Will we reach the Squog Queen before she enslaves and kills the town?

General Summary

As we watched the pyre of dead squogs and goblins burn we briefed Lili and Devan on what had happened during their great sickness. We all agreed we desperately needed to get down there, but at the same time we were also played out. Cap’n and I had a few spells between us, and we were both looking rather sick at the moment. Lili remembered Robin Avery and how she and I had worked together with her. She figured we could send her a message letting her know about the squog queen coming. After much thought she sent “Evil oviparion monster coming to town, alert McAllister.” or something like that, I just remember being confused when I heard the message. She sent back to meet at Saint Eustace, so we set out as fast as we could. After resting for an hour and getting some of our breath back, we headed downhill. By this time it was dark, and we opted to continue through the night, and hopefully catch up to her. Ocassionally we would recast the stones and see our progress versus the queen. It was dangerous, and at one point Cap’n tripped and turned his ankle. “Good thing we rested for that hour, or I’m quite sure that would have been the final straw,” Cap’n said glancing at his swelling ankle. I bandaged his ankle and helped him back up. We moved slower now, but at the end of our second day, and being oh so very very tired, got to town.

Blackbird Point 

As we approach town there are 8 guards standing watch. “Beware lads,” Cap’n said, “There’s a monster coming from the hills.” “I don’t know about that,” the guard replied looking at Cap’n oddly, “But some bigwig is worried and upset and we got extra guard duty.” “Keep an eye to the sky,” Cap’n warned. They started looking at him even odder.
We moved slowly through the town and got more than a few stares. After all, we had several donkeys following us and had a rather human-shaped bundle on one of them. Either way, we made it to Saint Eustace and asked the acolyte who greeted us if we could speak to Father Bruney, the archbishop.
Cap’n greets Father Bruney and explains we came to meet with Robin Avery about a matter of great importance. “Oh yes, I was told about that, she is staying at Lon McAllister’s house over in the merchant district. It’s a little late to be calling on her, but she will be there in the morning,” Father Bruney said glancing over our travel-stained clothing. “With all the rains recently, I’m afraid our accommodations are few, but you are welcome to stay here.” “Thank you, sir, we also have a friend who needs to be resurrected. She died in battle against one of the creatures.” “We have a brother here who can perform such a task, but we lack the necessary components. It requires a diamond of a certain size, if you are able to gain that, the brother will be more than happy to do so,” Father Bruney replied. “We have these gems we recovered from the cave the squogs were in,” Cap’n said showing the gems. “None of those are quite what you need, perhaps your companion could trade them,” said Father Bruney with a significant glance over at Devan. “You need a diamond worth about 1000 gold for this spell to work, it’s an offering to the Creator, to show the worth of the person you wish brought back.” Devan glanced quickly over the gems, and tucked them into a bag, “I can do it, I just need to get a few things done first.” As soon as he said that Lili reached out, grabbed his ear, and pulled him out of the church. “You will get it done as quickly as possible, and we will return promptly,” she muttered to him as she pulled him out. Devan and Lili stopped by his house and washed up, changed clothes, all the sorts of things you need to do to change from worthless vagabond to upstanding merchant. Or the appearance of an upstanding merchant. After a bit of back and forth, Devan was able to obtain the needed diamond. They headed back to his house for the night to sleep.
Meanwhile, Cap’n and I slept on the stone floor of the church. We ate a thin gruel for breakfast and something that was a soup of some sort for dinner that night. It was…. filling but not good. It was a less than restful night for the two of us.
NEXT MORNING AT THE CHURCH
As Cap’n and I finished up our gruel, an acolyte approached us politely, “Father Bruney needs to see you now in the chapel, if you would follow me.” We walked impatiently behind him and arrived in a small, neatly kept chapel obviously intended for private conferences or ceremonies of special import. “Good you’re here, this is Abbott Ren McDougal, he’s the head of the monastery here. He has a problem, that I believe you can solve, it also might tie in with your dilemma,” and Father Bruney waved the brown robed figure forward. “Last night a pair of brothers had gone into the chemist’s area of the Old Town, they were there to obtain some new inks for our scriptorium.” Abbott McDougal waved his hands, “But that is not relevant. While returning they were set upon by a local gang. They were able to get away, but they said it seemed more like the gangsters were trying to capture them, not kill or rob them. It was very unusual behavior for the gang,” he trailed off as he saw the significant glances Cap’n and I were throwing each other. “I take it you have seen this before?” “It follows the behaviors of the creature we are tracking, it changes the people,” I answered trying not to give too many details to the Abbott, not wishing to disturb him. “Can you tell us roughly where this happened?” The Abbott was able to give rough directions to the area, and I made note of it to visit there. “With your permission sir, we will appraise Miss Avery of this news and see if she was able to contact Colonel McAllister,” I said. The Archbishop waved his hand dismissing us just as Lili and Devan came in. “We have the materials for the resurrection Father Bruney,” Devan said. “Can you get started on it at once?” “I require someone from your party to stay behind, it can be very disconcerting to come back to life, and given the violent circumstances I do not wish her to accidentally kill one of my brothers in her confusion.” “That makes sense,” said Devan. “Well, I can stay behind, like as not.” “Perhaps, Lili and I should be the ones to head over to Miss Avery and the McAllister house?” I suggest. “We did work with her before, and I did serve with Colonel McAllister’s son.” “Yes, go, go, I’ll see you in a little bit,” Devan waved us out.
LON MCALLISTER’S HOUSE
We head off to Lon McAllister’s house, it’s a rather impressive brownstone house right next to the merchant district. A snobby butler answers the door, and in the most condescending manner says, “Yes, can I help you?” “We are here to talk with Robin Avery, Archbishop Bruney told us she was staying here while in town,” I answer. “Your card?” he sneered at us. I grabbed as crap of parchment and scribbled my name on it, and handed it to him. He looked down his nose at the card and walked off. We could hear a small argument going on behind the door he went through, only to see Robin Avery follow the butler back. Behind her were two men, obviously brothers, arguing as they followed. One looked like a much too big man into a much too small coat trying to look like nobility. His brother was slighter, he had the build of a man who worked hard, but didn’t put on much weight, his movement suggested danger.
“What did you release while you were up in the mountains?” Robin asked with a smile. I didn’t catch the smile, I’ll admit I”m still a little sleep-deprived. “Oh, we didn’t release it, ma’am. It was already loose, we’re just trying to put it down,” I answered quickly glancing over at the Colonel to see how he was taking the news. It looked like the argument was dying down between the two brothers, but neither looked happy. “I was teasing you, Addie,” Robin assured me, with a gentle pat on my arm. “Sorry, I haven’t slept much in the past few days, and with Milli dying, it’s been a bit of a strange few days,” I answered. “We need to deal with the creature, when last we checked it looked to be heading towards the Old Town area of town, possibly towards the chemists' area. Abbott McDougal reported some of the brothers had been attacked by a local gang that was acting unusual. It matched how the goblins acted that were possessed by the Queen squog we met earlier.” “Show me this map,” the Colonel said. I got it out and cast the stones down and we could clearly see the queen squog was somewhere nearby.

Report Date

21 Dec 2021