Session 3: The Labyrinth Walkers

The group of adventurers, "Howls-With-Fire", "Minna", "Rein", and "Dust," arrived in the bustling wild west town of Thornhollow. They had heard rumors of the ruins of ancient magical civilization in the surrounding mountains, and they dreamed of making their forturnes.   As soon as they arrived in town, they set about making preparations for their journey. Rein, the necromancer, tasked his assistant Ms. Gloom to keep track of any new people who came to town. This was for Rein's political ambitions.   Rein also took a ride out to the mountain pass known as Oscar's Ascent, which was an important trade route for the town. He had personal reasons for wanting to claim this route, as it was where the adventurers had fought off attackers when their caravan was ambushed on their last trip. He wanted to ensure that the pass was safe and accessible before they set out. After his reconnaissance, he returned to town and reported back to the group.   Next, they decided to visit Charlie Lerch, the owner of the livery and stables in town. Charlie was a respected member of the community and an experienced prospector. He had a reputation for being a reliable source of information and advice.   Charlie listened to their plans and warned them that the mountains were dangerous and that they should be prepared for anything. He also suggested that they not take their horses, as exploration is dangerous and he would be sad if their horses were injured or killed..   The group thanked Charlie for his advice and decided to take his suggestions into consideration. They spent the next few days gathering supplies and equipment, and preparing for their journey. Finally, they were ready to set out and look for claims.
  After a few days of traveling through the mountains, they stumbled upon a promising claim. The claim had a crack in the rock face, leading to a deeper cave opening, that looked like it had the potential for ancient ruins or valuable minerals. The group knew that this was a chance of a lifetime, and they were determined to stake their claim and explore the cave. They approached the cave with caution, knowing that they had to be careful. They spent a brief time examining the crack, and decided that it was worth staking a claim on. They knew that they had to be quick and make the claim before someone else could beat them to it.   Without wasting any time, Howls-With-Fire immediately sent his companion wolf, named Frost, back to town to file the claim. Frost quickly made his way back to town and filed the claim, much faster than anyone else could get there. The group was relieved and excited to know that they had successfully claimed the land.   However, little did they know that a claim jumper, who was following them, was determined to stake his own claim on the land. When the claim jumper arrived in town, he was foiled when he opened the door to the claim office and was met with Frost walking out. The claim jumper realized that he was too late, and that the claim had already been taken. He cursed his luck but he knew that there was always another scam to be found. He decided to move on and look for another opportunity.   The group of adventurers, now secure in the knowledge that their claim was registered, continued on their journey, resolving to come back later when they had all the necessary equipment to properly excavate the crack and explore the cave. They had successfully staked their claim, and they were excited to uncover the secrets hidden deep within the cave.

  Ad they adventure on they discover a strange forest glade located deep in the heart of the mountains, hidden away from the main trails and paths. As the adventurers make their way through the dense forest, they come upon a distinct line where the foliage changes. On one side of the line, the trees and plants are normal, with tall pines and oaks, and the usual underbrush. But on the other side, the trees are taller and wider, their bark a deep red color, and their leaves are a vibrant shade of green. The plants are also different, with large flowers of every color imaginable, and strange fruits that seem to glow in the sunlight.

The air is different too. It's sweet and fragrant, and they can hear the sound of a gentle stream flowing nearby. The ground is covered in a thick moss, and the grass is a deep purple color. The sunlight filters through the trees creating a dappled effect on the forest floor, giving the place an otherworldly feel.   The animals here are not like the ones they know. They see colorful birds and small mammals that don't seem to be afraid of them. They also see strange insects and butterflies with wings that shimmer in the light.   The line is so distinct and obvious that it's as if someone had drawn a border, separating this part of the forest from the rest. They feel a sense of peace and tranquility here that is hard to find elsewhere. It's as if the glade is a sanctuary, untouched by the outside world.   As the adventurers explore the glade, they notice that many of the plants and herbs here are unique and have medicinal properties that are not found anywhere else. They gather as many as they can carry before moving on, knowing that they have stumbled upon a truly special and valuable place. They feel fortunate to have discovered this glade and are grateful for the knowledge and resources they have acquired.

  After moving along from the strange forest, they stumbled upon a clearing where they found a pair of wild-eyed and paranoid hillbillies who had set up a crude camp. The hillbillies were armed with an assortment of rifles and shotguns, and their clothing was tattered and stained. They were clearly under the influence of some form of hallucinogenic substance, possibly magic mushrooms.

