Wardens of the Sorrowood C4E04

Game Scheduled: July 26th, 2024
GM: Thom
==Chapter Synopsis:==
In the depth of the forest, a nefarious Archdruid is on a mission to resurrect a green dragon, once turned to stone and shattered into a thousand pieces. The druid's machinations have been slowly uncovered; a Tower he was researching to the Northeast, a Quarry to the West, and evidence of missing troll clans in the marshes bordering the Sorrowood. Perhaps the one hope to turn the dragon to stone once more is a lost Medusa, last seen in a maze where the Wardens unleashed an Anti-Magic Zone by accident. Some, or all, of these threats will need to be neutralized in order to guarantee the safety of the Wardens' mission: assaulting the Druid's Lair...
==Mercenaries==
===Active Mercenaries===
*Darksteel - Fallen Aasimar Warlock
*Havlow Killbottom - Dwarven Paladin
*John Weck - Human Rogue/Fighter
*Shepard Swiftfoot - Halfling Druid
*Ulfgar Fireforge - Dwarven Cleric
*Xilon Starrati - Half-Elf Wizard
===Inactive (Guarding the Fortress)===
*Bim Bim - Elven Barbarian
*El Cangrejo - Crabfolk Rogue/Bard
*Jayzal - Tabaxi Rogue
*Snarela Kegfury - Dwarven Artificer
*Xane - Air Genasi Paladin/Cleric
==Adventure Debriefing:==
The mercenaries arrived back at the Overlook Fortress with their new ally, Iridia the Medusa, and were greeted by Treant Willow Smith. The Titanfolk, Crinossa, had already safely made his journey and was waiting expectantly for them at the newly constructed tavern. Darksteel examined the new gardens and was pleased with the unique fey plants that had been included. The kitchen bustled with activity and Shepard wolfed down a tasty meal. Xane was in the Temple teaching guards divine healing. Knowing the evil druid wouldn't wait for the mercenaries to relax, the others visited Ogri and the Vanguard Quartermaster to resupply and equip themselves with new armaments. Ulfgar lifted the Surveyors' Stone in his deft hands and peered through the crystal sphere, hoping to find rare minerals at the next location of interest. Xilon, John, and Havlow requisitioned a Duelist's Longsword, a Magical Shortsword (Tyrant), and a Telescoping Spear, respectively.
As he stepped out of the gardens, Darksteel overheard a Treant shouting to Havlow. The rapidly approaching Spruce Willis barked "Trolls! Trolls! An ARMY of Trolls from the northwest!" Havlow ran to the warning bell and sounded it with vigor. Ulfgar blessed the Overlook's Ballista with Elememtal Weapon magic. Xilon mounted on his Magic Broom lifted John aloft for a better vantage.
Darksteel ran to the northwest side of the Overlook and brandished his magical staff, Cedarella's Sorrow. A Wall of Thorns sprang forth from the forest's floor to hamper the advancing Trollkin. Shepard came up beside him and flung a Fireball over the Thorns and into the mass of Trollkin. El Cangrejo roused the mercenaries with his bardic prowess (Overlook Lair Action/OLA). Trollkin Raiders, unable to charge directly to the Overlook, skirted around the northern end of the Thorns. Xilon shifted position and Fireball'd the Raiders. Ulfgar loosed a bolt from the magically imbued Ballista, while a guard handled the reloads. Havlow heaved a javelin as far as he could throw it, striking a Raider. The second group of Raiders opted to move south around the Thorns. John applied poison to his weapon. The third group of Raiders with two Trollkin Reavers chose to follow the first group around northern side. To the southwest a group of War Trolls had tried to sneakily approach the Overlook.
Darksteel saw and blasted the War Trolls with a Fireball. Shepard, concerned with reducing enemy numbers as quickly as possible, flung another Fireball that dropped all but one of the second group of Raiders. Crinossa channeled ancestral magic and Call'd Lightning to sear a War Troll (OLA). The first group of Raiders moved within range and fruitlessly threw spears at Treant Spruce Willis. Xilon flew to a more central position and cast Vortex Warp to transport John onto the field within reach of the War Trolls. Ulfgra's Magmin ignited a bolt before Ulfgar fired it from the Ballista into a War Troll. Havlow's javlin bounced off it's armor. The sole Raider from the second group made it to the ledge to climb up to the Overlook. A quick slash from John's jagged Dagger of Wounding prevented it from ever making the ascent. John quickly reapplied his poison. Back north the third group of Raiders approached the Treants. One of the War Trolls stopped to bite and slash John with a greatsword. Another kept going, John took the opportunity to stab it with his Dragontooth Dagger as it passed.
