"Unless we have any idea where this friend is being held. We should return to the post, if only to make sure it is still standing and resupply. Informing them of the latest development concerning the plague would not hurt ether."
Arianna considers Arumil's words. "That's not a bad idea. And we may run into Haps or Yiv at the trading post - it might be handy to have a tracker with us on the search for Bridgette's friends."
Tyg said she passed by an oak tree that looks like a man bending over to pick flowers, and went south of it, and he pointed South west to the tree where we last met him.
So we get two birds with one stone, We explore farther south, and can save Soloman.
Bydar has been praying and purifying as best he can without the prepared spells. It is clear he found the priestess an abomination and quite disturbing. He listens to the debate on what to do next, "I'm quite amendable to either notion. No matter which way we go though, the next morning I'll be using a spell to purify a book. So I will be a bit 'short' on my full gifts "
Raxus shrugs, ambivalent.
Arumil gives a slight frown.
"We will past the post to get to the fey. It is only slightly north. A small detour would do no harm."
"A slight detour it is."
Travel back to the Trading Post is slow and strenuous as the soaked land recovers from the recent storms moving through the area. Another aspect of being outside also begins to reassert itself - swarming insects.
For several hours, the insects are so thick they almost obscure your sight. Luckily, these are not mosquitoes, but there are so many, you constantly blink as they enter your eyes, or sniff and wipe as they fly into your nose. Cantrips keep them away for a while, but it seems there are always a few insects who manage to avoid the spells you cast.
After two days of travel, the Post comes into view. As you get closer, you can make out a young half-orc on the wall, waving as you crest a hill. Yiv waits until you acknowledge his signal, then he turns and climbs down from the wall.
The gates are open when you reach them, and Captain Garess is there to meet you. "Welcome home, friends. And none too soon. Get refreshments, then meet me and Oleg inside. We have something urgent to discuss."
You take a moment to put your things away before heading to Oleg's house. He meets you at the door and ushers you inside. Captain Garess is standing over a map spread out on the table. He glances up as you enter. "The Stag Lord has finally shown himself. He and some of his men were seen scouting the Post a few days ago. Happs saw him first, then alerted the rest of us. We tried our best to watch him without being seen, but I don't know if we were successful. He and his men - about a dozen - didn't approach or threaten us, they just spent about two hours watching us. They left heading south, and Happs went after them. He said he would try to find where they're going and come back to let us know."
Garess looks at Teremith, "Lanner's been doing nights, so he didn't see anything, but he said something about it didn't seem right to him. He asked us what we knew of Happs. We told him... and at the end of the conversation, we realized we didn't really know that much. He doesn't associate with the other Freebrothers, and he's gone for days at a time without telling anybody where he goes or what he does. Yiv leaves too, but he always brings back wild game and maps. Happs... he just comes back to eat, says he's out "scouting the wilds" if asked. "
"Long story short, Lanner decided to follow him. Said he'd leave a trail that the dogs can follow."
Garess reaches into a pouch and pulls out a small rag, then holds it out for Raxus. "He said to let your dogs get a whiff of this. They should be able to follow his trail."
-----
After you finish with Garess, Yiv appears and hands you a new map. He has scouted some provinces to the northwest of Oleg's, as well as to the north and northwest of Howl's territory. Unfortunately, there was nothing of interest in the locations, just more rolling grassland.
-----
Bydar frowns at the mention of Happs. "I had hoped... ah well." He looks to the others, "I suddenly fear for lanner's safety. Temerith, you know him better than any of the rest of us. Is he as skilled or more so than Happs?"
The group heads west as directed by Tyg, following in the footsteps of Gunda and Solomon. As indicated, you head south and west, looking for the oak tree shaped like a man picking flowers... by the flowers...
Or something like that.
On the route, you arrive once again at the ruins housing the boggard and slurk. You see the bipedal frog creature meandering around the ruins. You see that in the weeks since you last visited, several changes have taken place. It appears the boggard has started fixing the ruins, or at least attempting to do so. Several walls have been rebuilt, and it seems like a roof has been fashioned from broken planks and covered with large evergreen boughs from nearby trees.
You do not currently see the slurk.
He whispers, "Who speaks Boggard again?"
"I do," Arianna whispers in response to Bydar's query, glancing around for any sign of the slurk.
Keeping her weapons sheathed and her empty hands visible, Arianna stands and calls out in the frog-creature's language.
she thinks
"I should probably learn a few languages from Arianna and Arumil,
as it could be quite handy."
The creature immediately turns and looks at Arianna and the rest of the group. Seeing you, it holds its hands over its head and waves them around, apparently trying to show you that they're empty.
In broken common, the boggard croaks, "Truce! Truce! Speak?"
It waves the group forward, then points to a large rock near the shore. Waving again, it points its finger at your group, then to the rock.
"Yes! We will speak!" Arianna calls out to the boggard before announcing the same in the creature's native language. Motioning for her companions to follow, she steps toward the large rock near the shore as the boggard indicated.
The boggard watches as you all gather on the rock, then he croaks out a series of chirps. From behind one of the large ruins, a massive frog-like creature with saber fangs emerges. Crawling over the rubble, the creature moves to the boggard then leans down. The smaller boggard gets on the slurk's back, the rides it toward you.
Stopping twenty feet away, the boggard looks over you group. Finally, it bows it's head slightly. It begins speaking:
Bydar looks pleased, and nods to Arianna and he follows, no weapons drawn.
Bridgette thinks
"Arianna seems to be having a good start on talking to it.
