(OOC: How about every pitch in 40 GP? 20 goes to the party fund (100 total), and the rest goes for a 100 GP pearl needed for Hildigrim to cast Identify.

I think Quillary and Jorin wanted to contribute 15 more... Pascal purchased a 50 GP diamond for a spell, so could use some relief as well.

How about they help Pascal with that purchase? Drusk will also pitch in 15, so Pascal gets +45 GP.

Summary: Quillary, Jorin, and Drusk pay 55 GP. Hildigrim pays 40 GP, and gets a 100 GP pearl. Pascal gets 5 GP back (assuming he already deducted the cost of the 50 GP diamond). The party fund goes up by 100 GP.)

OOC > This sounds good.

Good with Jorin!

Works for me!

(To quote Jean-Luc Picard, "Make it so!" Remember, I am a player in the campaign, so I can't modify your character inventories.)

The party meets with Captain Tybie at noon. It has only been a few hours since you gave the report, but the guards around the building are already whispering "heroes of Dynnegall" when they see you. Apparently gossip travels faster than magic...  Tybie informs you that she has a contract ready. The assignment is to end the curse of the Howling Disease. If you run across the Black Bloods, there may be too many to handle, so it is okay just to gather information about their home base. (Killing them is acceptable, but not required.) The reward would be 80 GP, plus a bonus reward if the job goes well.

"I can't help you with this Tarthwood place or Llyneth person. Don't know much about granola-type matters." (Looks at Quillary. "No offense meant.") "I suggest you visit Brython. His goat farm is at the edge of town. He is a druid of the Earthmother, and says he is the "steward" of nature for this area. He should know more... Good luck with your assignment."

"I am a meat eater," Quillary responds, baring her teeth in a low growl.

Tybie: "Don't know much about meat-eating granola-types either." (She is not trying to anger Quillary, she just doesn't know how to deal with druids.)

OoC for Jorin: This is my suggestion for Jorin's common magic item. If this works for you, make the inventory changes. If you'd like to make story changes, either minor or major, post suggestions. (Everyone can look in the following. It is not a spoiler, just a lot of text that I don't want to clog the forum.)

As the party is leaving the building, behind them they hear a shriek from Tybie. Without turning around to see what happened, Quillary wonders out loud how that rat got into her office. Quillary gives a mischievous smirk, mumbles something about "granola", and straightens out that hat she bought that morning.

(OoC: Quillary adds Hat of Vermin to her inventory. Mark off a used charge.)

 OoC - ok, that hat is amazing lol

Jorin was happy to find Dwarven smiths and even happier to pass on some of the knowledge gained at Mithril Hall. He is surprisingly at ease with leaving his one of his axes behind,  as he trusts Dwarven smiths completely.

After taking a few swings with the moonblade, he cannot help but remark on its its quality and balance, though he definitely shares a few elf jokes with the Dwarves.

He is more than happy, eager even, to come back and aid with the forging process.  "It's been too long since I've rung hammer on anvil." He tells them.  Ok his way back to meet up with the group, he'll stop in at the nearest tavern and have a quarter barrel of ale sent to his new found Dwarven friends.

Quote from Guiltysparc >>

After taking a few swings with the moonblade, he cannot help but remark on its its quality and balance, though he definitely shares a few elf jokes with the Dwarves.

It is one dwarf. The apprentice is an elf.

After Jorin makes a few jokes, the dwarf joins in. The elf starts crying and pouting that you guys are being mean... This is like a comedy roast. The elf will get over it, soon enough. Especially by the second mug of ale that Jorin bought.

OOC: Thanks, everyone, for helping fund my pearl purchase.

Hildigrim thanks Captain Tybie for the opportunity before asking for directions to Brython's goat farm and suggesting the party gets a move on. On their way, the halfling jabbers on about his purchases and acquisition of Volo the owl. "Ever since meeting Mrs. Brinarei — she was a tiefling prestidigitator we acquainted the beginning of this month during an expedition to a tavern said to offer a mysterious wine called sah-kay," he says to Quillary, "I've had this lingering question concerning the arcane and the knowledge surrounding it. I've read many books on the subject, but it always felt out of reach for a simple halfling such as myself. But when I uncovered that spellbook in my room at the Dynnegall inn, it just seemed like perhaps it was fated." He kicks up his heels. "Now, I'm not planning to start coughing up fireballs like our scaly friend," he smiles at Pascal, "but a little mending, a little light, a little magic detection ... I think these could come in handy from time to time." He reaches a hand up to ruffle Volo's feathers as the creature sways a little on Hildi's shoulder. "And this one here. He'll be great for scouting." He looks up at Pascal again. "Is that a new necklace?"

