Boko tries not to be useless at the tower but she mostly is. She perks up at the Goat, eating a large amount of food, but the conversation flows past her, with talk of council members and treachery and smugglers and enemies and past deeds of which she knows nothing. She is left with a vague comfort that any new enemies this group had before she joined would not stick out on the pile they’d already collected. She does in fact sleep as a direwolf for a couple hours and then as herself. She wakes up much more as herself.
She peers at the map, having some trouble understanding it but trying to fit what she knows of the dreadwood. Anything at all. And especially areas that have no flora. She also looks at the group intently. “Did someone say Ferrin Catilar last night?”
When he wakes up, a bit disoriented until he realizes he's on the floor of Kei's room, and sees the sun higher than expected he has a moment of hope that Gerrard has called the whole expedition off. Then he has a moment of panic thinking that Gerrard might just have gone alone. He rushes down to the common room half-dressed and finds it bustling. When he hears all that Lankus has arranged overnight he's impressed, but when he hears Lankus's intention to go with them he's speechless. Well, he had seemed somewhat capable in the fight with the gnolls, but what they were going up against was a whole different kind of thing. Can't make others' choices for 'em; he must have good reasons. He helps himself to a heap of food.
"Did someone say Ferrin Catilar last night?"
"Yeah, he's this crazy old druid lives over on the edge of the marsh. Might have only one oar in the water, but he seems to know more about the things livin' in the Dreadwood than anyone else I can think of."
Unusually quiet during the late night meal Kei continues to run his new jewellery round and round on his finger. When he finally retires for the evening he slips into unconsciousness quicker than Peri could eat a plate of biscuits with gravy.
The sound of his temporary room mate falling over himself in a rush rouses the bard from his slumber. "What in the nine hells are you....." It then dawns on him - they were headed to see Bela. He jumps out of bed and rifles through his clothing looking for his best outfit. He descends the stairs to the common room shortly after Peri. To the unknowing he would appear as a regal trader or a noble from a far away land. Those that knew him would see he had actually brushed his hair and had donned an ensemble more befitting a courtly ball than a trek through the woods.
>(Roughly where is the ogre cave on the map above?) (It was between Saltmarsh and Burle, on the highlands near the river that connects them. Far from the Dreadwood.)
No word has been received from the possé that intended to travel last night - it's not even known who went, if anyone.
Is everyone going to visit Ferrin, next? (Peri and Qivys have visited him once before.)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Gerrard:
Speaking quietly to Boko during breakfast, Gerrard says, “We know that Master Kei seemed to try and facilitate the vampire’s escape last night—I had assumed he was temporarily affected by some kind of magic to make him do that. However, he still seems rather enamored with the child-killing creature and keeps playing with that ring he got from it. Do you think he might still be under Bela’s control?”
”Yes, let’s go to visit the druid Ferrin—unless you know where Bela’s castle is, Master Kei,” says Gerrard, showing him the map.
Insight on Kei’s behavior: 19
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Qivys will try to get up a bit early, but at a time he suspects folks will start milling about, and head as fast as he can to the dwarven area. Once there he will do his best to locate and purchase another Holy Symbol before the trip. Once found he will return to the group. Upon his return he will say:
"I had ta go find somethin' fer the trip. Now that I'm back what are we ta do with tha bard? Is he goin' along an' if so, what do we do when he starts sidin' with the blood sucker again?" Qivys asks, in front of everyone.
Trust a dwarf to just say what we've all been tiptoein' around. "Somethin's wrong with him, for sure. He's gree-- uh, motivated by treasure -- but not so much he'd side with a corpse over his friends. The very friends who saved his nephew, made him rich, and pulled his chestnuts off the fire several times." He hopes reminding the bard who his real friends are will shake the spell. Standing up and heading for his -- or rather Kei's -- room, he says, "You might try gettin' that promise ring off his finger. He's been moonin' over 'Bela' ever since he got it. Meantime, I'm going to get dressed, gather my things, and pay a quick visit to Kester to see if she has anything that might be useful for our caper. You may wanna shake down Xondros too, see what comes loose. I'll only be a minute, then I'll catch up on the way to the Daffy Druid's hole."
