Part 5: Meeting Murkyrie

The crew of the Hair of the Hellhound tavern have spent all morning getting ready to leave on their quest. Blande packed a few pieces of bread, some unsalted pretzels, and his vitamins. “What we put into our bodies is very important. No poison gets into my system,” he always says. Letty grabbed her tunic and her "Little Book of Local Flora." Grim grabbed "the only thing” he needed, which were his brawlin' gloves. Bogflug grabbed some matches, his goblin-made dagger, and some extra matches.

When everyone was ready to go, they put the “closed” sign on the door and headed out. But where to? They knew someone or something was raising the dead in the swamplands, and it had reached Bogflug’s hometown. They know that the Land of Jeeje hasn’t seen necromancy in ages, but what else could it be?

There was only one person in town who would have the answers: the druid Murkyrie.

Murkyie lived in an old folks’ home on the edge of town, and didn’t get too many visitors this day, so when a group of young adventurers me knocked on his door, he was a bit surprised! But glad to have company. 

They told him of Little Muck and the missing rats. He told them of old magic, “long since banned here in Jeeje” he said, “but what is gone is never truly gone,” he added. “Whether good or bad, and who’s to say what’s what… the spark is there for anyone to rekindle. And that seems to be what’s happened. I’ve heard rumblings of necromancy from the swamplands, yes.” He motioned for the box on his nightstand.

“You… with the book. What do you know of the plants in the swamplands?” he asked Letty.

“Well…” she started, “they’re slow growers, but they consume all if left to it. There are a few we can eat safely, some can even heal… but many poisonous plants deceptively look like the helpful ones.” 

“Ah… so that book is going to good use. Here’s another thing I think you’ll find useful” he remarked as he grabbed a small ring from the box. “It’s a ring that hasn’t fit on these old fingers in many years. No use for it anyway, the staff here takes good care of me… it’s a ring of healing. More specifically, a ring that draws the energy from the flora and uses it to heal our bodies. If you’re travelling through the swamplands, this is something you’ll need.”

“Goblin,” he says, turning to Bogflug. “You’re from the swamplands, yes?” Bogflug nodded. “You know the nights are dark, cold, and wet. In those woods, nightmares are not something we have when we sleep. You know all too well they are real… and the only thing to keep them at bay is the warmth and light of a goblin flame.” 

Bogflug responded, “yes, but our torches only burn for a night, then we’ve got to resupply. It’s why we don’t venture too far into the woods.”

“Very true. Most of your torches are that way,” he said while grabbing a wooden cane from the side of his bed. “There once was a travelling goblin trading post that roamed those very woods. This staff was imbued with goblin fire magic to burn forever… as long as a goblin is holding it. I never got much use out of it, but to get me around. A gift from an old friend…”

He looked off for a bit, remembering someone. 

“You take it,” he continued, “and light the way for your friends.”

“And you, halfling. You travel empty handed?” Murkyrie inquired.

“All I need is my hands,” said Grim.

“I see. For you, I have this” said Murkyrie, pulling a long narrow cloth from the top drawer of his dresser.

“Wow! What’s this?!” shouted Grim, “a banner of fortitude?! A ribbon that protects from all status ailments? A super strength silk scarf?!”

“Haha no no no, my friend… it is simply a bandana that looks badass, from an old brawler I used to know. All he needed were his fists, too. But this kept the sweat out of his eyes.”

“Wow! Thank you!” said Grim.

“And with that - oh!” Murkyrie was startled that he hadn’t noticed Blande standing beside the bed. “I’m sorry my friend, this old man has nothing left to offer.”

Blande responded, “you’ve offered more than we could ask for, Murkyrie. We are truly grateful.”

“Well then,” Murkyrie said in closing, “it’s time you get on your way. Good timing, too, because Jeejepardy is about to start.”