Session #16 — Traveling

Session #16 — Traveling

15 Memum, 530
By midmorning, the Deputies finished their search of the cavern and prepared to gather the horses for the ride back to Blood Ax. As they exited The Pale Maw, they spotted fresh Goblin tracks in the area. Moving with caution, they encountered no ambush—perhaps some other force had drawn the goblins away from the cave.

On the road to Blood Ax, a distant cry for help split the air. Racing toward the sound, they found two young travelers under attack by massive, shambling heaps of plant life. The creatures were dragging the youths toward a murky pond ringed by a steep muddy bank. The ground was soft and slick, dotted with mushrooms and tall toadstools beneath the trees.

While Bosk and Simon held the horses, the others rushed forward. Before they reached the water’s edge, the plant creatures wrapped vine-like tendrils around the pair and dragged them beneath the dark surface.

Kruk charged to the eastern bank, Fourth-Knife to the north, while Cordoch and Imaranger came up behind, followed by Urxes, Suffering Succotash, and Alaric. With the prey submerged, bows and spells were of little use.

Kruk dove in first, striking at the nearest creature. Fourth-Knife followed, cutting through the water to join him. The others circled the bank, waiting for an opening.

Beneath the surface, Kruk and Fourth-Knife fought against the tangled growths. The creatures, intent on cocooning the youths in a nest of branches and vines, scarcely noticed the blows at first.

Once Cordoch secured a rope, he plunged into the pond, followed by Alaric and Imaranger. The water was thick and dark, forcing them to fight at close range. Twig dove in soon after to assist.

Fourth-Knife broke off his attack to free the trapped girl. After a tense struggle, he tore her loose and brought her gasping to the surface. Twig tried to free the boy but found the vines too tight. Meanwhile, Kruk, Imaranger, and Cordoch pressed the attack as Alaric’s magic flashed in bursts of freezing light.

When the first creature finally went still, Cordoch tore open the boy’s prison of roots and passed him to Twig, who carried the unconscious youth up to Urxes at the muddy bank. The others turned on the remaining creature, and with fists, blades, and spells, it too fell apart in moments.

Panting and mud-slicked, the Deputies scrambled up the slope, some slipping and sliding comically. They revived the boy, patched their bruises, and took a short rest before hearing the youths’ tale.

Imaranger dove once more into the water, retrieving several coins from other ensnared corpses below. With the ordeal ended, the weary group gathered their gear—and the two shaken youths—and returned to Blood Ax. The youngsters’ mushroom hunt had ended in disaster, but they were alive.

That evening, the Deputies found food and lodging in town. Cordoch shared a few coins with the pair, and Twig offered gentle counsel before sending them on their way.

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16 Memum, 530
The next morning, the Deputies attended to business in Blood Ax—collecting the bounty on the Pale Maw Ogres and restocking their supplies. They also sought a reliable river captain to deliver a message to the court of Tèarmann Nàdair, within The Orange Pearl Casino.

While wandering the casino floor, Alaric was caught off guard when a broad-shouldered dwarven woman seized him by the collar, kissed him soundly, and slipped a folded document into his coat. Turning to two grinning onlookers, she shouted, “See? I did get something for it! Pay up!” The taller man, his dark hair streaked with gray, chuckled and flipped her a coin.

Opening the document, the Deputies discovered it was a deed to the Grand Hotel in Green Creek Shrine.

After writing their message and paying the boat captain, the group split to pursue their own errands. Twig sought out Honey O’Dell and was intrigued by the haunting tune she hummed—something that seemed tied to the long-lost Songs of the Crystal Queen. But Honey remained distant and wary.

Cordoch visited the temple of Blood Ax and met Zefyola Cherryhill, who drew him into a new quest. Elsewhere, Alaric and Bosk chose to spend their earnings on revelry, which ended with both of them cooling their heels in Sheriff DeRook’s jail for disturbing the peace.

When their fines were paid and affairs settled, the Deputies left Blood Ax and took the trail toward Green Creek. What happened along the road went unrecorded.

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20 Memun 530
Upon arrival, they noted dozens of lifelike statues scattered about the shrine. Fourth-Knife and Suffering Succotash quickly recognized the truth—these figures weren’t carved, but people turned to stone.
After settling their mounts and stowing their extra gear, the Deputies turned their sights toward the Green Creek Mine, where strange lights flickered in the darkness.

Here ends Session #16.