We repaired the wagons after the ambush by the brigands. They were savvy enough to build swinging log traps to disable our wagons but not smart enough to recognize we weren't people to be trifled with. One nasty fight later, the road between Olostin's Hold and Calling Horn was safer.
Then, with newly repaired wagons, we proceeded to Calling Horn. Of course, even the most jaded among us was a bit surprised to find everyone in the village turned into a tree or a shrubbery... even inside buildings.
We found a couple of actual bodies in the Blacksmith's place and happened upon a heavily armoured Troll who seemed game for a go round. He was a tough foe, but we've dealt with Trolls before. Our heaviest fighters, Dhallon and Hagis, kept it busy while the real damage was done by Murklane the Troll Hunter, Reagan of the Sorching Ray, and your fine scribe, singing a ballad about hunting trolls on the moors as my most excellent keen magic rapier slashed off random facial features.
Eventually we put the foul beast down, though it did inflict some horrible wounds on Murklane and I. Nothing the power of Lathander, Morninglord and enemy of evil, couldn't resolve, by way of his servant Sturv Amblecrown.
The interrogation of the troll was short. They're not the brightest creatures. Sturv seemed to think we had to let the troll go. Murklane, a follower of Gwareon Windstorm, really had a serious problem with letting the troll go, but Sturv was adamant. He seemed to think that he was honour bound to let the creature go if it answered our questions.
That moment of tension was passed as Murklane reluctantly relented, threatening the troll with a slow and fiery death if he was ever see around human lands again. This outcome satisfied Sturv, but left Murklane rather put out.
We continued our search of the village, in the hopes of locating a clue to the oddity of a village full of greenery instead of people. At one house, Dhallon found a Dog. As is their wont, the Dog seemed to want to lead us to someone after we fed and watered it and freed it. Knowing Dogs know better than most, we elected to follow the Dog.
Off down to the woods, leaving Hendric and Sturv behind with the merchants, the remainder of our party travelled following the Dog's nose. Hagis, Dhallon, Murklane, myself and Reagan figured we could handle whatever the Dog was headed towards.
In the base of a tree, we discovered a strange passage to the underworld. We entered into a large underground cavern, complete with its own grove and at least one building. Now, despite being well travelled and educated, I had never heard of such a thing. Reagan too professed ignorance of any similar thing. A true wonder, but one tinged with the feel of the sinister.
We began to climb down, with Dhallon and I climbing down first to secure a safe zone so they others less talented at climbing could let themselves down. The building we could see seemed blocky and lacking in windows, which was odd and hinted at the need for a sturdy, defensible structure or at least at the mindset of the builders. The grove would, for the moment, remain a mystery.
Posts
