6 Frostkill 1115
The party traveled alongside Mizuaen (a determined and opinionated balgar), and Raspin (an aloof and uninterested gloemling). The nature of those two’s relationship had only recently been discovered. Mizuaen is an explorer of sorts, obsessed with finding the location of the fabled and hidden home of the gloemlings. At some point, and he can’t remember precisely when, he apparently found this fabled location. The gloemlings then quickly apprehended him and somehow managed to erase that part of his memory. He was set free but with Raspin as a chaperone of sorts. Raspin apparently only follows him and does not engage in anything other than to make sure Mizuaen doesn’t find the gloemling homeland, again.
After surviving the Ink invasion at Brae, the party teamed up with Raspin and Mizuaen to find a secure route to Abstar. Mizuaen has extensive knowledge of the region and suggested the following route:
- Take Eln’s Trail along the Kolume River in the direction of the Wallows. This will take approximately one day.
- Past the Wallows the trail moves away from the river and enters the Ostenhorte, the vast mushroom forest. It will take two days to clear the forest.
- The trail then descends into the Ledges. Travel duouth for two days. On the second day, the party will enter the Dark. Take the first fork onto the Jili Trail after entering the Dark.
- Travel for one more day along the Jili Trail until the party reaches Abstar.
This all sounded straight forward to the party. So straight forward that Slyback grew suspicious. Further questioning revealed:
- Along the Kolume River they might find Noma. And in strict gnomish, the word “might” translates to absolutely and in great abundance.
- Within the Ostenhorte they also might find Minotaurs considering that the Ostenhorte is where they live. Once again refer to the gnomish meaning of the word “might”.
- And in the Ledges there is a chance they will encounter Orogs which, technically according to Mizuaen, should only reside in the Dark. But boundaries are things on maps, the real world is more “wiggly” than that.
Unconvinced by the description of that trail, Slyback asked what the other alternative approach to Abstar might be and Mizuaen said it was simple. “Just take Neftu’s Span and you’ll be in Abstar in less than three days. At this point Slyback only had to cock his head to the side and raise one, not both, just one was sufficient, eyebrow to question the audacity of the usage of the word “just”. Mizuaen quickly conceded, “And guarding Neftu’s Span will be a company of Inks.
With that, the party headed out along Eln’s Trail.
8 Frostkill 1115
After two days on Eln’s Trail, with the Kolume River to their right, and the pools and fetid chambers of the Wallows the party reached the Ostenhorte mushroom forest.
Ahead, at the mouth of the forest, a wagon lay overturned on its side. Two bodies (presumably Dimugar) lay in a bloody pool. The party found out quickly that two injured Inks lay hidden behind the wagon.
As they approached, the sound of drums and a deep, rolling chant echoed off of the cavern walls.