High Rollers DnD - Altheya: The Dragon Empire #52 | Tall Tales in Colvel (Part 2)

Episode Date: February 27, 2025

The party interrogate the villagers of Colvel to try to determine what tall tales are real in their hunt for a proto-magi vault! _______________ Boost your Charisma with some HR merch! https://highrollersdnd.teemill.com/ Add official High Rollers Minis to your TTRPG collection here: https://only-games.co/collections/high-rollers Bless your table with the Clever Toad Dice Set: https://dispeldice.com/collections/high-rollers Enhance your bath time experience with the official Altheya themed DiceBombs at https://geekyclean.com/! Check out https://www.highrollersdnd.com/ for all the latest HR News! Love the podcast? Give us a glittering 5 star review! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/high-rollers-dnd/id1401508198?see-all=reviews Support the High Rollers on Patreon and get early access to Podcast episodes, vods and more: www.patreon.com/HighRollers Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound, TCT Adventures (Solasta: Crown of the Magisters), Monument Studios and Jolene Khor! Check out Jolene Khor and all her wonderful work on High Rollers on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1WX3ICiTmf4GpHwImnQMs6 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Welcome back to part two of Althea The Dragon Empire. Our heroes have arrived in the village of Colville, having successfully dealt with the pursuing construct, the stone warden who was following them, malfunctioning so, was repaired and sent on its way. And now our heroes have entered into the small village of Colville, deep within the Rustwale woods. They have entered the Acorn Tavern

and met with Reeve Alwin Dell, who seems to not find much truth in the local stories about odd lights and such things. And they are now currently set in the tavern around a table with a round of drinks. Charity, the owner of the tavern, the tiefling, a tifling male with dark brown skin, red hair, branching antler-like horns,

and a very pointed, waxed devil beard, sort of brings over a very chipped ceramic teapot from which is like this steamy, sweet smelling mist is kind of occurring. Well, well, here we go, your honey-chaser, lovely, lovely job, and he pours it into a little cup. Is that cheating? Are you all right there, sir?

Don't tell me that there's actual hauntings. Oh, sir. Ooh, here in Colville, there's more than just spirits, you see, sir. Oh, there's the great beasts as well, lingering out in the woods. Oh, yes. The reef goddess of a ruin nearby.

Beswick. Beswick? Yes. Beswick. Beswick? Yes. Beswick, completely abandoned. When the envoy arrived in that haunted place. I knew it. The only thing they found, any evidence that the people had left was a scrawled note written in blood.

No. Why would they do it in blood? What wretched sound hath borne a devil this night, it said. That's a big long sentence. Right. A lot of blood. That's a lot of blood. Next to it, a corpse.

What wretched... They say that knights and others who try and investigate what happened at Beswick are never heard from again. Ooh. Ah! Ha ha ha. But of course that's just a story, sir.

That's just a story. Of course, yeah, just a story. Right, guys? I'm sure, I'm sure. But just make sure, if you do go out into the woods and you see any colored lights, don't follow them. Hide.

I would never. Don't let them catch you. The wailing wisps, they'll take your body and try and walk out of these woods to free themselves. They were not taking this body. Okay, now. A very good story. And you see, he's just grinning

as he's telling these stories. He's like, now, to a bit of business, will you be staying? I did notice that you had got stabled a beast out the back in a wagon. Would you like to stay in the rooms here tonight? Are you heading back later today? What is your plan?

We have a common room and a private room available to rent. Could also do food here. Look at Ophelia at the hint of private room. Oh, yeah, she's sort of like, mm, very interested. Oh, well, I think we would definitely like to stay here for the night. I think we might want to spend the rest of the day talking

to as many people around the town as we can, village, we can. Oh, so are you here for a particular reason? I heard you talking to the Reeve, but I was out brewing tea. Well, laugh as you might, we are actually here to investigate these lights that you tell us about. Well, I mean, jokes aside, there is something strange.

There are things out there. Not even just not messing with you. These are old woods, and there are always, you know, we teach our kids, you know, one of the first things that my kids learned when they came here was don't go out into the woods at night. Don't wander off alone. Because of whaling wisps that may take your body away.

I mean, the locals say, yeah, there's all these stories about the whaling wisps and the Galowac and all this kind of nonsense, but like, there's definitely things out there. You know, there are, you get the odd one, like out here, some of the loggers come in, one has a bit too much to drink, he thinks he's gonna go relieve himself out in the woods,

doesn't come back. I see. You know, it could be beasts, could be bandits, could be vaultspawn, who knows, but something's out there. We stay safe, you know, we lock our doors, we stay inside at night, you don't go out, keep it nice and safe, nice and sensible. You say vaultspawn, do you believe there is a vault near here?

Oh no, but you know, as known throughout the Empire, isn't it, you know, gnolls and such, they roam around the vaultspawn that escaped centuries ago. Sometimes they roam such, they roam around, the vaultspawn that escapes, you know, centuries ago, sometimes they roam. Yeah, like the idea that vaultspawn don't necessarily need to come from a nearby vault, vaultspawn are like spread throughout the empire. Especially, yeah, it's a category of monster. It's like gnolls and other creatures

that basically escape out, you know. Would you also open to track down our associate Squire Pascal? I was going to ask if you knew Squire Pascal. He was asking about the same things. He came around here. He was here for nearly a week. He stayed here in the inn. He was up in the private room. He's not anymore.

But yeah, he was asking around. He spent a bit of time asking Maggie and the strongreads and the Reeve and myself. He did a lot of reading, you know, making notes in his little book. He went and spoke to Bjorn, the priest at the church. I think he was waiting here. He seemed to like he was waiting and eventually he seemed like he couldn't wait anymore and he went off and I don't know where he went. I don't know who the last person he spoke to was, but he went off somewhere. Did he go off into the woods or do you think he returned to Ashland's house?

I don't know. I checked out of his room. He said he wouldn't be needing it anymore and that was the last conversation. He didn't say to me where he was going. Unfortunately, I think he would have lost who he was waiting for. Oh. We got delayed by a few things. Oh, it's not my business, sir. Not my business at all. waiting for. We got delayed by a few things.

Oh it's not my business sir, not my business at all. Any indication of what the Squire might have been reading or the kind of questions they might have been asking? Kind of the same stuff that you were asking you know about the lights, about local stories, places nearby. He said that there's been a lot of disappearances off the trade roads. He asked if we'd had any sort of reports of monsters in the area. He was learning about all the different local legends, the Galowac, Beswick.

There's a lot here in Colville. Being in a place like this quite remote, there's all sorts of stories. I know a couple of them, but I'm quite new to the place myself. We took over the Acorn, what, ten years ago? Reminds me of Olm, it does. We have a tradition of telling all our stories at the firelight. Oh, okay. I mean, maybe you'll be able to discern the spectacle from the truth. Well, that's the thing, though, is every story has a kernel of truth in it,

is to teach you to be safe, teach you what your limits are. Yeah, I think it's not necessarily that there's truth about these monsters, but it's their lessons, right? It's like you teach the kids you don't wander off all... or the Galowack will eat you, or the Dancing Ladies will take you away. Don't get into your father's supply of liquor. Mmm. Or else? You get drunk!

Ah, right, okay, of course. Fill the back of my paw. Okay. Okay. Well, just in case any of this does turn out to be true, Galowack? Oh, you want to know about the Galowack? Well.

It's actually my favorite one, this one. Okay. Can we set the atmosphere? Sure, he clicks his fingers and you'll do Thaumaturgy and all the shutters close, the fire, the lights dim. Is that the Galowack? Supposedly, there's a couple of stories, the Galowack. I've heard it told twice in two different ways.

