5th Eyre, 999 YK
- They spend some time recovering from the balewolf attack. Naze begins treating wounds.
- Whilst Naze tends to their wounds, the others continue picking leaves.
- They collect 1 bulk of Matico leaves, which is roughly 100 leaves. They are used as a local anaesthetic.
- Valaari asks if Bhaltair can do anything to stop the smell they're projecting, as it's attracting predators. Bhaltair doesn't seem to have any control of it.
- Valaari suggests cutting off the flowers, but Bhaltair doesn't like that.
- How about covering them, wrap them up in Runmae's cloak?
- They also think about leaves, but everything is toxic in the Abyssal Forest of Khaar and that's risky.
- What about the pelt of the balewolves?
- Valaari considers sending Bhaltair out of the demiplane, but they refuse.
- Bhaltair thinks maybe covering themself in mud might do it.
- Bhaltair and Runmae examine the soil, and Bhaltair identifies a strange fungus present in the soil. It looks diseased to them, they don't like it.
- Bhaltair gives everyone a look at the plant sketches, so they know what they're looking for. They want to prioritise the Dragon's Blood latex, as it treats infection and stops bleeding.
- After some searching, Bhaltair spots a network of pulsating vines with a bioluminescent red liquid flowing in them. This matches the skecth for the Bloodvine, the sap of which is used to make Moderate Healing Potions. The sap can be drunk directly to heal less than that.
- They cut into a vine and let it bleed into a keg. Warren collects some in a mug to drink now.
- They all (except Naze) chug the bloodvine sap to heal up. It tastes coppery for most of them, but it's sickeningly sweet for Bhaltair.
- They collect some sap in some empty bottles as well, for use as emergency healing in the demiplane.
- Bhaltair thinks about collecting a cutting, but isn't convinced this plant will grow outside of the Abyssal Forest. They decide not to, at least not at this point.
- They make Zaphkiel carry the keg of sap.
- Naze refuses to take any.
- Bhaltair instructs them all to clean up the sap they've spilled on their person from drinking it, and get a move on.
- They continue searching, and find a grove of Verbena trees. An acorn hits Warren in the head, which he then pockets.
- Bhaltair spots a pair of eyes looking at them from one of the trees.
- Valaari thinks it's a humanoid tree frog, they've been mentioned before in old records. They start to back away.
- The presumed frog shouts something at them, but they don't understand what it says.
- Valaari stops, Warren stops and puts his hands up, Runmae stops. Naze and Zaphkiel stop. Bhaltair starts in rummaging in their component pouch.
- The frog jumps from the tree, gently gliding down on its webbing, and points a stone knife at Naze. It then gestures for him to move.
- Bhaltair leans into Valaari and casts Translate, allowing Valaari to understand the frog.
- Naze complies with the frog's request and moves towards Warren, away from a ferny bush.
- The frog speaks again, saying "Poison. You die"
- The frog points again to the plant next to Naze and calls it a Gympie Gympie, very bad.
- They speak to the frog, who introduces themself as Ati. They are a Tripkee.
- Ati is cautious of Bhaltair, and calls them a "Ghoran". They're visibly afraid of them.
- Valaari tries to indicate they need the tree. Ati asks if they need it for medicine or poison, and indicates a hand signal for both. Valaari confirms they want it for medicine.
- Ati asks a few times if they are being subjugated by "the Ghoran". Another grippli approaches, who looks more like a dart frog, and is suspicious. The other frog, Ba'Tolo, thinks they are under Bhaltair's sway.
- Valaari gives Ati their knuckle dagger as a peace offering. It takes a second to communicate this but they get it.
- Ati explains that the Ghoran are malevolent entities in the Abyssal Forest, they are intelligent carnivorous plants and they can subjugate grippli. They are very wary of Bhaltair.
- The grippli allow the party to take some bark from the trees, and Ati asks if they need anything else. They show the grippli their sketches, and Ati gets Ba'Tolo to give them his gourd of Dragon's Blood latex. He begrudgingly does so.
