vault backup: 2026-06-21 18:30:18

This commit is contained in:
Matt Rowbottom
2026-06-21 18:30:18 +10:00
parent c3a58855f1
commit 69374beeef
19 changed files with 48 additions and 22 deletions
@@ -1 +1 @@
{"Verdant Expansion Co":{"Verdant Expansion Co":{"internalLink":{"count":7,"lastUpdated":1782011718118}}},"New New New Jerusalem":{"New New New Jerusalem":{"internalLink":{"count":11,"lastUpdated":1782014573124}}},"groups":{"groups":{"currentFile":{"count":1,"lastUpdated":1782004910850}}},"The Crimson Carrion":{"The Crimson Carrion":{"internalLink":{"count":2,"lastUpdated":1782005329750}}},"Alistair Venn":{"Alistair Venn":{"internalLink":{"count":2,"lastUpdated":1782011382729}}},"Bartemius Fowl":{"Bartemius Fowl":{"internalLink":{"count":1,"lastUpdated":1782005117299}}},"Garrick Stonehand":{"Garrick Stonehand":{"internalLink":{"count":2,"lastUpdated":1782014315624}}},"Tamsin Greaves":{"Tamsin Greaves":{"internalLink":{"count":1,"lastUpdated":1782005123819}}},"Crimson Carrion":{"Crimson Carrion":{"internalLink":{"count":3,"lastUpdated":1782011712000}}},"The Chalice":{"The Chalice":{"internalLink":{"count":1,"lastUpdated":1782005443668}}},"Coinclinkz":{"Coinclinkz":{"internalLink":{"count":3,"lastUpdated":1782014096069}}},"Joffrey Tiefstein":{"Joffrey Tiefstein":{"internalLink":{"count":1,"lastUpdated":1782010326457}}},"Thaddeus Bramble":{"Thaddeus Bramble":{"internalLink":{"count":2,"lastUpdated":1782011595533}}},"Joffrey":{"Joffrey":{"internalLink":{"count":1,"lastUpdated":1782010583473}}},"Grippli":{"Grippli":{"internalLink":{"count":4,"lastUpdated":1782014273304}}},"Forest Guardian":{"Forest Guardian":{"internalLink":{"count":2,"lastUpdated":1782014485418}}},"Spastica Autistica":{"Spastica Autistica":{"internalLink":{"count":3,"lastUpdated":1782014089836}}},"Speckled Jim":{"Speckled Jim":{"internalLink":{"count":1,"lastUpdated":1782011978836}}},"Acquisitions Inc":{"Acquisitions Inc":{"internalLink":{"count":2,"lastUpdated":1782013531025}}},"Grunt Roarson":{"Grunt Roarson":{"internalLink":{"count":2,"lastUpdated":1782014112962}}},"Kremit Croakbane":{"Kremit Croakbane":{"internalLink":{"count":2,"lastUpdated":1782014081384}}},"Nihilus Creatatus":{"Nihilus Creatatus":{"internalLink":{"count":7,"lastUpdated":1782014121123}}},"Ted Bramble":{"Ted Bramble":{"internalLink":{"count":1,"lastUpdated":1782014211823}}},"VEC":{"VEC":{"internalLink":{"count":1,"lastUpdated":1782014247147}}},"Tamsin":{"Tamsin":{"internalLink":{"count":1,"lastUpdated":1782014379017}}},"Alistair":{"Alistair":{"internalLink":{"count":1,"lastUpdated":1782014422630}}},"Terrence":{"Terrence":{"internalLink":{"count":1,"lastUpdated":1782014547850}}},"Roz Grakshnir":{"Roz Grakshnir":{"internalLink":{"count":1,"lastUpdated":1782014602515}}},"Roz":{"Roz":{"internalLink":{"count":1,"lastUpdated":1782014651745}}}}
{"Verdant Expansion Co":{"Verdant Expansion Co":{"internalLink":{"count":10,"lastUpdated":1782029944800}}},"New New New Jerusalem":{"New New New Jerusalem":{"internalLink":{"count":15,"lastUpdated":1782029980094}}},"groups":{"groups":{"currentFile":{"count":1,"lastUpdated":1782004910850}}},"The Crimson Carrion":{"The Crimson Carrion":{"internalLink":{"count":2,"lastUpdated":1782005329750}}},"Alistair Venn":{"Alistair Venn":{"internalLink":{"count":3,"lastUpdated":1782029670995}}},"Bartemius Fowl":{"Bartemius Fowl":{"internalLink":{"count":3,"lastUpdated":1782029731648}}},"Garrick Stonehand":{"Garrick Stonehand":{"internalLink":{"count":3,"lastUpdated":1782029659989}}},"Tamsin Greaves":{"Tamsin Greaves":{"internalLink":{"count":2,"lastUpdated":1782029668038}}},"Crimson Carrion":{"Crimson Carrion":{"internalLink":{"count":5,"lastUpdated":1782029937482}}},"The Chalice":{"The Chalice":{"internalLink":{"count":1,"lastUpdated":1782005443668}}},"Coinclinkz":{"Coinclinkz":{"internalLink":{"count":5,"lastUpdated":1782030546441}}},"Joffrey Tiefstein":{"Joffrey Tiefstein":{"internalLink":{"count":1,"lastUpdated":1782010326457}}},"Thaddeus Bramble":{"Thaddeus Bramble":{"internalLink":{"count":2,"lastUpdated":1782011595533}}},"Joffrey":{"Joffrey":{"internalLink":{"count":1,"lastUpdated":1782010583473}}},"Grippli":{"Grippli":{"internalLink":{"count":9,"lastUpdated":1782029518434}}},"Forest Guardian":{"Forest Guardian":{"internalLink":{"count":4,"lastUpdated":1782030065324}}},"Spastica Autistica":{"Spastica Autistica":{"internalLink":{"count":5,"lastUpdated":1782030542407}}},"Speckled Jim":{"Speckled Jim":{"internalLink":{"count":3,"lastUpdated":1782029766193}}},"Acquisitions