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• Aros – Lightfoot Halfling, Rogue
• Galiena Erenaeth – Half Elf, Celestial Warlock / Druid
• Baldur – Human, Pack Chain Warlock (Spear) / Paladin
  • Hellina Kaitlyn Deramu – Human NPC, Wererat
• Wickedstraza – Dragonborn (Bronze), Sorcerer (Draconic Bloodline) – Not present

In the morning – or what they assumed to be morning on Eagle Rock – it was difficult to tell with the constant cloud and fog cover blocking the sun – and this far into the woods, they could not see the distant beach to see if they could see the sun’s rays far off in the distance – the rolling sound of thunder rumbled through the sky – but it was like no thunder they had heard before – until it happened…

The clouds, suddenly split – revealing it was indeed daytime – but then, the twin moons quickly moved in front of the sun – bringing a darkness to the world – and the clouds returned – and now, each of them recalled in their memory where they had heard such thunder before.

“You know what that was, right,” Galiena sighed.

“The Hollowing,” Baldur confirmed grimly. Though it was regarded a “Holy Day” – the Hollow has a dark history – where the veil between life and death is at its weakest – and demons enter the world to steal the souls of children in the process of being born – creating soulless children, who either don’t survive the birth experience or are born with a darkness in them to commit acts of great evil; and thus the name ‘The Hollowing’ – creating empty husks for children. The reason it’s considered a Holy Day is because people had learned how to triumph against the demons, by impersonating them (wearing horrible masks that deceive the demons into being the homes are already spoken for). The one down side to the Hollowing is, because of the veil’s weakness – magic is also known to go wild. A simple healing spell could result in a fireball or teleportation instead. “We need to be careful about using magic tonight, until the Hollowing passes.”

“If I figure out where we are, the farms are about two days away,” Aros shrugs. “Hopefully we can avoid trouble and thus you two not needing to do any kind of magic. Lucky for you guys – I don’t do spells! I do stab, stab, slice,” he emphasizes each gesture with his hands, holding his Lycan Biter Dagger in his hand.

Galiena shoots Aros a look. “Since when have we managed to avoid trouble?”

Aros nods. “True. Especially during the Hollowing. Maybe if we stay put?”

“So that killer frogs or moving trees come find us,” Baldur sighs, looking around him to see that indeed – several of the trees had changed their positions over the course of the night.

“Or the eyes I saw last night,” Galiena points out. She looks to Ramgor who shrugs, having not see whatever it is that Galiena swears she saw. “How did you sleep Ramgor?” she asks, blushing, knowing they’d shared a tent.

Ramgor smiles but then looks serious. “I didn’t see the eyes you saw – but all night, I heard a howl… like a sickly wolf… and there were times, I could hear growling right at the mouth of our tent… and a putrid odor… so there is something out there that’s bold enough to get really close to our camp that isn’t easily seen despite the camp fire.”

Baldur offers to lead the party to head towards the village; but first decides he wants to check for Gnome or Canine droppings – believing what Galiena saw to be forest gnomes riding dogs or wolves – but instead he finds those large paw prints that look similar to a bear – with claws extended.

As Baldur leads the group through the dense forest – Baldur seems confident in his leadership skills. Everyone seems exhausted unnaturally quick – especially Baldur and Aros, who now realize – they heard the weird growling (Baldur just thought Aros was hungry) and the odd smell (Baldur just thought Aros had gas) all night long – and now realize it may have been whatever left those tracks – and it’s becoming more clear, the more exhausted they become. After trekking through the woods for two hours, the party finds a clearing – and are immediately grateful – then disappointed. It doesn’t take long to realize they’re exactly back at their old camp that they’d left two hours ago.

Baldur looks at the party members, all of whom are staring at him, and he clears his throat and says, “Well, I thought the wolf thing you swear you saw,” he gestures to Galiena, “might still be tracking us – so I figured try to lose it in the woods and then come back here and go the right way.”

