From the journal of Lythande Syldorei
Wealday, 3rd Abadius 4712
I didn't expect to be spending the beginning of a new year floating across the river on logs lashed together into a simple raft. It didn't keep us entirely dry, but we were less wet than we would have been had we attempted to swim across.
As we hauled our raft onto the shore and set up a small campfire to dry ourselves, we suddenly realized that a group of four people were standing at the top of a hill looking down on us. They soon came down and revealed themselves to be Zander, accompanied by his brother Benn and two other members of his family, Harad and Selkara. Harad and Selkara seemed amused by our raft and our desire to get dry before continuing our search for the black rattlecap mushrooms. Selkara remarked that if we were tougher we wouldn't need metal armor to protect ourselves, which struck me as odd because she too wears armor. Zander's three relatives told us a tale of a winter sport their tribe enjoys, which entails cutting down several trees and putting them in a lake and using them to race one another. It seems this contest isn't considered worthwhile unless the participants' limbs have gone numb with cold.
Selkara asked why we wanted to cross the river, and Reislin gave them an explanation of our desire to find the mushrooms for the Old Beldame. Selkara appeared to be familiar with this type of mushroom and warned that they are dangerous. When the trolls and a possible dragon were mentioned the Tiger Lords became quite interested. Curiously they seemed more excited by the trolls than the dragon. Though it wasn't yet dusk, we decided to make camp where we were. Chahana went hunting with Benn, Harad, and Selkara to get game for our evening meal.
Oathday, 4th Abadius
This morning after we broke camp we set out in search of the 'mud bowl' where we had been told we would find the mushrooms. Finding the spot wasn't difficult. It was quite obvious when we happened upon it: a depression in the ground filled with black mud, surrounded by small mossy hillocks. The mud and the hillocks made the area a bit difficult to navigate. Maria immediately demanded to know why this place existed, and Reislin gave her an explanation of how different types of creatures live in different places. I'm doubtful that Maria was convinced. I think she would have liked to fill the depression in with soil and flatten the hillocks so that someone could build a house there.
On top of the mud it was quite easy to see the mushrooms we had come for. But Maria noticed something making a noise from the mud, which we at first thought might be some of the giant toads we'd found in the swamp, but Maria denied this. In response, Harad took out a javelin from his quiver and hurled it into the mud at the source of the noise. At once a large creature emerged from beneath the mud, long vine-like tendrils stretching out from its body. A moment later a second such creature arose from the southern side of the mud bowl. Reislin and Chahana quickly shouted out to us what they recalled of such creatures, which are known as tendriculos in the common tongue. Reislin remembered that they are a kind of mobile plant and acid can't harm them. Chahana's memories were encouraged by Reislin's words and she recalled that they are able to grab prey and pull it toward them with their tendrils, after which they can swallow even something as large as a pony and it will be paralyzed by the acid within the creature's gullet.
Harad shouted out that the Tiger Lords would take on the tendriculos to the north, leaving the southern creature to us. Benn added that whichever group slew its creature last would be responsible for cooking dinner. Zander took flight over the mud and Harad drew out a weapon that appeared to be the jawbone of some great beast. Selkara demonstrated that she was able to use magic. Chahana fired several arrows into the southern creature, and we observed with dismay that it appeared to be capable or healing almost instantly from wounds like a troll.
Maria cast a spell on her sword and moved up to the second tendriculos to slash it. It let out an piercing screech, spraying a fine dust over everyone nearby as it rushed toward us. I took my new spear in both hands and dodged its flailing tendrils as I thrust the point into its body. I glimpsed Harad suddenly growing much larger as Selkara chanted some incantation over him. Selkara herself then summoned a flame to her hand and flung it at the first creature. It seemed unable to heal from the burns. Upon observing this, Chahana took a flask of alchemical fire from her bandolier and threw it into the second creature, achieving a similar effect. The first creature caught hold of the enlarged Harad and pulled him close, attempting to bite him. Maria maneuvered to the second creature's opposite side and thrust her sword into it, and it slumped over and ceased thrashing its tendrils. Chahana and Reislin both shouted out to the Tiger Lords that they hoped our new friends are good cooks. Reislin then cast her spell of alacrity on their group, and after Harad pulled himself free of its grasp and struck it with his huge jawbone weapon, it too collapsed. We doubted that they were truly dead. Selkara applied her flames and Chahana poured more alchemical fire on the second one and we were soon assured that they wouldn't rise again.
