Wardens of Heroes Gate

The Hunt for Joloobo

] Joloobo – you were exploring a crevasse in cliffs walls in the Vale of Soxolone. After entering a large carved out room, you found you could not exit it… an invisible wall has trapped you. Thankfully no further spiders have yet discovered your presence. Still, it has been a long night of sitting among desicated bones, resisting sleep and wondering if the others could ever find you.

] You, Yisi and Valea, are at waking meal. Valea, you have just come from another early flow-forms session with Guide Dawndra. Yisi, you have been spending the early hours in the temple writing verse in the sand with a stick. Last forenight, you both noticed Joloobo did not attend meal – as he has been eager to do this past tenday. You thought it odd, but knew he was in the Vale of Soxolone that day and expected he was just returning late. Now you are looking around the refectory for him during waking meal.

Yisi] “I don’t see him.”

Valea] “It is not like Low Pockets to miss a meal, much less two. Surely he found trouble yesterday no?”

Yisi] “Surely. I propose we tell Aide Camarie and Guide Dawndra of our concern, and then we set out into the vale to search.”

Valea] “This one agrees.” I finish my porridge in haste.

] You find Aide Camarie just outside and tell her your news. She says she wishes Elder Arrrodonn had already returned, he would be able to ask Soxolone what befell Joloobo.

Valea] “Soxolone is a real person? Valea thought it was just a name, or a legend…”

] Aide Camarie “Yes, Soxolone is real. He is a treant who has lived in the valley since before Elder Arrodonn and Elder Thaola arrived here and built this monastery. I think he somehow knows everything that happens in the vale. He is not likely to speak with any but Elder Arrodonn however. You must inform Guide Dawndra and then start the search for your friend. I will pack some meals for you.”

Yisi] “Thank you Aide Camarie.” We go to find Guide Dawndra.

] Guide Dawndra looks thoughtful for a moment when you tell her the news. “The Vale is a big place. Are either of you skilled in woodscraft?”

Valea] “This one would say no.”

Yisi] “As would this one… but I’ve always wanted to learn.”

] Guide Dawndra “We have several hunters in residence, but Fable may be just the right resource to assist.” She looks around the courtyard of students getting ready for the days lessons. “Fable!” she yells out. From the direction of the temple, a female Tabaxi with jet-black fur runs across the grounds with a surprising speed and grace. “Yes Guide Dawndra,  Fable is here.”

] Guide Dawndra “Our visiting students need your help today Fable. Their gnome of a friend has not returned from the Vale since a day before. You are quite familiar with the Vale of Soxolone as I recall. ”

] Fable “Indeed I am, and I am always glad to help find a friend. ”

Valea] “This one thanks Fable for her help.” I bow to the tabaxi.

] Guide Dawndra formally introduces the three of you and send you to grab packs (Explorer Packs) and be on your way.

] As you are walking across the backyard, Fable is already searching the ground. [()] She turns towards a large tree. “Here” she says. “Your friend has been sleeping in this tree. I see his foot prints go from the base over towards that shed.”

Valea] “Joloobo does say he prefers sleeping in trees. But what interest would he have in a shed?”

Yisi] “Worth a quick look inside.”

] Opening the shed, you see only what would be expected… gardening tools, crates and barrels of soil supplies, etc.

Valea] “Perhaps Small Toe needed a shovel?”

] Fable “Your friend was not the only small toe in here. Look – three other recent prints. Perhaps Halfling? Probably Gnome from the size. They all lead to those barrels over there.”

] You see three large barrels, nearly as tall as Jollobo, in the corner of the she. They are all lashed together.

Yisi] I look inside the barrels.

] The barrels are mostly empty. You see nothing inside them but small amounts of compost.

Yisi] “Curious… but Joloobo is surely not here. Shall we get to our hunting?”

] You walk to the back of the “backyard” and enter into a sparse wood. The trees here are old with massive trunks. They appear to prefer to maintain a distance, that is, none of the giant trees are really close together. There is very little undergrowth and the gloam is soft to walk on. Fable has lost the tracks and then found them again twice over the past couple of hours.

] Fable “Joloobo was himself tracking something, though I cannot tell what – I do not see the sign he did. Did he say what he was hunting for?”

Valea] “Fire Troll. Jobo likes hunting trolls. This is how Valea and Yisi met the gnome. We were attacked by trolls in the Wealdath and Joloobo appeared and helped finish them.”

