Oskarr (who had always been on the diminutive side, even for a dwarf) is currently nursing a noticeable lump as he speaks with the claw-limbed scarecrow known as Clapperclaw. As the rest of the party approaches, they’d see the delicate gold tattoos inked onto his head constantly shift and shimmer, mirroring the dancing constellations of his home world’s night sky.
Turning to face the small group of strangers, Oskarr gives a small wave of greeting as he calls out, “Well met strangers! Clapperclaw here says you just came from Bavlorna’s cottage. Is she home? I know I came here to ask her something, but I just can’t remember what…” He scratches his noticeably hairless chin while continuing, “You see, I remember seeing an inn and trying to make my way to it, but suddenly it was much closer than I expected. And the strangest thing, it was walking! On dozens or hundreds of feet! I was so surprised that I didn’t react in time to move out of its path. I can’t tell you how many times I got kicked and stomped on, but I was soon knocked unconscious. When I woke up I just started wandering until I came across this strange but friendly fellow who mentioned that this area belongs to just the lady I was looking for!”
"You mean you don't actually know how to switch those things on?" Jub said to the macaw in reference to the beams. "'Cause if you don't know, how am I supposed to?"
The way Sshizna reacted to the information Aurora had given her left the elf wondering what all Sshizna knew. The questions that were coming to mind will probably have to wait for now.
She looks to Rearden, Gabe, and Zavakri nodding to the three. "True there is one more room, though I am inclined to agree with Gabe. I've grown weary of this place and the surrounding swamps. Let's get back to Clapperclaw and move on."
Aurora made her way to the stairs, heading for the way out to the boat that they took to get here. When she has a moment, she keeps pace next to Zavakri. "Zav, what did you find back there? You seemed to realize something?" She asked Zavakri quietly in Elvish, curious as to what the other woman had found.
Once they had arrived back at the bridge of heads Aurora was a bit surprised to find another traveler. He seemed friendly, though it was concerning that he was seeking Bavlorna. "Yes we have just returned from Bavlorna's cottage. It appears she had left recently and no one seems to know when she will return. Hopefully, you can remember what you wanted to ask her or learn the answer before you come across her." She turned to Clapperclaw. " As agreed upon, we have found and returned your stag skull. Is there anything we should know about before we travel on?"
Ishaan's Palace: Grand Hall, Right Wing to Main Hall
The Macaw listens intently as Brutrumukk sets up the plan to face the Grinning Cats. Of course his attention is drawn to Jub when he asks about the logistics of the beams in the secured room. Before the macaw can answer, both Brutrumukk and Jub feel a powerful gust of wind blow past them and all throughout the palace. A deep voice could be heard chuckling upon the winds, echoing upon the winds.
The macaw grows wide-eyed and squawks out loud for Brutrumukk and Jub, "Wah! He's back already?!" The macaw's tone is a clear mixture of "We're Saved!" and "We're SO Dead!"
The laughter grows louder and louder as the wind swirls around Brutrumukk and Jub like miniature tornadoes, and everything is shrouded in bright white light!
The both of them soon find themselves in the Main Hall again, kneeling before the throne. Standing beside that throne is Aaliyah and her Macaw familiar. But sitting in that throne is a handsome man who towers over Aaliyah, Jub, and Brutrumukk. Floating above them are the two giant grinning cats, each of them trapped in a transparent orb much like Aaliyah was in the past! Both of the creatures are clawing and desperately trying to get out to no avail.
Jub realizes who they are looking at: The Lord of this palace is none other than a Noble Djinni! A powerful air elemental. Noble Djinnis are especially powerful compared to normal djinnis, because Noble Djinnis are capable of warping reality to grant wishes!
The man smiles as he looks down at Brutrumukk and Jub. He booms happily, "Visitors Brutrumukk and Jub! I thank ye for thine efforts to assist mine student, and protect mine palace while I was away! As repayment, I shall set thee back onto thine destined path, and grant thee a gift!"
Aaliyah speaks up to the both of them, "Thank you both for trying to save me! It means a lot! I wish you luck on your journey, Heroes!"
The Macaw squawks at them, "For what it's worth, it was fun hanging out with the both of ya! Smell ya both later!"
