Session 78 - Quest from a Crone

General Summary

45th Kindling

Jilken was the last to arrive in Wexwood, mid-day on the 45th and walking into the Restless Raven found her three companions seated at one of the back tables in the common room. Tear was the first to spot her and waved excitedly and that drew the attention of the others. As the Aiel took a seat Denye said, "Perfect timing, I was just handing these out." Passing the small ring over she explained, "It clips onto the telepathic earrings and extends thier range to the entire plane."
"That is amazing," replied Janora, "I also found an improvement to the earrings, a blood ritual that will bind it to a person and remove the need for attunement."
"Both are amazing," said Jilken, "seems like you've all spent your time well."
"I managed to get through at least a portion of my task list," laughed Denye, "But there is alway more to research. Speaking of which, I had a couple of new ideas, but I'd love to take a closer look at your scarf sometime if you are willing."
"Sure," replied Jilken, "I was actually going to ask if you wanted to trade spells sometime...I've learned a few new trickes over the break. Seems these tattoos may have unlocked more than I expected."
"That's very exciting," said Denye, "I'd love to see what you've learned, we'll have to find some time for that soon. Oh, I also have a couple more things to pass out, this is for you Tear." Reaching into her bag, she pulled out a small tree of twisted copper wire with three upper branches with a small embedded socket. "This will recharge your power crystals overnight. The base needs to be on the ground, but it will sort of tap into the ambient Weave and draw the power into attached stones. It also glows slightly as they charge, with a bit of a pulse, so you'll know they are full when the light is solid."
"Thank you, Denye," chittered Tear, "that will be very useful."
Denye beak-grinned, "While I was at it I made you an upgrade." She pulled out a wrapped package and handed it to the goblin. He unwrapped it excitedly to reveal a new pistol, slightly bulkier and with a longer barrel. This one also had a spinning chamber in the middle with a variety of gems of different types."
"Oooh, how does that work?" asked Jilken, leaning forward excitedly to examine it.
"So...the gems in the spinner are elemental foci," explained Deney. "Depending on which is currently engaged when you pull the trigger, you'll get a different effect; fire, lightning, ice, etc."
"This is amazing," crowed Tear, "you so smart, Denye!"
Denye shrugged, "I have a few more ideas to improve it, but that is turning into more work than a I had time to do." Pulling out another package, she passed to Ell, adding, "And I made this for you. It's not quite as fancy looking as it could be...I'm not a master silversmith, but I'm sure it will help keep things off you."
Ell unwrapped the silver bracer and held it up to the light. "Thank you so much, Denye," he said, beaming his best smile, "I am extraordinarily grateful for this."
Denye ducked her head awkwardly and protested, "Like I said, I've got lots of ideas, I just needed a chance to stay in one place long enough to work on a few of them." Changing the subject, Denye shared, "I've also confirmed two Bell locations. Well I say confirmed, I know where one is and Dor, the bookwyrm Librarian, back in Haven has a lead on another."
The wizard paused to take a long drink but went on, "I, uh, I went home for a visit and one is hanging in the High Temple of the Dawnmother. Apparently it has a special significance to our people and the council is still debating letting me have it." Sighing she clacked her beak, "I...I'm fairly sure I convinced Uncle Lewin. I told him that he has a season to make the politics happen."
Janora gave the wizard an appaled look and asked, "Incrediable, at the end of the world, how fucking insular can your people be?"
Switching to the earrings, Denye protested, "It's complicated. Apparently the Speaker was one of the artifacts used to awaken the Humblefolk long ago. I laid out the need and the situation to both the Highpriest and my uncle. Highpriest Fowler was nonplussed to say the least, so they said let us debate it. I told them that I will give them a season, but I was presenting a need, not a request. If I have to steal it I'll go back for it and they won't stop me...but I'd rather it didn't come to that."
"That's fair, I suppose," admitted Janora.
Ell chimed in to add, "Ooo, if you are planning a heist, count me it, there's no way I'm not coming along."
Denye sighed, "Like I said, I don't think it will come to that, but I don't think it will be a problem. I also saw my cousin and got to see the Avium. It was nice and Jena is learning some really fun fire magic, but let's just say that only the Headmaster knows how to use the teleport circle. I also got those runes...so getting home will be easier, but I really don't think they can stop me."
"Oh I know," replied Ell, "I just want in on the fun. Also I learned how to use teleport circles too so we don't have to rely on you, though I may want a peek at your book of circles."
"That's fantastic," replied Denye, "I will gladly share the public ones. I should probably ask before sharing Karobark's or Secret of the Bluff's." Switching back to speech, Denye went on, "There was also the second bell, like I said Dor sent me a message that she had found the pitted arch traveling home through 'library space' after some sort of conference. If the poem is correct it should be the Dreamer and Dor has promised she can lead us to it."
"That is amazing," said Janora, "I've got my own news on another bell to share. I'm going to guess that Ranunkel isn't going to make it, so how would you all like to leave here soon to get a bell?"
"He did say that he was probably going to be delayed," Ell reminded the others, "What did you have in mind?"
"Well, after I got things settled at home, I went down and spent some time with Baba Yaga. You'll recall the stanza about the Charmer hiding in the swap on chicken legs. We always knew who it refered to, but she not only confirmed it, but she actually charged me with a bit of a favor and in return she'll just hand over the bell.
"What's the favor?" asked Ell, warily.
"Well, it's like this," began Janora as the scene fades to a flashback to a ramshakle looking cottage filled with shadows and spiderwebs.