The first is that it's a nature spirit bound like an old thing from Ulfey themselves. You know, a real spirit of primal hunger. It's bound to a stone up near the mountains, the Galawack stone. It comes alive and it stalks the wood to feed on whatever living thing it can find. It drinks the fresh blood of goats and boars, children or men that it can stumble upon. It's got a long, slender, eel-like body with a tiny head and huge, disgusting eyes.

Okay. It's got sickly wings and long razor-thin claws. Right. Its stone, the Galowak Stone, is in a cavern that's said to hide a trove of ancient treasures. The other way I've heard it told is that the Galowak is actually a spirit of the Feywield, bound here in the mortal plane to protect an entrance to the Feywield itself. A secret grove on the other side

contains the treasures of a powerful hag queen. Well. Well, we won't be going anywhere near any of that. Well, no, I mean, the description of this creature is, well, no, that's haunting. But what was the other one, the dancing ladies? Dancing Sisters, I don't know this one as well. I've heard the locals talk about it,

kind of supposedly some sort of threat out in the woods itself, but I don't know that story. You'd probably, one of the strong reads would probably be the one to answer that. I see. I'm trying to think, what are the other ones? I've heard the King's Throne, that's another one I've heard. Supposedly, deep in the woods, there's a mystical grove

with a throne made of willow and oak, and upon it is an ancient warrior-king who sits there. He was an ancient survivor of the Bright Storm, and he made a deal with the spirits of the woods to resist the dragons when they came to claim this land for themselves. He commands a force of living trees and other creatures of the world. They will answer the challenge of any knight or servant of the dragon.

And if you defeat him in single combat, it will pass the boons and powers granted to him by the forest onto you, including immortality and great strength. However, if he defeats you, turns you into twigs and leaves and you become a member of his court. Whoa.

Very interesting, very interesting. There's another one, Redfingers, Redfingers Tower. Don't know as much about this one, as far as I can pick up. Again, Osa's probably would know the details on this one. He's, Redfinger's, well, don't even know if he's a he. Some sort of mage wanders around, has like a tower that can move around. The tower's got hundreds of hands on the bottom of it,

and it walks around the woods. We haven't seen that happen. That really is quite creepy. Oh, I got a shiver all the way down my spine. Okay. It's mostly red fingers. He can help you, he can hurt you, he'll turn you into something unnatural, but.

This is a bad idea. We shouldn't do any of these things. We should just go home. Well, I mean, we are here to investigate the lights at the very least, but it's good to know all the tales of a village, get a gauge of, maybe they're all interlinked, you don't know. Maybe they're all false, fairy tales.

I mean, if you're here for the light specifically, I think one of my little ones says, you know, she says that she saw the lights one night out of the window. Yeah, I can get her if you want to talk to her. Absolutely. Yeah, go on, give me a second. Also, those rooms, should we get those?

I can get those for you as well. We got a common room, which will sleep four of you. That's one gold for the night. Pretty cheap. Or there's a private room, it's got a double bed in it. which will sleep four of ya. That's one gold for the night. Pretty cheap. Or there's a private room, it's got a double bed in it. Normally you have it for couples or wealthier folks who travel. That's five gold for the night.

It's got its own wash basin and privy up there in the private room. One private room, one common. Yeah, I'm guessing Sister Ophelia, you would like the private room. Yes! Can you pay for it out of your own purse? No!

Yes, you absolutely can, Amelia. I don't think she does. She spent it all. She was busy. No, she spent it all. Remember, just before you left Ashen Rest, she was asking for the incense for the ritual. Well, okay. I feel like more than Ophelia, bro.

We'll see. Graf! Yes, sister Ophelia. bro. I'll say Graf. Yes, sister, Ophelia. Please have five gold. Right, but this is the last time. You need to be a bit better with your money. Yeah. Does she not have any platinum left?

She spent it all. She bought her personal armor and weapons. So that would be what, five, six? Six gold for the two. I will slide. So that would be what, five, six? Six gold for the two. I will slide six gold and a silver over the counter for Charity's Tales. He'll gladly take that, kind of pass them across his fingers.

That's what we do in Isarth. I should point out, it doesn't come with any food, but we do do food here if you're interested. Okay. The rooms, I'll get your keys sorted. Let me go and fetch my Lytlen. And he parts off. Comes back, like you finish your drinks or whatever.

The honey tea, by the way, Rowan, really beautiful, really sweet, soothes your throat. It's very calming. It's just what you needed. This is lovely. It's a shame they won't get any more of this. Such a shame they won't be getting any more of this. Such a shame. A few moments later, Charity comes back.

He comes out from, like, a side room. He's got, like, a little ring of keys. He gives one to Sister Ophelia, gives one to Yougruff. It's pretty simple, got just bunk beds up there, but there are things there. And he says, and this is, and he sort of gestures from behind him, sort of holding onto, says, and this is, and he sort of gestures from behind him, sort of holding onto his little leg is a little Typhling girl, similar kind of dark brown skin, but she doesn't have the branching horns.

She does have the red hair, but it's really, really long, goes all the way down to her tail at her back, these little bangs that fall over. Her horns are just these little nubs though, like they're just these little tiny little horns. But her tail has got this like heavy axe blade shaped kind of like end to it. It looks like, it looks like if she hit you with it,

it would be, yeah, yeah, yeah. And she's sort of like, hi. And who is this? He's like, go on, tell him your name. I'm Grace. Hello, Grace. Hello. We're new here, so I've heard you've got some really

interesting... Daddy said you wanted to hear about the lights. Yes, please. Yes, we would love to hear more about the lights. See, we are valiant. It's not scary though, is it? They were very pretty when I saw them. Okay, that's fine.

Okay, in that case, we're not valiant warriors here to destroy the lights. No, I mean, we're not allowed to go outside at night, but one night I couldn't sleep and I was looking out of my window and I was watching the woods, because I thought I heard a noise, and when I was watching, in between the trees, I saw the one of the lights.

It was a kind of bluey green. Like you have a bluey kind of green. It was like that. That's not so bad. And it was kind of glowing and sort of, it went. Floating around? Yeah, yeah, it was floating, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. What was the noise you heard?

Was it like this, Ophelia? Oh yeah. Did it sound like this? I don't know, it wasn't like that, no. Okay. Ophelia's making the noise now. It sounded like, Woo.

Oh, okay, now that is more, that's actually a better impression of Filio. Remember this one. It was like a, woo. Okay, okay, and it just wandered past. It was floating through the trees, it was just sort of floating back and forth and I thought it was really, really pretty

and I thought it might be a fairy, but Michael says that fairies don't exist, that they're not real. Well, they do, absolutely. That's what I said, but he said I was stupid. Oh, you're not at all. No, I know I'm not stupid. He's stupid. He smells. Yeah, he probably does.

Now, Grace, you shouldn't talk about your brother. He's like, that's your brother. Oh, it's your brother. Your brother doesn't smell. He does. He smells. He smells bad. He doesn't brush his teeth. Oh, absolutely. I think brothers do smell. I agree. So Grace, you were looking out your window and there were between the trees with this blue and green light.

It was far away, because it was really small. How many me's between you and? Lots of you's. Okay, that's quite far. Like 10 me's? She doesn't seem like, she doesn't necessarily know what 10 is.

And this is the first time you've ever seen these lights? Yeah, it's the first time. But I do know that some of the other, the loggers and some of the other people in town, they've seen the lights. And that's how I know, that's why I know that fairies are real, because they've seen them too.

Okay, well, who else in the village has seen the fairies? Loads of people. Everyone? Yeah, well, like all of the loggers, they've said that village has seen the fairies? Loads of people. Everyone? Yeah, well, like all of the loggers, they've said that they've seen them. Okay. Or their dad or their brother or their sister saw them. Everybody knows the story where they saw the fairy lights.

Okay. And you stayed inside, right, when you saw it? Oh yeah, and we're not allowed to go outside at night. We're not allowed to go outside at night. You listened to your father. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Good girl. She's sort of like nods.

