02 Session Report - Making Bread

General Summary

After some discussion, the party decides to sign up for the Old Gar Must Die! job. The first thing they need to do is figure out where Predilten is. So, they ask around First Tower and get some good information from Broomar, a local that does a lot of hunting in the King's Forest. He sits Enna down and describes how to find the tiny village.   Next, they decide they should probably find out something about how to hunt alligators. Back at the Tower View Inn, Bhondi informs them that there is a group of hobgoblins staying at the inn. When they come down to the main hall later, Elias chats them up and before long the two groups are sharing a table and a pitcher of ale and the hobgoblins are giving the Eberron Explorers their best secrets on gator hunting, as well as everything they know about Old Garr (mostly that they think the group is a gaggle of suckers for agreeing to go after the beast for a measily 150g).   Bright and early the next morning, they set out. The day is exceptionally warm but other than that, uneventful. After an evening camping in the King's Forest they wake up to an even hotter day. Luckily Enna is able to utilize her knowledge of the forest to help eliviate the worst of it, but it is still a grueling day.   They arrive at Predilten after midday and once the villagers realize why they are there, they get a warm welcome. They are introduced to Bluhar, the village mayor and meet some more of the locals. They get Bluhar's grandson Broomar to guide them to Gaar's home turf.   The next morning they set out. They quickly come to realize that Broomar's assistance will be limited, at best, as his bravery wanes as soon as he is out of the village and out into the wilds. They arrive at Gaar's hunting grounds and start trying to track down the beast. They are finding sings of gators and feel they are on track when they come across a mud pit and, what they assume is a young child stuck in the middle and barely holding on. They come up with a plan and rescue the victim. Cleaning her up a bit, they realize that she is actually a halfling. She has been out here a while and is suffering pretty bad. They decide to call it a day and return to Predliten.   That evening, Elias is able to put the halfling at ease and a friendship quickly sparks. She reveals to bard that her name is Tilly and she is a dragonmark heir, and the dragonmark that covers her from ankles to wrists is the largest and most complicated one Elias has ever seen. Her plot thickens, however, when she reveals that she became disillusioned with her house's focus on money over helping people, as well as her government's apparently complete lack of concern for life. She abandoned both her house and land and took off. She has been on the run ever since. She had simply been wandering when she got lost in the King's Forest and stumbled into the mud pit. Elias assures her that her secrets are safe with him and she agrees to join the party.   The following morning they return to Gaar's home are in Broomar's boat. On the way they give the man a good deal of grief and shame and he agrees to take a more active role in helping them out.   On the trail of the beast, Ryker almost falls into a hole that opens up below his feet. The party investigates and realize they are standing above some very old Dhakaani ruins. While they are all very curious, they decide to stay on task and return later. Enna makes sure to get a bearing and is confident that she can later find the spot.   As the afternoon is growing long, Tilly calls out an alarm as a large alligator slips into the water and starts swimming towards them. The party makes very quick work of the two large beasts that attempt to harass them and are feeling pretty good when the water beside Broomar erupts and the largest alligator they have ever seen lunges at the fisher men. His head alone is larger than the man's entire body and he lets out a shriek of terror and he pedals backward, starting to loose his balance...