Wardens of the Sorrowood C1E04

Game Scheduled: September 7, 2023
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.
Caravan losses have surged on the route from Mowen to Kregia, particularly through the treacherous Sorrowwoods. The Rekal Guard, formerly securing the route, have disbanded the escort factions following overwhelming losses. Horizons believes the solution lies in both increased security and proactive threat neutralization. Setting up an outpost halfway is necessary.
== Mercenaries: ==
*Bim Bim - Elven Barbarian
*John Weck - Human Rogue
*Shepard Swiftfoot - Halfling Druid
*Snarela Kegfury - Dwarven Artificer
== Adventure Debriefing: ==
After briefing the crew on the spiders and bipedal spider"men" that walked like people; Quill, hunter, trader, man of action, lead the mercenaries into the Sorrowood to where the wagon of supplies had been taken. As they headed deeper in the foliage got thicker, and webbing on the trees became more pronounced. A few nasus and other animal carcasses were spotted. Reaching a split in the path Shepard checked the right finding V-shaped footprints; while John scouted the left noting drag marks as though a wheel had been pulled and unable to roll properly. Bim Bim recalled a circus act of a performer on a one-wheeled chair and began to pantomime the act while he strode onward. Following behind, Shepard pulled the cart of smoked meats intended to be used as bait should they find a good ambush spot. John slinked ahead and found unusual webbing that almost impercetably flickered with a blue light. Bim Bim grabbed a few strands and ate them; he remarked that his "snack" wasn't very tasty as lightning energy sparked.
Sensing a disturbance in the force, Ballon Spiders skittered towards Bim Bim. Shepard grabbed some meat from the cart and tossed it past Bim Bim; the spiders eagerly descended upon it. Shepard called out to Bim Bim that if he wanted to try talking to the spiders this would be his chance. And so, Bim Bim danced and danced as he thought a spider would dance. One balloon spider approached Bim Bim and asked what he was doing here, was he food? Bim Bim asked the spider to wait until he finished his dance so they could talk. The spider patiently watched; while the other spiders continued to eat. Bim Bim introduced himself; and the spider introduced itself as "Peter." As conversation progressed, Peter talks about the shepherds that take care of them and bring them food and provide shelter. Shepard tried to explain to Bim Bim that they are different shepherds than what he is. In exchange for the shepherds taking care of the spiders, they are provided with excess silk. Bim Bim would like to talk to the shepherds to find out if they are good or bad. Peter directs him further into the wood.
Pushing past more plants thick with webbings, and a few cocoons of meals yet to be eaten, the party enters into an area with noticebly different spiders with horn-like protrusions on their heads. After a few call and response "toot toot"s, Bim Bim got a sense of their vibe and began to chat. The spiders note that *these* shepherd's colors are wrong, and the party doesn't have carapaces, but they brought food, so they must be good too! (John recalls seeing one of these Holler Spiders before in the court of a noble, tamed for entertainment) Taking a few pieces of scrap from Bubo's storage, Snarela produced a makeshift trombone mouthpiece for Bim Bim to musically accompany the spiders. 
A couple Balloon Spiders approached from behind claiming they only got scraps and wanted more meat. Bim Bim scolded them to return to their own area and leave the Holler Spiders alone, but is hit and wrapped in sparking webbing instead. His great strength easily breaks him free. Shepard summons a warding wind around him to try and knock the Balloon Spiders down. One lands and bites Shepard, but is then stabbed by Quill and John. Snarela blasts with a firebolt.
Bim Bim jumps up and pulls the other Balloon Spider down into a grapple to begin carrying it back to it's proper territory. Following his lead, Shepard grapples the one that bit him and John gives it a little boop. Briefly invigorated by the charge surging through him from the spider, Shepard grabs a piece of meat from the cart and breaks it in two, giving half to Bim Bim. The pair then throw the two naughty spiders back into their habitat with the meat, and a warning from Bim Bim.
