Farrow has been eating only goodberries. Delvin and Giselda each had a mix of apples, meat from the animals outside the trading company, and some fresh meat brought in by those foraging in the woods. There doesn't seem to be an obvious food source that might have caused the infection.
"Not all the water in a forest is safe to drink, so it could be that," Wulfram replied to Rogar.
"Hmmm... So, like wha' Wulfam said, wha have ye all been drinking?"
This line of questioning proves more fruitful. It seems all three drank from the same waterskin. Examining the waterskin reveals that the leather was poorly treated, tainting the water within.
Rogar takes the waterskin and buries it a short way from camp.
Jet helps Rogar go through all the rest of the camp's waterskins to make sure none of them are damaged, but fortunately, it appears the bad leather was an isolated incident. "I'll be more vigilant about this sort of thing from now on," the bartender says. "We have enough to worry about the hobgoblins trying to kill us. It would be stupid to die due to bad supplies."
"Thank ye very much. Wha would we do without ye?" Rogar thanks Jet profusely.
The stalls are more of a makeshift pen crafted from a few logs. Several goats and sheep mill about, while Lisa oversees their needs. Lisa is a dusky-skinned woman with dark, curly hair, dimples, and generous curves.
"We could always use another hand with the animals," she says gratefully. "Don't want any of them wandering off."
As they sat around the fire, discussing plans for the next day, Wulfram said, "I suggest heading to the Chernasardo Ranger redoubt tomorrow; it's time we made contact with them. I think the camp should move east towards the shack we visited today. There'll be more bounty hunters out looking for us."
"Ah would say tha' we need ta take care o' that boar tha attacked Kining. An' we still need ta figure out wha' magic we got recently."
Sitting next to the fire with her back propped against Sia Eustoma listens to Karla's suggestion. " I don't mind letting the gobs find that nasty old boar. Except it took off with Kining's pack. I don't think we can afford to lose what was in it. We need to get to the Rangers sooner rather than later in my opinion. They may have an idea of a place to permanently set up our little community. People will start getting worn down, and the weather won't stay this nice forever."
"Tha' seems ta be tha general order o' things." Rogar pulls out the boots they've found, "Now, if one of ye could figgure out wha' these do, we could star' usin' em, and any magic we can use is good magic."
Wulfram examined the longbow and the potions to determine their properties.
After discussing plans for the next day, you settle down for another quiet night. When morning comes, your followers work to break camp and prepare to head east while you pursue your goals for the day.
In the morning, Wulram meditated, then had another look at the magic items. Having access to the second boot seemed to make all the difference.
Eustoma takes a few minutes and sits quietly in a glen away from camp. When she returns she hears about the magic arrows, and takes them and the magical dagger for herself. "I'll take these. I can make use of them."
Rogar takes the boots, nodding his thanks to the others.
"Shall we be off ta hunt a boar, then?" he asks, continuing to scrub the buckler clean of its insignia.
Wulfram gathered his gear and prepared to depart. He didn't like the delay in seeking out the Rangers, but his companions seemed determined to hunt down and kill the wild boar in the region of Veld's cabin.
Before you leave, Aubrin calls upon Cayden Cailean to heal your lingering injuries. The retired ranger's health seems to be improving--just another couple of days, and she'll be back to her usual peppy self.
You follow Kining's directions to the location where she was attacked. After a bit of searching, Eustoma is able to pick up the boar's trail. The halfling hunter leads you in pursuit for several miles, her keen eyes never losing sight of the path it took.
Eventually, you manage to catch up with your quarry. Gashmaw is a muscular and woolly wild boar, its hide studded with scars and broken arrow shafts. A tarnished ring seems to have grown into one of its tusks. The beast squeals and snorts as it notices your approach, lowering its head as it prepares to charge!
Wulfram placed the butt end of his spear on the ground. He planted his left foot right behind the base of the shaft, and angled the weapon forward, presenting the sharp tip towards Gashmaw, ready for the beast to charge.
As Karla and Wulfram get ready, Gashmaw thunders forward, tusks poised to gore! The sorceress unleashes her spell, and a spray of coruscating colors wash over the boar, but it unfazed by the illusion!
It only makes it a few more steps, though, before it runs right into Wulfram's braced spear. The point of the weapon plunges deep into the boar's chest, piercing its heart and killing it instantly! The weight and momentum of the massive beast almost drags the burly smith off of his feet as it collapses with a heavy thud. It slides a few inches across the ground, digging a furrow in the dirt, then lies still.
Wulfram felt no joy in slaying Gashmaw; he was saddened that this magnificent beast would roam the forest no more. He was determined not to let the body of the creature go to waste. He thanked the animal's spirit for giving it's meat to feed the hungry people of Phaendar, before beginning the task of butchering the carcass. He performed a brief ritual and examined the ring embedded in the boar's tusk.