Inc":{"Acquisitions Inc":{"internalLink":{"count":3,"lastUpdated":1782029420735}}},"Grunt Roarson":{"Grunt Roarson":{"internalLink":{"count":6,"lastUpdated":1782030103644}}},"Kremit Croakbane":{"Kremit Croakbane":{"internalLink":{"count":5,"lastUpdated":1782030539259}}},"Nihilus Creatatus":{"Nihilus Creatatus":{"internalLink":{"count":8,"lastUpdated":1782029411705}}},"Ted Bramble":{"Ted Bramble":{"internalLink":{"count":1,"lastUpdated":1782014211823}}},"VEC":{"VEC":{"internalLink":{"count":2,"lastUpdated":1782029607310}}},"Tamsin":{"Tamsin":{"internalLink":{"count":1,"lastUpdated":1782014379017}}},"Alistair":{"Alistair":{"internalLink":{"count":1,"lastUpdated":1782014422630}}},"Terrence":{"Terrence":{"internalLink":{"count":2,"lastUpdated":1782030015356}}},"Roz Grakshnir":{"Roz Grakshnir":{"internalLink":{"count":1,"lastUpdated":1782014602515}}},"Roz":{"Roz":{"internalLink":{"count":1,"lastUpdated":1782014651745}}},"Elder Thrum-Of-Reeds":{"Elder Thrum-Of-Reeds":{"internalLink":{"count":3,"lastUpdated":1782029586700}}},"Leap-Over-Stone":{"Leap-Over-Stone":{"internalLink":{"count":2,"lastUpdated":1782029523236}}},"Ripple-Skip":{"Ripple-Skip":{"internalLink":{"count":2,"lastUpdated":1782029575801}}},"Pebble-On-Shore":{"Pebble-On-Shore":{"internalLink":{"count":2,"lastUpdated":1782029567498}}},"Entry 1":{"Entry 1":{"internalLink":{"count":1,"lastUpdated":1782029193253}}},"Gertrude Blythe":{"Gertrude Blythe":{"internalLink":{"count":1,"lastUpdated":1782029428675}}},"Ted":{"Ted":{"internalLink":{"count":2,"lastUpdated":1782029722795}}},"Red Heron":{"Red Heron":{"internalLink":{"count":1,"lastUpdated":1782029533005}}},"Rootbound Chorus":{"Rootbound Chorus":{"internalLink":{"count":1,"lastUpdated":1782029559377}}},"Gnomeo":{"Gnomeo":{"internalLink":{"count":1,"lastUpdated":1782029794746}}}}
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
![[Grippli Meeting.png]]
The grippli are a diminutive race of humanoid frog natives that live in the enchanted forest near [[New New New Jerusalem]]; they are a peaceful people that live in harmony with nature and have no concept of material wealth.
Pictured is the party visiting their village in [[Entry 1]].
#### Notable Members:
- [[Elder Thrum-Of-Reeds]]
- [[Leap-Over-Stone]]
- [[Ripple-Skip]]
- [[Pebble-On-Shore]]
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
![[Elder Thrum of Reeds.png]]
The wizened old leader of the enchanted forest [[Grippli]], he has seen many seasons and favours methodical thought and gentle reasoning over brash actions and violence. He ensures his tribe maintains a harmony with nature and strives to ensure none come to harm.
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
![[Garrick Stonehand.png]]
Garrick Stonehand was a mighty dwarven warrior and member of the [[Crimson Carrion]] franchise of [[Verdant Expansion Co]]; he served as their foreman in their logging camp, in the enchanted forest near [[New New New Jerusalem]].
He famously fought [[Forest Guardian|Terrence]], [[Kremit Croakbane]] and [[Grunt Roarson]] single handedly, nearly killing Grunt and Terrence during the fight; He met his end when he was torn in half by Terrence, the [[Forest Guardian]], at the climax of the battle.
His magical war maul is now carried by [[Grunt Roarson]].
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
![[Gnomeo.png]]
Gnomeo is a gnome con man that famously started the original Acq Inc franchise "The Band of the Badgers" with [[Kremit Croakbane]], [[Spastica Autistica]] and [[Coinclinkz]], using it as a premise to steal their money and flee the country.
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
![[Leap Over Stone.png]]
Leap over stone is younger member of the enchanted forest [[Grippli]] that encountered the party when they were travelling along the road through the forest. He and his two compatriots, Mud-Singer and Thorn-In-Reeds, stopped the party and pleaded with them to reconsider helping the "Dry Skins", referring to the members of the [[Verdant Expansion Co]] logging camp, after a few failed attempts to non-violently get the party to leave the area.
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
![[Pebble on Shore.png]]
A curious child of the enchanted forest [[Grippli]], who was very inquisitive about the party when they visited their village. [[Grunt Roarson]] attempted to barter for this child with the elders of the tribe, to have as his ward, for unknown reasons.
