Krissina passes around the supplies as directed.
She nods at Shoun's question, adding
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Responding to Shoun, the apparent leader speaks calmly, still with a bit of coldness in his voice, We do not know where they went. If they were smart, they left back the way they came. They have no business being here, and honestly, neither do you.
At Krissina's question, an elfmaid, her hand still on her bow, scoffs She is an ancient creature that is not to be trifled with. If you seek her out, you are laughably naive...
"If there are more of the men from the village, or Halvin, we'll have to parley with her. I am sure she will listen to reason, or hopefully some cookies," Alysha says.
Raeva listens carefully and quietly as the conversation is translated.
"The weave has foretold our meeting, kind maiden. An old woman like me does not fear Death. These days he just toys with me, and just mere hours ago I almost met my doom. As for Jeny, let us see what the ancient one wants; we have come so far. We will not turn back now," she says.
Alysha thanks the elves. "We thank you for your hospitality. And perhaps you could look after our pixie friend? We cannot vouch for his safety from Jeny..." nor from us Alysha thinks to herself.
Ready to go as well.
"I shall tell all of the People I meet of your adherence to the Way. I wish you and your clan health and wellbeing."
Nodding, Shoun turns to leave with the others.
"We thank you, and should we survive our return to the village we will impart upon them the importance of keeping to deals they have struck."
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The elves nod, the pixie pouts, and you all turn to leave, all assurances to Greenhall that adherence to the treaty will be upheld.
It takes several hours travel from Greenhall, and it is late afternoon by the time you reach the approximate place that Jeny's hovel is said to be.
You round the bend in the path and come to a large clearing. The ever-present canopy opens up here, lending you the first view of the sky in days. Oddly, though, it a starry dusken sky that greets you rather than the afternoon sun that you expect and you realize that it is dark, though you clearly remember it being light out just a few seconds ago! A thick blanket of fog hugs the base of the tree trunks, obscuring the forest floor.
In the center of the clearing stands a small cottage of neatly stacked logs with a roof of tidily arranged shingles, grown over with moss on the far side of the glade.
An open cooking pit sits in the center of the clearing, over which a large cooking pot hangs from a tripod of iron rods; bubbling and sending delicious-smelling steam into the air. The warmth and light of the fire warms you to the bones; banishing the forest's oppressive gloom. Oddly, the clearing is brightly lit, despite the dark sky above...
"The legends all say that even the benevolent fey are tricky. And I think this Jenny is as far away from benevolent as you can get. Be on guard and watch your words."
Krissina approaches the pot.
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As Krissina approaches the pot, she notices a few things:
- The cauldron seems to be a normal iron cook pot filled with what appears to be a savory stew that smells quite delicious!
- A well-made cloak embroidered with a delicate leaf-pattern hangs on a peg near the cabin's door.
- Firewood is stacked neatly along the wall of the cabin.
- Flickering light shines through the front window of the cabin.
- A thin wisp of smoke trickles out of the cabin's small stone chimney.
- A large cage is suspended from an iron post, jutting out from the far side of the cabin. Inside are two humans, possibly the survivors from Kabel's Hill. They appear to be unharmed and look genuinely happy to see you, but they dare not make a sound and shush you when you look like you are about to talk...
Alysha does hand signals to them and nods. She looks around, then steps towards the cabin and knocks.
"Yoo hoo. Jeny! We have visitors! Pardon us for not bringing much... your place hasn't been easy to find!" she says.
Rakish finds a place to hide, as to ambush from the foliage when he gets the opportunity.
Alysha whispers. "Let's hear her talk, and please don't attack without provocation. We need to find out where Halvin is and what he wanted."
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The two villagers in the cage shake their head and their eyes go wide!
The door opens and an elderly lady, a knowing smile upon her face, emerges and throws Krissina a wink, You had best be wary, for fey, even the benevolent, are tricksy folk. Welcome to my humble abode.
The woman wears a floral-print dressing gown over-which is a clear lacy apron. He white hair is pulled back in a neat bun, held with a foot-long bone hairpin that looks very familiar...
She hobbles over to the cauldron and pulls out a wooden ladle from her apron, stirs the pot, and takes a little slurp, Needs a few more minutes...
The elderly woman turns and looks you over, We certainly do not get many visitors coming around these parts. Please, sit yourselves by the fire and warm your cold bones...
