Wardens of the Sorrowood C2E07

*Game Scheduled: December 27, 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**

* Bim Bim - Elven Barbarian
* Jayzal - Tabaxi Rogue
* John Weck - Human Rogue
* Teneboris - "Kobold" Warlock
* Ulfgar Fireforge - Dwarven Cleric

### **Inactive**

* El Cangrejo - Crabfolk Rogue/Bard
* Percevial - Dragonborn Sorcerer (Premade)
* Shepard Swiftfoot - Halfling Druid
* Snarela Kegfury - Dwarven Artificer

## **Adventure Debriefing:**

The mercenaries gathered the remaining Moonlit Raiders in a room next to the tower that had housed the Homestone. Jayzal revived the star elf, Elmira. Various items were found upon their persons and in other rooms. In this room was an altar to the liminal Goddess of Time and Twilight, Palitoma. In questioning, the Moonlit reiterated what the previous druid had revealed, that the group intended to use any means necessary, including banditry and murder, to gather wealth to regain the star elves former glory, and restore this temple to Palitoma as a base of operations for their conquest. John took the lizardfolk into a separate room and with Ulfgar's help used a hot/cold technique to dig for further intel. The bandit seemingly agreed to turn over a new leaf and to maybe become a licensed mercenary instead of a bandit. Returned to the others, the bandit encouraged them to also nod their heads in agreement to no longer "do bad." Teneboris didn't buy into the lies and asked that the Moonlit be moved into a spare room covered in webs while the rest discussed options. As the others mercenaries stepped away, Teneboris Fireballed the congregated Moonlit Raiders eliminating the threat permanently. Jayzal expressed shock and disgust at his actions, but Teneboris explained it was the only option as the Moonlit Raiders had already chosen their path when they attacked non-Thread civilians. Bim Bim collected the ashes of the fallen and offered them at the altar of Palitoma for a peaceful after-life for them. Jayzal also left an offering for Palitoma.

Tensions high but knowing they still had to work together, the mercenaries collected what they could and vowed to return for the other items later. They headed east towards the treant-reported location of the Verdant Reavers. A days travel later a blinding white light erupted in front of them revealing a veiled and white robed individual. Ulfgar realized it was a Veiled Arbiter, a secretive faction of the Vanguard. Introducing themselves as Shoronin, they recruited the mercenaries to help deal with an imminent threat that they could not handle alone. A golem had been possessed by a being of shadow and was wreaking havoc. Teneboris half-jokingly asked what was in it for them, and Shoronin offered a fifty gold bounty, shocking Teneboris with their readiness to pay. John asked if Shoronin could do a favor for the mercenaries and contact the Righteous Wreckers to come help deal with the Thinning the party had found a few days prior. Shoronin agreed and used a Sending Scroll to request the Righteous Wreckers report to the Horizon's Overlook Fortress in the Sorrowoods ready to build a new Shadow / Hell Gate.

Describing the corrupted Golem to the mercenaries, Shoronin revealed the monster could counter some of their magic, and that it's strikes, including a cleave attack, can damage your very essence. Then summoned a large magical hand in preparation of the coming encounter.

Arriving at the partially destroyed ruins of a tall tower surrounded by staggered walls, the mercenaries approached the Golem. Teneboris cast a protective Bubble Hex on Bim Bim. Ulfgar and Bim Bim advanced to the large outer wall. Jayzal activated the Zipline Ring to connect two points on top of the outer wall to the ground, and transported John up. John shot a 'Catacysm' bolt at the Golem, it exploded in a fiery burst revealing the Golem's resistance to fire damage. Shoronin mentally moved the hand to the Golem attempting to grapple it; then cast Gravity Rend from their staff. The wave of crushing magical gravity restrained the Golem.

Teneboris poked his head around the corner and fired Eldritch Blasts into the Golem. Ulfgar summoned Spiritual Guardians around himself and walked forward. John fired another 'Cataclysm' bolt, this one shattered into seven more bolts, but only hit one additional time. Bim Bim hit with his maul. Jayzal threw psychic daggers for minimal damage as the Golem proved resistant to psychic as well as fire. The Golem released a magnetic pulse that knocked Ulfgar prone but didn't deter the Spirit Guardians from hitting back. Soronin managed to grapple with the magical hand and then smacked the Golem with a Gravity Hammer spell.