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
![[Ripple Skip.png]]
Ripple-Skip is a fierce and hot-headed grippli who leads the warriors of the [[Grippli]] tribe in the enchanted forest. He is often at odds with [[Elder Thrum-Of-Reeds]] and is unusually aggressive for a grippli, favouring violence and quicker results over reason.
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ Thaddeus "Ted" Bramble is an ancient human druid, that is permanently merged wit
He has unfettered control over the entire forest, being able to tap into the wellspring through the roots of the trees, and controls their growth to maintain a magical seal so that deadly eruptions and instability no longer threaten the region.
Ted has a symbiotic relationship with the [[Grippli]] of the forest, watching over and protecting them as their god, while they in turn worship him and bring offerings, including feeding his remaining human biology the healing waters of the forest.
Ted has a symbiotic relationship with the [[Grippli]] of the forest, watching over and protecting them as their god, while they in turn worship him as "Moss-Where-Heart-Was" and bring offerings, including feeding his remaining human biology the healing waters of the forest.
He protects the balance of nature and stability of the region for the greater good, and has shown he is willing to go to any lengths to uphold his ideals, when he killed [[Alistair Venn]] and two of his guards.
@@ -1,46 +1,46 @@
*1/03/2026*
The party is comprised of Grunt Rawson the blue dragonborn paladin, Cumburgler the human monk, Vasselina Moistalina the tabaxi bard, and Spastica Autistica the human ranger. They are ex mercenaries that were dissatisfied with their previous trade and, after finding a flier for adventuring franchises, decided to seek their fortune and strike out on their own.
The party is comprised of [[Grunt Roarson]]son the blue dragonborn paladin, [[Coinclinkz]] the aarakocra warlock, [[Kremit Croakbane]] the frogfolk bard, and [[Spastica Autistica]] the human ranger. They are ex mercenaries that were dissatisfied with their previous trade and, after finding a flier for adventuring franchises, decided to seek their fortune and strike out on their own.
They arrive at the outskirts of the town of New New New Jerusalem, they are down to their last few coins as they struggle to get their new Acquisitions Inc adventuring company, "Nihilus Creatatus", off of the ground. Finding work has been much harder and lower paying than the corporate pamphlets made out, and there aren't hordes of old ladies looking to pay significant sums of gold to clear rats out of their basement. Unfortunately, that isn't corporate's problem, the team are still contractually obligated to pay their franchise fees, and need to make some gold, and soon.
They arrive at the outskirts of the town of New [[New New New Jerusalem]], they are down to their last few coins as they struggle to get their new [[Acquisitions Inc]] adventuring company, "[[Nihilus Creatatus]]", off of the ground. Finding work has been much harder and lower paying than the corporate pamphlets made out, and there aren't hordes of old ladies looking to pay significant sums of gold to clear rats out of their basement. Unfortunately, that isn't corporate's problem, the team are still contractually obligated to pay their franchise fees, and need to make some gold, and soon.
They wander around the town square, hit up the local notice board and find some interesting listings: A notice about a missing pet pigeon called Speckled Jim from Gertrude Blythe, A flier for a local yard sale at a farm, and a request for mercenaries and laborers to escort logging supplies for Verdant Expansion Co to a nearby logging site.
They wander around the town square, hit up the local notice board and find some interesting listings: A notice about a missing pet pigeon called [[Speckled Jim]] from [[Gertrude Blythe]], A flier for a local yard sale at a farm, and a request for mercenaries and laborers to escort logging supplies for [[Verdant Expansion Co]] to a nearby logging site.
Vasselina Moistalina grabs all three of these and presents them to the party; Grunt takes personal interest in the search for Speckled Jim and the others want to check out the yard sale. They find out from the locals that the town is called "New New New Jerusalem" because the previous instances of it had been destroyed in mysterious circumstances, then later rebuilt; there are rumours of instability in the area in the past.
