Session 1 - Two Companions Meet in the Far North
Hex 5904 - Outside the Village of Estinn
With a confusing, otherworldly popping sound, a hole opens up not too high in the air above a rocky, snow-covered shoreline near a fishing village and a half-elf drops out of it, landing in the snow with a grunt. He moans for a few moments in confusion and finally picks himself up and dusts himself off.
He checks his equipment - a small pack with a bow and quiver, and a shortsword slung across his lower back. And a small bag of gold, enough to last for a bit, but not enough to purchase anything significant.
Village of Estinn
He’s not dressed for Northern chill and looks around for shelter or a source of heat. He spies the nearby village and begins making his way.
Thus we begin our adventure meeting Orren Nightleaf, a down-on-his-luck Alkeshi Thief who successfully stole a reasonable sum from a wizard but fled into the wrong portal, ending up in the far-Northern village of Estinn.
Realizing he is likely on the coast of the Sablewood, he is determined to travel to Lydonia and fulfill his childhood dream of joining the Wolves, however, something about this town is fishy…
- Rolling INT (normal) to determine if Orren is creeped out by the hints of the local Cult of Darghast the Devourer.
Orren Nightleaf, our dashing Lawful Thief
Orren is pretty ‘whatever’ about this snowy, coastal fishing village, and decides to step into the local tavern for any information on the safest way to journey south and find the hidden city. It’s far chillier here in the North during winter and he doesn’t even have a cloak, he’s certainly not going to venture out of town without supplies and information.
He enters The Gilded Rat, apparently known for it’s drinking contests. It’s not too crowded, not even a dozen people.
- Asking Oracle if a possibly helpful companion is in the Gilded Rat
Orren sees a grumbly looking halfling mercenary among the fisherfolk, who seems likely to be able to handle himself and has been places. He pulls up a stool and introduces himself, and admits to being somewhat lost and in unfamiliar lands.
Rodolfio expresses some sympathy but is similarly down on his luck, his last few gold from a chintsy caravan job is not even enough to buy a suit of chainmail, armor being a pretty crucial part of surviving as a guard, and Rodolfio isn’t getting any younger.
- Orren asks if Rodolfio can get him to Lydonia, and offers 5gp for helping him survive the cold road there. Rodolfio tries to negotiate it up to 10.
- Make some opposed charisma checks:
The two get to talking, and wonder if there’s treasure that might be had on their journeys, if they can find an old ruin or something. Rodolfio has even heard a rumor - that the pure of heart are sometimes rewarded with a gift from a unicorn in the Sablewood. Rodolfio and Orren look at each other, trying to decide whether there’s even a remote chance that they are pure of heart.
- Asking Oracle if they’ve heard rumors of a local dungeon3. They have not. But I decide to generate one nearby anyway
Random Dungeon: Fortress of the Shimmering Peak
So I guess there is a dungeon on a nearby mountain, but they certainly haven't heard about it.
Rodolfio Benniti, who's seen a thing or two
Rodolfio is eager to get out of town regardless, there’s been a few murders here lately and people are giving him the eye as a stranger. Orren thinks about what the Wolves of Lydonia would do, and imagines that they would heroically present themselves to the local government and inform them of their intentions to root out the evil the town was suffering.
But Orren isn’t a Wolf yet, and hasn’t found that kind of courage. Still, part of him wishes he would do something about it. He and Rodolfio agree to spend the night at a nearby inn and then provision and head out the next morning.
- Asking Oracle if a murder happens that night:
- Subtracting 5sp each for the dinner and safe night.
- Rolling on the Town Encounter for a possible Something Happens! before they leave.
- Rolling on the Rumor Table
The next morning at breakfast, a blushing, nervous dwarf approaches them, mentions something about overhearing them last night, and found himself struck with Orren’s eagerness for adventure. He gives Orren a rose, “for luck”, and then mentions that if they’re looking for adventure, he’s heard about some ruins of Tal-Yool, far in the jungles to the South. Orren thanks him for the information and the flower, and says that if he ever makes it to Tal-Yool, he’ll be sure to return to Estinn and tell him about it.
