2.1 Chapter 1: Into the Stolen Lands

Dalia, Selene, Ralf and Tassle enter the room of the magical garden. The are is fresh and warm, which is no consolation as Betrayius is no-where to be seen.

The far door remains ajar and Dalia and Selene approach to the enraged ogre in the hallway. He is pressed against the wall with his club raised and ready to strike near a ajar door to the right. Stealthily he mutters "I am going get you, eat your bones, crush you eyes!."

When Dalia speaks the ogre slams his club down as if he something in his trap. There is a tense moment as he sniffs the air and tries to make out who is speaking. Relaxing he again raises his club over the door. "You better!" he snarks at Dalia

"Useless black tears. Act tough and but run from one little crazed human. Gromag do all the work, look around all blood made by Gromag!" he rants proudly. Then as if he had a brilliant idea, he orders "Get in there and flush out halfling. She tricky, so me squash you if you leave"



to the other side

Meanwhile Octavius has secured the downed cutthroats. While unconscious they look sad with the black tear tattoos under their eyes

"Indeed Gromag, you have made the most blood I have seen in quite a while. You are definitely much stronger and braver than the black tears. I think your plan is truly brilliant, I should indeed go flush out that pesky halfing, but I am not used to all this violence and I am not strong like you, with those amazing muscles."

Dalia approaches Gromag and reaches out to touch his bicep.

A confused Gromag looks at Dalia quizzically "Ah, you Black Tear leader. Strong leader!

The ogre fumbly opens the door. "It no fair Gromag take all fun. You get halfling. Gromag guard door."

The rearguard (Tassle & Ralf, and soon to joined by Octavius) hear a faint "wft!" on Gromag's declaration that Dalia is a strong leader. The location was unclear due to the babbling stream that mystically flows in the garden.

Move into the A5 area, looking for signs of Betrayius or other Black Tears seeing as Dalia seems to have the ogre handled for now. I'll ask Sparky to check the room the ogre seems interested in.

We will also search for the source of the wtf because Betrayius is around here somewhere.

Looking

The wind and light in the garden is magically natural, causing the bushes to sway in a way as familiar as Filberts walk. Behind the statue Seline's keen eyes notice light bending the wrong way and bushes rustling against the wind.

Sparky launches ahead to scout for the target of the ogre's angst. With deft maneuvering he circles around the ogre back and forth, then having found the information straight back to him master.

Unfortunately, his master had step through the door just as Sparky dove. Sparky furiously flapped his wings and flailed he talons to prevent a serious impact to his masters' face. After a brief moment of flapping and flailing in Ralf's face Sparky manage to regain his composure and settle on Ralfs' shoulder.

"The ogre doesn't have any halflings on him" Sparky whispers proudly.

You know it's pretty nice in here, I wouldn't want to wreck these plants with fire, but they could use an extra bit of water. Especially right there.

Water blasts upward, coming out of the ground. You see the faint outline on a small humanoid. You cannot tell if it dodged or was hit.

"That is most gracious of you Grimag."
Dalia quickly slips into the next room and shuts the door.

Whispers " don't be afraid I won't hurt you." To the halfling bard in the room. " I need you to give me a convincing death scene, and then stay hidden."

Then Dalia knocks some things over to make it sound like there is a violent struggle.

Tassle feels we need help to see this punk. So she reaches into her pockets for her emergency glitter stash (because of course she has that) and throws some glitter bombs where the outline was.