Kremit grabs all three of these and presents them to the party; Grunt takes personal interest in the search for Speckled Jim and the others want to check out the yard sale. They find out from the locals that the town is called "New [[New New New Jerusalem]]" because the previous instances of it had been destroyed in mysterious circumstances, then later rebuilt; there are rumours of instability in the area in the past.
They hit up a local farm where an old couple are selling off odds and ends, they obtain a leatherworking set, a dog bowl labelled "fido" that Spastica Autistica is convinced is a holy relic and overpays for, and 3 "Happy Animal Friends" trading cards that belonged to the couple's now adult son.
As they are leaving the farm, Spastica attempts to use her ranger powers to locate animals in the greater area, hoping to sense Speckled Jim, but finds about 3000 misc birds instead.
They head to the local inn next where Verdant Expansion Co have a temporary field office setup in a hired room, meet the gnome administrator, Bartemius Fowl, and are given the task of moving a cart of logging goods from the town, to a logging site in the nearby forest. They are offered 250 silver (25gp) each up front, and on their return for proof of completion of the task. Spastica goes over the paperwork, as CFO, and signs it after reading the fine print.
They head to the local inn next where Verdant Expansion Co have a temporary field office setup in a hired room, meet the gnome administrator, [[Bartemius Fowl]], and are given the task of moving a cart of logging goods from the town, to a logging site in the nearby forest. They are offered 250 silver (25gp) each up front, and on their return for proof of completion of the task. Spastica goes over the paperwork, as CFO, and signs it after reading the fine print.
The goods are needed as there have been issues with supplies going missing, mystery illnesses and workers walking off the job, getting creeped out, at the logging site and there is a labor shortage.
The party collects the cart, with the unusually strong Spastica pushing it, after Cumburgler somehow failed miserably to do it himself.
The party collects the cart, with the unusually strong Spastica pushing it, after Coinclinkz somehow failed miserably to do it himself.
As they head into the woods, the surroundings slowly begin to change and become more fey, with the forest becoming quiet, sounds echoing and distorting strangely, trees becoming increasingly blue and colours in general become more vibrant. There are glowing lichens, mushrooms and saps etc.
Not long after entering this new region of the forest, the party begins to encounter issues; one wheel of the cart suddenly sinks into a mudpit that seems to have spontaneously sprang into existence around it. Cumburgler attempts to show off his strength again by lifting the cart out of the mud, fails, and proceeds to just push himself down a meter into it instead. The party get the cart unstuck, hand it back over to Spastica to pull, and continue on their way.
Not long after entering this new region of the forest, the party begins to encounter issues; one wheel of the cart suddenly sinks into a mudpit that seems to have spontaneously sprang into existence around it. Coinclinkz attempts to show off his strength again by lifting the cart out of the mud, fails, and proceeds to just push himself down a meter into it instead. The party get the cart unstuck, hand it back over to Spastica to pull, and continue on their way.
The sounds of the forest suddenly go silent, fog is rolling through the trees off to the side of the road and there is something large moving through and disturbing the trees with a rhythmic clacking and scraping sound. The party ignores this and hurriedly resumes their journey.
After walking for a period of time, they come back to the same patch of mud they encountered earlier, although there were no branches in the path and it seemed to be going straight, somehow they got turned around 180 degrees.
The sounds of the forest suddenly go silent again, and the same presence is passing by them in the trees as though something is on patrol. Vasselina tries to use his Tabaxi agility and claws to climb a tree and see what is going on, fails, slipping on the wet, sappy trunk, and lands on his head, but is able to see a large blue claw stab down through the fog as it makes its way past. Spastica tries to investigate as well and finds that the creature is a massive blue crab that is perhaps 8 ft tall and 24+ft wide cruising through the forest, oblivious to them.