The clouds part again – and the covered sun – and thunder rolls and lightning splits the skies – revealing to the East, a large farming field of some kind – before the clouds resume covering the blacked out sun. Galiena offers to use Guidance and despite his eyes being locked on the field they’d seen when the lightning flashed – as they begin heading for the field – they hear the howling behind them and Galiena shouts from being him, “Good job losing the wolf thing – it sounds like it’s right behind us again.” She moves to stand next to Baldur and says, “Maybe I should lead?” The party – after an hour – finds the field that seemed as if it were only sixty feet away when the lightning had flashed.

The party is astonished – but not wholly surprised to see the field is full of pumpkins, knowing that pumpkins are typically blessed by priests and placed on door steps to keep demons at bay during the Hollowing event. “This can’t be one of the farms from the village,” Galiena whispers looking at the massive field.

“It’s not,” Ramgor assures her; having been to the village plenty of times, he was familiar with all of the farmers, and none owned a field of this magnitude – especially a pumpkin field. Baldur shakes his head, “I don’t trust the trees or these pumpkins,” he gestures from his eyes to the pumpkins with his fingers. Ramgor nods, looking around the field, as best as he can, “I see no buildings either. This is no one’s field.”

“Should we skirt the pumpkin patch? Stick to the treeline?” Galiena asks.

“I don’t trust moving trees,” Baldur points out. “It’s probably easier to fight weird pumpkins than big trees.” Baldur proceeds to attack a pumpkin vine; expecting it to scream or retaliate in some way – while Galiena stares out into the pumpkin patch.

Deciding to head into the pumpkin field, confident the pumpkins were not animated in any way, after several stabs – the party turns to see how far they’ve gotten into the field and are surprised – despite having moved 60′ feet into the pumpkin field, the trees are 10′ behind them still.

Baldur points, “Are the trees following us into the pumpkin field?”

The party turns and sees – it appears that though they’ve ventured deep into the pumpkin patch – the trees seem to have also moved. “They’ve either moved,” Ramgor whispers, “or they’re ensuring we can’t go back. I am not sure which is more unnerving. In my homeland there isn’t many trees – and tonight, I miss that.”

“I want to try something,” Baldur says, as he walks backwards, towards the trees, to see if the trees back away – however, Baldur trips over a pumpkin, falling backwards – he scolds the pumpkin, “Did you see that! The pumpkin moved to make me fall. I think the pumpkins and trees are conspiring against us.” (DM Note – just for fun I had Baldur roll a Dex Check, DC12 since he was walking blindly backwards – he’d rolled a total of 11 – also fun to note he fails a Perception check when he falls also – for something else… specific to the pumpkin he tripped over)

Baldur calls to the others to come to him, however, Aros fails to see a vine and trips (failed Dex check, similar to Baldur – and also failed Perception check upon tripping over a pumpkin, similar to Baldur). “That’s odd,” Baldur points out, “that you of all people would trip.” He cast his gaze towards the sky, where he’d last seen the blotched out sun, still hidden by clouds. Then pauses and notice, “Hey – there’s like no animal sounds. Nothing. No birds. No crickets. No frogs. Thankfully no frogs, but there’s literally no animal sounds. That can’t be good.”

Baldur comes up with another idea – to use his disguise kit on the back of his head to make it look like there’s a face there – looking at the trees. Galiena and Aros stare at Baldur and wonder if the Hollowing has driven him mad.

The eclipse suddenly cuts through the clouds, ever so briefly, as red lightning pierces the skies; and suddenly the truth behind the pumpkin field is revealed – the pumpkins scattered all over the field are actually helmets – and the vines are the arms, legs and bodies of what appear to have been soldiers who died in a gruesome fight – and the once, tangy, pumpkin spice scent that had filled the air – is now replaced with the scent of decomposing bodies!

Baldur looks around, “What happened? Were we just teleported?”

