2: Druid Grove

It is that time of day when the mysterious fiery orb in the sky slowly descends in the west. Shadows are lengthening. Ilyana had said it was only a short trek to the place she called Druid Grove. You meet no other souls on the road.

To the northwest of Albridge stands a large grove of ancient trees, long sundered from the Harken Forest proper.



A stone menhir stands in the clearing at the center of the grove. The great stone eminates green mana and it satisfies the urge of those who venerate primal spirits.



There is a moss-covered lodge near the menhir clearing.



Out from behind the menhir, making no noise and moving confidently and majestic, comes a direwolf ridden by a halfling woman.



"You are strangers in Harkenwold," she says, "My master said she smelled change on the wind. I am Lorel, apprentice to the keeper of this grove."

Leirthal The Magnificent

AC 16 (18 arcane deflection)
Hp 20/20

Passive perception 13
Passive investigation 15
Passive insight 13

Mage armor active 8 hours

1(4)✓✓
2(2)

Leirthal feels important at the mention of change of wind. Obviously Leirthal The Magnificent is portended; perhaps even prophesied...

Leirthal doesn't speak. He is not the leader. He is not one of this lot. His purpose is his own and it merely suits him to be here at this time.

HP: 25/25 (1d10)
AC: 14
Passive Percept: 14
Speed: 35 feet
Saves: STR (+3) DEX (+5) CON (+1) WIS (+2)
(Advantage on all saving throws against charm and no sleep spells)

Proficiency Bonus: +2
Initiative: +2
Archery: +2 all ranged weapons
Darkvision 60'

Spell save DC: 12
Spell attack bonus: +4
Slots: 3/3 L1 ( 1 , 2 , 3 )

Ara stands forward..."Many kind greetings Lorel. We have come to speak and share thoughts with your master, Reithann. We have believe we ma have mutual hopes for this land and seek her wisdom."[/strike][/strike]

"Well met, young Lorel. Name's Cyclone Chinook of Kord's Temple. These men are my friends: Bru Zher, Ara Elenloth of Greyhawk, Quxx Harut, Leirthal the Malignant...err Magnificent, the quiet one there is Drusus, and the little one doin his best not to hump his own leg at the sight of ya is Nok Stumbletoe. These other two tagalongs were part of a group we ran across tryin to put Ilyana's place to the torch. We dealt with most of 'em and brought these two with us to consult with yer master bout their fate. Can ya take us to her?"

Bru bows his head slightly to the rider before returning watch over the prisoners.

Lorel's eyes narrow when the prisoners are introduced. "Tie them to a tree. Theren and I will watch them."

A young man steps out from behind the woodpile. He is holding a dagger.



"And Galorra too." She pats the direwolf and the huge beast snarls at the prisoners. Garr and Terry whimper and squirm. "Don't leave us here with... THAT!" cries Garr.

Lorel dismounts and leads you to the humble cottage. She opens the door, allowing you to enter.

Inside Reithann welcomes you. She's a spry 80-year-old human woman dressed in robes of brown and green, carrying a gnarled staff.



Reithann speaks slowly, choosing her words with care. "lIyana sent you? A wise suggestion. Harkenwold cannot vanquish the Iron Circle if it is divided. The wise fox stays well ahead of the hounds."

She pauses, waiting for the ponderous animal analogy to sink in, then continues, "We cannot unite as long as the hamlet of Tor's Hold is menaced by the Toadwallow monsters. Help Tor's Hold by dealing with the menace, and you'll free up two score stout fighters."

Beg yer pardon, ma’am, but what type of critter are these Toadwallers and how many of ‘em are there? Two score’s a lot of men not to be able to deal with that on their own. Ilyana also mentioned a fellow in a town nearby might be willin to pitch in. What’s yer take on that?

And then there’s the mudgrubbers we brought along with us from the farm. We already pulled as much information from ‘em we could. Can we leave ‘em with ya to deal with or will we be needin’ to drag ‘em elsewhere? Far as we know, the circle jerks don’t yet know we’re rustlin the bushes. I’m thnkin it’s best we keep it that way a bit longer.

Does Leirthal know about Toadwallows? Arcana? History?

Rolling "1d20 +5" 2 times

1: 1 + 5 = 6 History
2: 17 + 5 = 22 Arcana (advantage)

Leirthal has no historic knowledge of the Toadwallow. Nor does the name register in his memorized lore of arcana. He is confidient the locale has little or no magical significance.