An ancient iron stove took up one wall and a large fireplace with a smoking cauldron filled the opposite wall. Janora was sitting at a wooden table across from a truly ancient woman with wild hair, one eye slightly larger than the other and dressed in layers of raggedy shawls. The older woman caugh her looking off into a particual shadow and scoffed, "Before you leave, I know what it is you stare at, and you know that I know, so you might as well ask. Yes, I have the music of death at my disposal. You carry several of it's kin and you seek the remaining bells."
"I have seen the bell," admitted Janora slowly, "but it would not have been polite while we still seek other bells."
"Not polite," mocked the Yaga, "well then, so that you aren't forced to impolite, I shall offer you a deal. There is a hair comb on an island and I wish for you and your friends to retrieve it for me." Leaning back into her chair the elder crone explained, "Many, many years ago, I caught an elf boy spying on me. Touched he was, with one blue eye and one orange...so I did not kill him straight away. He offered me recompense and I chose foresight for I saw a talent within his eyes."
Crossing her arms angerly, Baba Yaga spit into the fireplace, "His vision was less than satisfying, he told me that the Blue Wind would steal my magic hair comb and hide it within the temple of Offler and I would be unable to retrieve it myself. Such a thing could never happen, the bitch wouldn't have dared...so I cursed him that none would believe his visions until this foretelling came to pass."
"Clearly he was correct," pointed out Janora, carefully.
"Yes, yes," replied the elder witch, "time passes and a new Blue Wind blew through; young, brash, and thoughtless. He snuck up and snatched it from my hair as I flew through the air one night. My knights cannot set foot on the island and I cannot even get that close. So you will go, retrieve my comb and in exchange I will give you Wyreen's bell."

The flashback ends, returning to the table in the Restless Raven. "So we need to go get this comb," finished Janora. "She is clearly expecting me back soon. So if you all amenable I would like to leave tomorrow at the latest.
"That's it?" asked Ell, "just get a hair comb? Did she at least tell you where to find that island or what else might be there that we could steal?"
"Yes to the first and no to the second," replied the witch. "We'll need to rent a boat in Dreford. I was hoping you could take care of that Ell?"
"Shouldn't be a problem," replied the young man smoothly, "Do we have a teleport circle in Dreford?"
"Not in Dreford," offered Denye. "We could go to Karobark's tower and then it's only a day or so to Dreford by boat...or we could just sail from his island, but I don't know how that works with the directions you were given."
"Yeah, I'd rather not risk it," said Janora, "I'm not even entirely sure this island is entirely in the real world. The directions were basically sail south for two days and then turn into the sunset and we'll find an island surrounded by high stone walls." After a moment of thought, the witch added, "I could get us to a forest near the city...but I think Denye's option will be faster. So the question is do we leave tonight or in the morning?"
"Let's go in the morning," suggested Denye, "At the very least I should ask Karobark if he is open to visitors."
With a plan set, Ell took them upstairs and showed them around the 3rd floor suite that the innkeeper had set them up in. No one wanted to unpack too much, but the party spent a relaxing evening sharing tales about how they had spent the break.

