Session 2.5

Swamp Intrigue and Bargain Struck

Session 2.5 began with the party recovering near Bavlorna’s pool after a difficult encounter with a gelatinous cube. They had defeated the cube, a key step in fulfilling their end of a bargain with the hag Bavlorna. However, the fight left them battered and wearied. They made their way up to Bavlorna’s cottage to report their success.

Bavlorna was pleased with the party’s progress, and she thanked them for destroying the cube. However, she was not yet finished with them. She revealed that she had another task for them—retrieving a crate of animal skins. Bavlorna pointed the party towards the shore, where they found a boat. They boarded the boat and began rowing south.

As they traveled, they encountered a disturbing sight: a large cauldron, perched precariously on spider-like legs, sat atop a bed of hot coals. The cauldron’s lid was sealed tight, and a ladle hung from a lanyard attached to the lid. Though curious, the party decided to steer clear of the cauldron.

Continuing down the shore, they came across a bullywug hut. The hut was locked, and when they knocked, someone inside instructed them—first in Bullywug, then Sylvan—to slide a note under the door. Acornagorn, understanding the instructions in Sylvan, remembered he was carrying a note from the king’s court. He slid the note under the door, and a nervous bullywug opened the door just wide enough to let them inside.

Inside the hut, they met a group of bullywugs, including Illig, the Baron of Muckstump. Illig was in the midst of plotting a coup—he was planning to overthrow the king. He even showed the party a drawing in the dirt of the king with a dagger in his eye. As they talked with Illig, they discovered the crate of animal skins they had been sent to retrieve was also in the hut. Illig agreed to let them take the crate, but only after they assured him they would not reveal his plans to anyone.

Before departing the hut, Filbert cast Mage Armor on Clapperclaw. After securing their companion’s defenses, the party settled down for the night. Their rest was disturbed by strange noises, including a scream and, later, cheers of celebration. Nevertheless, they were able to get some rest before returning to Bavlorna.

The following day, the party delivered the crate of animal skins to Bavlorna. They found her alone; Charm, who was present at their last meeting, was no where to be found. Bavlorna thanked them and told them that she now trusted them. She then made them an offer: if they could bring her a portrait of Skabatha, she would return Acornagorn’s lost item.

Bavlorna explained that Skabatha’s portrait was located in Loomlurch, a giant, hollowed-out tree deep in the forest of Thither. The portrait, which hung in a circular room, depicted Skabatha and her three sisters: Bavlorna, Endelyn, and Tasha. Bavlorna, however, refused to tell them anything about Tasha. She told them that to reach Loomlurch, they would need to travel to Thither, but to reach Thither, they would need to find a guide. She suggested they seek out a scarecrow in Downfall who could help them, though she couldn’t remember their name.

Acornagorn, Filbert, and Zahala agreed to Bavlorna’s terms, and the three of them shook her hand to seal the deal. When they did, they felt a magical force course through them. The party had entered into a contract with a powerful hag; they were bound to fulfill their end of the bargain.

As part of the bargain, Bavlorna gave the party one of her balloons to use for travel. The party first tried to convince Clapperclaw to fly them to Thither, but he refused. They remembered that Morgort had agreed to guide them to Thither. Filbert cast a spell to hide Morgort, and they took off in the balloon, leaving Clapperclaw behind. As they traveled to Thither, the party leveled up to level 4. Acornagorn’s sense that his lost item was nearby faded as they flew further away from Hither, but Zahala began to feel that her own lost item was close.

Once they arrived in the forest of Thither, they convinced Morgort to stay nearby to ensure they had a way back to Hither. Morgort pointed them in the right direction and sent them on their way to find Nib.

