Chapter 3: Dragons AND Dungeons

The brave heroes continued their journey South, trying to avoid the draining ravages of the Dolor Forest. Traveling for the better part of a day, they spotted an enormous white dragon sleeping upon a hill. Deciding that discretion was the better part of valor, the adventurers fled, settling down to camp many hours later. In the morning, the party ate some white berries that Beedo's newest convert Cedpar had located. The berries proved rather strong, but the trip was pleasant, serving mainly to delay the party as they enjoyed the morning's colors.

Once the berries had worn off, the heroes marched to the Northern edge of the Margreve. They heard tale of a dangerous cave to the West, but gave it a wide berth, continuing the long journey home. Settling in for the night, Kerowyn abandoned their watch to set off after their friend the owlbear, who had wandered away on its own during the night. They transformed into a bear, setting off after it. He encountered sprites of the forest, and began a playful game of tag. The young sprites didn't necessarily understand that they had knives for hands, something Luren learned to their surprise and immediate distress when they too were pulled into the game. Thinking himself under attack, he responded with a blast of magical force and the closest forest child. Puck awoke to find a sprite's fingers up his one, and he responded in kind. Kerowyn was able to diffuse the situation without further bloodshed, and the sprites went on their merry way.

The next day, the heroes encountered a magical cat chasing a raven, who claimed to be of House Stross, the rulers of Zoebeck. The cat hurriedly unloaded her story, a confusing jumble of words that nevertheless the party decided to take seriously.

*"The Still Tower was my Home*

*House Stross fell*

*And the Griffon Towers fell into disrepair*

*Only the black griffon remained*

*I was attacked in my sleep by a corrupted group of individuals*

*Polymorphed*

*Find them and rescue my eggs*

*The Sprite Queen sent me*

*Magic user with purple eyes talking of selling my eggs*

*Head north, look for two stumps*

*Guardian by a pond*

*Swim into the cellar by the pool*

*Clutch of eggs at the top of the tower*

*Meet you at the two stumps with the trail begins*

*Disguise, so you don't foster a griffin!"*

The heroes agreed, and agreed to meet the magical cat at the two stumps. The heroes set off, but Beedo was captured by the twisting vines of the Margreve. He was dragged through the forest, but sensing no immediate danger, merely sung the songs of Pelor as he was carried. Kerowyn asked the forest for assistance, and it agreed. The others set off in hot pursuit, eventually finding themselves in a clearing. There, they found a beautiful woman with red skin, caressing a baby Dryad in her lap. The strange woman warned the heroes that not all who are evil appear evil, and then drained most of Beedo's life with her magic. She spared him, disappearing in a puff of magic. The heroes continued onward towards the Still Tower.

They made it to the pond at the base of the tower, but seemed to forget about the Guardian. It didn't forget about them, and a vicious fight with an exploding thorn creature ensured. Puck overcame the Guardian's will with a well placed plant pun, disabling it so that the others could gang up and finish it off. Recovered, they dove into the pond, finding an underwater tunnel that led into the tower. They had to swim through a waterfall of icy water. They made it into the tower, and exploring through rooms full of garbage. encountered sever guard. They killed an Ogre and many Hobgoblins, making things a little awkward when they found a piece of art clearly done by a tiny Ogre's hands within their belongings. In the process, they managed to alert almost every guardian in the area. Bugbears rushed up from below, while Ogres and the Witch who had slit Gavin's throat within the Cave of Whispers in Chapter 1 pinched down from above. Beedo and Luren met them with fire, and Grank with void filled tentacles. The winged witch was seen absconding with the eggs, flying away to the North. They didn't escape far, retreating into a dome of magical force summoned by Puck just outside the tower. Kerowyn left, wandering off after to track their wandering owlbear. The others, exhausted and drained of magic, curled up to sleep.

They were awoken seven hours later by a quartet of Ogres banging upon the top of the magic dome. The din dimmed their chances of sleep, but they did their best to ignore it until the dome finally came down. Rested and recuperated, they fought an intense magical battle, for one of the Ogres was an accomplished Sorceress. The forest suffered for it, bursting into flame from an errant Lightning Bolt. Grank blamed the Sorceress, and the Margreve agreed, attacking her with vines. That didn't stop her from battering Grank into unconsciousness, but Beedo, Puck, and Luren were able to prevail. Kerowyn, meanwhile, had a lovely morning, and taught his owlbear some new tricks.