Session 2: The Road to Gug-Oeja Report
General Summary
The night has gone by uneventfully, though upon awakening and leaving your rooms, you would find Naomi awake, and talking to Akari, handing her a bone, the reading finished. Akari turns to the party, and hands over a small bag to Ayame.
"This includes the documents you will need to get into Gug-Oeja. If you need anything in town, now is the time to get it."
"I tend to travel light, but i guess we'll at least have to make sure to have enough food for the trip" says Ragia.
Akari nods to the kobold, "I would normally agree, as Ayame has not learned how to summon her own food, but this one here," she motions to Naomi, "Mentioned that she can do so on her own."
Ayame scratches the back of her head at Akari's words.
"Oh right, i forgot that."says Ragia. "Well as long as she keep some magic juice for each day."
Eleanor sits down and rubs her chin, "What kind of shops do you have here?"
"We don't have much. A bar for sailers coming and going, an odds and ends store, but some of the citizens might have something." Akari replies.
Naomi pipes up,"I should probably mention now that the food I can make is extremely bland. So if you plan on depending on me for food, a container of salt is necessary."
Eleanor stands up, "I'm fine with buying some rations and huntin for the rest!"
"W-wait!!"Naomi says, rubbing the back of her neck in guilt. "I-I wanted to hold this for myself, but I have a magical item that creates rations enough for one person a day. The food isn't bland like the food I can make, so I suppose we can circle out who gets to eat it daily..."
Eleanor leans down to examine the item and shrugs, "I'll just buy whatever thing doesn't rot too fast in town."
"That is very kind of you." says Ayame.
Naomi holds up the bland looking leather pouch, reaching in and pulling out a piece of dried meat. "Hmm...Yesterday it was some nondescript bread. Jerky is nice."
Akari nudges Ayame, "No need to be polite about it, you are the next in line and we need to make sure you eat somewhat well on your journey." She claps her hands and a shrine maiden comes forward with a basket, upon opening it, revealing a weeks worth of dried fish ready to eat.
Ayame grins happily at this, her tail swishing slowly. "Thank you!" she says, taking the basket and nodding respectfully to the shrine maiden.
Akari pats Ayame's head. "Its the least we can offer, and hope for your safe return with the blade."
Ayame nods "I promise I will be back"
Eleanor examines the basket, "How long do you think the travel is gonna be miss.." she looks to Akari and tries to bring up a name "... shrine lady"
"It's only four days to the river, which will get you the rest of the way in one day on a boat."
Naomi holds in a sigh as she hears four days...Quietly mumbling, "Should've brought marching shoes... I am...Not looking forward to all the walking, but this is what I signed myself up for. I'm ready whenever the rest of you all are."
"Ayame, you know the way?" Eleanor says, moving towards the exit already.
Naomi holds her stave close to her body as she looks wildly between the already moving Eleanor who has no idea where we're going, and Ayame who should know. "W-who do I follow.."
"Ah...I have never been that far but yes, I know the way" says Ayame.
"Good!" Eleanor chuckles, "I was just thinking we could go forward until we hit a coast again and move from there if you didn't"
Ayame grins and nods...slowly turning towards the shrine and taking it all in "W-Well...uhm... I suppose I'll see you later teacher"
Naomi politely nods at Akari and any others in the shrine as she moves to stand next to Ayame, deciding her best bet is to just stay next to her.
Akari bows to the party, as does the attending shrine maiden, holding that pose out of respect, Ayame knows it as a blessing of safe travels.
Ragia resets her backpack, careful not to let her wings slip out in the open, ready for the long way, before awkwardly bowing back, unsure about the meaning behind it.
Ayame smiles and nods, giving a light bow back before turning away and begining on her journey.
It is a full day an a half of a journey that the party travels along the forest line. On the second morning, the party notes that a misty fog had spread nearly 300 feet out of the tree line before receding back into the treeline come dawn. There is this ominous feeling near the trees as they pass by it, and even picking up camp. Though there is no way to prove it, even on the best of days, it feels like the forest itself watches the party.
It is mid morning by the time Ayame leads the party to the border of Wanhua, a very militaristic society with the largest population throughout Kurado, Ayame would tell the party. This would be the most dangerous part of their trip, as the patrols were known for being fairly defensive of their borders. Today, entering the kingdom seems like no issue, as there are no guards at the station this early in the morning, or the patrol may be running late.
"This forest look quite enchanted, and not in the good way. Are there fey protecting it ?" says Ragia to Ayame.
Ayame shrugs "I do not know...but it might be for the best that we stick to the trees, just in case a patrol comes by"
Eleanor yawns a bit due to the early morning and stretches while conversing, "Lucky us, no patrols need to die today" she says with a light chuckle, then turning her head to Ragia.
"Fey?"
"Ah..." says Ayame "Actually I just remembered....it is cursed by undead that wander the forest. Perhaps the patrols would be the more favorable risk"
Eleanor gasps, "Oooh!! Seriously??"
Naomi is visibly tired -- it's not like the walking is too much for her or anything...but quite honestly these are the first few nights of her life she's spent away from home and family. "Goodness...What do they ha--" she cuts herself off hearing this topic of conversation."Cursed by the unliving, you said? Do you...Do you have any further information?"
Eleanor's eyes sparkle, "I've not fought any undead before!! I think."
