Recollections by Ford
Recollections by Jeroy
Pearl, Kaylorr, Ford, Tallulah, and I gathered in the magistery to investigate the mysterious "Portals" of one known as "Hune" (Pronounced Hun, Hue-n, or https://youtu.be/iG940q9Jva0?t=87). After much debate of the proper pronunciation Ford relayed to us the fruits of his research on these portals.
"I was not able to find out much but it appears that some are working with portals as other members of the party have discovered. The portals may be made by a wild mage approximately 20 miles east of town."
We rented 5 horses for 3 days with plenty of rations to keep them well fed. I was warned against malnourishing a horse by Kaylorr and the repercussions from the stable owners. We rode east along a road led be Tallulah and approximately 8 miles till we found a farm with an old woman knitting on the porch. We approached and asked if she had seen anything strange lately, such as portals or strangers (that looked like us but meaner). She said no - I doubted this at first but was convinced she was telling the truth after a "perception check" (I don't know what that is or why I heard it in my head, but sometimes I feel as though my actions are not my own. That they are controlled by another and the whims of chance). The old woman did remember that a person who seemed filthy all over his skin came by about a week ago and asked for food, she said no keeping him outside and he left. She recounted he spoke with a funny accent that used more K's than needed for normal pronunciation. Tallulah recognized this as possibly the language under-common. The woman added that he came from the east and headed west. We thanked the woman for her time and headed back to the road.
We decided to head east from where the individual came from rather than where it was going by Tallulah tracking his path. As we began again, Pearl, noticed a figure that matched the creature's description approximately 1000 feet away along the path east of where we stood. We decide to approach with caution. As he approached we saw he had his short sword drawn, we continued to approach. When he was 30-ft away we noticed that he had mushrooms on his face. Pearl, Tallulah, Ford, and I describe the mushroom affliction we had seen in the training dungeon perimeter defense when a band of garden gnomes/goblin/elves (just filthy creatures really) attacked our base to Kaylorr and how this is a hive mind affliction where they are controlled by another and if the spores or smoke from them touches you.....well we don't know really. None of were afflicted but I imagined it would be terrible. Kaylorr stated he knew of this affliction because it had affected (or effected? I need to research the difference) him in the past. He stated that he felt like something was burrowing into his brain and feeding him new thoughts. I thought to myself "that sounds terrible, we should avoid it." When he was very close to us Kaylorr tried to speak with it saying "Ahoy traveler!" But he ignored us, slapped himself across the face spraying his spores/smoke across the party. I inhaled it while other avoided, but it affected (effected?) two of our horses ("those poor horses!" I thought, or maybe someone else did for I felt something taking over my mind). Ford and Kaylorr were bucked off of their now affected (effected?) horses to the ground. I manage to shake off the affliction, draw my shield and battleaxe (I have named her "Soulmate") entering a barbarian rage, I leap from my horse with Soulmate held high above my head such that I may swing down on this fiend slicing it in twain. But I missed, so that sucked. Pearl drew her long-bow, knocked an arrow, drew back, and with great aim let fly a mighty arrow straight into chest of the creature killing it. Kaylorr sliced off part of the face of the creature to take back the fungus for later study which I found to be gross.
We searched for the horses for a few hours and healed them of their affliction (effliction?). Feeling badly for putting them through this, I feed the horses some hay and pet them to re-assure them. I get the feeling they almost bite me.
We continued on the path, soon finding another creature approaching. We let it approach to within 30-ft where Kaylorr attempts to heal it of its condition but with no effect (affect?). Tallulah quickly draws her bow and lets an arrow fly but misses. Ford draws a throwing dagger, takes aim and misses. Kaylorr attacks with sacred flame and misses. We are not good at this suddenly. Pearl shakes her head and I think I hear her mumble "fine, I got this" and transforms into an elk, charging the creature and knocking him to ground. I draw a javelin and throw it into the creature killing it. After retrieving my javelin and cleaning it we burn the body like a Jawa on Tatooine (DM Note: like a what? on where??). We continued on to find a third approach. Tallulah quickly dispatches it with an arrow, I ride over to it and thrust a Javelin into its body to be sure (its not a dead horse so it isn't cliche) We burn the body.
We quickly realize there is one seen almost every mile and this is taking too long. Pearl casts a spell to make us all stealthy ninjas so that we can pass them more quickly and reach what we believe is the source of the creatures. A large willow tree with thick, thick, brambled sides that requires the creatures to crawl and struggle through them. This tree seemed to be no normal tree and Pearl's first thought is to burn it which is a odd thought from a druid but who am I to judge? We camped for 8 hours to let our spell casters regain their strength while I spent the time doing pushups. Telula scouted around the tree and saw that the drow would only come from the western side of the tree and head west, down the road and towards Solace. She noted there was a flash of light at random times but didn't know what it signified. Pearl became bored with our talk of what to do and when to do it. "To Action!" she cried, but only in my head. She actually turned into a giant wolf spider (which I found to be very unsettling) and headed for the far side of the tree. She planned to climb into the canopy to see what should could find out.