She's like, can I... You look really fluffy. Mm-hmm. Can I touch you? I'll hold out a paw, like that. She's like, reaches out. Oh. It's like the Johnson family, they have a kitty,

and it's like that. Do they now? Very soft. And then I'm gonna turn my paw over and there's a sweet in my hand. Oh, and he's like, he looks, Charity looks down, he's like, yeah, you can have it. And he's just like, snap, snap, snap.

What do you say? It's already in a mouth. Yeah, he's like, all right, go on, go and help your mother set up the rooms. And he kind of suits her up, and she goes up the stairs, skips up the stairs, basically. There you go. Thank you very much.

First-hand account. Like I said, I've never seen them, but Grace has, and I know what she said, pretty much everybody here has a story that they know somebody who's seen the lights out there and stuff like that, but just nobody wants to mess with it. Everybody knows a story, you don't meddle with that kind of thing.

The only one who I think is, well, I don't know if they've ever gone outside, but the only one who doesn't seem bothered by it all is that witch Maggie. She's an odd one, but she's got all these sorts of charms and things outside her hut. Local folk think that she's protected by whatever it is out there. Did Pascal spend much time with this Maggie?

Definitely went and spoke to her, yeah. I know he definitely went and spoke to her. Okay, be a good first port of call, I imagine. It seems like the Reeve is also very unbothered by this whole affair. Oh, old Dell. Yeah. Well, when he gets in his cups, he gripes. I don't know all the details.

He gets quite slurry and often falls asleep before he finishes. But he's from Chelscaris. He's up from the big city. And I think he had his eyes on being quite a political character, but something happened. And I think he got outplayed by some rivals in the city. And he ended up being assigned here rather than elsewhere. Yeah, it's quite bitter about it.

But he refuses to give it up. He says that he's gonna overcome it, that one day Duke Ignaris will notice him and realize what a good reeve he is and assign him somewhere else, somewhere more fitting someone of his station. And he is a good reeve, at least? No, he's dogshit.

I see. No, he's not that bad. He's very focused on certain things, but the problem is, is he rubs Osa Strongreed up the wrong way. And she's, well, basically Colville doesn't run without the Strongreeds. I see, okay.

They run the lumber mill. It's been in their family for hundreds of years, I think, and it's the prime export of the town. Like all the Rustwell timber goes down, send it's the prime export of the town. Like, all the rust-well-lit timber goes down, send it by barge down to Ash and Rest, Feroz, Emberford. Okay. And there was talk of Osa maybe being a better fit to run the village. Do you think that's the case? Osa thinks so. I actually don't think so. I don't know.

She's well-liked, she's knowledgeable, but she's bullheaded, stubborn. I don't think she'd make a good Reeve. I see. But, yeah, they just, the Strongweed family have been in charge for a long time, or in charge of the Lumber Mill, so they think they should get a say in everything, and Alwyn disagrees.

Yeah, as long as it's not causing too much friction around here. It causes a little, but nothing too serious. More that if you go and speak with Osa, maybe just if you were to happen to disparage the Reeve a little bit, it might put you in her good graces. Good to know.

We can do that. Yeah. We're good at disparaging. Little tip from charity, of course. Yes. Well, slaps knees. About that time. Well, your rim knees. About that time. Well, your rooms are all ready.

And it's about like afternoon. It's like maybe late afternoon. And he'll say, well, do you want another drink or are you going to go off and speak with folks around town? I don't know. What do you think? Would it be a good time to start? What's the time? It's like late, like late, late-ish afternoon. No, we could still talk to people before afternoon, like three, four o'clock.

No, we can still talk to people. Yeah, you've got time. And if not, people can... And it's summer, so it won't get dark, dark until quite late. Worst case, people will slowly file into this place. Well, yeah, a couple of hours and this place will start filling up. Like, all the loggers come here after their shift

and they'll want a stiff drink, so. Do forgive me if I'm a bit busy later on, I don't know if I'll have time to chat. Quite all right. Thanks for your assistance anyway, and for the rooms. Ah, of course, it's business, isn't it? Good to keep you in good company, make sure we turn business.

Do you want dinner or breakfast tomorrow? Generally take payment up front if you do. Well, we've had travel rations the last three days, so... My wife Diana, fantastic cook. Fantastic cook. We can do a basic meal for two, two goal each, or Diana will give you the good food for five each. I think tonight we've got a rabbit stew. She's going to do a rabbit stew.

I can bring out the nice meats and cheeses. She's done a delicious apple tart. That's her signature dish, the apple tart. You got a stout on a stick? For basic, yeah, I can do a bit of stout on a stick. Yeah, you've got a couple of them strung up out there. Got a little bit of chicken. Christ.

Would we still have fish from when we eat on the road? It's like you weren't even near a source of water for a long time. We're on the river, we follow the river! We fished on the way here! Yeah, because there was a roll, the second I sat at Rolls Bay, and I fished with Saturn. I think that was basically like sustaining the rations. You would have used that that night.

You don't have surplus for future days. Don't tell me you didn't fish. No, I've forgotten that you did do that route. There is a river right there. You could go and fish tonight, yeah. I mean, you also have the wagon, you don't have to stay in the inn. You could stay in the wagon,

it's just not as comfortable. I mean, after the last three days of food, I certainly wouldn't mind some of the more deluxe meals. Won't regret it. My wife, she is, oh, she's sent by the Scions themselves, I think. Well then. It's just God's gift. The goddess's gift. Fish out five gold, at least for my own.

How is Ophelia looking at the idea of a deluxe meal? How rare is this rabbit that you have? Not that rare. It's quite well cooked. Nobody likes rare rabbit. She's like, no, I'll be fine. Okay. I've got my supply.

Oh, good. You really don't need to pause every time you say that. What do you mean? But yeah. So, Xanthias wants a good meal. I want a good, good meal. I've got money for him. This isn't for narrows, it's for like,

yeah, you'll be having dinner basically, yeah. So basically, he'll say, Charity will say, when you come back, when you're done for the night and you want to settle down, I'll clear a table for you. I'll ask whoever the locals are in, I'll get them to clear a table and we'll get you a nice meal served up. But we'll do it when you're ready, basically.

Rowan, are you saying you don't have any money? I haven't had money since the clever toad situation. Why do you think that is? Because I spent the money on buying a clever toad. Now, are you thinking that maybe you should save your money and stop spending it on the machine that takes the money and stop spending it on the machine that takes the money and putting it in some unseen dimension.

What? It goes to the clever toad. An offering for... Oh well, I did say that it... Foresight. Okay. I'm gonna pay for it. It's gonna come back.

Yeah, absolutely, my love, yeah, absolutely. I've paid for it. It's on the up. Stonks are on the up. What is a stonk? What? It's like, just something my parents used to say. Something my parents used to say.

Stonks are special stones. Right, right. And certain tribes in... Trade in. The Diamond Hands tribe. In the Azhar steppe, they trade for stonks, which are special rocks that they use as a sort of bartering currency.

It's like a favor stone, like you're like, I don't have it on me now, I'll give you a stonk, and then you can exchange that for a thing with me later. Right, okay, okay, okay, okay. That is now canon, and we'll go into my DM notes. And in the wiki. That certain tribes in the Azhar Stands. Diamond Hands tribe.

They're trying to go to the moon. I am paying. Nobody wants to go to the moon. Five. Yeah, it's broken. It's so broken. I do. Not even Nova wants to go up there.

Actually no, that's a lie, she would. I will pay five gold for Emile and Daisy. I'll pay, I've paid for mine. No, Daisy's paid. I'll pay for Rowan's because Rowan brought the clever toad into the inn and that's pretty great. Okay, great, yeah, so I will pay five gold for him. Thank you very much.