She looks to Ayame about her comment about the patrols "if we get caught by guards they can communicate to each other if one gets away and that'd be a huge fuss"
Ragia, twiddling her fingers together pipes up, "i'm not big on undead myself, they can't take a joke. plus a forest is kind of the worst place for me to use my skills in"
"Ah...Legend has it that the woods were not always this way. Instead, it was the hunger of ravenous spirits that take children from their homes, and they get lost in the fog. Those children grow up to become flesh eating monsters, warped by the very fog itself." says Ayame. "This entire country is very close to the spiritual realm, spirits can enter the world easily here"
"i'm guessing your dad wasn't particularly fond of these spirits ?" says Ragia.
Ayame shakes her head, "I uhm...I don't know, I don't really know him."
Naomi grips her stave tightly upon hearing this... *"Do you think it's possible the next town over would like assistance? I'm not a particularly adept Cleric yet, so I can only destroy very weak undead...But still! As a Cleric of Rhamnasia, I can't allow such a travesty to occur..."
Eleanore ponders on Ayame's new info dump and hums.. very very suddenly pulling out a greataxe from seemingly nowhere, "So what you're telling me if that these are children that've been twisted and imprisoned into monsters?" she says, looking to Ayame quite seriously.
"Ah....Yes they are" I say looking at the two "Ive been into the forest before, although not in this area specifically...It is rather dangerous"
Ragia sees the suddenly appearing greataxe from Eleanor and jumps back, startled.
Ayame just notices this and blinks, jumping back "Ah...you are all rather intent on this are you?"
"W-well...I'll be quite honest. I'm scared. Very scared. I'd very much like to get to the next town. But if we can help, I'd like to." says Naomi.
Ragia looks to everyone, gaging their excitement,"not all of us, but i guess half the group"
Eleanor sees Ragia's reaction and lets out a sigh, "It might be a waste of energy, something about that just..." pauses and looks down to her slightly ornate axe, gripping it a little, "bothers me."
"We can continue onwards, I DID promise to protect Ayame." Pipes up the Cleric.
Eleanor groans, "we should follow the plan to get out of here"
"Right, Eleanor." says Naomi, "I'll just have to return here at some point in the future..."
"It won't be easy to return, and I would rather you have your mind focused on the path ahead, rather then this forest behind." Ayame warns Naomi.
Eleanor holsters the axe on her back and moves ahead of the group, "It's not the right time to do this." she looks back to the group, "Not sure about all your backgrounds but I'd feel guilty pulling you three into needless battles."
"Very well...lets go" Ayame says, moving down the road with the others.
Ragia sighs, "As much as I like wandering into adventure, I'd rather not do it in a place where the authorities do not welcome us"
The party approaches nightfall through the second day of travel along the road, still not seeing other passengers, but the occasional farmer working their field alongside the road. It is just before nightfall that the party come upon a small ramshackle building, with a sign hanging above it, written in Sylvan, and a light hanging just beside the door.
"Does anyone know what these scribbles mean ?" says Ragia.
Eleanor squints at the sign, "Someone has terrible handwriting."
"Does uh...Anyone speak...whatever THIS is?" says Naomi. "Wait a moment, I got this." she says before approaching the sign, and standing beneath it. "U-uhmn... Miss Eleanor, could I ask a favor of you? I could translate that sign for us using magic -- issue is, I need to be able to touch it... Could you lift me up?" she says as she tries to jump up and touch it, not even getting close with her miniature hop.
Eleanor moves over and lifts up Naomi, who casts a spell and touches the sign. It reads "A Travelers Weary Respite."
"O-Oh! It's an inn, it seems. Called 'A Traveler's Weary Respite. How quaint." says Naomi "M-Miss Eleanor, you can put me down now, if you would kindly."
Eleanor brings Naomi back down to the earth, "do we even need to stop at an inn?"
"Hmm...Strange that it would be written in that language, but I suppose we could" says Ayame.
"I'm fond of campfires and... less people but if you all wanna stay the night.. I won't refuse joining." says Eleanor.
"Thanks for the lift, Eleanor. And, considering we've only seen farmers and no other travelers, I doubt we'll be in much company." Naomi says to her companion.
Ayame decides to take action and make her way into the Inn.
Upon entering the building, Ayame sees that there is not much going on at all. There is a bartender, a sickly looking gnome that coughs into a handkerchief before using it to wipe down a wooden mug. There is a light musty smell in the bar, set with only three tables. One of which is in the back corner, with a few armored soldiers sitting, drinking and complaining about the swill. In the back, you can see a set of four doors, two opposite from the door, and three lining the wall next to the bar.
There are six soldiers, one of which is wearing chainmail, the others wearing Banded mail. All of them have shields, and assorted weapons.
"Ah..." Ayame pauses seeing him do that to the handkerchief before moving to sit down.
Ragia notices the soldiers, and steps back out of the bar. "Ill just stay with my rations outside for the night, y'all have fun in there!"
Eleanor walks in and looks around, pulling up her hood, and grabbing Ayame, "Is there something here I should know about that's worth those folks spotting us?"
"A-Ah...actually, probably not" Ayame says, taking a step back out.
"U-uh, what's wrong you three? You look as if you've spotted a ghost." Naomi says as the three immediatly exit the inn.
Eleanor chuckles, "Foxy over here rushed in to an inn filled with guards. Lets get moving and make camp deeper into the forest"
Naomi thinks for a moment,"Hn...Sounds good. I have no issue with authority, but I definitely do not want to be accosted for no reason."
"Yeah murdering patrol duty guards was not in my plans for today." Says Eleanor.
"Considering we're here illegally, it's best not to try out luck." Agrees Ragia.
