Wardens of the Sorrowood C4E01

Game Scheduled: June 14th, 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:==
While prepping for the next excursion through the Sorrowoods Havlow Killbottom arrived, a new mercenary to the Whispering Cutlass. Darksteel applied the Green Hag's Hair to his scalp, and Ulfgar replaced his own eye with the Eye of the Cloven Sage. The group discussed which location to search next for intel on the Evil Druid's scheme. Deciding to check on the trolls or lack thereof they would head northwest; then east to confirm rumor of a medusa; finally, circling back through a Tower, a Quarry, and a possible research camp of the evil druid. The journey would take them through many miles of forest. Shepard and Ulfgar agreed to act as guides, tapping into their respective affinities for nature and stone to expertly lead the party through the quickest and safest paths.
While scouting, John and Xilon spotted a glow ahead of the party. They found a crystal clear pond with an almost blinding shimmery light in it's depths. Xilon, perched above on his magic broom, couldn't make out what it was. John jumped in and found treading water more diffcult than expected, yet managed to reach the bottom. He reached out to grasp a small statuette of a beautiful woman. The light from the statuette enveloped him as it disappeared. He felt a presence that reminded him of his deceased canine companion, Daisy. As he had so lovingly watched over her in life, she would now watch over him from the afterlife. The divine gifted him a Blessing of Protection that would last several days.
The next evening as the party was about to set up camp, Havlow walked the perimeter. He found stone work that seemed out of place and was about to ignore it to help set up tents due to approaching rain clouds, but chanced a second look. The stone was actually ruins of an abandoned temple! Peering over the rocks, he spotted a large one-eyed humanoid cleaning the structure. Havlow informed the other mercenaries. Taking the lead, Darksteel called out to the Titanfolk. The almost-giant greeted and introduced himself as Crinossa. During the conversation, Darksteel explained they were looking into trolls and a druid trying to resurrect a dragon. Crinossa was searching the temple for history of a giantess champion, Iridia, said to have slain the Green Blight Dragon Scythorn. This contradicted the Mowen history that the dragon was slain by Sire Gerrif Mowen, but those that knew did not reveal this. Crinossa offered the party shelter for the night from the storm, and in return they provided a fire and an elk for venison. As they chat for the evening, the mercenaries invite Crinossa to stay the Overlook to see the dragon skull they'd found. Crinossa was concerned that smaller folk might be alarmed at his stature, so Ulfgar and Xilon provide him a writ of safe passage. The next morning the mercenaries continued northwest, while their new ally headed south to the Overlook.
Midday. When suddenly, and without warning there was this total eclipse of the sun from Shepard's perspective as a Giant Ape burst through the trees! It towered over the three foot Halfling; scooped him up and started to run away! Reacting quickly John punched the Giant Ape. Darksteel Hex'd and Eldritch Blasted it. But the Giant Ape was undeterred. Since it was an animal and not a monstrosity like previous creatures the mercenaries had fought, Shepard cast Speak with Animals and shouted, "STOOOOP!" The startled Giant Ape paused while Shepard asked what it wanted. "Snack, hungry" it replied. Shepard offered it a handful of Goodberries while admonishing it. "Next time ASK, don't just try to eat me!" The Giant Ape passed out in food coma, sated by the magical berries. Shepard advised the party to leave the Giant Ape be as some natural predators are necessary for the forests' health. 
The following evening, John and Xilon were looking for a good campsite and came across a lone elf already there. It was odd to see a lone traveler this deep in the Sorrowoods, but he wore clothing that signified he was from the ranger village. Recognizing the mercenaries as those who had helped protect the village from the threat of Dire Beasts, smiling, the elf bid them to join, "sit, enjoy, this might be your last chance for a warm meal." John was credulous, and the elf replied, "i've seen that the dragon might yet win." Xilon, familiar with oracles, quickly picked up that the elf was a diviner. The elf offered to give insight to any that would hear it for a mere ten gold each. Past, Present, or Future. 
Xilon abstained, not wanting to strain the magics that protected him from divination magic. Darksteel asked about his past, "the letters you've been sending back and forth, they were recieved favorably and you should act on it soon." John asked about his future, "You will meet your enemy, but only one of you will walk away." Shepard knew his past was nothing but death and dreadhounds, so asked his future, "Hang on to your special moments, even though they are fleeting." Ulfgar taunted the seer, sure that his own connection to the divine was more powerful, "you may sneer my ability and claim your gods better, but the gods weren't so kind to your brother were they?" Havlow accepted the elfs offer to know more, "you took tutelage under Achille yes? he taught you well in Martial Adeptness." The party thanked the elf for his wisdom. The following morning the elf rose early and left unheard.