Bim Bim asked the Holler Spiders where the shepherds are. Tooting their little horns the spiders called out. The shepherds are ettercaps, humanoid-shaped spider-"people." The reason they attacked the wagon and stole food was because their regular hunting in the Sorrowoods was disrupted by a "big bird." Bim Bim convinced them that taking from people is bad because bad men might come to kill them if they continue to do so. The ettercap shepherds agree to stop if the mercenaries can take care of the "big bird," and give Bim Bim a special net. The caravan wagon is returned only slightly damaged. Quill is relieved to find the lockbox of gold still intact and, as thanks, gifts a family heirloom bow to John. Leaving the spiders domain, Bim Bim stopped to tell Peter about the naughty spiders. Shepard exchanged a goodberry for two yards of webbing.
Cutting through the Sorrowoods to save time, the party comes across a carcass that had clearly been ripped apart by massive talons. Bim Bim finds a feather and sticks it in his hair. It is large, bristly and weighs about five pounds, but he wears it proudly. He hoped to find enough to make a 'hat' for the dragon skull. That nights camp is uneventful except for hearing a very large "hoot."
The following day, Bim Bim and Daisy track the scent left by the predator. Snarela tells the group that Pepito spotted a "big bird" ahead, but there's something strange about it. Approaching the grotto, it's clear they have to scale some rocks up to what could be the birds nest. While successful, they were not particularly stealthy. 
As everyone arrives on top of the small cliff, two very large, very fat birds are seen, one more vocal than the other. Bim Bim approached while Shepard was in momentary shock. These were not birds, these were owlbears! And if this was the nest, and there were two.. babies. Then were was the momma owlbear?!
Charging out from under large fauna, Momma owlbear attacked Bim Bim, stunning him. His old Hellions training kicking in, Shepard loosed a fireball at her. Quill ran up and clubbed her. Daisy barked at her from behind, startling her. John fired from his new bow. The "barky" owlbear cub flew over to Bim Bim. Snarela cast firebolt at the Momma and told the group that her feathers seemed resistant to fire. The shyer cub retreated into the leaves.
Momma swung her massive talons at Quill, the lacerations caused him to pass out. Seeing Quill drop, Shepard swapped from attacking with fire to blight, weakening Momma greatly. In retaliation Momma flew and pinned Shepard to the ground. John tied a rope to an arrow and fired, striking her flank and trying to pull Momma off Shepard. Momma switched prey; and flew and attempted to pin John but he dodged aside. Bim Bim grappled the cub next to him, intending to pull it from the fighting area. Snarela and Bubo adjusted their position near Momma.
Momma snapped with her beak and slashed with her talons, ripping flesh from John and Snarela. Shepard cast Enlarge on himself and tried to get her attention back on him. Momma quickly spun around her wings knocked John down, but Snarela stayed up. Regaining his footing, John stabbed at her and backed away. The grappled cub broke free from Bim Bim's grasp and retreated into the nest. Bim Bim threw his new net from the ettercaps onto Momma to restrain her, if only for a moment. A one-two combo attack from Snarela's branding smite and Bubo's force rend slew the Momma owlbear.
Cleaning up after the fight, Bim Bim attempted to connect with the owlbear cubs. Shepard gave him some deer-scented goodberries to help. Perhaps they were too young or afraid, but unfortunately Bim Bim was unable to speak with them. And yet, with some gesturing and the sincerest wishes of his heart to take care of them, he was able to get them to eat some goodberries. After which they contentedly fell asleep.
John began to gut and clean the adult owlbear. Shepard cast Cat's Grace on John to assist. Various cuts of meat, bones and feathers were loaded onto the wagon. 
Snarela healed the unconcious Quill, whom was very thankful. John mentioned he could do better than "thank." Quill began to open his lockbox to give the party a few gold, but Shepard stopped him and suggested that Letters of Recommendation would be preferred.
John and Snarela mention hearing something in Riot House conversations about an "avian sanctuary" up north, perhaps a more suitable home for the cubs.
== Conclusion ==
With the threats of spiders and owlbears in the Sorrowoods contained, and possibly turned into new allies, the mercenaries await intel from Horizons.
== Rewards ==
* Letters of Recommendation, TBD
* 11 Owlbear steaks, if eaten raw +2 str but save vs poison.
* 14 Owlbear feathers, Bim Bim
* Lightning Net (DC12 save), Bim Bim
* Lightning webbing (crafting material), Shepard
* Owlbear Hide, John
* Shortbow of Accuracy, John
* 2 Owlbear Cubs, Jimmy Hooploops
Wardens of the Sorrowood - 04