A Meeting with Enduld Sveriss - Expedition Summary 7/12

A small diplomatic party consisting of Scorros, Layla, and Breknar were dispatched to parley with Enduld Sveriss, an elven druid who admitted to being behind the impalement of the Elder Tree, the fungal undead in the Cave of Colors, and the blight. He asked the party to join him against the orcs. The group, with Sir Calen's Blessing, declared war against him instead, and are considering other options for diplomatic relations. The orcs may be a source of temporary aid in battling this greater foe.

Members of the 7/12 Expedition:

Illitor, Scorros
Layla
Swampshield, Breknar

Other News:

Bramble Scramble - Expedition Summary 7/10

Lord Dieterich, Olivia, and Griknak set off to explore the Silent Cave just northeast of Longreach. There they found quite a few zombies as well as some sort of mud imp. The only thing of note found in the cave, aside from the creatures, was evidence that a worshiper of the treacherous goddess Flit lives in the cave. To this end they found bedding and an altar to Flit, as well as a symbol that resembled the tree symbol found on the evil tainted stone fused to alter in the Cave of Colors.

Finding no further leads in the cave they decided to follow the map obtained at Haggard keep. First, they mapped out the area east of Lake Stirge, finding nothing of note. Next they proceeded north. The center of the northern area was overgrown with thick brambles and had a thick layer of fog. The small group quickly encountered Kobolds and their traps in heavy numbers. In addition they found wisps and large lizard creatures fighting along aside the Kobolds. The three managed to carve a path through many of them, but eventually they were forced to turn back after heavy injuries.

Updated Map: 

Members of the 7/10 Expedition:

Lord Dieterich, Gunter
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Olivia

Other News: Rook's Quarry is now open! Gilvess Falloway has been brought in from the great city of Redmoor to run the shop. His first task will be refitting our town guard with better armor emblazoned with the Steed and Tower of Sir Calen's livery.

The Cave of Colors - Expedition Summary 6/26, 6/30, 7/01, 7/03, 7/07

6/26

A small group consisting of Lord Dieterich, Vincent, and Griknak returned to the Cave of the Lost Orc to see what they could find. Griknak showed his cowardice by refusing to enter the cave until Lord Dieterich overpowered his weak will with his commanding presence and forced goblin to enter. Moving into the cave they encountered skeletons animated by vines and more fungus. Pushing further in they encountered a large spore-filled fungal orb that, when damaged, violently burst. Luckily only the goblin Griknak was caught in this and became very ill, with spores growing under his skin and becoming weak. Understanding that he was dying, the three left the cave and began their journey back. In the dark they got lost for a while before stumbling onto the road, Griknak looking worse with each passing minute. Soon Griknak slowed to the point where Lord Dieterich had to carry him. Treacherous Kobolds had laid traps in the road since their departure and the group was hit by hidden crossbows and fell into pits dug under the roadway. Forcing themselves to continue, Vincent also was unable to keep up. Lord Dieterich, sensing the urgency of the situation and putting his own needs aside, picked up Vincent as well and carried them both heroically to the edge of the Jago River. Exhausted, he single-handedly rowed them across the flowing river back to Longreach where he woke up kind and knowledgeable Father Lyle who promptly aided the group and over the next few days brought them back to health.

Members of the 6/26 Expedition:

Lord Dieterich, Gunter
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Jones, Vincent

6/30

Most info contained in the 6/30 and 7/1 reports is from Scorros Illitor.

Hoping to eliminate the threat of disease posed by the Cave of Colors, also known as the Cave of the Lost Orc, Vincent, Scorros, and Griknak set out under the leadership of Lord Dieterich on the third Longreach expedition to that dangerous grotto. Griknak at first refused to return to the place where he had nearly died, but Lord Dieterich displayed excellent leadership in convincing him to face his fears.

The group traveled through territory still believed to harbor orcs and goblins to reach the cave. Fortunately, they encountered no threats.

they found the ghost orc soon after entering the cave. She seemed utterly indifferent to us, responding calmly and blandly when addressed. They made their way respectfully past.

