Session 268 - A Curious Bounty
General Summary
2nd of Peonu (Second Month of Spring) 726TRA New Adventure Begins
The villainous Reinwald Three Finger, a thug and bandit, has robbed the wrong person, a rich Ilviran Pilgrim and acquaintance of the Sheriff of Semethshire.Reinwald, art by ArtbreederReinwald has a sizable bounty on his head and a reward for returning a stolen holy artifact, the Turquoise Aimiru.
The dangerous bounty hunter Cassius is in pursuit with his Bear companion and Salvador, an artist and wandering Priest of Ilvir, tasked with helping to recover the holy artifact.
Location - The wilderness north of Castle Nenda the Kingdom of Kaldor.
Part 1 – An Easy Bounty
Cassius is less than a day behind his quarry, and to his disappointment, the tracks reveal that Reinwald has joined up with three men. Creeping forward, he spots a camp. Cautious observation shows nothing moving, and all its occupants are dead. Four murdered men and none of them match the description of Reinwald. Besides, Reinwald's trail leaves the crime scene traveling north.
The dead appear military, but most of their uniforms and equipment are missing. A thorough search uncovers a dagger in the mud; its pommel has an adornment representing an eagle. Salvador has seen this symbol before; it is the coat of arms used by the mercenary group, the Company of the Golden Eagle, currently based in the City of Tashal. He also finds a discarded leather envelope containing the men's orders.
Orders
Corporal Klemit, take your squad, travel to Naniom Bridge, and escort a young dwarven woman to Orbaal.Keep her safe.
The pay is good, and expect a sizable bonus when you return.
Captain Mayda.
The hunters conclude that the murder happened last night while the men were sleeping.
As they examine the dead, they are stalked by four ravenous wild dogs. They burst out of the trees and savagely attack but are quickly dispatched.
Location - Naniom Bridge the Kingdom of Kaldor.
Part 2 – Naniom Bridge
The characters dash to Naniom Bridge and arrive early afternoon. A friendly guard on the bridge explains that four Golden Eagle mercenaries crossed over late morning accompanied by a young Dwarven woman. The guard remarked that the mercenaries were somewhat scruffy and unprofessional.
Cassius follows the trail for almost two hours, noting what appears to be an altercation and the tracks of what is likely the Dwarven woman being dragged into the woods.
The hunters spot a campfire. Four shabby men, one of them being the criminal Reinwald, are camped. They have discarded the Golden Eagle uniforms, and a young Dwarven Woman is gagged and tied to a large fallen tree trunk.
Part 3 – Night Attack
The heroes wait for sundown. The Bear is sent to one side to create a distraction, roaring and sharpening claws on a tree, while Salvador sneaks forward the other way, hoping to get to the captive before being noticed. Two bandits investigate the noise, creating an opening for Salvador to make it to the Dwarf just as Cassius shoots arrows into Reinwald's side, badly injuring him. The bandits are caught by surprise, and the Bear charges while Salvador reveals himself by Commanding Reinwald to "Dig." Immediately, the fearsome bandit follows the Priest's divine compulsion, drops onto the ground, and starts scooping up the earth with his hands.
Unfortunately for Salvador, two of the bandits quickly surround him. He unties the Dwarf girl but receives a smash across his head for his efforts knocking him out. Grabbing Salvador's spear, the fierce young woman proves to be an able warrior and joins the melee, stabbing the prone Reinwald and killing him. Regrettably, one of the remaining bandits, a highly skilled warrior, subdues her and then deals with the Bear.
Cassius stays mainly in the darkness, stalking the villains, shooting arrows, then moving again to another location before they can respond. However, the bandits get a brief glimpse of the scarred ranger in the torchlight. He downs one bandit and then kills the skilled warrior with an arrow through his neck. The remaining bandit considers his options and flees. Regrettably, Cassius can't respond; he has just run out of arrows.
Part 3 – Berda
Cassius administers medical attention to the injured, and Salvador provides magical healing when conscious.
The young woman introduces herself as Berda and tells her story. She is approaching marriageable age and does not want to follow convention. Being from a wealthy family, she can easily find a match in the Dwarven Kingdom of Azadmere, but instead, she wants to look further afield.
She plans to travel to the lost dwarven Kingdom of Kuzjera and the Cities of Kondasgel and Harhakeim in the Viking northlands of Ivinia to find her husband. This is over 1,000 miles away over the Sea of Ivae. It's been generations since her people have been in contact with their far-distant kin. Berda asks her saviors for help on her quest. They appear capable warriors; by chance, Cassius speaks Ivinian, having pursued bounties in the Kingdom of Orbaal. Her father is rich and would pay well for her to be kept safe.
Cassius agrees to help, but his priority is to get Berda to the City of Tashal. The escaped bandit knows what he looks like, and he suspects there may be a deeper plot involved with this young woman. Plus, he wants to claim the bounty on the executed Reinwald.
Meanwhile, Salvador loots the dead finding the stolen artifact, the Turquoise Aimiru.
To be continued.
NPC Interactions
Guards at the Naniom Bridge.
Challenges Overcome
4 x Wild Dogs.
4 x Bandits.
Recovered the Turquoise Aimiru.
Rewards
Nothing this week.
Created Content
Nothing this week.
Related Reports
Player Characters
Cassius - Human - L1 Ranger.
Salvador - Human - L1 Cleric of Ilvir (Change).
NPC Character Status
Berda - Dwarf - L1 Fighter.
Next Session
Berda
The inquisitive and idealistic daughter of a wealthy Dwarf.
Company of the Golden Eagle
Turquoise Aimiru Figurine
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