Harad and Benn gathered up the mushrooms, while Maria evaluated the powder the second tendriculos had breathed on us. It was some type of fungal spore, but only Chahana had begun to suffer any adverse effect from it and rinsing it off soon cured her. Reislin found some useful herbs growing around the mud pool and gathered those as well. Then the Tiger Lords had to go off hunting for something to serve us for our dinner.
Zander informed us afterward that the priest of Pharasma we were awaiting hadn't yet arrived when he left Lorewynd, but as we are expecting her soon we have decided to return to town after we deliver the mushrooms to the Old Beldame.
Fireday, 5th Abadius
We crossed the Tuskwater again on our raft, with Zander and his family swimming alongside us since our raft was too small to carry all of us. I suspect they would have chosen to swim even had it been larger. After leaving the raft behind we made our way to the Beldame's hut. She has new scarecrows in her garden but they look less sturdy than the scarecrow that came to life and attacked us when we came there last year. We decided that we shouldn't enter her garden uninvited. Reislin cast a spell on me, and then only Chahana and I approached the gate and Chahana rang the bell while the others waited a little farther away. Chahana had even left her weapons with Maria. Reislin had cast her usual spell on us that allows us to whisper to one another when we are too far to be heard. We waited a short time until the door opened and the old woman looked out at us. I wasn't surprised that her expression was not a welcoming one. Chahana explained to her that we had come to make amends with her and deliver the mushrooms to her. She asked if we still intended to claim the territory around her cottage, to which Chahana replied that we would claim the surrounding area, but not the land on which her cottage stood. She then invited us to approach and went inside, shutting the door.
Chahana and I walked up to the door and heard sounds of pots clinking together and movement from within. Chahana rapped her knuckles against the door. The Beldame opened it and gestured for us to enter. Inside the hut appeared cozy if cluttered, with bunches of herbs hanging from the rafters and a fire burning in the hearth. The Beldame indicated that Chahana should set the mushrooms down. She took the bag and drew them out, examining them and taking several that suited her when she went to fetch water from the pot sitting by the fire. While she brewed herself a cup of tea, Chahana told her about the two tendriculos that had been in the mud bowl. The conversation then ranged away from that topic to the various herbs and their medicinal uses. She seems to be as knowledgeable as Bokken, but less eccentric. Chahana then mentioned the herbs that Reislin had gathered and offered to show them to her. She used Reislin's spell to ask Reislin to bring them, but Reislin declined and sent Maria in her stead. To avoid causing the Beldame consternation Maria left her own weapons and shield behind as Chahana had done. After the Beldame saw the herbs she agreed to trade us for them. She gave us a considerable reward of gold for the mushrooms, and in exchange for the herbs we received two curative oils and a potion that will give the imbiber skin like tough bark for a short time.
After we left the Tiger Lords seemed to think that we had feared her, but I explained to them that we'd had a disagreement with her and desired to make amends. Selkara wanted to talk with her as she felt that the Beldame was a wise woman worth learning from.
Sunday, 7th Abadius
On our return to Lorewynd we found that we have guests. The priestess of Pharasma has arrived, as well as a group of emissaries from Mivon, the kingdom that lies to the south of Neotellus. The trolls have been troubling them as well and they seek an alliance with us.
We were first introduced to this when we arrived in the castle and found one of the chambers occupied by two people who had both suffered the loss of limbs recently, and the priest was examining a woman who appeared to have taken a blow to the head and was suffering some loss of vision. A well-dressed man stood by watching as the priest examined the woman, with an expression of anxiety on his face. Amus the shrinekeeper stood in the corner looking slight uncomfortable, perhaps because all of these people except the priest appeared to be nobles. I offered to provide what healing power the Dawnflower grants me, but Amis and the new priest had done what could be done with the aid of the gods.
