We wake up refreshed. We have omelets – owl bear egg omelets.  Exceptional.

We bring omelets to Waylan. Lux asks Waylan to size up his bow. He looks at it. This is very curious. Says Lux needs to see GrayLeaf the Bower – by the lands of Jaree. He’s trustworthy. Kex asks about armor – only has leather, pretty basic and beaten up. Wayland has a chain shirt. Made by the elves. Doesn’t fit tho. Gets masterworks studded leather. Mentions a leatherman named Hennessy down south. Jartha gets a bottle of black liquid for future use.

We talk to Oakley about best way to get to Ash. Says sea will take several weeks. Most direct route – lends us his war horses. Would take about a week. Or two or three depending on the routing. We bring Neves and Cooks. Oakley says head east until we’re clear of the war, then head south, should find a tavern called the Duck and Cover. Tell Admiral Harlick I said hello.

We roll out – cooks/emo boy share a horse, we all have our own.

No issues, first day of travel.

Second day we hear a group of guys to the east – sounds like a patrol. Lux scouts – see it’s the talon of Jaree warriors, headed north. We roll up on them – four warriors, an archer, and a cleric. They don’t recognize us and say halt – state your business, draw their weapons. We talk about Lord Oakley etc, and the triumvirate. Jartha explains we’re in a hurry – don’t you see our war horses. The cleric says pass on by – but beware of enemy combatants to the southeast – 20 of them. The Talon is headed north to camp plainquill, which is about a mile north. We agree to go to the camp with them.

Camp Plainquill is v basic. No walls. We roll into the camp ahead of the others because we’re on horses. Hello says Kex. Wizard say hail, how have you come about our camp. We mentioned the encounter with the other Talon warriors – we say that we are here to help – tell them about our non-failure of questing. Kex asks how we can help. The crew we met on the road shows up. Mr. Cleric gives the report on the platoon of cultists.

Mr. Wizard says we should move with great haste to catch them off guard. There’s an east/west pass to get there. It’s about noontime. They can tell Jartha is no ordinary solider. Jartha asks if they’ve ever built a catapult.

Also turns out the enemies are badass cultists. One badass leading them. Wizard says he could make them invisible and we could roll in on horseback. The Talon soldiers go first and we wait to head out.  Another debate about time.

A little later, we head out on horseback. We come upon a clearing with a bunch of dead Talon soldiers. We haven’t seen them before. Jartha encourages caution. Jartha determines one solider was killed by a blunt object with weird green goo. One has three arrows in the back. Jartha keeps telling us they are all dead.

All of a sudden, we see a body start to stand. Then a cultist humanoid appears – says my my what have we here. All dead guys animate as undead. Fight time against War Cultist Death Priest and five undead. After we kill the Death Priest some more people show up including the War Cultist Champion. Cookie is particularly on point in this battle. The frying pan makes an appearance.
Lots of 20’s. We win the battle, a bit bloody.

Then the Talon people show up. We explain to Mr. Wizard what happened. Kex asks Mr. Wizard is there anything we want to know from these cultists. Mr. Wizard doesn’t recognize the Talon dead people.

QUESTION THE CORPSE TIME

Kex: Who do you report to?
Dead Champion: I report to the Mouth of Silence

Kex: Where is your base?
Dead Champion: We have come from the lands of ice and snow, from Troll Bone Bridge.

Kex: What or who is the Mouth of Silence?
Dead Champion: She is a deadly and cunning warrioress – she commands the unseen hand, does the bidding of Hawkwind.

Kex: Who is commanding the armies that are moving south against Jaree?
Dead Champion: The Dread Marshall – he commands the Shock Troops, but it is Major Thalrix that commands the battle for Cleo Pipe

Kex: Tell me all you know about Cleo Pipe
Dead Champion: CP is the great leaders of the cultists- presses the war to the south – I have never met him.

Jartha rummages through the Dead Champion, takes the cloak. We stock up on armbands. Lux searches the thief, has a nice dagger. They all have good quality shit.

SECOND DEAD GUY CONVO (this time a Talon Warrior)

Kex: What happened here?
Talon Warrior: Two evil creatures on sinister horses took us out in an instant.

Kex: Who is your commander?
Talon Warrior: Thorn Duskwatch

Kex: What was your mission here before being killed?
Talon Warrior: We were sent by the Great Jaree – we were to locate those that returned from the Portal.

