The Wandering Statue

Expedition

As the party continues their journey through the enchanting fey grasslands, Pusish becomes increasingly aware of subtle changes in the landscape. The once-familiar paths and landmarks appear different, although he still manages to navigate through the enchanted terrain. Alfie, still suffering from exhaustion caused by his divine communion, rests frequently along the way. Meanwhile, Day busies herself with a challenging wooden puzzle. Amidst their journey, Day sends her vigilant companion, Jasper, soaring into the skies to scout the area. Jasper's sharp eyes spot something in the far distance—a medium-sized statue of a woman. Aero and Jasper take flight to investigate while Day deciphers the foreign script inscribed on the statue. The script, filled with unfamiliar words and phrases, escapes her grasp as she reads it aloud. The incantation's resonance pulls Day into her patron's respite, where her patron delivers a gentle reprimand for meddling with ancient and perilous texts. Day is abruptly returned to the party and conveys the message, prompting Aero to fly back to join them.   The party eventually reaches the statue, and Arnie takes the lead in examining it. They search for traces of magic or hidden mechanisms but find none. Arnie initially uses his regular charcoal stick to transcribe the script onto parchment but then stumbles upon the quill he had found in the sewers. Curious, he decides to use the recovered quill, and as he writes, the characters seem to shimmer and gleam with an otherworldly light. Upon completing the inscription, a magical glow briefly engulfs the parchment, dazzling everyone present. When the glow subsides, the writing on the parchment remains, accompanied by a soft, ethereal golden radiance.   As the Daylight Vanguard approaches the Feyline entrance, a massive and mystical beast materializes before them—a fey lion, resplendent with shimmering and territorial magic. Aware that they must confront this creature to reach the Desertum, a fierce battle ensues. Amidst the skirmish, Alfie and Day feel the ground quaking beneath them, signaling the emergence of another mystical entity—a towering humanoid mushroom creature imbued with purple magic. It releases hallucinogenic spores upon contact, causing Day to envision herself as a valiant moose, while the others see her running on all fours.   After several intense exchanges between the Vanguard and the fey creatures, they emerge victorious. Instead of lifeless bodies, the defeated fey creatures transform into magical specks that ascend into the air.   Upon closer inspection, the Vanguard makes a crucial discovery. Arnie remains motionless, his muffled cries audible from within his armor. Removing his helmet, Arnie reveals that the fey lion had seized and discarded the element powering his suit. The party assists him in retrieving the broken pieces, leaving Arnie determined to repair this invaluable component.   As the party regroups and supports Arnie in his endeavors, they are suddenly ambushed by a circular formation of elven soldiers. At the forefront of the formation stands a general-looking elf who begins to approach the party with an air of authority.