Return of the Lost

### Battle Aftermath

Sera uses a sleet storm to put out the fires. Brexx is using create food and water to help.

Sera burns the notes on the Green Branch from Phastos (?).

Brexx guides Fable in searching the Pumpkin king.

Akibeko tries to chase down the Harvest Dancer. Harvest dancer tries to blame the Green Branch for the problem. Akibeko intimidates him into actually talking about what happens with the ritual.

The Green Branch is under house arrest until what happened is determined. We offer the Harvest Villagers the choice of returning to the "real" world or finding them a protector/benefactor in Fae. The Harvest Villagers all head off for an important town meeting.

The Green Branch heads back to the tower. We let to two villagers go. Sera and Fable head off to have a "talk". Sera convinces Fable to come down and tell everyone her secrets.

Ceiran gets Akibeko LIT and he starts singing in minotaur. Brexx and Ceiran jab back and forth about who's people drink better. Brexx sobers up Akibeko. Fablekicks Fephos out. Ceiran heads up to Sera to avoid stuff that doesn't occur him.

Fable confesses to Brexx and Akibeko. Akibeko uses a rhetorical style from the Convergence of Shatterings to avoid outright hostilities. He restates what Fable says in a neutral unjudging fashion to ensure clarity on both sides. Fable begins to break down. Akibeko states that he understands the actions and holds no action against Fable. Brexx tries to make Fable feel better and totally insults Akibeko. It's all fine though.

Sera and Fable undergo a ritual to regain "trust". Blood ritual. Naked time. They share a vision of Fable's past.

We have a nice dance and good time together. Then sleep. Sera and Ceiran get drunk.

### Next Morning

The town has made a decision. Some people want to go back to material plane, but the majority want to try to live here. They decide to come back to our keep once we can cast teleport.

Fosphos shows back up.... unfortunately.

### Tree of Riddles

Narrator does narration.

The Green Branch agrees to play the Tree's game.

#### Riddle 1

‘I come with a smile, In slaughter I rest, I can be contagious But my medicine is best’

LAUGHTER

#### Riddle 2

‘Two ladies were traveling to goldenglade fair, pale of skin and silken of hair, four drunken dwarves they met that day, ruddy cheeks and smiling away, six little boys too they did greet, eating bread and honey sweet, a huntsman on the road they saw, holding trophies of hide and claw, three dancers laughed and waved hello, their clothing bright and hair worn low, ten noble couples walking along, their voices lifted in romantic song, of all the people seen this way, how many went to the fair that day.’

Akibeko thinks the tree is fucking with them and insists it is TWO.

#### Riddle 3

My first is in truth, but not in try. My second is in love, but not in a lie. My third is in dignity, but not in deceit. My fourth , like my second, never found in a cheat. My last you will find within tribute and trial In war and in friends, not the weak or the vile.

HONOR

### Inner part of the Tree

The Green Branch heads into the tree. Akibeko fails stealth horribly. At the end of a hallway is a small mushroom with a little sign that says hint. There is also a sign above three recesses. Take only that which doesn't belong and place them in the holes to move along.

Fable goes to check out the mushroom. HINT: Has a cost.

#### Riddle 1

Like a river i flow, washing away what you make, you may seek more from me but it is from yourself that you take I heal your wounds but as iron will rust eventually I will turn you into dust.

TIME

A room is revealed with a table. Hourglass, plate with symbols and a wedge, a plate with boxes, a spiral pattern, and symbols, and a plate depicting a duel with a wizard and knight. We take the Duel plate and put it in the recess outside.

#### Riddle 2

I am not what was but what it seemed little more than a waking dream. I may come to you as you lie in bed though i’m only ever inside your head.

MEMORY

A room is revealed. On a table there rests: A seashell, a necklace, a small woven bracelet, a coin, a face mask of a snouted creature, and a war hammer. The bracelet is familiar to Fable. Sera notices the neckalce. Akibeko notices the sea shell. Ceiran recognizes the coin. Brexx recognizes the warhammer.

As Akibeko reaches for the seashell and a BLUE SEA OTTER jumps out and is caught by him. He sets it gently down and it investigates the room. He doesn't let her touch him. The Otter takes up a position on Akibeko's shoulder. He is terrified that the party is going to force him to jam the otter into the recess.

Each person gets thoughts and emotions and a scene related to the object.

* Sera's mom leaves saying she is making a change.
* Ceiran's elation of a job well done after an adventure.
* Akibeko sees his home and animals playing.
* Fable's is bittersweet about spending time with that friend of yours and teaching you the skill of weaving a bracelet.
* Brexx's had an 'alright' memory. He supposes it wasn't that bad.

The mask gives nothing. We take that.

#### Riddle 3

People that have me may struggle to tell, while those that dont have me think they do as well. You will always get me after you need and maybe before if you bother to read.

KNOWLEDGE

A room appears with a table: a feather (not a quill), a pot of ink, blank sheet of paper, a candle.

We take the feather because all the other items were ready to be used to write.

### Deeper into the Tree

A larger room with a small recesses holding things ( potion vile, gems, wand, coins, parchments, singed parchments). There is a table in the center of the room holding a lute. There is bark interspersed among the stones of the floor. the first words we see are "Biography of Hyatt Neven" by Nix Evergreen. There is darkness encroaching on the room. There is a twinkle to the light now. Shadow is like a liquid is coalescing along the floor.

Akibeko makes a run for the table. It holds the Mercurial Doss Lute is on the table in a display case.

Everyone else goes for the other words. There is an illusion glyph over the words. It is a minor illusion. Within a certain range it triggers an illusion. Fable triggers the illusion. A Flamboyant figure appears, possible elven lineage. He bows deeply and says Bard stuff (a bit full of himself).

The Shadows coalesce into figures with sparkly shimmers. They say disgraceful and disrespectful. He is a representative of the Moon King. Shadowy forms lurk in the corners. He demands the lute.

Akibeko asks if he can kill this guy. Sera nods. Akibeko grabs the lute, tosses it to Sera and charges the figure. Battle begins with Akibeko charging through a shadow,

The party handily destroys the Moon King's emissary. Fephos tries to steal the lute during the battle. After the fight he reveals himself to be Nix Evergreen. The party tries to capture him, but he escapes.

They toy with the idea of leaving the Tenants in the tree for safe keeping.

And old man with a long long beard and a book and a whole bunch of woodland critters come toward us. Akibeko points at the man as he talks and shouts "THE VOICE"! The old man boys and goes through a number of transformations showing that he is all stories.

Fable sneaks the animals snacks from her pouch. Otter is on the SNACK TIME instantly.

Story and the critters leave and give fond farewells as they disappear back into the woods.

### Harvest Village

Sera and Fable investigate the Doss Loot.

Fable goes and prepares a glorious meal and flowers.

Akibeko writes a letter to the Moon King informing him of how poorly his servant did and his failure to accomplish his duty.

#### Bart's Resurrections

Akibeko paints the picture that they shared when they first met. Brexx, Sera, and Ceiran inspire and twist fate to aid Akibeko. He produces a solid piece of art. Sera performs an epic song. Fable whispers sweet things to the body and a kiss.

Bart sits up and kisses Fable. Giant group hug. Lots of Ugly Sobbing. Bart feels rough, but alive.