Wardens of the Sorrowood C2E09

Game Scheduled: January 25, 2024
GM: Thom
==Chapter Synopsis:==
The Aureate Horizons Trading Co., colloquially known as Horizons, urgently seeks mercenaries in A'lune to join as Wardens of Sorrowood for a long term commission. In addition to an incentivized mercenary pay rate of 5 gold per week (as opposed to 2 gold per week that is standard), Horizons says that mercenaries can keep whatever is recovered from bandits along the route.
An outpost has been established in the treacherous Sorrowwoods. With numerous bandit groups along the route, prepare to lay siege upon, oust, or recruit the various banditry groups towards protecting the road! Upgrade your fortress further as you progress, deciding upgrades that will determine the fate of future chapters!
==Mercenaries==
===Active Mercenaries===
*El Cangrejo - Crabfolk Rogue/Bard
*Jayzal - Tabaxi Rogue
*John Weck - Human Rogue
*Teneboris - "Kobold" Warlock
*Ulfgar Fireforge - Dwarven Cleric
===Inactive===
*Bim Bim - Elven Barbarian
*Percevial - Dragonborn Sorcerer (Premade)
*Shepard Swiftfoot - Halfling Druid
*Snarela Kegfury - Dwarven Artificer
==Adventure Debriefing:==
After easily traversing the outer layers of the Verdant Reavers encampment, the mercenaries arrived at the southern entrance to the inner maze. The hedge appeared to extend upwards as far as the eye could see, and there was an obscuring mist about 120 feet above them. Jayzal placed the Homestone in his waterskin and hid it within the branches of the hedge, then gave Ulfgar the Compass. Teneboris' familiar Chwinga hid in the hedge to guard. In front of them a desecrated statue of a snake-headed figure bore a plaque, "Iridia." The entrance split into two paths. Jayzal activated his Psychic Whispers ability to allow to telepathically communicate. El Cangrejo, Jayzal, and John snuck down the left path. Teneboris and Ulfgar would explore the right.
"Sneaking" down the left passage, the rogues spied a few awakened shrubs. John was bitten but protected from harm by Teneboris' previously cast Bubble Hex. EL Cangrejo lit a torch and asaulted one's mind with Vicious Mockery. Jayzal daggered a shrub, and John finished the last with crossbow bolt. Jayzal's sharp ears heard humming from their left on the other side of the hedge wall. 
Teneboris used his Changeling's Blade to Alter Self into the female cultist they had defeated, and placed manacles rigged for easy release on Ulfgar. Teneboris escorted Ulfgar down the right passage. As they approached the awakened shrubs on their side, the shrubs retreated back into the ground with happy chirps as they saw the visage of the cultist not Teneboris. Turning a corner, the next hallway was filled with the sweet scent of flowers. They resisted the disorienting effect of the fragrance. 
El Cangrejo retrieved a mirror from his pack to peer around corners. John used a stick with makeshift adhesive to attach to the mirror to allow them to better see around corners. The humming stopped as they wound closer. A Madcap ran up and kicked El Cangrejo in the shins. A bit of combat, and John finished the Madcap with an acidic stab of his Dragontooth Dagger. Investigating the creatures lair, they found a corpse it had been eating and a few items. El Cangrejo drank the healing potion. 
Teneboris saw large sections of the hedge had been slashed by claws or perhaps a cleaver. An angry large bull-like gorilla is seen tearing sections of hedge. Teneboris thought maybe they could sneak around with a distraction. Ulfgar mentioned having incense thus giving Teneboris the idea to use Prestidigitation to create the scent of fresh meat to lure it into a corner. The adventurers snuck past. Down another corridor they found a Mimic disguised as a treasure chest, and the eastern entrance. The Mimic believed Teneboris was it's caretaker.
Across the labyrinth, the rogues saw tears in the hedge resembling frantic antler markings. They encountered and defeated an undead Swarm of Wolf Spirits forever on the hunt. From the body of a dead ranger the party recovered broken reinforced leather armor, a magical sword, and thirty-six gold.
Exploring the northern pathways, Teneboris and Ulfgar noted the locations of a Cockatrice, and a magical trap. Careful to avoid both, they decided proceed towards the center of the maze.
John came across a hidden lockbox with eleven gold. EL Cangrejo drank the Fire-Breathing Potion that was inside. Around the corner, they ran into webbing and a huge Spider. John tried to imitate Bim Bim's dance to talk to it. The Sneak Attack damage from three rogues proved too much for the Spider, J'ba Fofi, to withstand. They found six Potions of Lesser Restoration. Jayzal drank one to heal his exhaustion from the Wolf Spirit fight, and El Cangrejo drank one to recover from a drunken Wild Magic surge suffered from his Chaos Pistol.
Teneboris and Ulfgar heard singing. Getting closer the music became discordant, they resisted the songs magical stunning effect. After taking many arrows fired by a Mountain Nymph, Ulfgar revived Teneboris. Teneboris thanked his hero. They found a gold bracelet and a magical plum with healing properties, which Teneboris ate.
The two groups of mercenaries met back up at the door into what would be the center of the maze. El Cangrejo was a bit aghast at hearing the voice of Teneboris come from the appearence of a beautiful woman. Ulfgar cast Prayer of Healing. The mercenaries had a quick tactical discussion on how to enter. 
Teneboris, still in his disguise of a cultist, knocked on the door. The party received a response, "just a moment, dearie." Entering the chamber, Teneboris spoke with a female Kenku witch and introduced El Cangrejo as "someone who may be looking to make a deal," then took a seat near a large unusual tree, corrupted, bearing black tinted leaves and grey bark. El Cangrejo began conversing with the Kenku who was preparing a ritual for Endelyn, known also as Creeping Lyn, a skeletal Fey spirit who makes deals with mortals. John and Jayzal successfully snuck into the room unnoticed. John climbed the tree, while Jayzal identified the stonework near El C as a statue of Sire Gerrif Mowen, Slayer of Scythorn the Blight Green Dragon. 
The Kenku witch, Kikimora, using Detect Thoughts was aware of the presence of the mercenaries but did not see them.
==Conclusion==
Entering via the southern entrance, the mercenaries split into two groups. The "sneakier" group encounterd and fought a Madcap, a huge Spider, and a Swarm of Wolf Spirits. The other group made note of the eastern and northern entrances; and the locations of a Bullrilla, a Cockatrice, and a Mimic; and defeated a Mountain Nymph. The groups convened at the door to the center of the Verdant Reaver maze. Inside they met a Kenku witch casting a ritual. 
==Rewards==
* 47 Gold, amongst group
* Gold Bracelet, Ulfgar
* Staggering Shortsword, Jayzal 
* Scroll of Cause Fear, El Cangrejo
* 4 Lesser Restoration Potions (6-2), El Cangrejo, John, Jayzal, Teneboris 
* Madcap's cap, crafting material (see Cap of Aggression), John
* Gems (Star Rose Quartz, Carnelian x2, Chalcedony), Sold
* Gem (Chrysoprase x2), Jayzal
* Gem (Citrine), Teneboris
* Sickle (light weapon, not finesse), John
* Bladed Iron Boots (gnome-sized), Ogri NPC Merchant
Category:Adventures