Chapter 34: Welcome to Hel...vater
General Summary
The party arrived in Erste Ferry midday on the 5th of Ruehnar. In the small collection of buildings they found a small general store, a church, a tavern/inn, the ferry, a stable, and a few homes.
They checked out the ferry stand and found that they wouldn't be able to take the ferry as the rope had been broken in an icestorm approximately a week prior. Lenihlra and Leon sold their rope to Melinda, the ferry operator, and were told that she would be able to perform the necessary repairs but it would take a day.
Jacquora and Leon returned to the tavern that they had initially passed and bought two rooms. Aqiatuxl bought a fur stole and looked into the town's church. There he found that it wsa non-denominational and that there were dozens of small niches in the church for travelers to the town to worship. After saying a prayer to Sarenrae he noticed that there was a small niche in a corner with a black curtain. Behind the curtain he found an old humanoid skull with moss coming out of it's jaw. Two silver coins had been recently placed as an offering. The attendant in the church mentioned that it was a shrine to Nhimbaloth and that it was usually left alone. The last time he saw someone come through and go to it was maybe 4 or so months ago. Aqia remembered that it Nhimbaloth was sometimes referred to as "The Empty Death." Finally, Lenihlra found the stables and discovered their previous horses were there. She rented them again and returned to the tavern.
While in the tavern they discussed their next destination. Leon tried to look into an island but didn't learn much. They looked over a pamphlet Leon had picked up (now months ago) on their travels that discussed The Mistyeyed, the guides through Helvater in Belsyr.
The next day they returned to the now repaired ferry and made their way on their journey. After observing Leon summon his phantom steed, they went on their way. The first day they encountered a sleet-like rain that was rather unpleasant. That night a Greater Shadow attacked them, dealing a lot of damage to Jacquora. They did defeat the shadow, which disappated into the night. The second day they encountered a dracolisk - a combination of a basilisk and a dragon. After transforming themselves with disguises into bushes, they made their way through the countryside, eventually happening upon a less fortunate group of adventurers. Two had been poisoned and one had been turned to stone. The third day of travel they found an abandoned barn. After Leon successfully set off three traps, they found a hidden treasure. Inside a weathered old box they found a black pearl, a citrine, a potion of Endure Elements, and a scroll containing the spell "find traps."
At the end of the third day they encountered Helvater. Tall, dark trees stood just to their north, like a black smudge of charcoal darkening the horizon. Halfway through the fourth day they finally reached Belsyr. First they reached a bustling trading post comprised of a mish-mash of buildings, wagons, and tents. Further on they found a tall wall of pointed logs surrounding what they assumed to be Belsyr proper. Two guards stopped them and asked if they wished to travel through Helvater. A young Belsyrian led them through to a building. They found that this small area was surrounded by a smaller wall, completely cutting off their sight of the town within. Four around 20 minutes they waited in this lounge, talking to a young girl with a snowy owlbear toy named Snowflake. Eventually they were ferried out and led to a small hut with a crackling fire. While Leon, Lenihlra, and Jacquora talked, Aqiatuxl kept an eye out on his surroundings. He noticed that at some point, a bald guide led a group (including the small girl and her family) out. While this bald guide did so the rest of the Belsyrians milling about the camp stopped what they were doing and watched him go. Once he had left the camp they returned to what they had been doing.
Eventually a woman in her mid- to upper-thirties greeted them. She had three ridges along the side of her head and three braids that reached her shoulders. They noticed that there was a slight pearlescent shine to her skin and that her eyes were misted over. She introduced herself as Hilde, their guide through the swamp. She told them to listen to her closely and follow all directions. This included: staying on the path no matter what, following her orders and not disobeying her, that she didn't care if they used magic so long as it kept them alive, that they would encounter all matter of horrifying creatures in there, and that they were in good hands. She also implored that they not leave their hut at night. As she left she gave them a list of supplies that they should probably get in the trading posts outside the walls of the city.
Leon bought 200 feet of rope, gloves, waterproof boots, and four scrolls. Aqia bought waterproof clothing for everyone. Lenihlra bought musk from perhaps the Empire's only musk salesman. Jacquora bought a new dagger for her belt.
With that they all returned to the hut to sleep and await their travel into Helvater at dawn the next day.
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