An Escort into Madness

As told by Nathia Truthfist

We had been tasked with escorting Sirondar, something that sounded simple enough. We started off from Gorlock's Palace -- ah, it had been some time since I had been there but things were much the same -- and met up with Ted there, who joined us. Braltak was also there and seemed sad that Greeba had to leave so soon. He invited her to visit.

We set off for Leefield. It was a market town known for timber and cows and...well, that is what it looked like. Fields and trees. We met Olos, who told us of some trouble in town, though he seemed to take an instant dislike to Gorlock, which was unusual. Even so, he took us to the Council after some free drinks. We met them at the Village Hall. There was Simmon, the Blacksmith, and Joshua Kairnley, a Ranger. 

They told us that a farm had been razed, but it did not seem like a natural attack. Is any attack natural? I might have asked that once. At any rate, they thought it might have come from the wood. I asked the ranger if they had seen anything from the skies, but he said no. 

There were rumours of mandrake folk but we did not make much of that. 

We left Sirondar behind to keep him safe, and set off towards the Old Field Copse and found the ruined buildings of the farm. As we took a look around, a tall firbolg stepped forth--Snowleaf -- and greeted Blurb. He had apparently been staying in the area as it seemed deserted. He had seen "people" taking bags to the trees. Not people though...kenku, from his description. After that information, Ted was able to find a claw mark at the old farm that did indeed look like it could have been kenku made.

I had not been there, but some of the others had told me of their previous run-ins with kenku, so I was immediately on edge. 

We continued on and found a trail with kenku print. Following it, we found a hut in the middle of the copse. There was no smoke coming from the chimney. Ted snuck up and saw crates and crates of silvery berries and weird roots. Alchemist stuff. And a man in wizard-y grey robes, with another more stoutly dressed fellow snoozing.

So Gorlock knocks on the door and tries to convince them he is there to buy whatever they are selling, but they have none of it. As Ted takes a smoke break by the window, wanting none of this, the wizard looking one hoofs it. The guard tries to bluff it out but Arnor intimidates him. He tells us that he was hired to guard the other fellow and the quicksilver berries.

Ted, who seems to have experience in such things, recalls that Quicksilver berries are addictive. But that doesn't stop him from guzzling one of the potions (gain +6 DEX and +2 CON) and...then another. (DC 15 CON save, but comes out ok but jittery) He swipes the 10 potions.

I found some notes on how to make the stuff, though I do not think I wish to try it, seeing the shakes that Ted has. It involved crushing, mixing, and adding alcohol. 

Gorlock grabbed the remainder of the berries -- 200 lbs. worth, or about 2000 silver.

The guard says Yardley, who owns the timberyard, was the boss. He wanted to be in charge -- of the Council? Perhaps. Ted, perhaps feeling euphoric after his drinks, pays the guy off and sends him on his way.

We notice an enormous raven in a tree and it sees the guard leaving and flys off, northeast towards the crag. So we follow it. Greeba found the path easily and we travel it until we come to a part where it has collapsed. Ted tries to go ahead along the narrow edge and notices an arrow slit. Inhospitable, to say the least!

Mayhap it was the surprise of it, but he falls. He manages to clamber back up, and a kenku waves at him. Cheeky!

Gorlock casts flight on myself and Arnor and we carry everyone across to the tunnel entrance, where Ted joins us, grumbling a bit.

The kenku, perhaps the same one who waved, greets us kindly enough, which was passing strange. It asks us to follow them through the tunnels. Greeba asks "This way to where?" but all he will say is that the chief will receive us. 

I did not like it, but the tunnels were a bit small for Arnor. He hung back and guarded the rear for us. Greeba, on the other hand, was in the lead, so she was the first to see the sudden swarm of strange snake creatures -- jaculi! As they attacked us, the kenku tried to get away, but Ted killed him and he and Arnor held off against some new kenku approaching from the rear (or, at least, that was how it sounded from where I was). 

Greeba killed three of the jaculi, but sadly Gorlock was put into a coma by one (though he later came out of it in time to help). Blurb conjured two giant spiders and I pulled out my Ring of the Ram when I could not squeeze in far enough. The jaculi also hit Joell with the same poison that had taken out Gorlock, but he resisted it. 

From back where Arnor and Ted were holding off the new kenku, I heard a cry -- Arnor was struck blind but still he fought on, blocking the door. (Hodor!)

In a panic, I killed two jaculi. We had to get to where Arnor and Ted were! Joell killed another and there were just two of the foul beasts left.

Ted's Journal