STATIC 15: Deeper into the Dark Wood

General Summary

Wherein our heroes are tested by a tired knight, aid some enterprising wolfhags, and venture into the halls of the Ratfolk King

Deeper

The Interdimensional Blinkerton Detective Agency, exhausted after a pitched battle with some titular wolves of Dhib’ma’qulm, or the Bastion of Wolves, decided to take a well-earned rest. As they did so, Tridge dreamed. In this dream, she saw Elaugzar Wyrdloom--the Gold Earring'd "Auggie" that our gumshoes are so desperately seeking. Stranger still, Auggie seemed to see Tridge, too, as he looked straight at her and simply said "Come find me." Tridge's dream then began to dissipate and she looked around frantically to discern any clue as to where Auggie might actually be. There seemed to be a whole lot of pink crystals around, as if the presence of that material might be a defining feature. As she rejoined her companions in the conscious world, Tridge shared her portentous dream. While no geologist herself, Hypatia's knowledge of The "Science-Gangs" of The Reactor enabled her to tell her fellow adventurers that they should begin their search by talking with the Rocksteadys, as they are the go-to science-gang for all things rock related.
That assumes, of course, that they can ever get back to New Carydam and its denizens. First, they've got to figure out why they are in these dark woods and, then, hopefully find a way back home. To continue that endeavor, Fritz Himmelswander relied on Tyrant to steer them in the right direction. Having nothing else going on at the moment, Brassjaw decided to accompany the Blinkertons--at least until he finds whomever it is he is supposed to kill this time around.
Our heroes then crossed paths with a formidable looking knight, standing stalwart across a narrow bridge. He introduced himself as Vemmkor Jandala and as the one charged with testing individuals who wished to cross this particular bridge. To do so, they must nominate a champion to several trials to be deemed worthy of the other side of the bridge. Nero Rubicant --who self-nomiated but with the approval of the rest of the Blinkies--stepped forward. He underwent three tests. The first was to keep his feet as Vemmkor struck him as hard as he could. Despite the assistance of his friends, Nero ultimately lost his bearings due to the knight's mighty slap. With the first test a failure, there was a lot riding on the second one. Luckily, it was right in Nero's wheelhouse--a footrace across the railing of the bridge. Nero bested Vemmkor handily in this challenge. All that remained, then, was the final test. Nero needed to pass this in order for our heroes to cross the bridge by avoiding combat with this study-looking warrior. The Skein was, again, woven well for our detectives, as the last trial involved Nero catching an arrow meant for his head. It was something he was hoping to do for a long long time and it was just as good as he imagined it would be.
Venturing deeper into the woods revealed another oddity--a skeleton high up in a gibbet in a tree, dancing freely and of its own accord. Fritz felt the new to join the skeleton in dance and realized that something or someone was controlling the skeleton. Fritz and Hypatia felt compelled to check it out. So they did, and it led right to a cave coven of wolfhags. Uh oh!

But rather than fight our dectectives, the wolfhags asked for assistance. Lady Annie Armtwister, the leader of this coven, asked them to "take care of" a rogue mage named Umeksten the Trivial who threatens the hag's territory. If they do so, they will be rewarded. Having no real reason not to do this--and at Brassjaw's firm urging that this could be the person he is meant to eliminate--the Blinkertons agreed. The hags then drew a rough map of the mage's last known location and bid them good hunting.

Darker

On the way to the mage's location, our heroes stumbled across a venom troll. Much blood and acid was spilled in this contest, but our gumshoes won the day.

The mage, it turned out, was, in fact, Brassjaw's quarry. Nice! And it turned out that Umeksten was super into spiders. Just all kinds of spider-related activity happening here. And acid. Spiders and acid. It was a frenetic fight, but our heroes triumphed and unceremoniously lopped off the Trivial's head to bring back to the hags. There, they were rewarded. Fritz got 400 gold, Tridge got a strange fan, and Hypatia got a lance that she will probably want to sell to Berrig. Nero, however, got an amulet that can summon the spirit of John Christmas, which is certainly something.

Saying farewell to the hags, our detectives headed back out into the darkening woods. Eventually, they reached a clearing in which Tyrant insisted that Fritz stay a while. It became clear why this might have been its wish, as our heroes were soon approached by ratfolk who, at the urging of their king, sought our the Blinkertons. Kragstil the Finder, a ratfolk seeker/scout/wisewoman, insisted that our adventurers accompany them to the hospitality of the Dusk Warrens and to the court of the Ratfolk King. It seemed that this is what Tyrant wanted our heroes to do, and perhaps could be part of the key of solving this particular Displacement issue, so they agreed.

In the Dusk Warrens, Tridge had just enough time for a bowl of "Magehead Porridge" and Nero just enough time to try to impress some ratfolk through a keen exhibition of arrowcatching, before all of them were brought before the Ratfolk King.

And That's Where We Left It

We'll see how the Blinkertons navigate the court of the Ratfolk King during their next session.

Varied & Sundry Details

• Vemmkor mentioned something about perhaps seeing our heroes again. Could that come to pass?
• Some of the trees in Dhib’ma’qulm have faces.
• Hypatia, for reasons currently unknown, as a jar of spider goo.

Rewards Granted

• Drill Lance
• Amulet of Good Cheer
• Courtesan's Fanblade

Character(s) interacted with

• Vemmkor Jandala--a steely-gazed knight, conductor of trials, tired
• Lady Annie Armtwister--leader of a coven of Wolfhags
• Umeksten the Trivial--a mage, then a spider, then a spider-mage
• Kragstil the Finder--a wise ratfolk scout

Report Date

28 Jan 2023

Primary Location

Dhib’ma’qulm