Wardens of the Sorrowood C3E05

Game Scheduled: May 17th, 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; Will-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
*Shepard Swiftfoot - Halfling Druid
*Xilon Starrati - Half-Elf Wizard
===Inactive (Guarding the Camp/Prepping Supplies)===
*John Weck - Human Rogue/Fighter
*Ulfgar Fireforge - Dwarven Cleric
===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:==
Assisted by the ranger, Ko'nan, the mercenaries continued north, seeking the ruins where they might find malignant Corpse Flowers. Deeper into the Sorrowoods, the temperature started to drop and snow was accumulating on the trees. Ko'nan and Shepard hadn't heard of any beasts that could cause it. Xilon deduced the cause was magical in origin. Darksteel pondered if maybe more cultists were attempting a Thinning. Howling was heard in the distance. Something knew of the parties presence.
Xilon flew just above the trees and spotted an approaching Dire Wolf and fired Magic Missiles at it. Looking in the direction where Xilon's attack went, Darksteel critically wounded the Dire Wolf with Blasts of Eldritch energy. Another Dire Wolf charged in, and Shepard released a held Fireball as it bit him.
Xilon fired more Magic Missiles brimming with energy. Shepard sent a Fire Bolt into the Dire Wolf. Darksteel Eldritch Blasted it, his Hex continued to weaken it. The Dire Wolf nipped at the party.
Xilon tried to stab with his Starium Longsword. Shepard reached a surprisingly strong hand under the Dire Wolf and pulled the opposite leg across to grapple and hold the Dire Wolf in place. Darksteel's Eldritch Blasts then hit the Dire Wolf with such force that it was thrown against the trees snapping it's neck. Collecting materials from the three fallen Dire Wolves, Xilon received one hide and some fangs. 
The mercenaries continued searching, knowing the cause of the environmental disruption must be farther in. Shepard spotted something glinting on a ledge and suggested they try to quietly get a closer look. Unfortunately the snow crunched too noisily under their feet and they were beset by frosty Ice Mephits. An Ice Mephit tried to claw at Xilon, and he shot back with Magic Missiles made of fire. Another Ice Mephit swipped at the party. Shepard conjured a Wall of Fire, incinerating three of the Ice Mephits. Darksteel's Fire Bolt finished the fourth. 
The body of a wizard lay at the edge of the ridge, beside him a white ruby that was the glint Shepard has seen. Examining the white ruby, Xilon determined it was a magical item and likely the cause of the cold. The party took turns examining the item to turn it off and prevent more destruction to the Sorrowoods. Xilon thought that maybe the wizard had intended to freeze the Corspe Flower but had fallen to wolves before able to do so. An Identify spell revealed the gem has one charge remaining of the spell Winterdark.
The mercenaries found some nearby ruins to make camp for the night. Xilon cast Private Sanctum as an extra level of protection. Darksteel would keep watch as he would not need to sleep.
While keeping watch, Darksteel heard scratching and then the face of an Owlbear as it crossed the magical barrier into camp. He shouted to wake everyone while the Owlbear looked at the potential humanoid morsels it had smelled. 
Xilon struck the Owlbear with a Psychic Lance and incapaciated it. Darksteel created a Wall of Thorns that spread across the eastern edge of the camp, entangling the Owlbear. Ko'nan's arrow pierced it's hide. Needle-sharp thorns tore the Owlbear's hide. Shepard ran up and reached into the thorns to grapple the Owlbear and prevent it from leaving. 
Xilon assaulted the Owlbear's mind with another Psychic Lance. Something else tried to enter camp but was rebuffed by the thorny bramble, and moved to try a different direction. Darksteel spotted a Dire Wolf attempting to flank their position and Eldritch Blast'd. Thorns continued to constrict and rake the Owlbear. Shepard gave the extremely weakend Owlbear one final blow, then turned and ran towards the Dire Wolf while Wild Shaping into a giant constrictor snake.
Xilon caught sight of a Dire Bear near the end of the Wall of Thorns outside of camp and scared it away with a Lightning Bolt. Ko'nan fired an arrow into the Dire Wolf. A Dire Boar charged into camp, knocking over the fire but failed to maul Shepard(CS). The Dire Wolf snapped at Shepard(CS). Darksteel sent Eldritch Blasts into the beasts. Shepard(CS) grappled the Dire Boar and swung it around to the Dire Wolf.
Xilon Fireball'd the pile of Dire animals, slightly singing Shepard. The Dire Wolf collapsed. Ko'nan fired another arrow. The Dire Boar struggle and tore at Shepard(CS) with it's Tusks. Darksteel continued Eldritch Blasting. Shepard(CS) constricted the Dire Boar tighter.
Xilon tried to Mind Sliver, but the Dire Boar was too enraged. Ko'nan fired another arrow. The Dire Boar's tusks slashed Shepard(CS). Darksteel threw two final Eldritch Blasts into the Dire Boar.
The mercenaries finished their nightly rest and cleaned up the remains. 
The forested area ahead of them was waterier than they expected. The party figured an overflowing river would become a serious problem for the surrounding area and began looking for the cause. Xilon confirmed it was not magical in nature. Shepard cast Water Walk to prevent anyone from sinking in the boggish mess. Darksteel worked to ascertain the cause of the increased water.
Shepard added notes and updated his map of the Sorrowoods. Darksteel pointed out a few suggestions. Xilon hadn't heard of any flooding in the Sorrowoods from his time in Abishot.
Taking directions from the others Xilon searched and found a dam with Dire Beavers. Shepard counted nine Dire Beavers in total. Darksteel Shatter'd the dam. Caught in the explosion, three of the Dire Beavers were pulled downstream as the water was released.
Xilon shocked three of the remaining Dire Beavers with a Lightning Bolt. Darksteel Hex'd and Eldritch Blasted. Ko'nan fired an arrow. Shepard Conjure'd Woodland Beings and eight Pixies appeared, five near the closer Dire Beavers and three left in pursuit of the ones washed away. The Pixies attempted to Polymorph the Dire Beavers into turtles, but only two succeeded. The Dire Beavers fought back with bites and tail slams at Xilon and the Pixies. The polymorphed Dire Beavers tried to swim away from the pixies. 
Xilon's Magic Missiles and Darksteel's Eldritch Blasts focus fired the encroaching Dire Beavers one by one. Shepard grabbed one that got too close and, thanks to Darksteel's strength weakening Hex, suplexed it away from the casters. 
Two of the three Dire Beavers that went downstream dashed back up to join the fight but were dispatched by bolts of magic from Xilon and Darksteel. The Pixies slept the polymorphed Dire Beavers to keep them from escaping. 
One Pixie returned to the dam carrying a polymorphed Dire Beaver and added it to the pile with two other sleeping Polymorphed Dire Beavers. Xilon, Darksteel, and Shepard Fireball'd the pile incinerating the remaining mutated beasts.
With the river blockage taken care of, the mercenaries pushed on to the ruins. Ahead they saw an assortment of monstrosities. Beasts that blend the body and wings of a bird of prey with the head of a stag. Humanoids possessed by fungus. A plantlike creature with vines and spores spewing froth from a corpse.
==Conclusion==
Leaving the ranger village, the mercenaries forged ahead towards the ruins. They fought Dire Wolves and Ice Mephits while trudging through magically summoned cold and snow. They defended their camp from more Dire Beasts and an Owlbear. They demolished a dam and the Dire Beavers that had built it. Next they prepared to face their most dangerous threat in the spore filled ruins.
==Rewards==
White Ruby Spellgem (Winterdark, 1 charge) - Xilon
Category:Adventures