Amus
Chahana greeted them and introduced herself to the visitors, and the man told us his name is Arravis De Vray. Reislin recognized that he is descended from one of the families who left Brevoy to form Mivon when the territories that became Brevoy were unified some time ago. The human lands are always in a state of change. The injured woman is Arravis' cousin Morissa. They had traveled from Mivon with another cousin, who was meant to be the ambassador, but she had been slain when they were attacked by trolls on the way north. The mayor of Mivon had also sent us a message to notify us of their intent to send envoys, but it seems that too was waylaid by trolls as we received no such letter. Arravis also explained that their party had been much larger, with many porters and servants, all of whom had either been slain or had fled when the trolls attacked. The other two people who had managed to reach Lorewynd were Master Livianne Seline, sister of the mayor, and her bodyguard Loshio Magnar. Master Seline had lost an arm to the trolls, and Loshio had lost his leg.
Arravis de Vray
The priest of Pharasma who was attending to them introduced herself as SiAnne of New Stetven. She is the tallest human woman I have ever seen, arrayed all in robes of her order. Amis told us she arrived three days ago, but Arravis and his party had only just reached the town. We arranged for the chamber they were in to be used as a sickroom while Amis and SiAnne continue to care for the injured, and Arravis and Morissa have been given other rooms. SiAnne advises that Morissa should rest for a few days and she will recover. Chahana also arranged for a dinner to be served to those of the new arrivals who are capable of dining together. After we parted from them, I went out with Amis and let him know how much we appreciate all he has done for Lorewynd. He seems pleased that SiAnne has arrived. Reislin and I then took the hodag's head that we had brought back with us and presented it to Stass. He was delighted with it and welcomed my keeping the spear we found in its den.
SiAnne
At the dinner we learned more of the troll attack that so grievously harmed the party from Mivon. Mivon seeks alliance with Neotellus, but we must tread carefully due to the support Brevoy has provided us. We were also introduced to SiAnne's family. Her husband's surname is Surtova, the same as Chahana's, though they are but distantly related. SiAnne has abandoned her surname to show that while she is devoted to her husband and children, her family is her temple. Her young daughter, Manda, fancies herself to be politically astute and often spoke up to demonstrate her education. I found it entertaining to think that a human child of so few years would speak so, but perhaps when she has grown she will indeed have acquired deep knowledge. Before we parted from Arravis, he requested an audience with us on the morrow.
Moonday, 8th Abadius
This morning we met before our audience with Arravis to discuss what we should do. We have no desire to antagonize Mivon, nor to anger Brevoy. What we desire is to maintain friendly relations with both and to increase trade and travel from both nations. But there are those in Mivon who lay claim to these lands we have claimed for Neotellus. The trolls also claim them, and we have heard rumors that there are powerful fey who claim them as well. Zander is unwilling to form an alliance with either Brevoy or Mivon. It is difficult to choose which course of action is wisest when either course may lead to conflict.
Arravis arrived for his audience with us in a surprisingly cheerful mood. When he spoke to he us he told us he would like if it is possible to recover the bodies of those who were slain. He had brought with him several chests of goods that had been sent with their embassy as gifts of friendship. Though some of what they had carried was lost to the trolls, he offered an enchanted longsword as one of these gifts, as well as a golden circlet, a magical cloak, and an enchanted ring. When we had expressed our gratitude to him, Maria asked how many trolls had set upon their party. Arravis replied that at first they had seen only three trolls, but the number had increased to more than a dozen. Reislin asked him precisely when we should seek to rid ourselves of the trolls. Arravis asked that we wait until his cousin has recovered enough to join us. He suspects the trolls may have taken over an old ruined structure of dwarven make in the Narlmarches. Reislin brought out some of the maps she has acquired and we reviewed them to make ourselves familiar with that area.
After we parted from Arravis, we discussed what we should do with the magical items he had given us. My friends pressed me to take the circlet as it grants the wearer greater charm for speaking to others. Zander took the ring, and in exchange gave me a similar but less powerful ring he previously wore. It surrounds the wearer in a protective field of magical energy.
With that business taken care of, Chahana went on to a sparring session with Arravis to learn what skill of swordplay he has. I cannot deny that I am proud she defeated him, though regrettably she forgot that their sparring was meant to do no injury and she wounded Arravis with an arrow. Praise the Dawnflower that we now have SiAnne as well as Amus to supplement the healing power that Maria, Zander, and I can call upon.
As we prepare to face the trolls, I must make sure to carry some flasks of acid with me to deal with their strange ability to withstand flames.
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