Session 0.5: Humble Beginnings

General Summary

Plot

Character Intros

Sir Asguir Thornveil gets lost in his monologuing before dealing drugs (pixie dust) to a young halfling. He overhears talks with the bartender about the High Harvestide festival in Sareth in 2 days time and that a Prince is coming to the town to bless the festivities.   Elräen Naïlo is deep in the woods feeling the adrenaline he longs for. After losing the animal's trail, he is attacked by a rabid wolf which he dispatches quickly. As the sky darkens, his mentor Baron Vilkrest finds him and criticises him going alone, asking Elräen to join him in the tavern. He agrees.   Brôck Redbeard is deep in trance surrounded by runes, trying to find a deeper connection with his unknown patron. In a moment of devotion and arcane prowess, Brôck has 3 images flash through his mind: A strange hooded figure sprinting across a barren landscape; a staff emanating a deep purple/black light at the bottom of stone steps; the horrifying skeletal face with no eyes and 4 horns protruding from its head. Brôck recognises the building the staff was not being ruins, but a developed building maybe in a city. He awakes and decides he needs a break.  

The Raven's Pit & Adventure Begins

Our adventurers meet in the Raven's Pit tavern as a large brass-scaled dragonborn greets them heartily and asks if they want to be a part of the newly formed adventurer's guild. He introduces himself as Arjhan Kerrhylon, and from the corner of the tavern drags a halfling girl whom he introduces as Piper Furrowshrew. She is obviously nervous and uncomfortable but is polite and greets the party. Arjhan describes her as being blessed by their god. As Arjhan talks of finding the first quest for the guild, Mayor Smallfoot enters with some guards by his side. The patrons of the tavern are confused at seeing their high-standing (and lazy) mayor in the local tavern but show respect, with those of military status bowing as he walks through. He waves them away, reaching Arjhan and speaking in hushed tones. He asks for their help (as part of the Vashni military) to find his daughter, Fiona Smallfoot, who has suddenly gone missing . Arjhan says that the newly formed adventuring guild will happily take on this quest, at which the mayor looks relieved, saying that his daughter Fiona plays a major role in the High Harvestide festival and so finding her is of upmost importance, offering 5 GP each for her safely returned. Asguir and Brôck negotiate for 7 GP each, which the mayor reluctantly agrees to. Arjhan then leads the new party out of the tavern on their journey.  

Investigations

Brôck sets up missing posters for the girl, which a young farmer notices and discusses how this is another tragedy in the town after the many livestock that have mysteriously disappeared lately, which he blames on local bandit activity. To prepare for their quest, Asguir buys supplies from the friendly general store owner. He offers Asguir an "experimental" potion that he's been brewing as a hobby. The party then gather and start following the single trail of hoofprints away from the mayor's house. As they do so, Asguir notices Piper clutching the holy symbol of Guarda, the God of Protection and Haven worshipped throughout Vashnir, as well as a priest's ribbon at her neck.  

Attack of the Zombie Boars

As the sun was already setting when the adventurers set out, they only got around an hour of searching before having to set up camp. During the night, Asguir and Arjhan are on watch when a squeal resounds through the camp and three frenzied boars charge into the clearing, surprising the party. Piper, just awoken by the chaos, kills one of the boars with Sacred Flame and Brôck hits one in the side with an Eldritch Blast. The remaining boars charge, the injured one missing Arjhan but the other stabbing Asguir in the side with its tusk. The chaos ends as Elräen shoots the injured boar in the side and Asguir, pinned to the tree, stabs the boar in the head with a dagger. Investigating the bodies, the party notice the flesh rotting and almost melting off the bones as if they were brought back from the dead and decide to continue on their journey.  

Crossing Paths & Bad Feelings

After a couple hours of travelling, the single trail the party have been following intersects with another - many sets of hoofprints and wheel marks set into the mud. They see that the paths meet and become distorted before heading in opposing directions, though Arjhan suggests they could meet up later down the road. After seeing small footprints reminsicent of a young girl on the single trail and a quick discussion of splitting up, the party agree to follow as one to hopefully locate the girl. Soon after they meet a gnomish merchant on the road warning of strange lights and ominous sounds further on the trail. He says he heard what he thought was the sounds of the dead and a young woman's voice. As they continue and the sun begins to set, Elräen's perceptive ears pick up hushed whispers surrounding them in the forest. As the party sets up camp, Elräen and Brôck set out to investigate and return to the trail. For a second the sounds dissipate. Then suddenly whistling surrounds the two and grows louder, before Elräen is struck in the shoulder with a crossbow bolt.  

Bandit Ambush

As Elräen and Brôck are shot at from the trail, a large orc bandit charges out attempting to finish Elräen off, but he nimbly avoids his swings. Elräen's war senses immediately activate and he spots bandits hidden in the trees, aiming their crossbows at the party. The other party members hear the commotion and shouts and rush over. Arjhan, seeing his new friends hurt like this, lets his rage out and beheads the orc with one axe swing. Purple magic surrounds the party as Piper blesses them with the power of Guarda, and Asguir stealths away to take down one of the bandits from the shadows. He also spots a third bandit in the trees aiming at Piper. Elräen aims his bow and shoots an arrow straight through the bandit's throat. Finally, Brôck summons a crackling energy from his palm that streaks toward the final bandit, searing them in the flames of the burning tree. These bandits were outmatched. Asguir, Elräen and Brôck continue on and investigate the bandits' camp. They find some treasure, documents and a corpse. The body seemed to be another bandit, who died unnaturally with rot crawling up his arm. The journal entry of the bandit describes how they encountered a strange figure on the road who they attempted to rob. The figure scared them off with necrotic magic covering the bandit, and he is afraid that these will be his last hours. The party also find a letter written in fine cursive stating "There was a slight disruption, but everything is going according to our plan. Go ahead with the assault." The party discuss their findings, concluding that this dark magic user must have kidnapped the mayor's daughter, explaining the single trail and the girl's absence from the bandit camp.  

Black Magic & Revelations

After the ambush, the party continue on the trail until they reach an ominous cave. They enter, hearing a rising chant from below as the passage opens up into a vast cavern with an altar in the centre, at which a figure in velvet robes kneels. They turn around, revealing Fiona Smallfoot. She is tired and upset with her father for sending yet another group of adventurers looking for her. She goes on a rant about how controlling he is, which led her practicing these rituals to get out of his control and summon those who she says understand her. As the party attempt to calm her, she gets angry and her strong emotions conjure strong arcane forces raising the dead around them. A brutal fight ensues, with Fiona's volatile magic either failing or draining the lifeforce of the party greatly. After whittling down the crowd of zombies and skeletons Fiona summoned, the party eventually knock out the would-be necromancer and the dark magic leaves the cavern. They return to Sareth, returning Fiona and getting their payment.

Rewards Granted

5GP to Elräen, 7GP to Brôck and Asguir.

Missions/Quests Completed

Retrieved the Mayor's daughter, put an end to those pesky bandits and saved the area from necromancy.

Character(s) interacted with

Baron Vilkrest   Arjhan Kerrylon   Piper Furrowshrew   Brockshap Turnir   Mayor Smallfoot   Brennan (General Store Owner)   Fiona Smallfoot