The sounds of the forest suddenly go silent again, and the same presence is passing by them in the trees as though something is on patrol. Kremit tries to use his amphibian agility to climb a tree and see what is going on, fails, slipping on the wet, sappy trunk, and lands on his head, but is able to see a large blue claw stab down through the fog as it makes its way past. Spastica tries to investigate as well and finds that the creature is a massive blue crab that is perhaps 8 ft tall and 24+ft wide cruising through the forest, oblivious to them.
They move to return to the cart, but as they are attempting to resume their journey, Grippli (small frog people) leap out of the forest and bar their path. Their names are "Leap-Over-Stone", "Mud-Singer" and "Thorn-In-Reeds". They repeatedly call the party "dry-skins" and complain about their kind harming the forest and that they have been causing the situations that have been inconveniencing them passing through. They plead with the party to leave the forest and not help the dry-skins that are hurting their home. The party agrees to go with them to their village and speak with their elders about the issue, but as they are talking, a distinctive bird call is heard through the trees nearby, could this be Speckled Jim ?
They move to return to the cart, but as they are attempting to resume their journey, [[Grippli]] (small frog people) leap out of the forest and bar their path. Their names are "[[Leap-Over-Stone]]", "Mud-Singer" and "Thorn-In-Reeds". They repeatedly call the party "dry-skins" and complain about their kind harming the forest and that they have been causing the situations that have been inconveniencing them passing through. They plead with the party to leave the forest and not help the dry-skins that are hurting their home. The party agrees to go with them to their village and speak with their elders about the issue, but as they are talking, a distinctive bird call is heard through the trees nearby, could this be Speckled Jim ?
Spastica runs into the forest trying to find the source of the sound, comes across a clearing with a pool and a majestic, tall red bird fishing in it. She attempts to approach the bird, identifying it as a "Red Heron", then proceeds to try and have a conversation with it using talk with animals. The bird is most gracious that she wishes to talk with it and begins rambling extensively about its life and other irrelevant things. Not put off by its behaviour, Spastica continues talking with it and enjoys the exchange, until the Grippli arrive, notice it eating their tadpoles from the pond, and throw a spear at it that drives it off.
Spastica runs into the forest trying to find the source of the sound, comes across a clearing with a pool and a majestic, tall red bird fishing in it. She attempts to approach the bird, identifying it as a "[[Red Heron]]", then proceeds to try and have a conversation with it using talk with animals. The bird is most gracious that she wishes to talk with it and begins rambling extensively about its life and other irrelevant things. Not put off by its behaviour, Spastica continues talking with it and enjoys the exchange, until the Grippli arrive, notice it eating their tadpoles from the pond, and throw a spear at it that drives it off.
The party follows the Grippli into the forest, passing by various oddities and curiosities on their way, such as the "opinion moss", that when listened to closely, is whispering and muttering various contradicting opinions possibly held by people on this plane.
They arrive at the Grippli village of "Rootbound Chorus", a rustic melange of huts on stilts, spanning walkways and a series of tiered small waterfalls and pools through the centre with some bioluminescent green water. They notice what appears to be a sick/dying grippli woman being carried by others, placed into the waters of one of the pools and they can see her visibly recovering.
They arrive at the Grippli village of "[[Rootbound Chorus]]", a rustic melange of huts on stilts, spanning walkways and a series of tiered small waterfalls and pools through the centre with some bioluminescent green water. They notice what appears to be a sick/dying grippli woman being carried by others, placed into the waters of one of the pools and they can see her visibly recovering.