Krissina smiles back and nods at the cage "Does our presence offend you less than theirs? Or are you simply waiting for us to lower our guard." Krissina takes a seat.
"Oh come now Krissina. Let's sit and talk. It's been a long journey. I'm sure her food will be tastier than the elves.
So what's in this? Smells delicious!" Alysha says.
"Greetings great one; we do not seek to offer offense, and apologize for interrupting your fine evening. If you would but permit us a few moments of your time, we shall be out of your hair and on our way forthwith."
Shoun will pause and wait for her reaction before continuing.
Raeva also takes a seat. "Thank you for your hospitality."
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Such polite boys and girls, except that anti-social boy... He does not need to be embarrassed for his scaly appearance! the old woman looks out into the forest, scanning for Rakish, but doesn't seem to be able to see him.
Turning to respond to Alysha, she smiles, The trick is to use fresh meat. Potatoes, carrots, celery, stewed tomatoes, and some herbs and spices. This batch has been cooking for eight long hours and it is almost right! Would you care for a bowl?
She waves her hand at Shoun's request, There will be plenty of time for that later. Now is time for the eats!
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Sorry, it has just been a long day or past few days and I'm deep in thought. Not embarrassed by anything. Oh and thanks for everything. And there are few bodies in the cave, but that is too much work and exercise for me to remove them. I was wondering if we can send in a guard to two to remove them or if you one of your elves could help. And I too would like a bowl please
Rakish waits, hidden, for the inevitable betrayal.
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She looks at Draco, smiling, Oh, I didn't mean you, dearie. I meant your friend out there.
The old woman gestures out to the woods before continuing, But I am sorry that these few days have been such a trial for you, some stew will certainly perk up your mood!
She pulls herself up to her feet, and limps up to the pot again producing her wooden ladle. A quick stir and the old hag brings the ladle to her lips, slurping loudly, Ahhh, just right!
She begins ladling out the stew into wooden bowls, intricately carved with the motif of several woodland creatures. It smells delicious!
One of the villagers whimpers, and the old lady shoots him a mean look causing him to shrink to the back of the cage.
Alysha helps herself to the soup.
"Did you see another human come by? Name of Halvin? Odd little fellow. And oh, this is delicious! I used to make this for my former husband. He never said he enjoyed it but would demand it every three days... like other things," she says.
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Halvin? the old woman squints in thought, somehow making her look even wrinklier, Middle-aged fellow? Member of the Cult of the Dragon? He was rather rude, and unappreciative of my hospitality, unlike you fine folk. So I killed him.
Having even handed a bowl to Pipyap, who greedily shovels the stew into his mouth, Old Jeny smiles a gap-toothed grin.
Shoun will wait until Jenny's back is turned then sneak over and empty his bowl into the pot before returning to his seat.
"Oh.. well, he deserved it! Hah... So Jeny, whose hospitality is as great as your wisdom, on the behalf of the foolish humans who have disturbed you the past few days, I'd like to apologise. They failed to understand that coming into the forest is a privilege, not a right. They do not appreciate the wonders here.
What can we offer you to take those foolish humans away? They're too weak to be servants. Maybe you could take this fat imp; even in his state he'll be of more use to you!" Alysha says.
Oops. Duh. Changed the post and giving Krissina advantage.
"Please pay no mind to our 'shy' friend. He is odd in that way and means no harm." Raeva tastes the stew. **Mmmmm***
Can I tell what the meat in the stew is?
Krissina frowns slightly, [b]"Friend Jeny, we acknowledge the folk of the village were wrong to disturb you here. We seek only their safe return and restitution of the old contract between you." Krissina waits for Jeny's offer.
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@Raeva, You aren't quite able to place the taste. Maybe chicken or some wild fowl? Or maybe like a pork?
Jeny taps the ladle gently on the rim of the cauldron, Fine. Let us get to business then.
The form of the old woman seems to melt off of her form to reveal a warty green-skinned hag! One large eye looks out at you all, I have been watching you all since you received my message. I am wondering if keeping this pact is worth the trouble.
She turns her large eye to Krissina, Why? Why should I keep to the pact, a pact broken when the first of those backwater simpletons set foot in the bounds of the Quivering Forest?