The party agrees to delve a few yards into the throngs of the forest, at it might be the safer option than the guards within the tavern. The party is very quickly set upon by fog not even twenty feet into the woods. the fog is thick, the air cold, and slightly damp. But the trees are flush with life as they pass barely into the treeline.
Eleanor is kinda always taken aback by the plantlife around here, just kinda giddy and moving forward, "Yknow despite all the undead monstrosities around here, quite a nice place. Cold and a lil damp like back home but full of pretty plantlife."
Ragia just noticed they went into the woods. "Not to be a downer but did we just went from the hammer to the anvil ?"
"We should be fine as long as we don't go any deeper" Ayame says almost confidently,"...I think."
Naomi nods, "R-right. Once we set up a camp, I'll summon Rufus to have a sniff around for anything dangerous."
Ayame nods "Good idea...uhm... I just realized...I didn't bring a tent"
"Neither did I, but I brought a bedroll. You can uh...share it with me if you want..." Naomi offers.
Ayame shakes her head "I did bring one of those! but thanks."
Naomi looks at Eleanor, who's basically staring off into the distance, "W-what about you, Eleanor?"
Eleanor hums, "Was gonna sleep on the ground, grass is pretty soft."
Ragia sets up her small tent before crawling inside it.
"A-are you sure? It's rather cold tonight." Naomi prods.
Eleanor pulls up her arms to show her kinda thick traveler outfit, "and I'm pretty cozy usually unless its snowin"
"I see..."
Eleanor tilts her head, "do you have a better alternative? I was thinking about diggin up a fire pit and sleeping next to it."
"I have a winter blanket you could get under?" Naomi sighs and mumbles, "Mom was right about me being underprepared..."
Eleanor looks Naomi up and down, "And for yourself?"
"I-I brought a bedroll!!" she says exasperatedly,"I'm not that dumb!!"
Eleanor giggles, "Okay okay, I'll take you up your offer hun" she puts out her hand to accept the blanket.
Naomi struggles for a moment to yank the blanket out of her pack having packed her stuff in a little too efficiently. it finally comes out, and she stumbles for a moment before handing the blanket over to Eleanor.
Eleanor nods, "thank you kindly!~"
"W-well, I have some tindertwigs, so if you set up a fire pit with some kindling, I could easily start us up a fire." offers Naomi.
Eleanor hums, "No we should just sleep, those guards are too close"
"A-ah, yeah you're right...Sorry." says Naomi.
Ayame pulls out her bedroll and crawls into it. "Well...goodnight!" Says, before going to sleep.
Naomi pulls her bedroll up close to the small tent Ragia set up, before tucking herself in, and going to sleep.
The party all wakes up to the sound of softly playing music. Not just any music however, but the soft voice from a woman somewhere in the woods around you. They know that the night is about midway through, though it is pitch black throughout the forest.
"W-what the... Someone make them shut up..." she mumbles, half asleep.
Slowly waking up however she realizes that the music music sounds eerily similar to what her mother would sing to put her to sleep.
Eleanor pops right up awake and takes a look around, at the same as as Ragia pokes their head out of their tent, also taking a look. Both of them notice the same thing at once. Ayame is missing.
"O-oh fudge! I know what this is!" says Naomi, "It's Fey magic! We have to find Ayame!"
Eleanor stands straight up, looking to the group, "What?? I literally know nothing about fey but okay!"
Ragia scrambles up out of their tent, "Do you think I have time to pack my tent ?"
Eleanor shrugs, "Dunno how dangerous fey are or how long Ayame's been gone."
Naomi slams her staff into the ground, casting Detection. Arround her, she feels a swarm of necromantic energy, permiating the fog itself.
Eleanor, figuring out where the source of the music is coming from, marches towards it, with Naomi in tow, as Ragia finishes packing up their tent.
The party walks for a few yards, the source of the song getting louder, but never quite within reach.
Ragia is suddenly slammed into a tree, a great force of wind permiating the air around them, swirling up into a great mist, where Eleanor manages to spot the source of their misery.
About 30 feet above the ground, Eleanor sees a woman, earilly familiar that you can't quite place, who is riding a broomstick, twirling a familiar pipe and giving a cackle. Her cackle is deathly quiet, like the rest of the forest. Her clothing looks similar to Ayame's but distorted, and her hair is nothing but a black swimming void of darkness. Her face does not exist, but is instead a ceramic mask with six jagged teeth.
Eleanor squints with her hand over her eyes to try to see better despite it being night, "...Ayame?" she shouts out, not really thinking about if this isn't Ayame that she'd be outing herself to a monster.
The figure points down to the ground beneath Eleanor using the pipe, still deathly silent as vines start to grow out and try to entangle Eleanor and Naomi Dai'Gishkin 's legs.
Eleanor avoids the entanglement, but Naomi is fully grasped by vines. Eleanor however, vanishes, only her greataxe staying in place.
Ragia, suddenly overwhelmed by a bitter cold, reaches into their mind and pulls out a spell of flame, which before Naomi's eyes, turns them into a pile of ash, which is blown away by the wind.
The figure turns to Naomi, the quiet silence from before suddenly giving a soft, childlike giggle, which slowly but surly turns into manic laughter as her legs and arms become entwined by vines. The figure finishes her flight, and lands upon the ground, broom in hand.
"Leave this place child..."she whispers before Naomi is awoken by Eleanor, shaking her awake vigorously.
Naomi stares in stunned silence for a moment. "...We're not staying here anymore."
Ragia rubs their head, having been woken up by Ayame only moments before. "what was that all about ?"
Eleanor sighs with relief and stands back up, "hands down the... maybe like 10th worst type of dream I've ever had." she looks to Ayame, "any explanation?"