"Now! Go forth Adventurers and free Prismeer!" The djinni booms as he laughs and claps his hands together and everything is shrouded in white light once more. Both Brutrumukk and Jub feel themselves thrown somewhere and falling before unconsciousness claims them....
As the group walks back to the Chattering Heads, Zavakri answers her in a whisper and in Elvish, "I found something that made the carousel horses words back at the Carnival make sense! Apparently Skabatha Nightshade also has a weakness: She forgets the first creature she sees when she wakes up in the morning. If she forgets that creature, then she bloody can't see them! It's kinda like how Agdon used his blasted branding iron to make himself invisible to our eyes!"
Clapperclaw happily accepts the stag skull and hops with joy, "Oh! Thank you all so much! Now I can finally ditch this stupid thing!"
He proceeds to lift the gourd head off, and throw it into the swamp waters, before placing the skull atop his shoulders. The eye sockets light up with small lights, and the skull nods approvingly with the lower jaw clacking against the upper jaw. He speaks again, "Now, This feels just right!"
He then hefts a sack of straw with a grunt, and he speaks to the group, "Of course I haven't forgotten my end of the deal! Come with me, and I'll lead you to Thither!" With that, he begins to lead the way from the swamps, and into the thick fogs that surround the place.
The party finds that they would have to stay close to each other, lest they would lose each other to the mists. Oskarr was lost in the mists relatively quickly.
Wandering through the mists practically only took a few minutes, it not an hour. But somehow, navigating through them with Clapperclaw felt like an eternity. Soon, the mists part to reveal a primeval forest. A fragrant breeze wafts between the enormous trees, sending motes of pollen dancing into the air. Patches of sunlight kiss the forest floor, and the sweet melody of birdsong echoes all around.
Zavakri gasps as she speaks, "No...it can't be! This feeling...!"
Gabriel looks at her, with a knowing gleam in his eyes. Zavakri looks to him, and he nods, to which Zavakri looks ahead in the forest again, whispering, "Riri...!"
Aurora also feels a strong pull at her heart. She isn't sure how, but she instinctively knows that what she lost at the Carnival is here: Somewhere in these woods! She is so close to finding them!
Looking around in the immediate area, Aurora and Sshizna notice a couple of things. The most noticeable is a patch of red poppies, where both Jub and Brutrumukk lay peacefully and sound asleep. The second thing of note is a flyer tacked to one of the nearby trees. The flyer has Elvish Text with a photo of a boy with a wild mane of hair.
Wanted! Will of the Feywild!
This rapscallion vexes me. Deliver him to me alive and unharmed, and I'll curse one creature whom you name.
Aurora, you learned your lesson from Agdon Longscarf. You feel that sense of an extra person in your group, and it's not Oskarr, you turn to see another person who had been following your group closely...
We have made it to the next Chapter! Therefore, everyone can now level up to Level 4!
As tempting as ransacking the hag's dwelling was, Sshizna found herself agreeing with the adventurers for once; it was high time they rid themselves of this place. No matter what state the world outside was in, Sshizna imagined it had to at least reek less.
... It did, she noted duly as they trekked through a putrid swamp some minutes later, though only barely. She could not remember a place like this from the time before, and it took the yuan-ti quite a while to orient herself. Once she did realize where she was supposed to be, her indignation returned however. To not only ruin the scenery, but to even free him?! Purely to spite her mentor too, no doubt.
But why the bullywugs?!
Sshizna was still deep in thought as they reached their destination; an overjoyed, gourd-headed scarecrow whose skull the others had apparently been retrieving. There was a dwarf, too, who had apparently come seeking an audience with the hag. The naiveté to think one would offer him any answers worth their price.
Then they were off, following the scarecrow into a mist Sshizna could also not remember being so thick — or so disorienting, for that matter. While on a normal day she'd been rather happy to lose the strangers around her, sticking with them for the time being was, unfortunately, the more logical choice — and so having them wander off one by one wasn't exactly ideal. Already she had lost sight of one of them!
"Tssk."
Sshizna dug around in the many pockets, pouches and other containers strapped to her person, until she found what she was looking for: a decrepit, skeletal hand. Holding it upon one palm, the witch opened her jaw and let a few droplets of venom drip from her fangs onto the thing, seeping into what little flesh remained wrapped around its knuckles.