1st Planting

The next morning, Denye set up her teleportaion circle and the party vanished from the inn and found themselves on an open level of a tower high above the sea. A middle-aged half-orc in flowing sea-green robes appeared a moment later and with wide arms called, "Denye, my friend, it is good to see you again. And you've brought friends, wonderful, please come and have breakfast with me."98
After a loverly meal and conversation, Denye led the others down to the little village and discovered that the senior wizard had sent word ahead and there was already a trading ship ready and waiting to ferry the party to Dreford. Once there, Ell hired a fast packet by the name of Waveskimmer and her captian Shagar Squalleater.
She was rather suprised that the party wanted to go to Ghost Island, as she called it. When Ell told her that they only needed a one way ticket, she only laughed and called it their funerals, but swore she could get them there quickly. The next couple of days flew by with the captain and her crew keeping the ship on course. Captian Squalleater offered to take them directly to the island, but Janora inisited that they follow the directions the Yaga gave them.
The trip was not without incident. Ell's stomach objected strongly to being at sea and it made him cranky. When the captain had named her price for the charter, the young noble had paid it without blinking, but as he lay in his bunk he began thinking that he had been overcharged. Near the end of the second day, he confronted Captain Squalleater about it.
At first she laughed at him and pointed out that he hadn't haggled, but when she realized he wasn't joking she got a bit more harsh and pointed out that it also bought the silence of her and her crew. She pointed out that there were quite a few people who would be interested to hear that one of the Darnet's had been interested in a one-way trip to an island that no one ever returned from. When she threw up her hands and stalked away toward the stern, Ell decided to cast Hallocentory Terrain and made it look as if a major storm had suddenly blown up. Captain Shagar reacted as one would expect and began shouting orders to reef the sails and batten down the hatches. The warlock let it go on for a minute or so before dismissing the spell and laughing at the confusion on the faces of the crew.

