Session 04: Wolves & Sheep Report

General Summary

Werewolves on the road

Bran's Crew gears up for an imminent attack. judging by the howls around them, there are some twenty or so feral werewolves that are longing for their flesh blood. As the pack unleash their fangs and claws on the group, Leo gets struck and fall to the ground, mortally wounded.   The group fends off one lycanthrop after another, when bran breaks from the group to tackle another part of the pack emerging from the north east. As he lock sword with claw he sees a gigantic werewolf, who also does not seem as feral as the others. Bran challenges the giant werewolf, who to his surprise, capable of speech. The two exchange several blows and despite Bran putting in some heavy hits, the giant wolf-man seems humored by his efforts.   Eventually Bela is overwhelmed by of the pack and is gravely injured. Maxwell and Bran converge back to the fallen Leo and to Daggoth standing on top of his body, while Bela makes a bee line to George who previously managed to perch himself on top a nearby tree. The fire arrows at the adversaries below, with little success.   Seeing Bran disengaging from the fight and running back to his friends, the giant werewolf touches a red gemstone embedded to a leather strap on his chest, and three of the werewolves suddenly die. Looking more rejuvenated, it marches away and disappears into the woods. It calls Bran a coward as it goes back into the woods, leaving the rest of the pack to fend for themselves. Without leadership, the rest of the were-beasts quickly fall. While most of the werewolves revert back to their humanoid forms upon death, some do not.  

Eyes are the window

While the group emerges triumphant from the fight, Leo looks as if he clings to his life by a thread. Only Maxwell's intervention saved him from an immediate death. Bran, not heading Maxwell's warning, heals Leo and bring the young lad back on his feet and loses his right eye in the process. Leo, now with one white glowing eye, is at loss on how he could ever repay the knight.   They burn the bodies, and go to camp for the night. Daggoth and Bela go ahead to scout the Andeliano's farmstead, where they find the bandits roaming around the area. Sneaking closer to the house they hear glimpses of a heated debate. It seams the bandits are arguing about something or someone they are waiting for. Back in the camp Daggoth suggests those are not bandit, as they counted more some 15-20 people in the farm, and not just the 5 Leo mentioned back in Volentis.   During the middle of the night, Daggoth spots a lone human walking with a dog. The convey the information to the rest of the group in the morning who suspect it was a scout.   Following Leo to the farm they notice discarded trash that was left all around the road by a sizable armed force. Between thrown away eating utensils and bent hammers, they deduct that between 60-100 people have recently crossed through the road they're walking.  

The Farmstead

Arriving at the farm, the group realize the people they've chased here are not bandits, but a mercenary group known as Lorenzo's Company, one they even contemplated on joining themselves back in Volentis. They are equipped with decent, standardized armor and weapons, and seem to be extensively trained as well. Yet they all retain a strange sickness, looking pale and thin.   The group is approached by an authoritative officer as soon as they enter the farm. After a quick line of questioning and a snarky remark at Leo, calls for a nearby goliath to call for the captain. Daggoth, invisible since their arrival, follows the goliath inside, where he finds his captain to be a mage working inside the master bedroom. The two quickly leave, and Daggoth goes for an attempt to snoop around. He finds the door locked with magical seal and hides in an adjacent bedroom before the entrance bursts opens again.   Meanwhile, the mage arrives to great the rest of the group, and after a very short exchange reveals himself to be named Valerio and invites them inside to discuss the matter over some tea, to discuss. The group makes their way into the farmhouse' living room and Leo remarks they probably stole their entire winter supply judging by the ample food on the table. Nonetheless, the sit around the table and the conversation begins.  

The Contract

Valerio reveal to the group that Leo's father, Olivier Andeliano, hired the company 12 years ago, promising his son as payment. When the date arrived, Andeliano refused, citing he needs the boy at the farm. Pressing the matter with the local Magistrate, the company received the right to seize Andeliano's property. George requests to read the contract, and Valerio hand it to him. Together with Maxwell he goes over the Dwarven paper, confirming its authenticity. They are about to hand it back when they see the name signed is of Leo himself, which should not be possible as the already young lad would have been a toddler at the time.   Before the group has time for further questioning, the goliath burst into the living room, looking at the mage he says "they're here." Valerio takes a look around the table and makes a simple proposition, "how would you like to earn some decent coin?" To which the group replies with a somewhat collective 'yes'. The mage Misty Step its way outside the hut with sheer excitement in his voice.

Rewards Granted

Bela 27 Silvers Maxwel Lycantrophy (manifesting in 10 days)