Slime, Shadows, and Spooky Stairs
PB
We returned to the hag’s tower. A strange place, full of bad air and worse magic. A started with his magic senses, checking the bath on the first floor. He found some strange magic on the mirror and a lily pad. B stuck his foot in the water – said it felt “tingly.” I, being more direct, just waded right in and checked the well. Good thing, too. Out popped a Gelatinous Cube! A simple, honest fight, and we smashed the green jelly-thing into a broken mess. The hag’s bath is “fixed.”
With that nonsense done, we went to the Bullywug town, Downfall. I said a quick hello to Sir Mugwort – she’s still eager for us to take out the hag. Apparently Baron Illig of Muckstump was a hunter, and the pelts we were sent for were his “gift” to the hag, should he have become king. Selfish move. The pelts themselves were nasty – M looked disgusted. We took the boat back.
A suggested we use the balloon to float over to the third floor, sending his raven to look at the windows and balcony. I liked the idea of just sneaking in through the balcony door, but B, always the voice of reason, reminded us we needed to report on the “chores.” (Spoiling what might have been a good door kicking!)
Back to the hag, Bavlorna Brightstraw. She didn’t waste time, asking if we were done. A tried to bargain, but she only wanted the tasks done. He gave her back the Big Bad Book of Bad Blood. I handed over the box of Bullywug pelts. Her creepy little lornlings took the skins to her workshop. She then dismissed us, saying she was going to take a bath (the one I fixed!). She gave Charm a dismissive look, and once the lornlings were gone, we decided to talk to the mysterious merchant.
Charm was holding a cup of tea that was steaming impossibly. She threw it down and it shattered, then smiled crookedly. A bad sign (and a waste of a perfectly good cup of tea). A took the lead talking to her. She said her business was done. A asked about her shadow, which she said was a “condition,” but A wasn’t fooled. B asked about her sisters. Charm told us: Skabatha Nightshade rules Tither, and is a clever engineer but forgetful (can you believe it??? She forgets the first thing she sees when she wakes up - wonder what would happen if she saw her own reflection…). Endelynn Moongrave rules Yawn, and is the young one. She can apparently see anyone’s future. When B asked about Zybilna, Charm shut down. B pressed, but she waved him off and started creeping towards the door. I stepped into her path, asking her what the hurry was, but she just offered us a chance to sample her wares if we ever get to Yawn. With a look from the party, I decided to step aside, and she clattered down the creaky stairs, moving fast (in a hurry that one is).
B picked the lock on a cabinet nearby and we heard a noise from inside. I called out, hearing a hiss in return. My sprite, 7-Up, didn’t answer. We decided to wait an not open this cabinet (but what if 7-up was injured and couldn’t respond??)
A went to another room with seven covered pedestals. I kept trying to call 7-Up, but only got angry fluttering in response. A used his mage hand to lift a cloth and underneath we found a hawk-sized bird inside. He checked the rest; all birds. Looking around the rest of the room, he saw a window engraving that said Tither and another for Yawn.
B left his little homunculus thing to watch downstairs while we went up (so useful!). The stairs were so creaky we couldn’t be quiet if we tried. A ball of light was bobbing above the rafters, and I felt drawn to it. I asked the party to help me look. A and I tried to see it, but I couldn’t make it out, and just kept feeling this persistent pull as if it called to my soul. A tried his hand magic, but the light just moved away.
M just watched everything (she’s probably thinking about lolli’s). B went into a room, found the balcony door, and opened it. He checked a chest of drawers – full of modified clothes. Then he decided to water the plants (what a thoughtful fellow - those plants looked like they needed it). The first plant moved a bit. When he watered the last one, the branch reached into the soil and pulled out a key! B used it on the locked chest he had spied earlier. Inside was a marionette with two faces, a ticket for the Carnival signed by “Isolde” and three magic scrolls. A good haul for watering some weeds.
B then picked the lock on the final door. It was a storage room full of junk, and we heard a weak, pathetic croaking sound. We watched a lornling die. Then, a shadow jumped out! Who knew shadows could jump?!?! But now, something I know well - we were in a battle. I didn’t waste a second. I shattered the shadow with my axe and it dropped a spool of shiny thread.
What a strange house, full of secrets, weird plants, and shadows that fight. We got the chores done, got some information, and got a fight. My shell is ready for whatever creaky, dusty mess is next.