4th Planting

It wasn't long after dawn when the sailor in the crow's nest alerted the boat to the sight of land. As they got closer, Janora told them to head for the southern side of the island and look for the beach the elder crone had spoken of. Calling Forest up to the deck, the witch mounted and took to the air to get a better look at the island herself.
As Baba Yaga had said, the entire island looked to have been an ancient volcano with towering stone walls around a large and lush valley. Much of it was tree covered although there were several open meadows and lakes, and even a little river. Janora also caught sight of several varieties of enormous lizards, some seemed to be grazing on grasses and shrubs while others were clearly carnivorus and on the hunt. She also saw what looked like a stone pyramid poking out of the trees on the northeastern side of the island.
By the time Janora met back up with the Waveskimmer, Captain Squalleater had brought the boat about 200ft from the small beach and was willing to offer to a rowboat to ferry people over. The one issue was going to be Ironheart....she was not going to be able to lay down in the dingy or even stand. In the end, Denye cast Polymorph on the battlemare and turned her into a tree lizard like Helenwye.
The beach was short and more pebble than sand and only about 40ft wide at the waterline. The slope up was sharp but doable and seemed to level off at the top somewhat. Looking around, Tear pointed out what looked like the remains of a campfire. This caused a bit of worry, but Jilken pointed out that it wasn't fresh and had clearly happened weeks, if not months ago. While most of the party was looking at that, Janora discovered a tunnel into the cliff, screened by hanging vines.
Calling the others over, Jilken volunteered to scout ahead and discovered that while the entrance was only wide enough to slide through, the tunnel opened up after about 15ft and then ran for another 100ft before opening up to a small cliff, large enough for the party to gather...although it got a bit crowded when Denye's spell ended and Ironheart resumed her horse shape. Gazing down at the 40ft drop, the party began discussing how to get down and where they should go when they did.
"So where exactly are we going?" asked Ell.
"Does it matter?" asked Jilken, "I want to go hunt those great lizards. I bet the hides will be great."
Denye shook her head, "You should probably stick to the grass-eaters. If they are like other carnivores, those meat eaters won't taste very good."
"We're here to look for the Yaga's hair comb, not hunting" Janora reminded everyone, pulling out a small glass vial that contained a single hair.
"No reason we can't do both," grumbled Jilken.
Ignoring the Aiel warrior, Janora filled a small bowl with water, before dropping the hair onto the water and whispered a few words over it. It spun for a few seconds before pointing in a northeastern direction. "It's that direction," the witch said, pointing, "Now, the only structure I saw was that stone temple on the far side of the island...and it's that way so I would guess that is our destination."
"How far do you think it was?" asked Denye.
"Less than 10 miles, but more than 5," replied Janora, blithely, "Shouldn't take us more than a couple of hours hiking."
"I dunno," said Ell, "that jungle looks pretty thick, we might not be able to make very good time. Maybe it would be better to stick along the river."
Janora shook her head, "That would garuntee that we run into some of the local beasts. I'd prefer we keep 100-200 ft off the riverbank, that way we can try to avoid anything dangerous and I get some time to get to know this forest." Looking over to Jilken, she added, "That way I can get us back here...maybe for a dino hunt once we aren't under an obligation."
"First," said Ell, "we need to find a way down. I suppose we could drop a rope, but I don't see anything to tie it to."
"It not hard," called Tear, "easy climb down." Looking around the party discovered that the goblin wasn't on the clifftop, but was already halfway down, swinging from handhold to handhold."
"I think I'll stick to Forest's back," said Janora, "for that matter, I can send him back for you all as well. Although I don't know how we're gonna get the horse down."
"Leave that to me," said Denye, "I've got another spell for that...althought, Jilken you'll probably need to keep a firm hand on her reins and keep her calm if you can." At Jilken's nod, the wizard cast Fly on Ironheart and the battlemare rose about 6in above the stone ground.
The horse snorted and tossed her mane, displaying displeasure but Jilken put a hand on her neck and whispered a few calming phrases in Shin'a'in. That calmed the horse somewhat, as did the Aiel leaping up into the saddle, but she refused to go past the edge of the cliff. Jilken sighed, "I need to convince her that she won't fall. This is gonna take a minute, you all might as well head down."
