Hunkering down
Hunkered in a nearby broken house. Listened to Alicia’s story — she took Lord Alric’s job for the extra coin and brought Dear Li along since he was supposedly a battle-hardened warrior.
Short rest. During the night, Hal woke Elijah J. Lucas during his watch — eyes blinking in and out of existence near the house.
Elijah sent Fernie on reconnaissance — flickering lights in the forest. He woke Ruasar and sent Hal to bed. Hal curled up to Elijah for comfort (probably the first time he had been comforted since leaving home).
Heard the eyes say: “Do they dream? Do they remember?”
Uh oh.
The dreams
In the morning, the party discussed dreams they’d all had — they all died a watery death. Five Sea Hag sacrifices, five companions…
Decided to head to Brackenford. While packing, Yort Li’s name slipped out. Cisco tried to cover for “John.” Super awkward. Dear Li obviously didn’t buy it.
On the way out, Yort Li looked at a statue that seemed both hundreds of years old AND in the exact likeness of Lord Alric. (Editor’s note: how had no one else noticed this before?)
Return to Brackenford
The forest was healing. Returning to Brackenford, the forest had receded but the sea air was changing to a sickly nature.
Garrin took his leave on the way to the Empty Net and asked for payment. Cisco strong-armed him into taking 15gp.
Met Ethel at the town square — orcs had attacked in the night. Turns out the Harrow’s Wake used to protect Brackenford while they traded, and the ship was still missing. Orcs came in landing ships to plunder, not to take slaves. Lord Alric shut the manor doors. The local soldiers refused to help.
Elijah was unhappy and pressed Hal and Ivon about the local soldiers. Ivon said he was the leader of the militia and this wouldn’t have happened if he was there.
Yort Li’s hut idea
Yort Li split off to “build a house.” Found out the orcs attacked suddenly with 20-30. Whole thing took 20-30 minutes. Only Old Briar really tried to mount resistance.
He talked to one of the fishermen, Jeffrey IV, asking for advice on how to deal with his child. It was a mess — what is Jeffrey supposed to say to this total stranger who is also probably the first Tortle he has ever seen?
Yort Li called Dear Li over to talk to Jeffrey, then left them alone. Also a mess. Lorien Painbearer interjected to tell Dear Li that Yort Li wasn’t John but actually his father. Mess. Dear Li left them and sat alone on the beach. Yort Li joined him. Another mess. Yort Li told his son to gtfo. Mess. Somehow they made up and planned to build a house and go into combat together.
Ruasar and the necklace
Ruasar went to the town square. The forest stone / chain was cracked and destroyed.
He approached the square (NOOO DON’T DO IT RUASAR) — the Soul Hag’s necklace hummed and glowed. Overwhelming rage grew within him. He saw an image of himself dominating Jeffrey IV, claiming all that he owned and placing him into servitude.
Jeffrey raised his hand to say hi. Ruasar perceived him as a threat to the necklace. In two blows with his quarterstaff, Ruasar broke Jeffrey’s nose and rendered him unconscious.
Ruasar came back to consciousness. The necklace signaled he was right to protect himself. He panicked and ran to the forest, knowing someone must have seen.
Unbeknownst to Ruasar: Jeffrey IV died of his wounds.
The Empty Net
Cisco and Elijah J. Lucas went to the Empty Net with Fernie and Alicia. Old Briar tending to wounded. Sat with him in the back room.
Old Briar fed up with Lord Alric, wanted him deposed. Talked about the Weeping Sentinel — a brave soldier who defended Briarhollow in a last stand whose shield broke before his will. THIS was the Lord Alric statue.
Started discussing how Alric needed to go.
Interrupted by a commoner: “An old crone murdered Jeffrey.”
Cisco sent Fernie to find Ruasar. Met Ruasar on the outskirts of town on a hill. He was distressed. Sent Fernie to grab Lorien Painbearer and Yort Li.
Meanwhile, Lorien and Yort Li visited Jeffrey’s body. Theorized a third hag. Turns out Jeffrey had a wife (Mousey Woman) and son (Jeffrey V) :(.
We all met up.