"Rest? Yes, you can rest here! And you can take all the stuff we found!" The smurf gestures to the rest of the cavern.
Elien presses on, demanding more information and even invoking the witch's wrath. They panic even more, running to and fro, sometimes into each other. After a few minutes, they finally calm down. The new "leader" is pushed in front to confront Elien.
"Uh.. oh wise and powerful biggun', Gwibble wanted to claim the big lands for his own. He said we could chase everyone out of the town and claim the space for ourselves. We've been kicked out of so many places, we thought we could make a home here."
"He said they were afraid of mosquitoes and they spoke of a witch. So he took the credit. That's when we saw the red eyes blazing over us! That's all we know! Please don't smurf us!" She continues to cower, hoping if she doesn't move much Elien won't squish her.
Itka takes an opportunity to scan for magic. She does notice something in a pile of dirty rags behind the mitflits.
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"You've likely been kicked out of so many places because you've done harm to others," Elien's voice softens, "But you could still find a home if you committed yourselves to keeping the peace. Yes, these bugs Gwibble used to harry the big'uns drove some of them away. But it angered many others...possibly even the witch herself, yes? So, if you want a home here, you need to learn how to share it...how to be friends rather than adversaries to your neighbors. Send the mosquitoes and the bloodseekers away. Protect those who settle here peaceably. And pray the witch takes no further affront to any 'great terrible plans' proposed by your leaders. Do this and we can spare you. But if you keep to Gwibble's plan and continue to do evil to others, there's no force in these riverlands that will keep you safe again. Do you understand?"
"Uhh... yes, okay, okay. No more mosquitoes, er more than normal. Protect people nearby. Okay, Smurf's honor!" The leader raises her head long enough to turn to the other mitflits, who quickly nod in unison.
You find 17 copper pieces and a wolf fang talisman buried under piles of cloth and metal hunks. The mitflits offer you the treasure as a sign of gratitude for sparing their lives.
They also spend the time cleaning up Gwibble and giving their Team Mascot Buzzy a funeral. They also gather some food and water supplies and their cleanest cloths to form into impromptu beds.
Eventually the leader returns to you. "Um... there's two more big'uns and one of those barking dogs in the entrance. Uh... what should we do?"
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Rhaegal barks a laugh. "Yes, you fear them!" He hisses at the mitflits and then tells them, "Follow!" Rhaegal leads them through the tunnels back to the entrance.
He speaks to Haru and Andor, getting them to move away from the entrance and trying to calm Peaches. He calls back to the mitflits. "Ok, you leave now!"
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Kormei, still shaking slightly from the dire nature of the battle, pulls out his instrument and begins to play a small tune to calm himself. He will then sit down on one of the impromptu beds made by the mitflits.
"I guess this is the life of the adventurer huh? Sleeping in dirty caves filled with strange feylike creatures. I think that once this is over, I'm going to write a song about our trials. The battles we fought, the curses undone, and the friends we made along the way."
Andor laughs as he lies down on one of the sheets. "If this is what adventurin' is always like, I'm good, thanks! I've had enough monster huntin' for a lifetime."
Doctor Haru Kwon pets Peaches, mostly to calm the dog down and stop chasing the mitflits. ”I’m glad to be alive. I need to get some rest. And I need to keep looking for my friend. But thank you, Pathfinders. All of you.”
Andor pipes up. "The first thing I need to do is get out of here. If you are swinging by Tymon on your way out of here, I know this cleric who owes me a favor. My cousin, Vinny."
The mitflits mostly keep to themselves, run an impromptu election to see who is forced to lead (and incur the wrath of the bigun's first) and figure out what to ask the Mosquitoes so they stay out of town.
Unfortunately for Itka, the fey have no idea what the Mosquito Witch really looks like. They do know sometimes the mosquitoes would simply refuse to listen to them. And their nightmares were plagued with red lights and harsh buzzing they couldn't identify.