"The spell will last for 10 minutes," warned Denye, "that should be more than enough time, but don't push it." With a wild laugh, the Corva ran to the cliff and threw her wings wide. While they might not be strong enough to lift the wizard, her wings were perfect for gliding down to the base of the cliff."
Ell clambered up on Forest behind Janora and said, "We'll see you at the bottom." With that the dogesus also ran for the cliff edge, wings snapping open and gliding to the ground."
Addressing her horse, Jilken said, "Now you saw that they were safe, I promise it will be safe for you as well. Just look, no hooves on the ground right now." As if understanding the elf, the battlemare looked at its feet and carefully picked up first one and then another. She took a few steps along the cliff before turning towards the edge. At Jilken's guidance, she ran and leapt, turning the arc into a graceful dive down to where the others waited.
With that obstacle conquored, Janora lead them off into the woods in a northeastrn direction. The underbrush proved to be less of a problem deeper into the trees, although both Jilken and Janora had to dismount to avoid being choked by vines. Denye also sent Helenwye to fly up in the treeline to keep her hidden but also kept ahead of the party by a good 100ft. That proved quite useful when the psuedodragon was able to warn them in time to avoid a pack of turkey sized raptors as well as a large triceritops.
Shortly after noon Janora called for everyone to halt. Over the link, she asked, " Denye can you have Helenwye vear off to the left about 200ft or so down to the left? There's some sort of commotion ahead and I have a feeling we should see it before we get to close."
The small lizard went flitting forward and found that there were two large four-footed dinos stood next to a lake. Each had bony plates that ran down the spine and four sharp spikes at the end of thier tail. These were being attacked by a handful of two-legged dinos with sharp claws and teeth. Denye reported all of this to the others and as much as Jilken wanted to rush forward, Janora urged caution and they tried to circle past quietly. Unfortuantly, about halfway across, Forest stepped on the wrong branch and it snapped beneath his paw causing two of the allosaurs to turn in the party's direction and start hissing.
Jilken was the first to respond, she whipped up the heavy crossbow and fired a bolt. It flew true and buried itself into one of the beast's shoulder. It spun in the elf's direction and hissed angrly, but Jilken had already dropped the bow and brought up the Rainbow Reaper and fired another bolt, this one catching the allosaurous in the tail.
The larger stegosaurs bellowed loudly and kicked out, knocking one of the smaller beast to the ground. Spinning, she tried to hit another allosaurs lunging for her child, but the tail swing missed and got stuck into the dirt. The injured allasours rushed at Jilken, trying to knock her off Ironheart's back, but the Aiel simply knocked it aside with the butt of her spear. Janora wasn't quite so lucky when another of the allasours charged her and knocked her off Forest's back. Several more of the carnovores attacked the stegos, but only managed to get a bite in.
Denye tried to move quietly through the bush and worried about using fire with all the burnables about, she cast a Ray of Frost at one of the allosaurs, freezing one of it's feet at the shore of the lake. Ell put Tear down so the goblin could have a cleaner shot and looking around fired off three Eldritch Blasts. All three struck and with a grunt, the young man used a Telekentic Shove to push back the beast looming over Janora and her mount. It tried to resist, digging it's claws into the dirt, but it wasn't enough and it slid back, leaving long furrows. Meanwhile Tear had pulled out his new elemental pistol and setting the ring for Thunder damage, he fired off two shots at the allosauros over Janora...dropping the beast.
Janora looked over and flashed Tear a thumbs up before slapping Forest on the rump and sending him after one of the allosaurs attacking the stegosaurs. The dogseus managed to knock one of the creatures over with his claw attack and then bit it's leg off. While he was busy, Janora got to her feet and called up a Spiritual Weapon. As an enormous sycthe materialized and swung down towards one of the attacking creatures, the witch fired off a Firebolt at the one Forest had knocked over, killing it. The younger stegosuros also trumpted and made two slam attacks against one of the allosours.
Hearing something from the woods behind them, Jilken swore and spun around just in time to see another pack of allosaours attracked to the fight. Spinning her spear, she slammed it into the head of the allosaur that was attacking her. The sparking blade sliced into the skull of the creature and it jerked wildly before dropping to the ground. Looking over to the ones attacking the stegos, the Aiel warrior lifted her spear and fired off a sparking bolt that knocked one of the beasts prone. The mother stego wasted no time and brought her tail spikes around to pin it to the ground, driving one through it's head.
