Session 16: Diseased Canidae Report

General Summary

During this session, the group began to investigate the case of the diseased wolves in the Wolfwood. The group looked on to loan some horses and ride on. Trajan and Twig (Eavaan riding at the back) had an easy go of their first experience on horseback, while Astara and Nina had more trouble, dealing with hungry, hungry ponies. The only requirements / hook was that the group was not only responsible for feeding the horses (not an issue in a flora rich area), but were responsible for a 20gp penalty should their horse be maimed or dead.   Once at destination, the group was quick to place their mounts in a safe pasture and then find the head of the settlement. Wolf's Paw is a druidic settlement of a bit more than 100 bodies, with majority being Firbolg and Shifters, lead by a large fuzzy shifter Keeper Aman. The keeper was welcoming to the envoys of the Foundation and answered a variety of questions, while leading the group to the healing tent, where ill wolves were in recovery. It was explained that so far, no wolves had died and the tribe has access to a magic ritual that was able to cure the wolves. However, retrieving the wolves resulted frequently in the druids getting injured and is cause for worry. The first case was found 2 months ago, though at first they thought it was an isolated case.   The Wolfwood is a conservation zone where predator that are endangered (over hunted, etc.) are kept safely to breed and repopulate in other location. Species are migrated in the wood from other locations. At the moment, the forest is working on Grey wolves and newly added (about 3 months ago) Coastal Wolves from the Icewood Forest up North.   In the tent, 4 wolves were present. 3/4 were calm, one, an older grey wolves, as nearest full recovery. One Coastal specimen was a recent catch and quite aggressive and agitated. Doctor softpaw was tending to the older Grey wolf and was questionned by Trajan, while Twig spoke to the older wolf. The doctor (she) explained that the bite is contagious and that afflicted wolves are no longer in their logical mind. Trajan questionning changes and the likes learned about the new addition a few months ago, and the slight territory quarrel between the Grey wolves and the Coastal wolves. Meanwhile, Twig learned a few points from the very tired wolves, showing signs of healing wounds. Note that all animals were muzzled for security. The old wolf, with a speak with animal spell, spoke of weird acting, scary red wolf, where "one burst out of its skin with 2 heads". Twig was unable to get more as the explaination was beyond the wolf's logic skill. Samples of fur, bile and the likes were taken.   Astara also took a moment to try and connect with the still ill red wolf, but without success. The animal, looking and acting complete mad, slammed against the bars and attached the cage, knocking out his own teeth and ripping off one of his ear, along other wounds. One of the staff escorted a bothered Astara away, but offered her to assist to the ritual which would happen that night, to cure the wolf.   The group then set to a tent area to spend the night and were invited at midnight to assist the ritual. Earlier, Trajan had done a quick survey of the ritual area showed nothing directly hinting to worry points. Still, the group was suspicious. During the ritual, the group arrived to find the wolf muzzled and chained to a post within a set of circles like a bullseye, and 4 runes at the cardinal points within. 3 druids were kneeling within amongst ingredients and began to chant on repeat. Eavaan cast "comprehend language" and was able to detect that the chant was in Sylvan and relay the exact translation of the chant.   Chant "We call onto the roots deep in the soils. East, North, South, West Reach deep in the energies of the lands Pull from the primordial and accept the gifts that we are offering And restore what the health that has been lost."   Taking full advantage of the spell, Eavaan moved near the Keeper to try and read the stone tablet the druid was holding, tablet which at this point, had a slight glow, but only after relaying to the group the chant's content. The group debated the true impact of the ritual, while Keeper noticed Eavaan's attempt and, let them, opening the tablet to be easily read. The text had the chant and details of the ritual, including the setup and list of ingredients in the center. The chant was in 12, for an hour.   As things progressed, the wolf began to whimper and act a mix of afraid and scared. Tapping into the wolf's mind with mind link (something that won't be a repeat - break time led to realize the skill doesn't permit this with something not sharing a language) noted the wolf changing from fear and pain, to maddened aggression. The more the ritual moved forward, the less anger than was. Eavaan was able to convey calming message to mitigate the fear a little (though not fully). By the end, it seemed the wolf was cured of its crazed aggression, but wounds would still need healing.   Most went back to bed, but Astara aided to bring the wolf back in its cage and spent the night in the cage with the animal, who slept with head on her lap.   Came morning, the group debated their next actions. They gained access to nets and the lot was split between charging and combing the wolves, knowing from the old wolves, that the red's territories is in a small cave at the very center of the woods, while the rest wanted to do more research, including analysis of the samples at the lab.   More information needs prevailed and the group returned to Owl's Perch to Corvin, the lab tech. They found that 2 creatures could match the outcome, given the unnatural cells and the fact that the disease was more of an infernal poison that bacteria or virus: hellhounds or death dog. When they learned the death dog has two heads, the group zoned on that option pretty quickly. Corvin pulled the beastiary description of the animal and showed the group. The creature is a mutated wolf or other canidae creature, as an outcome of some horrific event to such creature, such as torture or massacre. A bitten dog-like creature likely will turn into another death dog. Other bitten creature usually just die.   The group visited the bazaar (Foundation shop with discounted price for basic / essential adventuring gear and potions) and the game ended. Gear is to be purchased prior to next game, as it was cut short due to Forge crashing in the last moments.

Rewards Granted

Horse & Standard net for each (to be returned, loaned)

Missions/Quests Completed

The death dogs were dispatched and most of the diseased wolves survived to be healed.

Character(s) interacted with

Keeper Aman

Notes

Youka couldn't assist to this game, and Nina had to left early. The irony during a game with "disease" in the title.