Reithann says to Nok, "Don't startle your prey. On a cloudy day, the mouse doesn't see the hawk's shadow."


Then she responds to Cyc's questions. "They're bullywugs- hateful, half·mad things- walking, talking toads the size of men. A tribe's moved into the Toadwallow Caverns, and the Iron Circle's left the western vale to them.

"Tor's Hold is a group of steadings belonging to the seven children of Tor Hammerfist. Old Tor has been dead for many years now, and his offspring have each raised small clans of their own. The elder of Tor's Hold is Bran Torsson.

"The trouble with the bullywugs in the Toadwallow Caverns requires the folk of Tor's Hold to spend most of their time defending their lands. As a result, they can't come to the aid of the Harkenwold rebels.

"Dar Gremath is the primary leader of the growing rebellion. He is a broad-shouldered, gray-haired man of 55 years. He was an adventuring fighter in his youth. Leave the prisoners with us. We will take them to Dar, when the moon is full again.

"To find the Toadwallow, head west along the riverside trail from Albridge. It's ten miles to Tor's Hold, and another seven or eight to the Toadwallow-you can see the cave entrance from the trail."

“Bullwugs, huh? What do you say boys? Frog legs for dinner and a new army at our backs?”

"These Toadwallows sound as if they have the most immediately relevant debts to collect, and dealing with these Bullywugs will serve to untangle a larger knot barring our success. We also don't want a wild tribe of creatures running amok in our "secure" friendly areas doing who knows what while we try to focus on the Iron Circle. I suggest we sort them out directly."

Cyc grumbles something about "yammerin chatterheads" under his breath and turns back to Raithann. "How busy is the river trail? Enough traffic we'll blend in or should we be movin overland and stayin out of site? Worth stoppin in with Tor's offspring for we go into that cave?"

Bru knows the threat of Bullywugs is not to be ignored. They spread fast, deplete resources, and cause nothing but problems. "The natural order must be protected. We can not let the threat of the frog men continue." Bru says.

"Making friends, gaining allies, and learning about the Iron Circle and their workings is the best use of our time, and will benefit a great number of people."

Reithann smiles at the bold plans laid forth by the new arrivals. Then she grows serious again. "It's difficult to predict what you'll meet on the river trail. Not long ago it was considered safe, but now with the brigands roaming, who can truly say? Even before the Iron Circle arrived, we had our problems with goblins and giant spiders. I dare say though your biggest obstacle will be the bullywugs themselves.

"The Toadwallow Caverns are located beneath a forested hill overlooking fetid marsh-land. They are unpleasant and ill regarded. It is named for the unusual number of large, deep-throated amphibians that lurk in the boggy land nearby."

She invites the companions to take refuge in the grove for the evening. They can start fresh in the morning. Then she shows them the door and thanks them.


Your characters may keep going, or take a long rest in the Druid Grove. It's springtime, with roughly 5 hours of sunlight remaining in the day.

*Characters on foot average 2.5 to 3 miles per hour on roads or trails. Walking from Tor's Hold to Easthill for example, takes about two days. If the adventurers avoid the well-travelled trails and strike out directly overland, the mixed terrain reduces their speed to 3/4 normal. Venturing to the Harken Forest or the Briar Hills is much more difficult. The rougher terrain reduces speed to 1/2 normal.

We have a natural explorer in the party.



"Difficult terrain doesn’t slow your group’s travel."

Ara steps forward and bows. "We thank you deeply for sharing your insight, knowledge, and the kindess of your hospitality. To act in the service of others is a path paved with virtuous riches. -Lothron i wood gods thír kindlui upon a tir- nia cin a all cin beri- (May the wood gods look kindly upon and watch over you and all you protect)"

A long rest sounds perfect. Shall we eat, rest and make the plan to leave for Toadwall Caverns at first light comrades? I would suggest we stay to the hidden wooded areas as much as possible as to avoid as much unwanted contact as possible. I would also offer to walk point again as long as we can agree on a distance and an inconspicuous signal for communication.

Leirthal spends the long rest pondering the grove.  It is not as good as an elvish grove, but it is better than he has found in some time. He meditates, and before his traveling companions wake, he has studied.

I never wrote any rations down as it wasn't in starting equipment.

"Good lady," Leirthal flatters. He can be nice when it suits him, but it certainly seems affected to the casual observer. "We have traveled long and I am depleted of stores. I know you have little use for silver or gold but it is what I have to trade."

