"You will answer all of our questions.  First, what was that screaming in the woods?  Something was crying out as we came this way.  Was that your handiwork?"  Serafina's tone was serious and hard.  She didn't bother threatening the creature, she saw no reason to.

Surprised by his own conviction and intensity in his threat, Menzar was slow to react when the hobgoblin surrendered. Coming back to himself, the gnome moved closer to their captive and held his nocked bow casually but ready at his side.



"Lower him, yes, but don't let him loose until he's answered our questions."

Morton commanded the vines to lower the hobgoblin but kept his power over them active keeping the little creature trapped

The hobgoblin is lowered to ground in a very creepy fashion as the vines twist down. His appearance leaves much to be desired but looks very much like a typical hobgoblin. What is not typical is his gear which clear shows you he is trained marksman of the sorts and probably a hunter.

"Pleassseee...no hurt knifetongue. I tell you, whats you wants to know."

Upon hearing the hobgoblin say his name, Camara looks over her shoulder at him before focusing back on helping Sigrun with Jackdaw.

She says, "Knifetongue? How could he have gotten that name? He's definitely not witty."

The annoyed Serafina repeated her question. "What was that horrendous screaming in the woods?"

She had a hard look on her face but didn't bother to menace their captive.  It would not make him answer faster and she wasn't going to use torture,  so he would either respond or they would be forced to kill him do he didn't do this again to someone else.

Having been rejected by her god in asking for divine intervention on behalf of the half-orc, Sigrun nevertheless uses her mundane skills at healing to bind up his wounds and treat the worst of the damage done to him.

09:19, Today: Sigrun Goll rolled 1,5 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5.  Healing skill on Jackdaw.
Remove 1 Wound

Even there, she finds herself distracted and barely able to help him at all.

Knifetongue points to the creature in the trap. “Me sa hunting strong lady. We uses fox bait to get bigger pray.”

"By the gods, that made all that noise?  Never mind.  Who is the strong lady?"  Serafina asked, not wanting to prolong this, but there had to be a reason this creature, or being, or whatever he or it was, was here of all places.

They never had gotten much of an explanation for how all of this happened in the first place.  Granted plagues were typically natural, but something carried them.

Morton chuckled " I think he was calling you strong lady" he said over Serafina's shoulder, his eyes still shone slightly with the power still holding the goblin with the vines.

In reply to Morton Slumber (msg # 62):

Menzar sniggered at the sorcerer's observation, "I'm pretty sure your right there." Turning his attention back to Knifetounge, "And would this bigger prey be making the screaming? Since Stong Lady asked"

"Yesss, Yess, Fox is firetail. Very loud. Makes bigger prey come from sound." The hobgoblin strains a little under the vines holding him captive.

"What more you want to know?"

"well you could describe this big thing to us for a start and if one is in the area we'd not like it if your little fox has attracted unwanted company while we are chatting would we" Morton stated

"if you answer that and any other my friends ask I might not feel inclined to tie the fox to you while you are trapped and see if its cries will bring  something that might like a ready wrapped meal it won't have to chase for once"

Serafina concurred with Morton's line of inquiry.  "Well?  The man asked you a question."

The hobgoblin looks frightened by the thought of being tied to the fox. “Me looking for a wolf that hunts these woods. They say he is the ultimate predator. Knifetongue constantly looks big threats. Legend says he is a giant wolf with magical powers.”

Serafina looked at the others with concern.  That wasn't something conducive to finding the cure.  Speaking of which...

"What were the reagents of the cure which grew in the wilds?  Perhaps this creature knows where to find them."  She turned to the others and asked, not whispering, but not raising her voice either.

Camara looks up from helping tend Jackdaw, "A large magical wolf? That certainly sounds odd."

She then pulls her journal from her pack and flips to the last few pages filled.

She says, "Elderwood moss, which is from the Elder Tree, ironbloom mushrooms, which we will get from the dwarven monastery, and rat's tail, which I think is some sort of plant as opposed to the actual tail of rats."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:29, Tue 25 Jan 2022.

Menzar took his eyes off Knifetongue for a moment, "A magic wolf and an old crone walking around in the woods. Our task is becoming more and more like a child's tale. Though the wolf would explain the dead or missing loggers.

"Knifetongue, you seem to know these woods. Do you know where we can find the witch's hut?"

Morton crouched in front of the little man held by the vines his eye flickering with eldritch blue flames. He lifted one hand and closed his fist just a little and the vines tightened just a fraction to worn the creature he should think carefully about what he was about to offer.

" you are a person of these woods I can tell" he dropped his hand to his pouch and shook it slightly coins jingled in it "We need a guide to help us find the things we need if you agree then I will pay you for your service but mark my words I control powers that put these vines to shame and I will direct it towards you if you ever decide to cross me"

Serafina shuddered at Morton's words.  "The things you did to that donkey still haunt me.  I had no idea a tree just grow through your arse like that."

She shuddered again, recalling vividly the horrible fictional incident she'd just made up.

"I know I wasn't sure thst if I just fed him a seed that I could make it grow in his stomach like that..... You learn something new everyday" replied Morton before turning back to the goblin "now where we're we? Oh yes you were going to decide if you'd like to become our guide"

As Camara puts her journal away, she looks to Serafina and Morton and smiles at their fanciful tale.

The hobgoblin looks at the adventures with concern. “I show you on map.”

The creature shows you were to find the rat tail which is near the witch hut which he also shows you on the map. “You still wish to me to travel with you?”

The gnome looked around the motley group he found himself in and scratched his beard considering the goblinoid. "The map is helpful, thanks. If it's all the same to the rest I'd like you to be the one leading us to these places. We are in a hurry and any help that would speed us along should be used. Yes?"

Sigrun will help Jackdaw back up on his feet, but he does not seem very mobile, as badly wounded as he is. She is torn between her desire to get him back to the lumber camp and bed rest and her wish to help the villagers.

She does not consider it a good idea to allow the hobgoblin to go with them, but maybe he can be compelled to take the half-orc to safety?