Session 27: Day 8 of Coldeven, back in Orlane

Kytto and Jeffra James (the storekeeper and his wife) proclaim that our group are preferred customers and would receive a discount on almost anything in the store. When Kytto shows us his selection of silver daggers, we buy out his stock and order additional weapons; we know that silver is most effective against certain creatures. While others stock up on supplies, I walk over to Myron's shop. The tailor has mended my cloak and relays to me that there is good news at the Golden Grain Inn and we should head that way. As we are leaving the shop together, we run into our elf friends, Dorian and Llewelyn. Llewelyn offers to train the thieves in our party who wish to become more skilled. Dorian mentions that the mayor has some additional information for us. We decide to see the mayor on the way to the inn.

Mayor Zacharias Ormond tells us that the Golden Grain Inn is transformed. What had been the seat of the cult has returned to a friendly spot. Bertram has become his old self again. But, there is one whose demeanor did not change with the slaying of the naga: a man named Derrik Sleigh appeared to be leading the cult of his own volition. When he realized that the enchantment had been broken, he fled into the Dim Forest. In the rush to flee, Derrik left some notes scrawled on scraps of paper in his room at the inn. They mention barrel mounds and a familiar name: Nanor! Our first clue to deciphering the mysterious note left for us.

We make our way to the Golden Grain Inn. Bertram is full of apologies and serves us drinks and bread with butter. I apologize for casting a sleeping spell on him and we make amends. We ask him if he can show us the papers Derrik left behind. Bertram produces the notes and we have a discussion about all he knows over mutton stew, fruit, and more drinks and bread. Apparently Derrik was receiving his instructions from Nanor. Also, Derrik is a hired assassin. It is clear that Nanor is a foe who will need to be confronted. Our work here is not yet done.

We receive a message that Ronan is requested back at the Slumbering Serpent. But first, we need to stop by the temple of Merikka. Priestess Misha greets us warmly at the temple. Armaziti requests further training as a cleric. Misha agrees but presents us with some troubling news: some of the charmed villagers have been taken south to the Wild Coast as slaves. This is deeply upsetting to all in the group and presents a problem. Do we follow Derrik into the Dim Forrest, or make the long journey to the Wild Coast to break up the slave ring? Both seem like pressing concerns!

As we walk through the village, Vilma greets us and entreats us to have dinner with her. I've gotta say, it feels pretty good to receive so much praise for all our hard work! (It's almost as good as the heap of treasure we recovered.) We promise to eat with her tomorrow night as we have pressing business at the Slumbering Serpent. 

Ronan's message is delivered by Sir Bron from the garrison at Hookhill. There are reports of strange creatures coming from the mountains in the Duchy of Jeff. If Ronan is available to help, he is to report to the commandant at Hookhill. Ronan is willing to help, but feels as though he is also needed with our group. As we discuss priorities, the name of Nanor is dropped. Immediately, Sir Bron asserts that stopping Nanor should be the top priority as he most troublesome and leading raids. This is certainly good intel, but we are left to decide as a group what our next objective should be. While Armaziti trains with the monks, the thieves in the group train with Llewelyn to sharpen our skills for whatever lays ahead! 

Session 26: Morning of Day 5 of Coldeven, deep under the swamp

First thing this morning we went back to see about that angry little reptilian monster and as soon as it heard us it started making a horrendous racket again. Lhoss threw it some meat from her rations and it snapped them up, then looked at her hungrily and warily. I tossed it more rations but they didn't help much so Lhoss put a sleep spell on it. Angus snuck over and discovered that one of the keys I had found unlocked the collar! I knew those keys would be useful for something other than setting off traps! He loosened it so that the creature could eventually break free upon awakening.

We quickly headed toward the stairs up to the next cavern level and as we slogged through a particularly muddy room, we could hear the creature howling and moving through the caverns. We raced up the stairs and closed the door to one room behind us, piling up bodies behind the door to block it as best we could, and leaving a few more rations to try and slow it down a bit as well. We closed one last door to that room behind us as well and it gave us just enough time to escape across the underground lake in the boat we had left there.

As we ascended from the cavern we made an ominous discovery: the heads of the two troglodytes that we had killed in the swamp were staked just outside the entrance! With them we found a note that started with "Congratulations!" and named us all by name. It continued, "You have done well. I will see you in the future. Signed, Nanor"

We were more than a little disturbed and baffled by this discovery but in a hurry to get to Orlane. We headed headed back through the marsh that was part of the Rushmores swamp and then into the Dim Forest, which was still eerily-quiet. Ramne had to rest a lot but we were able to find a defensible place for the night and set up a shift of guards every 2 hours: Miratara and Angus, Chiki and Calbach, Lhoss and Ramne, and Gnorcia and Armaziti.

We saw no wild animals as we passed through the forest and were able to get to the main road and turn back toward Orlane without any trouble. We noticed that Ramne was pushing himself harder than usual and stopped again for the night. It was peaceful except for a distant howling in the middle of the night. Our journey continued and by the next night we were almost to the village, but decide to stop and camp again because Ramne was exhausted.

The next day as we got closer to Orlane,we started to see people out in the fields who hailed us as we passed. Arriving in Orlane, we immediately headed for the Slumbering Serpent Inn. The proprietress, Bilba, was overjoyed to see us and told us what had been happening in the village.

Bilba said that a few days ago the spell was broken and people miraculously began recovering. Lhoss shouted out, “That was us!” Bilba told us that she was most grateful for our help in destroying the naga and that we are always welcome to stay at the Slumbering Serpent for free, including meals. Chiki then demanded a bath, and we were all able to bathe and get all the nasty swamp mud off of us. Bilba retrieved all our clothing and belongings to have them cleaned, and dressed us in clean robes, then brought us a hearty lunch meal, including some of the best wines and bread from Orlane.

After eating, we traveled to the mayor’s house and he was also overjoyed to see us. He told us that all of the villagers who had been charmed had woken up as if they had been in a fog. Some have evil memories and some have a lot of guilt and have fallen into a deep depression because of the terrible things they had been forced to do. He said that the priestess at the temple has also recovered and feels enormous shame but has been engaging in cleansing the temple and is anxious to meet with us. The statue of the naga that was in the temple was removed and sold to pay for the temple’s recovery.

The mayor also declared a citywide festival holiday in our honor this coming week, with all the good bounties of Orlane to be shared. He said that the elves have decided to settle in the village and others of their elven kin are expected in the next few days, and have promised to bring some of their agricultural secrets to the village. He also shared that the merchant is expecting us and would like to reward us.

After leaving the mayor's house we hurried over to the temple and found that it now has a holier, cleaner look. The gardens have been worked on and tended. Much work has been done but there is still much left to do. Nisha the priestess apologized repeatedly. She recognized Armani as a cleric and offered him training for 750 gold.

Leaving the temple, we went to the jeweler and he appraised all our gems and jewelry for us, offering to do a one-time money exchange for no charge and a 90% exchange on the gems and jewelry.

We also met the shopkeepers and their sons who had previously been antagonistic to us and found they are now friendly. Even their sons came out and shook our hands, and they offered us a lifetime discount on most items. We all purchased some needed supplies, ordered others, and considered what else we might need to stock up on.