"Tell me about Umlo. He seems to be very important to you. I don't know much about dwarf but not all seem to travel with their brothers." Yorikata
"No I made him come, I made him leave our home to come out on one last adventure, we had something to find." Ingrahild says tears starting in her eyes.
You can see the potion didn't help, you feel that extremem swings stress can cause this affliction to return
William maintains his distance from the group.
What were you looking for? And how did you come upon the witches?
Ingrahild takes some breaths to calm herself down, "The tomb of our ancestor. What are you lot doing out here? We were traveling through the swamp as this is apparently close to where the tomb is but we were attacked by Orcs and These Witches"
Orcs decided to raid Trunau and we are following the trail to keep them from regrouping.
"Way out here in the swamp?" Ingrahild asks "We killed the orcs we saw or well I think we did."
William whispers "... or well I think we did. She is still not clear on what happened. Does she suffer from more than the curse we removed? If there was even one. She does seem better. I don't know."
We are rather sure they have a camp or base that isn't that far away
"There are lots of absconded forts out here, one further up the river if I recall correctly but we weren't headed that way." Ingrahild says
We are also looking for a circle of standing stones. We've heard that a group of druids had a last stand against orcs near there and perhaps it can help us against the orcs.
"You said you were searching for a grave. Who's grave? Are you sure you're in the right place? I mean, who would bury someone in a marsh? Hide a body, sure. But a grave?" Yorikata inquires.
"We are following the path to our Kinsmen, what you looking for Orcs for in this Swamp? You could just walk about in Belkzen and find Orcs without to much trouble." Ingrahild replies.
"You know of any dead dwarf worth searching for in this nice environment?" Yorikata asks Dain.
To know of any old dwarf tombs that might be in the area.
"His name was Nargrymin SteelHand, a famed Giant Slayer. We be kin to him and wanted ta pay our respects." Ingrahild says
"You're telling, that someone buried a famous dwarf in a marsh? You're pulling my leg! There is no way a famous dwarf isn't buried in a stone grave chiseled into a mountain! Dain, say something. I can't believe that." Yorikata objects.
It may not always have been a marsh... The land does change over time dear. How long ago Master SteelHand live girl?
"Around 700 years ago or so." Ingrahild replies "He didn't be burried in a swamp he was buried south east o' here."
William moves over to the woman's fire. He is looking for anything out of the ordinary that has been burned.
See! Good stone tombs for dwarves. Hmm..Have ye been seeing any will-o-wisps around here? We've heard that they are the spirits of druids who fought orcs.
William finds nothing of interest in the fire, the stew doesn't look to bad and it smells better than eating hard tack for sure.
"There was a clearing with em just north o' here yes. I can show you." Ingrahild says
And standing Stones, have you seen any circles of them?
"Aye I think we saw something like that, stayed away because it wasn't what we be lookin' fer and saw a few o' them Will O' Wisps round there as well." Ingrahild says
William feels that she is telling the truth. Ingrahild is still bound in a sitting position, you have her weapons and out number her 4 to 1
"Seems a shame to let this stew go to waste. Lanneth? You want some stew? Perhaps we should untie the dwarf lady and let her show us these stones she speaks of." William picks up her axes and arrows.
Yorikata squats down and tries to untie the dwarven 'lady'. Fiddling around with the knots she curses about Williams impressive rope skills. But with time and persistance she manages to get the ropes off the dwarf.
"Just a well meant advice from a fellow lady. You should seriously consider taking a bath." she tells Ingrahild.
I have no desire to eat her stew. I'm a bit nervous about dealing with these Wisps so I doubt it would sit well with me.
William tries to recall what he knows about these Will-o’-Wisps.
"I hear they cannot be hurt."
Well is there any way of dealing with them then?
Honestly I don't know... If they are the old Druids, lets hope we can talk to them? She sounds doubtful.
Ingrahild rubs at the areas where the bindings were, looking around again at everyone then moving to the stew. Ingrahild gives herself a quick sniff then makes an ugly face.
"I can take ye to both places which do ye want ta go to first, the field o' wisps is closer."
The wisps.
"I agree, the wisps."
Ingrahild nods, taking a bowl of the stew she sits down and eats it.
It is around 1 PM currently so you will have time to do the traveling as you need. How do you want to get ready
Dain cleans his equipment.
William retrieves his rope from the whinny girl. He keeps the axes and quiver in hand. "Ready."
Is anyone hurt? I'd rather have all you children healthy before we meet with these wisps.
Ingrahild finishes up and leads you through the Swamp, every now and then you find she has to stop and is almost arguing with herself. She is able to hold it together for the trip. After about almost 2 hours of trudging through bog and water, mud and other things you reach the edge of a clearing.
"It be up there, they are hard ta see." Ingrahild says
How does one approach wil o wisps in peace?
"They were The Council of Thorns. Perhaps if we call them by name and tell them we are here to finish what they started. I don't know, Dain. I fear we could not take them in battle. "
I agree. Fighting should be our last resort. I'd suggest one of you two should make the approach
She looks at Yorikata and William.
For some reason not all of you children like how I talk to you.
"I have no issue with the way you speak, Lanneth. I will approach."
Yorikata tags along, looking out for something that looks like you would name it will o'whisp. "What exactly are we looking for?" she whispers.
"The ring of standing stones. Lanneth says the wisps look like balls of lightning. That is all we know of them."
Dain will take the lead and keep the lantern in hand.
"We are still south I think o' them ring O' Stones." Ingrahild tells William.
As the Group looks out from the edge of the swamp forest into the clearing you can see that this was an area of great carnage. The odd bone here and there many trees are still damaged and there are bits of rotting and rusting weapons.
As Everyone Steps forward nothing happens, Walking out a bit more it is impossible to see the Will-O'-Wisps if they are present. Dain moves a bit more Forward to let his keen eyes take over as he does a shout happens.
"WHERE DID YOU GET THAT? WE WILL TAKE THAT BACK!"