  • You started near Bavlorna’s pool, having destroyed the gelatinous cube at pretty great cost.
  • You went upstairs to tell Bavlorna about your accomplishment, and she thanked you and sent you on your way to recover the animal skins she asked for.
  • Using a boat you found near her cottage, you headed south to the shore, where you found a large cauldron with legs like a spider on a bed of hot coals, the lid secured tightly and a ladle hanging from the lid on a lanyard. You decided to avoid engaging with this cauldron.
  • Passing by this cauldron you found a bullywug hut, which was locked. Upon knocking on the door, you were asked in Bullywug and then Sylvan to slide a note under the door. Acornagorn understood the request (because he speaks Sylvan) and also remembered that he was handed a note at the king’s court. He slid that note under the door.
  • A nervous bullywug let you in, where you found several other bullywugs, including Illig, the Baron of Muckstump, who was busy planning to overthrow the king. He showed you a picture scrawled in the dirt of the king with a dagger in his eye.
  • You also found that the crate of animal skins you were supposed to deliver to Bavlorna was there in the same hut.
  • Illig asked you to join his revolution, and upon being convinced that you would stay out of the way and not tell anyone of his plans, he allowed you to take the crate to Bavlorna.
  • Filbert cast Mage Armor on Clapperclaw again.
  • You took a night of rest, during which time you heard quite a commotion, a scream, and cheers of celebration.
  • When you delivered the crate, you found that Bavlorna was alone (Charm was gone)
  • Bavlorna thanked you and told you that now that she knows she can trust you, she wants you to bring back a portrait of Skabatha in exchange for your lost item within eight days.
    • Loomlurch is a giant, hollowed-out tree located deep in the forest of Thither. Skabatha uses it as a lair.
    • Skabatha’s portrait is displayed in a circular room in the heart of Loomlurch, alongside portraits of her three sisters: Bavlorna, Endelyn, and Tasha. (Bavlorna won’t add anything about Tasha if the characters press for more information about her.)
    • To reach Thither, the characters need a guide. There’s a scarecrow in Downfall who knows the way (she can’t remember the scarecrow’s name).
  • After a whole lot of hemming and hawing, all three of you shook Skabatha’s hand and sealed the contract between her and you. You felt something magical happen when the contract was sealed.
  • Skabatha told you you could use one of her balloons.
  • You tried to convince Clapperclaw to take you to Thither, but he was not convinced, as the deal he made with you was his head for him being a guide.
  • When you reached the balloon, Morgort popped up and told you she would guide you there if you would hide her.
  • Filbert rolled a crit to hide Morgort underneath him and you all safely took off in the balloon, leaving Clapperclaw behind.
  • You took the balloon up into the sky.
  • As you traveled from Hither to Thither, we leveled up to level 4.
  • As you traveled, Acornagorn’s feeling that his lost item is nearby faded, and Zahala started to feel like her item is nearby . . . which made her quite angry at a pig-faced little girl.
  • Once in the forest, you convinced Morgort to stay nearby in order to ensure a method of getting back to Hither.
  • And Morgort took you on a journey to go find Nib.
  • On the way you had several encounters:
    • You found some tracks with massive footprints in them, three feet from heel to toe, dragon-like. Zahala discovered that these tracks disappeared because whatever dragon-like thing this was, it took flight at some point.
    • You met some pixies having tea who were fighting about a wooden block that turned out to be a doorstep. They gave Filbert some pipes that will summon the three of them at-will once.
    • You found Juniper! Eventually you unstrapped her and she happily bounded off to eat some food. Her elf-master is nowhere to be seen.
      • You found blood on the chariot chair, as well.
  • Arriving at Nib’s cave, you first saw a wanted poster for Will of the Feywild that says: “How dare this ragamuffin defy me? Bring him to me alive and unharmed, and I’ll grant you a loyal servant.”
  • You entered the cave, where Nib explained that he was a miserly and cruel landlord who cheated his tenants and made money unfairly in Waterdeep. After a change of heart he wanted to repay the universe for his cruelty and as a result Skabatha cursed him to live in a cave and slowly but surely spin his gold pieces into thread. He is haunted by apparitions of the people he cheated, who poke him and taunt him, who terrify him so much he wears a blindfold so he does not need to look at them.
  • Anyone who steals gold from him will be cursed like him!
    • He made goods for each of you:
      • Acornagorn received a cloak of protection, which increased his AC by one
      • Filbert received a bag of holding
      • Zahala received gloves of Thievery, which add a +5 to sleight of hand checks (now it’s +11!)
  • Nib told you about Will of the Feywild:
    • Granny Nightshade is obsessed with capturing Will of the Feywild, a boy who helped a handful of younger children escape from Loomlurch. Will of the Feywild’s motley group of rascals is known as the Getaway Gang. The gang is protected by a treant named Little Oak.
  • And Nib gave you some insight into Granny Nightshade:
    • Granny Nightshade has a key protruding from her back that indicates her mood by how fast it turns. When she’s happy, the key turns quickly. When she’s upset, the key turns slowly. If she loses her temper, the key stops completely.
    • Many children toil away in Granny Nightshade’s workshop, crafting toys. Granny Nightshade delivers the creepiest toys to children on other worlds—to fill their heads with nightmares, one assumes. The hag makes her deliveries on the back of a flying rocking horse.
  • And Nib gave you directions to Will’s tree and sent you on your way.