“What was that guy’s name?” Rodolfio asks, after the dwarf leaves.
“Beats me,” shrugs Orren, trying to figure out what to do with this rose. “How do you feel about facing Cyclops?”
“Not great if I’m still wearing leather armor,” Rodolfio answers, “but if we find ourselves running from one, I guess it makes sense to always run to the side, on account of their lack of peripheral vision.”
“You’d run? I’d heard you small folk were so good at hiding, you can disappear on command!”
“We don’t like to talk about it,” Rodolfio says hotly.
Travel to Hex 5906
- Since it’s winter, Orren purchases himself a heavy cloak, a tent, and 6 more rations (2.5gp), but makes Rodolfio carry most of it.
- The weather is clear so they head out. If nothing delays them, they’ll reach hex 5906 and make camp. But that’s possibly two or three random encounters up into the hilly forests of the Sablewood.
- Checking the danger level…
- Now rolling to see if there are any points of interest.
- The Party reaches hex 5906
“These woods are quite peaceful,” Orren remarks.
Rodolfio shrugs. “Perhaps it’s the chill keeping predators indoors. ‘Till I get that better armor, I’m happy for peace.”
They find a suitable grove half-protected by a short cliff, and make camp. Orren offers to collect firewood if Rodolfio can do something with these rations to make them more palatable.
- Too wet, too heavy, not sure why. Orren has to expend both his torches.
16+1 for cooking, so Rodolfio manages to make a decent meal despite the sputtering and fruitless fire.
- Subtracting 2 torchs and 2 rations from supplies, but both get +2 temp hp
- Rolling Random Encounter check for the night
“We’re literally camping in the middle of the forest, and you can’t find firewood?” Rodolfio gently mocks. “Are you sure you’re part elf?”
“Shut up,” Orren says ruefully, feeling the chill as he crawls into the tent with his winter cloak around him. The human side of him is finding the chilly forest floor much harder than the soft sands of his distant homelands.
Travel to Hex 5908
The next morning, the weather seems a little cloudier, but is still clear. The pair break camp and prepare to head out.
- The first roll of the day yielded a random encounter (none for the second, but probably shouldn’t have rolled at the same time)
- That’s a little drastic to have two lvl 5 monsters attack out of nowhere, so let me see what standard encounter context rolls
- I rolled Near, Eating, and Hostile.
- Since they're eating, let’s give them DISADV on a wisdom check (normal) to spot our erstwhile party
“I thought they were charging for us, but they were going for that berry patch,” Rodolfio says. “They look hungry, we’d better sneak around.”
- Stealth checks. Orren has ADV, and Rodolfio might turn invisible is he’s spotted. Here’s hoping.
Rodolfio snaps a twig trying to keep up with Orren’s nimble, thiefy strides. The bear’s attention snaps to him and he dives into the snow, turning white. Orren finally gets to see his halfling companion do the invisibility trick! The bear sniffs around for him.
“Woah, you turned all white and see-through!” Orren says, once they catch their breath from leaving the bears behind.
“Yeah yeah,” Rodolfio grumbles. “I can gather firewood, too. And I wouldn’t mind finding more of those berries.”
“Speaking of, we should search for another spot to make camp. Maybe I’ll practice that wood-gathering and try to make a torch.”
- Rodolfio is going to make a forage check, then search for firewood. If he succeeds, Orren doesn’t craft at DISADV. Rodolfio’s meal last night should’ve been at DISADV too, but I forgot.
Rodolfio Firewood (STR): 15+2. The party will be warm tonight.
Orren Craft (DEX): 6+2. No new torch for Orren.
“Yeah, I guess I really do just suck at things regarding wood,” Orren sighs in dismay.
- Random Encounter check for the night
- Reading up a bit, the unicorn is probably the silvery steed from 5320. She’s apparently usually worried about the giant spiders and werewolves starting to gather far to the west, but let’s roll a prompt to see if there’s something more specific and local.
