Chapter 2: Newcomers

Back at Hawk’s inn, the group found two more notes on the job board. One called for a protection detail at the mine beneath Dwarf town, and the other reported farmers kidnapped by bandits at a nearby farm. The group also encountered another criminal-mercenary by the name of Baen Gypsumaxe (a rugged looking Dwarf wielding various axes and a heavy crossbow). After discussing the jobs, they set out to buy supplies before heading to the mine.
On the way to the mine, the group encountered a bear in the streets of Nesme. They charged in, slaying the bear who turned into a Dwarf upon death. Kathra used her healing magic to close the Dwarf’s wounds. His name was Halde Hosveson, the owner of the Silverpick Mining company in ten-towns. He explained that he was part of a delegation of traveling merchants visiting the estate of the young lord Rickon Brambleberry when the young boy turned him and the other merchants into wild animals. The group decided to investigate, and traveled to mansion row to visit the Brambleberry estate. When they got there, they found a frazzled human named Theodoric Carter who turned out to be the boy’s guardian. He explained that the boy had stolen a wand from his wizard tutor and turned the merchants into wild animals as a game. Mr. Carter charged the group with recovering the visiting merchants and reclaiming the wand from the boy.
The party began tracking the animals through the city, and soon found a rabbit by the river at the festival of thieves. Alton managed to catch it, and Baen crushed the rabbit’s skull with his fist--turning the rabbit back into Eryn Firth, a human female and owner of a shipping company from Luskan. The group then set about tracking the rest of the beasts, and soon found an owl perched upon a house in the western quarter. Baen crafted a blunt crossbow bolt and had Alton try to fire it at the owl, but he missed. Baen then fired his own crossbow at the owl and missed as well, so Kathra called upon her magic and smote the owl with sacred fire. The owl burst into flames and dove down onto the street, where it turned back into the gnome wizard tutor Olander Brightspark. Kathra again used her healing magic to revive him, and after some heated debate the gnome was coerced into following them to find the rest of the beasts.
Further north towards Dwarf town, the group found a deer trapped in a wagon. Alton chased it with Baen, and managed to mount it before Baen struck the deer down with his fist and turned it back into Elward Burne, a human male and owner of Burne & Sons tanneries. The party then tracked a fox down near the artists’ quarter, who was playing in a fountain. Alton snuck up on it and bashed its skull in, turning it back into a halfling woman named Lily Oldbuck. After a slight misunderstanding that resulted in Alton being slapped, she offered some coin as a reward and returned to the mansion. Finally, the group tracked the second deer down but failed to take it down as it fled. Turning a corner, they found a human boy standing atop it. He soon plunged a dagger into its throat, killing it and turning it back into a human. The boy almost finished him off before Kathra stopped him and healed his wounds. The group recognized him as a criminal-mercenary by his scar and he joined them on their quest.
Back at the mansion, Theodoric proved ecstatic that they were able to recover all of the merchants. The group then set their sights on the little lord, with half the party sneaking up to the mansion while the Dwarves walked up to the front door and knocked. After a brief exchange, Kathra convinced the boy to open the door, but he then pointed the wand at her and Baen chose to shoot him in the leg. The bolt struck deep into his leg, and he dropped the wand as he screamed and cried. Kathra, horrified at Baen’s actions, immediately called for Alton to give her their healing potion and gave it to the boy. Baen scooped up the wand, as Theodoric approached and found the boy shaken but not permanently damaged. He sent the boy to his room and returned with payment for a job well done. Baen returned the wand to the wizard and sent him on his way.
The group, having spent all day chasing the animals, spent the night at Hawk’s inn (but not before visiting the mine, speaking with Foreman Banak Glittergold and being told to return in the morning). The next morning, they ventured into the mine with the foreman’s assistant. As they were introduced to the miners, a blood-curdling scream was heard. The assistant rushed towards the source of the scream, but the group found him horribly murdered in the tunnels. As they ventured towards the source of the scream, they found several dead dwarves and were attacked by horrific creatures of the deep. Their scaly, pale skin, sharp claws and toothy maws resembled creatures of the underdark, and they proved to be expert stalkers. As the group battled them, they exuded a horrific stench. As they slew them, more slinked out from the shadows to attack them. They found only death in the mine, and after battling several groups of the creatures (and an enslaved ogre), they left the mine with Kathra stable but unconscious and most of the group wounded.
The next day, Hawk’s inn was abuzz with talk of the monstrous creatures of Dwarf-Town. Apparently, the creatures came out from the mine during the night and attacked the dwarves. The creatures were pushed back into the mine, but not before half a dozen dwarven fighters were slain. The mine was collapsed, the source of much of Dwarf-town’s income cut off from them.