Log

[Rem-13]

A Ghoulish Grove pt. 2

Shinno and Hexx discovered a father hiding his daughter to prevent her from being lynched and his home destroyed. He learned this is the norm for anyone with the Ghoul Fever, which she had. Shinno promised to help, and remembering the potions obtained from the dead cleric they found earlier, he headed to the mayors shop. It was there they discovered that the lady in the north would be able to identify their potions, but he could not, because all of his potion supplies and abilities were diminished without the local Cleric (once a good friend but fallen to ghouls) to mix and identify them for him. Gear joined Hexx and Shinno on their trek north. Rimidool stayed behind, preparing magic to identify the items he uncovered.

The road there was not overly long, only a half an hour's march, but it was in the most ghoul infested area of the forest. It was no surprise when four ghouls showed up and had to be dealt with.



They found the lady's hut and knocked on the door. A young woman who called herself Era answered. She invited them inside where talked over the potions and other more mundane things. She identified the potions as one Remove Disease and two Cure Moderate Wounds. Shinno, over come by some odd sense of duty took it apon himself to head back alone, despite his friends protests. As aid Era sent him off with a few special berries, which were good more minor healing.



Hexx and Gear enjoyed her hospitality while Shinno went alone ready for the inevitable fight. It came in the form of two more ghouls. After a difficult struggle and many wounds he prevailed, moving forward to save the girl.

Meanwhile Rimidool and Roga were doing things of thier own. Rimi was finishing up his identifications just as the warrior made it to a tavern, and attempted to recruit a network of information gatherers. There reluctance to help was disheartening, but it stemmed from an intangible fear from putting your nose to far into trouble. Indeed even as Roga made a riling speech some one showed at the bar to demonstrate the origin of their fears. A girl was bit, and a mob to burn her alive was forming. Rather than face the sensible, but hard to listen to truth of Roga's words most hurried to join in. Everyone accept a man to drunk to care and a sympathetic, yet gruff, bartender named Grate.



Grate incriminalized Rothfell as the source of the towns woes. Rothfell, in his opinion, is orchestrating the the threat of ghouls as a grab for power. Roga is skeptical but tales of people who research the ghouls getting attacked, Rothfell's cleric friend Gaius was among the earliest, and incidentally the most successful in combating the ghouls and the one to push for the hiring of mercenaries, with many others following. Seemingly convinced, Roga handed the ranger turned barman an axe and took off to deal with the mayor.

Meanwhile Rimidool had taken tot he streets, and made his way to the mob of people ready to lynch Gerald's daughter. Girkin Rothfell was at the forefront, riling the mob and shouting out the father. Rimi's persuasiveness and even magic charms failed him. Thankfully Shinno arrived to stall the fiery onslaught. He refused to lower his hood or cloak, fearing his wounds would incriminate himself, but argued with mayor extensively. The mayor said would not let the fate of his town in the hands of a suspicious character and intended to get his way. He was close to it too, until another interruption. Roga and Grate charged up the road. The warrior took a far more aggressive stance, letting his sword accent his talking points. While the confrontation between the fed up Rothfell and near murderous Roga escalated Rimidool hatched a plan. Under cover of chaos they slipped into the house unnoticed. Shinno gave the girl the potion and consoled the father, leading them out a back way and planning to make for the friendly Giant's abode, while the wily gnome weaved illusions to fool Rothfell. Posing as Gerald himself, he exited, acknowledged his 'families' destruction and faded into the crowd, giving the mayor all the excuses he needed to burn the building down.

In the north Gear and Hexx were enjoying come sandwiches. Well, Hexx was enjoying them, Gear was agonizing over letting Shinno go on his own. He wandered outside, contemplating going after him, while Hexx looked around the house for Era. The boy wizard was upstairs seeing the rows of beds in her guest room when he heard gears shouts. There was trouble.



Hobgoblinoid Ghouls, brutish and stronger than the human variety, and complete with old armor and weapons had flanked Gear. Through quick thinking and a bit of luck they prevailed, though not unscathed.