Session 29

The group collected themselves and then got to the job of tracking down Ovrul Rend and his forces. Aided by Typhon's owl familiar, Hootie, the group tracked the footprints left by Rend's ogre for several miles, up and over hills and across small streams. They finally arrived to an open field about 100 yards across with more forest on the other end. The Party, assisted by Sir Didymus's Pass Without Trace, continued to track the indications of movement for most of the way across the field.    Bloodbane's got caught on a rock, which then sent up sparks as they rip it free, and, sending it flying, triggered a trap that sent up a bright orange flag. At that moment, a pair of eyes appeared in the woods ahead, directed in Bloodbane's direction. Sir Didymus circled around and loosed an arrow at a nearby tree. No response, save for the additional eyes that appeared behind them. Vigwalin attempted to de-escalate the situation, and spoke out in druidic to the people hidden in the wood.    A moment later, after some short words from the darkness, an elf druid wearing a white and green robe stepped forth. She had a child with her. Beside her, four more elven druids stepped forth, all women. Only the leader spoke, identifying herself as Sylrieth. Typhon questioned them, asking if they had seen any ogres in the area, to which Sylrieth said no, and that they have no fear of those brutes. She mentioned that her coven, the Sisterhood of the Gentle Snow, was headed to the Giant Hills Hunters Lodge for upcoming Celebration of Arawai and the Divine Hunt.   Typhon recognized the blue stone, about the size of a ping-pong ball, hanging around the girls neck, as being the Eye of Bael. The young girl, Qimys, feeling uncomfortable, tucked it away out of sight. Typhon began asking Sylrieth about the stone, and why they had it. Sylrieth informed him that it was her order's charge to protect the stone from all that would seek to claim it and reassemble the Staff of Bael. Vigwalin recognized that Ovrul Rend had written his master about a young girl with a stone, and realized that it was Qimys. The Party offered to escort the druids to the lodge, in case Rend appeared again.    The group hiked through the woods through the late afternoon, until they finally crested a hill and the clove-like scent of lilies filled the air. The Giant Hills Hunters Lodge was teeming with activity - hunters coming and going, archery practice at the far end, and supplies being wrangled by a fiesty dark-skinned druid. She came out of the building and instantly recognized Vigwalin. She dropped what she was doing and came running over, happy to see her childhood friend. She introduced herself as Rildrem and started to tell the group all about their childhood home of Bleakhollow and the adventures that they used to get into. Meanwhile, the Sisterhood of the Gentle Snow were shown to their rooms on the second floor of the lodge. Then she invited the Party to participate in the Divine Hunt, and told them that this year's game was an Owlbear that had recently moved into the area.    The Party accepted the invitation to the hunt, but also decided among themselves that it would be best if the girl, and most likely her caretaker as well, remained close for their protection. The following day, they managed to convince Sylrieth to stay close while they hunted by having a one-on-one sparring match between her and Sir Didymus. The group must now escort Sylrieth and the girl, while hunting a dangerous predator...