The Temple of the Elk

Vizma, Nisha and Garett teamed up and managed to take Kressle, the bandit leader, down. At the same time, Yi caught up to the group. The bandits started to flee, seeing as their leader had been defeated, but a potshot managed to knock Garett unconscious again. Yi, Nisha and Artesia further engaged the fleeing bandits with help from the faerie dragon and the grig. Vizma, meanwhile, proceeded to do some sus shit to the downed bandits and plants started rapidly BLOOMING in the area. Eventually, the bandits surrendered and were left at the party's mercy. The party asked them several questions, including where the Stag Lord's fort is (far to the south) and the passphrase to get in: "By the bloody bones of Saint Gilmorg, who wants to know?" One of the bandits said the Stag Lord was a monster of a man, a drunk who was nonetheless deadly with a bow and strong as an ox. They also revealed that some mites had stolen part of their loot and fled to their lair under the Old Sycamore Tree to the southeast, including Svetlana's wedding ring. The party learned the names of several lieutenants: Akaros Izmore, Ox, and Dovan from Nizrock. Vizma and Artesia then proceeded to execute the remaining bandits. Among the loot was several bits of jewelry, weapons and armor, as well as a case full of bottles of green herbal liquor.

They decided to rest and recover, mainly for Garett's sake. The next day, Garett awoke, and the party decided to book it back to Oleg's, making it there after riding hard the whole day. They rested there and sold their loot, buying new equipment in the process. The day after that, fully rested and loaded up on scrolls and potions, they set out into the wilds again. The first day, the 15th of Pharast, was uneventful until nightfall, when Artesia spotted a pack of elk passing them by. The next day, they continued into the forest and made camp there, and in the evening they met up with Perlivash and Tyg-Tutter-Tut again, who apparently lived in that particular patch of forest. The grig made Luka, Nisha and Artesia dance the Construct, and the next day the party moved on.

On the 16th of Pharast, the party arrived at the ruined Temple of Erastil. A giant elk head, carved of stone, greeted them as they approached. Though it was magnificent, it was clear the place had seen better days. Garett issued a warning and as soon as he spoke the bear revealed itself, drawn to his voice, and charged at them. After a short but difficult battle, the bear was slain, turning into a human man and crumbling into dust. The temple grew more vibrant and colourful as the bear faded, life returning to Erastil's domain. They figured they needed the priest of Erastil to come here, so they moved westwards, encountering a brush thylacine in the woods. Vizma spoke to it and offered it food, and it let them pass peacefully. Later in the day, approaching the river, they encountered a strange saber-toothed frog, which Nisha identified as a slurk. The disgusting creature tried to slurk them off, but failed miserably as Yi grappled it and Garett cleaved it in two. With that, the party hit level 2 just as they found their way to a large frog pond...