Session 5: The Ballad of Arhead Holm Report
General Summary
Olarune 7th, 998
The party delves into the basement of the Byford Keep Ruins, and find a large and expansive dungeon. The party proceeds into the dungeon and finds the first group of Bugbears, who nearly eliminate the party, though with teamwork and rage, they make it through the fight with major wounds that they are forced to rest until they are fully mended, afterwhich they were able to find a few chests filled with rich amounts of loot.
Olarune 8th, 998
They continue to wander through the dungeon, coming across another group of Bugbears ready for battle. One after another, the party members throw attacks and magical spells to the enemy and they respond in kind, both sides causing significant damage to each other. Once again, the group fights with all their might, felling the foul fiends at near the brink of death. After a short rest, the party is healed from near death and they continue to scour the depths of the dungeon they have found themselves in.
As they searched through the dungeon, they find yet another box filled with rich loot that they are able to use or sell in the future. Soon after, they encounter another group of Bugbears, who also give the party a difficult battle. Near death, Sandy uses her healing ability to heal the majority of the party immensely, almost convincing the party that she may be a Goddess brought to their mortal plain. After some time, there is only one Bugbear left, Bugbear B, who Sylrieth had been trying to kill and vise versa to no success. With multiple failed attempts at attacking one another, the Bugbear lowers his weapon, points to Sylrieth with a look of respect, and leaves. With the help of Sandy's godlike healing abilities, the party is able to make quick work of that group of Bugbears, earning them a small amount of loot.
As they are about to leave for the next section, slow clapping is heard behind them. On edge, the party turns and readies themselves for battle but what appears from the shadows is a Nazaran fighter. He reveals that he is Ringo Mandingo, a legendary warrior among the people of his village. Ringo had recently heard of a disturbance in the ruins of Byford Keep and wanted to investigate, but ended up finding the party. They offer to work together on this quest to which he happily agrees, finding that fighting groups of Bugbears alone would be difficult.
The five adventurers continue through the dungeon, coming across a group of seven Bugbears with their chief, Stath. The chief Bugbear threatens the party and tells them to leave, to which the party responds by threatening and intimidating him. Now fearful of the party, Fireheart is able to convince him to give them their items in exchange for their lives. They then tell the Bugbears to leave and never return, though Stath tells them that they have nowhere to go. After discussing it, the party agrees to try to convince the group of Bugbears to join them to Caelfall where they hope to broker peace. Hearing this, Stath agrees to go with the party, developing a fondness for them after they agreed to spare his life.
Olarune 15th, 998
The party arrives in Caelfall, walking through the streets and bringing attention to themselves with the small army of Bugbears. Once arriving at the Guild office, they turn in the job, thus promoting them to Noted Adventurers, and begin drinking with Stath, who has developed a friendship with Sparhawk. The party then checks the job board for any new requests and see a black note pinned to the board. Fireheart reads it seeing that it is a request for all second ranked adventurers and up to report to the mainland. Afterward, Sparhawk asks Vedrer about giving the Bugbears a job as guards of the city. Unfortunately, they are unable to provide guard jobs for the roudy group, but Vedrer mentions that there is someone who is looking for recruits for a special project. Not remembering the mans name, he tells Sparhawk that he should still be at the end of the street, near the house for sale. The party and the Bugbears all go over to the vacant house to see Ingrannus and Ulthis looking over the house, waiting for them to arrive. Ingrannus greets them with a warm smile, letting them know that, since he felt that the rewards he had given them were not enough for his freedom, he dediced to buy them the vacant home. The party brushes this off and asks him if he was looking for recruits, to which he informs them that he was looking to rebuild the Knights of Arhead Holm. They suggest taking the Bugbears on as those recruits which Ingrannus is hesitant with, looking to Ulthis for his input. Ulthis shrugs and lets him know that they should be fine so long as they were well trained and disciplined. With the Bugbears now having a new home, the party ventures North to the mainland to answer the Kings call.
Olarune 17th, 998
The party arrives at Arhead Holm Dock and, after having a civil discussion with the harbormaster, are able to book a barge to the mainland.
Olarune 18th, 998
Shortly after arriving in Tiregal Port, the party hears someone calling for Scouting Party 5, which Sylrieth assumes is them. They make their way through the bustling crowd of sailors and soldiers, getting to a High Sephran man sitting at a desk with two other High Sephrans standing on either side. He studies the lot and, disappointed, instructs them to go to Caer Findore for further instructions. After receiving a map from the captain, the party departs on their journey, but Fireheart hears him mutter insults to them, to which she takes great offence. After threatening the captain, the High Sephrans draw their swords to aprehend the party, though Sparhawk quickly diffuses the situation, allowing them to continue to Caer Findore.