He rushes upstairs, dresses, and packs up quickly. Then he dashes down to Kester's on an errand.
Feigning offence Kei grabs at his chest as Peri slings the jibe at him. "Corpse? Blood sucker? Sure, Bela was a bit pale, but he's no blood sucker. How do you explain his injury and his inability to escape the dungeon if he was a vampire? Hmm." He asks earnestly of Peri and Qivys. Without waiting for a response he continues. "Sure, his party sounded a little strange, but look around you. The people of Saltmarsh eat the darnedest things - you don't see me calling them werewolves or some other creature do you?" He kicks at the ground like a spoiled child on the cusp of a tantrum.
It's only with Peri's parting words about shaking down Xondros that his mood lightens. "I'm up for rattling that cage" he smirks at the thought.
For a few coppers, Qivys is able to acquire a makeshift holy symbol in town that functions mechanically, but it's no replacement for his lost amulet.
Peri disappears to Kester's for a bit. (Will PM.)
Finally, the party regathers to tromp off through the snow along the old road on the east side of the river to the Sea Grove of Obad-Hai – the druid Ferrin's "shrine". It is nestled in a sizable grove of mature but stunted oak trees stunted. In a clearing in the center, a massive, oblong, lichen-covered boulder lay half-buried in the dead leaves. Under it is Ferrin's cave-like hole. It takes a bit of calling and searching before you find the thin, aged halfling and his massive bullfrog. He looks semi-conscious, half-buried in the snow, staring vacantly at the treetops.
Qivys shakes his head. "He's a VAMPIRE ya idiot!" he exclaims to Kei. "There weren't no injury! He has ya enthralled like them ghosts ya keep callin' on fer yer magics."
Qivy pauses for a moment then says. "An' if'n ya move against anyone else within our group again, on behalf of that blood sucker, I'll lop yer head off so ya won't have ta worry about anythin' anymore."
Getting to the druid's Qivy looks the halfling over before approaching. "Is he hibernatin' like some swamp frog?" he asks.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Gerrard:
Quietly again to Boko, Gerrard says, "I think Master Kei may be under some kind of charm effect from the Vampire. Can you tell? Or perhaps dispel it?"
Later, at the grove...
"Greetings, devotee of Obad-Hai. We come urgently seeking information to help us rescue two innocent Saltmarsh children who have been kidnapped by the vampire Bela. We have reason to believe he has taken them to the edges of the Dreadwood, perhaps at the ancestral castle of the Death Mage Xolec. All we have heard so far is that the vampire's demesne is a bane to living things, including plants, in the surrounding area. Can you help us?"
Persuasion: 7
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
He answers Dwal quietly,"No, that's just what he does, far as I can tell. Remember, he was just layin' in the dirt with that big frog last time we visited. Weirdo, but he knows some things we don't." He steps forward and addresses the aforementioned weirdo. "Remember me? We brought you some of Lankus's -- this is him, Lankus, by the way -- we brought a firkin of his ale. You told us somethin' about an evil creature bein' defeated by a cleric of St Cuthbert. I'm thinkin' maybe he wasn't all the way beat."
((Qivys and Peri visited Ferrin way back in post # 1177, if you want a refresher. He only briefly mentioned the Cove, and it wasn't really relevant at the time.))
Boko things at Gerrard’s query. Would she know if she has a chance at removing a charm effect? Happy to roll something or feel free to roll for me…
Later, at the grove, Boko does a circuit of the boulder as the others talk. Her eyes rove around, revealing little, but the observant will see a bit of sympathy wrapped in disappointment and a tint of revulsion. Snowdrops and crocuses bloom in her wake.
She returns to the main group by the hole after the first queries land, and she sits down on her heels by the fallen druid. Her hand reaches out to the bullfrog and gives some gentle familiar scritches under its chin. She speaks a few words in druidic in a low tone. She brings a hand around behind Ferrin’s head and helps him sit up straighter, and a warm dry breeze flows in and out of his burrow, flushing out the musty air. (The flowers and breeze are druidcraft.)
