11th day of Sowing, 519 AE. (9-May-2026)
The days following the second expedition into the Zareth-Ka tomb were mostly warm, turning cooler with the odd patch of snow after several days. This was a strange time for the folk of Thorneford. Each day saw the town gates approached by the small lumpy-headed bipeds that had crowned Lyra queen. At first they were chased away, then driven off with several killed and even an entire group massacred, with all the bodies hanged from the town walls. Still the creatures returned, seeming determined to complete some business in or with the town. Around this time odd small objects started going missing from the crop areas outside the town walls. On the 9th day of the Sowing, Myrthall Fenhall, Castle Thorneford's resident wizard, waited with the town guards as the creatures approached. After speaking with them for some time, the wizard entered the town and sought out his associate Althirion Quell and the wizard's friend Lyra. This was how Lyra learnt that the small bipeds were the result of magical hybridisation of goblins with some kind of fungus and that they spoke a dialect of the goblin language. Accompanied by Althirion, who spoke goblin, Lyra went to talk with the creatures at the town gate. Learning of their need to spend time with their queen each day, Lyra agreed to come and meet with them at a suitable distance from the town walls — on the other side of the Ashwater river. The following day the fungus goblins proudly showed Lyra an area they had been preparing on a small hill not far from the town's fields. Numerous of the creatures were waiting for her approach, prostrating themselves before her and offering her small gifts of food.
With Jewel and Kratos unavailable, the remaining members of Adventures Incorporated! were unwilling to explore reports of fighting at the old fortress upstream of the Ashwater river. Instead, they chose to investigate rumours of trouble at the logging hamlet of Deadfall northeast of town, more than a day's travel by wagon. Joined by several fungus goblin "guards", the journey proved uneventful, with a restful overnight stop in the remains of an old wooden fortress where only the defensive trench remained.
Our heroes arrived at the hamlet of Deadfall just before midday on the 12th day of Sowing. They found a small, muddy hamlet of a dozen wooden buildings clustered within a log palisade perimeter. Most travellers and workers seemed to be using their own shelters — typically tents. Thus, the companions set up camp within the hamlet's boundaries and started asking questions of Deadfall's folk, quickly learning that the man in charge of the hamlet was named Edrin Rook. Finding Edrin without difficulty, the man wasted no time in telling them of his woes. He confirmed that logging had stopped, with crews being unwilling to enter the tree line. But a greater concern to him was that his wife Naerie and their son Roderick had gone missing. This had taken place when the pair had gone to gather ingredients for a special salve Naerie made to prevent timber rot. Describing the location as "a few miles east along the river, where the trees are only a few hundred yards away from the south bank," the heroes set out to investigate. Only to discover that the place was in fact well over 10 miles away. Realizing they would not reach these trees before dark, the group returned instead to town, planning to set out and investigate first thing in the morning.
Resuming their plans the next day, the company journeyed east along the small waterway to the place where the forest approached within several hundred yards of the southern riverbank. Finding a large log, apparently used as a bridge, they crossed the waterway and entered the tree line. After several hours of searching, they located a dirty, ripped red linen scarf, a place where signs of a struggle were clear, a wicker basket full of mushrooms, and a child's wooden sword with "Roderick" carved into the blade. With further searching, our heroes found the tracks of small creatures, some walking in small boots and others apparently on paws. Tracking these prints to another section of woods nearby, the group realised they were short on time and headed back to Deadfall. Before sunset, the companions were able to confirm with Edrin that the objects they had recovered from the woods belonged to his wife and child.
With the fungus goblins barred from staying within the town, the creatures camped out under the stars just outside town. However, during the night there were hideous screams and cries.
Morning's light revealed the goblinoid troupe one member short and Lyra's loyal little followers mimed something winged and vicious as the culprit. Yet a short time later a very familiar-looking fungus goblin carrying a pointed stick arrived. Along with several others, most of whom went their own way after prostrating themselves before Lyra and offering her gifts. Returning to the trail they had found the previous day, the group was able to follow the tracks up a creek to a clearing where several cave and mine entrances were apparent. Here they spied a pair of small schnauzer-headed, grey-furred bipeds guarding the area. Choosing to engage the creatures directly, several of our heroes engaged in the gambling game they were playing. This broke off when the creatures lost the game. As the creatures retreated into one of the mine entrances, Dimrock called to them and one remained to watch and parlay. Soon several more of the bipedal canines came to the clearing. Asking questions about Naerie and Roderick, AI! was able to negotiate a possible truce and return of the hostages, promising to come back the following day with an answer. On the return to Deadfall, the company was chased by a pack of wolves, but evaded them via spell and sword. Back at Deadfall, the group learnt that Edrin had limited authority to make such an agreement and even less authority to enforce it, but was ready to agree to it with the limited authority he had. Edrin had two copies of the agreement prepared and signed them both.
The company chose to spend the night outside the hamlet gates in hopes of catching whatever had killed one of the fungus goblins. Using one of the lumpy-headed goblinoids as bait, the main body of the group kept watch from nearby. In the last hour of the night before dawn, a great winged creature swooped down and bore the unfortunate fungus goblin away, screaming until the winged creature ripped it apart. The flying monster had the naked upper body of a woman and the lower body and wings of a great eagle.
Taking the signed agreement papers back to the clearing where the canine humanoids lived, the companions were able to get them both marked by the leader of the canine group. Leaving one of the copies with them, the heroes escorted Naerie and Roderick back to Deadfall. That night, after a tearful reunion, much merriment was had with many folks, including Edrin, buying the companions food and drink.
Late the following morning, the band of heroes started their journey back to Thorneford. Stopping to camp overnight at the location of the old fort again, the company found that a band of hunters were now using the place as a base of operations. These folk proved friendly and willing to share their space and the night passed without incident.
Setting out early the next day, the company travelled several hours before reaching a small stone bridge over the river to their south, finding their way blocked by a 12-foot humanoid who demanded a toll for each person who wished to cross. Dorcus immediately charged the giant, with her companions joining in immediately. After a brief but intense battle the creature lay dead, the log it had wielded as a club lying at its side. Discovering a large sack full of coin, primarily silver, the band continued their journey. In the late afternoon they reached Thorneford without further incident.
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