They see some small juvenile Grippli running around that show curiosity towards the outsiders and Grunt tries to purchase "Pebble-On-Shore" for some reason.
They see some small juvenile Grippli running around that show curiosity towards the outsiders and Grunt tries to purchase "[[Pebble-On-Shore]]" for some reason.
Grunt asks Leap-Over-Stone about how they come up with their names, says it sounds like how a race called "Indians" come up with theirs, just looking out of a tent flap at their birth and naming them after the first thing they see. The Grippli is mildly offended and says that their naming scheme is part of their culture and not for dry-skins to concern themselves with.
They continue on towards where they can find "Elder-Thrum-Of-Reeds", a warrior Grippli called "Ripple-Skip" and his cronies intercept them, express their distaste for outsiders and that they should just go and kill everyone at the logging camp, they want war. The elder arrives and clarifies that that is not their way, they are a peaceful people that live in harmony with the forest; its magical waters help sustain them and in turn, they help sustain the forest.
They continue on towards where they can find "[[Elder Thrum-Of-Reeds]]", a warrior Grippli called "[[Ripple-Skip]]" and his cronies intercept them, express their distaste for outsiders and that they should just go and kill everyone at the logging camp, they want war. The elder arrives and clarifies that that is not their way, they are a peaceful people that live in harmony with the forest; its magical waters help sustain them and in turn, they help sustain the forest.
He confirms that they have been causing the nuisances at the logging camp and that they have been trying to drive the dry-skins off through peaceful actions; ideally they want a peaceful solution and seek the party's help. He explains that the continued logging of the magical forest is harming "the spirit of the forest", as all the trees are connected, and threatens the collapse of the ecosystem, their sacred pools etc.
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ Grunt and Spastica ask what the Grippli can offer them as compensation and end u
The party travels through the woods back to their cart, curiously the path through the undergrowth now seems obvious and easy to follow, whereas before it seemed impenetrable. They take their cart to the logging camp and have no further setbacks on the way.
They arrive at the logging camp, see magic blue tree stumps that seem to have had the roots withdraw from the soil and curl up like the legs of a dead spider, with holes bored on the tops of them. They meet with dwarven foreman Garrick Stonehand, who addresses them sharply, thinking they are workers or soldiers standing around idle; they explain why they are there, delivering stuff, and are referred to the quartermaster. The party walks into the makeshift office and find the gnome quartermaster, Tamsin Greaves, talking to the VEC mage surveyor, Alistair Venn, who is holding a strange crystalline hand drill.
They arrive at the logging camp, see magic blue tree stumps that seem to have had the roots withdraw from the soil and curl up like the legs of a dead spider, with holes bored on the tops of them. They meet with dwarven foreman [[Garrick Stonehand]], who addresses them sharply, thinking they are workers or soldiers standing around idle; they explain why they are there, delivering stuff, and are referred to the quartermaster. The party walks into the makeshift office and find the gnome quartermaster, [[Tamsin Greaves]], talking to the [[Verdant Expansion Co|VEC]] mage surveyor, [[Alistair Venn]], who is holding a strange crystalline hand drill.
The mage turns away and pockets the drill (that they notice has a glowing gem on top of it), while the quartermaster is talking to them, signs their paperwork to say they have completed the job and asks them to take the paperwork, and the empty cart, back with them to Bartemius. The group calls him out for trying to get them to take the cart back for free and, flustered, he quickly references a book from his shelf "the art of barter" and tells them that he will pay them 2000 coppers to take the cart back for him. Grunt is mesmerised by this large sounding offer and hurriedly agrees to it, having the papers signed by Spastica, not realising its only 20gp.
@@ -62,9 +62,9 @@ They tell them to consider it and add requisitions for large amounts of poison,
