Mission: The Northern Wood II

An entourage from the cannibal village arrived at Farhaven, and asked for the groups help in rescuing their stolen children. After following them back to their village, the party learned that the previous chief had been murdered, and that the new chief was mired in controversy and suspicion. The party then journyed to a dungeon known as the Writhing Pit, and snuck in to rescue what children might still remain trapped within. After enduring a grueling trap, cages, and deception, the party then fought to survive against an undead horde while they raced to save the trapped children from the maws of the undead.

## The Northern Wood ][ (by Rheinhart)

Sour Solomon, Radiant Ryn, Dynamo Dando, Dauntless Darwin, and I met with an entourage from the cannibal village on this day. We welcomed them into Farhaven with an impromptu feast of our own in the hopes that maybe we could convince them of abandoning their cannibalistic ways in favor of how we grow and hunt our food. That’s my hope anyway. Their elder said the cheesy break was “quite ok”!  But I digress, they were here to implore our help in bringing their stolen children back from “The Writhing Pit”. Save their children, who can refuse such a plea?

We followed the entourage back to the same village Dando and I located that first time out in these woods (See the mission report for Northern Wood 1). Darwin volunteered to be the map specialist this time around. He’s an interesting character, another metal-man just like Maxwell, but instead of being fragile and casting rune magic, he is built extremely tough. Darwin speaks with consideration with every thought and cannot remember much of his past before arriving here in the Land of the Lost -- just like me! I struggle now and then trying to recall the time before, but with every other day being a struggle for survival here, it’s a small blessing not to have much time to be frustrated over lost knowledge.

At the cannibal village, we found them once again in the middle of a Red Feast, this time the head of the last elder we met was the main course as his brain stew cooked inside his head was on the centerpiece platter. We did not join in the festivities this time (thank goodness) and it seemed very few were celebrating, unlike the last time we were here. The guard at the path entrance recognized me and let me in on the gossip going on. The new elder is rumored to have murdered the old elder and is trying to solidify his power by requesting our help to rescue their stolen children. Mein gott, now we’re involved in a political power play as well as possibly helping a murderer in addition to trying to rescue their kids from a bunch of ravenous undead is some ritual pit. This day just keeps getting better and better!

After some brief directions, I started to lead them directly to this “Writhing Pit”, but near the end was a faint off-shoot that tugged at my curiosity. I convinced the group to explore it since it’s been many days since those children went missing and in all likelihood, they were killed long ago and all we’re doing is killing some undead in retaliation. I depressed even myself with that cold logic. Khatir the green dragonborn’s cold ruthless logic still lingers within me, it seems.

My curiosity will likely be the death of me someday. I managed to get quite lost on that side path. We made camp and got attacked by spiders and the very same ghoul that gave me my 3” scar over my kidney! He had ‘new’ arms, but his speech and mannerisms were unmistakable! It was a tough fight, but this time we all managed to stay alive and conscious. Darwin suggested we ensure there is nothing left of the ghoul to “reform later”. While the others looked for more firewood to burn, I ensured no bone was left unbroken -- venting my frustrations of late upon the foul creature. That sort of made the task of burning him much harder than it needed to be and I am sorry I let my frustrations get the best of me. What is happening to me? Am I cracking under the strain? Am I going mad or am I just coming to a realization of what the world is really like and leaving my childish views behind? I may have to do some soul searching at some point when it's quiet and can listen to it.

The next day, Darwin helps me guide us back to the path we were taking to the Writhing Pits. What a depressing place. We came to a small clearing with a single large tree at whose trunk is a stairwell leading down into unknown depths and four giant iron chains spiked into the sick-looking ancient tree and anchored to the ground dozens of yards away. Ryn says the chains are a kind of cleansing ritual. The only ritual I know of involving chains is… not a nice thing at all.  We steel ourselves and head down into what we thought was the pit. We discovered it was just the ante room where they prepare sacrifices into the pit deeper inside.

