Dealing with the fey

Dear Diary,
 
Morning had dawned, casting its golden light upon Dogville. Naira, her energy boundless, was already cleaning the keep, her diligence a testament to her character. Dorr, his measuring tools in hand, was assessing its restoration.
 
We delved into the paperwork left by Nordic, our minds focused on the financial aspects of our new domain. After sifting through the documents, we discovered the annual tribute to the king – 4000 silver coins. However, this figure was based on the previous population count. With the expansion of the village and the arrival of the Ravensfielders, the tribute would likely increase. Another debate over taxes loomed, again without any clear decisions.
 
The day passed in a blur of activity. We visited the Rusty Crab for lunch, the aroma of seafood filling the air. The tavern was bustling, thanks to Aisa's culinary skills. So far with the samplings by us, and especially the ample portions that my sister has consumed, we have not noticed anything wrong with the food as Gideon indicated the day before.
 
As the afternoon wore on, most of the gang joined the Ravensfielders, lending a hand in their new home. I decided to take advantage of the quiet to organize the library, my mind still reeling from the recent events.
 
As I sorted through the books, I noticed my bag was open, three spell scrolls missing. A wave of panic washed over me. I cast a tracking spell, the magic swirling around me. The scrolls were nearby, hidden in a secret compartment under the floor in a nearby storage room.
 
The room had been untouched, its contents undisturbed. Dust covered everything, tiny humanoid tracks leading through the room. As I investigated, a loud bang echoed from the library. I rushed back, my heart pounding.
 
One of the shelves had been tipped over, books scattered across the floor. I quickly cleaned up the mess, my mind racing. I called for Hayley and Gael, hoping that I wasn’t going crazy or something.
 
After I explained the situation, Hayley started whispering incantations, her magic searching for any trace of the intruder. She eventually sensed a presence, a small, unseen creature.
 
We searched the entire floor, our eyes scanning every corner. Under Hayley's bed, we caught a glimpse of a small, shadowy form. We pulled back the blanket, our hearts pounding with anticipation.
 
The creature, revealed in the dim light, was a boggle, a small, timid fey creature known for its hoarding tendencies. It was no surprise that it had hidden my scrolls. But just as quick as we caught a glimpse, it dropped itself through the floor, disappearing once more from sight. The three of us rushed downstairs but found no sign of the creature. The only discovery was that one of my books was now missing.
 
With a sigh, I resigned myself to the loss. The search for the missing book would have to wait. I continued cleaning the library, my eyes scanning the shelves, but the boggle remained elusive.
 
When the others returned, we filled them in on a mysterious house guest. Dadroz was captivated by the idea of the small creature and ended up staking out in the library. His patience paid off as he witnessed the boggle emerging from a portal, a small gardening tool clutched in its tiny hands.
 
With a well-placed arrow, Dadroz knocked the boggle unconscious. We were awakened by the sound of the impact and the cries of victory from Dadroz. The boggle, its hands and feet bound, dangled from the roof, was quite a pitiful sight when we reached the library.
 
Hayley, her voice filled with curiosity, woke the boggle. Liliana and Gael, their knowledge of the Feywild extensive, began to communicate with the creature. The boggle quickly confessed to stealing the books under the intense investigatory pressure from the two. It explained its hoarding tendencies, its need to collect and possess. It also introduced itself as Pim.
 
Liliana and Gael proposed a solution. They suggested that we provide the boggle with a large chest, a place to store its treasures. This way the boggle could keep hoarding our items, but we would at least know where it would place our belongings. The boggle, its eyes lighting up, agreed. We further enticed the boggle into keeping an eye on the fort in exchange for feeding it food, which it also agreed to.
 
As we released the boggle, it vanished through a conjured portal. However, we knew it was still nearby, its presence a constant reminder of the hidden mysteries that lurked within our walls.
 
I pondered the possibility of the boggle becoming my familiar. Its intelligence and abilities could be a valuable asset. I made a mental note to purchase a scroll of Find Familiar, a spell that would bind the creature to my will (or ask my sister to make one for me).
 
As we woke up the next morning, Alistan complained of a restless night's sleep. We gathered in the common area, the aroma of breakfast filling the air.
 
Just as we were about to dig in, Pim, the boggle, appeared, his tiny form hovering above the table. He spoke in Sylvan, his voice a whisper in the morning stillness. Someone was at the door.
 
We went to open our gate of the keep, our curiosity piqued. Tharven Miller, the man tasked with restoring the mill, greeted us with a mixture of excitement and concern. He had discovered something strange beneath the structure, a hidden entrance concealed by overgrown shrubs.
 
We followed him into the mill, our shadows panning across the empty hills of Dogville in the early morning light. The entrance was small and led to a narrow tunnel. We ventured into the darkness with pounding hearts. The tunnel led to a hidden chamber, a magical circle surrounded by three menhirs. Offerings of food and flowers lay scattered around, evidence of recent activity.
 
As we examined the menhirs, the runes etched into their surface became familiar. They were the symbols of the Neverhold, the fey domain where King Ulther reigns.
 
Gael, with his extensive knowledge of primal magic, recognized the circle as a teleportation portal. It was a connection to the Neverhold itself and likely a gateway for the fey's agents.
 
