6 Eleint 2993

In the middle of the evening’s rest, Fenpenny Copperleaf and Fernweh Fareburrow are on watch when the two of them notice a winged creature (about yea big) approach the camp and begin sifting through the belongings on Fenpenny’s cart. Callum Rivers, lying beneath the cart, continues sleeping undisturbed while Fen silently wakes up Grexes, Huzzah!, and Černoboš Vosk. Huzzah! tries to speak to the interloper telepathically, which only startles the sprite-like being, and it flies off, back into the forest.

The remainder of the evening passes uneventfully, and the party then wakes and sets off again on its journey through the Old Forest to reach the druid circle. On the way, the group comes across the ruined Temple of Jael, site of last year’s Mabon-day killings, and begins to investigate.

Huzzah! and Černoboš search the altar and find a disturbed arcane circle. Such circles are known to be used for teleportation, protection, or other rituals, but this one’s purpose cannot be ascertained.

Fenpenny, Grexes, and Fernweh are checking the area around the temple when Fernweh hears a voice, warning him to run before something bad comes. As Fernweh turns around, he sees the creature that warned him twist into a malignant mass of sticks and branches. The other party members aren’t so lucky as they are surprised when the half dozen twig blights and shambling mound emerge from the surrounding undergrowth and attack.

Grexes, bolstered with extra resolve from Huzzah! and Fenpenny, weathers much of the shambling mound’s ire while the rest of the party thins out the twig blights. One twig blight knocks out a surprised Callum, whom Fenpenny restores, and the party dispatches the others without much damage done.

Before everyone can fully turn their attention to the shambling mound, however, Grexes takes two devastating blows, striking him unconscious, and is engulfed by the rapacious vegetation. Černoboš slays the shambler seconds later, but it is too late for Grexes, who has been crushed to death among the writhing plant matter.

The remaining party members decide to put the journey to the druid circle and their mission to rescue the orphans on hold and return to Gosterwick, hoping to find someone who can revive their fallen comrade.