Session 6: Spence Ranch

Session 6: Spence Ranch

Morning, 9 Aers 530 — Village of Seny
The heroes awoke after a long rest. As breakfast was being made, they noticed a few villagers stumbling into town from the surrounding woods. Although identified as residents of Seny, the villagers appeared to have spent the past week sleeping rough: muddy, scratched from brambles, bruised, dehydrated, and exhausted. Thankfully, none of their injuries were life-threatening.

Oddly, they had no memory of the last seven days, could not explain their absence, and were bewildered to find themselves waking in the wilds.

Cordoch inquired about the pewter locket (from Session 2) and discovered it belonged to an older woman. She gratefully reclaimed it, explaining Sage Noshaan’s guards had confiscated it about a month prior.

Regarding the prayer book (also from Session 2): the heroes identified a house as belonging to Lyra Adthyra, a shrine to Urdon, Lord of the River Waters. Lyra, however, was nowhere to be found. Twig kept the book.

As the party attended to the dozen villagers, they noticed a thick column of dark smoke rising on the southeastern horizon. Adventurers that they were, they quickly packed their things and set off to investigate.

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Early Afternoon, 9 Aers 530 — Spence Ranch
After following winding backcountry trails, the heroes arrived at Spence Ranch. The ranch buildings had been burned to the ground, now smoldering ruins. One house still had scattered fires burning around it. The livestock was gone, and three bodies were tied to a tall fence with rawhide cords. Not far away, three goblins capered excitedly.

Wasting no time, Suffering Succotach unleashed [spell]Fire Bolt[/spell]. In moments, one goblin was dead, one had fled into the woods, and the third was restrained for questioning.

Upon investigation, the bodies tied to the fence were as follows:

One orc, his skull smashed repeatedly by a large blunt weapon.

Two humans, pierced with numerous wounds.

All three wore sturdy work clothes and bore the same tattooed symbol of Gokdum on the inside of their left wrists.

Before the heroes could continue their investigation, a massive hill giant appeared — 16 feet tall, carrying a tree trunk studded with iron spikes. With goblins scurrying at his back, the giant roared:
“You have killed them… now I kill you!”

Some heroes attempted questions, but most turned quickly to action.

Fourth-Knife transformed into a bear, rushing in, only to be struck by the giant’s spiked club.

Bosk raged forward.

Kruk lashed the giant with elemental power before repositioning.

Like a pack of hunters bringing down a beast, the heroes brought spell and blade to bear, defeating the giant while scattering or killing his goblin companions. Another goblin was taken prisoner.

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Goblin Interrogation
The first goblin, later revealed as Steg, was so thoroughly persuaded to “tell everything he knew” that he began reciting proofs of the quadratic formula... followed swiftly by the Pythagorean theorem when pressed further.

The second goblin, Lirdi, responded with sarcasm and frustration:

When asked “Who do you work for?” he replied that it was a stupid question, since “everybody knows who the bosses are.”

Their names were “Stinky Butt,” “Mean Drunk,” and “Likes to Cut People” — though of course they never introduced themselves politely.

Asked what he was doing here, Lirdi pointed out that he was tied up, answering stupid questions, and trying hard not to give an answer that would get him killed either way.

The interrogation was mercifully interrupted by the arrival of a newcomer.

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The Arrival of Franklin Hewett
A short, stout man in travel gear, Franklin Hewett introduced himself as a field agent of the firm BEK. Carrying a long knife and a carved quarterstaff, he recorded the names of the heroes in his notebook before explaining his own quest.

He had been tracking outlaws — a gang who had ambushed a shipment of muskets, pistols, shot, and Smokepowder. The guards and teamsters had been slain, and the entire shipment stolen.

Franklin identified the bodies on the fence as members of the Hanged Men:

"Whiskey" Jack DeLaney

Amos "Bones" Fletcher

Yakgnath the Strangler

The fallen giant, he revealed, had been Bluto, another gang member. Producing wanted posters, Franklin signed over the bounties to the adventurers with the instruction: “Take these to a guild office to collect the reward.”

Further examination showed that the slain men bore orc flint arrowheads in their wounds — clear evidence of an orc warband’s involvement.

Searching Bluto, the heroes found a short note:
“Bring the guys and the stuff to the cave. Don’t let the gobs play with the stuff. NO FIRE!”

Meanwhile, Suffering Succotach correctly deduced that at least one keg of stolen smokepowder had detonated in the ranch house basement based upon the scattered wreckage.
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A New Choice
With Franklin’s revelations, the heroes faced a difficult decision:

Pursue the orc warband, who might now be well armed with muskets and pistols.

Or follow Bluto’s backtrail, in hopes of finding the remaining outlaws and their hideout.

After discussion, the group chose to follow Bluto’s trail...