Exactly, once the base is taken care of then we can go searching about
Day Seventy-Seven
The party, with its new companion, heads to Turtleback Ferry. The dam was saved, but the rain continues its relentless onslaught. By mid-morning the party reaches the arching stone bridge over the Skull River. The bridge is battered, but still standing. The wall at the top of the bridge's arch is gone. It was destroyed by the belly of the Black Magga as it headed down the flooded river toward Turtleback Ferry and in to Claybottom Lake.
The party crosses the river without incidence. By late afternoon the party reaches the remains of Turtleback Ferry. All of the shops and warehouses along river street have been ruined or destroyed. Several houses, including the schoolhouse along the lakeshore are also ruined or destroyed. Only a ring of sandbags protected the church from a similar fate. Amazingly, the inn survived, though all the rooms have been taken. A campsite has been set up on higher ground. There the party can rest for the evening.
The party meets with the Mayor Shreed and gives him an update. Relief crosses his face at the news the dam was saved.
Severo doesn't talk much on the trip, but he surveys the destruction with a furrowed brow.
"Then let us find commander Bayden!"
"Where would we begin looking for this Commander?
we found something mentioning he fell for a nymph earlier did we not?
The party stays the night in the makeshift campsite on the higher grounds around Turtleback Ferry.
Day Seventy-Eight
There is still one remaining Turtleback Ferry boat. The other one sank after the onslaught of floods. The fastest route to the Shimmerglens is via the Ferryboat. But you would not be able to take your horses. You would need to leave them stabled at Turtleback Ferry.
It was only 7 silvers to take the Ferryboat. Otherwise, it is another days journey up over Skull River down around to Bitter Hollow and the bridge connecting the Old Sanos Trail.
Trust me people, with what made it into the lake, I think the best thing would be taking the days journey around.
Plus, it has been a while since Abacus has had a chance to really stretch his muscles.
The party leaves as dawn is breaking over the eastern edge of Claybottom Lake. Brandark thinks he sees a shadow of a hump rise and fall against the bright rays of the sun.
By late-morning the party can see Turtleback Ferry from across the Skull River. And by evening the party arrives at Bitter Hollow. Bitter Hollow is essentially a trading post. The Gator's Nest acts as the central trading post, tavern, and inn. Everything is made of thatch and reeds. Even the pier is known as the Wicker Walk due to its wood and reed construction.
Tonight at the Gator's Nest they are serving Wild Boar with parsnips. They do make savory rice cakes that are popular with the Gnomes that come from time to time to trade. Their beer is mostly flat, and their wine watered-down. But the whole fare is only a silver a piece. Another two silvers each gets the party stabling and a straw mattress to sleep upon.
Brandark pulls the cash from the communal coffers for the stabling and meals.
Before he turns in for the night, He wanders out to check on the horses.
Abacus my boy, I am getting a bad feeling, be wary.
He then comes in, and passes the same worry on to the others.
I will sit awake in the middle of the watch as normal.
Framp will look at Stone, "Be careful if you are heading south along the Old Sanos Forest Trail. There are tales of ghost about."
He did have a number of items for sale or trade:
Oil of Animate Rope (100 gp)
Potion of Guidance (50 gp)
Potion of Hide from Undead (200 gp)
Potion of Resistance (50 gp)
Potion of Stabilize (50 gp)
Scroll of Chill Touch (100 gp)
Scroll of Shocking Grasp (100 gp)
Wand of Magic Missile (1500 gp, 1st level, 50 charges)
Tis highway robbery man
Brandark reluctantly pulls out the coin for the animate rope and hide from undead.
Looking at the wares for offer, Electra smiled and declined with a shrug.
"Many thanks for your display, but alas, nothing we truly need. Escpecially as I can make most of those myself."
Framp looks at Brandark and shrugs, "This isn't the Bazaar of Sails."
He nods at Elektra's comments.
He then looks at Stone, "Sorry. No healing wands."
to the shimmerglens, we can investigate and go from there
Aye, lets go, but it will take a few to get ready.
Brandark takes the time to check over the horses then gets Abacus ready to rumble.
The party sets out along the Old Sanos Forest Trail southwest along the northern edge of the Shimmerglens. Brandark will notice a trail that turns more southerly off the main trail. The trail follows a winding route around groves and marshes. Tall stands of bamboo are bordered by stagnant ponds. Dragonflies, nearly as long as your forearm, swarm over the ponds like birds of prey.
Suddenly appearing in front of Brandark is a waifishly thin humanoid with gossamer wings, large expressive eyes, long pointed ears, and a diminutive 2-foot-tall stature. He has rumpled clothes. His eyes appear puffy from crying. In the common tongue the small flying humanoid speaks rapidly, and in one breath, as if he’s afraid that you would not listen to his pleas,
“My mistress, she is… ill. Very ill. Death would have been a kindness. The land sickens with her heart, and it cannot be cleansed until her misery is purged. I cannot do this myself. Please, you must help her! You are friends with her human lover, yes? He wouldn’t want her left like this! I can take you to her—maybe you can do something. I have tried everything to cure her forlorn heart, but to no avail. She wails and moans in Whitewillow, and the trees and plants and nixies and frogs and everything are dying or worse! I can take you there! Please!”
