Dawn

The dawn piper laid a patch of grease before the group to hinder them, confident upon his rocky perch. Determined to undermine that confidence, Zacarius used his abilities to place Ash upon the stone stage as well. Ash hit the creature solidly, as did an arrow from Kyezra. Pavo climbed up the stage's edge and set upon the dawn piper as well.

In a panic, the dawn piper drew upon the beauty of the first world to blind those on his step, then tumbled and fled onto one of the floating boulders. Smug in his new perch, he watched the cat fail to get high enough to bother him, but wasn't attentive enough to stop Ash's leaping charge across the open space. Ash dropped to the ground beneath the rock, but the dawn piper was pushed into the woods, where the thorns tore at his body.

In one last desperate attempt, the dawn piper shrilled notes of discord harsh enough to damage those nearby at Ash and Kyezra's cat, but then expired to the vines before he could extricate himself. With his death the stones dropped, the elemental font closed.

The group moved on from the scene, heading deeper along the wooded paths in hopes of finding a route to the Crone's hut. As they scouted the next clearing, they were set upon by a pair of Perytons, their antlered heads goring for Ash and Zacarius. Though blood was shed, Zacarius managed to peg one with a tanglefoot bag while the others set upon the one diving for Ash. Both Perytons were quickly brought down.

In a small side clearing, Pavo discovered an occupied hut. As the group approached, the door flung open and an officer of the queen's Winter Guard hailed them, demanding escort to the entrance to these woods. The rest of her group had died here, leaving her with a duty to report. The group did not agree, however, and the officer lost what grip she had and shifted to wolf form to deal with these traitors. Though she got off the first strike, she didn't last long alone against the group.

Amongst the remains of the officer's companions was a welcome boon for Kyezra, a cache of cold-iron arrows in an efficient quiver. Zacarius also found several restorative potions to add to the group's resources as well.

Down at the end of the long clearing, another house peaked out of the dense forest, this one with a small bonfire in front and six people sitting around it. They were celebrating the end of the world, with wine and spirits, and any other alcohol found. The three merchants were quite drunk, while the ladies with them faired better, offering drink to the group as they approached. When refused, each turned into a furious beast, unable to settle with being scorned. The Baccae each focused on the male that had rejected them, striking hard in a rage, but without tactics. Each was brought down with arrows and strikes while the merchants blearily watched on.

Beyond the besotted merchants, a small passage in the forest led to a stunningly large beech tree whose foliage had fallen, creating a dense carpet of multicolored leaves. A light voice from the boughs of the tree bid them retreat or perish, which the group ignored. The dawn piper flying above opened combat by enchanting Ash with deviant and irresistible desire for Zacarius, then called silently for her companion twigjack to help.

While Kyezra attempted to keep the dawn piper busy with flying arrows and her cat climbed the tree to strike at her, Pavo took a potion to grant flight and took to the boughs to meet her in her own domain. Pavo managed to blind the dawn piper as Pavo overtook her and the twigjack struck at Kyezra. The dawn piper quickly went down to blows from Pavo's daggers and the cat's claws while Kyezra and Ash took care of the elusive twigjack.

With the dawn piper dead, chunks of the beech tree disintegrated back to air and the elemental font closed. The group was lucky enough to find an elemental stone present among the roots with power over an elemental of air, a useful tool for later.