Agrax finds the hyena particularly intelligent for it's kind, the average animals are pretty smart to begin with. Led by Elora, the party makes it's way through an eldritch forest filled with dangling moss, softly running streams, the occasional loud cry followed a sudden thrashing that you cannot see. It is startling, but Elora seems to pay the sounds no mind. The ride is boring, outside the sounds, but morning soon passes to noon, which transitions to late after noon and of course followed by dusk. Elora finds a likely clearing and said,

"Let's bed down here for the night. Standard watch of course, I'll take the midwatch through to dawn."

12 hours in the saddle is a long haul, even with frequent stops, and all of you are weary and soon fall asleep. Just like that, each of you awake fully refreshed and shocked at Elora who looks like she's ready for the next fey debutante ball.

"A girl has to look her best," she said spryly, with a loud giggle. "Besides, you all looked so tired, I felt bad. Time to ride now, though. I can feel the change in climate, so warm clothes will soon be needed." Gathering the reins from her horse, she leads to party on.

"Now, important stuff: as we go further north, we'll face greater hazards. Some things you just don't want to mess with, things even a ranger or wildling would not mess with. So, if I say stop, you stop. If I say go, you go. And if I say run, you better be putting foot to toe, because something bad is on our tales. Got it?"

Kal nodded immediately. This was Elora's quest now and she was obviously more knowledgeable. He rode along warily and said little except when they were stopped to rest and the chance to speak presented itself. He studied the countryside, hoping to learn more, perhaps learn something that would lend itself to his survival...

A day and a half brings you to the end of the forest into a scrub grasslands. Small copses of trees dot the landscape; you keep an eye on them as possible places to sleep or small redoubts where you can organize a hasty defence if need be.

Temperature midday is in the 60s. Nighttime gets as cold as high 30s. All of you are warm enough for the nonce, though pushing north might bring bitter winds this late in autumn.

As the evening falls, you note a small, red-orange glow flitting around off to the east, its movements similar to small, indiginous bats, perhaps a half mile away,


First climate roll: no penalties.

Kal regarded the lights. "Faeries?" he mused. Unless there was a compelling reason to investigate, he ignored them. There was much to do and he didn't want to take foolish risks along the way.

Elora glances in the direction of the light. "Firebats," she said. "Not much to be concerned with unless food is scarce, which is not the case. They can be territorial, but the distance indicates they'll leave us alone. As we set up the watch, let's make sure to keep an eye on them."

Please set the watch. Elora will take the final watch again, but there should be two other watches. Thanks.

Kal said, "I'll take the first and wake Agrax up in a few hours. Pious, you're in the barrel tomorrow night!" He watched Elora move about the camp, half wishing for some privacy and a couple hours of loveplay. He dismissed the notion, remembering that it can be very, very dangerous in these parts and one false move could spell disaster.

Elora proves herself to be a fine guide, with knowledge of tracking and cooking and most everything that has to do with outdoor living. No spoiled fey, she works hard, pointing out various suggestions as they set camp. Pointing to Agrax, she said, "Dig us a pit, luv," offering a light touch to the gnoll-bitch's arm.

Her smile is radiant as she watches the team work together, and when preparations are made, she suggests to Kalmus, "Be a dear and find us some wood, eh?"

As dusk falls fully, she settles next to Kalmus and murmurs, "Patience, luv. Next inn is a day away. We'll tear the place down with our loveplay!"

As she prepares the meal, she begins to tell a tale. "Mayhap some of you may have heard the tale of the witch of the wood; if so, don't spoil it for the others."

So saying, she begins the tale:

Part I

"Once a long time ago, before the years of Elle and Leanin, in the early years of the rise of humans, there was a plain young woman of homely guise. Desperately, she yearned for love, calling out to the Uncaring in her despair for a mate. Human gods are fickle; although they heard her laments, they ignored her. Soon she sunk into a deep malaise and surrendering to her unhappiness, she made her way to the deep forest where the fey lived. She knew the grounds at the edge of the wood, but resolving herself to death, she walked with her chin up in defiance and anger for her lot in life.