"What did you guys see?" replies Ayame.
"A magic caster." says the cleric.
"A witchy sorceress that kinda looked like you to be honest." corrects the kobold.
Eleanor points to Ayame, "someone who looked fairly closely related to you was there in mine. Dunno about anyone else's"
"I think the fog did something, I didn't see anything"
"A mask of ceramic with six jagged teeth, none of that familiar?" asks Eleanor
Thinking back on her studies, Ayame is reminded that the mask is the important part of this imagery. This tells her that though this creature may have been called fey at one point, it is not. She wasn't sure of the exact type, but she does know that it is a sort of dream spirit, specifically a Noxa, or what locals prefer to call it... An Oni.
"Yes it does, it sounds like an Oni...a spirit that invades the dreams of others...you are right, we should keep moving" Says Ayame, nervous.
Eleanore sighs and folds up the blanket Naomi passed her and hands it back, "Suppose sleeping in the curse fog was maybe not a great idea"
The party manages to gather their stuff quickly, and even through the fog, Eleanor manages to lead them out of the woods without issue, back onto the main road. The light from the inn is now long since extinguished.
Ragia whispers loud enough for the party to hear. "time to find an inconspicuous bush to hide and spend the night in, or we could use the cover of the night to get far away from the patrols sleeping at the inn."
Eleanor things for a long few moments. "we slept a bit, I'd like to see if we can find somewhere safer to sleep further ahead."
Ayame nods, "Good idea" she says, setting off down the road.
As the party just barely starts off down the road, they do happen to hear but a few moments of the rattle of scale mail just out of sight within the the forest, but as quickly as it appears, it disappears.
There is not much of a place to sleep for the night, but the party slowly trots their way along through night without finding a safe place to camp.
The morning light is bright and shining, and the party still feels fairly competent in their abilities at this point, but the closest they have finally come is a crossroads, with a road sign pointing in three directions, all of it written in Sylvan. It points to the north, the west and the east.
Ragia grumbles. "Why is everything in this land in sylvian if even the natives can't read it?"
"Hmmm...I don't suppose you could use your magic to read it again?" Ayame asks Naomi. Naomi nods, casting her spell and reading out the signs.
She reads the signs in order of direction, North: Sylvan for Capital. West: A Traveler's Weary Respite, 1/2 days journey, East: Barge to Renshang 1 1/2 days.
The party decides to head east, continuing on their journey.
Only a half hour later, they finally manage to find a place to rest for a while if they so desire. Ayame knows that they are still within Wanhua until they get on the river, but from this new location, they can finally get a clear sight of the mountains. Absolutely massive, even from the journeys that Naomi went on with her mother to the dwarven kingdom from time to time, these mountains absolutely dwarf the home of the namesake. Even from this distance, it towers into the sky with grand peaks and dizzying heights, with snow tipped peaks over every bit of the mountainside that the party can see.
"I think...I think we should rest here...we should be safe" Ayame says tiredly.
Eleanor looks around, "I suppose.. no guards around" she squints towards any forested area nearby, "dunno about the fog.."She raises her hands up in the air in celebration, "Alright! Nap time!"
Ayame rubs her eyes slightly."Lets take turns sleeping"
Eleanor pouts, "Responsible nap time.... Fiinnne, okay I'll stick up for the first round"
Ragia sets up her tent again, feeling like this is way to many tent setups to be doing.
Ayame curls up under her sleeping bag and naps.
Eleanor sits on the ground and sighs, "man I'm going to be bored. You two better sleep fast"
Naomi tilts her head, "You two? So I'm staying up with you then?"
"uh.. I dunno, Ayame seems to have voted for herself to sleep first at least" She points to Ragia, "and she's got her tent up.. sorry if I assumed."
"No, that's fine...I'll stay up with you."
Eleanor pats the ground next to her, "Come on down to the watch seats then!" she says with a chuckle.
Naomi shyly sits next to the human that had no qualms with murder, honestly a lil' scared.
Eleanor hums, "It'll be a few hours if not double!" she thinks, "might be a good time for rations and gossip. That's what.. people do right?"
Its nearly mid-afternoon when everyone has gotten a full rest, food was made. and camp was being picked up. Its nearly late afternoon with a few hours of sunlight left as the party starts to pack away the site and get ready to head out.
As they get ready to head out, Eleanor hears it first. Marching, and by the sound of it, about 6 people marching that she can hear just over the hills down the road, echoing off of the trees and empty roadways.
Eleanor keeps her voice down, "Girls, guards incoming very soon!"
Naomi starts to panic, "S-should we hide on the side of the road???"
"We better find some place to book it and hide for sure unless you three are apt to fight" Says Eleanor looking for a place to hide.
Ragia takes the initiative and leaps into a bush, trying her best to hide her scales.
"Bush it is!" Eleanor grabs Naomi's hand and brings her towards the line of brush Ragia's hiding in. Ayame closly following behind and also jumping into the bushes.
The soldiers come into earshot of the party after a few more moments, chanting a song in Sylvan before noticing the old campsite. Needing a place to stop for now, they group up, and start building tents along the roadside, and settling in. The party however, trapped, unsure on how to get out of this situation.
"This includes the documents you will need to get into Gug-Oeja. If you need anything in town, now is the time to get it."
"I tend to travel light, but i guess we'll at least have to make sure to have enough food for the trip" says Ragia.
Akari nods to the kobold, "I would normally agree, as Ayame has not learned how to summon her own food, but this one here," she motions to Naomi, "Mentioned that she can do so on her own."