The party head back to the Grippli, tell Elder-Thrum-of-Reeds and co what has transpired; deeply concerned he mentions the Spirit of the Forest again and that perhaps they should be allowed to talk to the "spirit" in its hidden glade, although its deeply sacred and secret to them. He suggests they have a guide to take them there and summons the Red Heron, forgetting its a nuisance that was eating their tadpoles, alarming the other Grippli before its quickly frightened off again. He apologizes and says he sometimes makes mistakes, "Sleepy Thrum" some of the young Grippli call him. They travel to the glade and find a large, gnarled and warped tree in the centre, with the face of a man protruding from it as well as one arm.
They find out that the "Spirit of the Forest" or "Moss-Where-Heart-Was" as the Grippli call him, is actually a druid called Thaddeus "Ted" Bramble who was spliced into this tree during a magical mishap long ago. He hears of the issues with the logging company and confirms that he's sensed it and could feel the trees dying, he has a symbiotic relationship with them and these lands as part of his circumstances.
They find out that the "Spirit of the Forest" or "Moss-Where-Heart-Was" as the Grippli call him, is actually a druid called Thaddeus "[[Thaddeus Bramble|Ted]]" Bramble who was spliced into this tree during a magical mishap long ago. He hears of the issues with the logging company and confirms that he's sensed it and could feel the trees dying, he has a symbiotic relationship with them and these lands as part of his circumstances.
The giant crab is in the clearing near the tree, with its limbs curled in resting and watching the party, guarding Ted; it turns out that this was a Grippli that had "ascended", choosing to become a forest guardian when the old one died. The Grippli worship him as a god and feed him their magic imbued healing waters that help to maintain his humanoid biology. Ted advises them that he is able to use the strange arcane power of the forest to transmute volunteer Grippli into a guardian for the forest that he can exert some control over and guide.
The giant crab is in the clearing near the tree, with its limbs curled in resting and watching the party, guarding Ted; it turns out that this was a Grippli that had "ascended", choosing to become a [[Forest Guardian]] when the old one died. The Grippli worship him as a god and feed him their magic imbued healing waters that help to maintain his humanoid biology. Ted advises them that he is able to use the strange arcane power of the forest to transmute volunteer Grippli into a guardian for the forest that he can exert some control over and guide.
The power comes from the arcane wellspring under the land, a naturally occurring font of power that was locked inside the earth, until magical surveyors from VEC arrived in the region a century or two ago, started fiddling with these arcane syphon/drill apparatuses and broke the seal on it. Wild magic eruptions started happening at random, causing widespread chaos in the region, destroying the local town of Jerusalem etc and as a druid, he came to investigate the imbalance in nature. He found a surveyor and small team attempting to use the drill again to attempt to extract magical energy from the wellspring into gemstones. Ted attempted to stop them and cast a spell to destroy the drill, unfortunately, the wildmagic caused his spell to go awry and caused a terrible explosion that killed the VEC personnel and when he woke, he was partially merged with this tree, that has only grown larger and absorbed more of him since then.
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
- These three met in the Dran and Courtier Inn, in Red Larch, after arriving on the same day during their individual travels, looking for lodging and odd jobs on the road. It was a busy day with many people making business deals, creating new franchises and Spastica was approached by a greasy, slick haired business gnome with a monobrow called “Gnomeo”. He offered her a business opportunity to make a great deal of profit with minimal effort by joining him in standing up a new franchise of Acq Inc; alongside her, he managed to persuade Kermit and Coinclinkz, they formed their enterprise “The Band of the Badgers”.
