Valldel Amakiir - 1st Level Male Elven Rogue
Akadum Ironbeard - 1st Level Male Dwarf Fighter
Dolin Stoneflare - 1st Level Male Dwarf Light Cleric
Shiso Shinjitsu - 1st Level Male Human Fighter
Junior Lubbins - 1st Level Female Human Fighter
Bea Miglin - 1st Level Female Halfling Fighter
24 May 981, Tuesday, Continued
Fine spring weather, partly cloudy, cool
Drigbolton
They prepare to head back to Drigbolton, but Godfred says they should secure the front door of the manor which is smashed open. Around back is a shed with wood and some tools. They head around back and find an animated marble statue of a Greek man moving around the garden. They try to arrange themselves to attack the statue and Dolin tries to talk with it. The statue rumbles towards Dolin with its arms out stretched to deliver a hug. They call for it to stop, it does not, and Valldel gets between it and Dolin. Junior and Shiso try to knock it down and climb atop and blind it. They fail and end up prone. The statue smashes into Valldel, sending him flying and hurting him badly, leading to the others attacking. Dolin heals Valldel and calls down holy fire on the statue. Junior hits it with her axe, but it seems to not hurt as bad as she would have hoped. Akadum comes up with a strange weapon, looks like a pistol with a ball attached to it, but is unable to get a clear shot. Dolin hits it with his war hammer, and the statue shatters into pieces.
Godfred fixes the door, and they return to Drigbolton. At the cross roads to the north, they see a figure in a cloak and cowled hat. As soon as they note it, it disappears among the trees. They have the impression that it was watching them for a good while before they noticed it.
Back in Drigbolton they first go to Griya's hut. Within they find Ponsafine and Griya. Godfred gives her a letter from the Laird, as she reads it she begins to cry, and transforms from an old crone to an attractive middle aged woman. They are rather stunned and creeped out.
She tells them there is no need for that particular disguise any more, and she will be leaving to get her daughter by the Laird, and relocate to join her sisters, the Bog Witches. The Laird told her of the objects falling from above and that this would lead to a weakening of the veil that separates this world from the others. This would make it easier for those who dwell beyond to come through and increase the power of those who can reach beyond the veil. Those beyond the veil are capricious, sometimes dangerous, and reanimated the dead that attacked the town, and inadvertently killed the Laird. After some questioning she tells them she wishes no one any harm, but she, like the Laird and many others, long for the return of the Old Ways, the waning of the power of the Olympians, gesturing towards Dolin, and a world where the power of blood is granted the proper respect it deserves. She also mentions that she and her apprentice, indicating Ponsafine, have to leave as there will not be enough room in this place for them when the Laird's heir arrives.
Junior is especially flabbergasted by what she has seen and heard. Griya is clearly not a simple crazy woman, but something rather more. Valldel aska how old she is, but Griya declines to answer.
They ask her about the Clooney Caves to the north mentioned in the Laird's notes. She tells them she gets unique ingredients from the goblins. The serpantman Xiximanter is frightening, very old, thousands of years even before the memory of the Elves. He is deluded that the reptiles still rule. She has no idea how it has survived so long, and she is not sure if the goblins serve the serpantman as they are evidently frightened of it.
They ask her about the Barrowmaze. She notes that with the weakening of veil that it will become much more dangerous. The Tablets of Chaos is something the Laird thought could hasten the return of the Old Ways. She is not so sure.
They go on to the village head man Unwick, and Godfred gives him a letter while informing him of the death of the Laird. Unwick is obviously distressed and calls for a gathering of the village. Eventually they are all gathered on the village green and Unwick reads the Laird's letter:
Dear People of Drigbolton
If you are hearing these words then I have passed on
the lands of Lord Hades. It has been my greatest honor to serve as your Laird these past more than 30 years. Our land has seen great trouble these last few years and we have all had to make sacrifices to keep our demesne safe and free.
I know your greatest worry is who will follow me as Laird of Drigbolton. Here I tell you the line of the Spineworths is not extinguished with my death. I am the father of three children who are all a credit to my ancestors. I had concern that you would not be accepting of their rights and ability to take up the mantle of Lairdship, and hoped to introduce you to my heir myself, but unfortunately it is not to be.
My heir is Zelda Spineworth. She recently completed her education at the White College, and has been raised by my friend Dunston Hurley, the owner and proprietor of the Two Goblins Inn. A letter has been sent there to call my eldest daughter to take up her duties here in Drigbolton as your new Miss. Zelda is quite an accomplished young woman and I am certain will do a matchless job for you and the Spineworth demesne.