Ayame scratches the back of her head at Akari's words.
"Oh right, i forgot that."says Ragia. "Well as long as she keep some magic juice for each day."
Eleanor sits down and rubs her chin, "What kind of shops do you have here?"
"We don't have much. A bar for sailers coming and going, an odds and ends store, but some of the citizens might have something." Akari replies.
Naomi pipes up,"I should probably mention now that the food I can make is extremely bland. So if you plan on depending on me for food, a container of salt is necessary."
Eleanor stands up, "I'm fine with buying some rations and huntin for the rest!"
"W-wait!!"Naomi says, rubbing the back of her neck in guilt. "I-I wanted to hold this for myself, but I have a magical item that creates rations enough for one person a day. The food isn't bland like the food I can make, so I suppose we can circle out who gets to eat it daily..."
Eleanor leans down to examine the item and shrugs, "I'll just buy whatever thing doesn't rot too fast in town."
"That is very kind of you." says Ayame.
Naomi holds up the bland looking leather pouch, reaching in and pulling out a piece of dried meat. "Hmm...Yesterday it was some nondescript bread. Jerky is nice."
Akari nudges Ayame, "No need to be polite about it, you are the next in line and we need to make sure you eat somewhat well on your journey." She claps her hands and a shrine maiden comes forward with a basket, upon opening it, revealing a weeks worth of dried fish ready to eat.
Ayame grins happily at this, her tail swishing slowly. "Thank you!" she says, taking the basket and nodding respectfully to the shrine maiden.
Akari pats Ayame's head. "Its the least we can offer, and hope for your safe return with the blade."
Ayame nods "I promise I will be back"
Eleanor examines the basket, "How long do you think the travel is gonna be miss.." she looks to Akari and tries to bring up a name "... shrine lady"
"It's only four days to the river, which will get you the rest of the way in one day on a boat."
Naomi holds in a sigh as she hears four days...Quietly mumbling, "Should've brought marching shoes... I am...Not looking forward to all the walking, but this is what I signed myself up for. I'm ready whenever the rest of you all are."
"Ayame, you know the way?" Eleanor says, moving towards the exit already.
Naomi holds her stave close to her body as she looks wildly between the already moving Eleanor who has no idea where we're going, and Ayame who should know. "W-who do I follow.."
"Ah...I have never been that far but yes, I know the way" says Ayame.
"Good!" Eleanor chuckles, "I was just thinking we could go forward until we hit a coast again and move from there if you didn't"
Ayame grins and nods...slowly turning towards the shrine and taking it all in "W-Well...uhm... I suppose I'll see you later teacher"
Naomi politely nods at Akari and any others in the shrine as she moves to stand next to Ayame, deciding her best bet is to just stay next to her.
Akari bows to the party, as does the attending shrine maiden, holding that pose out of respect, Ayame knows it as a blessing of safe travels.
Ragia resets her backpack, careful not to let her wings slip out in the open, ready for the long way, before awkwardly bowing back, unsure about the meaning behind it.
Ayame smiles and nods, giving a light bow back before turning away and begining on her journey.
It is a full day an a half of a journey that the party travels along the forest line. On the second morning, the party notes that a misty fog had spread nearly 300 feet out of the tree line before receding back into the treeline come dawn. There is this ominous feeling near the trees as they pass by it, and even picking up camp. Though there is no way to prove it, even on the best of days, it feels like the forest itself watches the party.
It is mid morning by the time Ayame leads the party to the border of Wanhua, a very militaristic society with the largest population throughout Kurado, Ayame would tell the party. This would be the most dangerous part of their trip, as the patrols were known for being fairly defensive of their borders. Today, entering the kingdom seems like no issue, as there are no guards at the station this early in the morning, or the patrol may be running late.
"This forest look quite enchanted, and not in the good way. Are there fey protecting it ?" says Ragia to Ayame.
Ayame shrugs "I do not know...but it might be for the best that we stick to the trees, just in case a patrol comes by"
Eleanor yawns a bit due to the early morning and stretches while conversing, "Lucky us, no patrols need to die today" she says with a light chuckle, then turning her head to Ragia.
"Fey?"
"Ah..." says Ayame "Actually I just remembered....it is cursed by undead that wander the forest. Perhaps the patrols would be the more favorable risk"
Eleanor gasps, "Oooh!! Seriously??"
Naomi is visibly tired -- it's not like the walking is too much for her or anything...but quite honestly these are the first few nights of her life she's spent away from home and family. "Goodness...What do they ha--" she cuts herself off hearing this topic of conversation."Cursed by the unliving, you said? Do you...Do you have any further information?"
Eleanor's eyes sparkle, "I've not fought any undead before!! I think."
She looks to Ayame about her comment about the patrols "if we get caught by guards they can communicate to each other if one gets away and that'd be a huge fuss"
Ragia, twiddling her fingers together pipes up, "i'm not big on undead myself, they can't take a joke. plus a forest is kind of the worst place for me to use my skills in"
"Ah...Legend has it that the woods were not always this way. Instead, it was the hunger of ravenous spirits that take children from their homes, and they get lost in the fog. Those children grow up to become flesh eating monsters, warped by the very fog itself." says Ayame. "This entire country is very close to the spiritual realm, spirits can enter the world easily here"
"i'm guessing your dad wasn't particularly fond of these spirits ?" says Ragia.
Ayame shakes her head, "I uhm...I don't know, I don't really know him."
Naomi grips her stave tightly upon hearing this... *"Do you think it's possible the next town over would like assistance? I'm not a particularly adept Cleric yet, so I can only destroy very weak undead...But still! As a Cleric of Rhamnasia, I can't allow such a travesty to occur..."
