Session 03: The Cult of the Red

After defeating the Kholos, the Ratcatchers searched the surrounding chamber but found nothing of interest. They returned to a previous room where opening a set of doors triggered a portcullis, alerting a nearby group of bugbears. The bugbears arrived to investigate and a fight broke out. The Ratcatchers held their ground and defeated the ambushers.   Searching the bugbears’ quarters revealed more trapdoors but nothing of value. Choosing a different path, the group returned through familiar halls and followed a previously unexplored corridor. At its end, they spotted natural light filtering in, with another door branching off to the left. Entering this side chamber, the Ratcatchers were met by a group of cultists. A swift but brutal fight followed, and the party recovered a strange red coin from the bodies—marked with the symbol of the Cult of the Red. The coin radiated faint magical energy of an occult nature.   Wanting to explore more, the Ratcatchers backtracked to a stairwell they had bypassed earlier. Descending, they found a pool of water inhabited by three aggressive reefclaws. The creatures attacked, but the party defeated them after a brief struggle.   With the lower levels now cleared, the Ratcatchers gathered the rescued merchants and their two bandit prisoners. They made camp for the night in the cultist chamber, then returned to Valhale the next morning. The bandits were promptly executed by hanging, and Jayson Desbris paid the Ratcatchers 2 gold pieces each for their efforts.   Back at the Inn of the Welcome Wench, the group learned from a merchant named David Hugue that his cargo had recently gone missing. He suspects a group of kobolds is behind the theft and seeks the Ratcatchers’ help in retrieving his goods.   The next day was spent in much-needed rest and downtime. Sigrym attempted acupuncture on Sakuya, though it failed to provide any clear health benefits. Rue lent a hand at the local blacksmith’s forge, earning a bit of coin. Seris and Tamla took the day to rest and recover, while Alex and Sakuya handled unloading and selling the various treasures the party had recovered from the moathouse.