”Ferrin, it is me, Boko. It has been some time. You should clear your mind. This is important. Can you take us to this place? It has no flora nearby. You must know it. I do enjoy working with you.”
Dwal's Qivys' [🤪] words seem to pass casually through Kei's mind. Completely ignoring the threat about the future location of his head he simply replies "No he's not. He's just a misunderstood nobleman. Similar I guess to our young leige here" he strikes a thumb towards Gerrard. "I'm sure if you get to know him like I do you all will become great friends."
Seeing the incoherent druid laying in the snow he turns to Peri. "Is he drunk or perhaps stuffed a strange weed in his pipe?" Then looking Ferrin squarely in the eyes "Care to share? It's been a rough couple of days you see."
Peri is surprised to hear Boko already knows Ferrin, and might have worked with him in the past? Seeing the tender way in which she treats the old Hin, he recalls his previous descriptons as being... ungenerous. Rude is what it was, he thinks. Unkind and disrespectful Ma would say. And she'd give you The Look, and you'd know you deserved it. Aye, a lesson from Cyrollallee to be more humble and kind, and I thank Her for makin' it more gentle than one from any other of Yondalla's Children. "We could get a fire goin' for him, maybe make some tea to get him warm," he offers sheepishly.
Ferrin winces. He looks sickly and pale. He is covered in a coarse blanket, which in turn is covered in an inch of drifted snow. He half shakes it off, lazily, then winces again as Boko touches his head.
"Got anything to eat?" he asks, slurring slightly.
"Xolec," he spits and shakes his head. Then he begins to cough. "History lessons and fairy tales."
"Don't know much about vampires, though. Granny supposedly keeps three vampire consorts. They fight for her favor. You really don't want to Castle Spiral, though." He shakes his head and laughs, then coughs.
"The elves might know where. Follow the river. Running water will keep you safe from any vampires, and it'll take you right to the elves."
(Meanwhile, Boko may make an Arcana check to see what she knows of removing charms.)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Boko: Arcana check to see what she knows of removing charms:14 History check on "Granny" of the Dreadwood: 12 History check on the wood elves who patrol the Dreadwood: 12
Boko knows that there is a relatively simple spell for Clerics known as "Calm Emotions" that might do the trick.
She also heard plenty of children's tales about Granny Nightshade, the ancient hag who is said to dwell in the deepest depths of the Dreadwood. She commands magic as well as a mighty wizard does and has struck bargains with several dukes of the Nine Hells. Her twisted fortress, Castle Spiral, stands at the nexus point between the Shadowfell and Oerth, and from its gates emerge skeletons, zombies, shadows, and other horrors to threaten the land. Jackalweres are her foremost minions. At least that's the story she was given as a child.
As to the wood elves, she knows nothing.
"Got any snacks for Lorys?" asks Ferrin, looking at his oversized bullfrog. Lorys stares back blankly.
"Usually the aberrations come out of the Dreadwood, and we stop 'em. You guys are the first to want to chase one into it." He shakes his head and chuckles. "Be careful!"
Qivys sits there in silence, listening to the druid. He looks to his axe then back again as Ferrin describes the creature and her minions.
He looks at the rest of the party, the pampered halfling, the dark hearted bard, the unsuspecting druid and the noble-hearted but unwise noble's son and shakes his head. "Babes" he thinks to himself. "All of them haven't see 60 winters let alone 100. An' they're thinkin' of facin' off with a mad creature that vampires, jackleweres and tha very 9 hells ally with." "If'n we're ta do this, we need more than what we got on us." Qivys speaks up. "A couple silver daggers ain't gonna help against tha undead, let alone tha rest." Qivys pauses then shakes his head and says. "I can't believe I'm sayin' this but we need ta talk ta them wood elves an' see if'n they can provide anythin' ta help with this task. If'n yer still wantin' to do this?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Boko tries not to be useless at the tower but she mostly is. She perks up at the Goat, eating a large amount of food, but the conversation flows past her, with talk of council members and treachery and smugglers and enemies and past deeds of which she knows nothing. She is left with a vague comfort that any new enemies this group had before she joined would not stick out on the pile they’d already collected. She does in fact sleep as a direwolf for a couple hours and then as herself. She wakes up much more as herself.