The next days travel through the Sorrowoods was especially difficult to pass through as the area was heavily damaged by the former Dire Beasts. Ulfgar was about to suggest a different route when Shepard grabbed a down tree and threw it out of the way. With a bow, Shepard bade the party continue.
As the mercenaries neared the marshes where they expected to find trolls, none were to be seen. Instead a very strange dog-like creature approached the party. Mushrooms and spores grew out of the body of the four-legged corpse. Thinking it undead, Ulfgar tried to Turn the monster by channeling his divinity through his hammer-shaped holy symbol. The creature was unfazed by the divine energy, but upset by Ulfgar's threatening actions. Sensing danger, other spore monsters began to animate.
The Spore Stalker "dog" bit Ulfgar, temporarily paralyzing him. Xilon tossed his magic broom to Darksteel, freeing his hands to Summon a Draconic Spirit at his feet. Once Xilon mounted it, the Red Chromatic Draconic Spirit flew towards a Spore Zombie and exhaled fire over it. Ulfgar struggled against the paralysis. Spore Zombies advanced. Darksteel activated the magic broom and double whammied a Spore Zombie with Hex and Eldritch Blasts. Havlow stepped up to the Spore Zombie closest to the party and Smited it with radiant Divine power. While not undead, the party saw that fire and radiant were effective against the humaniod Spore Zombies. Shepard called for the assistance of the Fey to protect the Sorrowoods and Conjured Woodlands Beings. Two Alseids answered; and their radiant touch cleansed two Spore Zombies. John grabbed Ulfgar and pulled him away from the Spore Stalker. Quickly examining the paralysis, John assured Ulfgar that he would be able to move again in a moment. 
The Spore Stalker lept and tried to inject spores into Ulfgar, but missed. Xilon's Draconic Spirit flew to land near more Spore Zombies and bathed them in firey dragon breath. Xilon, atop the spirit, incinerated those Spore Zombies with a Fireball. An angry Ulfgar imbued his hammer with divine power but his swing couldn't yet connect with the enemy. More Spore Zombies dashed into the fray. Darksteel Blasted the Spore Stalker with eldritch energy. A Spore Zombie tried to claw Xilon's Draconic Spirit. Another clawed and bit one of Shepard's Alseids, the nymph resisted the fungal disease carried by the Spore Zombies. Shepard's Alseid obliterated the Spore Zombie in radiant light. Shepard tried to grapple the Spore Zombie closest to the mercs, but it was too slick. John grabs Ulfgar and throws the dwarf. Both Spore Stalker and Spore Zombie are knocked prone, and Ulfgar landed rolling on his side.
The Spore Stalker, denied Ulfgar, instead bites Havlow who easily resisted the paralysis. Xilon's Draconic Spirit turned to the Spore Zombie that attacked is and rended and burned it to a crisp in dragon's fire. Ulfgar stood up and obliterated the prone Spore Zombie with a Searing Smite via a heavy hammer blow. Darksteel flung a Fire Bolt into the Spore Stalker. Havlow swung and burst the Spore Stalker with his final Divine Smite. The last Spore Zombie was dispatched by Shepard's Alseids. The Alseids then turned to heal any wounds the mercenaries had suffered before returning to the Feylands.
Thoroughly searching the area, the Spores appeared to be completely eliminated and no longer threaten to overwhelm the Sorrowoods. Only one Troll corpse is found in the marsh. John thought it may have been dead for about four months, and only it's arm was missing. Based on folklore knowledge, the party wondered if the evil druid might have taken the arm to forcibly regrow into a new Troll. A readily available supply of Troll's Blood in the evil druids hands would be particularly dangerous.
The mercenaries rested, and would head east upon the morrow.
==Conclusion==
The mercenaries traversed many miles of forest to reach their first destination; and were fortunate to encounter numerous hidden gems of the Sorrowoods. After defeating spore-animated corpses, they found the remains of a single troll. It's arm was missing, presumed taken by the evil druid.
==Rewards==
* New Friend - Crinossa, a Titanfolk researching History of dragon-slaying giantess Iridia
* History and Prophecy for those brave enough to grasp it
Category:Adventures