Otherwise the mitflits stay out of your way as you sleep. It's rather quiet, for once.
Most of you have the same dream: resting next to a pond at sunset, you see a lot of mosquitoes at rest. Fireflies illuminate the sky as it turns to night. It's quite peaceful.
The sun rises and the mitflits deliver you a lot of fresh water and some roasted roaches for breakfast. Oh, and some berries because they know bigun's are allergic to insects.
Where to, next?
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"I think it's time to go back to town with this crew. If the mitflits help bring down the mosquito population over the next few days, they may be able to make a deal with the people there, as Duncan proposed.", says Elanna munching on roaches.
"And we should warn the people not to set foot in those caves. I first thought all this Mosquito Witch thing was a hoax but it seems only half of it was.", she adds, glancing towards the little blue fey.
"Because all the messages on the dolls have been correct up to now, except for the iron caves collapsing. And I don't want anyone to be there when it happens."
She stands up and head over to Dr Kwon, giving her back her dagger. "Thanks for lending me your blade. It came in handy, but you may need it more than me if you go looking for your friend."
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"This should be a curious report to file for the Pathfinder Chronicles," Elien adds to the conversation this next morning, "While the town's immediate problems do seem connected to the mischief of the mitflits, the legend of this Mosquito Witch still seems to have a few legs of its own, so to speak. I'm not sure we're equipped to root out the full of it, but we can certainly pass on what we've learned in case someone follows in our wake."
"In the meantime, we definitely need to return to Shimmerford and explain the circumstances to everyone. It'll take time for those who left to return...or for the tourism to pick up again...but all of that should be possible now. If Miss Kwon wants to strike off on her own and search for her friend, that just leaves Andor to see to safety. We'll be going back up river to report to the Venture-Captain soon enough. And that should put us in the vicinity of Tymon so he can secure long-term assistance for his ailment."
"Is there anything more for us to do? Others to save who might be lost in the woods?"
"We nailed a bunch of paper dolls to some of the trees in the forest. Gwibble said it would amplify the Witch's power. But I think he just wanted to keep us busy." The leader shrugs as Itka finds another dead end. Elien's right. There are still mysteries out there.
In the morning, Elanna suggests the Mitflits leave the cavern and Rhaegal "suggests" they learn how to live with Shimmerford. They'll miss their newest home but it's not the first time they've been evicted by a higher authority.
A month later, you receive a letter from the Venture-Captain.
Pathfinders.
Thank you for your efforts. Galia from Shimmerford says the mosquito population has dropped significantly since you investigated. Some Shimmerford residents are planning to return and rebuild. Maybe Shimmerford will survive after all. They also have some newcomer Mitflits, town dubbed them "The local Smurfs." They're good at minor tasks and don't ask for much in return.
I heard some interesting news. A few days after you left Shimmerford, the iron cave collapsed. Residents went to investigate the cave in and found another mosquito witch doll. An accident, maybe? Residents swore they heard someone cackling long into the night.
-Venture-Captain Simine
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"Hmp. Well, the major troubles for the town started when the Mitflits moved in. My guess is that the 'Mosquito Witch' has been here for a long time, and doesn't mess with people too much unless they go looking for her." Itka is still uneasy knowing that those glowing red eyes are still out there. She makes sure that she never ventures outdoors without someone else until they're long gone from Shimmerford.
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"Perhaps the Witch views the town as under her protection. If the town honors her, she could become a benevolent spirit for them instead."
Rhaegal takes charge of helping the Mitflits find their place in Shimmerford. He has them help with finding herbs to help the sick and to further keep the mosquitos at bay. As he days wear on, though, the Kobold is seen less and less. Someone spots him sleeping at the abandoned farm, then he is seen building a fire outside of town.
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Kormei remains in Shimmerford for some time. He spends his days helping out around town, trying to return the village to some sense of normality. The evenings he spends regaling his tale to those who will listen. He enjoyed his time with his new friends, and is sure to tell others of their grandeur.