Yisi] “He extracts their blood to make potions. Powerful potions he claims.”

] Fable “I have heard of such things. Never encountered a troll, but I’ve heard they can be formiable, and they won’t die unless you burn them right?”

Valea] “Even chopped off hands keep attacking! Valea saw this!”

] Fable “But how would a troll get into the Vale? Perhaps it came over a cliff wall? The fall would kill most creatures, but a troll might easily survive it.”

Yisi] “We don’t know what a “Fire” Troll is compared to any other, but Aide Camarie said something about them only being found near active volcanoes and Kossuth’s Eyes are long dormant.”

] Fable “So then… perhaps not over the wall, but up from beneath it. This may help our search. Joloobo may have been looking for open fissures in the ground, or in the cliff walls.”

] Two more hours pass. In addition to the sparse groves of giant trees, you encounter small fields of fine grass that appear to be tended. There are no weeds or flowers or shrubs within the greenswards, just perfect soft grass. There are, however, other areas which are full of flowers. These too appear to be cultivated to a flawless garden of beauty.

] Fable “This is my favorite spot in the entire world, here among the bloom fields… especially when the daystar is high and the warmth fills the vale.”

Yisi] “It is certainly its own kind of beauty. I should like to return under less dire circumstances.

] Fable “Of course. You worry for your friend, and beauty cannot be enjoyed from under a hairy cloud.”

Yisi] “I think you mean harried?”

] Fable “Perhaps. But would you not imagine a harried cloud as being quite hairy?”

Valea] I laugh out loud at Fable’s joke, perhaps a bit too much… I want, perhaps not fully consciously, to somehow endear Fable to me. She is, after all, the only other cat folk I’ve met. Sure I’ve seen a few others in passing, but never with an opportunity to get to know them at all. “Valea likes the words of Fable. She makes this one laugh. And so clever yes?”

Yisi] I smile at them both “Yes, a harried cloud should indeed appear quite hairy – the way of poetry just might demand it be so.”

] As you continue further, the earth slopes upward as you walk towards the cliff walls on the far side of the valley. You can see to your left, there is a large lake at the bottom of a gulley that is surrounded on the South and the West by cliff walls.

Valea] “Perhaps when we return, we go for a swim yes?”

] Fable “Oh, you don’t want to swim there. No one ever goes down to the lake. Well… no one who knows better. Especially no male who knows better.” She halts. “Oh! What if…. Sure, could be…” She seems to be saying to no one but herself. Then she snaps out of the thought and says to you, “It is my guess Joloobo did not know better! Perhaps there is still time… Rrellette has told me she likes to play with her catch a while.” and she starts running down hill towards the lake. She stops again and turns. “Yisi, you should stay here, or better… go back over the hill out of sight and out of ear range. Rrellette preys on men only, and she would surely take a liking to you. It will be safer where you cannot hear her song.”

Yisi] “Wait… What? But…”

Valea] “Valea thinks knife-ear should heed the Fable and turn back. This one will be okay. Fable she Rrellette thing only preys on men, which all can see Valea is not. ” I motion with my body in silly slinky way.

Yisi] “Fine. Be careful.” I go back back to the top of the rise, but I keep watch on the two cats.

] You see Valea and Fable reach the shores of the lake. They are perhaps a half-mile from where you stand. The surface of the lake is smooth and from your vantage you can see the detail of the cliff walls on the far side of the lake mirrored perfectly in its surface. Moments later there is a break in the surface far out in the middle of the lake, several hundred feet from the shore where Valea and Fable stand. You see a tall slender woman rise and begin walking towards them across the surface of the water. She has wild hair that seems to be blowing in a strong breeze, yet the air in the valley is calm. Even from the far distance, you experience a supernatural attraction to the creature gliding across the lake. She is just a few feet from Valea and Fable along the shoreline now and it appears to you that they are speaking. Soon, however, you catch the faint hint of a note  traveling up the hillside.

[()]

] Valea -roll a Wisdom saving throw

Valea]

1d20 Wisdom Saving 16 +3 = 19 [Save]

] Yisi – you see Fable begin to walk into the water and Valea appears to be trying to pull her back towards the shore. The water-walking woman is slowly backing away as if drawing Fable into the lake.

Yisi] I use the Haste spell in my sash and race down to the lake to help.

