Wardens of the Sorrowood C3E02

Game Scheduled: March 15, 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: ==
=== Party Rock Anthem ===
Parting with the Frogfolk, the mercenaries headed on to the Tower. Darksteel noticed a rare brown rock warbler chirping above them in a tree. Thankfully, Xane and Shepard noticed a patch of quick mud before Darksteel stepped into it. After a day or so of travel they saw a four story crumbling tower in the distance. Thick plants and mud led the way to the moat that surrounded it. A faint singing could be heard through an ominous low fog that enveloped the area. Anticipating danger, Xane and Uflgar bolstered the party with Aid spells.
Large gaping holes and scorch marks from battles long past could now be seen on the tower's exterior. It rose about seventy feet into the air, dark and haunting. Unsure of what to expect, Xane expanded his senses and reported that about ten lesser undead were on the first floor and one much stronger presense occupied the third floor. Shepard offered to cast Invisibility to Undead, with the intent that the mercenaries could just walk past weaker, less intelligent foes. Darksteel braced himself with Armor of Agathys.
Enchanted with the scent of undeath, Shepard pushed the large creaky stone doors open to reveal the main entry. Around the room hung various tapestries of a time long past; and an elaborate engraving adorned the floor. Ten hungry feral sets of eyes turned to look at the mercenaries. There would be no sneaking through. 
Shepard reacted quickly launching a Fireball into a cluster of five wights; then shifted into a Cave Bear to block the undead from reaching the rest of the party. Multiple wights clawed at Shepard-Bear; and one attacked Xane from the side. Darksteel comboed Hex into Eldritch Blasts. Ulfgar upcast Spirit Guardians and advanced. Daisy barked but the closest wights ignored her. A wight that had broken through the front lines got stabbed by John's Dragoontooth dagger. Xane also cast Spirit Guardians, creating an overlap of auras to protect the party. The wights ran in but couldn't get past Shepard-Bear and Ulfgar.
Shepard-Bear bit a wight's head off, but missed clawing another. Rustling bones in the room released ghostly specters to join the fight. The wights that managed to survive the radiant auras of two clerics continued to claw at the party, the unholy attacks drained the very life essence of those hit. Darksteel continued firing Eldritch Blasts, one mis-aimed barely missed Xane. Ulfgar healed Shepard-Bear. Daisy bit a wight; and John slew one with his dagger then punched another. A specter tried to flank but evaporated away in the radiant aura. Xane slashed one with his axe. Shepard-Bear tanked more hits from the wights surrounding him.
Shepard-Bear bit and swiped at the wight to his right; then used his magic reserve to mend some of his wounds. The rapidly dwindling mass of wights continued to claw at the party as some burned away in radiant light. Darksteel moved his Hex to the specter closest to the stairs; blasting it with eldritch force he found the creature immune to the additional necrotic damage. Ulfgar tried to stab with his silver sword, the monsters tried to claw back at him. Daisy's ferocious barking managed to scare one wight. John's punch fell short. Xane's Sacred Flame went wide hitting only stone. A wight's claw almost slit Daisy in two.
Shepard-Bear chomped off another wight's head; ran to the specter on the stairs and clawed through it's ghostly form before it could escape. Darksteel accidentally hit Ulfgar, but killed a wight with Eldritch Blasts. John furiously stabbed clean through the final wight. Xane quickly cast Healing Word on Daisy, while Ulfgar cast Cure Wounds on the wounded mercs.
Taking a closer look at the floor as they pass, the mercs see that the engraved circles probably tracked sun cycles a long time ago. Further study would have to wait as John stormed up the stairs at the end of the room. Darksteel and Shepard weren't far behind; followed by Ulfgar and Xane.
=== Sorry for Party Rocking ===
The second floor of the tower was strewn with webbing; and in the corners are three very large, very hungry spiders. Darksteel lit up the closest web; and the spiders disappeared, phasing away. The eerie singing heard before raised three skeletons from the floor. Two fired their bows at John. With the spiders phasing away, Shepard grabbed a hunk of Grave Quartz from his bag and tried to punch a skeleton with it. Instead, Darksteel's Eldritch Blasts vaporized the skeleton. A spider phased back in but John dodged. Another spider phased in and bit John. A skeleton's arrow flew past John. Ulfgar reached the second floor and hit a spider while healing John. The third spider phased in and ate Daisy. Xane arrived to slay the first spider. John disengaged, ran to the spider that had eaten Daisy, and put his dagger through it's eyes.
