Chapter 2: On the Road to Dimwater

[ChubbyPixie]

Trusty Yon will clean off his new, smelly club to see if he can make it less smelly, and set about tightly rewrapping the handle with a bit of rope from one of his lariats so he doesn't have to touch the grime left there by the former owner.

[jdluna]

Kragg walks over to a nearby tree and looks for a branch or sapling good enough to work as a spear/spike tries to break it off if none is easily broke he will begin sharpening one to put the severed head on. Once one is sharpened enough he takes the severed bugbear head and sticks it on the makeshift steak/spear and sticks the other end into the ground or if it is a sapling leaves it rooted into the ground. Looking at his work he says "That aught to do as a warning should others try that again."

Luna walks over and removes the head from the spike. Brother Kragg, respectfully, Lunia teaches us that sometimes killing is a necessity but to defile the defeated is an abomination in her eyes

[GreyWolfVT]

Kragg "And you have a lot to learn about beasts like that they need a warning to not do things again and they only understand what I just did there however what you are doing looses it's purpose. Bugbear are evil and will attack there ain't nothing defiled they do the same thing to you if that were your head." leaving his "grim truth" upon Luna, the pragmatic dwarf walks off to gather his things and proceeds to act as a look out away from the others waiting to see which way to go from here to get to their destination.

[Grognardsw]

Aric, barbarian

Kragg walks over to a nearby tree and looks for a branch or sapling good enough to work as a spear/spike tries to break it off if none is easily broke he will begin sharpening one to put the severed head on. Once one is sharpened enough he takes the severed bugbear head and sticks it on the makeshift steak/spear and sticks the other end into the ground or if it is a sapling leaves it rooted into the ground. Looking at his work he says "That aught to do as a warning should others try that again."

"Aye, show the animals what happens when they fight men!" says Aric, kicking one of the severed heads. "Or dwarves, halflings and elves..."

[Mant72]

Morning arrives soon after the confrontation with the bugbears, and the group sets off through the Eldenhook Forest. The rest of the journey proves uneventful, and you finally emerge from the woods to see the Dimwater River flowing before you.

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It is now late in the afternoon, and by the looks of the sun, there appears to be only about an hour of daylight left. "We should be at the monastery gates within a couple of miles. Night will be falling soon, and we must make haste," Favin relays to the group.

The company presses northward making their way along a winding, narrow path that runs between the river and the forest. After a mile or so upstream, you take note of a few dead fish floating here and there in the water. Initially, you think nothing of this; however, the further you travel, you notice that the number of dead fish begins to increase significantly. Eventually there are hundreds of their pale and bloated bodies washed up on shore. Some rest among the rocks, while others are held in the mercy of the river's current and bob aimlessly against the banks. Interestingly enough, no carrion birds partake of this seemingly easy banquet.

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The plant life also suffers here, as the leaves of trees and shrubs take on a withered and shriveled look. The smell of rotting vegetation and sulfur becomes more prevalent the further you travel upriver, and a disturbing number of trees openly weep sap like tears or oozing wounds. None of you can recall seeing any forest animals or hearing any birds since emerging from the wood. This is especially troubling to Osprey and Aric, as both are particularly sensitive to the ways of flora and fauna.

The sun sets slowly below the tree line, and the darkness of the forest begins to play tricks on you. Out of the corners of your eyes you see flitting shadows darting in and out the underbrush. Already the full moon floats high in the sky, bathing everything in its luminescence, and it almost seems to trail your group as you come upon a stone bridge. Favin steps forward, and light flares from his palm. The bridge is illuminated so that you can see it is lined with strangely weathered stone faces. Luna, Favin, and Duran recognize these likenesses as those belonging to various saints of Lunia.

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Suddenly, the horses become extremely agitated and skittish. Their eyes roll wildly as they nervously chomp on their bits and whinny and nicker uncontrollably. They toss their heads restlessly as Favin and Duran try to get them back under control. After the horses are somewhat calmed, Favin informs the group, “Here we must part ways. Just on the other side of this bridge, lies the monastery. We will return for you in one week’s time. May Lunia see you safely home.”