Ramgor shakes his head. “No. I am afraid not – look – the pumpkins – all of them – they’re helmets… or the heads… of these dead soldiers… We were standing in the middle of this battlefield, that had an illusion placed on it because of the Hollowing or revealed because of the Hollowing…”

Galiena looks to Ramgor, who has been on the island longer, “Do you know of any wars or battles that happened on this island?”

Ramgor nods, “I’ve heard of several battles, but I am not entirely sure where we are on this island to know what battlefield this might represent.”

Galiena kneels down and examines the armor, and notices there seems to be two different crests that are visible on the soldiers. One appears to be the symbol of a star streaking from the heavens, while the other is two pinched moons back to back. Looking at the one with the star streaking through the heavens, Galiena has a vision where she’d seen that not too long ago – the manor – the first manor they’d entered when they initially shipwrecked here – Lord Starfall’s manor – this had been his crest. She looks closely at the other crests on the opposing enemy, and looks at the two moons pressed together, and turns to the others, “I think this was a battle between Lord Starfall and Lord Brenmoon’s forces.”

Ramgor confirms Galiena’s findings regarding the crests found on both armors.

Suddenly a disembodied voice asks, “Whom do you serve?”

Galiena looks around, “Um, Lord Starfall?”

And at those words – the painful sound of metal, old and twisted, creaking back to life can be heard as several pieces of armor – from both sides – come to stand once again – the armor vacant of any visible being – only the presence of spirits locked in eternal combat as the veil between life and death remains weak during The Hollowing…

Aros (Natural 20 Initiative) springs into action – attacking one of the Brenmoon armors; the armor in response, marches forward – and slams its fists into Galiena, for boldly choosing Starfall over Brenmoon – and lands two hits (one of them a Critical Hit) instantly bloodying Galiena! Baldur rushes up – and strikes with his spear – plunging into the hollow helmet and then using the butt end of the spear to slam it into the armor’s chest. The Starfall armor slams the Brenmoon armor twice – also landing a critical strike, downing one of the three risen Brenmoon hollow (animated) armors.

Galiena quickly casts Cure Wounds on herself and Spirit Totem to give extra healing on herself. The second risen Brenmoon armor lurches forward and swings at the risen Starfall armor (Natural 20!) and hits but misses the second. Ramgor quickly moves between Galiena and the Brenmoon armors – and hits with his Moon Touched Blade. Aros springs out from behind Ramgor and strikes the Brenmoon animated armor, but the blade doesn’t piece. Baldur manages to hit the Brenmoon armor, however.

The animated Starfall armor manages to land two hits against the Brenmoon armor (one of them a Critical Hit – Natural 20!), follow by Ramgor also delivering a strike against the Brenmoon armor. Aros comes back and hits this time, landing some Sneak Damage as well, since the Brenmoon armors are all in melee, taking down the second set of armor. Baldur hits the standing one with his spear, but misses with the butt end of the spear. The Starfall armor tries to hit the remaining Brenmoon, but misses while Galiena casts cure wounds on herself to mend herself. The Brenmoon armor attacks the Starfall armor (Natural 20 again!) and follows with a second hit that delivers a solid hit as well.

The Starfall armor hauntingly says, “Heal me.”

Ramgor is finally able to hit it, but Baldur and Aros seem to have difficulty piercing the haunting armor; but Baldur eventually lands a hit, followed by Aros, and the Brenmoon armor seems to be suffering some. The Starfall Armor hits the Brenmoon armor twice; and Galiena touches the Starfall armor and casts Cure Wounds and gives the animated armor some sense of life back. The Brenmoon armor, suffering, swings twice at the Starfall armor and misses. Aros runs and leaps on the armor and stabs the empty husk, finally landing a deep, impacting it – and riding it down to the ground as it crashes, whatever energy that had animated it, now gone.

The Starfall armor crumbles as well; but in its place, a ghostly, regal, attractive male says, “Beware of that which walks on feet, but spins the web of lies.”