We explored the chamber, our eyes scanning for clues. Tracks, both adult and child, crisscrossed the floor, evidence of frequent use. The small population of Dogville alone could barely account for this level of activity.
 
A chill ran down my spine. The Neverhold, the dark forces that had taunted us in the past and had spirited Liliana away. The presence of the fey had permeated even this secluded district. The implications were chilling and the danger imminent.
 
We sought information from the townspeople, starting with Darion Faric. Liliana, her curiosity piqued, explained our findings, her voice filled with a mix of excitement and apprehension. Darion denied any knowledge of the hidden chamber. However, when Liliana hinted at the possibility of removing the circle, his demeanor changed. He became defensive and his voice laced with urgency.
 
We continued our investigation, visiting Thomas Teller at the kennel. He too expressed ignorance of the hidden chamber, his response mirroring Darion's. However, he suggested that we leave the circle undisturbed and that it might be best to forget about it.
 
The mystery deepened, the puzzle pieces refusing to fall into place. We returned to the keep as we hoped that our new friend could shed some light on the situation. Pim, the boggle, appeared, his tiny form hovering above a cupboard. Gael inquired about the magical circle. Pim explained that the circle was a door, a passage to another realm. He mentioned that people offered sacrifices to those who guarded the area, their offerings a tribute for assistance.
 
As we sat in our kitchen, discussing our next steps, a knock sounded at the door. Thomas, Gideon, and Laine entered with their faces filled with anticipation. Laine placed a large pie on the table and its aroma soon filled the room. Before an eager Liliana could dig in, Hayley intervened, her magical senses tingling. She probed Thomas's mind, her magic revealing a hidden truth.
 
Long ago, the inhabitants of Dogville had made a deal with the fey, their services exchanged for assistance with the land. The pie was made from ingredients that had been grown as part of this deal. By eating the pie, the trio believed that we too would become part of the deal.
 
Hayley warned us sharply of the consequences. The others immediately backed away from the pie. The food, once fresh and inviting, began to decay, a stark reminder of the danger it posed. Laine, her eyes filled with sadness, admitted their plan and confessed to the entire story, with the belief that the deal was now broken. She apologized for her actions, her voice filled with regret.
 
Hayley assured her that we understood. The deal, made in a time of desperation, was no longer relevant. With the reinforcements from Ravensfield, we explained, Dogville would likely no longer be reliant on the fey.
 
As the trio left, we decided to have another go at investigating the cave, our curiosity piqued by the recent events. Upon reaching the cave, we found no changes. The magical circle, the remnants of the offerings, remained undisturbed. So we made the difficult decision to seal the cave. But we decided to wait a few days, to see if any reaction would come from the fey who had made the deal.
 
As the day wore on, Alistan purchased a puppy from Thomas, naming the adorable creature Lore. Meanwhile, I accompanied Gael to the city, our mission to gather supplies. While there, I convinced Hayley to write down a spell scroll for binding a familiar, similar to the one she used for Fiachna.
 
That evening, we camped out at the Neverhold gate. Our eyes remained focused on the magical circle. As midnight approached, the runes began to glow, a column of light erupting from the center. Three figures emerged from the portal and their forms bathed in an ethereal glow. A golden humanoid fey, flanked by two smaller creatures, stood before us.
 
Surprised by our presence, they bowed, their voices echoing through the night. Galadron, the leader of the group, introduced himself, his tone polite yet firm. Gael and Liliana, their voices filled with authority, informed him of our new status as rulers of Dogville. Galadron nodded, his expression unreadable. He revealed that he had been sent to investigate the broken deal with the farmers. Hayley, her voice steady, explained that the deal had been broken accidentally. She said our actions were unintentional and the villagers deserved no blame.
 
Galadron looked at us in suspicion and immediately insisted on a new deal. Hayley, her determination unwavering, demanded that we be included in the negotiations. Galadron, his pride evident, refused, his words filled with a sense of entitlement.
 
Gael and Liliana, sensing the danger, offered to negotiate directly with the fey. The rest of us refused as our distrust of the fey unwavering. Especially Alistan and I wanted nothing to do with any deals of the fey as we had both seen first hand the horrors that they could bring.
 
And so it was only Gael and Liliana that followed the fey to a clearing nearby, where the townsfolk would gather. We waited in the cave with anticipation and trepidation. Some time later, the two returned, their faces a mix of relief and determination. The deal had been remade and a new agreement forged between the fey and the people of Dogville.
 
Neither Gael nor Liliana could reveal the terms of the deal as the secrecy was a condition of the agreement. My frustration grew. My desire to confront the fey was overwhelming. I wanted nothing more than to lob a fireball in the midst of these outsiders who had once again pressed these poor villagers and our friends into their servitude. However, I recognized that the decision was not mine to make. We just had to put fate in our friends that they knew what they were getting themselves and the villagers into.
 
Galadron, the fey representative, announced that Quinn, the ruler of the area, would be at the old church under the light of a full moon. He suggested that we meet with them, a chance to establish a relationship, to negotiate terms that would benefit both sides.
 
We returned to the keep, our minds filled with the events of the night. The deal with the fey, while shrouded in mystery, offered much uncertainty.