Chapter 3: The Elephant with a Soul

## Plot

Jaeden helps a distressed man, the group encounters a friendly wizard with magical cherries, Ea and Sodoku conspire to kill Popper, Showqu finds an injured and friendly goblin

## Summary

The afternoon before, Sodoku, Jaeden, Ea, and Showqu come across the city and revisit the thief who may be following them. It nearly ended in a major conflict, but was resolved, and as the thief walked away, he stated he knew things about Sodoku and his past and family. Everyone else in the group was confused and concerned.

Into the following morning, downstairs of the inn, Sodoku encounters another rogue, a rouge he knows from the past. The rogue (Blue) states that he thought Sodoku was dead after all these years, so gets on by telling him everything (nearly everything) major that happened while he was sleeping, including a war in another country and how there are many thieves and rogues ready to assassinate, as the government is more strict now. In addition, the rogue brings up something in the courtyard from the other day, stating that something mysterious was going on, and there was a woman claiming to be a goddess. The rogue adds on, and tells Sodoku that there’s a dungeon not that far away from here that needs exploring and how him and his group could travel with him, and there are many goodies but tons of dangers. Sodoku declines, and the rogue acknowledges. The rogue and Soduko say bye to each other, and move on. Showqu overhears the dungeon talk, but let’s it off, as Soduko is going to tell the group and ask if they want to go, as it has already been marked on their map. They all come to an agreement that the dungeon should not be touched by them at the moment, as they should wait a little longer and come back to it later, if they return to the city.  All the heroins head downstairs and notice a man, repeating the saying “I don’t know what to do,” and walking back and forth. Jaeden decides to take Popper and walk over to the man, but the man pushes him off. Ea decides to talk to him, and asks him what’s going on, and offers to help him, but the man states that she can’t help him. He soon after hands a note and says this is the reason he cannot be helped. It is a assassin note to the man, stating men will be looking for him. Ea walks off (with the assassin note in her inventory), and Jaeden sits across the table with the man, and states he knows a safe place, at least a stable one for now. Jaeden takes out the man’s map and marks the Southsea Inn, stating nobody goes there and it’s nice too and he’ll be safe there. The man thanks him, gives him his name (Reynald) and all of his prized possessions, including 4 gold. The man leaves and heads for the inn. Jaeden tells the others how he got the gold from him, and he should be safe at the Southsea Inn. It is nighttime, and the group comes to the decision to leave the city and continue on their journey, deciding that they will head to the next village. As they leave the city, it is pitch dark and foggy, making it hard for only Showqu to see. Ahead, everyone can see a huge figure approaching them (except Showqu) wearing heavy armor and holding the greatest and biggest great sword they have ever seen. The man, who is actually a giant, seems to be way bigger than 6 feet, and intimidate the group. Jaeden, being smart, tries to talk to the giant, stating that he does not want to be involved and that they should be on their way now. The giant, pushes Jaeden aside so he does not get hurt in the fight. He then proceeds to attack Sodoku and Ea, and Jaeden signals to them to do something and to not attack. The heed the warning and start dancing and singing. The giant does not find it amusing, and continues to get closer. Ea then decides to talk, stating that they do not want trouble and they are just trying to get to the nearest village. The giant, who cannot speak, knows what she is saying and walks off and into the city. Concerned, Jaeden watches the giant to make sure he does not do anything horrible, but sees that he is greeted by a guard, and they hug and walk into the city. Jaeden smiles.

The three continue on their journey and view their encounters as luck. As it is still dark, Sodoku notices something glowing in front of them, as he can see red eyes staring at him. The eyes seem to not notice Soduko, so he runs back to the group to tell them. All of them approach and start to notice a lot more red eyes, and worry. Soduko grabs Showqu’s torch and is ready to ignite the forest, but Ea casts fire into her hands, only to find that it’s a cherry Bush. Jaeden was going to knock Soduko on conscious before he destroyed the forest, but did not since Ea pointed out it was only cherries. They decide to get closer to the bush, and Jaeden decides to grab a sample, cutting off a branch. He doesn’t notice anything, and places it in his pouch. One cherry lands on Poppers head down from below, and makes him a little upset. Ea makes the choice to eat the cherries, only to notice a nervous wizard to come out from the woods. He cries, telling them not to touch the cherry bush, as they are poisonous and are used to keep goblins and such away from the city, as they slowly kill them. Showqu reaches for the cherry bush, but the wizard doesn’t like it. Jaeden approaches the wizard, asking if he has anything for sale. The wizard introduces him to a disease potion, and Jaeden buys it (Jaeden notices if someone catches the disease, it’ll go airborne). Meanwhile, while the wizard is talking to Jaeden, Ea and Soduko conspire to kill Popper as revenge for Jaeden nearly endangering their lives by encountering the thief back at the Southsea Inn (however, Ea does not know the information . As Sodoku and Ea talk, Jaeden is offered a unknown scroll, but it cost a lot of money. Using insight, Showqu learns it might be a fire scroll. He pressures Jaeden to buy it, as Showqu has no money, but Jaeden declines. Afterwards, Ea calls Jaeden over (with Popper in his arms), and Soduko and her stare at him. They then proceed to try and attack, but fail, as the wizard casts a spell of magic armor (invisible) and instant restoration to both the elephant and the teen. This makes Ea mad, as she then tells the wizard that Jaeden still has the cherries. He gives them back to the wizard and apologizes as he stole them before he appeared. Jaeden then asks if the wizard has a place the four can stay for the night, and then states he can create a temporary house if they all pay 1 gold each. All but Showqu pay and enter the house. Jaeden‘s relationship for Ea is ruined, and for Sodoku, he won’t have it.

Later that same night, Showqu sleeps outside and can hear something, so he gets up to examine, only to find an injured goblin (Jerry). Knowing he’s going to be killed by Showqu, the goblin accepts his fate and lays back. Showqu asks the goblin what he’s doing here, and to his surprise, the goblin can speak common. The goblin explains his whole family and tribe was killed not that long ago by travelers and hunters, and he is wounded and knows he’s going to die. As he does not trust humans, Showqu starts to help and heal the injured goblin, as the goblin then passes out, but is no longer majorly injured.  Morning has approached, and everyone raves the enchanted house and notices the goblin. Showqu explains what happened, and the group believes it. Ea is uncomfortable by him, and so is the goblin. The goblin does not want Ea’s help, as she wants to heal him and that she’s a tiefling. The goblin does not trust her, and Ea wants the group to bake her up and say that she can be trusted, but Jaeden calls her a “little bitch,” since she tried to kill his elephant. The goblin likes Popper and calls him cute. Ea, after restoring the goblin, is tired out but still up and walking. To thank the heroins, the goblin decides to join their group and travel with them and assist them with nearly all means they might have. They continue to travel, but come across a strange and smelly waterfall. It is not ordinary, as it is colored dark red and smells of fresh blood. The goblin says he was here before he ran into the four, and states that his friend hopped in and never came back up, hinting that he might have died. Ea decides to reach into the pool, sticking her whole hand in it. To her surprise, she screams and releases her hands and notices her hand is bubbling with acid. She can barely heal it, as the waterfall might be enchanted. Showqu knows little information, and does know it is cursed with magic and no spell can heal the damages.

## Appearances

* First appearance of Jerry
* First appearance of Blue
* First (and last) appearance of Reynald