Having made good time despite the battles, the group from Thundertree reaches the ruins of Castle Cragmaw by mid-morning and joins back up with that group.

After greetings are exchanged, introductions made and tales are told, it's about noon time.

As everyone settles down for lunch, it's palavering time.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:27, Sun 02 Apr 2023.

Sala was pleased that they had all managed to return to the same place, but it didn't ease his concern over Nemeia. As they all greeted each other, he made the others aware of the state that Nemiea was in.

"She collapsed before we arrived, but not before uttering a bunch of gibberish." he says.

Manaen is having a field day... meeting all these new people and recording the information and exploits for posterity.

"Lots of tales to be told here, right Nyssia?" the Tortle tries to share and compare information with the Bard.

"So much diversity! And yet so much the same."

Artagel still felt uncomfortable around their newest companions.
He could relate to the tiefling but he had too bad experience with goblinoids to stay relaxed near the bugbear. And that meant that he rested his hands on the pommels if his blades.

Even stranger was the bipedal cat. He had thought he had seen a lot of things already in his life and Neverwinter was a hotspot of the weirdest things but a talking cat - except for a wizard's familiar - was a new surprise indeed.

When they reached Cragmaw Castle Artagel finally realized just how many 'people' had found themselves in this region to fight what- or whoever was the cause fot the upsetting occurences.
And he started to get a notion of what the companions had been babbling about when coming up with this expression "Confluence".

Artagel was too cautious at this point to engage in conversation and so he stood somewhat at the edge of this meeting and tried to get it all sorted.

Cinnabar's return to the larger group is at first unclear, those she travels with don't seem to think the almost topiary guardian plant in the form of a giant elk to be all that odd or at least not surprising any more, but anyone new who sees it might take a second to even sort out what it is.

To make matters more complicated an entire Orc arsenal of weapons and armor, all long since magically cleaned, is strapped to a net like harness or in bags attached to it that fits over the elk like an over sized pack saddle.

When they find a secure place to camp and set down all their stuff the elk stops near the edge, kneels down, then tucks its head in and somehow continues to shrink in on itself such that within moments only the much smaller halfling form of Cinnabar remains, with the harness net simply falling to the ground around her.

The bugbear was clearly uncomfortable among so many strangers. He answers questions as they are put to him but seldom volunteers more than is asked. At the same time, he seems to be everywhere, trying to help. Skinning rabbits to go with the upcoming meal and fetching water for the mounts were among some of the tasks he performed.

As the others in the company seemed to take no notice when the giant elk appeared, he simply observed. When it transformed into the halfling he’d patrolled with he offered to help with the load she carried.

He never really misses being alone during his tours of the wild. There was always more than enough to keep him occupied but it was good to have company upon occasion. Though, perhaps not so many at once as this, he’d traded with much smaller merchant caravans during his travels.

One of the first things Mithra does when the two groups reunite is seek out Victor.

"Victor, this is Selgar," Mithra said. "Selgar, this is Victor. Selgar has a message for you from Sildar Hallwinter."

"I'll let you to it. You know where to find me if it concerns all of us."


Next, she seeks out the new Gnome, all the while keeping an eye on Nemiea.

"Portia, is it?" she confirms the Gnome's name. "I understand you are looking for something called the 'Door Into Summer'. Just wanted to confirm the accuracy of that so we can help you find it. After all, you did step out of a door that isn't even there."

"Are you sure what you are looking for isn't through the Door Into Summer, not the actual door itself?"

Prizzard was still a bit stiff and sore from the night before so he kept himself busy. Unloading, stripping, and brushing his horse, wiping the dust and debris from the barding and his own gear, even cleaning the tight spots in his game traps. He would speak freely with any who addressed him.

There were no trees amid the ruins but she had enough Fey in her that she was always home except in the darkest places. She climbed up on a perch on a wall, got comfortable, and then began playing her flute, both to entertain and to impart a bit of calmness to all these people.

She readily said hello to anyone that passed by, chatted for a bit if they wanted.

"Spring Eladrin's my favorite season because I'm just always naturally happy," she told people.

"I just learned that Ordun is returning those relics to Hai Kragerak," Viridovix speaks up. "I was thinking maybe I'd go with him to protect him from any more Orcs that might be out there."

"I always wanted to see a Dwarven fortress."

"Anyone else want to go? Unless the rest of you need me here?"

Selgar seems a bit stiff literally and figuratively from his spar with Prizzard and from working with a group after spending most of his life alone. He had met some tieflings without ill intent and decided that those in the party were of this kind if they were so accepted by others who knew them better than he. He had never met a non-destructive goblinoid however and thus spent much of the travel time close to and keeping an eye on Xar’ach.

This eventually turns from evaluating a threat to recognizing a bit of a kindred spirit. Xar’ach’s animalistic appearance, experience in the wilds, and inexperience as a party member mirrors Selgar’s own. It remains to be seen if these natural predators could share the “territory” of the group amicably but there is a growing respect.

The burly black feline steps forward as he is introduced to Harkness.

“Sildar Hallwinter sent me to meet up with you. The mayor of Yartar reports something stirring in the Evermoors, perhaps from the Highwood, and we are to investigate.”

"If you don't need us to fight any more Orcs," Biff concurs, "I'll join Viridovix. We're kind of like a team now. Can't let him go off and get hisself killed now, can I?"

After talking to Cinnabar, Mithra speaks up to everyone in her area.

"I just learned there's a sacred Druid grove nearby whose fountain waters can heal Nemeia," she says. "It's currently overrun by half a dozen kamaden creatures, but I'm not going to let them stop me."

"Anyone else want to join me?"

She then proceeds to get Nemia's unconscious body back up on the horse, and then begins leading the Paladin off in the direction of the grove.

He speaks quietly to himself: "The foreshadowing and irony are killing me, I can't miss this." He's soon walking along with Mithra to the sacred grove, Revenge Paladin Sorrow in tow.

Shouldering his pack, Xar’ach takes a few long strides to catch up with Mithra. ”I would accompany you if you have no objection.”

Cinnabar joins Mithra in her quest, explaining along the way.

”There are a lot of sacred groves overrun by one sort of creature or another.  There just aren't as many druids as there once were so we are always moving about, but I am sure the fountain would be happy to see help of any kind if we can spare enough people to do something about it.”

"What kind of treasure is there?" Ero asks.  "I'm not interested in simply going in and slaughtering whatever stands in our way for no recompense.  I do not do charity work."