Eleanore ponders on Ayame's new info dump and hums.. very very suddenly pulling out a greataxe from seemingly nowhere, "So what you're telling me if that these are children that've been twisted and imprisoned into monsters?" she says, looking to Ayame quite seriously.
"Ah....Yes they are" I say looking at the two "Ive been into the forest before, although not in this area specifically...It is rather dangerous"
Ragia sees the suddenly appearing greataxe from Eleanor and jumps back, startled.
Ayame just notices this and blinks, jumping back "Ah...you are all rather intent on this are you?"
"W-well...I'll be quite honest. I'm scared. Very scared. I'd very much like to get to the next town. But if we can help, I'd like to." says Naomi.
Ragia looks to everyone, gaging their excitement,"not all of us, but i guess half the group"
Eleanor sees Ragia's reaction and lets out a sigh, "It might be a waste of energy, something about that just..." pauses and looks down to her slightly ornate axe, gripping it a little, "bothers me."
"We can continue onwards, I DID promise to protect Ayame." Pipes up the Cleric.
Eleanor groans, "we should follow the plan to get out of here"
"Right, Eleanor." says Naomi, "I'll just have to return here at some point in the future..."
"It won't be easy to return, and I would rather you have your mind focused on the path ahead, rather then this forest behind." Ayame warns Naomi.
Eleanor holsters the axe on her back and moves ahead of the group, "It's not the right time to do this." she looks back to the group, "Not sure about all your backgrounds but I'd feel guilty pulling you three into needless battles."
"Very well...lets go" Ayame says, moving down the road with the others.
Ragia sighs, "As much as I like wandering into adventure, I'd rather not do it in a place where the authorities do not welcome us"
The party approaches nightfall through the second day of travel along the road, still not seeing other passengers, but the occasional farmer working their field alongside the road. It is just before nightfall that the party come upon a small ramshackle building, with a sign hanging above it, written in Sylvan, and a light hanging just beside the door.
"Does anyone know what these scribbles mean ?" says Ragia.
Eleanor squints at the sign, "Someone has terrible handwriting."
"Does uh...Anyone speak...whatever THIS is?" says Naomi. "Wait a moment, I got this." she says before approaching the sign, and standing beneath it. "U-uhmn... Miss Eleanor, could I ask a favor of you? I could translate that sign for us using magic -- issue is, I need to be able to touch it... Could you lift me up?" she says as she tries to jump up and touch it, not even getting close with her miniature hop.
Eleanor moves over and lifts up Naomi, who casts a spell and touches the sign. It reads "A Travelers Weary Respite."
"O-Oh! It's an inn, it seems. Called 'A Traveler's Weary Respite. How quaint." says Naomi "M-Miss Eleanor, you can put me down now, if you would kindly."
Eleanor brings Naomi back down to the earth, "do we even need to stop at an inn?"
"Hmm...Strange that it would be written in that language, but I suppose we could" says Ayame.
"I'm fond of campfires and... less people but if you all wanna stay the night.. I won't refuse joining." says Eleanor.
"Thanks for the lift, Eleanor. And, considering we've only seen farmers and no other travelers, I doubt we'll be in much company." Naomi says to her companion.
Ayame decides to take action and make her way into the Inn.
Upon entering the building, Ayame sees that there is not much going on at all. There is a bartender, a sickly looking gnome that coughs into a handkerchief before using it to wipe down a wooden mug. There is a light musty smell in the bar, set with only three tables. One of which is in the back corner, with a few armored soldiers sitting, drinking and complaining about the swill. In the back, you can see a set of four doors, two opposite from the door, and three lining the wall next to the bar.
There are six soldiers, one of which is wearing chainmail, the others wearing Banded mail. All of them have shields, and assorted weapons.
"Ah..." Ayame pauses seeing him do that to the handkerchief before moving to sit down.
Ragia notices the soldiers, and steps back out of the bar. "Ill just stay with my rations outside for the night, y'all have fun in there!"
Eleanor walks in and looks around, pulling up her hood, and grabbing Ayame, "Is there something here I should know about that's worth those folks spotting us?"
"A-Ah...actually, probably not" Ayame says, taking a step back out.
"U-uh, what's wrong you three? You look as if you've spotted a ghost." Naomi says as the three immediatly exit the inn.
Eleanor chuckles, "Foxy over here rushed in to an inn filled with guards. Lets get moving and make camp deeper into the forest"
Naomi thinks for a moment,"Hn...Sounds good. I have no issue with authority, but I definitely do not want to be accosted for no reason."
"Yeah murdering patrol duty guards was not in my plans for today." Says Eleanor.
"Considering we're here illegally, it's best not to try out luck." Agrees Ragia.
The party agrees to delve a few yards into the throngs of the forest, at it might be the safer option than the guards within the tavern. The party is very quickly set upon by fog not even twenty feet into the woods. the fog is thick, the air cold, and slightly damp. But the trees are flush with life as they pass barely into the treeline.
Eleanor is kinda always taken aback by the plantlife around here, just kinda giddy and moving forward, "Yknow despite all the undead monstrosities around here, quite a nice place. Cold and a lil damp like back home but full of pretty plantlife."
Ragia just noticed they went into the woods. "Not to be a downer but did we just went from the hammer to the anvil ?"
"We should be fine as long as we don't go any deeper" Ayame says almost confidently,"...I think."
Naomi nods, "R-right. Once we set up a camp, I'll summon Rufus to have a sniff around for anything dangerous."