Violet fungi and skeletons animated by a similar fungus posed minor inconveniences as they explored. Interestingly, Griknak seemed unable to distinguish moving violet fungi from the completely still fungus on the floor, suggesting the eyes of goblins are less attuned to movement than those of higher species.

The party soon encountered one of the great gas spores that had proven nearly fatal to previous expeditions. Scorros asked the others if they covered a great area with their deadly spores when burst, and was told the spores would not fly far. He judged fifteen feet to be a safe distance based on this information. This turned out to be insufficient. The spores immediately inflicted grievous harm, and Scorros fell ill shortly thereafter, blisters covering my skin.

The explosion also alarmed a shrieker, which alarmed several undead, including a giant skeleton. Lord Dieterich served as the rearguard and guided us through an effective fighting withdrawal.

Returning to Longreach, Father Lyle cured Scorros Illitor of the spores. 

Members of the 6/30 Expedition:

Lord Dieterich, Gunter
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Illitor, Scorros
Jones, Vincent

7/1

Wasting no time, the group began their fourth expedition to the cave.

This time, they were much more successful, using what they had learned. The group destroyed the great skeleton and all other resistance encountered, including an undead shadow that may have been a sister to the ghost orc and a strange new myconid-like species. They also discovered that if we placed the orb we had found earlier in one of the colored pedestals and spun it, it would reverse the position of all doors of the same color, opening them if closed and vice versa.

While they explored much of the Cave of Colors more remains. Perhaps the fifth expedition will reveal the last of what it holds.

Members of the 7/1 Expedition:

Lord Dieterich, Gunter
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Illitor, Scorros
Jones, Vincent

7/03 

Extremely busy with their continuing mission to clear the Cave of Colors the information being turned in has been generally truncated. The following 3 entries are from Vincent Jones:

Lord Dieterich, Scorros, Vincent, and Griknak went back into the Cave of Colors again and entered a gold/orange area with a pedestal of that color. Sensing a dangerous situation, Lord Dieterich selflessly decided to turn the keystone in the pedestal in the pedestal. The walls collapsed and an enormous fungal beast and many minions were revealed. The party was starting to tire in the face of such overwhelming odds-both Griknak and I were getting crushed by the fungal monster-when Tyrdithas came in and turned the tides. The group managed to destroy the monsters, but had to return to Longreach before they could continue their exploration.

Members of the 7/3 Expedition:

Lord Dieterich, Gunter
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Illitor, Scorros
Jones, Vincent
Tyrdithas

7/07 

 Scorros and Vincent attempted to finish exploring the Cave of Colors, but encountered resistance. Breknar came to their aid, allowing them to clear the rest of the cave, finding plenty of riches with which to aid Longreach. In the heart of the ruins they found a corrupted altar of Solenas in the depths of the cave. It appeared to have evil forces acting upon it similar to the evil that was effecting the elder tree. After purifying the altar, Solenas gave her blessing to them and anyone who prays at the altar. The stone fused to the altar that was corrupting it bore the following sigil:

After leaving the cave Breknar and Scorros felt concerned about the well-being of the elder tree, but Vincent decided he had risked death one too many times and decided to retire from the adventuring life. Olivia and Tyrdithas met up with Breknar and Scorros at the Elder Tree where they found evidence of orcs attempting to damage the tree. They hunted down the Orcs and slaughtered them all.

Members of the 7/07 Expedition:

Illitor, Scorros
Jones, Vincent
Olivia
Swampshield, Breknar
Tyrdithas

Other News: the Silver Sylvains have shown an interest in the lumber from Longreach and have begun investing in the town thanks to a deal brokered by Kellen Stoneleaf! Their interest will certainly be a boon to us and attract the attention of artisans everywhere.
Warning: Due to sightings of large and dangerous looking humanoid figures on the main road any travel to or from Longreach requires a minimum of four (4) guards. Speak to me if you need to arrange a trip but don't have the means to hire guards yourself and I will arrange caravans.

Lord F. Arden, on behalf of Sir Calen

7/08 in the Year 874