The Gods of Little Pebbles (Part One)
On Sevenday, you tell Green Flame about the kobolds stranded in the entrance to Garanhedd's tomb. She promises to help you get them back home.
When you tell Green Flame about the kobolds and your desire to help them return to their home, she acts with what seems like uncharacteristic caution and forethought: she begins preparations for a journey into the hills, including planning out a route and seeking advance knowledge of any hazards you will encounter along the way.
'To an extent, it is a pity that the Society of Explorers and Archaeologists cannot know about this,' she says. 'Under normal circumstances, if I had questions about the geography of the lands which surround the city of Tyrepheum, I would have asked them. I'm sure they could tell us about the little gods and spirits who rule over the nearby forests, mountains and hills, which of them would be open to negotiation, and which we should do our best to avoid. They have made it their business to know these things. But I suppose it cannot be helped: we will have to find other sources of knowledge.'
Silently, you consider the possibility of going to Simony or one of the other long-established members of the Society – maybe Icharium, who was the doorman you met at the gambling den – and subtly asking questions to ascertain the information you need without alerting them to what you intend to do. It might be possible, but you're not particularly confident in your powers of persuasion.
Even so, you have little difficulty persuading the other members of Cadre 1F to join you in this venture. As Philander says, "We all took part in my brother's dratted obstacle course. We all saw those kobolds and heard about what happened to them. This feels like something we should do together." No one disagrees, least of all you.
You meet up with Green Flame in the school library. In her search for information about the lands you will be venturing into, she has enlisted the aid of the librarian, Redonis Ophidiens, a thin, wizened fellow with a balding pate and a sparse beard. He looks as though he would be at home in an ascetic monastic order, but not one which holds to a vow of silence: he seems all-too happy to discuss what he knows with anyone who is willing to listen.
He explains that the hills to the south and west of Tyrepheum – as opposed to the lowlands to the north and east – are home to many different spirit beings. Close to the city, some of the hills and wooded areas are part of the domain of the Elm King, a malevolent fey creature who was once one of Garanhedd the giant's lieutenants. Further to the south, there is a large and perfectly-rounded hill, situated on its own in the middle of a relatively flat plan, which is reckoned to be an artificial mound raised by a mysterious ancient race who have long since vanished from existence. More recently, the hill has become home to an uneasy coalition of many different fairies who have banded together for mutual protection from outsiders; therefore, it is called "Fairy Hill" by the humans who live in the local area. Beyond that, the foothills of the Trollteeth mountain range are ruled by trolls and lesser giants; each of them considers themselves to be kings in their own right, rulers of all they survey. They coexist uneasily with the Wranni of the Chiefdom of Goriane, who also lay claim those lands.
Also, there are dozens of more minor powers in the area, but Ophidiens considers the Elm King, the trolls, are the fairies are the ones you will need to be especially careful of. Whereas some of the lesser spirits might be offended by your passing through their territory but powerless to do anything about it, they could make things difficult for you if they were so inclined. If you need to pass through their territory, you would be wise to ask their permission first.
'Do you have a map?' asks Green Flame.
'Not of those wild lands, no,' Ophidiens replies. 'You'd be better off asking the Society of Explorers and Archaeologists.'
Green Flame looks mildly perturbed. 'Well, anyway, thank you for your help,' she says.
After Ophidiens has returned to his normal duties and is no longer within earshot, Green Flame says to you, 'While we are returning the kobolds to their homes, it is likely that we will have to deal with one or more of these powerful spirit beings. Before we set out, it would be helpful to know which of them we might have to placate. Did the kobolds tell you anything about who their neighbours are?'
'They didn't tell us much of anything,' says Venta. 'They were very vague.'
'Maybe we didn't ask them the right questions,' Isolia suggests. 'We could go back and ask them about the trolls – or the Elm King – and see how they react.'
'It will take us some time to reach Garanhedd's tomb,' says Green Flame. 'We will go there when we are on our way out of the city, but not before. I would prefer not to waste any time.'
'Aren't you immortal?' Philander asks her.
She answers his question with a question: 'What's your point?'
'Well, seeing as how you're immortal, you've got all the time in the world.' He shrugs. 'So why are you worried about wasting it?'
'I may have all the time in the world, but you certainly don't. You have lessons tomorrow, remember?' She peers around at the four of you. 'Let's try to finish this today, if we can.'
'If those kobolds came from the Trollteeth mountains… well, that's more than a hundred miles away,' you say, looking dubiously at her. 'We won't get that done in a day.'
'We'll do as much as we can,' she replies. 'Besides, I have ways of shortening the travel time.'
What do you want to do first? (Choose one)
[] Ask Green Flame for more details about her "ways of shortening the travel time."
[] Ask Redonis Ophidiens for more information. (Write in: about what?)
[] Visit the Society of Explorers and Archaeologists. Try to trick them into telling you exactly where you need to go.
[] Go to Garanhedd's tomb. Ask the kobolds for more details about their home.
-[] In particular, ask them about the little gods and spirits who were their neighbours.
[] Do something else (write in).
What do you want to take with you on this journey? (Choose as many options as make sense)
[x] Potion of Lesser Healing
[x] Necklace of Protection
[x] Bracelet of Protection
[x] Glowstone
[x] Patchwork Cloak
(I'm going to assume that you want to take these unless you tell me otherwise.)
[] Dream Poppy
(You can't actually use it because you don't have the prerequisites. Do you still want to take it with you?)
[] Rusty Dagger
(It won't be of much use to you in combat because you don't have the prerequisites. Nevertheless, you might still be able to find a use for it.)
[] Pouch containing 22 silver shards and 2 copper bits
(Do you think you'll need money where you're going?)
[] Provisions
(Each of you should probably take at least one meal with you.)
[] Anything else you want to take (write in).
