Session 2 - 16/4

As Pascal commands the attention of the room negotiating with the Duchess, Lozenya slips away unnoticed.

Our team of unlikely heroes barter for supplies that may help with taking down a Werewolf.

The team chats with EH, he tells us that they aren’t certain its werewolves but the claw marks and hight would suggest so. He also informs us the a monster hunter had left in search of the mysterious threat and never returned but that he was equip with silver weapons. The group resolve to gather information before going in for the kill, but first we need supplies! After a 5ish hour cart ride we come to our destination, a quaint homestead farm that appears to be ravaged by wolves, there s a paw prints in the ground and claw marks on the trees and barn walls. Ambarona detects the aura of magic in some of the paw prints.  A sudden howling from the woods to the north cries out. Ulrik responds with an “AWOO" to which he cops a pitchfork to the back of his shoulder plate as a farmer emerges from the barn.

Pascal asks the man for information but he’s unable to provide us with much to go on. The wolves visit every second night but he’s not sure how many there are. They only come at night, otherwise they spend their time up in the hills, under the cover of the mist. The group decides to move on and follow the tracks but Vivek hangs back, prompting Ulrik to hang back as well. Vivek makes use of thaurmaturgy to make it appear as though the farmers house and barn are on fire. With a magically booming voice he says “Thanks soft skin, you better not be lying”. The farmer responds by stabbing Vivek with his pitchfork.

Tension between the group grows as they venture further into the forrest. The trees press in closer and visibility get more and more obscured by the low, ominous fog. The sun cant be seen through the haze but the group get's the sense that time is still progressing as they continue to wander further into the mist. Ulrik lights his torch and Pascal suggests that to help everyone stay together they tie a rope around their wastes. Vivek with dark vision volunteers to take the lead, Pascal goes next followed by Ambarona and Ulrik with the torch follows behind. Vivek casts a spell of red light on his mace, which projects an eerie red light into the fog.

Ambarona calls into the mist that they come in peace and a ringing barking laughter responds. The group prepare their weapons as they continue to approach the menacing sounds.

After passing through the wall of mist, the group feel safe to untie the rope. Vivek picks up the faint stench of carrion ahead and the group presses on to investigate. Ambarona casts a fireball behind us and back into the encroaching fist but it’s swallowed up by the fog. The group turn the corner and find themselves in front of a large wall and gate. As they progress beyond the wall the gates silently swing closed behind them. Continuing onwards the scent leads away from the road and deeper into the woods and after a short time the source is revealed to be a human corpse. The man has obviously been dead for several days yet still he clutches a crumpled up note in this cold fist. Vivek, undeterred buy the decaying scent leans in to taste some of the blood and becomes mildly poisoned. As the rest of the group approaches, a howl from far away breaks the silence.

Ambarona pries the letter free and instructs Ulrik to inspect the pockets of the corpse, but he finds nothing of value. Ulrik kicks the corpse for no apparent reason, tearing he left leg off in the process. As it goes flying into the forrest the howling draws closer. Ambarona, having now read the letter shares that he believes they're not looking for a werewolf, but rather something that sucks the life out of you, a vampire? The group head back to the road and deliberate over wether the whole expedition may have been a set up. They decide to push on regardless, feeling that the only way out is through.

It not much further down the road that things start to feel as though they're approaching a township. Scarecrows start to line the road as the trees begin to disperse a little bit. Ambarona approaches a scarecrow with caution but nothing seems off about it until they turn their back to face the rest of the group. With their back turned, the scarecrow attacks.

Pascal draws his short bow and fires an arrow which hits the scarecrow closest to Vivek but doesn’t seem to do much damage. Ulrik throws his flaming torch at the nearest scarecrow which catches on fire but unfortunately the creature manages to stifle the flames. Ambarona casts a ball of fire at another of the 4 scarecrows, which promptly bursts into flames. It's also able to put itself out but it's severely charred. The creature manages to hook its arm into Ambarona's backpack but as they back away, the arm tears free from the scarecrows body. The first scarecrow lunges towards Ambarona but it doesn’t land a hit, its repelled by the magical armour that Ambarona is wearing. The second scarecrow attempts to attack Ulrik, it misses and Ulrik laughs heartily. The third scarecrow attacks with frightening speed, targeting Ulrik again and removes some of his armour. The 4th scarecrow attacks Pascal who easily avoids the first attack however the second lands a hit. It screeches as it realises that Pascals armour is too thick for it to penetrate. Vivek targets the 4th scarecrow. It screens as it shrugs off the radiant damage.

Pascal uses the opportunity to move further out of the fray. Ulrik swings his battle axe at Scarecrow 3 and manages to swipe straight through its sternum. Ambarona casts Fire Bolt towards the second scarecrow. It catches on fire, half of its entire body is burned but somehow it manages to survive the attack. The second scarecrow makes a swipe at Ambarona and they manage to evade. It takes another go and it makes contact, Ambarona has taken damage. The third scarecrow targets Ulrik, the attack misses. It continues its attack however its clumsy and again deals no damage. Scarecrow 4 moves to fill the space between Ambarona and Vivek. It attacks Vivek and deals damage, but the he’s able to swat aside the second attack. Vivek casts burning hands towards scarecrow 4, Scarecrow 1 and Ambarona who is unfortunately again in the line of fire. The two scarecrows are completely reduced to cinders and Ambarona, succumbing to the now familiar feeling of burning, falls into a deep unconsciousness. Vivek, uncharacteristically casts healing word on Ambarona but insists its only because he doesn’t want to listen to the complaints as Ambarona is revived.

Pascal moves closer into the fray, draws his rapier but embarrassingly misses Scarecrow 2. Ulrik swipes at Scarecrow 3 with his battle axe, he hacks into and reduces it to mere kindling. Ambarona not having time to fully comprehend the narrowness of death they've just escaped, casts a Fire Bolt at Scarecrow 2 and manages to hit, bursting the body to flames and turning it to ash. As this happens Ambarona looks down and realises their clothes have been reduced to rags.

Vivek rummages through the only remaining body of the scarecrows. He finds 2 marbles that are still warm to the touch. Exhausted, the group takes a short rest in the shad of the trees but they don’t linger long before venturing further down the road and until they reach a mysteriously quiet and bleak looking township.