Session 6: 29/01/2024

General Summary

Asterlynn 19th, early morning until the 19th late afternoon in the year 333 AI

On the road

Our party awakens in the morning and have breakfast joined by a new friend. The wolf decides to follow our friends, possbly with the prospect of food on its mind. Or perhaps, he's taken a liking to Liberty, who knows? Whatever it may be, the furry fiend provides a nice addition and sentinel on the road. So it is that our fresh fearsome foursome arrives at the ruins of what not too long ago was a prospering little village. As they crest a small rise they can see the village lying in front of them. The search for Reidoth and Mirna's heirloom can begin. The first thing that provokes their attention though, is a sign warning for 'plant monsters' and zombies... Our friendly wolf dubbed 'Lupin' seems mal at ease...

Stealth and subtlety, those are the key words to describe how our party proceeds. It is Resnalore who takes the lead and is the first to spot what looks like living shrubbery. In the remains of a small cottage it stands. Partly hidden, but clumsily so, as such it is spotted. However, this plant monster seems in a lazy mood and doesn't even blink. Resnalore decides that caution is key and leaves it be. Moving along, she takes a look at the next ruins. Here, another group of plant monsters is hidden. Unfortunately, these are hungry and malicious. Even more unfortunate is that they spot our party and before Resnalore knows it, an encounter is inevitable. Luckily, both she and Liberty where ready to take action!

A blast of fire! The first plant monster is no more than ash, and Resnalore's scimitar cuts air! Now the creatures walk out of the shadows and their features can be made out, they turn out to be Twig Blights. Soon the encounter is in full swing, though the blights prove no match. Our wolf isn't gonna be left as an observer either! Twigs snapping, branches flying... The blights that were passive earlier seem shaken awake! But not even their reinforcements offer any salvation! Without mercy the assault is broken apart and soon the eery quiet returns.

It's an unlucky day however, as in the next cottage, what seems to be the ruin of a taphouse, Resnalore spots some menacing zombies dozing on the floor. Tougher than the blights, these Ash Zombies still prove no match for our four heroes. So little even, that seeing his companions have it well in hand, Liberty decides to scout ahead already. It is so that he stumbles upon a building that seems better preserved and even has some reinforced shutters and door. Hearing what seems to be a single humanoid inside, Liberty decides to... knock on the door... What else would you do? This is how we meet Reidoth the Druid.

As soon as he knocks, the sounds quiet down, then the door is opened partially, and a gruff looking man takes a look at the scoundrel in front of him. Afte rintroductions and obviously deciding this pipsqueek will be no threat, the door is opened and Liberty, is demanded to take a seat and have some tea. At the same moment our other friends arrive, with Lupin bringing up the rear. Upon spotting our wolf-friend, Reidoth's humour greatly improves! A short wolf-speak session later and everyone is guided to a seat, the door locked again. And with no questions or even a possibility to say no, everyone gets tea. Even our furry friend. The latter takes a sniff and immediatly starts to lap up the beverage with gusto! No danger seems to be on it's mind as it starts napping as soon as his drink is finished.

Relaxing a bit, introductions are made and explanations given. Reidoth freely offers detailed directions to Cragmaw Castle and warns them of dangers in the ruins of Thundertree. This is how the party learns of the presence of Giant Spiders, Twig Blights, Cultists and, most importantly in terms of survival: a young green dragon named Venomfang. Given their history, the druid and dragon aren't exactly on speaking terms. However, in return for removing the dragon the druid does offer to guide the party to Wave Echo Cave should they so desire. After some consideration, and the location of the Herbal shop of Mirna's parents, the party decides to take the offer.

A short stop at the shop later, they retrieved the heirloom which will be returned to Mirna. Now, to speak with the dragon. They climb the hill and arrive at the cottage/tower structure which is in relatively good condition, though half the roof of the tower is gone. After one sniff, our wolf friend, who we now have learned is actually called Aphrodite, decides to hide himself in the bushes.

Forgoing all stealth and subtlety, Stone Head bellows out a loud hello. In response... A very grumpy and annoyed sounding voice demanding to know who diturbed his slumber. The only salvation... a moving speech about promises off tasty dwarves and a castle filled with goblins. Persuaded to move to greener pasture, the dragon offers one demand: food for the journey. Recollecting the giant spiders Reidoth mentioned, Liberty suggests to retrieve those. The bargain is struck!

At the foot of the hill we rejoin the foursome. A lane leading up to cottage has been webbed all over, the spider cabin is found. To remove the danger of getting webbed Liberty sets them on fire. Of course this alarms the critters inside who immediatly engage our party, crawling over the wall and taking a swipe. However, our party was warned and is ready! A rapier here, a scimitar there, an axe elsewhere and fangs japping all about... The first one barely offers a problem. Enraged the other one enwebbs Stone Head who can no longer move around with his legs stuck! Luckily, Liberty and Aphrodite leap to the rescue. Two freshly killed spiders are the result. With combined forses these are dragged up the hill. A first one is immediatly devoured. The second one is saved for the journey, as Venomfang puts it.

They all exert a sigh of relief, none had thought to so easily survive an encounter with a dragon. He must have been in a very good or lazy mood... Whatever may be the truth, who knows what the dragon has in store,... The tower and it's loot is theirs! Even Reidoth is amazed to hear the good news, still; tired of the company and their nagging he sends them on their way. Seemingly insulted by the question if he would keep his promise. A man of his word stands and falls with his integrity!

Thus, late afternoon we leave our party and their companion, Aphrodite.

Report Date

29 Jan 2024