We prepared for further trekking with our fiery boys toward Barston. Morro guided us well and no major fires were started; Gulden communicated with the fiery boys to ensure they did not eat anything inappropriate. We slept over in the tiny hut. Orla did her first ever watch, though she wasn't thrilled about it.
We continued on, successfully foraging for food and herbs along the way. After a dinner of fresh-roasted fox, we settled down into the tiny hut. Orla was drafted into watch yet again, despite her protestations, and expressed her fury by waking up Kestyn for a second watch.
Early the next morning Kiiv heard creatures and woke us all up. Turns out they were elves creeping up on our camp. They started shooting at our fiery boys with cold arrows, dealing significant damage. Kestyn and Enna tried to talk them down. The fire elemental, not understanding the fine nuances of negotiation, proceeded to set an elf and some trees on fire. Orla lobbed a fireball, escalating the situation. Morro popped out and killed one. Whipp smashed. The elves seemed to slack off their attack, so Kestyn grabbed one and tried to extinguish him, managing to set himself alight in the process. Enna insightfully created water to put out the fireball residue. Kiiv, after much thought, figured out that perhaps de-escalation was in order and put out the flaming elf. Fire elemental did not get the message and lit him right back up and stomped on him. Orla cleverly tried to cast suggestion on the fire elemental but it did not work. An invisible Morro tried to distract the fire elemental. The elven leaders directed their party to continue to attack the fiery boys but hold off on hitting us. Gulden cast universal speech to persuade the fiery boys to back down. Kiiv tied to put Kestyn out, but Kestyn inexplicably resisted, knocking Kiiv prone.
Finally all the hostilities ceased, and after some testy conversation they escorted us to the road. We set off without a full night's sleep, incurring exhaustion. One of them left with the corpse and the very injured guy to report back. We settled down with the rest of them to take a long rest. Morro foraged and Enna dug herbs. Kestyn and Enna chatted with the elves, and Kestyn let slip some information about the tunnels. He tried to cover up with some deception, but it's unclear if the leader (the alliteratively named Galeon Gajillion) was fully taken in. Whipp played dragon chess with an elf soldier and won. Kestyn talked with some of the elves about their gods and godesses. Gulden taught the fiery boys some hand signs for "stop," "food," and "Not food."
After a long rest, we awoke reinvigorated. We were joined by another of their leaders, Jigglydoodle aka "Glitterdoggen," who returned from delivering the corpse and injured soldier. Due to a crisis of conscience among some members of the party, a vote was called to reconsider our eventual plans for the fiery boys. A majority of party members voted to take them to Muftigowen in search of a powerful mage who can help them get home. In favor of Muftigowen: Enna, Kestyn, Whipp, Morro. If favor of Barston: Gulden and Kiiv. Orla abstained.
We decided to head south to the river, then west over the mountains and into Muftigowen, hopefully shedding our elven escort along the way. We passed through an elven village and bought some rations; Enna sent a book to the scriptorium. We arrived at the river around dinner time. Gulden disguised himself as a Barstonian named "Nedlug" to scope out the checkpoint situation. It was surprisingly easy for him to get in, which is helpful to know should we want to sneak back in to Barston in the future.
We set off toward Muftigowen with Galeon Gajillion and some bros, resting after we got away from any settlements.
We continued onward toward Muftigowen. The plan is to head toward Splagon, then make our way toward Garmil.
Party Experience Before Session: 117,270XP
Experience Earned:
Party Experience After Session: 123,270XP
Needed For Level 7: 7 * 23,000XP = 161,000XP