“Do you mean a spider?” Baldur asks.

Galiena nods, “Thank you for the help and may you find peace.” (Galiena gets Inspiration for telling it to find peace)

The spirit smiles and dissipates.

Baldur suddenly looks across the field – and sees an awkward looking bird. The birds look to be tall – standing almost six feet, with a large body, long legs, small wings – so Baldur is sure they’re flightless birds – but what is unique about them is their rather large beak – and he can quickly see they have an aggressive demeanor even towards one another – the party all recognize the volatile birds as Axe Beaks.

The party decides to best avoid the axe beaks and their fowl (foul?) temper and stealthfully avoid them. Thunder rumbles, red lightning pierces the sky, and the Hollowing Sun peers through; and woods to the west suddenly become visible – and appears to be the only path to avoid the axe beaks.

Baldur offers to lead the party into the woods; as they make their way through the dense forest, visibility is cut down – and Baldur notices as he pushes some of the trees aside, he notices a sticky substance on the trees, but can’t tell if it’s just tree sap or something else. Galiena and Aros are able to catch enough light, their eyes more accustomed to the dark, and see it’s a white, sticky fluid. Aros quickly wipes his hands on Baldur, who then wipes his hands on Aros’ head. Galiena simply sighs, while Ramgor, from the rear asks what’s going on. Galiena turns and explains there’s some form of white, sticky fluid on the trees. The party proceeds cautiously into the woods.

Aros points out, “Could this white stuff be the ‘web of lies’ that the dead knight mentioned?”

The party pauses and looks and sees they seem to be in the center of a giant web, all around them – and just then, white fluid seems to burst out from the dark. (Listen, there is nothing I could do not to make this entire segment not sound dirty) Several party members are struck by the white liquid and pinned; and finally the monsters make themselves present.

As several party members find themselves restrained in the webbing, the Ettercaps keep attacking and spewing their webbing. Baldur shouts, “We need to do something about these guys!”

However, when Baldur looks around, he finds himself standing alone in the dark woods. Galiena, Aros, and Ramgor finally break free of the web attacks, clearly aimed at their face to silence them; as they see Baldur getting further and further away from the party. Galiena calls for him and Baldur stops – and starts heading for the sound of her voice – but Galiena can see he’s headed in the wrong direction. (DM Note – What I did here was Roll a D4 for Directions. 1 = North, 2 =East, 3 = South, 4 = West) – and had the voice of the party members come from different directions – an effect of the Hollowing distorting the direction of voices (and adding to the web of lies that the Starfall Knight had warned them about).

Baldur, however, manages to eventually find his way back to the party – and helps them cut free of the webbing. But as they’re being cut free, the Ettercaps finally spring down from the trees and do a surprise attack. The Ettercaps are effective with their hits and delivering poison as well when they strike.

The party reels from the attack as they struggle to find their balance and retaliate against the surprise attack. However, the Ettercaps are able to bring down Ramgor, which forces Galiena to spend a turn applying a (successful) Medicine check, while Aros is ripped and poisoned repeatedly – forcing Baldur to grab and tackle the last remaining Ettercap in order to save Aros’ life. The party does eventually defeat the Ettercaps; most of them cut and bloody from the experience. The party decides to hold onto one another to get through the woods. Moving more cautiously through the woods, Baldur hears the sounds of a stream up ahead and says, “I like water.”

Galiena mutters, “As long as there’s no frogs.”

“Good point,” Baldur nods.

They step into the clearing beyond the woods and see the stream – and see a rather unique looking single tree by the stream. Galiena recognizes it as a tree known as Kalisin, which is an extremely rare tree, whose fruits are literally candy-like in nature. (DM’s Note – this is the trick or treat portion of the Hollowing). The party consumes the sweet candy and feels Inspired for surviving The Hollowing.

TO BE CONTINUED.