Wardens of the Sorrowood C3E03

Game Scheduled: March 22, 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
*Xane - Air Genasi - Paladin/Cleric
=== Inactive (Guarding the Fortress) ===
*Bim Bim - Elven Barbarian
*El Cangrejo - Crabfolk Rogue/Bard
*Jayzal - Tabaxi Rogue
*Snarela Kegfury - Dwarven Artificer
== Adventure Debriefing: ==
The mercenaries took a much needed rest on the third floor of the banshee's tower. Darksteel spent some time studying the strange obsidian stone, concluding it was a magical. The Craven Heart, quite possibly the item Seraphina the Hag sought. After the rest the party went up to the fourth and final floor. They discovered the Spellbook of Shandalar Raloqen, and a glowing Gem of Brightness.
With items to hopefully tempt the hag to leave her lair, the mercenaries set off to intercept her before she could threaten the Frogfolk's village. As they left the tower, the ominous aura and fog had already begun to clear. A days travel later they found a ruined tower overrun with rats. Thanks in part to John's prodding, Shepard had Speak with Animals prepared and advised the rats to flee for a few days because a hag was coming. Searching the area they found discarded items that could be used as spell components. Xane picked up a Flask of Holy Water and White Gloves. Ulfgar found a couple pieces of coal. A vial of perfume to Darksteel. No one seemed interested in the bat guano. With the ruins cleared of rats and searched of items, Ulfgar used his powerful Fabricate spell to construct a 'falling boulder' trap at the western entrance. John took position atop crumbled stonework to the east.
Ulfgar removed the jar containing the hag's eye from his Reliquary anti-magic box and placed the it on the ground; then rotated it to "see" the items they had collected from the tower. While the hag's eye was out in the open, Shepard attempted to Scry on the hag, but she resisted the intrusion and only a sense of contempt was perceived before the magical connection broke.
That evening an obscuring fog rolled in from the north making hard for the mercenaries to see much beyond thirty feet. Xane's divine sense warned of approaching undead, will-o'-wisps. 
Using the cover of the fog, a greater wisp floated into the ruined tower and zapped Xane. John fired his Longbow of Elvenkind at it, but could not see clearly enough to hit. Another greater wisp drifted next to John and shocked him. Darksteel cast Hex and Eldritch Blasted the closest wisp. A third greater wisp hovered near Ulfgar and zapped him. The hag, Seraphina, approached the camp but could not be seen through the fog. She exuded a supernatural aura that silenced the western most mercenaries, allowing only her voice to be heard. Seraphina Charmed Xane, referring to him as "her poppet," and called him closer to answer her questions. Xane activated his Radiant Soul ability, growing two temporary luminous, spectral wings and flew towards the hag. Shepard retreated out of the silent aura to cast Protection from Evil and Good on himself before Wild Shaping into a Giant Toad. Ulfgar missed his Word of Radiance target.
The first greater wisp swapped from attacking Xane to Darksteel, burning him with electrical energy. John swapped to his Dragontooth dagger to stab the second wisp. The wisp responded by turning invisible. Darksteel adjusted his position to cast a Wall of Thorns via Cedarella's Sorrow. The rapidly growing thorns and vines destroyed the first wisp and prematurely triggered Uflgar's trap causing a boulder to fall at the west entrance, blocking the hag from entering. The third wisp tried to shock Ulfgar as Ulfgar's warhammer passed above it. Seraphina asked Xane if he had seen her heart. Xane was confused as he had seen an obsidian stone, but it did not beat like a heart. Seraphina tried to Polymorph Xane into a newt. Xane's will broke free of the hag's Charm Person, then swung his sword at her. Shephibian bit the wisp next to Ulfgar; grappling it with his Giant Toad tongue. Ulfgar took the opening to heal Darksteel.
John lept down, the invisible wisp lashed out. John turned to fire an arrow but the shock to his arm threw off his aim. The wisp chased after John and discharged energy at him and Darksteel. Darksteel blasted the wisp into nothingness, then turned in the hags direction, and threatened that he would destroy the "obsidian" heart if she continued. The grappled wisp tried to zap Shephibian. Seraphina asked Darksteel to not threaten her heart. He responded that his Fey Queen Patron would not like hearing about the hag's exploits in the mortal realm. Seraphina Misty Stepped next to Darksteel, her visage of a little old lady still intact. Darkteel resisted her Maddening Whispers. Xane summoned Spirit Guardians in the shape of tiny wings like his own. Shephibian dropped the wisp he had grappled and hopped over to the hag and tried to bite her. Ulfgar succumbed to the hag's charming aura and fled east out of the ruins. 
