Entering Morlea

General Summary

The dust had settled and the battle was fought. Against all odds the group of adventurers were victorious. But one of them payed the ultimate price. Nevertheless, they had beaten the beasts.   Suddenly the fog disappeared and they recognized a huge entrance, barred with a matching big door. In front of the structure stood two statues as if they were some kind of guardians. But withouth their heads, which layed at the ground in front of their feet, they would not have done a good job.   After all the battle noise it got very quiet. An almost painful silence. And like a knife a voice cut through that silence. And the only thing that voice said was, "Hello". It was Jenny's voice and as it turned out only Szeua was able to hear her. At least at the beginning. The polite Tabaxi he is, he answered the greeting. Very much confusing his team members.   After some chitchat Jenny wanted to know if the group finished the given task. If they eliminated all the dogs. But the group fell silent, except Szeua who meowed because they knew that one of the Gnolls managed to escape. Jenny expressed her disappointment and so the group convinced her that they will finish the business. And with that promise they started to chase the stinking creature. Unfortunately they were so much tired and exhausted from the fight. So, they decided that it makes more sense that the Tabaxi will be the vanguard and try to find out about the Gnoll's whereabout.   Meanwhile Eva's mind was on a journey. Her body was dead but her spirit (or soul or however it should be called) was alive. And as her mind wandered through the elemtal planes she heard a very familiar voice calling her. This voice must belong to her daughter. She was dead sure about. Her little sunshine was calling for her and so she answered and tried to get closer to where the voice was coming from.   Back at the realm of the living, Szeua was able to track down the little beast. He found him beside a carriage. The Tabaxi was able to recognize a figure within the carriage. With Red hair, bright green eyes and well dressed. But for the Tabaxi it was hard to tell if it was male or female. But that figure killed the gnoll with ease. For which reason nobody knows. When Szeua was getting closer the figure was talking to him. And after a short time the carriage left. The dead gnoll remaind. But was the creature really dead. Szuea was not so sure about and so he smashed the Gnoll's skull into the ground. Splattering blood, brain and bones all over the place. Satisfied to have finished the task, he returned back to the group and reported what happened.   And the also reported to Jenny or better to her voice about finishing the job which seemed to satisfy her. So, she asked them to find her in her hut to the south east. But before the group started to meet her they made camp and tried to rest.   During the events for the group Eva was able to find her daughter. And it really was her sweetheart. Exactly as she has always remembered her. Exactly like she lived in Eva's heart. Her sweet littel sunshine. But what kind of place were they? This question was answere by an appearance. Out from the the mist of the elemental plane a figure appeared. She had a white face without any emotion. Wearing some kind of coat covered with feathers of a raven. Yes, they were in the realm of the Raven Queen. This knowledge made Eva sad, because it finally confirmed that her daughter was and is dead. But it also made her glad, because she knew that her daugther was under the protection of the Raven Queen. And the Raven Queen granted Eva to stay here together with her Sara.   At the physical plane a new day dawned. And when the adventurers woke up they could see light but there was no sun. Strange thing but they had not issue with wondering about that. They were alive and at the moment they were only concerned about obvious things. Like Hugur who found his love for trees, very recently. Because such a tree could be the perfect place providing some discretion. What pleasure to let get go of some pressing things and perhaps recite some rhymes. Such a person could be called a Pooet. Even if those rhymes are simple children rhymes, like it would be for Hugur. And it turned out that trees will make a great stretcher to carry a person.   After all that morning business, they started their way to Jenny. When the went to the south, they recognized that it felt like it was before. This strange behaviour when they were walking through the previous fog. Like walking but not moving. But they were able to get to the place where they have found the hut before. And this time the hut was absolutely real. Not just like a projection. And if something is real, you can interact with. And that was what the group did. They opened the door. The door moved easily but with a shrieking and squeaking. After they opened the door they the interior of a simple hut. Very much as somebody would expect it. And within the hut they were awaited by it's owner. A very old woman. A bit hunched over, with long white hair, a crooked nose with a big, fat mo ... a picturesque beauty mark. Yes, that old woman was Jenny the hag.   