3.19.22 - Where to Start

We woke up and headed down to breakfast to begin planning how to handle our long list of problems. First, we discussed the matter of Elisande and the Hags of Greenmist. It should be her decision whether or not she wants to become a hag and we will do what we can for her whatever her choice may be; however, it is not currently her choice because I have sticky fingers. Rhys suggested we talk to the Green Hag of the Quivering Forest about hag-hood before we make any decisions of our own, so we scouted around town for a suitable bird to send her a message.

On our hunt, we found Fistula trying to convince the residents of Phlan not to dump their dead into the sewers or the ocean but to burn them for a more sanitary disposal. Cannon insisted everyone listen to her since she helped save their town before pulling her aside to ask how long she will be here before she needs to head to the rendezvous for the solstice. Fistula said she would be in town for the next ten-day, but she couldn’t stay longer than that. She told She-rah she believes that the orcs can become united under her rule to overthrow Vlad and his once again unite the humans and orcs of Thar. She-rah immediately interrupted to say maybe there could be a council to better represent everyone involved instead of just one ruler since that did not work out so well for her parents. We then began spit balling ideas for who could be on that council when Fistula mentioned Tray had been making friends with Hagrin and helping him adjust to being human and learning more about the orcish way of life. She had to return to helping the villagers but said we can count on her support in the month to come.

While we were talking to Fistula, Rhys had run to Castle Valejo and when she returned she had a few pouches with plants sticking out of them attached to her belt and was carrying eyeballs towards a hungry looking vulture she addressed as Felix. It gobbled up the eyes before Rhys whispered something about meeting with the hag to it before it took off towards the Quivering Forest. She then turned to us, grinning from ear to ear, telling us Felix would hopefully be back later today.

As we waited, we began planning how to deal more directly with Vlad. From what we could remember, he was based from Castle Vathar to the north. We discussed a secret attempt on his life or planting seeds for a rebellion amongst the human population that was shielding him in the castle. Then Rhys reminded us the Quivering Forest ran towards the north and the Green Hag might be able to give us some insight into what he was doing at the castle before we made any decisions about how to deal with him. At that time, Felix returned to Rhys telling her the hag would meet us at moon rise at the lake near the edge of the Quivering Forest where Cannon and I had been before, so we decided to rest for a few hours before going to meet her there.

In the late afternoon we set out for the lake. As we entered the Quivering forest the light became odd as the lights coming in from between the branches overhead went from a blaze of orange and red to a soft blue. We were surrounded by the sounds of the birds and rustling wind on the trees as we stepped out into the clearing where the pool seems not to have changed since the last time we set foot here. The moon began to rise and be reflected across the still water, when the trees opposite us opened up and the Green Hag walked into the clearing. Rhys greeted her and gave her one of the pouches of plants from her belt before we all started bombarding her with questions about hags. We started off by asking her about Eli and if her becoming a hag could be prevented. The Green Hag was confused about why she would want to choose not to, but Elisande had also been claimed by the hags of Greenmist long ago and many, many lives might be in danger if she is given a choice because destiny has a way with everything. How many lives is her choice worth to us? When asked if the gold could just be put back to fix the protections, she laughed and told us that it could not be done that way, but a new offering could be made to the devils who once protected the area in exchange for them coming back. However, that did not seem like a good option seeing as the devils killed Rentita as revenge for breaking the bond they had. This had given Granny Lolmetta Titchwillow more power. Auntie Exirsa Gristlegums was said to have created a gift for Elisande so she would become their third sister, and there was an amazing bloom on Greenmist.

Next, we asked her about movements around Castle Vathar and Vlad. She was disgusted with what she had felt coming from that region because she said he had weaponized the earth like Rhys but stronger. The Green Hag said he had shunned the proper path though and that it would be wise for him to be disposed of as he was stealing his power from the earth rather than just harnessing the power that was already there as a conduit. She sensed that there were  many movements coming from the tribal northlands and there was a war coming. Rhys thanked her again for her assistance before she stepped back into the trees and we made our way out of the forest.

We decided we should finish combing through the castle to find the hoard left behind by Vorgansharax to return it to the people of Phlan. Inside the jungle Castle Valejo had become, we encountered a variety of plants and animals not normally found in the area, but we overcame the challenges and tricky traps set by the dragon. Eventually, we made our way to the largest tree within the jungle where we found a great deal of treasure and taxes, which we scooped into our bags and pockets to return to Aleyd Burral and the city in the morning.

After returning the dragon’s hoard, we all went our own ways for the night. Rhys said something about going to spend the night in a better bed, while pulling out her talisman from the wizard tower. I waited for a while before dozing off in my trance only to wake up a few hours later to scribble a letter and take it to the postmaster in town before Cannon or She-rah woke up. As I returned to where we were staying, Rhys stumbled in seeming more tired than when she had left us. Soon after, we located Aleyd’s new office where we left her with the new city treasury, and warned her about Vladamir Ericson. We told her about the issues we had had with him and advised her to refuse any offers he might try to make with the newly freed town.

On our way out of town, we decided to check up on Casset at the temple. As we approached, we could see the doors were locked and people were gathered outside the doors, so we went around back and broke in to find her trying (and failing) to make goat cheese toasties. Cannon sat her down, while we went about cleaning up the place, and told her to be strong because the people needed her. He reminded her that help was on the way from Melvaunt she just needed to do this on her own for a little while longer. After she calmed down and had gone to comfort the people, we snuck down to the vault where we stashed the sword to put back after we had dealt with Vlad and the troubles of Greenmist.

Rhys summoned her pixies and we became giant eagles to fly to Greenmist faster than we could walk. Our first hour of flying went well, but about halfway through the second hour we noticed some wyverns trailing us.