King’s 29, 17th Reaping, [March 29, 2023]
After much consideration of our next course, we decide we will investigate the ‘ugly ponies’ spotted east of Esber. Soren fidgets and mutters, while Bill's moans are heard easily from the other end of the caravan, about “Briars this” “Skull Mountain that.” It cannot be that bad. Certainly it’s no joke, but we have gone in before and come out. A jaunt to the patrol camp and back will not be that difficult.
Reports and rumor are scarce of the ugly ponies, but we will go in pursuit anyways. Who knows what we will find. We reach the patrol camp before night, and pitch tents and wait to see what the morn will bring.
King’s 29, 18th
We are in trouble. Deep trouble.
We discovered what the ‘ugly ponies.’ No mere devil horse. Giant ants, that erupted into a lair above ground, and swarmed out to shred us to ribbons. Intelligent creatures too, immediately moving to surround us. We prepared to cut off supplies and flee as best able, but were saved by a monk.
He came from the direction of the patrol camp. The monk wore yellow with a crimson sash, gridded with pale pink. He asked if we trusted him to save him… I admit to hesitation, but our options were limited, it was that or a bloody fight. He … I’m not sure what he did. One moment, we were on the Old Road… the next we were elsewhere. Several of the men sicked up, but… we were alive.
Attendants of the monk came out, and the monk left us. The attendants were evasive in their answers about the monk, or the rules that bound him. He had rules though. Odd ones. Like only being able to help strangers once every three days. ANd apparently he’s a “monk of the third way.” Whatever that is.
They were more than happy to tell us we were in the High Briars, and the bellyaching from Bill got much worse immediately. Could hardly get the offered food down. We discuss paths out, and based on the provided information, determine our best course of action is probably to head through Skull Mountain, instead of the ants. Perhaps we can get up and over the Exile’s Trail.
We eat and drink tea for a bit, and then are guided by spearpoint to leave. We would follow the Rill to the Old Road, and then proceed south. We did not get lost, I saw to that.
I had always thought the stories of the High Briars exaggerate. Though I should advise perhaps not by much. Ten inch thorns appear to be a myth, but the bones are not. Bones and rusted pieces of mail, arms, and equipment. All sorts and kinds. One could if the vermin did not have a say, draw a decent map from the offerings of the dead.
We made it to the road before dark, and bed for the night.
19th
During the early hours, we were shook awake by the sentries. There was an elf girl walking up the road, shining black hair that caught the light of moons and stars, with fine, delicate features, and a blue dress. And more importantly, carrying a staff with a human skull on it. And around her, the buzz of the night stilled.
We remain half in our bedrolls, as she drew closer, and then as she draws abreast takes notice of us, jumping away with a tiny cry. She asks if we are lost, to which we say no. She then said something I did not catch and continued to walk into the night, towards the Mountain.
When light comes we start out, and do not see the girl again, but we are slowed by rain. The clouds are coalescing and it looks heavy. We decide to shelter on a hill, and wait out this storm.
20th
The rain is heavy today, and the tents keep most but not all the moisture out. We will be drenched, and decide to wait until it abates. Miserable, the ink wants to smear.
We made some headway before night, and stop earlier to collect wood for a large fire. It’s a relief to dry our clothes.
21st
The incline on the road was immediately noticeable today, and we were glad to encounter Company of the Dark Moon forces today. They were surprised to see us, but took our information in hand. They passed warning when they heard of our plan, to not anger “the Bear.”
22nd
We arrived at the Mountain by midmorning. Gray gathered to our southeast, promising yet more wetness, but we had completed the first part of our journey. Those rains would be too late to tardy our journey.
Though the Bear was fearful enough to test any. It was huge. I’ve never seen so great a bear, and on all fours. As big as a cottage, or to the mill’s axle. But the horses did not so much as wicker as the beast sniffed us each in turn. And then we were let to pass by the creature, into the mouth of the Skull.
Thereafter, a woman met us, and said the archdruid intended to meet with us the next day! An archdruid! And after an hour we were guided into the dangerous place, through the giant bronze doors embossed with images of paladins and nobles and knights. Heroic, for so devilish a place. Here I believe the stories. Believe the danger warned, if not the substance. I recall what Seeker warned. Behind the great doors, was a bar of… I have never seen adamantite, but I have heard the stories. If ever there was to be a place for it, behind these great doors, and warding these dark tunnels… well, I’m not that much a fool.
Through the lengths of the tunnels we are guided, and arrive after a long walk to … a clearing underground? It should be impossible… but grass grew, and the little sunlight that I felt outside was felt inside too. Remarkable, and awing. I am told that there is a Grove inside the mountain too!
