"Elenara, it appears we are making camp in your den. It seems that we are so used to sleeping anywhere that we forget to ask if we should be sleeping somewhere. Hopefully these arrangements are suitable for you? They certainly are for us." Hond smiles warmly, a twinkle in his eye, as he prepares to bed down for the night.
Elenara shakes her head. “Do not worry yourself on that account.” She says, throwing you each a frayed but warm blanket. “Unfortunately, I have business to attend to. The bullywugs must be informed of the recent proceedings. I will return ere morning.”
Gathering her cloak about her shoulders, she departs the warm cottage and is swallowed up by the night.
"Well, Morton, you said you didn't know what we could do that would be more exciting than getting that dragon to finally fall asleep. This might just be it! To think, if those cats had been able to control their curiosity we might never have found this. Just another sign that the gods led us here for a reason. Rest up everyone, we've got a lot of glory ahead of us." Hond tucks under his blanket and falls asleep.
You awake the next morning to the sound of a kettle bubbling away in the fireplace. Sunlight spills into the cottage through the open windows, and the air is fresh and clean.
”Good morning.” Elenara says, removing the pot, full of oatmeal, from the fire. She ladles the oatmeal into four bowls and hands one to each of you. “I hope you slept well.”
"I did, ma'am, thank you." Hond says, prodding the others awake and laying into the oatmeal. "Always important to get a good meal in before setting off to battle evil!"
The little tabaxi wakes, stretching, and thanks Elenara for sheltering them for the night. He'd take a warm fire and a nice wood floor over any bed; it wasn't as soft, but it had the timeless and familiar comfort of an old friend's embrace. Rubbing one eye and yawning, Hymnal takes his place at the table.
"Hymnal does not think we will see many bright mornings after this," he takes up the bowl with both hands, toasting with it. "Best we enjoy it, hey?" That said, he tips the bowl to his lips and begins drinking the oatmeal, putting the bowl down to swallow and repeating as needed.
Hymnal makes quick work of the oatmeal, wolfing it down in record time--a habit born of necessity three or four years ago. He wipes the residual oatmeal from the fur around his lips. "Elenara, Hymnal is curious--how did you come by this book?"
Elenara runs her hand down the cover of the moldering tome.
”I was young, once, as difficult as that may be to imagine, and a devoted cleric of Lathander. One day, as I was venturing through this very forest, I came upon a cottage. In it lived an old woman, and death was at her door. With her dying breath she told me the story I related to you last night. She claimed to be the daughter of the fallen prince, and the last survivor of Avalon. She said that in the final seconds before the kingdom was ripped from our plane and flung into a realm of madness, her father, the prince, managed to create a gateway between this realm and The Pumpkin King’s. He contained the gateway in this book, gave it to her, and cast a spell of such power that the reality-shattering event could not touch her. All of this she told me, and even as she breathed her last she entrusted me with the book and the terrible knowledge of that day, forgotten by all but myself and the wise bullywugs. And here you find me.”
She smiles sadly. “I often think of the life I might have lived had I never stumbled upon this cottage. But Lathander’s will be done.”
"My lady," Hond says, putting his spoon in his empty bowl, "that is a tale full of sorrow and regret. I understand that you are not as young as you were then, but you still have life and joy left in your years. We will go to this... realm of madness. We will free the prince and dethrone the Pumpkin King. We will release you from this service, or die in the attempt. I swear it on all that is joyful and bright in the world."
Damn shrugs "I've died many times and every time Lord Bhaal returns me to this plane to continue his work...so I will miss Hond's humor when he doesn't return."
Hond fishes a stray oat from his empty bowl and flicks it at Damn. "Aww, you'd miss me, you old softy. Put those claws away and let me rub your belly." Grinning at Hymnal, "I would miss your songs, but you know that. And Morton," Hond says, twinkle in his eye, "You're basically my only shot at ever seeing anyone toss a troll!" Hond laughs, "No, we'll all come back. We'll do this deed and free Elonara from her burden and all be the happier for it. Now that we've eaten, what do you all say we get to it? No time like now."
The young tabaxi grins. "Hymnal is ready for anything we face!" His grin falters."Except mean barkeeps. Hymnal decided long ago he doesn't like it when cooking spoons are forcefully acquainted with his tailside."
"Elenara, it appears we are making camp in your den. It seems that we are so used to sleeping anywhere that we forget to ask if we should be sleeping somewhere. Hopefully these arrangements are suitable for you? They certainly are for us." Hond smiles warmly, a twinkle in his eye, as he prepares to bed down for the night.