And If I'm going to learn a language I'll need to make sure it's one that's useful."
Raxus looks around at their surroundings, obviously dubious at the creature's claims.
Maybe the magnificence of swamps is measured differently than other kinds of places...
Arianna bows respectfully and responds to the boggard in its native language, relying on Arumil to translate for her companions.
The creature bobs its head up and down, then rubs its hand over its head in some kind of obscure gesture.
Boggard
"You are greeted in turn, by Chief Garrum. Peace is good, and is also what we want. Respect lands, and be respected. Friends always better than enemies. Friends until proven different."
"Can tell you all need know, but may travel as friends. No take from land without Chief permission though. Must respect land and Swamp."
"No bandits here. Strange people going south few days ago, carrying large sack. Also see hobgoblins and troll. Passing through. Also friends. Respect land so given respect back. Also know of large boar few days east, near lake. Very dangerous, know has killed men."
Arianna glances at her companions and arches her eyebrow meaningfully at mention of the troll and hobgoblins, and replies Chief Garrum in his language.
Boggard
"We thank you for the information and your permission to travel through your lands, Great Chief Garrum. We will honor your wishes and take nothing from your land. If we may ask... Would you take us to the area where you saw the strange people heading south with the large sack? We believe they may have abducted a friend of ours."
Garrum bobs his head again, a sign you take for agreement. He nudges his giant slurk and the massive toad begins lumbering away.
After about two hours, he stops near a small hill. Boggard: "Last time I saw them, they went over this hill and continued south. They have not returned."
she grasps a piece of soloman's necklace on her neck.
"Thank goodness, now we can catch up to Gunda and Soloman."
Arianna bows respectfully to the boggard as the group prepares to leave his lands.
Boggard:
"Our thanks again for allowing us to travel through your lands, Great Chief Garrum. We look forward to meeting with you as friends again in the future."
Arianna pauses for a moment as she is struck by a sudden memory, and then speaks again to the frog-chief.
Boggard:
"Great Chief, several days ago we explored the lands to the east of here and stumbled upon a growing nest of giant ants that appear to be expanding through the area. We thought you should be made aware of them if you weren't already, as they may encroach upon your lands in the future."
Bydar listens letting Arianna talk, but the translation mention of the troll and hobgoblins certain has his interest
Temerith watches the conversation carefully, but makes a point to stand back and stay quiet. Conversation with his companions was difficult enough, without having it put through translation.
The creature looks to the east and narrows its large eyes. "Not good. Not good. Thank you."
It looks back at the group, the speaks in its broken common, "Bye-bye, friends." He gives you a regal wave, then nudges his companion. The slurk turns ponderously then begins lumbering back toward the ruins Chief Garrum calls home.
-----
Travel south is relatively easy, and sleeping outside proves to be a tolerable experience. Unfortunately, the warm months of summer are finally here, and the evening is humid and oppressive - somehow the heat of the day persisted into the hours of night. From what you know of this land, hot summers will last for a few months until they are replaced by cold winters.
With little effort, Raxus locates tracks of three individuals that passed to the south within the past few weeks. More specific timing is impossible due to the weather in the area, but it appears you are on the right track. You eventually pass a tree that indeed does resemble a man bending over to pick flowers. It appears the fey was right!
An hour or so after beginning your search, you hear the sounds of a large stream or river. Following the splashing, you arrive at a ford, partially obscured by fallen logs... and the serpentine bodies of two tatzlwyrms. Moving into the clearing, you now hear several guttural vocalizations coming from a female voice. Across the ford, you see two robed women holding long staves. Another woman, dressed in black, stands between them. At some unseen command, the two women swing their poles at the woman in the center who stands in place, absorbing the blows with little more than a harsh grunt. The two with staves seem human, while the one in the center is obviously a tiefling.
It seems you have found Gunda... but there is no sign of Soloman or a large sack she is said to be carrying!
"Who are they?" Raxus rumbles in a low whisper.
It's Gunda and her new friends Bridgette whispers.
"Which one is Gunda?" Arianna whispers to Bridgette. "I'm assuming you want us to take her alive."
Bridgette replies
She's the big one with the short red and black hair, and wearing the leather forearm straps.
The answers from the two women didn't really give Raxus any new knowledge, but he didn't pursue it. Talking to women wasn't something he'd gotten used to even after traveling with Bridgette for quite some time. Whenever he found himself in a conversation where he was speaking to her directly his discomfort was obvious.
He shrugged and waited.
Bridgette sighs before she continues whispering
"Me and Gunda are the same in certain aspects but different in others. Every since we were kids we were fighting each other, that we both have a crush on Soloman starting in our early teens.
But Soloman appears to have a crush on me as well."
Bydar looks troubled by something, "Are you saying jealousy maybe involved?"
Bridgette blushes as she realises she mentioned that she has a crush on Soloman
I think it's a bit more than just jealousy, pride being another.
she gains a saddened face as she speaks
Gunda was also abandoned in the woods as a small child and had to fend for herself, while I was raised by my family until the stag lord attacked my home.
Having a crush? That does not sound good. I hope she is alright.
"I could distract them with an illusion," Arianna suggests, watching the three women across the for with a speculative look in her eye.
"No, She is proud of her strength and would want it one on one, same as always, and no help from anyone."
"We'll play this your way, then, and follow your lead," Arianna whispers back to Bridgette.
Arianna loads her crossbow, just in case Gunda's associates aren't as honorable.
Temerith draws his weapon, but does not raise it. He nods at Bridgette, before gesturing towards Gunda and the two others.