The great boar has a lot of meat to provide the group. Wulfram also is able to identify the magical ring that was grown into its tusk.
Wulram finished packing up the cuts of meat, saying to the others, "While we're in the area, I suggest we search for the beast's lair to see if we can recover Kining's pack. Perhaps Gashmaw has taken equipment from others as well."
After a bit of searching, you follow the boar's tracks back to its lair. There, you find the remains of Kining's pack. It's been torn up and all the food inside is gone, but you can recover the remainder of her possessions that are scattered about.
You start heading back to your camp, but you haven't traveled very far before you hear rustling in the undergrowth. An enormous lizard emerges from the brush, sporting large, bulging eyes, splayed, padded feet, and a toothy maw. It lets out a hiss, and two more creatures step out behind it. These reptilian humanoids have dull gray scaly hides, long tails, and crests on their heads and backs. A potent and cloying stench surrounds them.
Upon spotting you, they snarl and raise clubs menacingly.
Wulram attempted to parlay with the reptilian creatures. They seemed hostile, but perhaps bloodshed could be avoided. "Greetings, my name is Wulfram," he said. "We are passing through this area. Are you interested in trading?" He was careful not to point his spear at them, but was ready to use it, should the strangers attack.
Eustoma waits to see if Wulfram's attempt at parlay works. She is ready to bring her bow up, and fire if they attack.
The humanoids growl something in a hissing language. By their harsh tone and body language, it's clear they're not interested in parley. One shouts a command, and the giant gecko scurries forward. Wulfram tries to stab it, but it dodges the strike and bites at him. The smith manages to avoid its gnashing teeth.
Eustoma fires off a shot from her bow, but it whizzes harmlessly into the trees.
Rogar summons a massive cloud of dust, hardening it into rock, and blasts it at the closest Troglodyte, slamming into the beast and blowing it backwards.
Rogar moves up to bring the troglodytes within range, then hurls a massive blast of rock at one of them. It smashes into the creature's chest, leaving it bleeding and severely bruised.
Karla moves to the side of Wulfram and blasts the giant gecko with a color spray. The lizard's bulging eyes roll in its head as it falls to the ground, overwhelmed by the pattern.
Despite its injuries, the wounded troglodyte snarls and moves in on Rogar, its ally following suit. They both swing their clubs at the dwarf, but neither one manages to hit. As they get near, their nauseating stench threatens to overwhelm you.
When the lizard in front of him collapsed from the sensory overload from Karla's spell, Wulfram recognized an opportunity. "Don't kill the lizard!" he shouted. "Maybe we can train it ourselves to be a beast of burden."
As he said this, his nostrils were assaulted by an overpowering stench emanating from the advancing Troglodytes. Fighting to maintain his focus, he said a brief blessing to boost his allies' morale. He then took a length of rope out of his pack, intending to restrain the animal before it regained its senses.
Rogar steps back from the assault and, drawing pebbles towards him and launching a barrage of small stones at the same troglodyte that he hit last round.
Unfortunately, he misses the troglodyte by a few feet.
Eustoma manages to fend off the sickness. She fires her bow at the least hurt trog.
Sia gags, but moves forward to attack the trog that Eustoma shot at.
Wulfram casts a blessing before reaching into his pack for some rope.
Eustoma fires on the second troglodyte, her arrow piercing its scales and embedding itself in its belly. Sia tries to bite that one as well, but the stench hampers the wolf's attack.
Rogar steps back and fires another blast, but this time his foe dodges the attack.
Karla moves next to Rogar and casts another color spray at the trogs. The one the dwarf struck manages to resist the pattern, but the less wounded one slumps to the ground.
The remaining reptilian humanoid's eyes widen as it realizes it's in a losing battle. It takes a step away from Sia and then reaches into a pouch, pulling out a small feather token. The troglodyte throws it into the air, where it transforms into a small raven. The bird begins flying away, heading east.
Wulfram saw the troglodyte release the magical bird; his first thought was that it could be some sort of messenger. He briefly considered drawing out his Wand of Produce Flame, and trying to bring it down, but the difficulty of the shot, and the possibility of starting a fire dissuaded him. Judging that his companions had the situation in hand, he fashioned a leash out of rope, and tied the unconscious giant gecko to a nearby tree.
Rogar calls out to Wulfram, "What are ye doing? Shoot tha bird 'afore it can call fer backup!" sending another boulder flying at the wounded troglodyte, but it glances harmlessly off of the creature's weapon.
Eustoma swiftly takes on the aspect of the Tiger, and becomes more dexterous. She fires an arrow at the fleeing bird.
Sia bites at the trog that is still standing.
Wulfram leashes the giant gecko to a tree.
Eustoma lets out a feral growl as she nimbly fires an arrow at the raven. It finds its mark, impaling the bird and dropping it from the sky.
Both Sia and Rogar fail to finish off the second troglodyte, so Karla draws her wand and takes it down with a magic missile.