We waited for some time, hoping for the safe return of our friend and spider when suddenly the tree disappeared and we saw Pearl the spider fall to the ground. "Did the tree just...disappear?" Kaylorr asked me as perplexed as I am between affect and effect. Before I could answer the tree flashed back into existence right where it once was. "....and now did the tree just reappear?" He asked. We look at each other and spring into action. I must confess, this is my favorite part for we charge into battle. Telula, her companion wolf and Ford move to the south of the tree and prepares to enter (anter?) the tree. A drow exits the tree to their left, poised to attack. I charge with a lust for battle and with a mighty cry I draw a Javelin and hurl it with all my might towards the drow. I hear from all around me someone exclaim "Natural 20 b*tches!" Which i don't know what that means or who said it, but I know that as I set the javelin go I have never thrown with such power and precision before - I think the pushups are working. My javelin flies true to the drows chest blowing a gaping hole and continuing through him and into the tree behind. He falls down lifeless to the ground and I smile because I have saved my friends. I let out a barbaric yolp in celebration. Telula, the Wolf, and Ford enter the tree. Kaylorr at my flank, I charge into the tree to it's western side where the drow had been exiting. As I enter I see we are in dire straights, Pearl has been knocked out, the wolf is down, Ford is engaged in battle, and Telula is trying to help Pearl who has another giant wolf spider over her. A mage-like being with a shinny helmet stands near the wolf and Ford. I wonder if this is the infamous Hune we had come to fine. As I enter my legs become entangled in vines from the ground and I am stuck. "Kaylorr! We are in tough times! The party is in dire straights and we need your assistance (or is it essistance?)" I yell to him through the tree. "Jeroy! This is no time for spelling! You are speaking and I understand you phonetically! Focus on the battle!" Kaylorr is wise.
Hune begins to chant something in a language that I don't understand as a second head sprouts from his body. I only think, "well that can't be good." The party is battling for survival and I with no ability to move I do what I do best by entering a barbarian rage. I draw a javelin, and with the distractions of my ancestors/annoying in-laws (they drive me nuts, the probably will for this guy), I aim for his chest. He is knocked back and visibly distracted and annoyed (ennoyed?). He chants again, touches his helmet and disappears into the ground. That helmet was sweet and if we meet again I will take it.
I free myself from the brambles and move to the second drow that was a spider (gross) but is now a person. He attacks me but I dodge. Suddenly we all see a large creature craw from the portal. It is a large mushroom monstrosity with one arm and holding a mighty staff. As I am engaged (angaged?) with the drow Ford comes from behind with a powerful sneak attack to kill the drow splaying it in twain around me. I smile a Ford as he gives me a satisfied wink and says "not bad right?" I nod as I draw my Soulmate turning towards the monstrosity and attack with all my might. My attack lands true. The monster lets out an acid spit which narrowly misses me, lands on the dead drow causing it to explode (axplode?) causing damage to those around it. The energy from the blast appears to absorbed (ebsorbed?) back into the mushroom causing it to be re-invigorated. It exhales a spore cloud around us which appears to linger but not affect (effect?) me or the others within the cloud. It takes several blows from my companisons, including a healed Pearl, who is now a wolf, and the wolf companion which bite into the gross flesh of the monster. I swing for the monsters arm to sever it's scepter but miss. The monster lets out another blast of acid which infects the drow outside that I killed so spectacuarily. It explodes and again, energizes the monster. I stare with wide eyes thinking this monster my be two powerful for our group. I find I may be right as it takes it's scepter and uses it to smash my face. Startled but not out, I swing again with my Soulmate into its arm. Cutting deeply into its rotten flesh. Pearl, as a wolf, lunges and kills the creature with a powerful bite. The sounds of trumpets and drums fills the air in celebration.
We inspect the tree and portal while Kaylorr takes the gross fungus scepter. Pearl realizes the tree is from a magical staff. She creates a magic word and the tree becomes the staff of the woodlands which she takes for her own. The portal is pink, which Kaylorr believes may lead to a dark cave based on his previous experience with other portals. Kaylorr dispels the portal and we make our way back to Solace along the road to find the drow that we has snuck past. We catch up to them about 10 miles east of Solace but they do not head towards Solace as we suspect but instead head north. We follow for a mile where it enters a small hole in the mountain side. I can tell the area has been excavated and this is not a natural cave. Someone has gone through much effort (affort?) to build this. We rest for a short time and Pearl enters the cave as a giant wolf spider while we stand guard outside. She tells us that the cave is long tunnel leading down to a large chamber. There are stairwell leading from this chamber but she doesn't know towards where. WIthin this tunnel and chambers are hundreds of drow all standing in lines looking like they are waiting to go somewhere but with no idea where that is. We look at each other and say "I got a bad feeling about this" I use my mason tools and collapse the cavern entrance. We nod and everyone gives me a pat on the back. It feels great.
We get back to Solace and meet Wisakedjak from the Magistery to tell him what we saw. We recount the tale and Pearl gives hm the staff. He reviews it and returns it to her. Wisakedjak believes that the druid that had it previously may have made a deal with the dark forces, his name was possible "Winy" but he is not sure. The druid was not powerful but was given great powers through the dark side, I mean Under Dark. I feel like I have heard this story before but cannot be sure. We tell him of the drow in the cavern. He exclains "you mean over the ruins of Old Solace?" We nod in agreement, but unsure of our directions because I don't have my magic maps app open. "Hmmm perhaps it is time for an investigation in the ruins of Solace" he suggests. We nod again and leave. Kaylorr take the gross scepter and fungus face to the library for study. This is a well earned night's sleep. I clean and sharpen my Soulmate and fall asleep anxious for the next adventure.