Kex thinks about the curses situation. We talk about hags. WhisperB tells us the curse is afflicting Kex is permanent. Kex raises the idea of a loophole – WhisperB says only the person that crafted the spell would know about loopholes. Isn’t sure if curse would die with Black Sally.

Lux shows the book. Rel says get rid of this off the lanai. It is an item of great evil. Jartha takes the book, ties it up and goes to meet up with Cooks. WhispersB says Black Sally, hags in general, are tough combatants. Jartha comes back without the snake spell book or the samurai sword.

Kex favors being a frog more than getting rid of foreboding. Rel wants us to use the wish scroll for the fadings. We talk about ways to remove curse. We debate Kex’s reason for getting cursed. Kex doesn’t seem to remember why he’s been cursed. Kex doesn’t remember where Sally’s lair is. WhisperB is like she likely has multiple domiciles. Is certainly a swamp hag.

Kex asks Rel to rush the council’s preference on how to use the scroll. Killius is like use it how you see fit. Kex talks a lot about acknowledging the council’s feelings.

Lux suggests Kex play the lute – it’s a little clunky but he’s able to play. Not as good, but the bardic skill is there. Kex plays cocaine over and over.

We talk about snakes, the snake temple, etc. The temple must have materialized. It is not from this world.

Lux gives a bit of a speech to the Jarreeman about the fact we’ve done a lot and snake themes are emerging and we’re concerned so like a little engagement would be nice.

We theorize about ways to defeat a snake. WhisperB changes into a large mongoose.

We decide to wait out the snake appearance. Jartha talks about rallying the army about snake fighting.

Jartha goes to chat with Gibbons. Convo takes three fucking hours.

Lux talks to Cooky about his gloves. Won’t work – they’re in his size. Basilisk skin or something would do the trick.

Jartha asks Gibbons about combat versus snakes. Lasts four hours this time as Gibbons is doing a lot of lines.

We all sleep.

We wake up the next morning. Kex feels strong forboding and burning in his chest.  Cooks cooks up some great food. Troll bread for Jartha, refried Winchendon beans, tidewater fritters for kex.

Lux has thermal vision.

All of a sudden the tent closes itself. We are contained.

A voice booms “payment required” and the snake appears. To Kexyl it says – you’ve changed. Give yourself to me and your friends shall live.

“My name is Phorvax, I shall be your doom”

We fight. A hole is burned in tent. Lux gets bloodied with a bite. Jartha dodges a spell.

(Transformer Jartha with the seldom used ‘hold the blade’ technique. -KC)

Snake dies/disappears and says “another time highlander”

Kex feels the sense of foreboding dissipate but still feels a burning in his chest.

We tell Emsley about the attack. Lux asks Emsley to patch the tent. Emsley patches the tent, we break it down.

Lux expresses concerns about the tent. We bring the tent to the lanai. WhisperB heals Lux. Rel is interested in the poison of course. Lyric says the tent is not cursed but the tent is made of WRAITH SILK, which is inherently evil. It has an intelligence. It has an essence. It cannot be destroyed by normal means. Can be destroyed by dragon fire or fell tainted molten lava. Rel is like your logic sound – perhaps the tent should not be used again.

Rel says he can look after the tent.

We decide to head to SouthMarsh. Cooks makes smoked hell hound brisket, ever flame dry rub. We emerge near the Swamp Kingdom. It’s dark and misty.

Bullywugs come up to us and say “halt”

We tell the guards our story. Kex is asking after his father. Talk about the bride. The guards are suspicious. They try to arrest him. They decide not to and bring him to Duke Kex Dad.

(Love that Jartha is the main character and isnt at full health. Nice touch, didnt ask for it. -KC)

Kex talks to the Duke tells him about swimming into the forbidden area. Duke is skeptical – we try to convince him. Duke says we trust you for now. Dismisses the guards. Tests the name of the log he sat on as a child while playing your lute. The Old Grey log – she ain’t what she used to be. Duke is like tell us what happened with Black Sally. Kex tells him all about the curses etc. This seems far worse. Kex asks about cure. Duke is like there’s a small village to the east. Or seek out black sally herself – perhaps she could be convinced to reverse the cure. Mentions the HoppenLeaf curse of the four toes. The east village is not affiliated. Lord Hopwell doesn’t know either. The village of MudPuddle is here. Mayor Hopperwick runs the town now. Bring them these swamp onions, token of good will. Talk to the head healer.

