Pippa comes across an area of shallow waters in the forest, mostly mud with some puddles in between. some red and some water lilies cover quite a bit of the area and some birds can be heard. a few rocks and boulders every here and there round out the picture, the sunlight has plenty of space to break through the canopy here and it makes for a lovely scene
Pippa takes caution where she put her feet as she doesn't want to slip in the mud
halfway across the area Pippa sees the remains of a once big tree. lightning has struck it and the stump that is standing still is hollowed out. reed and thatch make a passable roof, it seems someone or something is living in there. it's unclear if the house owner is home though
Pippa feels that ermits are often a good source of information, after all if they manage to survive here long enough to build a good shelter, they should have learn some of the ways of theses lands
she tries to get closer to check if there's actually someone in there
Pippa gets close to the house an hears someone inside. that person definitely hears her as well, wading through the shallow, ankle deep water
"hello?"
"Ooaaaack! No step cloaser. You trample my hearbs!!"
the voice is deep and masculine and craoking like a frog
"ho. I'm sorry"
the 'door' swings open and a bullywog, a frogman, stands in the door. he wears simple clothes, a robe made of fur and a tunic of woven grass under it. in his hand he has a staff that seems partially helping him walk and partially druidic focus
"Woanderer! What brings you to my door?"
"hum... I travel theses lands, looking for an exit, everyone seems to be lost. i talk to people trying to find clues. and you seems wise enough to have some thoughts about that."
"Indeed. I live here my whole life. this forest..... it is special in many ways. Powerful beings are housed here, fighting and competing and we mortals are simply tools, figures on a board for them. I serve the forst itself, or rather its avatar! It commands the beast and beastmen of this forest. Rarely is a mortal who is caught here allowed to leave. They all serve the whims of their master and to flee from their influence is almost impossible"
"do you have advice for thoses who want to escape? how would you suggest it?"
"Break the bonds your master has over you. Either appease them and submit to their will until they lose interest or challenge them, though i doubt that is a good idea."
"well, I'll take note of that, thanks. Can i ask for shelter for the night, please?"
he thinks
"I can give you shelter for one night. But tomorrow with the sun i ask you to leave. You serve a different master and i wish not for fighting to ravage my home."
"thanks. i won't **** your hospitality."
he nods and opens the door for Pippa. the inside of the hut is small and very chaotic. A corner is made to be a kitchen but ingredients of all sorts are strewn across the place. A muddy space seems to be where he sleeps but he begins to gather blankets for Pippa
Pippa offers help with the blankets
rummaging through the hut it becomes obvious that Pippas host is an alchemist of sorts. finally there are enough blankets and a dry space cleaned out that will be enough for the night
"that will do, thanks"
"Rest well, then. I'll wake you up at dawn."
"good night to you too"
the host is going outside, seemingly tending to a few plants that Pippa thought grow naturally but apparently they are are part of a watery garden. the sounds of the water and the insects outside make Pippa sleepy
Pippa still feels her wounded ribs from the giant. She hopes a good rest will help healing, and that it won't be more serious. So she lets herself falling to sleep
its a bit chilly but not horribly bad and when it dawns Pippa is awoken by the frogman
"It is time for you to leave. I wish you safe travels, and hopefully we never have to face each other..."
"thanks again for shelter. I wish you calm days."
Pippa gets her stuff together to be ready for leaving
he offers Pippa some food, dried mushrooms and some vegetable,s enough for one day.
"Goodbye."
Pippa says goodbyes too, and then goes off for the day
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