Kex: Where is Jaree?
Talon Warrior: I do not know

Kex:  Where were you supposed to take the portal people?
Talon Warrior: We were to return to my commander at the Quill Encampment. As I died I turned towards the Quill encampment (SW direction)

Mr. Fantasy Wizard/Cleric not familiar with Quill Encampment. They must return to their camp.

We mount up and head out in the SW direction. Then we start to see nature and greenness in the middle of the battlefield. Seems magical. Jartha wants to go first.  Hears “identify yourself. I am a proud warrior of Jaree.” Jartha explains that we are the triumvirate of promise. Then a bunch of Jaree dudes pop out. This is the Quill encampment.

Brave warrior – what is your name (to Jartha). I’m Jartha. Cool I’m Mr. NightTalon. Jartha is like ok so you’re hoity toity. They talk about a Polish Station. Then Jartha namedrops Cleo Pipe and people are like wtf. Then Jartha smokes them out.

NightTalon is like we were looking for you, Jaree had informed us that you returned.  We sent a search party. Kex tells them the search party is dead – tells them about the two evil creatures on horse. NightTalon is like those must be Ashborn Cavaliers – the creation of Vario.

Lux asks about why are we here. NightTalon is like we’re here to escort you safely to Jaree. He says lets camp here – then head east to the tavern. Our horses are there. Says it’s about a half day ride.

We head out for Tavern Country. We get to the Tavern. Jaree military – seems like place gets a lot of guests. The warriors are like and?

We go inside. It’s like TGI Fridays but military. Crowded but pretty chill. No one says anything really. Jartha goes to the bar, orders finest/cheapest beer. Jartha starts throwing em back. There’s a passed out goblin – dude buy me a beer. Guzzlegrin passes out before he can drink it. Mumbles cultists.

Lux/Kex check out Steve and Eydie. Kex doesn’t really like it – others seem into it. Jartha doesn’t like it either. He likes John Philp Souza and march music.

Dude approaches, it’s Halric. We namedrop Wayland. Says he’s lived here forever, turned into a bar come wartime. Jartha is like do you get a lot of military men here? Halric gestures like look around dude.

We ask about food and lodgings. Says they have four beds – Kex is like Jartha you sleep in the bed with Steve and Eydie.

We put Jartha to bed, at the side of the stage, while Steve and Eydie are still playing.  Lots of Steve and Eydie talk.

[Ken talks about this drunk dude at a show he played. Dude passed out on stage (not part of band).]

We tell Halrick about Mr. NightTalon.  Talks about the place being guarded – good place for the men to come and relax. Says business as usual. Kex says Peace Sells but Who’s Buying. Kex is like im a retired musician. Jartha, now back, is like I really like Steve and Eydie.

Cooks is like where’s the kitchen.  Halric is like catch Grizzlegrin when he’s awake.

Jartha is like you gotta meet this guy, brings us over. Talon warrior eyes with disgust and walks away. We’re like he’s passed out. Kex pokes him, not much reaction. Jartha’s like don’t fuck my boy. We’re like you brought us over to meet him.

Jartha is high and drunk.  Goes back to Harlic and questions him about the place. What’s the deal with Steve and Eydie. They needed somewhere to go and I’m a pushover so I let them stay here. I can’t get the big bands like they do in Ash. Jartha is like I know a guy but he’s retired.  Harlic is like whatever and walks away tells Jartha to get more drinks. Jartha sits down and starts taking a nap.

Cooks makes us Kraken Ink Risotto and some Ice Mephit Sorbet.

Kex tries to move Jartha, but only gets him to the floor. Steve comes over, brings Jartha to the bed. Steve and Edyie take a break. They all take a nap in the bed off stage.

We all crash out and rest. Kex sketches Jartha, Steve and Eidyie

Mr. NightTalon sees Jartha and just shakes his head. I thought you were on my level – no duel now.

He says we have our horses – yours are ready too. We have the blessings of Jaree which means we should get there in a few days.

Kex goes to talk with Guzzlegrin. What’s your deal. I’m Old Guzzlegrin. Looks at Kex – you’re a merlock. No I’m a Bullywog. Guzzlegrin passes out again. Jartha comes over as Kex storms out. Guzzlegrin looks at Jartha and is like youre a Merlock. Jartha is like whatever.

Jartha goes back to Steve and Eydie and says bye.

We begin our travels down south.

We find ourselves in lush forests of growth. Mr. NightTalon is like let’s camp.

Lux rolls a 9 for charisma the next day.