Episode 24 - The Road to Crying Leaf

General Summary

The Guardians of Golarion bought a covered wagon and two light horses. With Reh at the reins and Godric sitting shotgun, the Guardians departed for the Mierani Forest and the town of Crying Leaf.

A winding dirt road that quickly becomes a Varisian caravan path led north from Riddleport. After a full day’s ride, with some awkward conversations between Ella, Proteus, and Buck, the party decided to camp for the evening.

Ella set up a solid camp and scrounged up some rabbits to supplement the trail rations that everyone had purchased. After a meal and some brief conversation, the guard rotations began while everyone bunked for the night.

Halfway through Ella’s shift, something felt off. The sounds of nature that had faded into the background, vanished entirely. It didn’t sit right with her. She woke Proteus, who was next in rotation. He summoned his wasp and sent it out for a patrol of the area. Sting, the wasp, saw nothing and returned to camp.

Proteus woke Godric for his shift, and the paladin of Iomedae could feel the presence of something watching them. This time, Godric put his armor on and went out to investigate with Sting following him.

Godric had made his way about a hundred feet into the darkness when he saw a row of trees. A robed figure stood in front of the trees, and as Godric drew his blade the figure stepped back into the forest behind him.

Sting was alarmed at Godric drawing his blade, which told Proteus that something was wrong. He alerted everyone that they were under attack. Buck and Reh readied themselves while Ella bolted into the darkness in the direction Godric had went.

Godric heard the sound of tree trunks snapping, then saw something big fly up into the sky. He and Ella entered the trees and found a clearing of flattened trees. Whatever had been there before, was now gone.

The next day, the Guardians came across a band of the barbarian Velashu Horse Lords who were herding about two dozen powerful-looking horses toward Riddleport. Their leader, Windbraid, asked them what they were doing so far from civilization. When he was told that the Guardians were heading to Crying Leaf, Windbraid cautioned them that the forest was always under the watchful eye of the elves. He asked if Riddleport was safe to bring his horses to market, then tried to sell some to the Guardians. That avenue of conversation ended when Windbraid was told that they had no money. He bid them good luck and went on their way.

On the final day of travel, the faint trail lead under the thick canopy of the Mierani Forest. The forest was filled with immense fir trees, pines, and redwoods that made up the majority of the flora. The trail seemed to fade into the vegetation, and for a time the Guardians were concerned that they may have gotten lost. But a quick check of the wayfinder by Godric pointed them back in what they felt was the right direction. Reh found the path, which winded through the trees and into an opening.

However, in that opening was more than just trees. Three large Forest Drakes didn’t take kindly to intruders in the forest, and as the cart pulled into the opening they flew in from above.

24037 + 655 = 24692 XP

Report Date

17 Jan 2019

Primary Location

Mierani Forest