“Rodolfio!” Orren shakes the old halfling awake. “The campfire just went out. Something’s coming!” They scramble out of the tent and get their weapons. Orren has his bow drawn and Rodolfio grabs his spear and shield.
The unicorn steps into the windy glade just as the last embers are caught in the wind and drift away, swirling with sparks.
A Creature of the Night?
“Have no fear,” she says in a strange language that Orren doesn’t know - elvish, but different. “I mean you no harm. I travel these woods, ensuring that those who would exist peacefully find their home here. Put down your weapons lest I decide you’re not among them.”
They lower their weapons, standing in awe.
“I, uh… we may not be totally… pure of heart,” Rodolfio says, trying to remember his old Sylvan from his halfling teachers. “But I assure you we are of noble intent. We’re just traveling south Oh great and beautiful Unicorn. This one hopes to join the Wolves of the Wood King whom I would imagine you know of.”
Orren looks nervously, trying to glean anything from the tone of the speech. The Unicorn looks to both of them, and shakes its mane imperiously.
“I would have you give him a message, then. Something stirs in the ravine to the west, a foul many-legged evil is growing her spawn. And I have heard tormented howlings. I would ask that he sends his own wolves to investigate.”
“We will carry this message to Lydonia, oh might horny... uh, horned one. So far we have been at peace in these woods, and I have to imagine that is mostly by your grace.”
- I would say that they’ve gotten into the Unicorn’s graces enough that if it knows they’re going to Lydonia, it can mention any nearby points of interest. There are 4 more hexes to travel to get to Lydonia, so let’s roll 4 chances.
- Doesn’t feel like the Unicorn would give a shit about this, but apparently there’s a wizard’s tower nearby?
- Then I remember there’s a lake just to the south with a tower on it, no, it’s just a white pavilion, but apparently praying there gives one a holy quest.
The unicorn nods serenely. “If you travel South to Lydonia, you will reach the Crystal Lake by tomorrow night. If you are true to your words and are of noble intent, it is said that a spirit in that lake can offer guidance in return for prayer.”
Orren is listening to a lot of Sylvan he doesn’t understand. He’s also pretty tired, and it’s very dark except the unicorn is probably glowing in the moonlight. He tries not to yawn.
“Thank you for your guidance, great Unicorn. We will endeavor to be worthy of whatever good you see in us.”
The unicorn shakes its mane, nods its head unthreateningly, and then rears up and leaves them.
“What was that all about?” Orren asks.
“Just the local forest warden, I guess. She told us to let King Sindalian know that something’s breeding in the Black Ravine, and she’s asking for rangers to investigate. Maybe that’s you, buddy.” Rodolfio looks up at his boss, grinning widely.
“Maybe you, too,” Orren shrugs.
“Ahh, I don’t know if I want to become some lordly elfking agent, rangeing about on quests. I mean, unless the pay’s pretty good?”
“Yeah. Hopefully we’ll find paying work in Lydonia, regardless. Let’s go back to sleep.”
“Also there’s a lake spirit we might meet to the South. Uni said she offers quests to the worthy or something like that.”
“That sounds like a tomorrow-type encounter,” Orren says, yawning, and they return to sleep.
- Spending 2 more rations
Travel to 5810
Orren and Rodolfio wake up, awkwardly trying to ask each other if the whole Unicorn visit was a dream or not. Finding out it’s shared means there was something to it, and if they encounter the lake today that’ll probably prove it. The weather seems fine, so they head off. They reach the shores of the lake by the afternoon, but then find something else…
“There they are! GET THEM!!!” tiny tinkly voices shout near the shoreline, and what at first looked like fat dragonflies was actually six little faeries buzzing towards them, threads strung between them.
“Uh…..” says Orren.
- Roll Initiative?
Rodolfio: 9
Faeries: 19+3 for 22...
Faeries, Orren, Rodolfio
- Maybe figure out why the faeries want to sew these guys up? Let’s try a prompt
- Only 1 of the faeries thinks to stab Rodolfio with a needle, the rest just try to wrap them up, 3 on Orren and 2 on Rodolfio
- 3 fairy STR checks, difficulty seems Extreme, but they're working together so maybe it's 2 checks with ADV
Fairies on Rodolfio: 10 and 3, so that's a nope.