Again the adventureres told her about killing all the dogs, als Jenny was calling the creatures. They also told her about the loss of one of their comrades and asked if Jenny could bring Eva back to life. Of course they dragged the dead body with them all the way. A little bit hesitant the hag accepted to do the rituale which could revive Eva. But such a thing can not be done without any sacrifice. So, each of them had to give a strain of hair or fur. But that was not enough. Even far from enough. Additionally everybody had to pay some gold. Still not enough.   Jenny was asked each of them to give something with great value. Not necessarily something costing a lot of money but something very dear to them. Szeua offered his bag of holding. Unfortunately he forgot that he put all of his arrows into that bag. Thus it was really a sacrifice with great value, even somehow not volunteerily. Hugur, the sweet boy, gave his Mama's ring and his tremendous battle axe. But he gave it absolutely intentionally. With Thaurudriel it was a bit of a difficult story. She was reluctant to give away her most precious item. After a while she offered an amulet. But to her surprise Jenny refused the offer. Was there some sign of fear in Jenny's eyes? Even for a very short moment. Or was it something she recognized? Who knows. Fact is that she did not accept the sacrifice but handed a chalice to the elven female instead and asked her to fill it with her blood. And the woman did what she was asked for. She gave some of her blood.   Before Jenny started she warned the group that there is no assurance that the resurrection will work. And that there is some chance that it can go wrong. Even terrible wrong.   After all the offerings were collected and the warning was done, Jenny started the ritual. And this was something none of the adventureres has ever seen been before. And they might have thought that they will never be witness to such a ritual again. How little do they know, don't they.   When the ritual was started, Eva could feel that something wanted to drag her away from her daughter. That she could lose her sweetheart again. What appeared like some mist before, became more and more like a fog. A really thick fog, almost physical. Then the Raven Queen appeared again and asked Eva to make a decision. Either staying in her domain forever but together with her daughter. Or going back to live again, continuing her life and not seeing her Sara until she will die, again.   Eva got what she was wishing for since her daughter died, years ago. But there was some unfinished business. A promise she made at her daughter's grave. What should she chose. Forever staying with her daughter from now on or keeping a promise she gave together with her daughter's death.   Her mind and soul was almost torn apart by making such a decision. But she decided. She decided to get back to the living and keeping her promise. But the pain which came with that decision can not be imagined.   So it happened that Jenny's ritual was successful and she brought Eva back. Well, it was somehow successful. And it brought Eva back somehow. Eva herself felt that something was not that well. She looked the same as before. She had all her memories like before. All her desires and all her motivations. Still, something felt different. Perhaps it was just the experience to be resurrected.   After all that exciting things, there was one surprise left. The hag informed the group that another member found his way to her hut. Also dead. And she asked if the adventureres wanted to resurrect him, too. A little bit confused the group asked to see their team mate. What a relief when they saw that the person Jenny presented them was an Aarakocra. It was not Kruusk, for sure. Not knowing this stranger the group had no interest in resurrection of that dead one. Until Eva started to tell them that she could feel, that she could sense the prowress. She insisted that she knows that with him, being alive again, they will succeed with their tasks at hand.   Thus the group agreed to accept Jenny's offer for another ritual. Again some sacrifices had to be made. Everyone gave another valueable item and Jenny handed the chalice to Thaurudriel with not comment. And even if the group did not imagined to happen but they were witness to a resurrection a second time. On the same day. But this time it went wrong. Really, really wrong. Instead of an revived Aarakocra who will fight at their side, they got a Zombie-Birdman who fought against them. Unfortunately they were still so exhausted that it could not be called a fight but rather a struggle. It was hit and miss, literally. Eva not able to stand at her feet, turned into her Wereform but was barely able to attack. After a short time Jenny got tired and probably found it repelling to watch this poor performance. To make it end quickly she eldritchblasted the Zombie into oblivion, with one single hit.   Dissapointed Jenny asked the group to leave her. But before that she had giving them another task. Most propably more difficult and even more lethal than the previous one. When they left the hut and turned back, they saw Jenny's real appearance. She looked somehow female but distorted. Obviously not human. To say that she looked mishapened could be seen as an understatement. Whoever thought her ugly before would now find it hard to keep the breakfast inside.   The brave people did not bother about but started to go toward the next task. The next adventure. Oh yes, they walked a little bit wobbly. Hopefully they will find some strength soon.