Week 17: Jingle all the Way

Back in Moru Kel, Aiden found himself drawn to Glow. He made his way to the cellar, where he found a trap door leading to natural caverns where the glow worms used in the club are harvested. Taking the duskmoss his mother had sent him, he lay down on a pile of moss and found himself sucked beneath the earth. It almost felt as though his skin were dissolving, but he was unconcerned.

The party found themselves walking through the mists toward the bells they’d heard. An old man with flowing grey hair appeared in a boat, introducing himself as Johnny Bells. The man rambled for a while about his time on earth, seeming confused about the difference between a month and a century. As he rambled the group found themselves attacked by a giant venus fly trap. A half-orc barbarian named Takka emerged from one pod. Errol and Armen were consumed by other pods, but Armen managed to escape. Aiden emerged from the nearby muck and helped them defeat the creature, but Errol was nowhere to be found.

Takka had fled from a camp after finding another nearby camp where children were being held — he’d stabbed one of his orcish cohorts and had to make an exit before the body was discovered.

Johny Bells continued rambling:

I had a visit from my friend Mir not long ago , what mortals call a month – or is it a century –not long, anyway, is the poing. She reminded me about something, or was it someone? I think it was me? Yes, yes, she reminded me that I was me before . . . before that Emerald Candle was lit, a few months ago, or a few centuries. I get those confused. She said there was another candle, in the sea. She couldn’t approach the lonely mahksi boy until it went out. Just like I can’t approach the tower, because the candle’s guardian, Jazil, is there. Keeping Hamru trapped. I stay out here in the mist now.

 . . . 

The Vahna came to see me, too. They like my bells. Or did they give me the bells? Yes! Yes! Because I can’t leave my home. Johnny Bells must stay here. It is the candle that must go. The bells remind me who I am! Johnny Bells, that’s who I am. Johnny stays in the swamp. It is the candle that must go. Not just one. All. They all must go to Skandara. The candelabrum must be reassembled. It is time! . . . What is time? Is it a moon? I always get so confused. But I have many talents. I am an excellent dancer.

Johnny led them to Lefty’s cabin, where they met Lefty. He told them Itzal had stolen the robe, mirror, and Sap of Life from him, and that the robe seemed to make the wearer obssesive in some ways. The group bought an old Urek coin from him and paid more money to get him to guide them to Itzal’s camp and then on to Typor Citadel.

Heading toward the camp, they were attacked by Umar, one of the leaders of the Glory Guard who was tracking Takka. A pitched combat ensued, but after defeating Umar’s crew the group set in to camp for the night before continuing on.