Gesturing rapidly at the little flying girl, Brandark waves for Elektra to come up.
Slow down, and start again slowly please, so she can hear what you have to say.
After hearing the plea again, Brandark looks at Elektra.
I suggest that we go help, as this might be the one that we seek.
Flynn walks forward muttering something kind in Sylvan. calm, we will help. We might know of whom you speak little one. If it is possible too help, by the dawnflowers light, i shall.
"Oh, thank you. Thank you. Yap, will lead you to my mistress," the small flying creature flies out in front of the party.
Yap looks over at Glistenwing, "You are not a pixie. What are you?
Glistenwings flies up and whispers something to Yap. Yap turns and begins to lead the party.
Not long afterwards the party reaches a massive swampy area. The horses would be unable to travel further. A reed boat sits by the shore, "This is the boat the other human would take to go see my mistress," Yap looks at the party.
The reed boat is essentially a long canoe made of thatched reeds. There are a pair of paddles in the boat. It is large enough to seat six.
Severo wordlessly takes up a paddle.
Carefully entering the reed canoe Electra smiles and replies.
"We shall!"
Lets go then
Little one, just how deep and soft is the ground under this water all the way to your mistress?
After all, I doubt my companion would be able to sit in the boat
Brandark scratches Abacuses ears, then looks at both him and Shadow.
Pointing at the rest of the mounts he looks at Abacus.
My boy, Guard these with your life.
He then stumps over and gets ready to push the boat off.
Brandark looks at the others.
Take the boat if you wish, I will bring the horses and Abacus along behind you all.
He will then help launch the boat, and then mount up and lead all the horses into the water
With the waters too soft and deep, Abacus and Shadow are left behind to guard the other horses. The party then enters the reed boat and follow the pixie Yap.
The party will paddle through marshes for not quite an hour, when the chatty Yap will say that you are entering Whitewillow. He will lead the party to a shore line near a well worn trail. There the party will be back on dry land.
Twisted black trees rise wretchedly from shallow pools, seeming to have lurched from the land, their arthritic branches curled into miserable tortured claws. The sun seems to scorn this place, and a cold, dark mist looms within the canopy of bone-bare branches above. Evil murmurs ride an unnatural wind that flows forth from the glens, and shadows dance in the dark mists within.
"Whitewillow is sick like my mistress. As my mistress goes so does Whitewillow. Until recently it was a pleasant place, filled with joy and happiness. The happiness is now gone. No more fluttering within the leaves and flowers. No more chasing butterflies....." The pixie chats incessantly for what seems like hours, but was only minutes, about how Whitewillow used to be.
When the pixie finally shuts up, the chatter is replaced by an eerie chilled silence that surrounds the party. Occasionally, you will seem to glimpse at tall, dark-robed figures in your peripheral vision. The creatures’ enlarged skeletal claws extend from their outstretched arms as if reaching toward you. You hesitate. Then when you look closer, these apparitions are nothing more than horribly twisted black trees.
"The pixie talks too much." Severo doesn't seem to even register the apparitions as a threat.
Shuddering slightly
Creepy, this place is getting on my nerves, and her incessant talking isn't helping
"I do not like it here. This place is creepy!"
I..am not a fan of this
"Who are these things following us? Wait. No. It is just the trees," Devora shudders. "I have never felt like this before. We need to get out of this place quickly."
The party presses on.
The tangled swamp trail gives way to a relatively large clearing, a calm pool of unnaturally still water ringed by twisted, decayed willow trees. Wind blows, but the trees do not sway. It is as if the very land has died.
Yap calls out. “We’re here… my lady waits for you within. I
dare not go any closer…” he says before stepping back to
cower behind a gnarled tree.
As the party enters the twisted glade, a ghostly nymph rises with a howl from the waters. In a shrieking, hate-filled voice, "Why did you fail Lamatar? Why did you fail to protect Fort Rannick? And why did you allow the Kreeg ogres to take him to their lair high on Hook Mountain?"
Once soul-shakingly beautiful, the nymph princess Myriana is now a haggard, ghostly horror. Her disembodied arms float at her sides, exposed bone and sinew stretching toward her torso but ever too far out of reach. Her lower torso fades away to smoke. But the most terrifying feature the party will notice is her eyes: wells of hellish horror, crying out silently in an agony beyond anything a mortal creature could ever know. They reduce those who try to hold her gaze to gibbering children. She is beauty undone, and torment incarnate.
Shuddering with suppressed fear, Brandark unlimbers his axe, and takes up a guard position between Myriana and the rest of the party.
We were not there to help protect the fort, We did not fail
"We were to late to protect them. To far to aid. To unknowing to aid.
We found out only after disaster had struck. But we were there to avenge them!"
"How have you avenged Lamatar? He was taken by the Kreegs. He is likely dead in their lair. Until their lair is destroyed, the Kreegs will continue to harm the land, and those that dwell within it. Will you do something? Or will you do nothing?" Myrianna's anger is so great that she is somewhat irrational.