We rest in the outer part of the grove, but are then ushered on. We are warned as we pass a shaft, warned it leads to the Deep. To not toss anything down, or risk the wrath of the Archdruid and his compatriots. Still.. I could not help but look as we passed. Below, far, far below, I saw… an old woman letting a servant-looking man in, and a circle of women… knitting? Perhaps my eyes play tricks at that distance.
We are then led into a great cavern. It must easily be a half mile across or more. And in one part, a Synad village was perched, with a merchant caravan of their kind. A few of the little ones recognized us… or perhaps Dismas more accurately. They were cheerful, and we bedded down near them.
They passed us information about the Briars. Apparently there are many forces at work, the ants and Monk of the Third Way just two. A dragon moved in, a unicorn, and a half dozen others at least, dizzying the mind with the complexity of the situation. The Briars are a warzone between law and chaos.
They were surprised we survived the Yellow Monk. Apparently we were lucky it was a Tuesday and not a Thursday? Otherwise he would have been obligated to kill us. Good thing it wasn’t a Thursday.
They pass us other advice, of an egress out of the mountain that runs northeast, through the doors marked with a king of some kind, but warning not open the “bard door” on the Exile’s Trail. Sounds easy enough. They also share some of their problems, ettercaps, or some other creature, had taken control of the giant spiders. The claim seems ridiculous, but I’ve seen enough today that perhaps such a thing is normal for those living inside the gullet of the cursed Mountain.
As night fell, and around one of the times of chimes from the Snyad bishop’s bells rang, we could hear a cart and something move in the night. Our Snyad hosts grew very quiet in their homes, and we watched as an enclosed cart and flesh golem darted past and into one of the barred egresses out of the cavern. Mutterings when we inquired identified it as ‘the Golem Master’.
23rd
The Snyads are great hosts, and ones who I would like to keep good company. Before we departed in the morning, they cooked us a hot meal, and we took our egress out and down the Exile’s Trail. We talked well of utilizing them around the tower, beating the forest back.
At midmorning we came to a barred door, a key inserted, behind which a flesh golem and disconnected cart waited. Eerily, it watched, but did not move. As still as stone, if not for an insect that attempted to suck it of blood. We edged past and fled quickly. We kept on at a good pace to give distance, and then slowed.
Into the afternoon we were ambushed by giant spiders. At near the last moment we raise cries and weapons, and my companions charge forward to skewer the spiders. And then… a spell settles over some of the group, some seeming to think after killing just two that the battle was over! But Molly and I see the cause, two ettercaps and while the rest of the party continues to assault the spiders, I loosed arrows on the monsters, and Molly closes the distance. In minutes we slew the monsters, and could turn our attention again to the spiders.
Unfortunately, Bill was not so fortunate today, his superstitious wards and sigils offering him no protection. A spider catches him and with a cry he fell, flailing as his flesh turned green and purple. The spiders fell quick, but it seemed Bill was doomed to die.
We moved off the trail, looking around to see if the Ettercap had anything to show us for this encounter. We find a shallow cave, with jewelry and gems, and a potion that Brother Cuy seized and runs back to Bill, saving his life. A potion of Sweet Water, that just in time saved the life of our friend. A close call if there ever was. There were other items too, and some coin. We collected all we could, and marched on. We tied Bill over a mule. Not comfortable, but he is beyond concerns of comfort at present.
24th
Today while scouting up the road, I encountered… an old woman. I am not totally certain who she was, but… I had a feeling. This being the High Briars. She asked me to sweep behind her, cover her trail, and I did, and asked about my companions, I restrained from a yell the danger I felt as we approached them. She offered us a grim smile and asked if we had questions. We asked nothing, and that seemed the right answer. She smiled, said we were so polite. Told us to tell her niece, Natasha, that she says hello. And then described the elf girl we encountered on the road up to the Mountain. Not knowing what to make of that, we continue on.
Before dusk, we come upon a hillfort, built by halflings, and they are surprised to see us, saying so few come out of the High Briars. The hillfort has no name, though a few factions call it different things. Almost to blows some came. They claim the aid of a brass dragon, and that Natasha visits them.
We stay the night, but aim to depart quickly the next morning.
25th?
At noon on this day we finally broke through the last of the Low Briars south of the Mountain. Before us… So sweet the sight of the Rill Valley. For the first time in days, we rest easier, not fighting the oppressive heat and humidity of the Briars to stay alert. We breath in, and march for the nearest village, glad to be back in Seaward. We need to get these gems and treasure appraised, but that can wait. A bath and bed are the first things on my mind.
As a post note: Rick (DM) was almost upset at the level of treasure we managed to extract.
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