The last two allosaurs from the first pack spun and went for Forest as an easier target. He managed to dodge the first set of claws, but other got a good bite of one of his wings. Denye looked at the two of them and saw that one was standing with both feet in the water. With a high-chiming sound, the wizard cast Frostbite, leaching all of the heat out of the beast and freezing it solid.
The second pack broke out of the woods and one of the creatures leapt at Ell, raking him with it's claws and knocking him to the ground. Ell screamed and pushed the beast back with a Telekentic Shove before scrambling to his feet and taking a few steps back. Throwing his hands up the warlock three Eldritch Blasts into the creature's face. Tear spun around and took two shots with the elemntal pistol. The first blast of lightning struck the dino in flank, but the second blast exploded the beast's skull.
Janora whistled sharply and Forest came bounding over. The witch climbed up his back as her Spirtual Weapon swung down and sliced deeply into the back of one of the allosaours. Forest spun to face the incoming pack and growled angrily while Janora gave the pack the evil eye and cast Fear. Several of them dropped thier tails and looked ready to bolt.
Jilken cast Posion Spray into the face of one of the dinos, but it didn't seem to have much of an effect. Annoyed, she sent Ironheart charging in and knocking it to the ground. Spinning her staff around, she thrust it into the creature's flank as the battlemare crushed it's skull. With all the allosauros around the mama stego dead, she turned and began urging her baby to start heading off away from the lake and the carnage.
Denye contiued to try and stay hidden but squeezed through a couple of bushes so she could get a better look and cast another Ray of Frost at one of the frightened dinos. Ice formed along its tail as it whipped it's head around, eyes rolling in fear. Dropping back into the foilage, she sent Helenwye flying up to check if any more packs of the beasts were on the way. A moment later, the two frightened allsaurus took off in the direction they had come from. The last remaining dino lunged at Ironheat and managed to get teeth around the mare's leg. A moment later a trio of Eldritch Blasts knocked the beast away and into a nearby tree.
Things quieted down and the party looked around for anymore threats. Denye took a moment to look through Helenwye's eyes but saw nothing other than the fleeing lizards. Likewise, Forest threw up his head and began sniffing around. While he was doing that Janora gathered up the others and cast Mass Cure Wounds.
As soon as her horse's wounds closed, Jilken gave the mare a treat before leading her over to the clear water to get a drink. Once she had been seen too, the Aiel began skinning the first of the allosauros. Denye got interested and came over to study and sketch the beasts. While they were otherwise occupied, Janora and Forest took to the air and the witch went in search of the stegosauroses. They were still moving, occasionally stopping to pull off some tender leaves, but clearly still spooked by the attack. Directing Forest to follow them for a bit, Janora cast a Prayer of Healing over the dinosaurs. When the witch returned to the group, she found that the Tear had started a small fire and were brewing up a quick spot of tea. The witch was curious about the allosauros, but lost interest when she learned that they weren't poisonious.
After a short rest, Janora decided that she had a strong enough connection to the local forest and offered to cast All Forests are One to get the party to the stone temple. The spell took and the path twisted as the party moved from the mixed jungle trees to an underwater grove of writhing seaweed and then back into an area of the jungle that looked similar to where they had started.
Once more Denye sent Helenwye up above the treeline to get a look and a moment later the wizard shook her head and said, "Well, we moved and we're more or less on the eastern side of the island, but more in the southeastern corner. "
"Hrumph," growled Janora, "I could try again I suppose. Which way to we need to go?"
"The stone temple is that way," said Denye pointing in a north-northeast direction. "But it looks like we're almost there, I'd guess it only takes us an hour or two get there."
"Let's just head in that direction," said Ell, "We're away from that river now so there should be less chance of running into any more of those huge lizards."
"You say that," glowered Janora, "but we haven't been great at moving quietly. Let me try something before move on." Pulling out the vial with the hair, the witch repeated the procedure and the hair spun for a bit before pointing in the direction Denye had indicated. Dropping the hair back into the vial and dumping out the cup of water, Janora said, "Well, that seems to confirm that the temple is where we should head. Shall I take the lead again?" Without waiting for a reply the witch began stomping off with Forest following behind, sniffing left and right.