On the way to the druid farm, Quillary will listen to what Hildi says with half her brain. Her new hat is perched on her head, its tail coiled behind her, and her silver and black locks spilling out the front. The cat skull is still perched on the front of her head, though it remains unclear just how. The other half of her brain is teasing at the mission, and the nature of half-things. Sometimes the hat seems to wriggle on its own.

OOC > Here is a pic of the hat I imagine she got.

(These are not spoilers. Just role-playing text that can be closed or opened at your convenience.)

To finish things off, the arcane focus that Hildigrim purchased turned out to be a Wand of Conducting, and Drusk has a Wand of Smiles.

Pascal should add Heward's Handy Spice Pouch to his inventory.

Quote from DirtyDogP >>

OOC: Thanks, everyone, for helping fund my pearl purchase.

He looks up at Pascal again. "Is that a new necklace?"

 Pascal gestures extravagantly to his necklace, “That it is! I ain’t one for jewelry, but I figured that we oughta look the part if we gonna be successful restauranteurs!”

He also raises his spice pouch, “Plus I won this handy little item in a contest. Spice never really bothered me all that much after I turned red. Turns out, ain’t nothin’ spicier than Fire Giant heart.” He fans his mouth at the memory, “Still got burns.”

The party finds the farm at the edge of town. You find Brython behind his cottage, caring for some goats. He is a young human with a long mustache, and dressed in forest green vestments. You notice that the goats here all seem to be injured or sick.

Brython looks up from his goats and shrinks back, nervous at your group. He stutters while saying, "Y-y-you are the he-heros of Dyn-n-negall !"

(Curious that he would know that...) "F-fanny said he sh-shouldn't talk so much, that they'd g-get in even m-more trouble. B-black B-bart s-said it was a s-s-secret, what ha-happened there, then k-kept talking and talking."

"Wh-what b-brings you all h-h-here?"

Pascal leans down to Hildigrim and whispers, “You catch a word o’ that? Some people got the weirdest accents, no?”

"I gha-rawn-tee!" Hildigrim replies in a spot-on imitation of the red lizardfolk's accent. He looks at the human. "Brython, we presume? Captain Tybie suggested we visit. We need some navigation assistance."

(confused) "N-n-navigation? I have a chariot, b-but why w-would you n-need me to g-guide you?"

Jorin looks the young man in the eye and, paying no attention to his stutter, says, "Hail Brython, Druid of the Earthmother.  I am Jorin, of the Bodt.  This is Hildigrim, Pascal, Quillary, and Drusk.  We were told you are the steward of nature for this area, and we are investigating a very unnatural ritual.  We thought your knowledge may be of aid to us." 

Jorin explains the ritual, or attemps to (hmm, religion check for that? 12), and a brief recounting of the run-ins with the werewolves and skulks.

Quote from Guiltysparc >>

Jorin looks the young man in the eye and, paying no attention to his stutter, says, "Hail Brython, Druid of the Earthmother.  I am Jorin, of the Bodt.  This is Hildigrim, Pascal, Quillary, and Drusk.  We were told you are the steward of nature for this area, and we are investigating a very unnatural ritual.  We thought your knowledge may be of aid to us." 

Jorin explains the ritual, or attemps to (hmm, religion check for that? 4), and a brief recounting of the run-ins with the werewolves and skulks.

(OoC: Yeah, I'm going to cut back on Brython's dialogue, as it is a pain to type. He continues stuttering, but less as he calms down and gets used to new people being around.)

Brython listens to the information. He confirms what your group had already researched (post 1744 - link ), but is able to add the additional details:

• The "Eye in the Mist" is a moonwell, a font of power for the Earthmother, a primal nature spirit. They are almost unheard of, outside of the Moonsea Isles. Each moonwell can be found in a grove tended by a druid (in this case Llyneth), who has access to the powers of the moonwell and can influence the forest.
• Tarthwood, also known as the "Veiled Forest", is the site of the Eye in the Mist. The closest edge of Tarthwood is 10 miles from your current location.
• He knows the location of Tarthwood, but is terrified at the idea of going there, due to the Black Bloods. "You sh-sh-should be careful in Tarthwood. W-w-wolves hunt on two legs there."

Beyond that, you would have to talk to Llyneth, the great and senior druid for the region. Brython is concerned for her, as she usually sends him notes every week or so (via animal messenger), and he has not heard from her this past month.