Still in her bear form, Hazel is now shuffling through
her companions’ bags, looking for food, however is not aggressive. All her equipment
and clothes transformed with her. She quickly got Elenion’s bag and ate all the
quiche, cake, and mushrooms. Elenion was quite upset at her mushrooms being
gone and blasted Hazel’s hindquarters with sacred flame.
The noises from the transformation (roaring) attracted a group of vampires, who rushed towards the hut. Other werebears approached from behind the vampires, sniffing out the air. The bears attacked them, swiping, and the vampires turned into mist and bats and flew away. One of the bears was in hybrid form (a polar bear holding a staff) and able to talk.
The Polar bear’s name is Yinfaren, and she wanted to talk to the group, saying they should be safe now, for a while at least. She explained to the group that Hazel would be a bear until sun rise, and likely wouldn’t remember anything that happened during her transformed state. She also said they didn’t need to worry, because after the first transformation, she would have a bit more control and even be able to transform when she wants at other times. On full moons, however, she will always transform. She’s lucky her first full moon is Avalan (Selune’s moon), as those who first turn under Vilis (Ganassis’ moon) more often than not turn into creatures of a more evil and selfish disposition, like the one who bit Hazel.
Yin then invited the group to spend the night at their
settlement (Mossgrove), where Hazel can safely be a bear and eat to her heart’s
content. Yin’s group keeps to themselves, and their settlement is well-hidden.
Yin also gave Hazel a moon amulet (Selune), as a friendship bracelet.
As the group approached Mossgrove, they (except for Hazel) felt discomfort and a very strong desire to turn around and go back. Yin explained that this is because of an enchantment the druids put at that place to help them keep their home hidden. They have a good relationship with the druids and sometimes help each other.
Mossgrove is a sturdy, yet rustic set of wooden homes built atop trees, over 100 feet above ground, with connecting bridges between them. The group was shown a place to sleep safely, while Hazel enjoyed a large meal at the kitchen hut. The next morning, Hazel did indeed not remember anything about the previous night, but thankfully her friends and Yin (now revealed to be an all white firbolg) filled in the blanks. Elenion was able to take some mushrooms with her. Hazel also tried to take a few in an attempt to make up for the ones she ate the night before.
The group decided to press on, so as to deliver Hazel’s schematics to the “Betrayer”. Once the message was sent, the Halfling-looking construct named Tin Can appeared to collect the schematics. Hazel remembered a halfling named Tinnerius Candori working as a tavern keep in one of the taverns in Berisut. She also noticed how Tin Can has an organic component to it, as well as him being “programmed” to obey a master.
During the night’s rest, Elenion noticed the group was being scried on.
The next day, the group reached the edge of the forest near Lake Avaranthia by midday. Zannan used the magic carpet to get a better idea of where the temple is. With the help of his arcane eye spell, he saw the temple door with a small teleportation circle on it. He also saw large groups of Sahuagin and Undead Priests (wearing Yemoja’s vestments) walking on the bottom of the lake. He also noticed a form of shield sealing the temple, so that even where there were major cracks, no water or anything else, can go through.
Upon returning to the group, and showing Hazel what the
portal on the temple door looks like, Hazel recognized it as a lock mechanism, in
the form of a lesser, more localized portal, that requires a specific item to transport
people inside the building.
The group used their feather token, a swan boat, to start
their journey to the location of the temple. However, before reaching their destination,
the group was attacked by Sahuagin.