A second later, the hand twitched. Then, stretching its fingers, it floated off Sshizna's palm and grabbed hold of the clothes of whoever was walking directly in front of her.
Shizzna nodded. Good. With that, she was able to track at least one other person.
—
An undisclosed amount of wandering later, the mists finally parted enough to offer a glimpse of colour. The sunlit forest was a much more familiar a sight than anything prior, and though the pollen made her sneeze violently (by the gods, she hated flowers), Sshizna welcomed the stench of flowers over the one still clinging to her from the hag's confinement.
Then she noticed the poppies, and the... peculiar duo snoozing away amongst them, annoyingly without a care. How disrespectful. Were they not aware of the state of the realm they were in? Ought she remind them?
With a flick of her wrist, the skeletal hand detached from whoever it had been clinging to, gliding soundlessly across the air to stroke both of the sleeping creatures' cheeks, escalating to light slaps if the first touch of a cold dead hand did not rouse them.
Meanwhile, Sshizna turned around to squint at the poster.
"What the FUCK?" Brutrumukk couldn't help but say once more with feeling as he recognized his own words being turned back on him.
"Wah! He's back already?!" The macaw exclaimed with a tone reminiscent of someone who has been delivered salvation and damnation in equal measure.
The laughter grew louder and louder as the wind swirled around Brutrumukk and Jub like miniature tornadoes, and everything was shrouded in bright white light!
"Gah! Me eyes! I can't see." Brutrumukk exclaimed in response while trying to block out the light with his hands.
When the light finally cleared, they were in the Main Hall again, kneeling before the throne. Aaliyah and her Macaw familiar stood beside the throne, which was now occupied by a handsome man who towered over everyone else. And then Brutrumukk noticed to his great enjoyment that the cat ogres were now suspended in the air, each of them trapped in a transparent orb much like Aaliyah was in the past! Both of the creatures were clawing and desperately trying to get out to no avail. Brutrumukk couldn't help but allow a cruel chuckle to escape him at the sight.
The man smiled as he looked down at Brutrumukk and Jub. He boomed happily, "Visitors Brutrumukk and Jub! I thank ye for thine efforts to assist mine student, and protect mine palace while I was away! As repayment, I shall set thee back onto thine destined path, and grant thee a gift!"
An eager grin split Brutrumukk's face at the mention of a gift. "I like the sound o' that." The bugbear gnome said as the imagined what fabulous treasures they would receive for pleasing the master of this palace.
Aaliyah spoke up to the both of them, "Thank you both for trying to save me! It means a lot! I wish you luck on your journey, Heroes!"
"Always 'appy to 'elp." Brutrumukk said.
The Macaw squawked at them, "For what it's worth, it was fun hanging out with the both of ya! Smell ya both later!"
"...I s'pose there's things what annoy me more than you 'ave." Brutrumukk conceded. "See ya round, parrot."
"Now! Go forth Adventurers and free Prismeer!" The djinni boomed then.
"Wait. 'Ang on. What about that gift?" Brutrumukk asked
Ishaan only laughed in response and clapped his hands together. Everything was shrouded in white light once more. A moment later, Brutrumukk felt himself being thrown a great distance, much like how he had been when this whole misadventure started.
But as he fell this time, Brutrumukk felt all the excitement he'd been through finally take a toll on him. Soon enough, sleep claimed him.
As he slept, Brutrumukk dreamed that he was in the dark place he had gone to during his brief stint with death. But instead of hearing the voices of his gods, Brutrumukk heard the voice of the man who had sent him on his way.
"I see thine desire." The voice spoke, causing a vision of the bugbear Brutrumukk used to be appear.
For a moment, Brutrumukk allowed himself to hope. Could this be the gift he was promised. He reached out towards the vision.
"But art thou still that bugbear? Or art thou someone new?"
Only to recoil in horror as the voice's words dashed that hope, turning the vision of the bugbear he once was into the gnome he had become.
"I only ask thee to ponder upon this." The voice requested. "After all, people are always changing in the chaotic winds of life."
There was nothing to ponder though. Things changed. Brutrumukk knew that better than most. But being a gnome? Being so small? So weak? Cut off from the brother gods' blessings? That wasn't change. That was a fate worse than death.