I forgot your clever toad pilled. Yeah. I'm very entertained by it. I'm not like five gold for it. Thank you very much. I forgot your clever toadpilled. Yeah. I'm very entertained by it. I'm not like in belief of it. Toadpilled prophecy maxing. I'm more in support of Rowan's toad. What? I'm not a believer of the toad so much as a believer

of Rowan enjoying himself. I'm fine. I'm going to be honest. I'm surprised you laughed at that one. That really got me. It's where my single brain cell is today. It's got like such a youthful joke. No, it's not.

So yeah. Wow! Oh! You have paid for dinner. I'm gonna break your legs. All right, that will be served later. Where do you want to go? You have basically a good few hours

before everyone starts like winding down. So you have a little bit of time, depending on who you want to speak to. Is Maggie in the village? So Charity would tell you like, so Maggie, you can see it a mile off. It's the little hut with all the wildflowers. Don't touch any of them.

I'm pretty sure some of them are poisonous. It's a little hut on the outskirts, right within the tree line, but you'll see all the charms and everything that she's got hung up around it, basically. Hard to miss. They'll point you in the right direction. Okay.

Yeah, so we can either go to Maggie, or we can go to Osa. Yeah, just head to the Lumber Mill. So you'll find Osa over at the Lumber Mill. Okay. Osa seems to know everyone in the village quite well. But maybe the witch will have a better idea of this kind of... fairy tale.

Maybe we best go to Osa if she's sort of the boss, as they say. We introduce ourselves, get on our good side. Does Maggie come to the acorn often? No, keeps herself to herself. Does Osa? Oh yeah, Osa will be here later, yeah, absolutely. Well, it might be a good idea. She'll come drinking in with all of her crew.

Well, we could catch Osa now before they've had too much to drink, and then go to Maggie after. Plan? I'm easy. and add too much to drink, and then go to Maggie after. Plan? I'm easy. Like a Sontag morning. What's a Sontag? Okay. Let's go see Osa before they're bombarded by lockers.

Yes. And then see Maggie once the lockers have arrived. Okay. Yeah, you guys make your way out of the acorn, and again, this is a really small village, it's not hard, you just literally head towards the river. You see the large lumber mill built over the river itself, but also there is like a big open area

where they are clearly working. You know, and you can see loggers like cutting timber logs and things like that. There's also, on the river, there's like a warehouse and like a barge dock, which is all connected, and then what appears to be like a little office cottage basically. And you can see that there is a sign on the lumber mill

that says strong reed and suns, and it has a pair of like water, cottontail like reeds basically, for the symbol like in a V shape. Okay. And there's dozens, like this is the most people you've seen so far, and they're all working in the lumber mill, like you have to cross

over the lumber mill to get to the offices, and people are like, watch yourselves, as they're carrying, and you can see these guys carrying these huge logs, like on their shoulders, very lumberjack, you know, everyone's kind of got their shirts off, like there's men and women here, very mix of races, you can see Halfling like Carmen is like checking the logs, like skewering off any sort of like wonky bits,

and you know, everyone's working. Thriving business, yeah. Yeah, this seems to be like the main thing of Colville. And when you sort of are, you know, say like, where's, is Osa here? And they're like, oh, office, go check the office, the boss is in the office, come on get out of the way. And you're like, they're like, all right,

I heave, put it onto there. It's like an obstacle course. Yeah, it's, you're definitely like, whoa, dodging to the side. There's no way to walk through it calmly while everything's in place. But you make your way over and yeah, you head to the offices, the door is closed,

but there's like a little window and you can see that there is somebody moving around inside. Knock, knock, knock. We're looking for Osa. Come in. Wow, if that's okay. Yes, yes, come in quick. Open the door, hello.

Hello. We are. When you step inside, there is a site before you. Okay. You step in, it's quite a low roofed, cottage-y kind of building. And there's all sorts of like a kucha one,

you can see ledges and bookshelves. It's quite a well furnished little office, like quite affluent. Nice rich like bare skin rug on the floor. Actually no, not a bare skin rug, it would be something else. Like some sort of big fully like fleecy rug. Get away.

A leonard. Maybe. But you can see that there's like, you know, deer heads, there's like a huge composite bow mounted on the wall, a big ax, you know, like leaned up against the side. Big, like, handmade wooden desk. And sort of sat behind it in this very ornate wooden chair

is this, like, not tall like Rowan, but thick, muscular bear woman. She is a wild heart, but with bears. So she has these little rounded ears, humanoid style. So she has these little rounded teddy ears with this thick mane of brown hair that like spills down her front and down her back. These huge, big, strongest woman sort of build.

this huge, big, strongest woman sort of build. And she is in a shirt that is barely containing her muscles. And she's hairy, really hairy shoulders, quite hairy. Not on her face, but on her arms. And she has a bit of a kind of grizzly bear look to her in her appearance. Hello? Oh hello, Osa Strongreed, sorry to interrupt your work. We are travelers from Ash and Rest.

Ah, you're the ones who were dealing with the Golem, yeah? We were dealing with the Golem, yes, but hopefully that is a situation that has never been resolved. But for now, the reason we're here now is we're under the charge of Emberisa Ignarius and investigating the lights and the mysterious happenings around the page.

Why are you speaking with Zareve? I told it he took you to the inn. Yes, we did meet the Zareve, very... Oh, that poopy, ugh. What a boring person. Poor attitude, that man, poor attitude. Stupid, uh, bullet. What a boring person. Poor attitude, that man, poor attitude.

Ja, what a stinker, yeah? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I wish there were a real leader. Stupid little tiny man. Yes, no. I wish there were a real leader. We had the misfortune of walking behind him into the town.

Don't, don't, you'll get me started. No, absolutely, well that's not why we're here, not for that insignificant, prophetic little help of a man. Oh, absolutely. Well, that's not why we're here, not for that insignificant, prophetic little help of a man. Yah. Yah. I come from a village where basically bloodlines matter more. Oh, hello. Hello.

My name is Gruff. Oh. She like looks at Gruff and is like, hmm. I'm from a little village called Tremoro. I'm married. I'm very married. Loses it. But, yeah, in our village, we believe bloodlines should run the village, not little bureaucrats.

Exactly, yeah, the strong reeds have supported Colville for generations, and you know, we're the reason that people get to live, and you know, we supply the timber. He doesn't know anything about running a place like this. He doesn't know all the families. He doesn't take the time to get, I know every single person who lives here, yeah?

I know all of them. And it looks like you're running such a thriving industry here. Yeah, yeah. My father, my grandfather, my grandmother, they started the business many, many generations ago and it's been passed down to me. But I see great future for the Strongread timber company.

Yeah, I want to expand out of Russwale, maybe move out into the South. Yeah, yeah, it's a thriving business. As the cities and towns are expanding, they're going to need timber and lumber for their houses, for their new shops, for their new businesses. Yeah.

Oh, it's very stuffy in here. And she goes and opens the windows, like, ah, that's better. So you know everybody. Yeah. You know all your workers. Yes. Have there been any disappearances?

Yeah, all the time. These idiots, you know, they get drunk, all the time, these idiots, you know, they get drunk, they go out into the woods, even though we tell them they're beasts, they're bandits, and you know, stupid travelers on the road carrying all of their money, all of their goods, they're prime targets for bandits. And then people start making up all these stories,

ghosts and gallowacks and red fingers and all of these nonsenses. And you believe this is Bannitry, not? Or bears or, you know, vaultspawn or some creatures. The only one that I think, you know, there are the wisps. I know that, I don't think that they're the spirits of the dead lost out in the woods, yeah? They are, hmm, fey creatures or maybe some leftover magic

from the Bride Storm or something. You know, but they're harmless, they're just lights off in the woods. Harmless, okay. Well, they have to be, right? They can't, they're just lights. Well. What else could they be? I mean, on our travels, we did encounter a crystalline They have to be, right? They can't, they're just lights. What else could they be?

