefully sits down on the ground as well.

Jingle Jangle eats the berry and is surprised how filling it is. "If only Jingle Jangle can grow berries like these then Jingle Jangle would never need to leave Telemy Hill. Jingle Jangle have heard no news since Jingle Jangle was attacked and robbed by brigands. " 

She clutches her padlock flail a little tighter just thinking about those brigands.

Quote from Weathervision >>

Jingle Jangle eats the berry and is surprised how filling it is. "If only Jingle Jangle can grow berries like these then Jingle Jangle would never need to leave Telemy Hill. Jingle Jangle have heard no news since Jingle Jangle was attacked and robbed by brigands. " 

She clutches her padlock flail a little tighter just thinking about those brigands.

Valrieth replies, "I'm sorry to say that the enchantment in these berries only lasts 1 day, and it may not be possible to teach you this kind of magic.  But if we could rest here tonight, I could give you another such berry tomorrow.  Is there any fresh water here?  The water in the swamp seems foul.

"I'm sorry to hear that you were robbed by brigands!  Were they harengon by any chance?  We met a small band of them in the swamp this morning, led by a harengon named Jebbek.  But they were only stealing memories.  Who attacked you, and what did they take?"

Once Jingle Jangle has a chance to respond, the talk of bringands and robbery reminds Val of something.  If Jingle Jangle does not mention the name herself, Val pulls her notebook out of her backpack, saying: "The harengon brigands that we met were singing about a 'brigand prince of Prismeer'."  She flips through the pages, finally finding the right one.  "Yes.  Agdon Longscarf, the brigand prince of Prismeer.  Do you know who or what that is?"

“Jingle Jangle was digging for truffles in the swamp when a bunch of harengons leapt out from behind the reeds and shrubbery. They took Jingle Jangle’s truffles, threw Jingle Jangle down in the mud, and whacked Jingle Jangle with their wooden clubs. Yes their leader is Agdon Longscarf a Harengon. All of them are just thieves and thugs. There home is Brigands’ Tollway is a series of old wooden catwalks that circle a giant tree stump. The brigands camp atop the stump because it gives them the advantage of high ground.”

From outside atop the hill you can see the giant tree stump far off in the distance northwest of you current locations. Downfall is too faraway to see it.

Jingle Jangle then says "Yes there is some fresh water, but not much" She then goes into a back room and brings out a clay pitcher filled with water. "Please drink some"

Gan-Re stands up at this news and his wings flare out a bit "This shall not stand. I had thought these ruffians were bad news, but to beat an old lady to the ground and steal her food! They are cowards as well as cads of the worst sort. Well they will soon find that a mere tree stump will not provide the high ground where I am concerned and won't stop me from supplying a well deserved thrashing." He takes a breath and then says "Although it would be useful if you had any weapons, shields or arrows that you could spare. As we are a bit low in that department."

Jingle Jangle shakes her head "I made this flail out of padlocks. I don't have any other weapons. Jingle Jangle hopes you can deal with those thieving brigands" She then looks over the party "Are you new to Hither and if you are why are you here?"

"Aye, we are. Our friend is in danger which is why we've come." Finley says, unsure if he should reveal too much. "If ye all are in danger too, we can help with th' bandits at th' Tollway. Although we do need supplies of some kind, is there anywhere here that we can resupply?

"At Downfall you can find the supplies you seek or perhaps there will be supplies with the brigands. Jingle Jangle can only offer a place for rest" says Jingle Jangle

"Hmm, aye." Finley looks at the others again, "Ah'd like ta take care of yer bandit problem, but have ye heard of Zybilna?"

"Yes everyone knows Zybilna, but she has been silent for long time. About Downfall beware of Bavlorna Blightstraw. She is not to be trusted. You see Jingle Jangle was always afraid of being stuck behind a locked door. So Jingle Jangle went to Bavlorna and she did this to me. She gave me a complete obsession with keys. Now I collect them not out of joy, but out of an urge that is out of my control. Do not trust Bavlorna especially when it comes with bargains." says Jingle Jangle.

"An obsession, how awful. Is there anyway we can help? Although the keys do look good on you."

"Perhaps if Bavlorna is gone, but Jingle Jangle is not sure" says Jingle Jangle

(OOC: catching up...)

Valrieth listens to the conversation with interest. 

The idea of just the three of them attacking the brigands' home base alarms her, and she makes soothing gestures to Gan-Re when he gets his feathers in a ruffle about them.

Val takes out her pen and inkwell to start taking notes.  As she can work her questions into the conversation (above), she asks: 

"Do you know how many brigands Agdon Longscarf has at the Brigands' Tollway?  We'll see what we can do, but it will be just the three of us against who knows how many brigands!"   

"Bavlorna sounds tricky and untrustworthy.  Do you know whether there's anything that we could use as leverage against her?  Some item that she values?  Or some objective that she needs someone to accomplish for her?"

"Sir Talavar said that the hags tricked Zybilna and trapped in her palace, frozen in time.  That's why no one has heard from her.  Do you know anything about Zybilna's palace?  Is it here in Hither?"

"We've heard that this swamp floods without warning, but we've never seen it happen.  I guess you're safe from the flooding up here on Telemy Hill, but do you know how deep the water gets?  For example, if the swamp flooded, would I be entirely underwater?  Would Gan-Re?"  Val is trying to figure out whether they should expect few inches of water across the swamp, a few feet of water, or dozens of feet of water.