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Fourthmonth, Eighteenthday
The Barony of Draea

The Baron nods seriously. "It has been most welcome to see strangers from the outside world. We look forward to working with you in the future."

The adventurers may contact Madame Fleur again, should they desire.

It had rained the previous night, but the early morning sky is clear and crisp, the ground and leaves laden with moisture.

Feargus

Feargus is particularly harsh on Mardan Cy in the morning as the two pack up their belongings. In point of fact though, he is only venting on the youngster because of the hangover he's sporting and the memory of how poor their performance was the previous day.

Newton and Ribar recover their spells in the morning, ready to be on their way.

Newton also thanks for the Baron for the hospitality and Ribar makes a point of privately thanking Odos for his assistance.

Haaki the Feather Witch

Haaki and Syoksya search out a farm in the outskirts of the settled land with a barn with a comfortable hayloft, then settle in for eight hours of rest. Haaki resumes her human form.

Once they’ve rested, they set off again, flying south back to the party. They don’t mind leaving while it’s still dark out. On the way back, they spy on the giant encampment.

Atlictoatl wrote:Haaki the Feather Witch

Haaki and Syoksya search out a farm in the outskirts of the settled land with a barn with a comfortable hayloft, then settle in for eight hours of rest. Haaki resumes her human form.

Once they’ve rested, they set off again, flying south back to the party. They don’t mind leaving while it’s still dark out. On the way back, they spy on the giant encampment.

Fourthmonth, Eighteenthday
The Road North

The adventurers leave the Barony, heading back on the road north to Kimrid. The companions note that Kirra Lec has purchased two more mules, and laden them heavily. "Purchased some goods to trade when we hit Kimrid," she says, "those ironborn are consumate metal-smiths, I'll give them that much.

The party is riding along a somewhat amorphous dividing line that runs parallel to the road. To the west the woods are much thicker, the trees spaced close enough together to make traveling overland on horseback difficult. To the east the woods thin somewhat; visibility is better, and movement is not impeded nearly as much.

Around the third hour after leaving the Barony there is a rustling in the trees on either side of the road . . . except its not *in* the trees, it *is* the trees. Four enormous creatures, trees with vaguely humanoid features, plant themselves in the road, two in front of and two behind the party. "Children on Men, wielders of Iron, we have heard tell that the woods are full of them again. Tell me what you are doing here on this day, and what your plans are for these woods!" The lead treants voice is low and rumbly, like distant thunder.

Newton nudges his horse forward a few yards

"Mighty tree-shepherds, it is an honour. We are traveling the old road to re-establish contact with the human settlement of Kimrid, to the north. We mean no ill to the woods"

Feargus

Feargus leans in to Mardan Cy and whispers, "They don't seem to like us using iron...would they rather us use wood? Stay here, keep an eye on things. If it goes bad, take the packhorse and ride clear of the fight."

Feargus rides slowly forward next to Newton, hands open and visible. So far he is keeping silent.

Treant

"There are more Men to the south of here, Men with skin that shines like iron. They are cutting the forests, clearing the land. Are they your kinsmen?"

Newton

"The ironborn? They're not kinsmen, we didn't know they were there until we came upon them a couple of days ago. We come from further south, many days travel away.'

Treant

The massive tree-creature frowns, its bark-skin creating deep furrows. "Very well," it says, "know that these trees are under the protection of the Silverbark Court, and do not stray from the path, lest you be led astray. Know also that you will soon come upon a stream that crosses this path; within the waters dwells an abomination of nature, that is despoiling these lands even as the ironskins do. Slay this creature and we will grant a boon, should you desire."

Telemachus

"We would be happy to help you, if it were within our power to do so. Can you tell us any more about this abomination in the river?"

Treant

"A bridge of stone, built by Man long ago, once crossed the stream. It has collapsed, and dammed the flow. This is the very edge of our territory; we do no come here often. By happenstance, we arrived a few days ago, and found the water in the pool foetid and oily, despoiled by some creature that dwells within. One of my brothers was almost slain when he went to investigate, an unnatural creature dwells within the pond, pale and lithe, like an eel."

Haaki, the Feather Witch

“Does your brother need healing?” Haaki asks. “We have such magic.”

Feargus
"So to be clear, the abomination is in the water? Did your kin say if it came out of the stream at all or was it more like a fish in that it stayed in the water?

Telemachus

"Sounds like a river troll. I feel like I've faced those in the past... maybe in a former life."

The_Wanderer wrote:Feargus
"So to be clear, the abomination is in the water? Did your kin say if it came out of the stream at all or was it more like a fish in that it stayed in the water?

Treant

"It came out of the water, but he was already weakened. There is something in the air, in the water, perhaps, that affects us. The trees around the water are dying already, which is why we came here, to the far reaches of our demesne."

Gardo

"The Ironborn are beings of Law, they would have nothing to do with causing harm to you. It sounds like some of the foul Chaos that we have encountered. We recently slew such an abomination in one of our own cities."

"You mentioned the Ironborn as if they were intentionally causing harm to you. After we have dispatched this foul creature, I would suggest that you meet with the Ironborn to see for yourself. I would personally introduce you their leader, who personally slew the orc leader that called himself 'The Snake' or such."

He turns to the rest of the group. "Are we ready to find something to fight and test our skills against?"

Telemachus

"I am ready."

Newton

"I'm ready to find and defeat this chaos horror" he bows to the treants "It was an honour to meet you, I hope we can destroy this abomination for you and that we'll meet again"