I mean, on our travels, we did encounter a crystalline structure that seemed to contain multicolored lights floating around its body that was a danger to us, but I mean, we dealt with it. Well, it doesn't sound like the wisps that people have seen here. There's no body, people have seen them, you know.

But you see them only at night time? Not always. Okay. There are people who, you know, sometimes we have to scout for like new areas to take the lumber from, yeah? So sometimes we send somebody out, and out in the woods,

they have seen the wisps a superstitious lot around here. So they hide, they don't want the wisps to see them. So they hide and they seem to be past. But I did have a scout go missing a few months ago. Really? We thought that he got bit by a bear, but some of the others or something, you know bandits or something,

but some of the people think that a wisp got him or the Galawak. Oh, Galawak, I'm sick of hearing about Galawak. Ugh. Okay. And whereabouts did the scout go missing? Oh, it was, she pulls out a few maps that she has and she sort of lays them out.

Yeah, we were scouting, they were dispatched here, here and here. You can see one's off to the east, one's sort of northwest, the other one is just straight north of here. Yeah, so he was meant to go to these three places. No, it's not that far, it's less than a day's travel to go between the three and come back.

Okay, has anyone investigated these places since, his disappearance? I haven't had the spare manpower, workforce I should say. I've not had the spare workforce to go out. Once I lost, he was a pretty talented woodsman, he knows to avoid certain, he knows how to forage, he knows how to avoid the beasts, yeah, so.

I figure. I guess so, yeah. That's what the little scrawny squire was asking me all about, yeah. We were about to ask after him. He was waiting for us and we took our time to get here. So we're wondering. Ash and rest, you never know how to be punctual.

Well, we add a few other matters to take care of. Yeah, yeah, yeah, okay, okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Why am I saying yeah? Um. That's right. We were going, oh fuck. Hello, my name is Grog. I'm from a little village in...

Are you all right? Do you need something? Grog was just resetting. I'm from the Nettlip Dungeon. Are you all right? Do you need something? Grog was just resetting. I'm just resetting. It's happens. Hold on, hold on, right, I'm there, I'm there. Just let them connect to the wifi. Xanthias, what have you done now?

Yes, hello. Right, we were wondering what he was asking after Wally was here, and if you know where he went. I don't know where he went, but I think he asked around in many of the same stories, you know, a lot of my loggers, he was a very nervous little fellow, very sort of shaky and stammering all the time.

It was hard to get a word out of him, I'll be honest. But he, you know, asked around a few questions. He asked me about Redfinger and many of these other stories about dancing ladies, Beswick, the King's Throne, many of the stories that I grew up as a child. My grandfather, my father, and my mother used to tell these stories to all the children. My grandfather, my father, sorry, Bjorn, he is the new priest of the church

and he teaches many of the children and he tells them all these stories. I think he went to see Zatowich. That was the last person I think he spoke to. He said that he needed to check something with her and then he thought he might know something, but that was the last I think I saw of him. All right.

Well, we'll go there now then, I think. Oh yeah, if you think there's something, do you think that there is something in particular you're looking for, or you're just, is it the same as the squires, these travelers, these stupid travelers from the road. Right now we're looking for him. Ah. It's enough of a...

Wait, he didn't go back to Ash and Rest? We haven't seen anything yet, no. A little fellow like that's probably got scooped up by an owl or something. He's been scooped! An owl's been scooped. That's how I wanna go. In real life?

It's small, it's weak. Like, honestly, keep an eye on this one. Scooped up by an owl, so easy. Big owls here. I mean, you say that, this one, she has the highest kill count in our group. Yeah, let's not call it a half. Okay.

Summoned with a knife. No. Fireball. Framkin Blade. Yes, no, I think we will speak with Maggie. I think the only other thing we are most interested in may be that Bezwick, the, well, we are most interested in may be that Beswick, the Haunted... Well, we were told haunted ruins.

Yeah, yeah, haunted ruins. But a village that just vanished overnight. Well, you know, my family's been here since the founding. Sure, there's a lot of stories of banshee, of Beswick, Beswick, ghosts, all of this. But the truth is, Beswick wasn't doing very well, there's no real resources around there. They were trying to do lumber, but this was hundreds of years ago, so they didn't know what they were doing a lot of the time.

So I think that they just sort of abandoned the place. And rather than going to the Duchess, I guess, at the time and saying, sorry, can't provide you with your tithing because we're all useless. So they fled. Instead they fled and say, you know, oh, some ghost.

No, a good getaway, I suppose. Yeah, that kind of covers that, doesn't it? Kind of clears that up. If all true, then yes, that clears that up. Well! Why did the two clues... We heard about the dancing sisters, but we don't actually know what that one is.

We've heard the other ones. So this one, I think is... I think that there's some truth to this. Oh, I'm not very good at telling stories, yeah, but I will try. So, the story of the Dancing Sisters. There's Lily, Lana, and Laura. They's young maidens.

They lived in Colville, you know, centuries ago, decades ago, whatever. And they were always told, oh, don't go to the woods, and if you go out into the woods, don't eat the fruit that looks like a white heart. Don't eat the fruit that looks like a, sorry, a white dew drop. Don't eat the fruit that looks like a white dew drop.

It's bad. But the girls are young. They think, oh, we can go off and play in the woods. We want to go see the meadows. We want to play in the flowers, and they go off, they disobey their parents. And they're dancing and playing, and they come across this grove

of beautiful flowers and plants, yeah, they see this white dewdrop fruit, and oh, hungry, oh, they are so hungry, so they think, oh, what can be the harm of eating this fruit? So they eat the jujube fruit, and then they start laughing and dancing. But they can't stop dancing, yeah?

They keep dancing, and the plants, they send out the vines, and they pick up their arms, and they play them like little marionettes, and they lead them through the forest, and they begin to lure other people so that the plants can eat the people, and send the press. I think...

Okay. And people say that if you see girls invite dancing in the woods, that's the Dancing Sisters, and you avoid them. I think there are creatures, plant creatures here in the woods. I think that there is some sort of a plant creature that maybe has some sort of thing

that looks like a girl dancing. And it uses that to lure people in, that's what I think anyway. Well, don't say all your storytelling too short there. That was a good story. Oh, thank you little man. That's very kind of you. I really enjoyed it.

That's fine. Really enjoyed it. Remind me of my wife, Keridwen. Oh yeah, where's your wife now? In Isar. In Isar. Oh, so quite far then. Back home, yeah, where's your wife now? In Isar. Huh? In Isar. Oh, so quite far then. Back home, yeah.

Okay, yeah. I would feel frightfully lonely if being so far away from someone for such a long time, you know, find comfort and warmth, but you know, that's just me. Very natural. But yeah, is there anything else I can do for you? Rose is terrified of that story he just heard.

He's silent now. I think I need to go send a message to someone. Okay, go call off out there. Yeah, sure. Go do whatever you need to. If you're looking for the Squire, we'll be fine, Tim. We don't want any trouble here in Culver, so don't want to have some missing Squire,

some knight on our hands. So. Well, we might see you at the acorn later. We've got dinner there. Oh, good, yeah, charity's good, yeah. We like charity. Knows how things work here in Colville, so no, like charity a lot.

Good fellow, good fellow. His wife Diane. Oh, her apple tart is, mm. Oh, glad to hear it. Aside from Maggie, is there anyone else who might have some more potentially concrete evidence, at least, of... Concrete evidence?

Whatever concrete is. You could go speak with my father, Bjorn. He, I think he believes in some of the stories a lot more than, you know, he actually believes in a lot of these stories, yeah. You could speak to him, but other than that, I mean, if you've spoke to Charity and you've spoke to Arlwyn, then I think you've spoken to most of the,

everyone else here is just, you know, they're weavers or loggers or... What? Nothing. They're just local folks, you know, no one of great import. Okay. Thank you for your time.