She peers at the map, having some trouble understanding it but trying to fit what she knows of the dreadwood. Anything at all. And especially areas that have no flora. She also looks at the group intently. “Did someone say Ferrin Catilar last night?”
Peri:
When he wakes up, a bit disoriented until he realizes he's on the floor of Kei's room, and sees the sun higher than expected he has a moment of hope that Gerrard has called the whole expedition off. Then he has a moment of panic thinking that Gerrard might just have gone alone. He rushes down to the common room half-dressed and finds it bustling. When he hears all that Lankus has arranged overnight he's impressed, but when he hears Lankus's intention to go with them he's speechless. Well, he had seemed somewhat capable in the fight with the gnolls, but what they were going up against was a whole different kind of thing. Can't make others' choices for 'em; he must have good reasons. He helps himself to a heap of food.
"Yeah, he's this crazy old druid lives over on the edge of the marsh. Might have only one oar in the water, but he seems to know more about the things livin' in the Dreadwood than anyone else I can think of."
Kei
Unusually quiet during the late night meal Kei continues to run his new jewellery round and round on his finger. When he finally retires for the evening he slips into unconsciousness quicker than Peri could eat a plate of biscuits with gravy.
The sound of his temporary room mate falling over himself in a rush rouses the bard from his slumber. "What in the nine hells are you....." It then dawns on him - they were headed to see Bela. He jumps out of bed and rifles through his clothing looking for his best outfit. He descends the stairs to the common room shortly after Peri. To the unknowing he would appear as a regal trader or a noble from a far away land. Those that knew him would see he had actually brushed his hair and had donned an ensemble more befitting a courtly ball than a trek through the woods.
>(Roughly where is the ogre cave on the map above?)
(It was between Saltmarsh and Burle, on the highlands near the river that connects them. Far from the Dreadwood.)
No word has been received from the possé that intended to travel last night - it's not even known who went, if anyone.
Is everyone going to visit Ferrin, next? (Peri and Qivys have visited him once before.)
Gerrard:
Speaking quietly to Boko during breakfast, Gerrard says, “We know that Master Kei seemed to try and facilitate the vampire’s escape last night—I had assumed he was temporarily affected by some kind of magic to make him do that. However, he still seems rather enamored with the child-killing creature and keeps playing with that ring he got from it. Do you think he might still be under Bela’s control?”
”Yes, let’s go to visit the druid Ferrin—unless you know where Bela’s castle is, Master Kei,” says Gerrard, showing him the map.
Insight on Kei’s behavior: 19
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Kei
"How would I know? We only just met" he dismisses Gerrard's comment. "When do we leave?" he says anxiously.
Qivys will try to get up a bit early, but at a time he suspects folks will start milling about, and head as fast as he can to the dwarven area. Once there he will do his best to locate and purchase another Holy Symbol before the trip. Once found he will return to the group.
Upon his return he will say:
"I had ta go find somethin' fer the trip. Now that I'm back what are we ta do with tha bard? Is he goin' along an' if so, what do we do when he starts sidin' with the blood sucker again?" Qivys asks, in front of everyone.
Peri:
Trust a dwarf to just say what we've all been tiptoein' around. "Somethin's wrong with him, for sure. He's gree-- uh, motivated by treasure -- but not so much he'd side with a corpse over his friends. The very friends who saved his nephew, made him rich, and pulled his chestnuts off the fire several times." He hopes reminding the bard who his real friends are will shake the spell. Standing up and heading for his -- or rather Kei's -- room, he says, "You might try gettin' that promise ring off his finger. He's been moonin' over 'Bela' ever since he got it. Meantime, I'm going to get dressed, gather my things, and pay a quick visit to Kester to see if she has anything that might be useful for our caper. You may wanna shake down Xondros too, see what comes loose. I'll only be a minute, then I'll catch up on the way to the Daffy Druid's hole."