Darwin manages to convince the keepers of the pit (a different cannibal tribe) that \_he\_ is to be sacrificed and that is why we’re here. It manages to convince them to lead us to this gott-forsaken pit rather than us having to fight everyone. Takes guts to do what Darwin did as he’s stuck in a cage being hauled to whatever evil thing lurks deep inside while we follow along. I manage to slip him my crowbar in case he needs it to bust out.

We manage to slip through their defenses until about halfway to this pit before we’re jumped by some undead!  Zombies, skeletons, and ghouls, oh my! Even had to deal with a “pulverizer” which it nearly did to me. After dealing with those, we slipped from the cannibal escort and Darwin was free from the cage as we made our way finally to the entrance to the Writhing Pit proper. Both Darwin and Ryn said the small pool we hand to swim in was holy water being used to “keep the pit sealed”. Clever. There’s too many undead “things” on the other side of that. If they ever found another way out, there would be trouble for everyone, I’m sure.

The pit itself is deep and filled with countless undead. They are hungry and the children were stuck in cages hung over the pit as sacrifices to keep the horde … fed? At bay? I couldn’t fathom any reason for such a terrible thing. It was dark and I never did get to see the monstrosity Solomon and Darwin spoke of later, but I don’t feel like I missed out. There were 8 screaming for help in there. We managed to save 6. I still have nightmares about that pit, likely will have them for some time to come, too. Ryn carried two of them out herself. Dando was as swift as the wind helping them escape. I was the last one out and for a few seconds, thought I might be overwhelmed by the hoard down there.

After we left that terrible place, instead of merely taking the children back to their village, we gave them a choice. They could return to their village or come back with us to Farhaven where they don’t have to live in such fear of the undead, becoming a sacrifice, and we can teach them how to live off the fruits of the land which is something their clan could use. Four of the six decided to return to Farhaven with us! I’m so happy to help them start new lives!

## The Northern Wood 2 (by Darwin)

Dear Diary,

These past few days, I got to go on an adventure with Mr. Solomon and Mr. Rheinhart, and Ms. Ryn, and Mr. Dando. It was really fun! Except for when it was really wasn't. There were a lot of undead and cannibals and weird masks. It was actually about as creepy as it was fun. I was just happy to be outside of Farhaven. There are a bit too many people there for me to feel all that comfortable. It was easier to interact with the people that I was traveling with.

Oh man, we had to go to the cannibals village and, it was pretty gross but, they were eating people. I don't really want to judge someone else's lifestyle, especially when they aren't *technically* hurting anyone. But even to me, eating people is just sorta... icky. I guess I was a little confused during our visit. I couldn't really follow along with what everyone was saying. Apparently the Chief wasn't the old Chief, and the Old Chief had been murdered and was being eaten. They were having us bring the kids back... for dessert? I'm not sure. I heard that it was supposed to make the villagers like the Chief (the new, non-murdered/eaten one) more. I... guess that makes sense? It's only polite to bring a dish to a potluck, I suppose.

Anyway, the kids. We had to go off into the forest to find them. Being in the forest isn't nearly as scary when you have a bunch of friends to travel with. Mr. Rheinhart even showed us how amazing he is at navigation! He took us through the forest like it was nothing. I was really impressed by how he could spot all the little markers and things. After a while, it got dark so we decided to camp for the night. I took first watch, with Ms. Ryn and Mr. Solomon (he kinda talks to himself, but not *to himself.* Maybe he's haunted? Or crazy. Dunno.), because I don't really need sleep all that much. I'm glad that I did, though, because I was able to hear someone approaching the camp!

It was some sort of ghoul and it's language was almost as bad as it's stench. It was cursing and calling me names the entire time. The creature was a lot more rude than I expected a monster to be. This world never ceases to surprise me. I think that that is a good thing. I haven't really been here long enough to decide. Anyway the ghoul showed up and he brought a bunch of spiders with him (Mr. Dando didn't seem too happy about that.) and he mentioned something about "Not caring what 'he' said." (I wonder who "He" is?) Then the ghoul attacked us! I'm a little embarrassed to say that I wasn't much help during the fight. My attacks just were not hitting. The ghoul said that I had a weak flame and I can't help but wonder if he was right. On top of that, I got poisoned by a spider! I didn't even know that I could be poisoned. So, silver lining, I learned something. It still didn't feel very great though.

