7 - Berries
| Session 1 | Session 6 | Session 7 | ||
| ◀◀ | ◀ | ▲ | ▶ | ▶▶ |
| Ashira Brolin Frostbite | Ashira Brolin Frostbite | Ashira Brolin Frostbite |
And a Happy Goblin
The swamp's water level was very high, and Brolin struggled with every step. Zephyr chose to fly above the murk, leaving the rest of us to slog through the strange, soggy terrain. Ahead, the massive shadow loomed. Could it be the hag’s walking house? Sir Talavar had said her house didn’t walk, but this is the Feywild, things here rarely make sense.
The Inn
As we drew closer, the shadow became clearer: a house atop gangly legs, with a cellar where the legs sprouted. It moved as if alive but stopped when we neared, crouching low until the door was at ground level. Maeve knocked, and the door swung open to reveal an old woman.
She introduced herself as Tsu and welcomed us to the "Inn at the End of the Road". The air inside was warm and inviting, filled with the smell of delicious food. It didn’t feel right, nothing here does, but the others seemed willing to trust her. Frostbite paid with his carnival-price wand for food and a night’s stay, so I joined them for dinner, watching Tsu closely the whole time. The food was incredible, but my suspicions lingered. Could this be one of the hag’s illusions?
Tsu told us stories of how this land had once been lush grasslands, dotted with lakes and rivers, before the hag turned it into a swamp. She warned that trying to leave Hither was pointless; thick mists would drive us back to where we started. A goblin named Poka, stuck here after delivering candy to Dawnfall, wanted to go to Thither but needed a guide. That evening, Maeve performed for the inn’s guests, and her music filled the space. It almost made me forget where we were. Almost. Dhanell and I stayed on guard, still wary of Tsu and her perfect little inn that somehow smelled like summer and not the swamp outside.
Good berries
Before bed, I found myself humming my melody again. The tune felt different here, richer, almost alive. As I hummed, something stirred within me. A strange power answered my call, and before I realized what was happening, ten bright berries appeared in my hand. They smelled sweet, and when I tasted one, it was unlike anything I’d eaten before. It was... magical.
The next morning, after I ate another of the berries, I wasn’t hungry anymore. Zephyr liked them too, though he couldn’t resist the inn’s breakfast anyway. As we prepared to leave, Frostbite and Zephyr said they’d gotten directions to Dawnfall from some bullywugs. Though there was talk of finding Jingle Jangle first, we decided to head into the direction of Dawnfall since it was the only clear path we had. Maybe Jingle Jangle was also in that direction?
In the next hours the water level dropped and a river was revealed. While refilling my waterskin, I saw a reflection in the water: a tall, thin figure in a black hat and cloak climbing rickety stairs to a ramshackle house on stilts. Its shadow detached from it, crawling into the house through an open window. I wasn’t the only one who saw something strange. The others muttered about their own visions. It’s this place. The air here… it’s alive, and it changes you if you’re not careful.
Jingle Jangle
Eventually, the landscape brightened. Fruity scents filled the air, and willow trees swayed without a breeze. A path led us to a hill, where Brolin darted ahead, but he was stopped by some trees. They were alive and questioned our intentions before allowing us to pass. At the top of the hill, we found a cave shaped like a giant keyhole. Inside, Jingle Jangle, a goblin covered in jangling keys, appeared.
She looked hurt and hungry, so I gave her one of my berries. Her eyes lit up as she ate it, and her wounds seemed to ease. It felt… good to help. I wanted to smile at her joy, but I couldn’t. Instead, I nodded and hoped she understood.
After searching a few minutes she found the key we needed to free Sir Talavar from his cage. He thanked Maeve and gave her his magical dagger. I suppose she deserved it for carrying him around.
From Jingle Jangle we learned of a scarecrow named Clapperclaw that lived in Dawnfall, who knew the way to Thither. Dhanell mentioned seeing him in the water’s reflections earlier.
After we left the cave, the trees seemed happier. One handed Maeve a small key to thank us, saying it would help us later. I wondered why she got the key. What had she done to earn it? But it didn’t matter. I didn’t need a key—I had my own ways to open doors.
| Session 1 | Session 6 | Session 7 | ||
| ◀◀ | ◀ | ▲ | ▶ | ▶▶ |
| Ashira Brolin Frostbite | Ashira Brolin Frostbite | Ashira Brolin Frostbite |
Updated on: 07:46