It was a long trek, some six hours walk, and as she wearied, she realized that she was completely lost. Pushing through the twined brambles and branches, she came upon a small glade. It seemed at first glance a peaceful place, but as she crept into the surrounds, she found a hint of trepidation. With each step, her fear mounted until she could barely move forward. Once in the center of the clearing, she halted and could go no further.

A long while she waited, until darkness settled over the glade. Weary, she sat on the ground, leaning against an old, worn standing stone from the edge of time. As she sat, her eyes drew closed until she fell asleep.

In the deepest part of the night, as she lay against the stone, a figure of cloven hoof strode into the glade. Seeing the young woman sleeping, he wondered at her presence. Pulling his pipes from his satchel, he began to play.

Called from the depths of sleep, the woman woke. She blinked her eyes as she looked about; eventually she saw the creature hiding behind the stone.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"I am all and nothing," he replied.

It hardly made sense to her, but the creature smiled and began playing his pipes again until she stood from the ground and drew near him. Gone was the earlier fear. Entranced she listened closely. For a long time, he played thus, and in his song were whispers and callings that fed her dream of love.

Soon, filled with his fey song, she disrobed and opened herself to his ministrations. No gentle wooing, he ravished her, fulfilling her many times until at last both were spent upon the ground.

"Why are you here," he asked, breathing heavily.

"I seek love and beauty," she replied.

"Was my love not enough?" he asked.

"Oh, but you are ugly and deformed. I wish a man of strong hands and great wealth. Failing that, I would rather die than live with this homely mien."

"And what will you give me if I give you what you seek?"

"I would give you whatever you asked for," she replied.

"Say it three times," he said to her.

"I would give you whatever you asked for.
"I would give you whatever you asked for.
"I would give you whatever you asked for.

Part 2 forthcoming: Elora sips some honeysuckle, and sighs. "A pause for now. I hope you like my little story so far. Very scary!"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:02, Tue 11 Feb 2020.

Part Two:

Part 2
Suddenly a dark cloud filled the clearing and a great wind stirred the forest. The cloven hoofed figure rose like a monster from lore and his voice echoed the surrounds. "So shall it be," he cried out to the night, for night was his domain and it welcomed him.

Then he brought forth a looking glass and showed the young woman her new guise and he asked, "Are you satisfied?"

Quietly she was indeed satisfied, but she said, "I will only be satisfied once I find the man I am seeking."

The cloven hoofed being answered, "Go then back to your village and stop into the blacksmith's shop. Take him on his anvil, then allow him to take you as many times as he pleases."

"What of his wife and his son?" she asked.

The being passed her a kris set with many vile runes. "You must kill them, for if you do not the woman will speak against you to the town elders and they will try to slay you. This blade will leave no marks, so that you will not be discovered."

Caring only for herself, the woman followed the cloven hoof's advice. As she departed the clearing, a way opened to her leading directly to the blacksmith's shop. She lay with him per her patron's advice, then allowed him to take her time and again on the floor of the forge. Sweat stained and exhausted, the smith fell into a swoon. Sensing her opportunity, the woman stole through the blacksmith's house and slayed both mother and child. Satisfied with her work, she left the house and made her way back to the old shack that once was her home and was now again.

The place had fallen into disrepair, so she called on the blacksmith many times to assist her with fixing the place up. Of course, he was smitten with her; nearly forgotten were his wife and child. And many gifts he gave her that once were given to his wife. And other things he constructed, beautiful and flawless so that she covered him with her body and pleased him until he was drained.

But the townsfolk didn't forget. They pressed their suits against the smith and called down curses upon his head for being faithless to the memory of wife and child. The man lost business. Worse, the fortune he'd gathered was gone, along with his customers.

When the elders and townfolk had gone, his lady came to him and found him in the forge and she made ready to please him, but he pushed her away.

"My love! Why do you push me away. Always I've given you satisfaction. What is this maladiction you have cast upon me?"

"Oh ye bane of my existance. I see your cruel ways now. I've sown a bad seed, proved faithless to my wife and get, and now find myself a pauper and a fool."

"Ah, but not a bad seed," she replied. "I am with child, my love."

