Session 2, Towards New-Spring Wood

General Summary

After finishing up their first contract, the group decided to accept a new contract from the Apothercary's herbalists involving the acquisition of some ingredients from New-Spring Wood just a few days travel from Haven. The following morning while they were discussing things to do before leaving the town, Firion was summoned to speak with Federik Haywood, the Guild Master of Spatengrove's Adventurer's Guild. He asked about how Firion's first contract was and what exactly Firion was doing this far south but Firion remained guarded and didn't disclose much information. While Firion was away, the others saw Harald the elf enter the Guild and discuss something with a receptionist before leaving.
After returning to the group, they split up to run some errands. Adrian headed to the courier, Reinhardt purchased a hand crossbow, Tiblamir visited the Apothecary to learn the details of their contract, and Firion sent another letter from the Courier and visited the Carpenters Guild at the Lumberyard to commission the creation of a custom wagon from Cedric Cherrymantle, the halfling Guild Master. After negotiating, they settled on 270 gold coins (100 paid up front) and a 3 week build time.
With their errands finshed, they made the 2 day journey to the little hamlet of Woodwell just shy of New-Spring Wood. While enjoying their dinner at the local inn, they were approached by Tif and Jessica, female adventurers who work out of the Albion guild branch who'd come to Spatengrove to escort a wine merchant around the territory. While gossiping with the group, the two mentioned that the engagement of Ser Percival Tyrell to Countess Seraphina Krausser had recently been made public. They also mentioned that they'd attended a festival in Weingarten hosted by Marquess Aspin Caerlight where they'd spotted Lord Joric Tyrell, the crippled second son of House Tyrell who seemed to be a special guest of the Marquess. They mentioned that according to the locals, such an event was not normal, especially one open to the commonfolk in the region.
Before the group retired for the evening, a pair of mercenaries arrived at the inn looking for information about individuals who matched Harald and Minnie's description. Tiblamir purpoesfully gave them false information and said he'd seen them on their way to Nightingale Harbor.
The following morning as they prepared to head out to the woods, Maggie, the owner of the inn asked the group to keep an eye out for her husband Davin who had not returned with the other hunters the previous night. The group accepted, and upon arriving at the woods begain looking for the ingredients requested by the Apothecary. While gathering sourgrass to the south of the woods, they discovered Davin's empty camp as well as his traps. Most notably, they came across a large tree weeping tree sap that looked like it was in the process of being chopped down for firewood. They followed Davin's erratic tracks into the woods and eventually found the missing hunter by a stream. Approaching him, they realized that the hunter didn't have control of his body, and after a well placed shot to the gut from Reinhardt, a creature formed of tree sap emerged from Davin's mouth. After dispatching it, they decided to push deeper into the woods in search of citrullus seeds along with Davin.
Eventually they came to a small island at the center of a pond where they were ambushed by a pack of acid ants as well as the disguised Citrullus. After a close battle where Tiblamir nearly fell, they gathered the last of the ingredients they needed from the Citrullus and returned to Woodwell along with Davin where they received a heroes welcome. Firion, wanting to split from the group to go to Treustadt, eventually changed his mind after a talk with Tiblamir. The group began the return trip to Haven planning to spend a few weeks training with the herbalists until their wagon is finished before taking the request to investigate the suspicious Dire Wolves they'd encountered near Mistwatch Tower.

Rewards Granted

• 3 Antitoxin, 3 doses of Keoghtom's Ointment
• 15 Red Amanita Mushroom Stalks
• 15 Sourgrass clumps
• 8 Citrululls seeds

Missions/Quests Completed

• Herb Gathering for the Herbalists
• Saving Davin