2019-11-21

Continuing to explore, we encounter a troll. Knowing they regenerate unless hurt by fire or acid, our fire mage is able to keep it from regenerating long enough for us to kill it - which doesn't take long at all. It's almost anticlimactic, really. On the upside, the troll seems to have amassed a reasonably large value of coins and gems. Maybe we'll be able to afford some magic items soon...
 
We find a necromancer hiding in a back room, performing a ritual involving mysterious music and dancing skeletons. Once we take him down, the skeletons collapse. Searching the room, we find his notes, spellbook, and wand, and determine he's the one Sir Ambrose was chasing.
 
After returning to Trollskull Manor and cleaning up, we bring what we've found to our contact with the Emerald Enclave [Lady Jeryth Phaulkon, the at Phaulkonmere; her groundskeeper and assistant is Melannor]. Sir Ambrose has left a reward for us, which we collect, although he was needed elsewhere. Lady Jeryth promises to arrange a party of clerics to accompany us back down to de-petrify the adventurers we'd found, and will contact us when the group is ready.
 
The circus is an interesting event. The first thing we find is the "petting zoo", where several creatures are on display for the children (and adults, since we join them) to touch, feed treats, and otherwise interact with. Simon is a very friendly griffon who takes a special interest in Rhen, and it's quite fun to touch all the creatures. [Ramona is the allosaurus we helped rescue; Finn the Fabulous is the handler we spoke with.]