"Why was the pact made in the first place? Those in the village are like sheep to your wolf. You could descend upon them, feast to your hearts content and be away. But when you devour the sheep, you draw the shepherds," Krissina gestures around the fire to her companions "You could fight us, you may well win, but word spreads and there will be more, is it worth your time to deal with us all when you could be enjoying an easier feast?"
"They were foolish. The only reason they went into the forest was to help that Cult of the Dragon member. The two that managed to make it here are the remnants of a much larger party; they are already aware of the price of trespass.
"This soup is excellent! You must share the recipe with me!" Alysha says.
"As we were told, the villagers came to make sure that Halvin did not break the pact. They followed him as much to save him as to make sure you knew that his actions were his own and that they still held to the pact. Unfortunately, there seems no way allowed by that agreement for them to do the latter. The villagers did bring an offering. What was, for them a great treasure." Raeva produces the ruby that was found on the dead body or asks whomever has it to produce it.
dis/advantage
"As my companions have aptly said, the only reason the villagers broke the pact is that they were chasing a fool of a man who did not adhere to the pact, nor their warnings. I'm sure given the option they would never willingly enter the forest again. As far as that goes, I'm sure that they would be hard pressed to even want to look at your woods. In short, they were forced between two bad choices: allow the necromancer to enter your forest, thereby invoking your wrath, or enter the forest to try and stop him, thereby invoking your wrath. They clearly chose the option that would keep the spirit of the pact, if not the word. They made it clear to everyone they met that they were just here to get the wizard and then leave."
"Ironically enough, all of this could have been avoided if the village had some way to contact you and inform you of the situation."
Krissina waits for the others to make their cases. If Jeny still seems unmoved she will simply ask "What would you have of us?"
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Jeny looks at each of you, walking up to each of you as you speak, inspecting you closely. It kind of makes you uncomfortable, as if she were a hungry wolf and you were a little bunny, but she moves on to the next person.
She stops at Shoun, sniffs and chuckles, before moving on.
The green hag finally stops to stand before Krissina. Immediately after Krissina asks her final question, Jeny Greenteeth snatches the imp off of the tiefling's shoulder and bites its head off!!!
She hobbles back to the cabin while you all are in a moment of shock and says, The pact is broken! But, as you have provided me with an evening of entertainment, I offer you your lives and the lives that you seek!
The hag snatches up a staff and prods at the cage, causing the floor to pop open and the two villagers to spill out to the ground.
Jeny turns and takes the green cloak from the peg and hobbles toward Alysha and places it on her shoulders, You are not as doddering as you pretend to be, but you should keep those old bones warm.
EDIT: Before she gets back to the door, she offers one last piece of information, That dragon cultist wanted me to align myself with them against Phlan. Do with that as you will, do-gooders...
Krissina can't help but flinch as Jeny grabs Pipyap, but says nothing. until she leaves.
"We should not linger here, let us be gone before she changes her mind." she moves to help the villages up to their feet.
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The villagers terrified but relieved, thank you profusely. You are barely walking a few hours until you emerge from the edge the forest, as if it were helping you out of it!
It is another hour or two to Kabel's Hill. As you approach, you are spotted by one of the villagers that calls out to the rest of the town and runs up to you!
Thank the gods! she says as she helps take one of the villagers off your hands, shouldering him and walking him toward the inn. Very quickly others come to take the other one from you.
Soon, the villagers have surrounded you and are asking all sorts of questions. You do your best to answer, until Grinna, the spunky innkeep cows them with her powerful voice, despite her slight halfling's stature.
All right! All right! Settle down and give them some breathing room!
Hupe, her husband, steps up with two pouches of coin, Here is the payment as promised, and this, indicating the other pouch, This was collected by the villagers in thanks. You are welcome to stay the night and tell us of what you have seen, free of charge, of course!
This draws a stern look from his wife, but he shrugs it off. Soon it softens and she nods, 'Tis only fair, for what you risked to help us.
--
Essentially, this marks the end of the adventure. You are free to RP with each other to bring this to an acceptable conclusion. Thank you all for playing and I will work to calculate your XP and other rewards by the end of today.
You guys all rock!
Rakish steps out of the brush and joins in the walk home. He looks to his companions and says, Your words and actions bring you honor. You have done well.
He walks along with them, the stretchers behind him so he can bring what bodies they could find home for a proper funeral. He also donates the skin of the displacer beasts to the families - so they may be able to keep it or sell it as they need.