Session 22: Pursuit and payback Report
General Summary
The party organised horses and a carriage and set off from Bard's Gate. For Cassandra, this was the first time she had been far from the city of her birth and she headed off into the rain with a little trepidation but perhaps also excitement. They were soon grateful for the carriage as the rain increased and thunder was heard rolling down from the foothills around Bard's Gate. As they glanced back through the gloom they got a good idea of how large the city was, it's imposing walls stretching out to the limits of vision that the rain would allow. They followed the river road south, following the scribbled map as best they could. Even in the heavy rain there was a steady flow of wagons and caravans flowing to and from the city and the roads felt safe even in the mist and gloom. There was a fair presence of lyre guards and rangers on the roads to keep the merchants safe from bandits and other things that lurked in the dark outside the city, watching Bard's Gate with envious eyes. As they moved further from the city the traffic diminished and the roads were simply mud in places. This made travel with the carriage tricky and at times they had to get out and help the horses as they snorted and whinnied with the effort of dragging the carriage through the muddiest sections. Eventually they spied a dark line of trees in the distance looming out of the gloom. The trees looked dark and imposing as they moved to the side of them along the river road. Although not a large wood for the area it probably spread for a few miles away to the east as they moved south. Heavy, imposing rain clouds hung over the woods. After a few more miles of travel the party found a fork in the river, over which a sturdy bridge stretched, and suspected it might be the one on the map. They decided to follow it as it led away into the forest. Very soon after leaving the main river road the ground became very muddy and once again the horses needed help but it become clear quickly that they could go no further in this way. Cramped and cold from the hours of traveling in the rain they companions decided to take shelter under the trees and wait out the rain. Although the forest seemed dark and foreboding in the gloom it looked dry at least. Shortly afterwards, they had a fire going and were content to spend an hour or two under the shelter of the trees. Grouch strummed his lyre absently, others ate some rations and damp travel clothes soon dried off in the warmth of the fire. As they waited in the dry Cassandra thought she spotted movement in the trees and went to have a look. Too late she realised what it was and a huge spider scuttled out through the trees at the surprised Paladin.