"People can choose who they wish to become and will themselves to manifest it." The voice concluded as an especially cold wind brushed against Brutrumukk's cheek. "Perhaps the bugbear you were is not the person you wish to be..."
"Yes it bloody well is!" Brutrumukk exclaimed as he jolted awake back in the Feywild, feeling like he'd just experienced a full night's rest and that he had in fact received a gift from the master of the palace after all. After a moment, Brutrumukk realized the feeling of an especially cold wind brushing against his cheek was there. He turned to see a cold, dead hand rubbing against his face. "GAH! FUCK OFF!" Brutrumukk shouted as he punched the hand away. The bugbear gnome took a moment to breathe then, before looking about him and taking in his surrounding. "Where are we then?" He asked himself. A moment later, Brutrumukk saw Sshizna examining the wanted poster. "An' who the 'Ells is that?" He added. Brutrumukk noticed movement in the corner of his eye then and turned to see the rest of the party approaching. "Ah! There you are!" Brutrumukk greeted them. "I was wonderin' where you lot 'ad run off to. You get up to anythin' interestin'? We certainly did!" Brutrumukk then pointed a thumb over at Sshizna before continuing. "I'm guessin' this one is with... with... w-w-with..." Brutrumukk trailed off, eyes wide and jaw dropping slightly.
Another bugbear was trailing behind the rest of the party. He looked to be about nine years older than Brutrumukk. He wore scale mail armor and wielded a warhammer and light crossbow. And he bore the holy symbol of Grankhul for all to see. "Did the brothers send you?" Brutrumukk called out to the bugbear in goblin. "Are you 'ere to taunt me? To remind me what I've lost? I ain't gonna take back what I said if that's why you've come. They're wrong about Jub. An' we're gonna show 'em good and proper before all's said an' done!"
Following the small group through the mists had proved more of a challenge than anticipated. Voth had been forced to get closer to them than he had wanted to. It had not been long after he first spotted them that they headed into the mists. As the group wandered through the magically dense fog, it was only their smell that had let Voth track them.
That smell had been the only indicator that they were the ones he was after, when he first came across them. While the swamps of Hither were as strange as the rest of the fey wilds, they still ultimately smelled like a swamp. By contrast, the little group he had been following smelled of the Carnival. A mix of sugary sweet and fruity scents that radiated through the air of the Witchlight Carnival and clung to its visitors. If anything, it had been a blessing from Grankhul that he had found them in the swamp. Moist air and a backdrop of earthy smells made that distinct Carnival scent stick out all the more.
When they first emerged, he was upset to see he stood just behind them. Voth had hoped to trail further, but after one of their group had wandered off in the dense mists he knew he would need to stay close or risk losing the trail. At the very least getting this close meant he could match the look of the group to the description he had been given. Admittedly little to go on, but when he looked past and saw the shape of a goblin lying on the ground amidst some flowers he knew he had passed the first of Grankhul's tests.
Before he had a chance to speak, he was addressed. Not uncommon for Voth, being slow to speak up, but hearing the goblin tongue surprised him. If he had any doubts before about this being the group from the carnival, the sight of the speaker put those out of his mind. As odd a place as Prismeer was, he had never seen a gnome in a jester's outfit before. To his mind at least, Witchlight alone was the origin for such a sight.
"I've not come looking for a gnome," Voth would reply in the goblinoid language, as he had been addressed. "I'm here looking for a one like me. The word 'round says this group has one. Looks not like they are with you, but if you swear to take me to 'im then I can offer a pact of aid to your band. Not looking for trouble with 'im, or like. Just some questions, then a chance at bargain."
Something about the gnome caught Voth's interest, and made him feel certain he was on the right trail. While it rarely came up, the three kinds of goblin-kin all spoke their language slightly differently. Hobgoblins had a lot of unique phrases they liked to repeat, and spoke the language the most formally. Goblins varied the most among the three, but in general they all spoke a lot more through the nose in a way those who learned from them usually replicated. Bugbears, on the other hand, cared the least about getting the words right. This gnome was speaking like a bugbear, and naturally enough it sounded like he had learned from one. As odd as that was, it told Voth he was getting close to what he was after.