"We'll set out at first light. With Ara leadin' us overland we'll be at the cave mouth by mid-day. I'm thinkin' we clear the cave first, then head to Tor's place with some Frogman scalps on our belts to make the point we just saved their collective keisters. Might make 'em more amicable to helpin out against the circle jerks."

Cyclone will spend his long rest recovering his spent Hit Die. He reflects on the spells he has memorized and is content he is well prepared and Kord will guide him and his companions safely through the trials ahead. He says a short prayer as he looks up from his bedroll t the fading daylight, then contentedly drifts off to sleep.

Ara takes a portion of the time to forage for food and any other healing or beneficial plants in the forest before beginning his long rest. He leaves a portion of whatever he finds to those hosting as a thank you for their hospitality.

Drusus will sleep and study appropriately. He will sit silently unless approached.

Bru spends his evening taking in his surroundings. When he was younger, he met a travelling druid who became a role-model of sorts. This druid, who belonged to a group called the Emerald Enclave, passed along a set of values which Bru took up as his own. He looks for any indication that this druid might have the same set of values before dozing off to sleep, regaining his spend hit die.

Reithann has little for trade. Her cottage is humble, her possessions meager. What she doesn't own, Melora will provide. The druidess offers Leirthal two loafs of lembas, free of charge. The wayfarer's bread was baked for her by the Woodsinger elves of Harken Forest.




Ara scavanges the area for provisions and medicines, he finds plenty to eat.
The ranger gathers enough medicines to gain Advantage on a Cure Disease/Poison CON save in just 2 days, instead of 3 days. It is still a downtime activity. He has enough herbs for 3 charges.

Downtime
Three days spent recuperating will allow you to make a CON save to gain advantage on saves against one disease (or poison). (This obviously is only useful against diseases where there is some existing saving throw mechanism to become cured.)



It is a pleasant, warm night in the grove. The companions camp out under the stars. Fireflies dance through the trees.



The adventurers awaken at dawn feeling more rested then they had in weeks. Everyone gains temporary hit points equal to their Wisdom Mod +1 (minimum 1). The temporary hit points last for a day, or until spent.

The direwolf stayed awake all night, sneering at the the two prisoners. Garr is catatonic. Terry looks sickened. Theren is there too, silent and continually showing them his knife.

As the party prepares to depart, Lorel approaches Nok. She hands him a lock of her hair, tied with a bow of braided grass. "Thank you for your efforts, Nok," she says. "You and your friends are so brave. I hope you will return some day, and come with me to visit my clan the Reedfoots on the White River."

Quxx is rested and ready to doll out karmic justice.

Before heading off with the others, Cyclone approaches the two prisoners. “By now ya’ve figured out ya bit off a lot more than you could chew by joining up with the Iron Circle. It ain’t too late for Kord’s winds to blow ya in a different direction. I can’t imagine what fate Raithann has in store for ya, but if ya survive it, think carefully about yer next steps in this world. Ya might consider using yer strength to help the less fortunate rather than prey on ‘em. Or ya can ignore this old priest’s advice and take yer chances going back to makin trouble, but I don’t figure you’ll get the same quarter we gave ya next time.”

Cyclone grabs his gear and makes ready to depart with his friends. As he passes Drusus he asks “Ya ever get that great big pony into a cave before? Gonna look a bit like ten pounds a sausages in a five pound sack!” He slugs his pensive ally on the arm and chuckles heartily.

Drusus will tie off Widow Maker. "This is no place for you, I will return"

The warhorse whinnies as it watches it's master depart.


Garr and Terry both plead for Cyc to take them with him. The wolf terrifies them. And the seemingly mute boy with his knife is especially creepy. But the dwarf cleric of Kord thinks the prisoners would be better off in the hands of the old druidess.


That morning, Leirthal was reminded of a tale he'd heard concerning frogfolk. It told of an elder monkish majister known as Deeyem. One day he had been traveling with his entourage from the Broken Blade Monestary to the Pale Keep.



It was in the boggy lands on the south side of Lake Nen that they were attacked by vicious frog men!



With his men slaughtered, Deeyem sent away his pet raven, seeking help. The majister was captured, encased in crystal, and taken into the bogs.



Though the raven often spoke of the event, Deeyem was never heard from again. Could the bullywugs of Toadwallow Caverns be the very same creatures?


The story continues: https://lodgestgaming.forumotion.com/t397-3-gloorpk-and-the-mud-hides#20279