(BECMI) Adventures in Gulluvia #15 - The Dwarf Herb

1 Jun 534 - Village of Mere, Barony of Gulluvia
Agreeing that nothing could be done about the Baronial Guard butchering a fairly civilized tribe of kobolds, everyone went for a late breakfast.  The kobold Pogart was secured in Hugo's home.

At Ye Olde Falling Noble Spoon, Carya tolerated Hugo's incessent questions.

How old are you?  25.

Any brothers and sisters? Two half-brothers and a half-sister.

What's the biggest thing you ever killed?   A Troll.  It took a long time too, because I couldn't figure out that fire kept it from regenerating.  

Beulah took leave and tried to live a "normal" day, while hanging out with her friend, Amanda Swiftfoot, at Rempart's General Store.

Slothina checked in with her father, and after finding him staggering around drunk again, decided to get a job.

The first business she barged into with a "Slothina need job!" was the local herbalist, Gardenia. Slothina easily deduced that something was amiss.

"What's wrong, Garden-Lay?"

"I think I lost all my Grimy Dwarf Weed.  Perhaps I let a window open."

"What's that?"

**** Conversation devolves into a discussion on how the dwarves ran mines on the surrounding hills until they ran dry****

"Those weird weeds by the mines is Grimy Dwarf Weed.  I pick the herb, clean it up, and use in many of my products.

Slothina was confused.  She only knew that dwarves were shorter guys with beards, and she had never met this dwarf named Herb, but she did know she had a job.... whether Gardenia wanted to give it to her or not.

Back at the Spoon, Hugo's million questions settled down when Carya turned the tables on the "Leader" of the group.

Then another ruckus could be heard outside.  Everyone dashed from whence they came and found Slothina in front of the herbalist's hut with three individuals tied up on the group, and the herbalist aghast.

"What are you doing, Slothina??? Hugo begged his friend.

"I found dwarves who stole from Gardenia lady. They kidnapped a dwarf named Herb!"

The three short, bearded men, Trey, Nug, and Simon, were certainly NOT dwarves.

Once getting the story of the missing Grimy Dwarf Weed, and failing to convince Slothina that herb was a plant and not a person, the party in full, save their new friend Carya, went into full investigative mode.

Outside of some stout feet outside the window to Gardenia's shop, there was little to account for.

But Hugo and Slothina decided if they couldn't find any clues, at least they could be nice and gather some of the weed.

"Two burlap sacks full of grimy dwarf weed, for Herb!" specifically by Slothina.

Carya, their other associate Leroy, and any other former associates in Mere declined.

They ventured out to the hillside near the mine and harvested as much of the ripened weed as they could find.   There was not much ripened, so it took quite some time.   So much, in fact, that they decided to camp out.  With Beulah and Slothina at the campsite, they weren't violating the Baronial law that men couldn't be out after dark (without an adult female escorting them).

With a  roaring campfire and Hugo already tucking himself in his bedroll, the others debated if they would have a watch, and how it would be conducted.

But that argument would never be finished as two men stumbled into the campsite.  One was clutching a bloody wound across his abdomen, the other holding a blood covered arm.

Both staggered towards the fire and collapsed before anyone so much as stood up or grabbed a weapon.

Brother Barry ran over to tend to the first unconscious person, but as he turned him over, he noticed the extremely hairy hands on the man....

... and the bright yellow eyes as he sprung back to life.

Both men transformed into some sort of wolf changelings, on assaulting Brother Barry, the other carefully picking out his victim.

Barry took a grievous wound early on, but protected himself from the monster's attacks thereafter.  Hugo cast his accompaniment of Magic Missiles and a less effective barrage of daggers.  Slothina struck a sturdy blow, but was otherwise ineffective.

As the battle seemed to lag on... a huge hulking figure barged in from the treeline and attacked the wolf-things.

What looked like a bear traded blows with the creatures, and the trio rumbled off back into the darkness of the treeline.

The others attended to Barry, who was near death, and it was decided that instant that heading back home right that second was the best plan of action.

2 June 534 
In the early pre-dawn hours, the group reached Hugo's house.  After barging in through a barricaded front door and getting assaulted by a kobold throwing dishes, they dumped their gear inside and went further into town.

It took little effort for the group to convince Father Joseph to heal Barry.  Once Barry regained his senses, he looked worried that his magically healed wounds weren't healed correctly.

They met Carya on the walk to Gardenia's shop and the mountain of a woman shook her head and laughed.

"I told you it was too dangerous out there!  I hope your friend is okay."

Gardenia was much appreciative of the two burlap sacks of Grimy Dwarf Weed, and very concerned over Barry's wound... and the story of how he obtained it.

"Those changelings turn into numerous animal-man, some think that they are legends to scare children at night, but I know better.  Quick, drink this...."

She concocted a slurry a various items in her shop, but a healthy serving of one in particular, Belladonna.

Barry ate the entire bowl, and his condition seemed to stay the same... and he wasn't poisoned by the heaping helping of that plant.

There was evil afoot in the hills around the mine, but first breakfast!

Next #16: The Dreamquest of Manaslow