Single Fairy poking Rodolfio: 9+3 is a 12, just misses him, thanks to that shield.
“Aack! Get off me! What are you little tinkersnappers doing? We’re not babies!” Orren yells. “Leaves us alone or my buddy here is going to swat you into the rocks with his shield!”
- Orren attempts to frighten the fairies off by yelling. As an action, that forces the fairies to make a CHA check (normal) or second-guess their plan.
“Yeah, we’re on a mission from the big sparkly unicorn! Get off!” Rodolfio raises his shield threateningly.
- Decide this forces a morale check. Normally it’d be half their number being reduced, but a double threat plus invoking the name of one of the forest bosses might shake these guys.
- What is their case? No idea. Maybe a prompt will give me something.
“Unicorn mission or no mission, Mammy Crookbranch wants some babies!” shrieks one of the lead fairies. “And what Crookbranch wants, she gets! She’s scary!”
“What’s she want babies for?” Rodolfio asks, worried.
The fairies look at each other. “We’re not actually sure,” one says. “But we trust her,” another says.
The two adventurers look at each other. Rodolfio sighs, and leans up to whisper to Orren. “I was willing to ignore the cultists… and the murders… and the pit full of spiders, or whatever...”
“There was a cult?” Orren interrupts. Rodolfio rolls his eyes.
“I’m just sayin’ I don’t know if we can let some creepy old lady steal children in these woods.”
“Yeah, you’re right, checking her out is the right thing to do. How do we get these fairies to show us… ah! I’ll try something.”
“Hey!” he says loudly to the fairies. “We can tell Mammy Crookbranch where she can find some babies!”
Some of the fairies get excited, and now it’s their turn to talk amongst themselves.
- Let’s give the fairies a normal WIS roll to see if they’re suspicious.
“We don’t think she’ll be very nice to us if we return without a baby,” one of the fairies says. “But we can tell you where she is.”
They describe a creepy old tree hollow about six miles away, near where the snowfall starts to run off the hills. Then they depart, off to look for more babies I guess.
“Jeez, that’s a whole day of travel, mostly uphill,” Rodolfio mutters.
“It’s the right thing to do,” Orren insists.
“Maybe we can try to consult that spirit guide, I see some sort of open chapel over on that distant island.”
“We’d have to find a boat,” Orren says, looking about with his half-elven eyes. “Might take days to circle this lake, it looks pretty big.”
“We’ll let’s make camp and think about it. The lakewater looks fresh, maybe I can try to make a ration stew.”
“I vote you get the firewood again and I try to make dinner.”
Orren fails with an 8. Boring regular rations instead.
- subtract 2 rations and make an encounter check for the nightEncounter roll 1. Something encountered!
Near, Building/Nesting, Hostile
- Middle of the night, a hulking white-furred form prowls along the lake coast. Rolling to see if they notice it’s approach.
“Rodolfio, wake up, there’s something big out there!” Orren frantically whispers.
The halfling squints in the moonlight. “Woah, that’s a big wolf. And it’s making the ground frosty. I’m not sure we can take it.”
“You turn invisible, I’ll try to hide.”
- But the wolf may have noticed them, let’s roll initiative
Rodolfio: 13
Orren: 12+2 = 14
Our guys get to go first.
- Rodolfio turns invisible again, while Orren crouches low and tries to hide.
- The wolf scrounges a bit, snuffs at their fire, and pokes around at their tent and stuff. It tears into Rodolfio’s pack and eats 4(!) rations. Satiated, it wanders off. Rodolfio uninvisibles, cursing, and starts trying to put his pack back together again.
“Well that’s torn it! Half our food gone! We’re only a day away from Lydonia to the Southwest, but now we could only barely cover the journey up to the high hills to face some baby-eating witch!”
“Yeah. Seems like the wise thing is to find someone who can help us chase her down?”
“Maybe. Someone with magic would be nice, to fend off curses and the like.”
“I guess we’d better head to the city then.”
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