Shepard ran to the next skeleton and gave it a solid thump. Darksteel Hex'd the remaining spider then exploded it with eldritch energy. The skeletons miss Shepard. (he's just a little guy!) Ulfgar's Guiding Bolt put the second skeleton to rest. Xane ignited the last skeleton in Sacred Flame. John sprinted across the room, but couldn't connect with his attack. Shepard ran up behind John to give him momentum to thrust his knuckleduster into the skeleton. The magic weapon released it's stored energy, exploding the undead bones into dust.
The mercenaries examined the central statue they had been fighting around. Two brilliant sapphire gems for eyes, and a journal with one legible entry, “There is little hope of surviving this siege now. Our numbers are dwindling. Food has run out. Our morale is broken. Three of us deserted last night. They were captured immediately. Their screams still echo in my mind. The princess has not been seen for days. She 
disappeared into the dungeon and ....................................” The eerie singing upstairs continued.
=== Sexy and I Know It ===
On the third floor the party saw a ghostly maiden figure hovering over a magic circle in the center of the room. On the other side a table with candles facing a wall mounted dragon's head. Lore of very powerful elven wizards becoming undead creatures whose very voice brings death. The circle seemed to contain her, though it appeared very fragile and faded. John took his bag of salt to lay a second circle around her. Shepard cast Protection from Evil and Good on himself.
Shepard tried to ask her why she's there, tried to explain it wasn't the mercenaries that has killed her, it was an enemy a long long time ago. The greater banshee loosed a Wail, all but Ulfgar managed to withstand the assault as he fell to floor unconsious. Shepard leapt at the banshee while Wild Shaping into a huge constrictor snake to wind about and constrict her. Three specters rise from the floor to assist her, but can't hit Shepard-Snake. Darksteel Hex'd her and Eldritch Blast'd while she was an easier target. John slapped Ulfgar awake. The banshee slapped Shepard-Snake coiled around her. Ulfgar fired a Guiding Bolt into her. She missed an attempt to kiss and drain Shepard-Snake. The third specter drained the barely-standing Ulfgar causing him to collapse again. Xane cast Silence over the center of the room, including the ritual circle.
Shepard-Snake bit the banshee. The banshee, unable to sing or cast spells, sent a supernatural fear into John. A specter barely scratched Shepard-Snake. Darksteel cast Shatter on a side wall to let daylight come streaming in, filling the room and weakening the undead. A frightened John ran into the far corner. The banshee was unable to hit Sheapard-Snake. The specter that dropped Ulfgar moved to attack John. Xane took the chance to stabilize Ulfgar with Spare the Dying; then cast Bane on the banshee and specters. 
Shepard-Snake bit the banshee again, tasting what felt like blood. The Banshee able to cast again used a Thunderwave spell to shove Shepard-Snake away, and losing his grip on her. A specter caught in the wave tried to slash Shepard-Snake but gets it's arm bit off instead. Darksteel took the opportunity to fire two Eldritch Blasts dead center and released the banshee from her eternal torment. The summoned specters eyes lose their red glow as they fall. 
A still pissed off John tore the dragon skull from the wall, while Xane pocketed the Candle from the table for safe keeping. Shepard shifted back to a halfling to help search the room. The party found archaic items, a silver ring inlaid with moonstone and a longbow still in perfect condition. The most omninous artifact was the fist-sized obsidian stone found in the center of the magic circle that had contained the banshee. 
== Conclusion ==
One successful tower climb later, the mercenaries have a candle and a dragon's skull. Next, to slay a Hag.
== Rewards ==
*Candle of Communion, Xane
*Longbow of Elvenkind, John Weck
*Ring of Elvenkind, John Weck
*Sapphires (2) - Ulfgar
Category:Adventures