Arc 2 - Session 1: Badgering Bandits Report

General Summary

Arc 2 Session 1: Badgering Bandits

Introductions

The RATS woke in their respective rooms in The Scowling Squid tavern after a fitful night's sleep, they all seemed to share some sort of shared nightmare, something about a Strahd?   After awaking, they realized that Scotty had left sometime in the night, leaving behind all but his favorite horn.   They went downstairs to find the tavern once again packed, some sort of celebration after last night's catastrophe. There, in the corner, the RATs met an odd fellow named Zephyr, an Air Genasi Ranger Gunslinger. You went and spoke to the bartender you all knew well, Oskar Rockseeker, and he told you of several potential places you all could find some work:  

• To the north, there were troubling reports out of Esmer Village of some strange terrifying creatures roaming around the outskirts of the town.
• To the east, you learned that there was always help needed in the capital city of Leonport.
• To the west, you learned that the Azure Ascendancy was working to gather a large force to hopefully take down the last remaining vestiges of orcs on the continent.

Seeing that Esmer Village was the closest, you all chose to go there first.

Accosting Shopkeepers 2: Electric Boogaloo

You all realized you had some loot that needed to be sold, and you proceeded on over to Lighthouse Wares to speak with Finnan Greenbottle. There, Jad attempted to sell some of his miscellaneous items, unhappy with the offer provided by Finnan, Jad lifted Finnan up by his collar in an attempt to get a better price out of him. Finnan's wife, Faylile, popped up from behind with a huge crossbow in her hands, discouraging any further agression from Jad.   Realizing you had a solid day and a half's worth of travel to reach Esmer Village, you decided to attempt to get horses from the stables again. On the way, you realized that you somehow lost the horses the stablehand had previously lent you and decided to attempt to lease horses again. Upon arriving, he essentially told you all to leave to which you all refused. You continued to pester him unti Biri Urlingscar, along with several other town guards appeared and asked you all what was going on.   After explaining, she sighed and more or less forced the poor Stablehand to provide you all with a single horse and two mules (which didn't end up improving your speed at all but good effort!).  

You Walk a Lonely Road

You all then began your trek to Esmer Village and proceeded north out of Llast and into the woods along the well-traveled road. The trip was mostly quiet, maybe too quiet? For nearly 6 hours you traveled the path without anybody else passing. That is until a group of 6 gruff looking individuals with their two horses hauling an overfull wagon appeared in the distance.   The group consisted of four humans, a halfling, and a half-elf all dressed and drabby clothes. Though you were unable to see what was in the wagon, they did provide you with some useful information about the creatures that apparently were plaguing the town. Human but wolfish you were told. You all continued on your way and eventually bedded down for the night.   In the night, as Booger-T was watching, he heard whispering from down the road.  After investigating, he was able to see the six individuals you had encountered earlier attempting to sneak up on you all.  He dashed back, woke everybody up, and you all began combat against the woefully unprepared bandits.   You quickly dispatched them all, and with the assistance of Leaf's entangling spell, were able to capture the halfling alive.  You all went back to sleep and finished your long rest successfully.

Arriving at Esmer

You all awoke from your long rest and proceeded to follow the trail.  After only an hour or two, you were able to see smoke over the tops of the trees ahead.  You soon reached a clearing where the road was flanked on either side by burning fields of corn and wheat.  Ahead, you could see that most of the small town's buildings were collapsed or burning.  Despite the obvious raid, you found no signs of bodies anywhere.  While searching, you heard faint coughing in one of the buildings.  That's where the session ended.

Character(s) interacted with

• Oskar Rockseeker - Provided potential work for the RATs.
• Finnan and Faylile Greenbottle - Were assaulted by the RATs.
• Rory Rockforth - Attempted to, and failed, to reason with the RATs.
• Biri Urlingscar - Helped the RATs to get some mounts.