Farewells, Vines and Ol' Greeta

3rd of Planting - Low Summer

 The party take their leave from the thankful giants, confirming Treggin will meet the heroes near the kobolds now living in the former mining town of Drekkar 10 days hence.

Skrit had decided to take one of the items -  spoke from the giant's wheel which has swirls of abjuration  magic. Vencer and Skirt talk about a potential magical staff, spear or multiple wands could be created..

The party do some further searching of the large bag/backpack covered in mold. To empty the bag, the party come up with a unique way to try and save any items tumbling out:

Vencer summons 2 monkey  with flock of familiars spells, uses his mage hand, Pyra uses her gauntlet to also summon a mage hand as well as Corrin. Vencer and Irakul lift the giant backpack, dumping the items as the 2 monkeys and mage hands try and save anything. (DM: art work please)

• 2 tome - 1st, Physiology of skulls of all types of creatures. 
• A large canvas bag - 6 bolts of fine silk - not affected by the mold
• Small Black case - has a number of magical vials - giant strength, healing x2 and a final very precious one, a potion of Youth - Vencer decides to not tell the party about the latter potion - "this is an unknown one" Corrin notes something different about Vencer while he is identifying all the potions

After the demise of 1 monkey due to the mold/spores, the party investigates and cleans - with the 3 mage hands heavily used. Vencer decides the prestidigitation spell may come in handy..

The party ascends the stairs a short way and then decide to end the life of the mimic, based on the knowledge the creatures are not sentient so could not be used as 'fuel' for the infernal engine of the flying tower. Vencer's magical blade appears and with a swift single stroke ends the mimic's life as it was just coming conscious again. Corrin decides to gather some of the flesh and blood of the shape changing creature - in his canteen.

Continuing the ascent they reach the caverns, where the party breathes a sigh of relief. The heroes come

into a cave that has the large boulder like spheres that are covered in a fine white powder. 

Skrit and with assistance from Corrin, have never seen or come across anything of the like (DM: with advantage natural 1 / 1) Vencer takes out his alchemy kit and using some of the gear - much of it depleted since the wizard has not been able to replenish any time recent - approaches and feels a pull on his source of energy for his spells. His light spell winks out, and then his mage hand after scraping a little of the powder does as well, but with continued castings of the cantrip, is able to acquire some of the anti-magic (?) dust in a vial.

With great relief and long breaths of fresh air, the party exits the mine. Seeing the sky, sun - late morning - it is a beautiful sunny Spring day, with hardly a cloud in the sky.

The party sees Poet with the two kobolds, as well as Heste smoking his pipe near the wagon and war horse. (being used as a cart horse)

Corrin advises he has something to tell to the party in confidence, but when they are alone. Poet thanks the party, and advises she will take no share of the treasure.

Corrin buys a sealed jar from Heste (at an exorbitant cost), to transfer the remains of the mimic flesh and blood from his canteen. Corrin cleans out his canteen after.

Poet provides some food - Grizzelle the older female made some steak and kidney pot pies to Pyra and

Skit receives 2 bottles of wine of the Monastery of the 3 Crescent Moons -  and advises the party to top up their canteens from the well. Skrit and the two kobolds have a emotional farewell. Saying their goodbyes, the party heads out. 

Corrin and Pyra takes on the role of scout and Irakul and Skrit take on the survival role to keep the party on track. Moving up the main path road, the party enjoy an afternoon of good travel. Pryra notes a group of the flying kobolds far off as they fly but the flyers don't notice the wagon and all it seems. Pyra whom is scouting ahead, hears a voice and gurgling cough.

Sneaking ahead, the rogue sees two men ahead just near the road. One the younger a redhaired skinny boy probably late teens is unconscious, multiple vines wrapped around his body and 1 on his neck. The older, is fighting off 2 vines feebly.. Tall and heavy set man, Black skinned with long braided hair. 2 vines wrap him, and he continues to fight off 2 more. The scimitar is just out of his reach. There is a lush amount of green growth in the area around a tree, whereas the plants and trees in the area are stunted and sparse.

Pyra does a near perfect shot with her assassin skills, and takes a vine out with her Dwarven Crank Bolter, that was just about to wrap around the older man's neck.. "Thank you he calls out hoarsely".

The party engages the vines to save the two men. Irakul does a perfect shot using his echo t slice one of the vines off the younger man, his executioner ability in good form.

Corrin casts enlarge on the older man - whom amazed as he grows in size to over 12' in height and the vines stretch and break. The blue flames of Skrit's sacred flame spells are effective against the attacking vines. Vencer tosses a vial of clear fluid - supposedly the 4th potion from the case - and is annoyed when it has no effect on the vine. 

Vencer uses his wand of chromatic orbs to blast the vines holding the man/giant. In the end, the vines are defeated and two men are saved with Telnio - in giant form - smashing a large boulder into the vince creature. Skrit's sacred flame does the killing blow. Healing word of Corrin and the medicine skills of Skrit save the 2 men.

It seems the two - the younger Jonah and the older Telnio - are caravan guards for a group working with the monastery of the 3 Crescent Moons. The party all exchange looks back to their wagon and the barrel
- worth thousands of gold - that belongs to the Monastery. After some discussion and recovery, the older man, Telnio sees the wagon and contents. With some deception and persuading words of the party, the 2 mercenaries are left behind.

The party moves on, not sure how the mercenaries will act on this. Telnio wishing the heroes "Good luck against the kobolds.."  Skrit, Vencer and Irakul all seem to feel he is NOT being sincere.

Near the end of the day, Corrin is scouting, and Skrit navigates, noting this area of the road looks to be more used. Corrin sees ahead on the road over a rise, the path goes up between two small hills. An elderly woman slowly moving along in same direction as the group. Corrin tries to stealth closer, and checks the area after a message spell to Vencer. Corrin does not see any other creatures in area. She looks to be bent double under a backpack or large bag on her back - possibly filled with vegetables or fruits..

Corrin casts message to her saying  "Who goes there?" The old woman jumps, her bag of vegetables and fruits tumble to the ground. She screeches in surprise and fright. Corrin casts the spell again and tries to calm the woman but the woman holds her head screeching to stop it.

Corrin tries to move up stealthily, but a spray of loose gravel tumble down from his feet. 

"Don't hurt me!" She cries out as she had been trying to gather 

"What are your attentions on this road?" Corrin asks, his hands out in a peaceful gesture.

She looks back as she continues to gather seeing the young man seems to not be a threat. Huffing,
"What do you think it is, you.. young ruffian! I am walking on it." She grumbles.

"What of the kobolds? They have been attacking travelers on the road, it is not safe."

The old woman cackles, "Heehee.. not if ya know how to deal with them. They like things ol' Gretta will give'em." The old woman looks to be a human, weathered skin with greyish hair in a bun. Carrying a variety of vegetables and fruits which she is putting back into the bag.

Corrin assists her.

Until next time..