When the other bugbear didn't immediately recognize him, Brutrumukk was tempted for a moment to keep it that way. Being a gnome was embarrassing enough on its own, the thought of other bugbears knowing what he had been reduced to did not appeal to him in the slightest. But the mention of a bargain did spark the bugbear gnome's curiosity. Maybe this new bugbear had some kind of treasure. Maybe he had some Feywild boon like the one Brutrumukk got from the Will o' Wells... Or maybe... Just maybe... Maybe he had a way to restore Brutrumukk to the bugbear he once was. There was only one way to find out. "You might 'ave come lookin' fer a bugbear, but all you'll find 'ere is a gnome." Brutrumukk confessed in goblin. "I was the bugbear what was with this group. But after bein' eaten by some ogre mermaids near Bav's place, I was brought back as a gnome by some monkey I gave a button to. The others will back me up on this... Except that one by the poster. She weren't there to see that."
Voth would frown at the gnome's remark. He sensed no deception, but that only deepened his displeasure. Before his time in the Feywilds, Voth would have dismissed the claim as gnomish trickery. That was not so much the case now. "A hard claim to make, even with vouchin'." Voth would continue the conversation in the goblin tongue, his speech dripping with distrust. "Possible, a place like this to thank, but not as like t' be true. If truth you speak, then say this to me; What difference is there to taste, 'tween human and elf meat?" The question was not one only a bugbear could know the answer to. It was just the first Voth thought a bugbear would answer that a gnome couldn't.
"Man flesh and elf flesh both 'ave different tastes from man to man an' elf to elf." Brutrumukk answered in goblin. "But they ain't different in the same way. Each human tastes different dependin' on 'ow it lived. Man flesh taken from nobs taste rich. Man flesh taken from 'unters tastes like the prey it killed the most. That sort o' thing. Elf flesh though? The taste o' that depends on what type of elf yer eatin'. Sun elf flesh tastes like gold. Wood elf flesh tastes like deer flesh what's been rubbed with wild berries. Stuff like that. Believe me now?"
Voth nodded at the description, though in truth he had never tasted a wealthy human. The rest was accurate enough in his experience. Given everything else, it was enough to convince him that he was speaking to no ordinary gnome. "Is enough, as now, t' say I am convinced." Voth would respond, continuing in goblin speech. "Though, a curiousness I have. Is th' curse made you gnome same as t' blame for th' cloth you're wearin'? Or is it your thinkin' if a gnome you are, would be best to seek th' favor of the brothers by givin' t' them a sacrifice cut from your own pride?" It was a legitimate question, Voth's dry delivery would make it hard to tell. Either way, the answer was less important than what he actually wanted to know. "A matter important it's not, to my thinkin'. What I care to know is th' name your tribe takes, and what territory they hunt. Been in these wilds longer than as I would like to care. If seek your home you do, and if it is neighbor enough to mine, I would offer Granhkul's favor from my hand t' see you returned."
Jub woke up when he felt himself be slapped by unknown assailant, only to find himself in strange place surrounded by familiar faces... and also unfamiliar faces. Also there was another bugbear here now and Brutrumukk was shouting at him and going into a detailed rant about the taste of humanoid flesh.
"Is this a dream or is this real?" Jub asked to no one in particular. "It's getting really hard to tell at this point." He stood up, brushing the dirt (and poppies) off his clothes before turning his attention to Brutrumukk and the new bugbear. "No, the clothes aren't part of the curse," he informed the bugbear in goblin. "He lost his clothes when he got reborn, and those were the only replacements we could find." He then raised his hand in a lazy wave. "Also, hi, I'm Jub. I'm also here." There was something in his tone in that last bit that implied a mild distaste towards this newcomer. There was something about the way this bugbear conducted himself that immediately made Jub not like him, and while he normally wouldn't have made this so clear, perhaps it was because Brutrumukk was standing right next to him (and everything he had gone through since entering the Feywild) that made him feel a little bolder.
Brutrumukk opened his mouth to answer the new bugbear's first question, only for Jub to answer it first. "Yeah. What 'e said." Brutrumukk confirmed when Jub was done talking.
