Chapter 4: Just for a Night

Distraught that the Witch had stolen the Griphon eggs, Kerowyn asked that the heroes to pursue her. Luren explained the danger of the artifact he now possessed, and asked that they return to Parabor to find someone who might know what to do. Grank suggested the Pastry Wizard, and eventually they agreed to return to Parabor. Kerowyn druidcrafts the vines to leave a message of apology, and Puck left a Duck.

They journeyed South and West, but eventually their journey was interrupted by a large river and a single bridge. Upon the other end of the bridge was a large Storm Boar, one of a pair of boars twisted rumored to be twisted by the forest's magic, which the heroes decided not to fight. Instead they made camp, and feasted upon mussels harvested from the river. In the middle of the night, a purple haired fey in armor floated into the camp, admiring Puck's artwork. The lustful bard chose to flirt, and Kerowyn agreed to serve in her army in exchange for a boon.

The next day, the party finally hit the Northern Road, and civilization. Rather than sleeping in an inn, they instead investigate a stone pillar, upon which had been inscribed strange words. Grank translated them with his magic, and discovered that it read:

> *"I wish to return to the fey*
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> *To eat and drink with sing with Shaye*
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> *Health merriment and comradery await*
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> *For this night I return through the gate."*
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A portal between realms opened up upon a lovely glade, revealing a picturesque cottage down a winding path. Kerowyn, Beedo, Puck, and the Owlbear passed through the portal without questioning, though Grank and Luren remained behind. The three found the cottage a bustling inn, filled with all manner of fey creatures. Shaye was revealed to be an elegant woman with ling silver hair, who offered the group shelter and safety.

> *"I offer you this food and drink without obligation, let or lien. Eat, drink, and be merry"*
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The party obliged, with Grank and Luren begrudging deciding to join, meeting the rest of the inn's occupants. Dwarves, pixies, a faerie dragon, and even a weretiger named Ananya. Puck shot his shot, but Ananya appeared utterly unimpressed with his advances, far more interested in learning the secrets of Plane Shifting from the Crystal Falls.

## A Moonstruck Hunt

The heroes guessed that they were within the Feywild, a suspicion confirmed by a a half-orc, half-fey mercenary named Sivelle Gigglesprout. Sivelle hired the party on to assist her in a werewolf hunt, revealing that a man had mistreated his fey lover and been cursed for his folly. Sivelle had been hired by the farmers at Blackhollow Farm to clear them out, and handed out silvered weapons to help the heroes. On their way out, a Dwarf with a copper hand warned the heroes that the moonlight makes him invisible.

The heroes made it to the farm, and observed a pack of wolves eating a sheep. They watch the wolves, and then follow them to their hill. There they spotted the Werewolf, clutching a stone. With a shimmer of magic, the creature disappeared. The heroes began climbing the cairn, but were assailed by vines. The battle was joined, song and magic and poetry against snapping jaws and crushing vines. Kerowyn finds a stone at the top of the hill, upon which was inscribed the words.

> *"You stole my daughter...apologize forever looking at me."*
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They shattered the stone, revealing the werewolf, as the others dispatched the last of the wolves. Yet the heroes wished to show mercy upon the creature, having learned it was a mortal trapped within a cursed form. Sivelle wasn't pleased, but with a curse of

> *"Fucking softhearted normies, you're going to cost me a month's worth of gold."*
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Slams a scroll into Kerowyn's hand that let them again summon the moonlight which revealed the Werewolf's true form. Dropping to his knees, the man begged for forgiveness and apologizes for hurting Niriyah, saying he never meant to hurt her. A silvery woman descended from the sky and embraced the man, pulling a pale blue stone out of his back. Hand in hand, they turned and walked away, fading into the night.

## Mistakes Were Made

Sivelle skinned a wolf or three, departing with more than a few grumbles, and the heroes set off in the direction of the Portal back to Northern Road. Their journey was interrupted by a Satyr, who thanked them for their services, and asked for their names so that they could be given a reward. Each of the heroes received three platinum bars... only to realize that they couldn't remember their names.

They returned to Shaye's Inn, trying to find answers. None would speak the name of the one who had stolen their names, though they were given several leads they might follow. Perhaps the Goblin Market might have what they sought, or answers could be traded for in Fairytown, the Dream Grove as well could provide all that they needed. They set out, but were soon set upon within a glade by horrible Red Caps. After a bloody battle with the horrible gnomes, Sivelle found the heroes, and led them to safety within a secret tree. She informed them that their names had been traded by one known as the Collector. Timber, distraught at the loss of his owlbear, set off on his own in search of the poor creature.

When the heroes awoke, they found Timber sitting outside the tree wearing the ears of a rabbit, reporting that the Collector had taken the beast from him.

## Day 2: Meandering

The heroes headed South, taking the first steps towards finding the Collector. They had not traveled long before they found a huge tree creature within a ring of mushrooms. A tiny fey creature smiled sharp teeth at the heroes, before entering into the circle and turning into a bird.

> *a melody, a harmony*
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> *a thoughtful theme, a witty word*
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> *a silken chord*
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> *a glinting key*
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> *have such desire in you stirred*
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> *i am the one whose ears your plainteve pleas have heard*
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> *mistress of feather, wing, and beak,*
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> *who knows songs better then a bird?*
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> *these ones have fire in their core*
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> *it flares to fury in a blink. what happens when they still the roar*
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> *what happens when they stop to think?*
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Anyone else who entered the circle was also transformed into a bird, as the heroes discovered when Timber passed through and was transformed. The secret of the circle was spoiled when Xanthling vomited an enormous Frog monster into the mix, disrupting the circle and angering the guardian. A short fight ensued, made shorter by the fact that the heroes (most of them transformed into birds at that point) were looking to flee and not fight.

> *maybe death is not in the cards - these seem to have a heart;*
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> *take warning from this song - with the fey, you shall long*
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Spared the Tree Guardian's Wrath, the heroes consulted Cedpar about what route to take. The tiny sprite chose the land of the Candy Sprites, and so the heroes went. The Candy Sprites proved mischievous creatures, but less malicious than many of they fey, preferring "horsey rides" to blood and mortal flesh. They led the heroes to a village made of gingerbread. In exchange for their service as noble steeds, they were allowed to pick from a pile of presents. Shel claimed a Wand of Pyrotechnics from the pile.

Made honorary Grand Marshalls of the parade, the heroes were issued batons (and instructions not to step on any of the abundant tiny horses). They were not able to adhere to the instructions, but quick use of Mending saved the day. At the end of the parade, they were offered licorice gumdrops. Timber and Shell indulged, and for said indulgence were turned into Gingerbread versions of themselves. So transformed, they were all ushered out of town.

They soon came upon a massive river, and Siville informed them that the family of trolls who guarded the bridge traded off which bridge they patrolled daily. The bridge proved to be a puzzle of moving lights, made all the more treacherous by the siren song of Merfolk, who were only too happy to help the Highest Priest of Pelor into the water. Sivelle got pushed in as well, with Shel going in after, and Timber had to turn into a a crocodile to save the day. Eventually they made it to a Safety Tree, and settled down for the night.

### Day 3: Even More Meandering

Waking up, Shel and Timber discover they are still made of gingerbread. The heroes follow Sivelle, and after a few hours wound up in the moving Treetop Village. Xanthling and Timber traded memories for magic, and the Highest Priest bought the tavern a round to toast to the majesty of Pelor. Shel locked eyes with Ephysiyies Nightengale, and made a day of it having some flirtatious fun.