But the blacksmith was unswayed, and he cursed her and her child, calling the seed a bastard and renouncing his inheritance. And then he fled from her, back to the village and begged forgiveness from the townsfolk and elders saying, "That woman put a spell on me!"

Hearing the ruckus, the woman fled again to the forest until, out of breath and failing she cried out to her benefactor. "You have played me false, you wicked thing. Gone is love to my lover's guilt, gone are my looks to a rounded belly and sagging tits and gone are my jewels and trinkets to the townsfolk as penance."

Then a familiar voice replied. "I gave you all you asked for," said the cloven hoofed beast. "I gave you beauty. I gave you love and I gave you a child."

"Then I ask for one more boon," and she whispered it to the beast and he said, "This final wish I will give you."

Part Three: the finale forthcoming

For two decades the blacksmith prospered. He never remarried, but was a paragon of virtue. His reputation was rehabilitated, his business prosperous and when someone was in need, he was always available to lend a helping hand.

Thus it was that a stranger came into town, a young man of perhaps 20 years. He took up residence in the town's inn, and made a great show of introducing himself to all the townsfolk. He had a warm smile, but hard eyes that made some nervous, and favored the fairest of the townsfolks daughters. In the first three month, he impregnated three women, their reputations ruined. The elders whispered of a dark seed, and sought the blacksmith and asked him what he thought of the young man.

"Somethin' ill there, sirs," was all he said before turning back to his forge. The elders were unhappy with his answer, but they left him to his craft. He worked well into the night, then, a lantern in one hand and his hammer in the other, he walked into the forest
--------------------------------------
"Hello father," said a soft, crooning voice.

"You are no son of mine," said the blacksmith, holding his lantern up to see the man.

"Mother begged to differ," he said. "She begged long and loud until the screams ran raw and the blood streamed from her womb. And then she died."

"Her fate was unkind, but she deserved it. I know she murdered my wife and child, ruined my reputation, stole my treasures. Guilt is all I know now, guilt and penance for forsaking my family."

"It need not be guilt and penance. That's why I came here. I am your family, now," the young man said.

"You are not my family. I renounced you, having recognized your mother's twisted soul. I know you, Liar. You are a fiend from the pit, a shadow from an ancient time. You do not belong here. Go back to the depths where you belong, else I shall slay you!"

The young man laughed, a snarling, rasping sound and replied, "You could no more slay me as turn back the hands of time. You are a fool, old man!"

So saying, the young man leapt, but the blacksmith was ready. With a sweeping swing, he landed a forceful blow. The young man broke into a thousand shards. They formed into a flight of crows that flew off cackling into the night.

Epilogue:

The young man was never seen from again in the little village. The blacksmith lived but a few more years and died peacefully in his sleep. The three young women that lost their maidenhood to the man with hard eyes went to term. The first gave birth to a girl with a birthmark on her cheek. The second gave birth to a boy with a cleft palette. The third gave birth to a still born with feet like cloven hoofs. Each of them were shunned by the townsfolk and eventually they left the small village.

As for the village itself, it fell into slow decay. The elders all died and the young folk, sensing the prevailing darkness that fell over the place, moved to other locales. It is said that there are still ruins to be seen: the Church, the forge and the witch's small cottage. Few visit however, as the place is rumored to be cursed.

The end.

"Did you like it?" Elora asked with a wide smile. "Spooky, no? It was one of my fav's as a little girl - Gran used to tell it during the blackest midnights with but a small lant to see by. Of course, honeysuckle and cinnamon flavored the mead that we shared. It is a fond memory!"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:44, Thu 13 Feb 2020.

After the spooky story, the party settles down, watches are stood with no resultant encounters besides Pious' snoring.

The next day dawns brisk and bright. A winter wind cuts through the party like a scythe at times, despite the sun shining bright overhead. Still it's a mostly pleasant journey as Elora keeps telling stories to make the time go by. Soon enough, morning shifts to afternoon, followed by a swift dusk. A small, crossroads inn greets you with warm light and atop the roof sits a sign that says "The Sweet & Salty."

Elora looks at the sign with a slightly mocking grin, but says, "Shall we?"