- These three met in the Dran and Courtier Inn, in Red Larch, after arriving on the same day during their individual travels, looking for lodging and odd jobs on the road. It was a busy day with many people making business deals, creating new franchises and Spastica was approached by a greasy, slick haired business gnome with a monobrow called “[[Gnomeo]]”. He offered her a business opportunity to make a great deal of profit with minimal effort by joining him in standing up a new franchise of Acq Inc; alongside her, he managed to persuade Kermit and Coinclinkz, they formed their enterprise “The Band of the Badgers”.
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
- Grunt inquires about the magical wellspring and if it is “infinite”, then tries to ask Ted about tapping it and finding a way to monetise this source of power. Ted reminds him that [[Verdant Expansion Co|VEC]] attempting to tap the wellspring in the past is what caused the regional instability and destroyed the town several times over. Grunt persists in his line of questioning and wants to know if maybe they could “filter” the magic, perhaps through the trees and siphon off a lesser amount of the power, citing rubber and maple syrup trees. Ted says that that is a painful practice for the trees and he doesnt really approve of that sort of thing.
- Grunt inquires about the magical wellspring and if it is “infinite”, then tries to ask [[Thaddeus Bramble|Ted]] about tapping it and finding a way to monetise this source of power. Ted reminds him that [[Verdant Expansion Co|VEC]] attempting to tap the wellspring in the past is what caused the regional instability and destroyed the town several times over. Grunt persists in his line of questioning and wants to know if maybe they could “filter” the magic, perhaps through the trees and siphon off a lesser amount of the power, citing rubber and maple syrup trees. Ted says that that is a painful practice for the trees and he doesnt really approve of that sort of thing.
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@
- Grunt inquires after the rest of the workers and Ted placates him, saying that they posed no threat, they were innocents and had their memories modified and they are being guided out of the forest by his magic, watched over by the grippli. Ted asks what Grunt has attached to his belt, spying the taxidermied pigeon and Grunt tells him that it is Speckled Jim. Ted says that isnt Speckled Jim, Speckled Jim is known to him, hes a dashing rogue of a pigeon, quite a character that is alive and well, last felt flying north over his forest a few weeks ago; the taxidermy is Dotted Greg!
- Grunt inquires after the rest of the workers and Ted placates him, saying that they posed no threat, they were innocents and had their memories modified and they are being guided out of the forest by his magic, watched over by the grippli. Ted asks what Grunt has attached to his belt, spying the taxidermied pigeon and Grunt tells him that it is [[Speckled Jim]]. Ted says that isnt Speckled Jim, Speckled Jim is known to him, hes a dashing rogue of a pigeon, quite a character that is alive and well, last felt flying north over his forest a few weeks ago; the taxidermy is Dotted Greg!
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@
- Ted tells Grunt that Bartemius Fowl in town is the last remaining member of this franchise of VEC, they just have to get him into the forest and then he can wipe his memory. He asks for the crystal drill that they were sent to collect as the subject of the mages untimely death comes up again and Grunt tries to lie that they havent seen it. Spastica asks what the drill is made out of  and Ted says “chocolate” sarcastically, no its obviously made out of crystal…
- Ted tells Grunt that [[Bartemius Fowl]] in town is the last remaining member of this franchise of VEC, they just have to get him into the forest and then he can wipe his memory. He asks for the crystal drill that they were sent to collect as the subject of the mages untimely death comes up again and Grunt tries to lie that they havent seen it. Spastica asks what the drill is made out of  and Ted says “chocolate” sarcastically, no its obviously made out of crystal…
Binary file not shown.

After

Width:  |  Height:  |  Size: 2.7 MiB

Binary file not shown.

After

Width:  |  Height:  |  Size: 2.5 MiB

Binary file not shown.

After

Width:  |  Height:  |  Size: 2.2 MiB

Binary file not shown.

After

Width:  |  Height:  |  Size: 2.9 MiB

Binary file not shown.

After

Width:  |  Height:  |  Size: 2.4 MiB

Binary file not shown.

After

Width:  |  Height:  |  Size: 2.3 MiB

Binary file not shown.

After

Width:  |  Height:  |  Size: 2.5 MiB