Ah, yeah, yeah, no problem. Wood. Yeah, yeah, yeah, we'll continue. Cutting it and moving it around and stuff. Mm-hmm. That is what we do. Mm-hmm. All right.

We won't keep you from that for much longer. Yeah, good. You're like, well, she gets a thing and starts picking things out of her nails. She just sits back. I imagine this one was a chisel. Yeah. It's just a chisel.

She has bare talons for nails. She's picking bits and pieces from under them. Okay. I guess we go see Maggie. Yes, let's go see Maggie. Sure. You guys leave the lumber yard, you have to cross back over.

Whoop, coming through! And you're like, whoop, that's the side. You can see now, like you probably wouldn't have like really picked up on it before, but looking around quite a few of the loggers and things like that, they are all wild hearts as well. Not all bears, but quite a few bear wild hearts here, who seem to be sort of very knowledgeable, obviously a big family, and a lot of the wild hearts here run the lumber mill.

When you make your way back into town, you pick up that there are like, there's a local weaver and a carpenter and things like that, a leather worker, but they seem to mostly be just people to function for the town to function. You cross through the town square, past the acorn, and now head out past that little wooden palisade wall. And there are a few little lodges and cabins here and there,

close to the wall, but out in the distance, right on the very edge of where the forest really begins to thicken and become more deep, you see a round stone hut built on wooden stilts, so it's actually lifted up off the ground, and there's like a little like cargo net ladder that sort of leads up to it. And all around this little stone hut are mounds of earth covered in brightly colored flowers and thistle reeds and all sorts of, many flowers that you've never seen before, and like, those of you in Caldra,

there's maybe like even some like, not some of them are harsh ice heart flowers and herbs, but you would probably recognize a few, and from the Azhar Steppe, there's a couple of rock bud-like, kind of rocky, bulbous, egg-like creatures with vines coming out of it and things like that. All scattered around, and then also hanging from the trees and off the building or etched into the stone itself,

you see all sorts of runic warding symbols, fetishes, dream catcher-esque devices, all scatter around, real Witch of the Wilds vibe here. But it's a very small hut. It is clearly built for a halfling or a gnome. Rowan, you will literally have to crawl to fit into this hut. It is very built for a halfling or a gnome. Rowan, you will literally have to crawl to like fit into this hut. It is very, very small.

Are any of us repelled by any of the fetishes? No, but all of you can make an arcana check for me. Okay. Or anybody who has like magic, which is pretty much all of you. I went for a few leaders notice. Natural 20. Good to know.

And that makes sense actually, that lines up. Rowan, it makes sense for you as well? Two. Two. Yep, no, it makes sense actually. Daisy and Gruff, you don't really notice anything. I'm looking at the flowers, they're really pretty. They're very, very pretty. I'm still kind of stunned from Osa.

Yeah, just like, ugh. Ugh, flustered. I'm so confused. Rowan, you kind of almost feel like a tingle up your arms where the Protomanjai symbols are. Like as you pass the threshold, and you actually see that there is this very fine line in a big circle around the hut,

and you feel like an, ooh, like a tingle, like an electric tingle up your arms, and you're not repelled, but you definitely feel that like, this is warded, this place is warded against something, and it does not like the proto-magi touch on you. Xanthias, you feel like a tightness in your chest immediately. Okay.

It subsides, but you notice that the runes around your chest, you would feel them glowing quite hot, and actually a bit of light coming through your shirt a little bit, as they are almost like the runes are working overtime. Okay. You kind of... Ooh, like, you're sweating a little bit,

which is unusual for you being a gold dragonborn. Like, you... And you immediately know, yeah, this is actually quite a powerful ward around this hut, designed to keep otherworldly creatures at bay. I see. Okay. Would... Would that have an impact on them? No. Otherworldly creatures at bay. I see, okay. Would that have an impact on Nim? No, doesn't seem to.

I think because Nim is like bound very internally into Daisy, like it's a spiritual symbiosis. Oh no, lucky. Because it's like a spiritual symbiosis. Nim never existed. Although Nim would probably say to you, Daisy, thank you for the reminder, Nym would probably say like, little one, I cannot see or hear much.

It is, I cannot see beyond your body. I, there is something clouding it. I have not encountered much like this before. So she is being repressed, oh sorry, they are being repressed slightly. I mean, their senses are like cut off. As soon as it's past your skin, they can't hear or see anything.

So they're aware of you and they know what you're saying and doing, but that's really it. Am I able to obscure the light at least? I know I've got the sash. You can like pull the sash over and stuff like that, absolutely. Or maybe you can even cause some lights around you to kind of mask it a little bit.

Cool. Look like maybe you have an enchanted tunic or something. Sweet. Yeah, absolutely. But yeah, you have to basically climb up and crawl into this little, you know, it's got an opening, but it's for a halfling. It's not built for anyone taller than three feet tall.

Oh, before we invade on Maggie's private space, maybe we should just call up first? Yeah, I mean, I might not even fit. Okay. Stay here. Maggie? You hear a sort of, meh, and then poking out of this kind of netted carton-like surface

in front of the door, there's no door, there's just this kind of like very fine mesh net, and it's got gems and little stones and all sorts of things carved into it. A creature pokes its head underneath as a very, a monitor lizard, but its scales are very rocky and black and harsh. It looks quite gross.

It's got like snot dribbling out of its nose. Its tongue is like hanging out of its mouth, like this big forked tongue. And it looks around at all of you. We're looking for Maggie, the witch of this village. Is it? And then it scuttles back inside. I think that might've been an invitation. Really?

Possibly, I don't know. Grov, are you able to... You make me. Oh, okay, that is an invitation. Didn't need to speak with animals for us. Oh, good. All right, well, we're gonna be coming up. There's, oh, you saw us.

You make me. Okay, good, let's go in. Good luck Rowan. Okay. So who's going in first? Oh I'm happy to go in first. Okay, grub. Again, kind of like Rowan, like you get in

and you have to really crouch, you go in your hands and knees. And you crawl into a space, the round hut is large, it's just short. You crawl in, a heavy, earthy smell immediately hits you. There is a little cook pot bubbling over a little coal fire, a little chimney kind of sending it out.

The whole place is bedecked in like animal pelts and skins. Things, herbs, and little pottery objects hang from the ceiling from this meshed netting. Very Yoda's cave in Return of the Jedi. And sort of sat at this very low little table looking into what appears to be a sort of scattering of bones in a deep bowl. It's a hunched, halfling dragonborn woman.

So the sort of proportions of a halfling, but you see a black draconic tail curling out from this grandmotherly sort of shawl wrapped around her, and a scale, the fully scaled black hand sort of drifts, and then a halfling, you know, slightly tanned skin hand crosses over as she grips this walking stick and sort of pats it and turns. And the rest of you sort of follow in behind Graf.

And looking at you, you see milky white eyes, blind, completely blind. This old, very old, halfling dragonborn woman. You can see that she has like black scales on her face, a little ridge of black horns, much like Xanthias. But she looks very blind, not looking at you, but in your direction. Bracken, Bracken, show them to me.

As that monitor lizard sort of coils from under the table and looks in your direction. Yes. Wild heart of Iceheart. A golden dragonborn of, not dressed like the golds of Kildive. A little sweet flower, I think. And you are too big, you will cause problems.

Sorry. She clicks her fingers and I think you get a saving throw from this as she's gonna cast Reduce on you, Rowan. Oh. We're having a big day. Yeah, we're having a big day. So I think it is, I can't remember what kind of saving throw it is.

I guess you would... Con, yeah. Would you willingly heal it or no? He wouldn't know what it is. I guess not, yeah. Con, int, whiz. I would hook it up, but my laptop's being a bit silly at the moment.

At most it's a plus two, so 21. Maybe a whiz. At least it's an 18., so 21. Maybe a whiz. At least it's 18. Okay, then you probably would resist it, and she's like, stronger willed than I thought. What, I felt a tingle then. I want to make you small, you will break my house.

