15th Pharast, Toilday
We have decided to return to exploring the forested area that lies to the west of the trading post. But before we set off, we discussed what to do about the traps set by the trapper who doesn't mark them. We've determined that if we encounter any more of his traps we will confiscate them, as they are a hazard.
Chahana also tried to convince Oleg not to dismantle the other ballistae, but he saw no point to keeping them. He doesn't wish his trading post to become an armed fort. After their discussion one of the former bandits who has some carpentry skill offered to disassemble them and set them aside. Chahana has written to Restov to request books about how to build and maintain such weapons, as she is determined that they should be preserved and repaired for future use.
When we left the trading post, we borrowed a wagon from Oleg as it's smaller than Zander's wagon and will be easier to navigate in forested areas. The enchanted sapling we discovered by the bandit camp makes travel much less difficult. Simon is carrying the sapling for the present. We left our mounts in the care of Robb the groom so that we'll only need to carry enough feed with us to look after the horses pulling the wagon. Reislin has chosen to remain at the trading post to inscribe scrolls.
16th Pharast
Today we came upon some unusual tracks that seemed to be those of lizard-like creatures the size of halflings, walking on two legs. These appeared recently made. We suspected they were kobold tracks. There is a reward for eliminating the "kobold threat", though the poster at Oleg's doesn't say what threat the kobolds pose. But because there is supposed to be a threat, we decided to seek the makers of the prints.
Following the tracks led us to a clearing, where we found a party of six kobolds gorging themselves on moon radishes. They also had a quantity of radishes they'd harvested stored in buckets. Chahana stepped forward and attempted to converse with the kobolds, but she doesn't speak their language. The kobolds don't speak our language either. One kobold threw a spear at her when she tried speaking louder. Two others also snatched up their weapons, which inspired Maria to scold them as she might have done a small child or a dog. Fortunately they were too bloated with radishes to be threatening, and we permitted them to gather up their harvest and depart as we saw no harm in them. Sarenrae willing, we have not made a mistake in our judgments.
The kobolds left behind some radishes so these we gathered to take back to Svetlana. As we picked them we questioned whether we should seek out the kobolds' main camp. We don't know how many kobolds there may be, and as we can't speak with them we will likely wait until Reislin is with us again, as she knows more languages.
17th Pharast
We've come back to the river again. As we were following its banks we spied an unusual tree, its foliage blue on one side of the trunk. We could find no magical cause for such coloration, and Simon doesn't know any reason for it. After Chahana plucked a few of the blue leaves, Zander noticed an unusal bird nest in the top of a nearby fir tree. But we saw no occupant and the tree was much too tall to climb.
Later on Chahana suddenly noticed that some of the moon radishes we had picked were missing from the wagon. Simon suspects fey creatures took them.
We now know that fey are following us. As we were setting some wood on the campfire tonight, a burst of brilliant light flared, leaving me bereft of sight for a few moments. We could hear voices among the trees, though the members of our group who weren't left blind couldn't see the source of those voices. While Zander attempted to calm the frightened horses, he saw a small person that appeared to be emulating his likeness. It behaved in a comical manner, waving a stick at him before running off among the trees. Chahana set a radish out on a log just beyond the camp as an offering.
18th Pharast
Nothing happened to the radish Chahana left. Today when we rested at midday, Zander noticed the horses' tails had been tied together.
This afternoon we came upon a treeless bluff looming over the river's opposite bank. On its crest we could see what appeared to be stone structures. We decided that although the bluff lies beyond the area we planned to explore, we will cross the river and climb to its top to see what is there.
It took us some time to make our way to the foot of the bluff. It is too steep to take the horses and wagon up. We worked our way around to a less severe slope and climbed up to the summit, which gives a fine view over the Narlmarches. On the southern side it drops off in a sheer cliff, which proved to be carved into the likeness of an elk. In a clearing at the top lies what appears to be a temple to Erastil, just as the priest Jhod expected. There is a ring of standing stones, a shallow pool that was full of algae when we first encountered it, and a broken stair leading to a dark entrance dug into the bluff. Jhod's vision mentioned a bear, and Simon spied some remains that looked like they might have been left from a bear's kills. Bear tracks were also visible on the ground. The whole area felt dark and had an oppressive air despite it being a pleasant sunny day.
We assumed the bear had made its lair in the cave at the top of the stair. Simon offered to try to lure it out. His effort was immediately successful, as a massive bear came rushing out, roaring in fury. I am no hunter, but even to my eyes the beast looked wrong, its coat filthy and matted and its expression one of mindless rage. I took cover behind one of the standing stones and used the Dawnflower's blessing to see if it had been corrupted by evil, but I could detect no evil from it.
It was my mistake to let the beast see me when I examined it. It rushed at me and slashed me with its claws, then grabbed hold of me and began to pull me closer. Zander ran behind it and Chahana fired an arrow into its flank. I slashed it with my scimitar and Maria joined Zander to stab it from behind, which caused it to release me and swat at Maria. Then Chahana put an arrow through its heart. As it collapsed it let out a sigh that sounded almost an expression of relief. Its body transformed into that of an old, very dirty human, who rapidly shriveled until at last he decayed into dust.