] As you are running down hill, you watch as Valea continues to struggle to pull Fable back to the shore. The water itself seems to have a grip on the black Tabaxi. When you are within 150 ft the song of the water spirit becomes clear. Roll a Wisdom saving throw

Yisi]

2d20a Wisdom Saving 12 +3 = 15 [Save]

] You resist being captured by the charming power of the womans song. She has been watching you run to the rescue, as if she had expected you to do just that. She rushes towards you Valea and tries to throw herself around you, her arms thin and watery. Valea – roll a Con Saving Throw

Valea]

1d20 Con Save 5 +1 = 6 [Fail]

] You feel the uncontrolable urge to laugh, as if being tickled mercilessly. Rrellette backs away into the lake about 15ft from the shore, still laughing with whimsy. Fable, released from your efforts to hold her back, plunges into the water after the water spirit.

[Initiative]

] Rrellette, still overly amused, says to Yisi “Welcome brave hero. My but you are a pretty sight for Rrellette’s eyes. We should spend some time together you and I. I know we could have a picnic on the beach! Why don’t you clear a nice spot for us along the shore.” She casts Suggestion. Roll a Wisdom Saving Throw

Yisi]

2d20 Wisdom Saving 17 +3 = 20 [Save]

Yisi] “Why don’t you go choke on your picnic!”

] Fable is still charmed and treading water at the feet of Rrellette, looking up at her lovingly. Valea is still laughing uncontrollably… Roll to save again.

Valea]

1d20 Con Save 13 +1 = 14 [Save]

] The overpowering sensation slowly leaves you.

Yisi] I try to determine where I might strike Rrellette for the most affect. (Bonus Action check)

1d20 Medicine Check 5 +3=8 [Fail] (Vital Point Expertise lowers to DC 15 against undead)

Yisi] Seeing no potential vulnerabilties, and seeing that the water spirit is out of reach and I’m no great swimmer, the only thing I can think to do is try to snap Fable from the charm. I use Serpents Hiss to try to deafen Fable temporarily.

1d20 Attack 16 +6 = 22 [Hit] Dmg 1

[()]

] Fable is deafened but remains charmed and enthralled with Rrellette. (She can attempt a save next round.)

Valea] “Laughing Bitch!” I dive in to try to save Fable again. [Strength Ath Check]

1d20 Athletics 16 +4 = 20 [Success]

] You swim underwater and successfully grab one of the kicking feet of Fable. You pull her back towards the shore. Fable continues to fight against you but you successfully return to the shallow water where you have footing.

Valea] “Yisi! Help Valea! We must carry Fable away.”

] As Yisi goes to help, Rrellette sweeps into the shore. “Kiss me Elf, I want to taste those sumputious gold lips.” [()] Her speed across the water is surprising and within a blink she has your face in her hands and she is kissing you Yisi. You feel the air leave your lungs and your feet lift up off the ground and you are pulled out over the lake.

[()]

] Fable stops struggling against you Valea, but she is confused about where she is and panic’d at not being able to hear anything.

Yisi] I fight to break free of Rrellettes grapple.

1d20 Str 6 +4 = 10 [Fail]

Valea] “Ugh! Now Yisi is in water!” I dive back in and swim to Help Yisi break free.

] Rrellette plunges Yisi underwater and tries to drag him down to the depths of the lake. Valea, with double speed, is able to catch up quickly. Fable sees you dive in after Yisi  and determines to assist. Using Violent Mobility, she bursts into the water and swims past Valea. She attacks the water spirit with an unarmed attack [()] that strikes critically, stunning Rrellette for a round. She loses her grip on Yisi.

Yisi] Realizing I am released, I am desperate for air and begin swimming back to the surface and shore.

Valea] I help Yisi get back to the land.

] Fable crawls out of the water on all fours right behind you. “Quickly, away from the water, out of her reach.”

] You are just a short distance away from the shore when you hear the ethereal laughter of Rrellette behind you. “Come back my pets. We had only begun to play.” She taunts you. “Boy, come and give me another kiss!” She casts suggestion. Roll Wis Saving

Yisi]

2d20 Wis Save 16 +3 [Save]

Yisi] “Go kiss Ogrebutt! You wicked wench!” I keep running uphill away from the lake, and awy from the sound of her voice.

Valea] “This one is dismayed… Laughing Bitch nearly had us all. Valea is not prepared to fight with water ghosts.”

Yisi] “Nor I. She instantly had me helpless.”

] Fable “She has never attacked me before. But I think she knew you were close Yisi, and she tricked us.”

Yisi] “And did we even learn anything of Joloobo?”

