Adventure Brunch #33 -- March 8, 2020

Zura's Diary Entry:

While recovering from my last near-death experience fighting a horde of undead, I visited Cyrus Jorasco at his new healing house and agreed to go out on some errands with him for his powerful benefactor, in the interest of building a better elf noble relationship--though Cyrus annoyingly interrupts me all the time... 

I gathered my trusted companion, Shakkax, and Cyrus brought Aslam, whom I remember from that unfortunate wolf hunting excursion, and we went to visit Pascan the Red and his exotic stables, per Cyrus' direction. We convinced him to come with us to clear out some goblins for Cyrus' mysterious quest giver. 

It seemed to be a good idea at the time to take a break from my Tower battles and help fight someone else's, however it was not as relaxing as I would have wished. We stayed at the Dragon's Roost Inn, and I had the worst, must UN-relaxing bathing experience of my life. I think my skin may still be bleeding from getting scrubbed so hard by those little scaly beings with harsh brushes of doom.

On the plus side, I did pick up the bag of colding that I've been meaning to acquire, and I was able to speak with Zarinda again--that fellow half-elf saved from Fort Chittor. She told me that north of Chittor is the Forest of Fall, and she has been trading up there near the feywild portal. It is good to learn more about the Fall elves and their activities for any future dealings with them.

There are a few different factions, I gathered: the Ndengina are savage caravans of killer elves (whom I remember hearing are nasty business); House Ar'eska is the main power in the area though their Lord Moonbeam is gone (note to self: I must find him!); the Reaver Clan is opposed to the new lord of House Ar'eska; and House Draug’Noore is made up of some type of lycanthrope people. "Draug" means "wolf" in Sylvan, so that makes sense. The Fall elves need ore and finished products. Perhaps I can make them some weapons to trade and build an alliance...

Anyway, in the morning, after a fretful night's sleep on a hard and also unrelaxing bed, we set out. On the way to our destination, we passed what looked like a vineyard northwest of the stables, which I would like to revisit sometime. I am told it is owned by Efendi Jalanvaloss. I think Torius would be very interested in visiting as well.

We finally reached a break in the mountain range, which was clouded in a thick mist. It was magical, and bright orange to my eye (though regular grey/white otherwise), but ultimately did not harm us. We moved through the mist until we reached the base of the tallest mountain. Before it, there were some huts and larger structures; and there we found the goblins!

Cyrus and Pascan became wyrlings and efficiently defeated our foes with poison and fire. Two goblins got away into the mist, but we followed a larger monster into one of the structures and discovered it had escaped us through a large fox hole!

Pursuing it through the hole was not a pleasant experience at all. At the end of it--covered in mud and guck--we found ourselves in a pitch black cavern. There were more goblins there, which played sly and painful tricks on us, however we ended up killing them all.

Following another pathway out of the cavern, we stumbled onto a series of puzzles. We did make it through them, and I fully satisfied my dungeon diving dreams for now. We met Cyrus' mysterious quest giver at the end, had a strange exchange, and were set a task that I must think more on.

I feel satisfied at successfully passing a test--though it was another's. Now I hope Cyrus will aid me in my quest to save my Tower. I must get back there soon, and am looking forward to a soft, fluffy, and comfortable bed.