A gust of wind tosses some dead leaves about and sends a menacing chill through your cloaks. You stand huddled together at the foot of the bridge silently watching the two priests turn to leave, returning to the comfort and safety of Silington.

[Storm11]

"I say, thank you for the escort to the monestary. Is there any chance you holy brothers could heal the final wounds of my compatriots before heading off back, by any chance yes indeedy?" Hex says hopefully, looking at the blood soaked poltices and bandages of the wounded.

[Mant72]

Brother Favin:

"I say, thank you for the escort to the monestary. Is there any chance you holy brothers could heal the final wounds of my compatriots before heading off back, by any chance yes indeedy?" Hex says hopefully, looking at the blood soaked poltices and bandages of the wounded.

Favin turns and answers regretfully, "Alas, Master Hexalon, we would be more than willing to accommodate the wounded; however, we expended our gifts from Lunia following the battle with those vile beasts."

[Storm11]

i thought we had slept since then sorry

[Mant72]

No, it's okay. You all prayed and studied before the fight. The fight happened just before morning.

[ChubbyPixie]

"Well, I suppose this monastery isn't going to explore itself," says Yon, "Shall we?" He begins walking across the bridge, his trusty lasso hanging at his side.

[jdluna]

Luna bows to his departing brothers. Brothers, Travel safe. I fear Lunia no longer smiles upon this land With that, he clutches the moon shaped holy symbol and steps onto the bridge.

[GreyWolfVT]

Kragg "Aye, thank ya for the escort and may your trip back be safe." the dwarf bids the guides farewell. "Now then yes shall we enter this decaying place?"

[coil23]

Osprey Palearctic, elven fighter/magic-user

Thank you for escorting us, may your return be uneventful.

With that Osprey turns to examine the bridge, focusing on the faces.

[Storm11]

Hex waits for the others to cross and check its safety before crossing. He will Wave goodbye to the clerics cheerily.

[Grognardsw]

Aric, barbarian

Aric broods during the trek northward through the cursed land. Nature is getting stangled by dark forces here. He hopes the treasures are worth the risk, for powerful must the magics be to so sicken the land.

After glancing under the bridge, for he has heard tales of trolls living under such, Aric draws his sword and walks down the middle of the bridge to the other side.

[ravenn4544]

Wil, seeing Aric march fearlessly down the bridge, smiles to himself at the lack of patience and planning that those he meets often possess. How much unwanted hardship and unplanned surprise could be avoided with but a simple second of preparation.

Following behind, he will find traps as best he can.

[GreyWolfVT]

Kragg looks for the best way to enter the place and heads towards it.

[Mant72]

Brother Wil watches some of the group members walk brazenly across the bridge, and he questions if they may have overlooked something in their haste. He decides to scan the area for traps or snares but finds no machinations poised to harm the party.

With a flourish and a bow, Phineas bids the departing priests farewell. He then twirls the ends of his prodigious mustache and makes his way to join Osprey in examining the bridge and sculpted faces. "Reminds me of Simon the Stone, who used to travel with our troupe. Could turn his skin to solid stone on a whim, he could," the halfling boldly asserts while observing the stone saints.

The bridge itself is constructed of riverstone; however, the saint's faces appear to be somehow molded from the stone itself, for there are no chisel marks or seams to be found. The light from Favin's spell still remains, and it hovers in a scintillating ball just above the stone visages. Their features almost seem move in the play between light and shadow. Again the wind picks up, and as the breeze blows through the carvings, it creates a sussurating sound that mimics the whispering of indistinct and obscure secrets.

The adventurers cross over the bridge and make for the Dimwater Monastery. The symbolism is not lost here on any of them, for are all aware of both its literal and metaphorical implications.

Chapter Three: The Monastery at Dimwater begins here:
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[coil23]

Osprey Palearctic, elven fighter/magic-user

At Phineas' bold assertion Osprey remarks, This Simon could turn his skin to stone? Or turn his audience's minds to mush? Done sufficiently, one can be quite as good as the other.