Ayame nods "Good idea...uhm... I just realized...I didn't bring a tent"
"Neither did I, but I brought a bedroll. You can uh...share it with me if you want..." Naomi offers.
Ayame shakes her head "I did bring one of those! but thanks."
Naomi looks at Eleanor, who's basically staring off into the distance, "W-what about you, Eleanor?"
Eleanor hums, "Was gonna sleep on the ground, grass is pretty soft."
Ragia sets up her small tent before crawling inside it.
"A-are you sure? It's rather cold tonight." Naomi prods.
Eleanor pulls up her arms to show her kinda thick traveler outfit, "and I'm pretty cozy usually unless its snowin"
"I see..."
Eleanor tilts her head, "do you have a better alternative? I was thinking about diggin up a fire pit and sleeping next to it."
"I have a winter blanket you could get under?" Naomi sighs and mumbles, "Mom was right about me being underprepared..."
Eleanor looks Naomi up and down, "And for yourself?"
"I-I brought a bedroll!!" she says exasperatedly,"I'm not that dumb!!"
Eleanor giggles, "Okay okay, I'll take you up your offer hun" she puts out her hand to accept the blanket.
Naomi struggles for a moment to yank the blanket out of her pack having packed her stuff in a little too efficiently. it finally comes out, and she stumbles for a moment before handing the blanket over to Eleanor.
Eleanor nods, "thank you kindly!~"
"W-well, I have some tindertwigs, so if you set up a fire pit with some kindling, I could easily start us up a fire." offers Naomi.
Eleanor hums, "No we should just sleep, those guards are too close"
"A-ah, yeah you're right...Sorry." says Naomi.
Ayame pulls out her bedroll and crawls into it. "Well...goodnight!" Says, before going to sleep.
Naomi pulls her bedroll up close to the small tent Ragia set up, before tucking herself in, and going to sleep.
The party all wakes up to the sound of softly playing music. Not just any music however, but the soft voice from a woman somewhere in the woods around you. They know that the night is about midway through, though it is pitch black throughout the forest.
"W-what the... Someone make them shut up..." she mumbles, half asleep.
Slowly waking up however she realizes that the music music sounds eerily similar to what her mother would sing to put her to sleep.
Eleanor pops right up awake and takes a look around, at the same as as Ragia pokes their head out of their tent, also taking a look. Both of them notice the same thing at once. Ayame is missing.
"O-oh fudge! I know what this is!" says Naomi, "It's Fey magic! We have to find Ayame!"
Eleanor stands straight up, looking to the group, "What?? I literally know nothing about fey but okay!"
Ragia scrambles up out of their tent, "Do you think I have time to pack my tent ?"
Eleanor shrugs, "Dunno how dangerous fey are or how long Ayame's been gone."
Naomi slams her staff into the ground, casting Detection. Arround her, she feels a swarm of necromantic energy, permiating the fog itself.
Eleanor, figuring out where the source of the music is coming from, marches towards it, with Naomi in tow, as Ragia finishes packing up their tent.
The party walks for a few yards, the source of the song getting louder, but never quite within reach.
Ragia is suddenly slammed into a tree, a great force of wind permiating the air around them, swirling up into a great mist, where Eleanor manages to spot the source of their misery.
About 30 feet above the ground, Eleanor sees a woman, earilly familiar that you can't quite place, who is riding a broomstick, twirling a familiar pipe and giving a cackle. Her cackle is deathly quiet, like the rest of the forest. Her clothing looks similar to Ayame's but distorted, and her hair is nothing but a black swimming void of darkness. Her face does not exist, but is instead a ceramic mask with six jagged teeth.
Eleanor squints with her hand over her eyes to try to see better despite it being night, "...Ayame?" she shouts out, not really thinking about if this isn't Ayame that she'd be outing herself to a monster.
The figure points down to the ground beneath Eleanor using the pipe, still deathly silent as vines start to grow out and try to entangle Eleanor and Naomi Dai'Gishkin 's legs.
Eleanor avoids the entanglement, but Naomi is fully grasped by vines. Eleanor however, vanishes, only her greataxe staying in place.
Ragia, suddenly overwhelmed by a bitter cold, reaches into their mind and pulls out a spell of flame, which before Naomi's eyes, turns them into a pile of ash, which is blown away by the wind.
The figure turns to Naomi, the quiet silence from before suddenly giving a soft, childlike giggle, which slowly but surly turns into manic laughter as her legs and arms become entwined by vines. The figure finishes her flight, and lands upon the ground, broom in hand.
"Leave this place child..."she whispers before Naomi is awoken by Eleanor, shaking her awake vigorously.
Naomi stares in stunned silence for a moment. "...We're not staying here anymore."
Ragia rubs their head, having been woken up by Ayame only moments before. "what was that all about ?"
Eleanor sighs with relief and stands back up, "hands down the... maybe like 10th worst type of dream I've ever had." she looks to Ayame, "any explanation?"
"What did you guys see?" replies Ayame.
"A magic caster." says the cleric.
"A witchy sorceress that kinda looked like you to be honest." corrects the kobold.
Eleanor points to Ayame, "someone who looked fairly closely related to you was there in mine. Dunno about anyone else's"
"I think the fog did something, I didn't see anything"
"A mask of ceramic with six jagged teeth, none of that familiar?" asks Eleanor
Thinking back on her studies, Ayame is reminded that the mask is the important part of this imagery. This tells her that though this creature may have been called fey at one point, it is not. She wasn't sure of the exact type, but she does know that it is a sort of dream spirit, specifically a Noxa, or what locals prefer to call it... An Oni.