It was an hour, maybe two later while the party was following a small stream when Denye called out another warning over the earrings. "There's something strange up ahead," she said, "lots of crushed trees, they look pretty fresh."
"I hear chewing and tearing," added Tear, still atop Ell's shoulders. "Put me down Boss, I get close and take a look. I be super quiet."
"I dunno," said Ell, "Helenwye could fly up...she's tiny and can hide."
Denye nodded, "I'll take a closer look." Linking her mind with the familiar the lizard flew forward until she could get a closer look. Over the mental link the wizard swore, "Three predetors...big ones! One of them is probably 18-20ft tall and at least 100 ft from nose to tail tip, the other two are maybe a third smaller...could be adolescents."
"Can we sneak by or are we going to have to fight?" asked Janora over the link.
"They are all looking the other way and busy eating," said Denye, "I think if we are quiet we can sneak past. I'd rather not fight these things...even the small ones look like they could swallow Tear or myself without even chewing."
Jilken asked, "When you share Helewye's eye do you still have control of your body?"
"Yes and no," replied Denye shaking her head and smoothing her feathers, "I can't see or hear, but I can still move and feel if someone touched me."
"Hmm," said Jilken, "having you keep an eye on them seems like a good idea. Why don't you mount Ironheart and then I'll lead her along and you can warn us if these dinosaurs startle or start sniffing around."
"I should be able to help hide us as well," added Janora. Focusing, she murmered to the Ceberus Cudgel and one of the heads woofed softly. Shadows of the surrounding forest bent and wrapped around the party as the Pass Without A Trace spell took hold. It took about 20 minutes for the party to make thier way past the strip of broken foliage and far enough away that they could finally relax.
By late afternoon, the stone temple was visible looming over the forest ahead and navigating in the proper direction was much simplier. Janora called a halt as a medium sized lake became visible through the trees. Over the link she said, "It looks like there may be structures around that lake. Denye, can you sent Helenwye up?"
Denye nodded and asked her psuedodragon to go take a look. Slipping into the familiar's mind, the wizard reported, "You're right, there are tents on the ground...and in the trees too. There are...people I guess, moving around as well. They look like colorful frogs, but they walk on two legs. They are smallish too, I'd guess that most of them are about my height or shorter." Returning to herself, Denye bounced her head back and forth before saying, "They didn't look incredably dangerous, I only saw a few with spears."
"I think we should try to talk to them," suggested Ell, "maybe they could tell us about the temple. Surely they know about it, living in its shadow."
"You've got the silver tongue, Ell," added Janora, "you should do the talking. Do you speak Frog?"
Ell laughed, "No...and what are the chances they speak Common."
"Oh," said Denye brightly, "I have a spell for that!" Pulling out her spellbook she added, "It won't even cost me a lot of spell energy if we can stop and I cast it ritually."
"We're stopped now," pointed out Jilken, "whoever they are, they haven't found us, so I think it's safe to take a couple of minutes." After a moment's thought she added, warningly, "Just don't be too loud."
That got another chuckle for Ell, but he sobered up when Denye pointed to a spot and said, "Sit there, this won't take long." She spent a minute ritually casting Comprehend Languages on the young man. Once it was finished, in Birdfolk, the wizard said, "Okay so now you be able to understand me?"
"Yes," said Ell, caustiously, "but I can't speak it."
"That's right," muttered Denye, "Tongues is the spell that is supposed to let you speak and have anyone who hears understand you. I didn't prepare that one today. I guess if we could get one of them to sit still I could cast the spell on them."
Ell shurgged, "Maybe we'll get lucky and some of them can speak Common, they can't be completely isolated, can they? Let's go see if we can talk to them."
No one objected so the young man took the lead and headed in the direction of the lake. Stepping out of the trees with both hands up, he looked to a small knot of yellow and green skinned frog people and asked, "Hello, are you friendly? My friends and I are just passing through, but we were hoping you could answer a couple of questions."
All of the Grung turned to stare at Ell before they began clamboring, excitedly in a series of squeaks and ribbits. Ell translated for the others, "They seem to be happy to see strangers and are asking us to stay for dinner."
One of the green skinned frogs stepped forward and bowed. In broken Common she said, "You come, eat, meet head d'Oh...he speak better."
Ell smiled brightly, "Of course, please...take us to your leader."

Character(s) interacted with

Captain Shagar Squalleater - Orcish captain of the Waveskimmer

Report Date

27 Sep 2023

Primary Location

Wexwood