As soon as the hillbillies spotted the adventurers, they became agitated, shouting and waving their weapons in their direction. They fired warning shots in the air and began asking highly confused questions that made no sense. They were unwilling to negotiate and made it clear that they wouldn't hesitate to use deadly force if the party didn't leave immediately.   Minna, the shapeshifting warrior, stepped forward and attempted to negotiate with the hillbillies, but they were too far gone, they were confused and paranoid, and they refused to listen to reason. Seeing that the situation was quickly escalating, Howls-With-Fire, the fire mage and beastmaster, decided to use an illusion spell to make it appear as if a large group of armed men had surrounded the camp. The illusion was convincing, and the hillbillies were quickly convinced that they were outnumbered and outgunned. They eventually dropped their weapons and surrendered without violence.   After the conflict was over, the adventurers discovered that the hillbillies had been eating the mushrooms for weeks without knowing that they were the problem, they had been foraging for wild mushrooms and were not aware of their toxic effects. The adventurers were filled with compassion, they confiscated the mushrooms and helped the hillbillies to understand what had been happening to them. They also offered to help them stay in their home, providing food and other supplies, they wanted to help the hillbillies overcome their addiction to the mushrooms, and start anew.   The group of adventurers had a deep sense of responsibility, they didn't want to take advantage of the hillbillies situation, they helped them in every way possible and in return, the hillbillies were able to keep their land, live in peace and even recover their lives. The group also promised to spread the word to other settlers of the dangers of these mushrooms. They knew that they were in the wild west, an untamed place where people were trying to survive, but they also knew that compassion and empathy can go a long way.

  As they continue their journey they come across a sign welcoming visitiors, but when they arrive they find the partially burned cabin of Aron and Litha Worthers. The cabin had been burned during the winter, but only partially so, leaving the interior and the bodies of the Worthers mostly untouched. The party was determined to find out what had happened to the couple and who was responsible for their deaths.

  As they examined the bodies, they noticed that both Aron and Litha had been killed with a knife. The wounds were deep and precise, indicating that the killer was someone who was skilled with a blade. They searched the cabin for clues but found nothing that could help them identify the killer. However, they noticed that nothing seemed to have been taken from the cabin, which they found suspicious.

  The party then decided to question the neighbors to see if they knew anything about the murder. They knocked on the door of the nearest cabin, but the person who answered denied knowing anything about the murder. The party found this hard to believe, as the cabin was only a short distance from the Worthers' cabin. They asked around the other cabins, but none of the neighbors were willing to provide any information. Some of them even claim they didn't know the Worthers were dead.   The party was disappointed that they had not been able to gather any useful information from the neighbors. They knew that they would have to return to the cabin later and continue their investigation when they had more time. In the meantime, they decided to move on to Thornhollow and continue their journey.   However, the murder of Aron and Litha Worthers weighed heavy on the party's mind, and they knew that they would not rest until they had found the killer and brought them to justice. They will keep an eye on the neighbors, and come back to the cabin later to investigate further. 

  The adventurers trekked through the labyrinth of canyons, using all their skills to navigate the twisting paths and treacherous terrain. They faced countless challenges, from steep cliffs to raging rivers, but they were determined to find the high place they had seen from a distance. As they journeyed deeper into the canyons, they began to feel a sense of hopelessness. They had been wandering for days and still had not found the high place. Frustrated and exhausted, they decided to take a break and make camp for the night.   That evening, as they sat around the campfire, they remembered the magic mushrooms they had confiscated from the hillbillies. They had been carrying them with them, unsure of what to do with them. In a moment of desperation, they decided to try them.   To their surprise, the mushrooms gave them a magical connection to the land. They could feel the energy of the canyons flowing through them, and they knew exactly where to go. With renewed energy and purpose, they set out the next day, following the path that had been revealed to them.   As they climbed higher into the canyons, the air grew colder and the winds more fierce. But they pressed on, driven by the knowledge that the high place was close at hand. And finally, after a day of wandering, they reached the summit.   The view from the top was breathtaking. They could see for miles in every direction, and they knew that they had found the perfect place to build a fort and mine for precious metals. With their journey complete, they set up camp and celebrated their success.