Brutrumukk then listened to the new bugbear's second question and offer, took a moment to decipher the weird way the bugbear had said it, and then gave an answer. "I live by meself under a rock near some village what I dunno the name of." Brutrumukk said. "As fer goin' back 'ome, I plan on doin' that. Can't 'ave that lot in the village thinkin' they can stop leavin' offerings at the Stone. But I ain't goin' back just yet. I 'ave to help me Fairy Godmum an' find a way to turn back to normal first."
It took a considerable force of effort on Voth's part to not turn and leave in that moment. He did not care to interact with others on the best of days. A gnome claiming to be, in actuality, a bugbear was already enough to push him to his limits. Given his tribe's views of those of their species that chose to live alone, his view of the situation was growing darker by the moment. Then the goblin stood up and began speaking like he had some authority.
Voth was a breath away from giving up and finding his own way. Then his thoughts retreated to the last time he had made that decision, back in his home forest. He recalled the thoughts that had crossed his mind. How there was no way Grankhul would ever test him, his favored servant among the tribe. That and how, even if he was tested, surely the consequences for failure would be minor. The next memory was Voth waking up in the feywild, lost and confused, with a mark crossed through one of the eyes on his holy symbol.
With a breath, Voth would gather his thoughts. He was not inclined to convince people of things, but he was damn good at reading people. Given his inclination to believe it was the truth, he decided to do as he always did in these situations. Lay his cards on the table, and trust what he read on the other's face.
"You think the brothers have abandoned you," he would begin, doing his best to speak in as plain goblin as he could. "You worry this curse is by their consent if not their doing. That some words you spoke brought their ire upon you. For Hruggek, I can not speak. He takes serious any challenge, and forgives rarely."
"But it is Grankhul I serve. The Ever-Staring is known to test his faithful, and I believe you are such a test. While he may take issue with what words you spoke, there is one thing I know for true. Grankhul would never let that piss ant shit-eater Garl Glittergold take what's his. If your path leads to free yourself of this gnome you wear and back into yourself, then Grankhul would offer you his guidance on that path. Grankhul's creed is clear. Those able to follow deserve their guide. As named his scout by my tribe, I would offer myself as that guide."
When Voth completely blanked Jub's greeting, the goblin simply pointed at him. "This," he said to Brutrumukk. "This right here? This is why up until I met you, I avoided other goblinoids."
"Ah just give it time. 'E'll come 'round." Brutrumukk said in response to Jub's words. "I didn't think much o' ya meself at first, but you proved yerself right quick. I reckon you could do it again easily enough."
Brutrumukk then turned back to the new bugbear. He seemed to think that it was only Hruggek and Grankhul he'd insulted. Brutrumukk decided against correcting this. If the look on the bugbear's face was anything to go by, he was getting dangerously close to washing his hands of this matter entirely and going on to other things. "If Grankhul's willin' to lend an 'elpin' 'and even after what I said, I ain't in no 'urry to refuse 'im again." Brutrumukk said. "You tell me which path is the right path an' I'll follow to wherever it leads me."
It seemed to the Aurora that Sshizna was initially unfamiliar with the area, despite claiming to have been here for a long time. How she was reacting to the area around Bavlorna's cottage seemed to tell Aurora that much. However, now was not the time to pry into such matters. With Clapperclaw leading, Aurora followed, hoping that they were not being led into a trap.
Aurora did the best she could to keep track of everyone as the group followed Clapperclaw through the mists. Rather quickly into the trip, the dwarf they had just met went missing, and someone else was following the group. She heard someone mutter something along the way and felt something grabbing onto the fabric cloak she had gotten when she was taken to Bavlorna's cottage by the brigades. Initially she had thought one of the others had grabbed it to help them keep from getting lost.
Once they mists cleared revealing a old forest. Just as she had started to take in the surroundings, the poster, Jub and Brutrumukk asleep in a clearing surrounded by poppies, the sensation of her lost item being near hit her. "It's here..." she said softly. Does that mean Daebella is here too? Sir Talavar said they had gotten separated... she asked herself as her mind began to focus on when the item was.
All of that was interrupted when the feeling of something holding onto her stopped. That drew her attention to look behind her as a skeletal hand flew from behind her to the sleeping gobliniods. "What in the hells!" the surprise clear in her voice as she was not expecting the dismembered hand to be what was clinging to her.
