map by Gunther
Seven adventurers, Cressidien, Ruu Dawnhammer, Almalexia, Sauroff, Silvermoon, Koravhik Agu-Vakanu, and a nameless druid who was later nick-named "Squirrelly", were all hired by a Pharesian dwarf named
Gundren Rockseeker. Gundren has a couple wagons of supplies that he needs delivered to the small town of Phandalin in the adjacent, largely ungoverned province. He has promised each of the adventurers 10 gold pieces when they deliver the wagons of supplies, with the possibility of further work later.
A few of the adventurers noticed that there did not appear to be enough fodder loaded on the wagons to feed the horses for the full distance, and Squirrelly brought this to Gundren's attention. Gundren then appointed Squirrelly as the caravan lead teamster, gave him enough coin to buy the needed fodder, and promised him an additional 5 gold when they arrived in Phandalin.
The satyr bard Almalexia earned a couple extra gold for her playing in the Eager Mule inn, which she used to buy wine for all the patrons.
The next morning the caravan set out, with two wagons each 2/3 full, and Gundren and his bodyguard Sildar Hallwinter riding horses. Gundren checked his large pocket watch each time they passed one of the Tri-Boar Trail mile markers, growing more impatient as they went. He then announced that delays in receiving the supplies have kept him away too long from the mining claim that he and his brothers were working near Phandalin. He said that he and Sildar were going to ride ahead to the claim. He handed a sealed envelope to Squirrelly and told him "Give this to Elmar Barthen at Barthen's Trading Post in Phandalin. He'll see that you get paid. I should be back in town in a few days after you arrive."
The rest of the day and night passed without event. However, the following noon the party encountered a bridge that was under repair, and was impassable to the wagons (though Cressidien and Almalexia deftly leapt their way across it). While Almalexia entertained the workmen during their lunch, Squirrelly cast Mold Earth to firm up the muddy riverbed long enough for the two wagons to pass over to the other side.
That night the party was attacked by a pack of 8 wolves, but they were quickly dispatched with only slight injuries to the party. They successfully skinned 7 of the wolves. Almalexia then cooked up some of the wolf meat.
On the rest of the journey to the principality border, the party only saw a few other travelers. Upon reaching a small border outpost, they asked the soldiers if anything unusual had been reported. The soldiers replied that other than reports of marauding wolves, the only unusual thing was a local farmer claiming that a vine had grabbed his plow-horse. The farmer was reported to live about a 1/2 day north of the road, so the party decided to drive the wagons cross-country to investigate.
En route to the farm, the party was ambushed by 3 giant spiders. They killed them easily - the poor spiders did not get even a single hit! Almalexia climbed to the top of one of the trees to retrieve a large web-wrapped bundle of spider eggs, which the party then thoroughly destroyed.
Arriving at the farmstead, farmer Wilkenson reported that a couple days ago a strange vine near the treeline had grabbed his oxen's leg. The farmer said that he had to chop the vine to free his horse. While Almalexia went to the barn to comfort the oxen, the rest of the party investigated the area of the ill-behaving vine.
While Cressidien was examining a tendril of the vine, it suddenly sprang into motion, and seized his leg. The party quickly subdued the vine, but not before it injured Cressidien, and narrowly missed grabbing other members of the party. Searching the nearby woods revealed tracks of a humanoid who was wearing sandals. The tracks, apparently 2-3 days old, appeared at the base of a large oak tree, walked to the site of the errant vine, then returned to the oak tree, disappearing there.
Upon hearing that the vine had been destroyed, farmer Wilkneson thanked the party, and offered a large jug of hard cider. However, Squirrelly instead asked for additional fodder for their horses, as the diversion was going to add a full day to their travel time.
Here the party got their first view of the thundertrees which the neighboring province is known for. These 300-400 foot tall trees tower over the oaks, elms, chestnuts, etc. of the rest of the forested hills, and are scattered 1/4 to 2 miles apart. Their propensity for attracting (and surviving) lightning strikes is how these giants earned their names.
The party turned south, arriving back at the Tri-Boar Trail near the outpost just before dusk.
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