Oh, how small will be talking? You will be like the girl. All right, that's fine. I'll allow it. Good. She kind of gestures at you and you feel that same tingle. Yeah, she can't reduce on you and you. Hello.

Yeah. This is a very strange day. I'm seeing a lot of you rowing today. That is better. Okay. Now you're my size. Yeah. Bracken, listen for me now.

And Bracken goes to the door. Bracken is the little monitor. Yes. He moves up to the door and sort of keeps watch out the door. Strangers to this little village. Why have you come? Well, we are under the charge of

Emberis Rignarius in investigation of the strange lights that have been seen around Corbel for the last few months. You come chasing the ghost stories. Ghost stories, yes. We're getting that indication that it's probably some fairy tales, but... What makes you think that?

Ah, just the... From what we're hearing around the village, no one seems to truly believe that... And you think these villagers, they know all, do you? Not necessarily. Like Gruff has said, there is some kernel of truth to these stories, I must be. And... Gruff. Oh, there is some kernel of truth to these stories, I must be. Yes. Gruff. Oh, er...

He, er... Hello, my name is Gruff. Iceheart. From a little village called Tremorru, I'm very happily married to my wife, Kerriden. We made a bond under the aurora, we have bonded for life, and she loves me as much as I love her. My love for her is as pure as the ocean. I love my wife! Gruff, Gruff, Gruff, Gruff, that's a great...

That's good to hear, that's wonderful. And I'm sure my wife is not lonely without me. Really irrelevant to this current situation though. Sure she misses me as much as I miss her. I was going to call you wise, but perhaps that was foolish. I am not having a good day. Same. So.

I am not having a good day. Same. So. So. Same. You have come to look into ghost stories, like the Squire, yes? Yes, exactly like the Squire. No, you have come also to see Magathera.

What? Magathera, that is me. That's your full name. Locals, they call me Maggi. Right, but. Old Maggi, blind Maggi, strange Maggi. But still they come. Always wanting.

Yeah, sometimes, mean Maggi. I may be blind, but my hearing, and she points to her quite large, halfling dragon, and her hearing's still very good. What colour dragonborn is she again? Black. Black dragonborn, OK. My favourite.

Yeah. And she's got like real kind of, you know, grandma robes on, you know, she's got like, covered like with jewellery, but it's not metal. It's bone or wood. You can see tattoos all over her hands going up her arms. The draconic arm is like a full black dragon, scaled dragonborn arm.

And she has this like coiling tail, but yeah, completely blind milky eyes. And you can see like, you know, looking past her there's like various potions and alchemy equipment and supplies and things like that. You also see like odd things like what appears to be like a dried out, desiccated chicken, just sort of hung up tongues,

like with a nail through it, just on a piece of wood. Any Lian-In Wild Heart skins? There's teeth that look too big to be from an animal on like a necklace. Okay. Could be Lian-In teeth. Graf's kind of looking at that and like,

he's just twitching his muzzle like... Graf, Graf, that's a really weird smile. And I point at the teethy necklace. Oh no. Maga-thera, if that's how you'd prefer to be called. You can call me what you wish. What was it, Matt? What would it matter what you call me? True. You know I'm addressing you.

Well, I mean... Well, I think it's just polite to call people what they want to be called. Come here. Okay, hello. Hi. Good child, respecting of your elders. I like this.

It's also probably... This is how things are done in Erdaskir. We listen to the wisdom of the ancient. I'd probably also respect for to know how to properly spell that name as well. You're welcome, Chris. Yes. M-A-G-E-T-H-E-R-A,

Maga-thera or mage-thera. Ah. If you want. T-H-E-R-A, Maga-thera, or mage-thera. Ah. If you want. Ten is Maggie, surname, and her surname, this won't come up, but for the wiki, is Mudbuckle. Mudbuckle. Mudbuckle.

Buckle. Buckle. Mudbuckle. Maggie Mudbuckle. B-O-C-K-L-E. Maga-thera mudbuckle. Yeah, Maga-thera mudbuckle. I love her, I love her so much. I want to apprentice with her.

Ah, you wish to be my... Me, not the gruff. Was it Magathera... Magathera Mudbuckle. So you spoke to the squire, Pascal. Mm-hm. How recently was that that he came to visit you? Two days.

Two days ago? Yes. And has since left the village. Yes. What was it he was asking about? How recently was that that he came to visit you? Two days. Two days ago? Yes. And has since left the village. Yes. What was it he was asking about? The stories, the tales. He began to suspect that there was truth to them,

but not the truth that people think. OK. He began to suspect that there was something great at work here. Right. And any indication of where Pascal might have left to go to? I think I know, yes. Would you get a divulge that with us? I would. Great. Now?

Yes. Okay. If you wish it. I do wish it. I do wish it. Great. Now? Yes. Okay. If you wish it. I do wish it, I do wish it. Good. I believe that the young squire, he believed that there was more to the legend of the Galowack.

Really? That first appeared. The Galowack being this nature spirit that... Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha creature, nature, spirit. Some fools think it is from the realm of the fae. And that is not the case? No. Such a creature could not be manifested here, even by great warlock. No, no, no.

It is something else. Do you believe the Galawak is at least protecting some kind of ancient cove? I would not know. It would be unwise for an old blind woman to go chasing after monsters. Very good point. That's a good point.

No, that is a good point. What about, what about your younger years? Ha ha ha ha ha. My younger years were spent in my beloved homeland of Ortasgir. I have fond memories of that time. What do you think that the correct story is for the Galoak? You seek my counsel.

I have felt that somewhere here a vault of the Proto-Marsha exists. Is that so? Yeah. These creatures that they speak of, the Galowag, some vaultspawn that has escaped, perhaps these wailing wisps,

perhaps the legend of the throne, the bound throne, the willow throne, or Beswick, perhaps that is where it lies. I have even heard this tale of a mysterious mage with a hand of dripping red. Red fingers. Indeed, yes. Red fingers tower. That would fit much of what I learned

of the Broto-Majai when I was a student. And another story we heard was of the Dancing Sisters. Do you think that has any... Nothing to do with the protomagery, I think. But a dangerous creature of the woods. Still a threat. Yes. White dew drops, don't eat those.

Don't eat, but if you encounter, bring one back for Maguithira. Okay. Maguithira will give you a present. Present? For a white dewdrop? Okay, we can look into it. And all you have come is to seek knowledge.

Many of the village, they come to Mag Magathir for spells or potions. Can you protect us? From what? Everything out there. Oh, there are a few mages and witches alive who can protect you from everything. I felt a tingle coming into your... My warts, they protect my home, but such a spell cannot be done quickly. It takes many years to build up the runic warts. Did you give Pascal anything to swear?

He asked for assistance, but I gave him a small boon, one to protect him a little, but unfortunately, the items that are needed for such a spell were limited and I do not have more of them. Do you know, and Gruff's talking with his paw in front of his face trying not to show his teeth. Do you know which direction Squire Musgall left in? Direction?

You are asking an old blind woman for direction. Well, you clearly have sight without sight. Bracken sees for me. Yes, I know in which direction he headed. The Galowax lair is to the northeast, close to the Empress's Fangs. Close to the Empress's Fangs, okay. It's the mountain range.

Yeah. Cool. Travel northeast from Colville until you reach the base, the hills, before the mountains, and you will find the Galowack Stone. Quiet. And this is where Squire Pascal has run off to? Yes. Yes.

Okay. He wanted to see it for himself. I do not believe he thinks that the Galowak is a real creature. Duh. Hello, my name is Chris. Do you have any more wisdom on the Galowak? No.

