The soldiers, still diminutive, have camped under gravel boulders at the edge between the rose bushes and the gravel path. The weretiger scouts this path, knowing it will take hours to cross. He can see off in the distance an evergreen tree, which looks like many of the smaller branches have been woven into windows and walls. The tiger also sees and smells the house cat.
This is a beast far larger than anything they have yet faced at their current size. To them it is larger than a cathedral. The entire group could hide unnoticed on its shoulder blades. The massive cat is watching the activity inside the tree with interest, its clear this is something it does often.
The were tiger avoids the cat, and rejoins the soldiers, and all are relieved when the cat leaves, miles crossed with every step. While out the tiger hunts and catches several pill bugs, and after eating his fill, brings the rest back to the soldiers to cook. The Jaegermonster enjoys wearing the hard chitin of the insects as shoulder guards and knee pads. The rest of the night goes uneventfully.
The next morning the soldiers cross the path. heading directly for the tree. As they approach they see that one of the lower branches has been pulled to the ground by a clever system of ropes, It is raised as they approach. Once it is close enough for the people of the tree to see that the group are solders, and a Michaelite knight is among them, the branch is lowered, and halflings, gnomes, and a few other sylvans come running out to greet them.
The group is led into the tree, a much more prosperous community than the people under the step. The soldiers are well fed, and allowed to stay the night in comfortable rooms. Talking to the halfling leader, they learn of the roof people (feral goblins) mud people (orcs), people of the rosebush (elves and fauns) the fence people(dwarves), and the people of the loam (centaurs).
Taken high into the tree, they get a good view of the fountain, three tiered, a two foot retaining wall, a five foot high middle fountain, and a twenty foot tall central fountain. A single foot at their relative height is about ten stories. the fountain is broken on one end, and pouring water into a vast muddy field. They also clearly see Koi in the fountain.
The people of the tree beg them to help against the cat, and the Michaelite promises to do so after they have made it to the fountain. He explains they go to find the source of their predicament. The hafling then tells them that many have done so before, and never returned.
The next day, they leave the tree, crossing another path to make it to the fountain, a single days journey.
However about halfway across the path, the Gryphon dives to the ground, refusing to fly. Looking up, The soldiers spot crows circling overhead. progress slows to a crawl, as the group stays under cover, and tries to out wait the predators above. The Golem is particularly concerned, as it is pointed out that he would certainly survive being eaten by a bird, but would not enjoy the experience.
The finally make it to the great wall of the fountain and decide to camp their before continuing
As the Golem keeps watch, not needing sleep, the Jaegermonster wakes up from a sound sleep with a very peculiar notion. For some unknown reason, it seems like a very good idea for him to attack and destroy the stone Golem.
So as the Golem watches mildly curious, The Jaegermonster steps in front of the Golem, gathers his strength using a the techniques taught to him from martial past, and calmly strikes the Golem as hard as he can. For the first time in years, the Golem's stone skin is chipped, and he is damaged.
The Golem stands there staring in disbelief for a second, as the Jaegermonster gathers his strength for a second blow, then bellows and knocks him across the camp. At this point the rest of the soldiers wake, and attempt to intervene in the brawl between them, as well as finding out what is going on.
Much more fighting continues as the Jaegermonster realizes he's been mind controlled, and dodges much of the Golem attack as he attempts to explain.
It's obvious that the Illithid, the original source of their quest is nearby. As the Jaegermonster shakes the mind-twisting from his head, the rest of the group breaks camp and prepares. Dawn is coming soon, when the Shield covering the shard starts to lighten.
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