A two man expedition consisting of Scorros and Vincent left early to investigate the Stirge Pool, knowing the recent issues surrounding the lumber mill and the possible connection between the two. On arrival they found that the pond is a stagnant pool of water in a depression. There is no water coming in or out of the pool, creating the perfect breeding grounds for the stirge. In the middle of the pool there is a small island with a disusting, bloated queen stirge that seemed unable to move or fly. Apparently when stirge have an ideal habitat they can grow a queen. It also had a pool of blood it was drinking from and it's suspected the pool is either filled by regular stirge or by some outside force.
The two decided to try provoking the stirge to see what their response would be. They were met with swift response though as several stirge immediately attacked, with 2 latching onto Vincent they were forced to retreat.
They suspect that they could try a full on assault of the stirge nest if we had people with heavier armor, but are waiting for research to get to longreach before we try anything else.
At this point the rest of the expedition party caught up and found group recovering from Stirge encounter at which point they decided to go mapping/looking for Venweed to help aid in the spread of Bloodsucker's Bane. As they moved west to the inlet they found disturbed soil by the river, neary a small island in that forks the river briefly. The other side of the river could be ripe for exploration, but without canoes or knowing about any potential dangers, the party decided to stay the course for now.
Speculating the area could be a landing area for orcs, they camped out for a few days to ambush any that might walk through
- After a few restless nights and the party becoming growing anxious, a bear walked through. [Note, the recorder may have had a long day, as what follows is unedited:] "It was so exciting. Majestic. Nice bear. Bear is a good bear. Thought it could be a druid. We were barely noticeable from the bushes we were hiding in.
- Decided to continue exploring in the direction of the bear for some reason and found a bare bear cave with evidence that the bears are just bears. Bear in mind we barely approached the bear cave and decided to continue exploring."
Afterward they found their way back to the Echo Stone where they heard their own conversation from before and left a terrifying new message for any orcs that listened in the future.
Continuing on they came across a new cave. It was a deep, sort of twisting narrow path down into the darkness. Lacking visibility, Breknar carried Kellen on his shoulders and held Vincent's hand to guide them through the darkness. Deeper in the cave had strange purple moss growing on it that hid aggressive vine like monsters that attacked the party, who found it was all too familiar to their encounters with the blight, though this was different. Using some fish Scorros had caught earlier and some rope, we were able to safely draw out the tendrils, which were weak and easy to hit, but should absolutely not be underestimated.
Inside a set of doors they saw an orc, Breknar sensing quite a bit of undead in the area. The orc was not aggressive, and was found to be possessed and told then she came here to save her sisters and requested they don't harm them, instead try and free them by restoring an altar in the cave. Hearing that it was the work of a necromancer it was determined that they may be able to consecrate the altar by removing it. The spirit is bound to the room she was found in and cannot leave. Something about the room also seems to make it safe for us to return and rest and speak with the spirit if we have any more questions. Unfortunately the spirit has been there for so long its memory has began to decay. The ghost identified itself as Selena, and her sisters Meg, Ana, and apparently Phphphphph.
Deciding to poke their heads into the temple within the cave before returning to town, they found the temple walls had more aggressive vines, and reanimated bodies and skeletons. Although this is necromancy at play here, the bodies are being controlled by the vines as opposed to standard necromantic magics. Tyrdithas is recording as exclaiming "I'm so shocked by blight that I saw vines and just beat the crap out of it!" After exploring the temple a bit further, the party decided they'd learned enough about the cave and to head back to town.
One of the entities dropped a small red orb made of stone which when dropped into nearby pedestals caused heavy stone doors to budge. The spirit explained that the orb is a key, and can open some doors by placing it into the pedestal and turning in a correct direction. There also may be other orbs matching doors and pedestals by color.
The group declared this expedition a great success, having drawn up much more of the map we now have much better bearing of the region. The discovery of this cave and the necromancer is also significant. If this necromancer is related to the stirge and or the blight, finding him or her would be monumental in securing the area.
Members of the 6/13 Expedition:
Illitor, Scorros
Jones, Vincent
Stoneleaf, Kellen
Swampshield, Breknar
Tyrdithas
New Map:
Lord F. Arden, on behalf of Sir Calen
6/14 in the Year 874
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