I imagine we're going to, okay. Or the Proto-Medjai Vault. Ah, you are treasure seekers, hm? and I imagine we're going to, okay. Or the Proto-Medjai Vault. You are treasure seekers, hm? Thought of. More curious. We want to learn about them, especially if Pascal went there. Long ago, Magathira was a little bright-eyed student girl

who studied at the Academia in Kelskaris. Long, long ago now. There were lessons we were taught of the Protomashai. Very little is known about them, however. No written records exist. They did not write or keep a script of what or who they were Most of what is known is pieced together from the vaults They have magics that we do not

They have some sort of ability to speak into the mind Speak into minds. They use sound, tones, harmonies, but also vibration, sometimes pulsing, beats, rhythm, this sort of thing. Their vaults, we believe to be creations. We do not believe that there were many proto-Mashai, perhaps fewer than 30 in total,

but each was immensely powerful. The vaults were their laboratories, their storehouses, their prisons, their homes in some cases, their recreation spaces, we think. They did not interact with each other much. In fact, we think there was a great rivalry between them, for there is very little to connect them.

There was no cities, no cultures. They created these pockets of space, but they made their own. Powerful. created these pockets of space that they made their own. Powerful. Their magic is beyond much of what we know. Though some of the newer magics are built on the principles. If you have the knowledge of how to disable spells,

dispellings or wards against magics. These are effective. Their magic is not so great that it cannot be overcome. Their guardians, sometimes they use living creatures, creatures that seem to be ageless. Sometimes they use constructs, golems or arcane creatures powered by magic. There are traps, or wards. They were secretive and protective of their own secrets,

even against each other. If there's only 30 of them and- No, this is theory. Theory. You must understand, this is academic theory. But if we are able to identify which of the 30 maybe, it's... That is always a problem. There is no...

...from what I remember, protomagia have very little culture. Nothing of... ...to really identify individualism. I see. Sometimes you see statue of creature, but we do not even know if that is true form of Protomagia, or perhaps even just a form they like,

they found interesting, it changes. It's very little, we see no sculpture or artwork of the Protomachai themselves. Okay, so no way of, let's say we were to encounter 10 of them in our lifetimes, we wouldn't be able to identify which of the 30 we're dealing with. No, this is why many vaults are given names based on their function or their appearance

or what was found inside, for example, or where they were found. So far, we have not been able to, well, this was again many, many decades ago when I was a student, but yes. Curious, no? Very curious. Mm.

I'm trying to think what to ask next. I've got so many notes. That is true. Take your time. You are, are you any interest in potions or incenses? Quite unusual. Well, I may have actually something that would be of interest to you if you are interested.

Thank you for my message, Magathera. But I'm right here. I send it to your sending stone. Call me. I will, I will do. I will. But no, are you able to identify magics? Yes. Well, in that case, I would like to show you some of these spell stones that we've recovered from the proto-magi vault that we've encountered before. Just wondering what you'd make of the magics that are contained within and... Give to Magatira.

But I must ask you, do not cast them. As you know, they are very easy to fall. I am a fool, little mage. I know. Yeah, I'll hand over both of the proto-magi spell stones. She takes the first one, and being that she holds it, sort of runs her hands over it.

Oh, yeah. It's an interesting spell. Spell for magic warrior, very little interest to Maga-thera, but interesting. Hands it back, takes the next one. Ah, this is interesting spell. Mm, energy cascade. This Maga Theory is interested in, but I am not rich.

I do not have gold to offer you, I have very little, but would you allow Magathera to copy? That is what I was hoping for, some way to replicate this for more continued use than just this simple spell stone. I will, Megathera will make a copy into her spell book. Okay. And make scroll copy for you.

Then I turn stone to you. And I keep the stone, okay. That would be very useful. It would at least- It will take time. It will take me day to complete. Okay. If you trust Maga Theory, you leave stone with me. I will transcribe and I provide you-

I certainly wouldn't mind at least watching just as a small part of the process so I can understand it myself. Yes, you are welcome to stay, yes. Okay, yeah, I'm happy to do that. Yes, very good. What kind of potions and things could you make us? I have potions that I make that are very different

to what alchemists of cities and towns will make you. These are ancient recipes from Urtaskir. They were taught to me by my Govan Mother many, many years ago. She reaches up and takes five little vials and canisters from her wall and sort of blindly arrays them out in front of her. But she seems to just know them by touch. She touches the first one. This is the wisdom of the crone. Drinking this, you will have visions to things that matter to you, important matters.

But for each of these, for this potion, there is a cost. Wisdom does not come easily. Which points to the second one. This, the dream walker's tonic. You drink before bed, and when you sleep you do not dream. Instead, you will become a spirit, able to walk,

perhaps keep watch on your camp, able to wake up whenever you wish. But also, if you walk to a dreamer, you enter their dream. But be warned, you do not know the dream of the dreamer until you are in it. And if you enter a nightmare, well, what happens in the dream may have consequences for you. That's pretty cool. She points to the third. The respite of youth. Drinking this, you will

enjoy bliss for one day. And when the day ends, you will be invigorated. you will be invigorated. Points to the fourth. The draft of the true self, this one many come to Magathir afore. For when you drink it, that night when you sleep, you will dream of your ideal self. Perhaps you change your voice, your height,

the color of your eye, your voice, your sex, your gender, whatever you wish. You will awake the next morning to the person you wish you could be. And last, this, an incense. I call it Mage's Breath. When burnt and inhaled over one hour, it will restore magical energy to any who inhale it. Divided, the energy can be split amongst those who inhale.

The energy can be split amongst those who inhale. Okay. Interesting. Can you tell me more of the, sorry, tell me more of the, the crone. Wisdom of the Crone. Wisdom of the Crone. you see things that matter to you. Yes. Answers to questions you might have,

perhaps of important things to one day come. The wisdom is not decided by me, it is decided by the world. But, me wand, there's a price for the wisdom of age. Ha ha ha ha. Hmm. Um, the respite of youth, you said,

one day of bliss, no downsides at all there? I have said what I have said. Okay, one day of bliss, and then you feel invigorated, that was it. Yes. Unless I missed something. No, you asked, you remember correctly, my young friend. Honestly, you'd be surprised how rare that is.

I can imagine. Yeah. Okay. They all seem pretty useful. Yeah, the Major's Breath in a sense is useful. The Spell Slot restoration thing, I presume, restores magical energies. Yeah, out of... So, yes, the only one I'm going to give you more information

because it's a very mechanical thing. The Major's Breath basically, over a short rest, you burn it, it restores up to four levels of Spell Slots, but divided amongst those who inhale it, and you it. It restores up to four levels of spell slots, but divided amongst those who inhale it, and you choose. So if two people inhale it, you could have two levels of spell slots each, so you could get two level ones or one level two.

If one person inhales it, they could get one fourth level, or a third and a first, or two seconds, or four firsts. Over a short rest. Over a short rest. Over a short rest. Nice, that's good to know. Dreamwalker's Tonic doesn't seem super useful right now. Well, should we go away and think about it? Yeah, I'll think about it.

Yeah. Because we're... Wisdom of the Crone, it just depends on what that downside is. I will tell you now, Maga-ithera has said all she will say. Very much a case of. Mysterious. Yes, I promise that each will give you great experiences.

But with that, I think that is the time for our episode to come to an end. Okay, yeah. Leaving you with Maggie, Magathera. I like Maggie. I do, yeah. Yeah, we'll see. I like all of this town, actually.

Like all of the sort of, Yeah, thank you. The mythical sort of stories that are going on around here. I didn't expect there to be nearly this many. And it turns out, maybe they're all tied. It's the kind of creepy place I wanna go. A bunch of them aren't real, or maybe none of them are. Oh, I wanted to ask her about Bezik.

Well, we'll have to ask next time, because that is the end of today's episode, everyone. Yeah, it is. Thank you so much for joining us, and we will see you next week for more Hyruleans. Yeah. Take care, bye bye. Bye.

Bye. See ya.