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Elien takes advantage of a room at the Whitefish and the Stag to stick around town for a bit. He makes sure Andor is looked after until he's capable of making the journey to Tymon. And, he checks in with Braybon's smithy to let Luca know the outcome of the compass mystery and to thank her for the assistance. Her clue proved invaluable in tracking down the cause of the town's troubles. He also checks on the brewery, offering his alchemical advice on improving the distillery operation, hoping to work alongside Rosa to manufacture a few bottles of brandy he can take with him when he leaves.
Lastly, he makes sure to talk with the rest of the Pathfinder team ahead of anyone going their separate ways. He wants to make sure Duncan and Kormei take it easy until they've recovered from their blood loss. The two had come closer to death than anyone other than Andor, perhaps. He also thanks Itka and Rhaegal for their magical prowess. Perhaps they could compare notes again someday should they be sent on another assignment together.
Finally, Elien seeks out Elanna. "Well, my dear..." he says, "It appears we've added yet another adventure to our chronicles. I daresay this one didn't have quite the savagery as that stint in the icy north. But mysteries like Shimmerford's have their appeal all the same. I suspect I'll help escort Andor upriver to Tymon. You're welcome to come, if you'd like. Or, if not, should our paths cross yet a third time, I look forward to it."
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Once back in town, Elanna checks on Rosa, the liquor maker; thanking her for her help and giving her back the map, completed with what the group has discovered. She also takes the time to go with Elien to Braybon’s smithy, giving her direction to the cave and warning her that the
She also seeks Quintus the nerve wracked seer that gave her the first clue that made her change her mind on the reality of the witch powers. She thanks him profusely, explains what the Pathfinders have figured out and inquiries about any new dreams he has.
Over the next days, she also oversees Duncan, Kormei and Andor recovery, making sure they are fit to travel again.
Talking to her new companions, she agrees with Rhaegal: “I agree with you, the witch seemed to try to warn people about what was going to happen. In her ways, she looks over the town. We better make sure the people know about that and pay attention to her warnings.”
”And Duncan, I think it’s in a way best like that. I’m not sure what this witch is but she’s been around for a long time and we came very close to disaster with fighting only a few small feys.”
At last, she nods at Elien’s proposition : ”Yes, that was a different kind of work, here. And we got really close to losing friends here. A good reminder that teamwork is key. None of us would have performed better that this poor Lasarte if we had not been together.”
She smiles ”And I’ll gladly go with you to Tymon. I feel responsible for Andor in a way and I hope that his cousin can spend the time to give me a few tips.” She touches her bandolier with her medical supplies. ”When I left home, I did not think my father’s training in medicine would prove so useful or that this purchase would be the best golds I’ve ever spent. But I clearly need more training with these.”
”But even without that, I would travel that way just for the company. We don’t know where our betters will send us next and with whom. So let’s enjoy a few days of quiet travel and rest before our next adventures.”, she winks and hooks her arm under his.
The days in Shimmerford improve. Rosa seems to cheer up as she gets her map back. She's able to brew new alcohol and lets Elien test toast a few.
Rhaegal instructs the Smurfs on what to harvest, and how to process medicines. They're able to help Anna's calf back to health, and admit it's nice to not get yelled at. Heck, they thought up a theme song.
Kormei spends some time talking to Miss Lyons. She says things in Shimmerford have calmed down a lot. She rests easily at night. People are actually listening to her stories about the witch, too.
Kwon and Peaches stay in town for a bit, collecting clues on Lastarte. She also helps Duncan, who needs a few extra days recovering. At least he claims that...
Elien and Elanna prepare to help Andor get to Tymon. They didn't solve the mystery of the witch, but they did save some lives.
Galia is able to give a lot more haricuts than before, and the mosquitoes stopped bothering her. Maybe she'll send another letter to the Venture Captain.