Wardens of the Sorrowood C2E01

Game Scheduled: October 5, 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.
An outpost has been established in the treacherous Sorrowwoods. With numerous bandit groups along the route, prepare to lay siege upon, oust, or recruit the various banditry groups towards protecting the road! Upgrade your fortress further as you progress, deciding upgrades that will determine the fate of future chapters!
== Mercenaries ==
=== Active Mercenaries ===
*El Cangrejo - Crabfolk Rogue/Bard
*Jayzal - Tabaxi Rogue
*John Weck - Human Rogue
*Shepard Swiftfoot - Halfling Druid
*Ulfgar Fireforge - Dwarven Cleric
=== Inactive (Guarding the Fortress) ===
*Bim Bim - Elven Barbarian
*Snarela Kegfury - Dwarven Artificer
== Adventure Debriefing: ==
Shepard talked to the captured wereowl, Grimtalon, and impressed upon him the benefits of denizens of the Sorrowoods and "Civilization" working together and coexisting. Grimtalon agreed to possibly be a spokesowl for the forest, but warned that he wasn't the strongest of the Howling Pack. A great white wereshark would have to be convinced or defeated for the Packs attacks to stop.
A Treant informed John and Snarela that they've found an area of the Sorrowoods to the north that's acting strangely, maze-like. They concluded that it might be the base of the Verdant Reavers.
Hal and Ael arrived at the Fortress with new mercenaries, Jayzal, and Vanguards, El Cangrejo, Ulfgar Fireforge and Quartermaster Isobel. John filled them in on what's happened so far in the Sorrowoods, and the various bandit groups that needed to be dealt with.
* Arboral Avengers, small group of disgruntled woodsmen/foresters 
* Howling Pack, lycanthropes who strike with numbers and leave no survivors
* Moonlit Raiders, operate under cover of night
* Thornbriars, bandits the mercenaries first met and dispatched several when they were unwilling to negotiate
* Verdant Reavers, have a pact with a forest spirit to entrap travelers who must give up their goods to be allowed exit from a mazelike forest barricade
* Wildwood Marauders, known for brutal tactics and often leave destruction
Shepard joined the conversation and mentioned the progress he'd made with Grimtalon, and that the stables weren't designed to hold prisoners indefinitely. El C agreed that dealing with the Howling Pack should be the next move then. Shepard had tried sending animal messengers to the leader of the Pack but had recieved no replies. Nevertheless, remained convinced negotiations would be better than all out fighting on the Packs home terf.
The mercenaries traveled south with Grimtalon and Shepard leading the way. On the second night the party camped in a clearing with a circular arrangement of stones. Awakened just before morning to an encroaching mist, they were attacked by a Vapor Lynx from the Feylands. A predator that enjoyed the fear of it's prey, the Lynx used the mist for cover while teleporting around the clearing attacking where it thought the party most vulnurable. El Cangrejo fought back with a veritable arsenal of magical weaponry. Jayzal also made use of nearby tree cover and threw daggers of psychic energy. Shepard used his spells to try and clear the mists and poisonous breath, while trying to hit it with magical fire. John fired arrow after arrow into it. Ulfgar, caught on the opposite side of the battle used his magic to keep the mercenaries standing. And when the Lynx tried to escape with John's unconcious dog, Daisy, it was Ulfgar's quick heal that kept her alive. Furiously, John skinned the defeated Lynx.
On the third day, the party reached the outskits of the makeshift village of lycanthropes. The great white wereshark, Hainrich, was doubtful that they could work together, civilization would never accept them. Shepard was adamant that the Sorrowoods and "Civilization" could coexist and in fact, it was the only way for both to thrive. Determined to prove his conviction, Shepard asked to be cursed with lycanthropy himself and he would join the Howling Pack to work with them to prove they are to be respected by society and protect the Sorrowood from corruption; and in exchange let the weaker and recently turned merchants be released so they could be cured and returned home. Hainrich accepted; and a werebear, Beart, bit Shepard. 
The remaining mercenaries returned to the Fortress with the weres that wanted to be cured. Ulfgar called upon his holy magic to remove the lycanthropy curse that afflicted them. The various merchants and travelers were very grateful for the chance to return home to their families. Next door in the shop, Vanguard Quartermaster Isobel had finished setting up alongside the merchant Ogri. John procured a black cat from Suvauge to give to Bim Bim so that he wouldn't realize Shepard had stayed behind with the Pack to learn to control his lycanthropy.
== Conclusion ==
An agreement made with the Howling Pack, that in return for periodic supplies, they would no longer target the caravans that traverse the road through the Sorrowood; and the Pack would work with the other denizens of the Sorrowood to protect it from corruption. Grimtalon was appointed emissary of The Howling Pack to the Horizons Fortress.
== Rewards ==
* Vapor Lynx leather and trophy, John
* Werebear Lycanthropy, Shepard
Wardens of the Sorrowood - 06