==Roll Call==
Childe Raymond, Githyanki Paladin (Doty)
Bell, Kenku Cleric (CJ)
Blynce, Human-hybrid Fighter (Eric)
Vaal, Eladrin Rogue (Tim)
Bumi, Goblin Sorcerer (Matt)
Morgid, Hobgoblin Guide (NPC)
To the Sanctuary of Albahith, Jigow Township
Greetings to the Masters of the Pilgrims, and hail to The Luxon:
Mission Report from Childe Raymonde (Part 4)
After our fight with the spiders, we rested in the ruined tower. The next morning, we had a brief religious discussion, but I'm not sure we really got anywhere with it.
We decided to head towards a place marked on the map that looked like a mushroom field. Arriving, we found a cave entrance set in a hill, surrounded by mushrooms and slime. The cave did not appear to be a mausoleum -- it appeared natural, at least as far as we could tell. None of us knew enough about fungus to identify the mushrooms, either.
Blynce investigated the cave entrance, and noticed a frog-like humanoid. The other didn't notice Blynce, so Blynce backed out of the cave and rejoined us. From the description, Morgid supposed this might have been a Bullywug, who were known to be present in the swamp.
Bumi cast a spell to understand the Bullywug, with the idea of perhaps getting it to tell us information about Bollbarra the goblin-witch. Upon advancing, Bumi said that we should back up, although I couldn't see what he was reacting to. Lanterns began to be lit from within the cavern! There were five Bullywugs and two large amphibioid beasts of some sort.
They apparently hadn't heard of Bollbarra, but asked for treasure in return for letting us live. We were not impressed by their threats, and combat began. We pulled back to the cave entrance, not feeling much cause to engage in a deadly fight. Our spellcasters did minor damage, and we continued to retreat in fighting formation. Bumi magically threw rocks at one of the big toads, and called upon Vaal to play his magic flute. Our enemies closed in but did not quite get within reach. Vaal played an obscure ditty on the pipes -- some of our opponents trembled in fear! We exited the cave -- they did not pursue. Bumi expressed some regret at our retreat, and in my heart I felt the same.
We continued on to the next marked place on our map -- something like a monolith. At dusk, we found a mossy knoll, with a huge crystalline shard, three feet across and about eight feet tall, shimmering and glowing. After a brief argument as to whether to investigate this place or find a camp, Bumi began to magically evaluate the crystal.
We also found traces of footprints, and an indication of something being dragged away. Perhaps Bollbarra was captured here? This knoll is apparently a place where darkly arcane rituals can be performed. The party, over my objections, made camp at the knoll. Bumi learned that this crystal could be used to cast the "commune" spell. Vaal learned that some glowing gems could be removed from the crystal (and did so) -- the gems could be used to cast some divination magic.
Bumi cast Commune - "Is Bollbarra at the outpost?" "Yes." "Is Bollbarra alive?" "Yes and no." "Will Bollbarra leave with us if we go get her?" "Maybe." We were a bit perplexed by that, but decided to proceed to the Imperial outpost.
Along the way, we sensed movement ahead of us in the marsh. Imperial soldiers! They commanded us halt in the name of the Empire. Vaal made a friendly greeting, which Bell amplified. The soldiers advanced a bit, but not into combat range. They did not appear to be immediately hostile. Their leader demanded that we hand over all goblinoids (having got a glimpse of Bumi concealing himself in my backpack). Bumi hopped down and brandished the Imperial shield we had found earlier, claiming that he was "one of them."
They accused Bumi of killing a soldier, which Bumi denied. The soldiers indicated there was a bounty on goblinoid. Bell denied meeting any soldiers before. The soldiers re-iterated their demand to hand over the goblinoid. A 25gp bounty per head! Vaal and Bumi both claimed that Bumi was worth far more than that! But then, the leader spotted our guide Morgid hiding behind a tree. "Another one!" the leader exclaimed angrily, drawing his weapon.
Bumi said, "You want shield? You can have it!" … and launched it magically at the leader, injuring him gravely. Vaal played on his pipes, causing fear in the majority of our foes! Melee ensued, and the soldiers were clearly over-matched. Morgid, furious at the bigoted soldiers, charged to the attack, a marked change from his previous holding-back. The last remaining soldier fled and we gave chase. The soldier didn't get far, and fell dead.
The party's comradeship increased quite a bit as a result of this fight. We stood together against the bigotry of the Empire, even though they tempted us with gold. I was troubled in spirit, however. I enjoyed that fight immensely, and I worry that my ancestral Githyanki bloodthirstiness is beginning to grow strong.
We found the escarpment at the edge of the marsh, and came across the seeming carcass of one of those gigantic tortoises. Morgid said "Mossback steward!" and knelt in respect and prayer. It was no carcass! It spoke to us, welcoming us. We told it that we sought Bollbarra, and it confirmed that she had been taken by the Empire to their outpost. It offered to cast divination magic for us.
We decided to reconnoiter the outpost before asking our divination question. The outpost had a persistent dark cloud above it -- some kind of magical storm! We went back to the Steward and camped on its back, thinking that we could try to penetrate the outpost at night. We ask the Steward to divine whether or not Bollbarra was currently alive -- the answer was "Bollbarra lives. Bollbarra dies. Bollbarra lives again, over many nights, but soon, Bollbarra will no longer be Bollbarra." Chilling!
We took a long rest. Bumi noticed that the gems taken from the large crystal were a bit dimmer….