Wardens of the Sorrowood C3E04

Game Scheduled: May 3rd, 2024
GM: Thom
==Chapter Synopsis:==
To the north; a sudden influx of Dire animals have cropped up some some unknown cause. Dire Bears, Dire Rats, Dire Wolves, and worse. Prone to violence, rage, and seemingly unafraid these seemingly rabid creatures are ravaging hunting grounds and leaving other animals starving. Worse, they seem to be regenerating somehow...
To the south; Will-o'-wisps seem to be luring travelers to their doom. These creatures have seen an increase in their victims due to the rise in overland trade with the recently cleared routes. Those who survive recall cackling, whispers of dark promises, and dissonant singing...
If either remains unchecked, it could spell potential catastrophe
==Mercenaries==
===Active Mercenaries===
*Darksteel - Fallen Aasimar Warlock
*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:==
After reviewing the report of trouble to the north, the mercenaries decided to recruit help from local rangers. They would get to the camp by skirting the western border of the Sorrowoods after stopping in Suvauge. 
Arriving at Suvauge, Shepard waited for the others outside the city while they shopped. A shady character seemed to recognize them but disappeared into the crowd. At Mortimer's Magical Menagerie, Ulfgar bought a magmin and Xilon bought a manticore-in-a-jar from Mortimers collection that also included an armored mastiff, cranium rats, and a flumpf.
The mercenaries continued their journey by heading north along the western edge of the Sorrowoods. About halfway to their destination, what sounded like partying at first turned out to be chanting in the woods. Deciding it was a threat to the Sorrowoods and within the duties of their employ to make the forest safer, they snuck upon the cultists. The area was slowly shifting from wooded forest to terrifying Thinning.
Shepard Wild Shaped into a Dread Wolf (Shadow Mastiff) and invisibly snuck around the perimeter. Darksteel grasped Cedarella's Sorrow and waited a moment for the unseen Shepard to get into position then unleashed a circular Wall of Thorns, engulfing and shredding the cultists. Two of the cultists fell forever silent.
Ulfgar cast Guiding Bolt at the rightmost cultist. John attempted to sneak left across a large chain but almost fell into the slowly materialising Thinning. John's body collapsed under the terrifying mental strain upon reaching the other side. Xilon sent a pair of Magic Missiles to slam into the two cultists. The leftmost one summoned a Spiritual Weapon and sent a Sacred Flame at Ulfgar. Darksteel returned fire with Eldritch Blasts. The rightmost cultist Sacred Flame missed, and also summoned a Spiritual Weapon. The Cultist Fanatic Leader dispelled the Wall of Thorns with his highest spell slot, and started to advance. Shepard(DW) missed his attack of opportunity and the Fanatic Leader ran even faster. Shepard(DW) chased and bit the Fanatic Leader before turning invisible again.
Ulfgar cast Heat Metal on the mask worn by the cultist. John remaind unconsious, his mind wracked with rivers of terror. Xilon shot more Magic Missiles, killing the one whose mask was heating up. Darksteel's Eldritch Blasts slew the other cultist, the body falling into the murky undulating Thinning. The Fanatic Leader cast Greater Invisibility and ran. Shepard(DW) was unable to determine where he had run.
Ulfgar moved up to the circle, but what was being summoned through the Thinning had already begun to fade away. John continued to be psychically tormented with visions of scraps of red and blood, a dripping axe amongst island of chains, and a voice "you are a good killer, i'm watching you," the reverberating approval woke John up. Xilon cast See Invisibility, and shouted to Shepard "he's where you started the fight!" Darksteel cast Spike Growth from his staff, the Fanatic Leader Counterspelled, and Xilon Counterspelled the Counterspell triggering an arcane surge. The invisible Fanatic Leader caught in a backlash of arcane energy turned ethereal. Shepard(DW) leapt most of the Spike Growth and continued pursuit. 
Ulfgar investigated around the summoning circle. John stabbed at the gigantic eye on the other side of the fading Thinning, he felt his dagger beginning to corrupt and pulled it back swiftly, but found another dagger at his feet. Picking it up he felt like it was *meant for him.* Xilon mounted his flying broom and carried Ulfgar to and dropped him on the ethereal Fanatic Leader's location. Darksteel dropped concentration on the Spike Growth and moved to regroup with everyone. The invisible Fanatic Leader, untouchable while ethereal, continued to flee. Shepard(DW) also continued dashing, and over took the Fanatic Leader, though he could not see nor interact with him.
Ulfgar and John advanced. Xilon Vortex Warp'd Darksteel closer and flew him to the Fanatic Leader. Darksteel cast Blink and prepared to cross between the Material and Ethereal planes. As Darksteel's body shifted over the Fanatic Leader failed to enchant him with Hideous Laughter, but ending his concentration on invisibility. Realizing the danger, the Fanatic Leader tried to run and Darksteel tried to trip him. Shepard(DW) trotted to the now visible but ethereal Fanatic Leader and growled at him.
Ulfgar and John tried to catch up. Xilon continued shouting out the Fanatic Leader's position. Darksteel prepared to Eldritch Blast the Fanatic Leader when he next blinked into the ethereal. As he did, the Fanatic Leader tried to strike back with Vampiric Touch. Shepard continued to follow their position should the ethereal effect end.
The third time Darksteel blinked into the ethereal his Eldritch Blasts ended the Fanatic Leader's life. On the corpse he found a small totem carved from black stone and fashioned in the macabre scene of death and terror bearing lots of fangs and eyes. He gave it to Ulfgar who put the "Accursed Idol" into a Reliquary anti-magic box.
The following day, carrying on with their journey the mercenaries are surprised by a swiftly flying threat. Xilon on his broom above the party barely managed to Misty Step into the brush as red eyes, partially petrified green and grey scales and a large draconic mouth bearing hungry teeth snap at him as they pass. The creatures rider didn't notice the confrontation. Rider and beast rapidly flew east. Shepard tensed and prepared to cast Earth Bind, but John's hand on his shoulder told him now was not the time. Shepard explained to the newer mercenaries that was the big bad evil druid they ultimately had to contend with to ensure the Sorrowoods safety. He informed Darksteel that his staff Cedarella's Sorrow was carved by that evil druid out of one of the Treant protectors of the forest. If fighting wasn't an option now, Shepard insisted Xilon Sending a message to the Overlook Fortress to warn them of the dragon and druid.
Returning to the current task, the mercenaries arrived at the ranger village. They recruit one, Ko'nan, to assist with tracking, and at the ranger's suggestion, capture of Dire Beasts. They are also informed that the Corpse Flowers usually come and go in cycles, and that they release deadly spores. As for the Dire Beasts, they can either clear out the current ones or try to clear out what might be the source. John suggested taking out the source first.
Before leaving the encampment, Shepard assisted John in making eight masterwork paralyzing pastes.
==Conclusion==
After a trip through Suvauge for some shopping, the mercenaries headed north around the edge of the Sorrowoods. They encountered and defeated cult fanatics attempting to summon an extraplanar creature. Then narrowly avoided being spotted by the Big Bad Evil Druid riding atop what appeared to be a dragon. The party arrived in the ranger's village and recruited Ko'nan to help them track and defeat corpse flowers and dire beasts.
==Rewards==
*Dagger of Wounding, John Weck
*Accursed Idol, confiscated by Reliquary
Category:Adventures