Elenara shakes her head. “Do not worry yourself on that account.” She says, throwing you each a frayed but warm blanket. “Unfortunately, I have business to attend to. The bullywugs must be informed of the recent proceedings. I will return ere morning.”
Gathering her cloak about her shoulders, she departs the warm cottage and is swallowed up by the night.
"Well, Morton, you said you didn't know what we could do that would be more exciting than getting that dragon to finally fall asleep. This might just be it! To think, if those cats had been able to control their curiosity we might never have found this. Just another sign that the gods led us here for a reason. Rest up everyone, we've got a lot of glory ahead of us." Hond tucks under his blanket and falls asleep.
Damn takes his rapier out and pokes at the cat until he can shoo it out the door after Elenara.
"Damn things freak me out...."
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
One of Hymnal's tasseled, overlarge ears twitches once, then he shifts around and sleepily says:
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."
You awake the next morning to the sound of a kettle bubbling away in the fireplace. Sunlight spills into the cottage through the open windows, and the air is fresh and clean.
”Good morning.” Elenara says, removing the pot, full of oatmeal, from the fire. She ladles the oatmeal into four bowls and hands one to each of you. “I hope you slept well.”
"I did, ma'am, thank you." Hond says, prodding the others awake and laying into the oatmeal. "Always important to get a good meal in before setting off to battle evil!"
Damn accepts the warm oatmeal with a nod and digs in beside Hond.
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 little tabaxi wakes, stretching, and thanks Elenara for sheltering them for the night. He'd take a warm fire and a nice wood floor over any bed; it wasn't as soft, but it had the timeless and familiar comfort of an old friend's embrace. Rubbing one eye and yawning, Hymnal takes his place at the table.
"Hymnal does not think we will see many bright mornings after this," he takes up the bowl with both hands, toasting with it. "Best we enjoy it, hey?" That said, he tips the bowl to his lips and begins drinking the oatmeal, putting the bowl down to swallow and repeating as needed.
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."
Morton sits back and scoops up the oatmeal as it warms his stomach
Hymnal makes quick work of the oatmeal, wolfing it down in record time--a habit born of necessity three or four years ago. He wipes the residual oatmeal from the fur around his lips. "Elenara, Hymnal is curious--how did you come by this book?"
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."
Elenara runs her hand down the cover of the moldering tome.
”I was young, once, as difficult as that may be to imagine, and a devoted cleric of Lathander. One day, as I was venturing through this very forest, I came upon a cottage. In it lived an old woman, and death was at her door. With her dying breath she told me the story I related to you last night. She claimed to be the daughter of the fallen prince, and the last survivor of Avalon. She said that in the final seconds before the kingdom was ripped from our plane and flung into a realm of madness, her father, the prince, managed to create a gateway between this realm and The Pumpkin King’s. He contained the gateway in this book, gave it to her, and cast a spell of such power that the reality-shattering event could not touch her. All of this she told me, and even as she breathed her last she entrusted me with the book and the terrible knowledge of that day, forgotten by all but myself and the wise bullywugs. And here you find me.”
She smiles sadly. “I often think of the life I might have lived had I never stumbled upon this cottage. But Lathander’s will be done.”
"My lady," Hond says, putting his spoon in his empty bowl, "that is a tale full of sorrow and regret. I understand that you are not as young as you were then, but you still have life and joy left in your years. We will go to this... realm of madness. We will free the prince and dethrone the Pumpkin King. We will release you from this service, or die in the attempt. I swear it on all that is joyful and bright in the world."
Damn looks at Hond and under his breath mutters "YOU may die.....Hehe"
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
"Scandals, Damn, that isn't a very team-oriented sentiment. We talked about this, 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."
Damn shrugs "I've died many times and every time Lord Bhaal returns me to this plane to continue his work...so I will miss Hond's humor when he doesn't return."
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
Hymnal's features turn pensive, then he finally says: "Better." Then, as an afterthought, "Would you miss Hymnal?"
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 fishes a stray oat from his empty bowl and flicks it at Damn. "Aww, you'd miss me, you old softy. Put those claws away and let me rub your belly." Grinning at Hymnal, "I would miss your songs, but you know that. And Morton," Hond says, twinkle in his eye, "You're basically my only shot at ever seeing anyone toss a troll!" Hond laughs, "No, we'll all come back. We'll do this deed and free Elonara from her burden and all be the happier for it. Now that we've eaten, what do you all say we get to it? No time like now."
Morton nods as he is ready to go
The young tabaxi grins. "Hymnal is ready for anything we face!" His grin falters. "Except mean barkeeps. Hymnal decided long ago he doesn't like it when cooking spoons are forcefully acquainted with his tailside."
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."