Valea] “Laughing Bitch teased us… making us think she had him. ‘Teatime games with him’ she said. She was only guessing that we were looking for another Tabaxi. That gave it away, and Laughing Bitch became Singing Bitch!”

] Fable “Elder Arrodonn has let her be. I think todays attack may change his thinking. She is dangerous and powerful… and a deceitful bitch.”

Valea] “Deceitful Laughing Singing Bitch!” I yell back at the lake. Then I crouch, raise my tail and spray an insult of urine at the water spirit. “I piss at Laughing Bitch!”

Yisi] “We should find a safe place to rest and calm down. I still feel like I have water in my lungs.”

] You continue until the lake is completely out of sight and take a short rest while the Noon hour passes. Afterwards you continue your search for Joloobo. Following the earlier line of thinking, that a Fire Troll might be tracked into the ground, Fable leads you to the cliff walls to the West end of the Vale of Soxolone where Rrellettes lake is once in again in view. She quickly turns to the right away from the lake, and follows North along the western walls. The ground gains in elevation as you go, but the wall of rock still towers at least 150ft over you. Almost an hour of brisk walking goes by before Fable sees something ahead.

] Fable “There! See the small opening in the wall ahead? And I think I see tracks coming from the North.” She races ahead and begins inspecting the ground. [()] “These are hard to make out.” She says. “But see the large burned areas? I think Joloobo might have been following these, and they lead right into that crevasse.” The small opening in the cliff wall is only 2ft in width and tapers upward into a fine crack in the face of the cliff.

Valea] “This one thinks only Joloobo might fit into such a space no? ”

Yisi] “It will be a tight squeeze, but lets take a look.” I try to crawl into the crevasse.

] You have to belly crawl to fit. The crevasse opening leads straight into black rock. After several minutes of inchinging forward with your elbows, you find yourselves in a tunnel. It appears to be an old mining tunnel based on the debris you see on the ground. The tunnel goes to the left where it appears to wrap around a corner and to the right where there is an opening marked by wooden frames.

Valea] “Ugh! The smell! What smell is that smell?”

Yisi] “Rot. Death and Rot. Friends of the end be death and rot, yet from their alliance springs forths the sweet smell of new life.”

Valea] “This one would wish they hurry about the new life part yes?”

] Fable says “I cannot tell much from the ground in here. I do not see a Gnomes feet go either direction, but it sort of looks like the dust has been recently scattered. Which way do you think…”

Joloobo] “Psst! Psst!” I whisper down the corridor.

Yisi] “There he is! Joloobo!” and move down towards the opening on the right

Joloobo] “Shhh… quiet! Stop! Stop stop! Don’t come in here, it is trapped.” I whisper.

Valea] “Jobo does not look trapped”

Joloobo] “There is an invisible force wall blocking the doorway. It allowed me to enter, but I cannot exit. Look see.” I grab the 8 foot staff I found and push it into the invisible wall.

] The end of the staff meets no resistance and goes right into the corridor.

Joloobo] “What!”

Valea] “Jobo does not look trapped at all… no?”

Joloobo] I slowly feel for the wall the was blocking me yesterday.

] The force wall appears to be gone, you walk through into in the corridor.

Joloobo] “I don’t understand… but lets not wait around. There is a spiders nest close by, a large one. And I need some fresh air.” I carry the staff and the other items I found in the room worth keeping down to the crevasse and hurry my way out.

] Minutes later, all four of you are outside once again.

Yisi] “So you spent the night in that room?”

Joloobo] “I swear, yesterday there was an invisible force wall blocking my exit. Either you all somehow disabled it by accident, or maybe it only lasts so longer after it is triggered. This I will tell you… there are many rotting bodies in that room, and they spend far longer than 24 hours trapped. The edges of the floor all the way around have been carved out, like the captives were trying to dig a way out. Some of them have been rotting there for over 50 years. But look see what they left behind.” I show them the items I found. “I’m sure this staff once belonged to a wizard. Is there a wizard at the winery?”

Valea] “This one does not know. Fable?”

] Fable “A good question for Elder Ysthorn. He may be a wizard himself, though I’ve never heard any call him that. Hi Joloobo, my name is Fable. Well met.” I extend an arm.

Valea] “Fable is the reason we found you. She as great tracking skills yes?”

Joloobo] “My thanks to you Fable. Well met indeed. Shall we make our way? I am hungry for a meal or two.”

] After providing something to eat from your packs, you all head back to the monastery.