Darksteel Eldritch Blast'd the War Troll attacking John. Shepard cast Wall of Fire in a ring to encircle three of the War Trolls. Xane fired a Guiding Bolt (OLA). Around the Overlook to the north the first group of Raiders closed on the Treants, but take a Fireball cast by Xilon through his manifested mind ability. Xilon spotted larger uglier trolls break the northern tree border. Ulfgar missed with the Ballista. Havlow drew the Telescoping Spear and looked down at the nearest War Troll; the spear extended downward skewering the troll. It died, smited by Havlow's divine strength. John swapped to wield Tyrant, and steadied his form. His first strike slew a burning War Troll. His second left Tyrant embedded in another. A grotesque Fell Troll slashed Treant Willow. The other Fell Trolls headed south towards the Overlooks entrance ramp. A War Troll died trying to escape the Wall of Fire. The last War Troll swung at John but couldn't connect.
Darksteel Hex'd the last War Troll and finished it with Firebolt. Shepard called out to Xilon above, asking where the next attack was coming from. Xilon yelled, "North East!" Shepard Wild Shaped into a huge bird (ed note: Quetzalcoatlus). Shepbird turned to fly around the Overlook to help the Treants, but saw three Raiders trying to scale the cliff and grabbed one in his talons. Grimtalon shifted and flew to assist the Treants against the Fell Trolls (OLA). Emboldened the Treants slammed the Fell Trolls with mighty boughs. The Trollkin broke free of Shepbirds grasp and fell onto the ledge. Xilon glimpsed more danger coming from the east, Reavers preceding a huge Mountain Troll. With his allies engaged to the west, Xilon took a risk and attempted to Summon a Draconic Spirit. A bright Red Dragon appeared ahead of the Reavers, but not under Xilon's control. Ulfgar lit up the dropped Trollkin with a Guiding Bolt. Havlow, with the help of a guard, moved the Ballista. John began sprinting to circle around the Overlook. The Fell Trolls bit and clawed at the Treants. Trollkin Raiders turned to fight John instead of climb. John parried one and stab the other in return. The Mountain Troll, not realizing the Red Dragon was summoned by Xilon, attacked it. The Reavers with him kept going towards the Overlook.
The Raider by Ulfgar withered in the flames of Darksteel's Firebolt. Shepbird tried to grab a raider by John, but missed. Above them, Snarela launched an attack commanding beams of force and fire from her companions to bombard the Raiders, killing one (OLA). The summoned Red Dragon unleashed it's flaming Breath Weapon upon the Mountain Troll. Xilon exploded a Fireball amongst the newest Reavers. Ulfgar rolled off the cliff, then swung with his Coldiron Handaxe but missed the Raider. He quickly cast a healing spell on himself. Havlow finished adjusting the Ballista and fired a bolt across the Overlook into the Mountain Troll. Two Fell Trolls made it to the Overlook's ramp entrance. Another Fell Troll grabbed Grimtalon and bashed him against the ground. The newest Reavers collectively threw their hand axes at Xilon, one blow managed to break his concentration on the summoned draconic spirit. The Red Dragon faded to whence it came. The Mountain Troll proceeded to join back up with the Reavers at the ramp. A Raider swung at John.
Darksteel Firebolt'd down at a Raider. Shepbird pecked a grievous wound in the Fell Troll still fighting the Treants. As it dropped, he looped his flight to see more of the battle. The front lines of guards hold firm against the Reavers (OLA). Xilon's second Fireball extinguished those Reavers. Ulfgar slashed the remaining Raider. Halvow struck the Mountain Troll with a second Ballista bolt. John stabbed the Raider, and took off running as it crumpled to the ground. The Reaider regenerated and stood back up to attack Ulfgar. The Mountain Troll struck the ground with the force of an earthquake. Thanks to months of training only one guard is lost to the rubble. 
Darksteel's Firebolt destroyed the Raider John left behind. Shepard saw the front line in danger and flew to land beside them; and released his own Fireball into the Mountain Trolls Face. Bim Bim vaulted from the upper ramp, but got back handed away by the Mountain Troll (OLA). Xilon focused on the Mountain Trolls head and a fiery Psychic Lance burst the monsters skull. Ulfgar ringed the last Fell Troll in a Wall of Fire, sending it to the afterlife.
==Conclusion==
The Wispering Cutlass mercenaries, Vanguard, and their allies defended the Overlook Fortress from a massive assault. Many of the trolls were species not commonly found in marshes and would not have been native to the Sorrowoods. Wounded allies were tended to and enemy corpses were burned to prevent regeneration. It's determined that the attack may have been a diversion to slow the mercenaries from interferring with the evil druids plans. They would need to hurry to stop him.