As soon as the werebear breathed his last, the gloominess of the place vanished and it felt altogether more wholesome. We realized the pool had cleared of its film of algae and now appeared clean and palatable. Simon tasted the water and told us it was good. I decided to have a drink myself and as soon as I swallowed a mouthful the claw marks left by the bear closed and faded to mere scratches.
A hazy image appeared to us then of a man in the garb of a priest, calling out for aid against invading orcs and trolls. Again and again he cried out for help, until at last when his calls went unanswered he called upon something darker and more ominous that led to his transformation.
I turned my eyes toward the image of the stag and gave a prayer of thanks to Erastil for his healing blessing. It was then that I caught a glimpse of a creature looking down at us from above. It was a griffon. After a moment it flew away.
We decided that we would remain for the night at the temple and clear away some of the refuse left by the bear, then return to Oleg's to inform Jhod of our discovery and bring him back if he chooses to come.
19th Pharast
Simon has elected to remain at the temple, as he is a worshipper of Erastil and it is Planting Week, a festival devoted to the Deadeye. We will return to Oleg's Trading Post without him.
22nd Pharast
We have returned to Oleg's trading post, bringing with us some lumber we gathered along the way and the moon radishes Svetlana requested. They are among Oleg's favorite foods. Svetlana gave us quite a substantial reward for them.
The remaining ballistae have been disassembled and stacked outside the fort walls, under tarpaulins to protect them from the weather. While we were away a letter from Maegar Varn arrived, telling us that things are going well for him to the east: he has been made mayor of the town, which has changed its name to Varnhold in his honor.
Svetlana has given us a supply of honey and some licorice sweets to take as offerings for the fey folk when we journey back to the temple with Jhod. He is eager to visit it. Reislin has been persuaded to come back with us, though I think she would prefer it if she could remain behind and continue making scrolls.
26th Pharast
We left Jhod at the temple, where he is confident he will be safe on his own. Simon has rejoined us to continue our explorations. We have decided to remain away from the trading post for two or three weeks to make a thorough examination of the surroundings near the temple.
Late on the first day we found a stack of logs that had collapsed. At first we thought it a logging camp, but quickly realized it was meant to be a deadfall trap. Much to our dismay, we found the remains of a man who had been crushed and had died there some days earlier. He was clad in furs and leathers, which suggest he might have been a trapper, but there was nothing with him to indicate his identity other than a fine quality axe. The rope that was meant to act as the trigger of the trap had been gnawed through. We couldn't determine if the dead man was the builder of the trap or only its victim. We buried his remains nearby and I prayed to Pharasma to look after his spirit. We took his tent, which was damaged but which Zander thinks he can repair, and also his axe. If he was someone who had visited the trading post, perhaps Oleg will recognize the axe.
We have come to another river, this one known as the Skunk River for the sulfurous odor it emits. It is very boggy in the area around this river, which makes the sapling even more useful to us as otherwise it would be very difficult to traverse in a wagon. We had heard that an alchemist occasionally visits the trading post and Chahana wondered if he would be interested in the waters here, as the smell indicates the presence of hot springs that can sometimes have healing properties.
By following the steam we saw rising from the ground we found the spring, where mud bubbles up in a most unappealing manner. Chahana states that in her homeland such mud is used to smooth and soften the skin. As we were observing this unusual sight, several frogs the size of small ponies rose out of the muck and began trying to eat us!
I was caught by one frog's sticky long tongue and drawn toward it, but I managed to fend it off. Zander was similarly snared. Within a few moments we had slain several frogs and the others had fled. Zander then skinned the carcases, hoping to make some leather goods from their hides.
We returned to the temple and spent the rest of our time in the area surrounding it, assuring ourselves that the only threats were fey. Jhod has gathered up many broken pieces of carvings that once adorned the temple and intends to restore them.
We searched the area between the temple and the Thorn River, observing some spectacularly beautiful dragonflies that appeared to be of fey origin. Simon suggested that there may be a weakness here in the veil between this world and the fey realm, or perhaps a portal through which they can enter this world.
Next we made our way to the other side of the Skunk River, which is much more difficult to ford than the Thorn. In the distance we spied what appeared to be some ruined buildings. We encountered some unusual tracks, which resembled the footprints of frogs, but the creature appeared to be ambulating on two limbs rather than four. Along with it were reptilian prints from a four-legged creature. These led to two structures, one of them whole but old and the other a ruin. Chahana cautiously approached to observe the creature whose footprints we had followed there.
Inside the less ruined structure is a being that resembles a frog, but it wears clothing and carries a club. It appeared to speak to the second creature from time to time. This second creature was purple in color and its mouth sported a pair of long upper fangs. The creature with the club was engaged in pursuing dragonflies. Chahana recalls that such creatures are known as boggards. This prompted Maria to remember that the purple beast is a slurk. I detect no sign of corruption in them.
Maria has found no sign of other boggards in the area. It seems our boggard dwells alone here. Chahana decided to try to speak to it, hopeful that it knows some language other than its own as even Reislin is unable to speak the boggard's tongue. The boggard proved to know only a few words of the common tongue, but it is enough. Maria offered it some trail ration, which it took. The whole exchange was friendly enough, though it soon became clear that the boggard thinks of the structure as its territory and is happy enough for us to leave it be. What Chahana recalls about boggards makes me wonder if perhaps it is an exile from its people.
Next: part 4, Boars and Bushes and Spiders
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