Session Ten: The Reeve’s Tale

An Army of Giggling Flesh Things

Hee-hee-HEE-hee!

Despite the horrors they face, the company and the guards of Berjols keep their heads about them and continue to fight tactically. Several waves of the hideous creatures fall prey to weapon blows, break themselves on the company’s shield wall, or, most inexplicably, vanish from sight in clouds of greenish mist, never to be seen again.

The brave Sir Jean-Marc, who guards the right flank, gets the worst of the battle. Much of the time he faces at least two of the giggling, bouncing attackers, and it is all he can do to protect his comrades and himself against such a determined onslaught. One of the creatures strikes a lucky blow on his shield arm, easily rending plate and mail and tearing apart the skin beneath. Though Sir Jean-Marc wavers, he does not fall, and soon the right flank is clear of the creatures.

It is at this moment that a much larger version of the giggling, round-bodied monsters hauls itself from the farthest of the mushroom colonies. With a deep, booming laugh, the creature slowly rolls toward the company. Sir Jean-Marc, realizing that he cannot let the monster near the shield wall, breaks ranks and engages the creature in single combat. This action draws disbelieving shouts and angry screams from his companions—mostly from Sabina. As the dauntless knight fights toe to flabby toe with the beast, the back line fires a volley of arrows, bolts, and shot into the creature.

Magnus, Squire Henri, and Captain Julien take control of the shield wall and swing it around toward the creature until they surround it. The massed fighters rain blow after blow into the hideous thing until, with a final, quavering, “ho ho ho,” it deliquesces into a puddle of slime and dies.

Further Investigations

The Vile Temple

While Pierre bandages Sir-Jean Marc’s wound, the others look over the ruined temple. Special attention is paid to a greenish gemstone held in the hands of the gruesome statue that lords over the chamber. Fearful that this might be the power that called the creatures into the temple, the company shoots at it and smashes it until it is reduced to a fine powder.

Captain Julien orders his guards to return to Montressor and Berjols and return with oil, picks, prybars, and such laborers that they can find at the late hour. His plan is to utterly destroy the awful temple as quickly as possible.

The captain also remarks how odd it is that three of the colonies are purplish-black, while three are white. Magnus and Sabina both say that they think they know why this is, though they are reluctant to tell the captain. Julien presses them and the duo explain that they suspect that the mushrooms have changed color after feeding on blood.

At Captain Julien’s request, the company carefully forages around in the three purple mushroom colonies. It is not long before they uncover the greasy bones of three people. It appears that the mushrooms have fed well—and quickly—on these remains. Though neither the captain nor the company need further confirmation, they do find a familiar-looking slip of yellow parchment amidst the bones of the closest pile.

“Great Lady, Tristan wishes to find his comrades and punish the one responsible for their disappearance.”

A Heroes’ Welcome

The company departs the cavern with the captain and the remains of the three fallen guards. They praise the Lady for finally being freed from the stench of the temple, and gratefully sup the sweet springtime air.

They return to Montressor, where news of their discovery and victory has already spread. Sabina begs off of the impromptu celebration so that she can wash the stink out of her clothes. Captain Julien, meanwhile, commandeers a villager and their cart to transport himself and his three dead guards back to Berjols. Before leaving, he tosses his hefty pouch to the company. A count later on reveals that he has given them 36 Crown—much more than even Maurice had haggled for.

The company eventually retires to the village hall, where they eat and drink for free. Most of the company drowns their memories of the temple with numerous cups of strong beer. Sir Jean-Marc and Magnus are particularly notable for quantities imbibed, but the others also partake.

Early on in the celebration, Frieda finds the group and, with journal in hand, begins peppering them with questions about their recent battle. She helps to refill cups in between taking notes, and soon has the gist of the story before the company drinks themselves into incoherence.

At some point in the night, Garnier wanders off and comes back, having purchased a bottle of cologne from one of the villagers. He passes the bottle around to his companions and all but orders them to mask the temple’s stink. Renee, who is already quite inebriated by this point, quaffs from the cologne bottle before Garnier is able to snatch it away from her.

The Next Day

The evening blurs into a hazy fog.

Sometime later, the company awakens beside the village hall’s cooling hearth. Nursing their headaches, they eat a quick breakfast and make ready to continue eastward, after the pilgrims.

As they leave the village hall, they see none other than Henri the innkeeper, who is sitting atop his little cart. In addition to his loyal mule, Henry is accompanied by both Bartholomule and Ambrose, whom he rescued from their forced exile from Berjols.

Henri tells the company that news of their deeds has reached him, and he once again states that he is quite pleased to be traveling in their company. He mentions that the next stop on their pilgrims’ progress is the Town of Poissy, also known as the resting place of Maxence, the so-called “Headless Knight.”

Henri also says that they should be able to rest and eat in Poissy very cheaply, because he has arranged with his cousin—who lives in the town—to stay at their home for the duration of their visit.

Lastly, Henri says that the company shall not want for food on their journey, as he spent some time yesterday restocking their provisions from the shops in Berjols. Hearing this, the company asks Henri if those provisions include bread or baked goods of any kind. When Henri answers in the affirmative, the company persuades him to toss all flour-based products into Montressor’s midden heap.

A Wise Idea to Watch Your Carbs, Good Masters!