My second daughter is Edith Spineworth who has been raised by her mother Griya Locasta and her sisterhood. Edith is also quite accomplished and I have asked Griya to call our daughter here to pay homage to her sister Zelda and acknowledge her as the rightful Spineworth heir.
My third daughter is Elsapetha Spineworth, daughter of Bessas Dewessa, owner and proprietor of the Sharpe Inn. Elsapetha has been raised and trained by her people in the Oldfeld Woods. A letter has been sent to Bessas asking her to bring Elsapetha here to pay homage to her sister Zelda and acknowledge her as the rightful Spineworth heir.
While I realize you may be shocked by what I have told you here, I assure you I have done the things I have done with the best interest of our village, our lands, and the future of both foremost in my mind. I have worked tirelessly for a better future for us all, and I hope I have prepared you all for the coming struggle for that better future.
Yours in Faithful Service
Laird Alhoyle Spineworth
The villagers are shocked and confused. Unwick asks the party if they will go to the Two Goblins Inn, between Tealford and Staffleford about three days journey away, to bring the Laird's letter to his heir Zelda, and escort her back here to Drigbolton. They are willing to do that, but first have to meet with the talking animals of Nob's Spinney.
Talking animals? asks Unwick. Yes, they met a talking fox who told them that the animals wanted the humans to stop killing children and mothers. Unwick tells them that he trusts them, after all they saved the town from an attack by undead and his cousin Godfred tells them how well they behaved at the Laird's manor, i.e. they did not loot the place. Please talk to the animals on the village's behalf.
Valdell notes that the Sharpe Inn is notorious as being a place to go for Elven female entertainment.
They head off to Nob's Spinney following a narrow trail to the north and west. As they leave Drigbolton they see a large, black bird leave from Griya's hut and fly west into the mountains. They pass by a large pond, Pike's Pond, and encounter a beautiful woman in flowing clothes. Bea and Junior do not really see her, only seeing a shimmering in the air. The woman invites Shiso to spend some time with her, but he tells her they have to go negotiate with the talking animals. She says she can wait and looks forward to them returning when they should stop and spend time with her.
They continue on to the woods and when they reach the edge of the forest the fox appears and begins insulting them. He will escort them to talk with the other animals. They continue down the trail, turn off into the woods and come to a clearing. There is a herd of deer, led by a large antlered buck, called the King Deer, a couple of boars, a whole fox family, many rabbits and rats, and other forest creatures. They note there are no predators except the foxes. The animals suggest that they will indicate a sanctuary in the forest in which the mothers and children will be, and the humans will not go. The party counters that humans should be able to chase things into the sanctuary, and the animals agree to that.
The fox then escorts the party to where what fell from the sky last night. They reach an area where the brush has become very thick, like a jungle, and there are some impossibly high trees. There are some berry bushes, which the fox partakes of and Akadum gathers a pouch full. They cut their way towards the center of the thick region and find a green, glowing sphere half buried in the ground. Akadum seems to recognize the object and tells them that it belongs to him. Valdell pokes it with a stick and feels its surface is squishy, and the stick has sprouted leaves. They dig it out, Valdell puts his hand to it, the hair on his hand and his nails grow quickly. Akadum says they should avoid touching it, but it is safe to move. Clearly it causes rapid organic growth.
They rig up a sling with Junior's rope and begin to move it back to Drigbolton. At Pike's Pond the woman appears again and convinces Shiso and Akadum to spend some time with her. Her intentions do not seem pure. Dolin Commands her to flee, she runs towards the pond, and disappears as a ripple on the surface of the pond. Again Bea and Junior never saw her clearly.
After some discussion along the route, they adopt Junior's suggestion of bringing the Green Sphere to the Shrine of Demeter, just a half mile south of Drigbolton. Back through the village, no one is stirring as it is about midnight. They get to the shrine, a striking 5 foot tall marble statue clearly of great age covered by an open wooden hut. They leave the Green Sphere as an offering to Demeter and Dolin preys for her good grace and protection.
They head back to Drigbolton and return to the King Deer, noting that the leader of the talking animals was the King Deer. Freya King and her family feed them goat stew, and tells them that her father named the Inn, and she does not know of any significance to the name. Talking among themselves it seems some were sent here to investigate things falling from the sky. Shiso says he was sent by his uncle who is a Professor at the White College in Leechfeld. Dolin was sent by the Dwarves of the Wreak. Valldel was sent here on a summer internship so that he does not kicked out of school. Akadum is not from around here.
The party goes to sleep in their rooms in the King Deer after a very long day.
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