Session 1x1

Session 1x1 happened on 7 Feb 2021. The players were Nordin (Boggo Fingerpluck), Abellard\_Lindsay, Susan Richfield (Rosallia Gravenfoot), jasonmileham78, and reembodied (Aziza Dustgazer).

## Summary

The party managed to travel to 013.023 but were stopped from going further due to the song of the Cragfall Hydra. The hydra's song starts around midnight, and requires those who hear it to make a roll [*needs checking*] to resist damage to mental stats. This song can be resisted by blocking one's ears or by having a minstrel sing over its song to restore any affected adventurers. This is a magical effect.

This region is very cold. Gear that protects against the cold is recommended.

## In-character writeups

#### Boggo's First Tale of Adventure

In the cold dark days of Springrise we set upon adventure, having our eyes set upon the warm hearths of Cragfall. Fear of the Hydra led us to move around the mountains, or so was the plan. A cold swooped in and felt me, Boggo, and my fellow adventurers, stranding us not far north of Dryvault. The cold induced nightmares in all of us, eyes looking over us in the dark of sleep. Fear befell us, both the Hydra hiding near the northern pass and the parade of self-flagellating bloodlings drove us back, leaving the town of Cragfall for another day. The lesson Boggo has for those who listen: always bring a blanket, or the cold will drive ya mad!

#### Rossalia Gravenfoot, analysis of Hydra activity.

Indicates out of character information for clarification.

During our outing this past day we found ourselves encountering a previously unknown effect of the presence of a Hydra in the mountains near Cragfall (henceforth called "The Cragfall Hydra") The sound of its awakening in the evening seems to spur forth some sort of magical effect on ones mind. One of our own, Boggo, fell victim to this most heavily. Boggo began to sing, as did all effected by the Cragfall Hydra, along to the Cragfall Hydras cries. Boggo however was further unable to sleep, their mind warped by the song. Singing soothing songs to Boggo seemed to help lessen his minds agony temporarily, and I will endeavor to sing each morning to Boggo to ensure his mental state remains. At least until he can sleep once more. I suspect the cry may be designed to ease the hunt for the Cragfall Hydra, those whose minds break become easy prey who neither fight nor flee. I will recommend only the most sound of mind to travel near the Cragfall Hydra and even then to wear some form of protection against sound, hopefully doing so will lessen the effects.

[*4:21 PM*]

Further note, I suspect I may have a grasp on the Cragfall Hydra's nesting ground. As we do not suffer the effects of its song, nor hear it, in Dryvault; I must assume either the magic that wards against the mist dampens the sound or we are simply to far from its source. If we are indeed to far from the source, then that would indicate it to only be capable of traveling mere hours distance from its source. We know that when it awoke, we at the base of the mountains to include the refugees we spotted heard it. 012.023 and 012.022 Cragfall is said to hear it, but their hearing could well be after it has moved closer to them hunting not its initial awakening. That said as we do not hear it in town, but those of us this eve heard it north of town, I suspect it must be nesting here where the mountains meet the valley. Hex 013.022 If it were closer to Cragfall, then its sound would have traveled a distance to us as much as it would need to reach Dryvault. Thus unless the magic of this place mutes the cry, it must be somewhere in this vicinity. I worry between the Hydra and the sheer number of people we have seen traversing the local area that we may need walls sooner than later; I will solicit a worker to teach me the art of building as soon as possible.

#### **Aziza Dustgazer Diary Update:**

Well, nobody died, somehow. Rossalia and Elfine certainly know their shit. Caught a couple foxes. Perhaps others of our little community will be able to help those refugees. Side note- I'm glad I dont yet know what's going on at the base of the mountains. What most intrigues me, though, is the hydra. That keening- I'd assumed the urge to join in was just me, til the halfling chimed in instead of sleeping. For how far it was from us- out in the mountains, I think- and how loud, how much energy- that's no mindless, purposeless roar. I doubt the point is the fear- that just scares prey away. No, it tastes like bat-speak-- what better way to find your prey than to force your prey to tell you were it is? ... Perhaps it's good our pace froze within a half dozen hours. I'd much rather meet a few foxes than such a beast- and with such magics and multiple heads to keep watch, I don't see how anybody can get the drop on it. They'd need at least sturdy travelling gear, armor, bows and arrows. Earmuffs if it stays this cold. At least I'll have plenty of time to make such gear with whatever pelts & wood everybody's misadventures bring back. There's gold to be made here- or would be, were anyone here richer than the average deer.