- Warren gives Ati the brass pinecone he picked up from the Ironlands and gives it to Ati. Ati is confused.
- As they leave, they discuss Bhaltair and the Ghoran. Bhaltair confides that they can feel something, like a presence, that is pushing them to commit violence. It's weird, and it's new.
- Valaari thinks they should leave as soon as possible, whatever Bhaltair is, it's resonating with this place and effecting them differently.
- Bhaltair thinks they can hold on for another couple hours against whatever this strange urge is.
- Valaari points out that the grippli were terrified of Bhaltair, and they aren't exactly defenseless. Bhaltair also remembers gnolls reacting similarly to them.
- They continue their search, and Runmae hears some commotion. They avoid it.
- A little while later, they are attacked by a group of balewolves but are saved by a large, four-armed gargoyle who obliterates them.
- The gargoyle flexes like they are posing for a painting, and then proclaims something in Goblin.
- Bhaltair's spell allows them to understand the gargoyle
- The gargoyle introduces themselves as The Tombstone
- The Tombstone thinks they are adoring fans, and asks how they have heard of them so soon?
- Bhaltair spins a tale that of a great hero, the Tombstone, traveling the world.
- The Tombstone explains that it is a good story but it is not accurate. They are seeking to conquer Khyber, with the eventual goal of punching Khyber herself directly in the face, solving all evils in the world.
- As the Tombstone and Bhaltair discuss the intricacies of the Hero's Journey, one of the balewolf corpses stirs and a demon-thing emerges from the corpse and goes for Bhaltair.
- The Tombstone punches it.
- Warren runs over and stabs the thing, and supremely pisses it off. The sparkblade is Cold Iron which it really doesn't seem to like. Warren gives the Tombstone a stoic, dramatic nod.
- Bhaltair buffs the troop, and then stuns the demon with a crit Daze.
- Runmae charges at the demon and swings, hitting it really hard.
- Valaari identifies the demon as a Roru, a demon of the Wild Heart. They drive animals to predatory behaviour, and can shapeshift into animals by wearing their pelts.
- The Tombstone swings three times and misses. Uh oh.
- The Roru mauls Warren and immediately downs him. uh oh.
- Runmae and Valaari both miss the Roru, and the situation is very quickly going bad.
- Naze rushes over and gets Warren back up.
- The Tombstone pummels the Roru within an inch of its life, and then Warren finishes it off with the Sparkblade.
- In the Roru's final moments, it grabs Warren's shoulders and says, in Diabolic, "I'll find you"
- Only Naze understood that
- Warren badgers Naze to tell him what the demon said.
- Naze tells him.
- Warren laments that he has made another immortal enemy.
- The Tombstone proclaims their victory, again! With the help of their sidekicks!
- At this point, they've been in the Abyssal Forest for 2 hours. They have 2 more hours before they leave, regardless of whether they find the Sundew.
- The Tombstone will watch over them while they heal.
- Naze also offers to try and heal the Tombstone. The Tombstone states that, at the very least, the bandages will add aesthetics.
- Valaari asks The Tombstone what is next for them?
- The Tombstone will continue to search for danger in the Abyssal Forest, and then move on.
- Valaari also extends an offer to The Tombstone to go to Maruk Dar.
- The Tombstone states that, as their first fans, they hope they meet again.
- Bhaltair suggests that The Tombstone should visit the Ironlands next.
- The Tombstone offers to escort the soft ones through the Abyssal Forest.
- Bhaltair mentions that the group is generally stealthy, which is not to The Tombstone's taste. The Tombstone wishes them luck and then goes on to punch some stuff.
Description of the Roru
Emerging from the balewolf is a horror, leaving only the wolf's empty pelt behind. Roughly humanoid in shape, it completely lacks skin, it's wet, glistening muscle exposed to the world. It has hooved feet, wicked claws on its hands, and large antlers adorn its head, which is somewhere between a humans and a deers. It also has tusks emanating from its lower jaw, like a wild boar.