Session 40: Tempest, Tanyth 14th

 The Kobold Flint was eager and proud of his trap for the purple worm, and still holding a lit torch, he wanted to demonstrate to the group what the barrels can do. The group promptly stopped him.

The kobolds told the group that the tunnel to the east leads to the forest and if they cross that forest they will get to the lake. It takes about half a day in the tunnel to get to the forest. If they continue south, it will take about a day to reach a different forest, the one that has the big tree (Yigdrasiil). If they continue south from that forest they will get to some towns, but the Kobolds don’t really go there.

The party took a long rest and heard crunching sounds in the caves, but decided not to trigger any more creatures. Ariadne collected some manganese. Zannan asked the group some questions about dragons and revealed a bit of what he knows about the dragon Nidhogg and about the creatures at Lake Avaranthia.

The party took the tunnel to the east, and saw a few petrified Kobolds. Some of them were smashed and broken. The party proceeded cautiously through the tunnel, until they reached the forest’s edge. It was overcast and drizzling a bit, but they still had a few hours of daylight ahead and decided to proceed into the dense forest.

After travelling through the forest for a few hours, the group came across an area with a very large number of giant lizards that seemed to have been trying to get the last bit of sunlight, but now retiring to there hideouts under the rocks and foliage. This area also had lit candles (hundreds of them) hanging from trees. The group also noticed a lizard that looked smaller and red (in fact a drake), as well as a person hiding in the tree.

At first, this woman with reptilian features was defensive, but eventually introduced herself as Alitheiamitl (Ali for short), and she revealed that the red drake (T’Kashi) is in fact her pet.

Ali also told the group that strange fish-like people are taking over the lake, and that they are aggressive. This started happening only a few weeks ago. The lake itself is dying, lots of dead animals (fish, crocodiles, otters, capibaras, waterfowl) washing up on the shores. She also mentioned that the corruption had been advancing quickly in the last few years, but just over two weeks ago it came to a near halt, maybe even retreating a little bit, and suddenly there’s a bit of hope. However, those creatures started emerging from the lake. Ali and her father came to this area to try and stop the corruption. Ali told the group that her family is originally from the Braen’ She-Ran Wilds, but they didn’t bother wanting to help, only hide underground. Ali is determined to protect the forest.

Her father asked Zannan if he would trade books or knowledge, after noticing Zannan was carrying his spell book. The old man and Ali live underground, the entrance to their den is concealed by an illusion that makes it look like a rock. The inside of the den is very cozy and welcoming, there is a living area with a small book shelf, as well as a trunk that Zannan noticed to be enchanted in the same way as a bag of holding. Zannan offered to teach him Comprehend Languages, and in return he can borrow one of the old man’s books.

Meanwhile, the rest of the party is safely inside a tower that Zannan magically conjured. Elenion interrogated Brandybuck, as she is very suspicious of him, and the fact that he had Coleen’s lute. The party is about to take a long rest for the night.