He rushes upstairs, dresses, and packs up quickly. Then he dashes down to Kester's on an errand.
Kei
Feigning offence Kei grabs at his chest as Peri slings the jibe at him. "Corpse? Blood sucker? Sure, Bela was a bit pale, but he's no blood sucker. How do you explain his injury and his inability to escape the dungeon if he was a vampire? Hmm." He asks earnestly of Peri and Qivys. Without waiting for a response he continues. "Sure, his party sounded a little strange, but look around you. The people of Saltmarsh eat the darnedest things - you don't see me calling them werewolves or some other creature do you?" He kicks at the ground like a spoiled child on the cusp of a tantrum.
It's only with Peri's parting words about shaking down Xondros that his mood lightens. "I'm up for rattling that cage" he smirks at the thought.
For a few coppers, Qivys is able to acquire a makeshift holy symbol in town that functions mechanically, but it's no replacement for his lost amulet.
Peri disappears to Kester's for a bit. (Will PM.)
Finally, the party regathers to tromp off through the snow along the old road on the east side of the river to the Sea Grove of Obad-Hai – the druid Ferrin's "shrine". It is nestled in a sizable grove of mature but stunted oak trees stunted. In a clearing in the center, a massive, oblong, lichen-covered boulder lay half-buried in the dead leaves. Under it is Ferrin's cave-like hole. It takes a bit of calling and searching before you find the thin, aged halfling and his massive bullfrog. He looks semi-conscious, half-buried in the snow, staring vacantly at the treetops.
"Whatdoyouwant?" he slurs.
Qivys shakes his head.
"He's a VAMPIRE ya idiot!" he exclaims to Kei. "There weren't no injury! He has ya enthralled like them ghosts ya keep callin' on fer yer magics."
Qivy pauses for a moment then says. "An' if'n ya move against anyone else within our group again, on behalf of that blood sucker, I'll lop yer head off so ya won't have ta worry about anythin' anymore."
Getting to the druid's Qivy looks the halfling over before approaching.
"Is he hibernatin' like some swamp frog?" he asks.
Gerrard:
Quietly again to Boko, Gerrard says, "I think Master Kei may be under some kind of charm effect from the Vampire. Can you tell? Or perhaps dispel it?"
Later, at the grove...
"Greetings, devotee of Obad-Hai. We come urgently seeking information to help us rescue two innocent Saltmarsh children who have been kidnapped by the vampire Bela. We have reason to believe he has taken them to the edges of the Dreadwood, perhaps at the ancestral castle of the Death Mage Xolec. All we have heard so far is that the vampire's demesne is a bane to living things, including plants, in the surrounding area. Can you help us?"
Persuasion: 7
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Peri:
"Is he hibernatin' like some swamp frog?"
He answers Dwal quietly,"No, that's just what he does, far as I can tell. Remember, he was just layin' in the dirt with that big frog last time we visited. Weirdo, but he knows some things we don't." He steps forward and addresses the aforementioned weirdo. "Remember me? We brought you some of Lankus's -- this is him, Lankus, by the way -- we brought a firkin of his ale. You told us somethin' about an evil creature bein' defeated by a cleric of St Cuthbert. I'm thinkin' maybe he wasn't all the way beat."
((Qivys and Peri visited Ferrin way back in post # 1177, if you want a refresher. He only briefly mentioned the Cove, and it wasn't really relevant at the time.))
Boko things at Gerrard’s query. Would she know if she has a chance at removing a charm effect? Happy to roll something or feel free to roll for me…
Later, at the grove, Boko does a circuit of the boulder as the others talk. Her eyes rove around, revealing little, but the observant will see a bit of sympathy wrapped in disappointment and a tint of revulsion. Snowdrops and crocuses bloom in her wake.
She returns to the main group by the hole after the first queries land, and she sits down on her heels by the fallen druid. Her hand reaches out to the bullfrog and gives some gentle familiar scritches under its chin. She speaks a few words in druidic in a low tone. She brings a hand around behind Ferrin’s head and helps him sit up straighter, and a warm dry breeze flows in and out of his burrow, flushing out the musty air. (The flowers and breeze are druidcraft.)
