IC I

[thirdkingdom]

Dinner is a simple yet pleasant affair, mostly root vegetables with mushrooms and a bit of rabbit. Zoltar proves an excellent host, polite and accommodating, willing to answer most questions put before him. After the meal he bids you good night, suggesting that camp can be made in the clearing outside his domicile and animals hobbled nearby. "Do not leave the clearing once night falls," he warns, "nothing shall disturb your rest while you are within sight of these walls."

Thaumont 5, AC 1000

The new day dawns clear, with a spring chill to the air. The companions are soon off, Zoltar presenting them with a basket of bread, eggs and jam for their trek. After several hours of rough traveling, for there is no path and the cart makes for slow going, Lanny leads the group to a babbling brook he judges to be the one Zoltar spoke of. It is clear and pleasant at first, a game trail runs parallel to it that speeds travel. Before too long, however, the party begins to spot the occasional oily patch on the surface of the brook, accompanied by a faintly rancid odor.

Further travel only increases the preponderance of such blemishes. Slightly before noon the brook widens into a small pool, perhaps twenty feet across and three or so feet deep. It would be a beautiful and magical spot were it not for the oily froth tossed upon the banks, or the foul smelling slick on the water's surface. On the near bank a small figure reclines, the size of a child -- nude, and possessing the features of a grown woman, feet in the water. Her skin and hair have a greenish tint, but her body is covered in blisters and welts and her long hair matted. She does not appear aware of the party's approach.

Rolled a 2 on my phone, no random encounters. Rolls indicate a clear, seasonal day.

[sulldawga]

Marodin, the Cleric, will hop down from the wagon and say, "Ok, who's got that necklace from the mage? He should be the one talking to this fairy nymph whatever first..."

[Finglas]

Bregalad the elf

"I believe Drudsa carries the amulet. Drudsa, do you wish to approach the faerie?"

If Drudsa would prefer it, Bregalad is willing to approach the faerie.

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf looks with sadness upon the spoiled area. "What a shame..." he says quietly. "I shall have some words for these troglodyte polluters." The elf dismounts and sets down his bow, quietly watching the faerie from a distance. "Poor creature... Let us try not to surprise her too much..."

Lanny will whistle a little bird call to draw the faerie's attention once the party has selected its spokesman.

I too am assuming that Drudsa is carrying the necklace.

[zebediah]

Drudsa the dabbler looks around at his companions and steps forward handling the necklace to keep it as visible as possible as he advances.

If Zahara doesn't notice him he coughs and says "Pardon me, Zahara I suppose. We come on behalf of Zoltar. Please don't kill me."

[riftstone]

Thordin the dwarf hisses (from behind his pony), "Don't worry, if she eats you, you might be avenged." He gives a good nod of his head, to show support.

[thirdkingdom]

The little creature turns at the noise, but sluggishly. Her face, drawn with worry and extremely pale, brightens slightly at the site of the men, and she licks her lips in a disturbingly sensual manner, incongruous for someone of her size. She seems to shake her head at the sight of the amulet, and the fire that had briefly lit in her green eyes dims.

She speaks, and at first Drudsa and the others are unable to comprehend a single word. It soon becomes apparent she is speaking a dialect of elven, many times removed; a tongue so archaic it makes the elven tongue seem young. "You are friends of the blind one, no? What brings so many young, virile men to my {place of being}? Have you come to serve me, to {act of pollination} of my children? Or have you come to rid my {place of myself} of these horrid {stink-monsters}?"

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

Lanny glances at the other elves with a puzzled expression on his face as he hears the faerie speak words of an ancient elven dialect. He slowly walks up and stands next to Drudsa, in part for support, and in part to better understand the words being said.

[zebediah]

Drudsa the dabbler

"You are friends of the blind one, no? What brings so many young, virile men to my {place of being}? Have you come to serve me, to {act of pollination} of my children? Or have you come to rid my {place of myself} of these horrid {stink-monsters}?"

"Huh, alternative number two I'm afraid milady Zahara. Master Zoltar has asked us to deal with these horrid stink monsters that plague you and for that we are at your service. I am pretty certain you will meet the fellas destined to assist you with that pollinating part, much more noble souls than ours no doubt at all..."

[Finglas]

Bregalad the elf

Bregalad lays down his arms, and joins Drudsa and Lanny, a respectful distance from the beautiful but sad faerie. "My lady, what can you tell us of the foul stink monsters? Are they near?"

If Zahara is unable to provide information concerning the troglodytes, the elf will use his tracking and navigation skills to determine their number and whereabouts.

[thirdkingdom]

Zahara

"I cannot tell with certainty, as I am bound to {my place of myself}, but I believe the beasts to have taken up residence some distance upstream. The {wellspring} is there, in the root of yon mountain. I have but seen the fould creatures once or twice, as they hunted nearby, but by that point I was too weak, too {past caring?} to avenge myself."

[Bouv]

Tratiln bows respectfully, "Then let us deal with the foul monsters upstream."

[thirdkingdom]

Tratiln bows respectfully, "Then let us deal with the foul monsters upstream."

I had gone ahead with the assumption this was, at least at first, going to be a "fact-finding" mission. Would you guys like to deal with the trogs now?

[Makofan]

Grey Jake, fully healed from his dagger wound, has regained some of his old swagger. "I can scout ahead a bit, although I am not sure if an elf is better suited"

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf looks upstream through the woods.

"Lady Zahara, how far from here is the wellspring? And do you know how many of these foul creatures there are? Also, what were they hunting, and at what time of day?"

Lanny is ok with scouting out the trog area if it is not too far away.

[thirdkingdom]

Zahara

"They hunt the noble beasts of these woods to sate their hunger. I saw {many --more than two} that day, the sun had risen. The spring I know not how far in your terms. {Water flows in three beats of the heart}? Not far, though, I think."

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf looks to the spoiled pool.

"One more question, Lady Zahara. Do you know what this oily substance is, and what causes it to enter the waters of this brook?"

[thirdkingdom]

Zahara

The nereid shrugs listlessly, stirring up the frothy slick as she paddles her feed slowly. "{Trog shit}? Who knows? It is my doom, whatever it is."

Can you guys give me an idea of how you want to proceed upstream? There is a narrow game trail running parallel to the stream, otherwise the woods are mostly old growth hardwoods, with little underbrush and trees maybe twenty feet apart.

[riftstone]

Thordin the dwarf speaks not a word of elvish.

He will whisper in dwarven to Bregalad, "Well, is she going to eat you guys? Not sure I want to stick around if she does."

[Bouv]

Tratiln will take a good look at the substance and see if he can id it.

Arcane Knowledge check. As for proceeding, I suggest we leave the animals tied up in a nice spot here and proceed on foot (I will also leave my gold with the animals)