Wardens of the Sorrowood C3E01

Game Scheduled: March 8, 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; Wil-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, w/ Daisy - Hound companion
*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: ==
After the mercenaries had cleared multiple groups of murderous bandits from the Sorrowoods, Vanguard had arrived and sealed a Thinning with construction of a new Gate. Teneboris had bid the other mercenaries well with their continued efforts in the Sorrowoods. Workers had completed construction on the Basement, Temple, and Training Grounds addition to the Overlook Fortress. 
Fresh mercenaries arrived, Darksteel, and Xane. The mercenaries discussed the intel the Treants had brought regarding Dire creatures to the North, and new information that will-o'-wisps were luring traveler's off the road to the South. They requisitioned a Glazed Blade (as a battleaxe) and a Scroll of Treasure Finding from the Vanguard Quartermaster. To investigate the disappearances, Shepard would act as Guide, John as Scout, Ulfgar as Hunter, and Darksteel and Xane as Lookouts.
While traveling, a crow flew down and cawed at Shepard expectantly. John offered it a shiny silver coin, which it accepted. Unable to speak to it directly, Shepard tried summoning a temporary familiar in the form of a raven to be an intermediary. The two birds cawed at each other. The crow spoke, "finally, someone with some sense!" The crow imparted a warning to the party before flying away, "Beware the Hag. One Eye on Herself, One on her Enchantments. Don't stay too long in the Silence, it's deafening." 
Ulfgar used the Scroll of Treasure Finding and sensed something to be found south of him. A short hike and leap over a river led them to a dead body. Checking the corpse, Uflgar found a still shiny shield with "Perseus" written on it. Strange points of light started to materialize. Will-o'-Wisps. Four small, and one larger Wisp surrounded the mercenaries.
The Big Wisp shocked John. The smaller wisps hovered right next to members of the party to zap them as well. Those wearing metal were particularly vulnerable. John tried to punch the Big Wisp, then pick-and-rolled with Ulfgar. Ulfgar uttered a Word of Radiance, the damage proved effective on the wisps. Darksteel cast Blink on himself. Xane cast Spirit Guardians in the form of tiny versions of the mechanical dragon seen on the Endless Divide Saga. Shepard cast Protection from Evil and Good on Ulfgar, then Wild Shaped into a large Cave Bear.
Big Wisp missed shocking Shepard-Bear. A little wisp drew an opportunity attack from Ulfgar. The other small wisps continued to harrass the party. John feigned an uppercut, then critically stabbed the Big Wisp with his Dragontooth Dagger. Ulfgar unleashed another Word of Radiance, blasting wisps with holy power. Darksteel was zapped while trying to retreat from the wisp nearest him, then turned and Eldritch Blasted it into oblivion. Xane cast Toll the Dead on another wisp. Shepard-Bear bit the Big Wisp, but it avoided his claws.
The Big Wisp turned invisible, leaving no foot steps as it floated away. The remaining small wisps shock the mercenaries again. John's punch fell short, but drove his off-hand dagger straight through a wisp. Ulfgar healed Darksteel. Darksteel moved his Hex to another wisp and Eldritch Blasted it. Xane opened his awareness with Eyes of the Grave, and sensed the invisible Big Wisp was right next to him! Shepard-Bear heeded Xane's direction and jumped over him to where the Big Wisp would be; but the Big Wisp just barely avoided being grappeled by beary big claws.
Big Wisp zapped the encroaching Shepard-Bear, becoming visible again. John ran over to the Big Wisp and with missed with a low punch, but hit with the follow up stab and right-hook. Ulfgar's silver sword glowed white hot for a moment as he disincorporated the Big Wisp with a Searing Smite. Now unthreatened, Uflgar retrieved the fallen mercenaries shield.
As expected, the scent of the wisps lead southward. John scouted ahead to find a village of frogfolk. (approx 70-100) The well-dressed Darksteel offered to speak to them first. Shepard shifted into a gillidile for Darksteel to ride and appear more official. John fell into step beside them as a body guard. The rest would follow as a retinue. 
Darksteel called out to the guard riding a gillidile. The bullywug turned and rode the mount easily up a muddy slope to speak to the party. Questioning Darksteel, the guard confirmed that the mercenaries weren't a threat to the village and in fact had dispatched dangerous will-o'-wisps. Through a quick conversation Darksteel and John find out a Hag has been tormenting the villagers and using wisps to lure travelers. John informed the guard, Grurtos, that mercenaries like them have been hired to safeguard the road through the Sorrowoods, and that included threats like the Hag. Convinced, Brurtos escorted the party into the village to meet Bravatello. 
Bravatello asked, "Not with Seraphina are you?" No, the mercenaries did not work for the Hag. Bravatello offered them seats and a pipe. "Unusual to see big folks take an interest in the small folk," he remarked, "and you don't mind that we're from the Fey?" The party replied that their concerns were threats to the roads, and that though Ulfgar may be from the Vanguard, his concerns were dangerous artifacts not the frogfolk living peacefully. Bravatello showed them an Eye in a Jar. One of the Hags. The village kept it to prevent her from attacking it directly, but he gave it to Ulfgar for safe keeping. He then showed them on their map where the Hag's Lair was suspected to be, and a Tower her minions had been attacking. He thought there might be something in it that the Hag was after.
The mercenaries considered that with the Hag's Eye in a Jar and whatever might be hidden in the Tower, they might be able to draw her out of her Lair and fight her on more favorable ground.
== Conclusion ==
The mercenaries dispatched a gathering of Will-o'-Wisps and recovered the shield of a fallen mercenary. At the village of Frogfolk who had migrated from the Feylands they learned of the Hag that was plaguing the area and a Tower which held a prize she sought.
== Rewards ==
*Fallen Mercenary's Shield - Ulfgar
Category:Adventures