John also falters and flees north. Darksteel threw Dust of Darkness around the hag and fell back out of her reach before her claws could sink into his flesh. The wisp glided over behind Shephibian but failed to make contact. Serpahina wounded Shephibian's mind with Dissonant Whispers but he was Protected from the additional fear effect. Xane tried a Guiding Bolt. Shephibian moved closer to the hag and bit her; but her psychic backlash broke his Wild Shape form preventing her from being grappled. Shepard instead Wild Shaped into a cave bear. Ulfgar repositioned to reheal Darksteel.
John maneuvered and mounted onto Shepbeard's Saddle Armor to fire his Longbow at the hag. Darksteel cast Entangle into the melee. The remaining wisp shocked John, inadvertantly fully charging his magical weapon. Seraphina cast Bones of the Earth causing a massive stone pillars to rise. One lifted Shepbeard and John thirty feet into the air. Xane flew near the hag and tried a Guiding Bolt. Shepbeard jumped off the column and bounded towards the hag, clawing her. Ulfgar swung at the hag. 
John dismounted and punched the hag with his charged Knuckleduster with extra force. Darksteel threatened the hag again, holding the heart and a dagger. The wisp shocked the armored Xane. Seraphina unleashed a Maddening Cackle causing the encircling mercenaries to strike the person to their right. Xane and John drop unconscious. Shepbeard clawed at the hag from the back while Ulfgar searing smited her in the face.
Darksteel pierced with his dagger but it wasn't enough. The wisp zapped Shepbeard. Seraphina clawed Darksteel trying desperately to get her heart back. Ulfgar switched weapons and walloped her with his cold iron axe. 
Both barely remaining on their feet, Darksteel swung his staff squarely into the hag and discharged magical thorns to wrack her form
The hag fell defeated. The last wisp turned invisible and retreated. Ulfgar quickly got Xane and John back on their feet while Darksteel caught his breath. Shepbeard used his heightened sense of smell to hunt down the last wisp, ensuring no surprises while the party recovered.
The mercenaries pooled their knowledge and decided to cremate the hag after removing her scalp. The Scalp and both eyes proved to be valuable and filled with magic. 
Traveling to and searching the hag's lair, they find some interesting items. An old herbalism kit with recipes (Contact Poison, Paralyzing Paste, and Night Eyes), some poisoned beer, and Bags of Poppy Tea. 
With the death of the hag, the Frogfolk she had captured and transmuted had returned to their former selves. The mercenaries escorted them safely back to their village. The chieftan was incredibly grateful but did not have much in the way of rewards for saving them. The mercenaries agreed to simply collect one gilidile egg each. The chieftan volunteered to send one of his own to the Overlook Fortress as ambassador and to assist with training the gilidile to be proper mounts when they hatch.
Back at the Overlook, Treant Bark Twain gives the mercenaries intel on the situation to the north. A Blight caused by errant corpse flower; and the death of an elder troll had left younger trolls unable to defend themselves from the beasts of the Sorrowood. The flesh of the trolls had seemingly caused the change to the animals into dire beasts capable of regeneration.
== Conclusion ==
A vicious yet victorious encounter with the evil hag Seraphina. The Frogfolk rescued and grateful. Yet more danger lurks to the North.
== Rewards ==
*1 Gilidile Egg, each
*2 weeks Downtime, all
*3 Games Played, all
*Hag's Hair, Darksteel
*The Craven Heart, Darksteel
*Eye of Seraphina, Xane
*Gem of Brightness, Xane
*Eye of the Cloven Sage, Ulfgar
*Spellbook of Shandalar Raloqen, Ulfgar
===Spellbook of Shandalar Raloqen===
*Control Flames 
*Hold Portal 
*Unseen Servant 
*Shield 
*Charm Person 
*Gust of Wind 
*Identify 
*Earth Tremor 
 
*Pyrotechnics 
 
*Fireball 
*Slow 
*Animate Dead 
*Awaken 
*Plant Growth 
*Glyph of Warding 
 
*Telekinesis 
*Fire Shield
==Epilogue==
===One for Daisy===
John sat alone beside the booze birch, his right hand rested atop a fresh mound of dirt. A light breeze caressed it's leaves stirring up a gentle shushing sound. A black-capped chickadee called softly from the branches "Day Zee! Day Zee!" Johns hand slowly clenched into a fist, clutching loose dirt and pebbles.
"This was supposed to be our last job. One final mission and we were out. But now...now I'm thinking I'm back."
John reached into his pack and pulls out a small bag of treats. This he laid gently upon the grave. Standing up, John turned towards the training grounds.
"Bim Bim! It's time for exercise!"
John adjusted his Knuckledusters before advancing on the nearest training dummy.
Category:Adventures