Teneboris again peeked around the corner, hitting for a little more Eldritch Blast damage. Ulfgar stood up and swung at the Golem. John discharged another 'Cataclysm' bolt, but it wobbled amongst the varied gravitationel energies and landed in the bushes. Bim Bim grappled the Golem and forced it back further from the wall and the ranged attackers. As it was being moved, Jayzal grabbed a Starium Pickaxe from his bag and leapt from the wall onto the Golem, striking into it with a satisfying clang. The Golem responded by cleaving across the combatants in front of it, missing Jayzal and hitting only the protective Bubble Hex energy around Bim Bim. The Golem then made a slam attack on Bim Bim merely bruising the strong lad. Soronin squeezed the Golem with the magical hand, then cast Distort Gravity on Jayzal, the force wounding the Golem further. The spell also allowed Jayzal to float up out of the Golem's reach for a moment.

Teneboris' next Eldritch Blasts did not connect with their target, but he cheered the party on nonetheless. Ulfgar smacked the Golem with a Guiding Bolt and trudged back into melee range. John's last 'Cataclysm' bolt struck true. Bim Bim released the Golem to grip his maul with two hands and drove it straight into the Golems crotch for butt crevasse damage. Floating above, Jayzal repositioned the Zipline. The Golem tried again to cleave, and again missed Jayzal, Bim Bim was protected from damage by the Bubble Hex, but Ulfgar was hit. Then a final slam on Bim Bim as Ulfgar's Spirit Guardians broke the shell revealing the skeletal Shadow Creature that has possessed the Golem. Shoronin tried to Banish the spirit.

Teneboris sent two beams of Eldritch energy into the Shadow Creature, barely noticable to it. Ulfgar, channeling the might of the Twelve, completely enveloped the Shadow Creature in blinding holy light with a Guiding Bolt almost disintigrating it on the spot. As it flickered with it's last breath of shadow energy, John leapt off the wall. Soronin quickly cast Feather Fall; and John threw his Dragon-Tooth Dagger into the Shadow Creature's skull slaying it.

Soronin collected the remaining pieces of the Cobalt Golem and Shadow Creature. As payment they kept their word and handed over a bag of fifty gold. They also presented Bim Bim with a "golden ticket," should Bim Bim ever desire to join the Vanguard, the entrance fee to the trials would be waived. They thank the rest of the group as well, commenting with a wink, "if you do apply, just say you're 18." Soronin then turns and calls out "Fling," activating their Cloak of the Bat and flying away. Bim Bim waved goodbye to his "momma." (ed note, not really his momma)

Exploring the ground to see what and why the Golem was rampaging here, the mercenaries find a 4'x2' crystal atop the tower eminating evocation magic. It's decidedly unsafe to touch, but perhaps the party could come back with tools that might allow safe removal of the crystal.

## **Conclusion**

Moonlit Raiders permanently eliminated. Errant Cobalt Golem and skeletal Shadow Creature annihilated. Righteous Wreckers requested to report to Overlook for guidance to Thinning. The Mercenaries continue towards the Verdant Reavers.

## **Rewards**

* Cloak of Squirrels, Bim Bim
* Censer of Dark Shadows, Jayzal
* Homestone (and Compass), in Jayzal's possession
* 4 'Cataclysm' Bolts, John (3 used this session)
* Sling Bullets enchanted with Magic Stone, 10 each to John and Jayzal

* Scrolls, "Fool's Gold" Illusion, and "Arcane Lock", Group

* Flasks of Oil, divided among group
* 26 Wedges of Cheese, Bim Bim
* 4 Hunting Traps, Bim Bim
* Set of Manacles, John
* Bag of Salt, Teneboris

* 16gp, 18sp, 7cp each (minus Bim Bim who abstained)

* Palitoma Altar, Synodic Parliament?
* Huge catapult, to be retrieved