Wardens of the Sorrowood C2E03

*Game Scheduled: November 2, 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
* Teneboris - "Kobold" Warlock
* Ulfgar Fireforge - Dwarven Cleric

### **Inactive**

* Bim Bim - Elven Barbarian
* Percevial - Dragonborn Sorcerer (Premade)
* Shepard Swiftfoot - Halfling Druid
* Snarela Kegfury - Dwarven Artificer

## **Adventure Debriefing:**

As evening descended on the castle ruins inhabited by the Thornbriar bandits, a lone figure carrying huge packs of gear approached with a dog. The guards called out. The cloaked figure responded that he was simply a traveling merchant looking for a place to weather the night, and perhaps to sell a trinket or two. The bandits invited him in and offered him a cell to stay the night in, clearly intending to rob him. The figure revealed himself to be El Cangrejo, a well-known hero. The bandits, now a bit nervous, offered better accommodations with the assurance he was not there to cause trouble. El Cangrejo and some of the bandits settled in for a meal and a tale in the main hall.

Outside, John and Jayzal snuck up to the southwest guard tower. Jayzal slipped trying to climb the rock face. A guard spotted him and called out, "Intruders!" Below the guard inside the encampment numerous dogs began barking. Back inside the castle, Daisy heard and began barking as well. El Cangrejo noticed he was losing his audiences attention and cast Sleep. Three bandits fell to the floor, unconsious. Daisy bit at one still awake.

Opposite the tower, a bandit opened the gate to the animal enclosure; allowing the dogs to spread out and possibly circle back around to find any other intruders oustide the barricades. Jayzal finished climbing onto the tower and threw two psychic daggers into the bandit. Rather than approach the tower, Teneboris retreated and summoned his chwinga familiar. Ulfgar held position, ready for anything.

John quickly scaled the tower and fired an arrow. Seeing John, one of the dogs growled at him, the others barked viciously at Jayzal. Inside, bandits fired their crossbows at El Cangrejo, but only one managed a meager hit. El Cangrejo took the opportunity to Shatter the south wall. Daisy killed a bandit with a well placed chomp. Jayzal steadied himself on the tower and threw another psychic dagger slaying that bandit. Teneboris turned himself and chwinga Invisible, and began flying up out of the trees. Ulfgar joined the Mercs on the tower.

John threw a handful of dog biscuits down into the enclosure, and began to calm them. One dog is unmoved and focused on trying to bite Jayzal, but gets kicked off the tower by Ulfgar instead. Inside, a bandit slashed El Cangrejo, while another stung him with a crossbow bolt. El Cangrejo activated his "Rogue's Friend" dagger and threw it onto the large table in the center of the room; then exited through the newly formed hole in the southern wall. Teneboris landed on the roof of the castle; and gave chwinga instructions to watch the north side for any bandits attempting to run away.

John rounded up the slightly more friendly dogs, and calmed both. Ulfgar got off the tower, moved closer and healed El Cangrejos wounds. A sudden explosion rocked the castle ruins. Several bandits are caught in the blast of force energy expanding from EL C's dagger and died instantly. El Cangrejo skittered nearer Jayzal and slew a bandit. Jayzal split another with his daggers. Tenenobris and chwinga kept watch from what remained of the roof.

John circled back into the camp, and drew poorly aimed arrows from more bandits. El Cangrejo stabbed a bandit and used it's corpse as a shield against incoming bolts. Jayzal, freshly healed by Ulfgar, dispatched another bandit. Teneboris hovered over the bandit closest to John, and stabbed the bandit twice. The first dagger paralyzed and the second dagger drank the bandits blood, magically altering Teneboris' appearance into a duplicate of him. The orcish Bandit Leader, finally awoken, came down stairs into the destroyed main room.

John engaged with other bandits. Ulfgar cast Heat Metal. El Cangrejo slew another, but this one proved unusable as a shield. Jayzal quickly threw more psychic daggers into bandits vital areas. Teneboris, disguised as a bandit, came in from behind and distracted the Bandit Leader. Realizing the terrible situation, The Bandit Leader tried to escape.

John continued to deftly fight the seemingly limitless number of bandits outside. El Cangrejo fired 'La Correa de Punchion' into the back of the fleeing Bandit Leader. Jayzal critically wounded a bandit and weakened the Bandit Leader further. Teneboris, while still disguised, caught up next to the Bandit Leader and slid his dagger into him. The Bandit Leader's last words, "you too?"

Ulfgar tried on the Bandit Leader's crown, and found it a perfect fit.

The one bandit that had tried to run from camp was dragged in, lifeless, by Percevial.

## **Conclusion**

The Thornbriar bandits were soundly defeated and would no longer threaten travelers in the Sorrowoods. Much of the interior of the castle ruins was cratered by the magical detonation of El Cangrejo's dagger. What could be salvaged in the ruins was taken to the Fortress at the overlook. The bandit remains were returned to nature, thanks to the ettercaps nearby.

## **Rewards**

* Sharpening Stone (+1 for 20 successful strikes, usable on non-magic weapons, once per session)
* 30 gold, 60 silver, 28 copper in total
* Leather Bag of Beans (31), Jayzal
* Bandit Crown, Ulfgar
* Fresh Meat, Ettercaps