Session 13 5/22/23

14 Dravago 994 YK

After conversing with the fey in the alternate dimension, they tell us that we need a donation of blood from various dragons to strengthen the blood line for the crystal. The closest dragon that they have used in the past lives near lake Galifar 500 miles northwest of us, but they haven't heard from it lately. They suggest we contact the Seekers of Thir (kobolds) to assist us in finding the dragon. The dragon is up near the Eldeen Reaches (where Verna's sister has her grove). The fastest travel route is through the world tree and, among the party, I have the best sense of the land, and am therefore tasked with using the Wand of Flowers to travel this path. Unfortunately, the closest stub of the tree is cursed and locked out in Klaus' camp. They also say that if we place a circle of Eberron shards (the red ones) around the elemental it will cause it to extract itself from the lodestone.

On our return trip to town, we are attacked by four undead chipmunks! What evil necromancer decides to animate chipmunks? I charge forward to draw their attention and Miles places a fire next to himself so that Verna and Wabnuc can light their arrows on fire before shooting them. As much as I hate to admit it, that was a great tactical move. Three of the critters come after me and the last heads towards Miles. We make longer work of killing them than I thought it would take because they wouldn't stay dead. We'd drop one and it would stand back up. Annoying foul creatures. Miles loots the bodies and gets a vial of T-virus (also known as tyrant virus). Great, now he can animate a creature as a zombie.

16 Dravago 994 YK

When we return to town, it is rather late so we head to the inn for dinner and a meal. The innkeeper seems shocked to see us and claims we've been gone two days and she thought we were going to stiff her. She was about to sell our belongings to recoup her losses. We paid our back rental on the rooms and one more night since we are leaving in the morning. She asked if we found any moon peppers for her, alas, we didn't. The cook-off is tomorrow, and we won't have the time to look for her. While in the inn, we hear that there is unusual activity in the ghost house that has people worried. We head to our rooms for a night of peaceful rest.

17 Dravago 994 YK

Verna reminds me to send a letter off to the rail camp to let them know how to remove the elemental from the ground and to let them know we need to head to Galifar to get dragon's blood in order to set the elemental flow of the area back. I also stop to pick up my adamantine plate armor. I feel like a proper paladin now!

Since we saw arcane runes that resemble those from the Church of the Silver Flame, we decide to ask the priest in town about removing the curse. Miles, Verna, and I head there to ask the clergy as we have the greatest persuasion skills and tact. When we get there, they recognize us as the ones that brought the flaming skull in from the fields. Apparently the guards that we sent to help them dispose of the creature were so incompetent that they actually freed it! The were suckered in by promises of free beer and loose women. Looks like another loose end to wrap up! Miles tactfully asks them about the curse and its removal. They respond that the curse happened on the Day of Mourning and that the runes that are on there are actually a blessing placed there by them. They have attempted to remove the curse, to no effect.

Since that entrance into the tree world is closed, we decide to travel to see if the tree that Verna saw at the peak of the obelisk is uncorrupted. It's a two-day trip, so we decide to buy a horse and cart and travel the roads. Wabnuc wants to bring Adam Smash along, so we decide to forgo the horse and have Adam pull the cart. He moves as fast as a horse. We buy the cart for 15 galifars, and give them 5 silver to deliver it to Klaus' camp.

As we enter the camp, Klaus is in his typical foul mood. The grung are raiding his camp almost daily now. He claims it has something to do with their eggs being stolen. That is something he will have to deal with while we are gone. We get the cart hooked up to Adam and begin our journey to the other tree. Near dusk, we happen upon four half-ogres around a fire roasting a dire wolf. We have a conversation and they seem interested in Adam and want to trade meat for him. We decline the offer as he is our draft horse and leave them to eat. Verna keeps her eyes out but doesn't see them follow us. Later, Wabnuc sitting atop the golem, notices them following our obvious trail. Verna wants to ambush them and so we set up a little trap. Miles decides to act as bait and shoots the first ogre with a bolt of flame to its chest. Adam bursts through the trees and makes half-ogre paste out of it. The other three ogres don't seem to be around. All of the sudden they appear! Two climb Adam, and the last attacks at Miles. I rush out of my hiding spot to attack but miss horribly. Adam shakes off one half-ogre, Wabnuc, and Pedro, but the other half-ogre manages to hold on. Miles manages to severely burn the creature attacking him, and I manage to cleave it in twain. Wabnuc and Pedro manage to kill the one that flew off Adam with them, and Verna manages to kill the one still on Adam. We loot the bodies and find four normal battle axes, 12 javelins, and 250 gp, 2 sp, and 10 cp. (62 gp, 5 sp, and 7 cp each). After the battle we decide to take a rest for the night and we will continue the journey in the morning. We pass the night with no additional trouble.