Apparently Brutrumukk had not expect it to waking him either. His response was humorous, and relatable to some extent. When he stopped mid sentence and started to callout in a language that Aurora did not recognize, she looked at him in confusion. The voice that came from behind, also speaking a language she did not know reminded her that there was still someone else that had come through the mists.
Her hand was tensely rested on part of her bow unsure of what the exchange between Brutrumukk and the new comer was. Sshizna seemed to be examining a poster and ignoring what was going on. Jub seemed to understand what the bugbear and Brutrumukk were saying and added to the conversation in what sounded like the same language.
"Jub you seem to know what these two are talking about. Is there anything I need to be worried about? If not I can fill you two in on what happened to us after those two are done with whatever that is."
Zavakri, Gabriel, and Clapperclaw were silent for the most part as the sleeping pair were awakened by the floating skeletal hand. Both Gabriel and Zavakri are looking away from Brutrumukk for a good moment, Gabriel in guilt, while Zavakri is trying to prevent herself from outright sobbing at the sight of the skeletal hand. Thankfully, she is successful as she fans her face and takes a couple of deep silent breaths.
The conversation between the goblinoids continue without interruption. Clapperclaw noticeably waits for Jub to answer Aurora's question about the conversation before he speaks up.
"Oh! These guys are friends of yours? I saw them run from the bullywug knights! Don't know what happened there, but Jub over here was really fast! Gotta say, that was impressive!"
He continues, placing hands on his hips, "Well, just leaving you guys stranded here in the woods won't do you any good. I know a safe space where you guys can rest if you need to! There's a cave nearby where old man Nibs resides. Nibs might be depressing to talk to, but he is quite hospitable. I'll lead you to him,"
For the first time, Voth would take notice of the strange creature accompanying the group he had just joined. Strange pincers for hands and a head that appeared to be made of some kind of gourd. His time in the fey wilds had taught him that all manner of creature could be found there, but rarely were they to be trusted. There was not much to go off of, but he would study the creature's manner and tone as it spoke, attempting to detect hostile intent.
Taking time to think on the creature's words, he thought the name sounded familiar. Before he properly put his mind to it, though, he thought to reach for his holy symbol. Gripping the carving of two ever watching eyes hanging from the chain around his neck, he would speak a small prayer in the goblin tongue. "Ever vigilant Grankhul, for your guidance I offer sight." Reaching to his face, he would close his eyes, dragging his thumb briefly across each closed lid. Bugbear teachings held that Grankhul gave them sleep so he could use their eyes while they slept. A brief gift of his own sight during waking hours was the symbolic price for the guidance of Grankhul.
Voth casts Guidance, then attempts to recall what he knows of any Nibs in Thither. Total 18.
Unfortunately, even with Grankhul's guidance he could not recall anything about a Nibs in this area of Thither. It was not an uncommon name, so no doubt he had heard it before. Though, from the way the strange creature spoke and acted, Voth doubted it intended them any harm. If this was some manner of trap they were being led into, it was not one of the strange creature's design.
"I speak the common tongue," Voth would remark in common, in response to the question directed at the goblin. This would be the first time he addressed the group, instead of just Brutrumukk. "I have given an offer of aid to your gnomish bugbear companion. He has accepted. I am Voth, servant of Grankhul Ever Vigilant. If to this cavern we go, at the creature's direction, I can offer a blessing from Grankhul to seek the location of any fey, fiend, or celestial in hiding within our path. It would offer us detection of ambush from Thither's most common peoples."
Jub wasn't sure how to respond to Brutrumukk. In truth, he felt a little hurt by the barbarian's admission that he had thought much of him when they'd first met... however, he didn't get to say anything before Aurora approached them and his hurt vanished, replaced with relief. So much had been happening, he hadn't really stopped to think about the rest of the group, but now he was seeing them again, he found he was quite pleased.
"Hey, Aurora," he said. He was about to answer her question when Voth interrupted, and Jub's face quickly turned into a scowl. "Yeah, more or less what he said. Apparently whats-his-face here's god sent him looking for a bugbear. Brutrumukk had to convince him he was in fact who he was looking for," he said, his ear twitching in irritation. "But never mind that! What happened to you lot while we were gone?" He glanced over at Clapperclaw and Sschiza. "And who are they?"
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