Session 02: The Old Black Wolf of the Hills

General Summary

The party spent the night at the League headquarters, although only Ilbryen and Kaal spent the night inside of the building with everyone else either sleeping in the stables or making camp outside of the headquarters. In the morning, the caravan headed to Wrathford arrived, headed by the Caravan Master, Hastrus Pike. Pike was not on the last few runs but was aware of the issues that the previous runs encountered. Because of the spread of rumors and worry of danger, most of the caravan teamsters had to be replaced. However, two members who were present on the previous caravan runs where people were lost were present and interviewed.
Soren Greywood, the half-elf animal handler of the caravan related his experiences with the party. He had said that when the caravan went through the Scarlet Hills, they had usually encountered the “Old Black Wolf of the Hills”. She was a wolf that would follow at a distance at the caravan’s side, watching them as they passed. Her presence was familiar and known to those who would travel through the hills. However, in past runs, her presence seemed to unsettle those in the caravan and spook the animals. Soren had chosen oxen to lead this caravan believing them to be more sturdy and less likely to spook. On the last run he was on, the group had seen the Old Black Wolf and when it disappeared, one of the teamsters set off into the hills. He would not speak and was persistent. He left into the hills and did not return.
Rai Hellbreath, the human cook of the caravan, had also been present for encounters with the Old Black Wolf, relating much of the similar accounting as Soren had--the wolf was a mascot of sorts, always pacing with the caravans as they headed through the pass, but it never caused any issues until recent trips. On the last caravan that he took through the pass, he had a similar experience. They had seen the wolf, which had unsettled the crew and spooked the animals. Then the wolf had disappeared and one of the teamsters headed into the hills. He did not speak and could not be persuaded to return. He disappeared and it made the teamsters paranoid about the run.
The party arranged to have as much of what they could salvage from the League headquarters, mostly old animal pelts and trophies and casks of brandy, to be added to the carts of the caravan to sell in Wrathford. With Hastrus Pike leading the caravan, the group set out along the road for the three day journey to Wrathford through the Scarlet Hills.
The group camped just outside of the hills on the first night, encountering nothing out of the ordinary. They then continued into the hills at the start of the second day.
By lunch, they had spotted the Old Black Wolf of the Hills and it kept its distance. Levi, Ilbryen, and Illevaere approached the wolf while the others remained back at the caravan. As they approached the wolf, they could see that it’s coat was in tatters and it seemed wounded with piercing holes in its side--wounds which the wolf should not have been able to survive. Ilbryen was overcome with fear and did not want to approach any further. They recognized the wolf as some form of undead.
Levi and Illevaere continued to approach. As they neared it, the wolf disappeared and Illevaere started to walk deeper into the hills. Levi was able to restrain the determined and struggling Illevaere until Rieta was able to bind them in rope.
Illevaere still seems determined to head deeper into the hills and the group decided to follow them to see where they would go, leaving Kaal back alone to protect the caravan.
Illevaere led them through the hills and past the body of a dead human, who had piercing wounds like the wolf had. Although there was identification on the body, they had assumed it to be the corpse of one of the former caravan teamsters.
Illevaere continued to a small rocky entrance of a cave. The entrance was small and they had to crawl to get in, but the passage eventually opened up. The passage came to a four-way intersection. Illevaere sniffed at the air, but seemed confused at which way to go. They went along the leftmost passage with the party following. They hit a tripwire, causing a collapse of rocks onto them. Illevaere woke from the trance, in full control of themselves again. They were aware of everything that they had done, but had no control over themselves or any idea why exactly they were doing it.
The group left the cave, wanting to return to the caravan. Along the way back, they collected the body of the fallen teamster and Tiarjead had noticed that there were kobold tracks around the body. They rejoined Kaal and the caravan, relating what had happened. The body was identified as a former teamster and there were no further sightings of the Old Black Wolf of the Hills that day. During the night, the party heard a mournful howling dirge in the distance, but saw no other signs of the Old Black Wolf.
During the third day, the caravan arrived at Wrathfold, a small town and the destination of the caravan. The caravan provided sleeping arrangements for the party at the Red Sword Inn. The teamsters unloaded their cargo and Ilbryen struck a deal with Hastrus Pike where he would sell the party’s wares in town, taking a ten percent commission for himself. Since the party would have to otherwise sell everything immediately, most likely for less than it would be worth, they agreed to the deal.
The party took to their beds, ready to rejoin the caravan in the morning, where they will be following the route back through the hills and ultimately to Eastbridge.

Missions/Quests Completed

The party had successfully protected the caravan to Wrathford, which should earn them 50 gold from Bertram Breeze back in Eastbridge. If they protected the caravan from Wrathford to Eastbridge, they would earn an additional 50 gold.

However, if they were able to find and end the disturbances interfering with the caravan routes through the Scarlet Hills, they would earn and additional 200 gold.

Character(s) interacted with

Hastrus Pike, human caravan master working for the Nymphgate Trading Coster
Soren Greywood, half-elf animal handler for the caravan
Rai Hellbreath, human cook for the caravan

Campaign

The Gentlemen's League of Explorers and Adventurers

Protagonists

Levi Obadiah Kilgore

Chaotic Good Human, Northlander (Marked by the Beast)
Barbarian 11

115 / 115 HP

STR
17

DEX
14

CON
16

INT
14

WIS
12

CHA
9

Ilbryen Dorydark

Neutral Good Half-Elf (Sage)
Cleric 10

63 / 63 HP

STR
10

DEX
10

CON
12

INT
14

WIS
20

CHA
15

Tiarjead Faefyire

Neutral Good Dragonborn (Outlander)
Ranger 10

74 / 74 HP

STR
16

DEX
13

CON
13

INT
9

WIS
15

CHA
14

Illevaere Solandra

Chaotic Good Wood Elf (Outlander)
Druid 10

83 / 83 HP

STR
11

DEX
18

CON
16

INT
14

WIS
20

CHA
12

Kaal

Neutral Half-Orc ()
Barbarian 3

32 / 32 HP

STR
16

DEX
14

CON
15

INT
11

WIS
11

CHA
8

Rieta

Chaotic Good Tiefling (Urchin)
Sorcerer 3

20 / 20 HP

STR
9

DEX
14

CON
14

INT
16

WIS
11

CHA
19

Report Date

01 Feb 2021

Primary Location

Eastbridge Vale

Related Characters

• Hastrus Pike
• Rai Hellbreath
• Reginald Mosstride
• Soren Greywood