”Ferrin, it is me, Boko. It has been some time. You should clear your mind. This is important. Can you take us to this place? It has no flora nearby. You must know it. I do enjoy working with you.”
Kei
Dwal'sQivys' [🤪] words seem to pass casually through Kei's mind. Completely ignoring the threat about the future location of his head he simply replies "No he's not. He's just a misunderstood nobleman. Similar I guess to our young leige here" he strikes a thumb towards Gerrard. "I'm sure if you get to know him like I do you all will become great friends."Seeing the incoherent druid laying in the snow he turns to Peri. "Is he drunk or perhaps stuffed a strange weed in his pipe?" Then looking Ferrin squarely in the eyes "Care to share? It's been a rough couple of days you see."
Peri:
Peri is surprised to hear Boko already knows Ferrin, and might have worked with him in the past? Seeing the tender way in which she treats the old Hin, he recalls his previous descriptons as being... ungenerous. Rude is what it was, he thinks. Unkind and disrespectful Ma would say. And she'd give you The Look, and you'd know you deserved it. Aye, a lesson from Cyrollallee to be more humble and kind, and I thank Her for makin' it more gentle than one from any other of Yondalla's Children. "We could get a fire goin' for him, maybe make some tea to get him warm," he offers sheepishly.
Ferrin winces. He looks sickly and pale. He is covered in a coarse blanket, which in turn is covered in an inch of drifted snow. He half shakes it off, lazily, then winces again as Boko touches his head.
"Got anything to eat?" he asks, slurring slightly.
"Xolec," he spits and shakes his head. Then he begins to cough. "History lessons and fairy tales."
"Don't know much about vampires, though. Granny supposedly keeps three vampire consorts. They fight for her favor. You really don't want to Castle Spiral, though." He shakes his head and laughs, then coughs.
"The elves might know where. Follow the river. Running water will keep you safe from any vampires, and it'll take you right to the elves."
(Meanwhile, Boko may make an Arcana check to see what she knows of removing charms.)
Boko: Arcana check to see what she knows of removing charms: 14
History check on "Granny" of the Dreadwood: 12
History check on the wood elves who patrol the Dreadwood: 12
Boko knows that there is a relatively simple spell for Clerics known as "Calm Emotions" that might do the trick.
She also heard plenty of children's tales about Granny Nightshade, the ancient hag who is said to dwell in the deepest depths of the Dreadwood. She commands magic as well as a mighty wizard does and has struck bargains with several dukes of the Nine Hells. Her twisted fortress, Castle Spiral, stands at the nexus point between the Shadowfell and Oerth, and from its gates emerge skeletons, zombies, shadows, and other horrors to threaten the land. Jackalweres are her foremost minions. At least that's the story she was given as a child.
As to the wood elves, she knows nothing.
"Got any snacks for Lorys?" asks Ferrin, looking at his oversized bullfrog. Lorys stares back blankly.
"Usually the aberrations come out of the Dreadwood, and we stop 'em. You guys are the first to want to chase one into it." He shakes his head and chuckles. "Be careful!"
Qivys sits there in silence, listening to the druid. He looks to his axe then back again as Ferrin describes the creature and her minions.
He looks at the rest of the party, the pampered halfling, the dark hearted bard, the unsuspecting druid and the noble-hearted but unwise noble's son and shakes his head.
"Babes" he thinks to himself. "All of them haven't see 60 winters let alone 100. An' they're thinkin' of facin' off with a mad creature that vampires, jackleweres and tha very 9 hells ally with."
"If'n we're ta do this, we need more than what we got on us." Qivys speaks up. "A couple silver daggers ain't gonna help against tha undead, let alone tha rest."
Qivys pauses then shakes his head and says.
"I can't believe I'm sayin' this but we need ta talk ta them wood elves an' see if'n they can provide anythin' ta help with this task. If'n yer still wantin' to do this?"