I was rather pathetic, but the others? They were so cool! Mr. Rheinhart and Ms. Ryn got right up in the spiders and the ghoul's faces and were beating the heck out of them! They're really strong, it made me glad that I was on their side. Not too long after the fight started, it was over. I had missed my last shot, but Mr. Rheinhart was able to stop the bad guy from getting away. We disposed of the body and settled down for the night.

The next morning, I got to help Mr. Rheinhart navigate! It made me feel better about the night before, that I was able to help out some now. Eventually, we made our way to where the children were supposed to have been held. It was just a really big tree with some chains around it. From what the others were saying, it made it sound like the tree was evil or something. Not sure, honestly. Dunno how a tree can be evil. We made our way down below the tree and found a large complex, where we found a different tribe of... cannibals? I'm not sure on that one. They were different from the villagers that we had met previously, so I don't actually know what their stance on cannibalism is. Best to not assume. We also found some children's skeletons, but thankfully they had been dead for a long time. I also saw another one of those ghoul things. It was also kinda rude and creepy. I guess that's just part of being an undead? It seemed to be hiding, but unfortunately I got kinda scared and didn't think too much of it at the time.

Exploring the complex, we ended up running into the other tribespeople and in hopes of dodging a fight and possibly getting to the children as soon as possible, I volunteered to be a sacrifice and was taken down deeper into the tunnels. I recognized the passageway that I was being taken down, but I was too late to get a warning out, because the ghouls had sprung a trap for us all! There was a fight and I did a bit better this time. I was actually pretty safe inside the cage that they had me in. I was able to just try and set things on fire and heal, as necessary. There was also a bit with a big blade-log trap thing. I'm really glad that everyone helped get my cage out of the way. I'm pretty sturdy, but I'm not sure how well I would have done against that thing.

Getting deeper down we had to go swimming and then we came into a really dark chamber that felt kind of... slimy and cold and familiar and wrong? I don't really know how to describe it. There was just an aura in the air of something that didn't really fit with the flow of life. I wasn't a huge fan of it, honestly. As soon as we got into that chamber, we could hear all of the undead that were in a giant pit. There were far, far too many undead to count. I'd much rather not think about it. I would get rid of that memory, if I could. I didn't really want to be there, but the children needed us. So for what felt like the thousandth time, we fought.

I wasn't able to do much but get the attention of the zombies and the ghouls and the... other things that were in the room. There was a large, ugly creature that seemed to be controlling the others. I sincerely hope that I never see something like that again. It didn't belong in this world. It was a blight that needed to be purged. Unfortunately, all I could do was listen and watch as my friends went around saving the children. We were able to save most of them, but not all. I know that it is cowardly and horrible to say this, but I am glad that I couldn't see what was going on in the dark. The noises, the screams... I have no desire to know what caused them. Some things are best left unknown.

As soon as Mr. Rheinhart grabbed the last child, we all left and made our way out of the tree. I suggested to the tribespeople that they make sure that their security is reinforced. I'd rather not have them get attacked by the undead. No one deserves that. Two of the kids ran off once we got close to their village, but four of them decided to stay with us. Farhaven just keeps growing. If I want to help keep it safe, I think that I'm going to have to grow with it. Not really sure how though.

That's all for today!

Love,

Darwin

P.S. I don't think that I need to eat, but I'm not sure if I can. Can I even taste? What even would I eat? I'm a little scared to eat something. I'm worried that it might mess up my gears. Actually, I don't even know if I have gears. Would they need oil? Who knows. Needs a bit of experimenting.

P.P.S. Can confirm. Can taste. Also, I don't like oil.