Session XIII: Plan of Action Report

General Summary

In need of a Plan

Return to the Hold

The adventurers sit around the campfire talking with Rafael de Scorpión about multiple topics. Sharing a few laughs and drinks around the campfire, they all call it an early night and head for the hay sack. Leaving early in the morning, the adventurers are escorted over the border by Rafael and his companions toward Gnel's Hold. On their travels they encounter signs of struggle, with pearl bird feathers spread through the purple grasslands. Upon investigating with the Scorpions, they share tales about the Manticore activity in these parts. The scorpions believes a larger retinue of them to hold op in "The Pillars", a harsh wasteland to the South-West, marked by its great rock structures. Although Nalan attempts to persuade the Scorpions to take a detour and go hunting for them, this is to no avail and there travel continues. Around 8 they arrive near the Hold, were the adventurers belongings are returned to them. Rafael agrees to go with the adventurers to go talk to their leader Captain Lennard Rye about the possible trading-post.

What happens in the Hold..

Upon their return the adventurers feel exhausted and quickly find one of the renovated towers to lay down for a bit. Alas, Lennard Rye calls for them, asking for an explanation about their brought-guests and all. The captain is quickly briefed before diving into negotiations with the Lieutenant. After a few hours of rest, Tristan Zabaleta hears loud laughs coming from the keep, suggesting they should go join the talks. As no one seems willing to join, Tristan remains in his quarters as well. A few hours later they see Rafael leaving, deciding it's a good moment to check-up with the Captain.
Upon entering the hall they see festivities being started, with one of the mates flirting with a torch on the spiraling stairwell up. Meeting the Captain, they quickly deduce the captain had one too many, with him sharing his personal rum with the crew. Although Lennard is quite drunk, he manages to babble some words about the arrangement and the trade of stone. Lennard is reminded of an ugly looking goblin who came to him not too long ago. telling he had something for Tristan's wife (pun intended). It was only due to Shluk meek appearance he was not outright killed by Lennard for these words. After a bit of chatting with him, Lennard learns of the infamous Session 4.5: The Wolf Adventure Report and Tristan's letter. He sends Shluk off to Savior's Landing to deliver the letter to Isadora. After a bit more of giggling, the captain throws everyone out of the keep so he can get his well deserved rest.
In the early morning Tristan decides to go scavenge for plants in the northern nearby forests. He comes across a few plants before discovering dried up blood and broken-off tree branches. Following these tracks, he finds a large paw mark and then around 10 meters further another footprint. He assumes the creature to be possibly dangerous and returns to the Hold to inform his buddies. Upon arrival he and his friends join Rye for breakfast, asking for further clarification on the dealings with Rafael. The agreement between the Uthramians and the Trading Company comes down to an exchange of stone for gold. Therefore, Rye asks the adventures to go to Ban Grond in his name to set up an arrangement with the goblins. In addition the Trading Company is not to travel to the western side of the island. Although not charmed by the secrecy of House Uthram, he reluctantly obliges. Being spiked with curiosity, the adventurers are send on an additional mission by Rye: What is in the Mountain?

After finishing the meal and sharing a few laughs about yesterday evening, Rye starts packing for his journey to Savior's Landing. Tristan briefs his fellow adventurers, who decide to take a detour on their way to Ban Grond through the northern forests.

The Trail of the Beast

Following in their Footsteps

Returning to the tracks Tristan discovered earlier, the adventurers conclude this must have been a flying creature. Looking at the broken off branches, they judge the creature to have flown of to the north-east mountain reach. After trekking for a day through the forest, they decide to set up camp near the forest's edge, assuming the creatures dwell near the mountains. Balin decides to go hunting, taking two Pearl Birds by surprise. Tristan decides to start brewing, adding parts of one of the Magical Seeds he acquired from Peryite in the process. Fascinated with the odors, he decides to try a bit of the mixture to little avail. As Balin already had trouble keeping wolves from feasting on the pearl bird carcasses, he decides to string them up in the air attached to a tree.

Smells travel a long way

As it continues pouring, the adventures start to realize their predicament, with Oswald being the only one owning a tent. He shares his quarters with Balin, as both of them are small enough to still fit somewhat comfortably in the tent. During the night, Nalan takes every opportunity to take a nap in the tent, but remains soaked through the process. It is Oswald who had the last watch, who's Geest-Uil sees the creature flying from the distance. Oswald quickly wakes his friends, who now have 8 minutes to prepare for the beasts' arrival. Nalan is frustrated as he can't don his chain mail suit in this time and settles with a leftover leather one from Balin. Balin and Oswald take shelter in the forest, while Tristan takes one of the Pearl Birds on his neck. With their weapons at the ready they await the arrival of their opponents.
Upon nearing the adventurers, it becomes evident the approaching beasts are indeed Manticores, two of them to be exact. At first they circle around them high up in the air, before descending on Fusd (Rufus replacement warg). The adventures quickly charge on them. As the battle continues Tristan throws one of the pearl bird corpses, hoping to bait them. Oswald keeps burning his foes, which seems rather effective. Balin decides to use the hit and run tactic, taking shelter among the trees. When one of the manticores pins down Nalan, Ioris land a powerful dropkick on the manticore. In the end they successfully defeat the manticores and start scavenging them for trophies and the like. As Oswald felt particularly confident after his fiery rebuke, he takes the lead in skinning the creatures. During this process he ruins many fine trophies, among which the dragon scales at the manticores' heads, their tails and one of their skins. It is Tristan who decides to skin the remaining manticore for his Hide, successfully retrieving it with an 18. Hanging the heads of the manticores' on their mounts, the adventurers continue their travels to Ban Grond.

Rewards Granted

1 fine Manticore Hide

2 vials of Manticore stinger poison

Missions/Quests Completed

• Started the quest What's in the Conflux Mountain?
• Retrieved trophies for And so the Hunt Begins]

Campaign

The Island of Runaar

Protagonists

Tristan Zabaleta

Level 5 Human Neutral Ranger (Monster Slayer)
(Innkeeper)

/ 38 HP

Nalan

Oswald Fleetfeet

TN halfling(gnome) (cloistered scholar)
wizard 5

26 / 26 HP

STR
8

DEX
15

CON
13

INT
19

WIS
16

CHA
10

Report Date

12 Nov 2020

Secondary Location

Gnel's Hold