We roll on towards MudPuddle. We approach the bridge. THERE’S A DEAD BODY (bullywug, with a monkish robe). It appears chomped up.  We don’t see anyone else around. Lux doesn’t see anything and observes the body has been dead a while.

We go into a house – another dead body. Looks like body died same way. Also in monk robes.

We hear five roars in the distance. Sound large. Lux stealths up and sees a five-headed hydra to the west. We set a trap with Kex’s illusion and a pincer attack formation. Kex generates a bullywug monk illusion.

We fight the hydra – Jarred roles back to back 20s. We killed the hydra. Lux also used the Lightning Arrow aka Ride the Lightning.

We find 300 gold pieces. A sack of gems. We salvage a tongue and cooks takes some hydra meat. We search the place,  all chewed up monks.

Kex yells we killed the hydra. We hear nothing. Kex finds an orange vitapotion.

Jartha lops off a hydra head.

We sleep. Kex feels forboding but not as much as snake.

Lux looks great, can’t see special things tho.

We head back to SouthMarsh.  Kex tells about the dead bullywugs and defeating the hydra. Talks about the potion being of constitution.  Duke is like I think your only recourse is the bargain with Black Sally. Her lair is to the NE.

We learn Black Sally likes powerful magic items. Re-agents. In combat you do not want to face her.

We discuss lord esfrig – the water genie from way back when.

We ask after a Shaman. Old Croakbender is the local healer.

CroakB and Kex talk. Kex wants to remember memories. CroakB mentions a ritual. Lots of incense and such.

Kex has visions. Remembers that he was fond of Black Sally’s jewel encrusted things. Remembers dropping a ring while running away. Jartha smokes out old Croakbender using Cleo Pipe’s infinite pipe.

Lux says wagwan and asks about ways to curry favor with Black Sally.

We head northeast, roll up at night to the lair. It’s spooky, marshy. We see four buildings.

Kex calls out “Oh great Black Sally, we have come to parlay”

“Go away, no children. Who are you what is the meaning of this”

Woman from the tub of the Shining shows up.

I remember you. You’re the frog one I cursed.

Yeah.

We remind her we saved her from the prison.

We came to talk not to fight.

Can you turn me into a frog.

Could be.

What do you ask of us.

I require disruption. I want you to arrange the death of your father.

What about this orange vita potion.

I have my own – lemonade.

Kex offers hydra tongue, super fresh.

Manticore poison gland.

An umberhulk eye.

She brings up the stealing.

We keep bargaining. Takes Jartha’s gem.

She snaps her fingers and kex starts to change.

She leaves, laughing and says hahahahaha foolish ones.

But apparently we’re not done.

Lux stealhs up and go up to the tower where kex thinks the ring is.

Opens a jewelry box. Gets hit with lightning but Fikus provides grounding so Lux takes NO DAMAGE. See one ring that stands out. Lux takes the ring.

Shuts all doors behind him and gets out.

Meet up with the party, show the ring the Kex and he’s like yeah that’s the ring.

Kex is a total bullywug again.

Next day, Lux has night vision

We make it to Jaree’s camp.

We show WhisperB the ring. Also Rel hugs Kex bc he’s a bullywog again.

WhisperB says jewels alone are worth a fortune. It is very magical. Says talk to Elmley.

We talk to Elmsley. Meanwhile Cooks is cooking Hydra five headed stew – Elk, Gator, Fish, Pigeon, Hydra

Says it’s a fine ring of immense power. Elmsley says it has two enchantments: the first one is the wizard spell mirror image (can be used frequently), the other can be used sparingly, it is the wizard spell known as greater invisibility (a great number of things can be done while greater invised).  It is known as the TwoRing (to be renamed later). Mirror image 1/long rest, greater invisibility unknown.