"Yes it does, it sounds like an Oni...a spirit that invades the dreams of others...you are right, we should keep moving" Says Ayame, nervous.
Eleanore sighs and folds up the blanket Naomi passed her and hands it back, "Suppose sleeping in the curse fog was maybe not a great idea"
The party manages to gather their stuff quickly, and even through the fog, Eleanor manages to lead them out of the woods without issue, back onto the main road. The light from the inn is now long since extinguished.
Ragia whispers loud enough for the party to hear. "time to find an inconspicuous bush to hide and spend the night in, or we could use the cover of the night to get far away from the patrols sleeping at the inn."
Eleanor things for a long few moments. "we slept a bit, I'd like to see if we can find somewhere safer to sleep further ahead."
Ayame nods, "Good idea" she says, setting off down the road.
As the party just barely starts off down the road, they do happen to hear but a few moments of the rattle of scale mail just out of sight within the the forest, but as quickly as it appears, it disappears.
There is not much of a place to sleep for the night, but the party slowly trots their way along through night without finding a safe place to camp.
The morning light is bright and shining, and the party still feels fairly competent in their abilities at this point, but the closest they have finally come is a crossroads, with a road sign pointing in three directions, all of it written in Sylvan. It points to the north, the west and the east.
Ragia grumbles. "Why is everything in this land in sylvian if even the natives can't read it?"
"Hmmm...I don't suppose you could use your magic to read it again?" Ayame asks Naomi. Naomi nods, casting her spell and reading out the signs.
She reads the signs in order of direction, North: Sylvan for Capital. West: A Traveler's Weary Respite, 1/2 days journey, East: Barge to Renshang 1 1/2 days.
The party decides to head east, continuing on their journey.
Only a half hour later, they finally manage to find a place to rest for a while if they so desire. Ayame knows that they are still within Wanhua until they get on the river, but from this new location, they can finally get a clear sight of the mountains. Absolutely massive, even from the journeys that Naomi went on with her mother to the dwarven kingdom from time to time, these mountains absolutely dwarf the home of the namesake. Even from this distance, it towers into the sky with grand peaks and dizzying heights, with snow tipped peaks over every bit of the mountainside that the party can see.
"I think...I think we should rest here...we should be safe" Ayame says tiredly.
Eleanor looks around, "I suppose.. no guards around" she squints towards any forested area nearby, "dunno about the fog.."She raises her hands up in the air in celebration, "Alright! Nap time!"
Ayame rubs her eyes slightly."Lets take turns sleeping"
Eleanor pouts, "Responsible nap time.... Fiinnne, okay I'll stick up for the first round"
Ragia sets up her tent again, feeling like this is way to many tent setups to be doing.
Ayame curls up under her sleeping bag and naps.
Eleanor sits on the ground and sighs, "man I'm going to be bored. You two better sleep fast"
Naomi tilts her head, "You two? So I'm staying up with you then?"
"uh.. I dunno, Ayame seems to have voted for herself to sleep first at least" She points to Ragia, "and she's got her tent up.. sorry if I assumed."
"No, that's fine...I'll stay up with you."
Eleanor pats the ground next to her, "Come on down to the watch seats then!" she says with a chuckle.
Naomi shyly sits next to the human that had no qualms with murder, honestly a lil' scared.
Eleanor hums, "It'll be a few hours if not double!" she thinks, "might be a good time for rations and gossip. That's what.. people do right?"
Its nearly mid-afternoon when everyone has gotten a full rest, food was made. and camp was being picked up. Its nearly late afternoon with a few hours of sunlight left as the party starts to pack away the site and get ready to head out.
As they get ready to head out, Eleanor hears it first. Marching, and by the sound of it, about 6 people marching that she can hear just over the hills down the road, echoing off of the trees and empty roadways.
Eleanor keeps her voice down, "Girls, guards incoming very soon!"
Naomi starts to panic, "S-should we hide on the side of the road???"
"We better find some place to book it and hide for sure unless you three are apt to fight" Says Eleanor looking for a place to hide.
Ragia takes the initiative and leaps into a bush, trying her best to hide her scales.
"Bush it is!" Eleanor grabs Naomi's hand and brings her towards the line of brush Ragia's hiding in. Ayame closly following behind and also jumping into the bushes.
The soldiers come into earshot of the party after a few more moments, chanting a song in Sylvan before noticing the old campsite. Needing a place to stop for now, they group up, and start building tents along the roadside, and settling in. The party however, trapped, unsure on how to get out of this situation.
Rewards Granted
Nahemah Dai'Gishkin gained a Bone Reading.
The party gained 28 days of dried fish rations, and has consumed 6 days of rations between the four of them during the course of the adventure.
The party gained 28 days of dried fish rations, and has consumed 6 days of rations between the four of them during the course of the adventure.
Character(s) interacted with
Akari Tanaka
An Oni of @fogu
An Oni of @fogu
Related Reports
Notes
It was found that the Detection spell was unfairly worded, and not entertaining to play. This was remedied after the session.
Ragia Raflesia
Ayame Shiori
Tiamani
3-Level Wizard 3-Level Incanter 4-Level Wraith
3-Level Wizard 3-Level Incanter 4-Level Wraith
Nahemah Dai'Gishkin
Eleanor Primrose
Silawae/Munavri
2:Psychic Warrior-Level Fighter 2-Level Barbarian
2:Psychic Warrior-Level Fighter 2-Level Barbarian
Report Date
06 Mar 2021
Primary Location
Secondary Location
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