Session 1: Chapter 1 - Caravan of Peril Recap
General Summary
Day 3 -- May 17
The newly gathered heroes settled into the cavern as night fell and the rains slowly moved in. The cave was comfortable and airy, sized well to allow the heat of the campfire to ward off the chill of the late spring evening and damp weather. A cunning chimney cut into the cavern roof allowed the fire's smoke to flow out, keeping the snug cavern clear. A side chamber set up with old straw on the floor and rough but sturdy troughs and stalls housed the caravan's horses and draft animals.
The wagons were left in a semi-circle outside the cavern, the clearing wide enough to accommodate several more if needed. Several lean-tos of wood and bark gave any posted sentries cover and blocked light from behind to allow better night-vision unhindered from the cheery glow emanating from the cave.
Bun-Bun, the dwarf cleric, and Talia Entwhistle, the self-styled wood elf guard leader, took the first watch. Inside the cave, Dugal's normal no-nonsense attitude dropped as he invited any who wished to participate in his favorite sport ... Gambling. Bindlebrew hauled a small cask of mead in to offer during the evening meal and entertainment.
Staas, Marv, Jasper, and Gaston were joined by Griañna and Green Imsa. Wagers were small to begin, at only 5 silver each placed into the pot. Dugal seemed assured of victory in the first few hands but the humble, swamp-fed personality of Gaston charmed his way into winning the first two hands ... a small application of his native land's voodoo magic may have played a small part. The half-elf sorcerer gathered his winnings and graciously backed out ahead of the game.
The others plied their luck at the various card and dice games Dugal put forth with most participants dropping out early and none staying in past a single round of gold piece wagers. The dwarf caravan master was well-skilled and tough to beat, though guile, a bit of cheating, and pure skill at some of the games did garner a couple of wins for a hero or two.
The night passed pleasantly and without incident. Dugal warned most evening camps would not be so safe or comfortable going forward.
The next morning before the caravan set off, Griañna did a small surgery using her cards pulling the Bee and the Wasp. The bee foretold hard work and the Wasp a predator. Both meanings were obvious and accurate to anyone caravaning on the The Long Road. But the seer's augury meant much more than even she could see ...
The rain became a heavy downpour by early afternoon, sapping the energy of everyone in the caravan. Dugal called a short halt and discussed options.
Travel in the mountains was dangerous on dry days let alone in torrential rains, however, they were only an hour or two away from the crossing at Whiterun River which then led into Wayfarer Valley. The road was not the best place to camp, with minimal cover from the elements and the possibility of mudslides, avalanches, and flash floods. The dwarf also insisted the heavy rains could swell the WhiteRun blocking their crossing for at least a day or two, more if the rains continued overnight and into the next day.
The group decided to risk the crossing and continued on.
As predicted, upon arrival at Whiterun Crossing, the river was beginning to rapidly swell and overflow its banks. The rapids to the north were white with tumultuous froth. The rain had slackened to a heavy drizzle by this time, yet the old, abandoned site would offer no succor should the river seriously flood. The bridge itself was ancient and cracked, yet stood stolidly in the raging waters about its footings. Gaps in the bridge were crossed with thick-hewn planks of ironwood left by other travelers for this very purpose.
Another hurried conversation decided it was best to cross now than chance more danger or delays. Even the few originals naysayers and undecided travelers saw there was little other option. The caravan readjusted its wagon order and the guards were given their duties.
Dugal would cross first in his heavy wood-boxed wagon, followed by the fortuneteller on her horse, then Green Imsa on her small cart and the lighter covered wagon of the Steelflowers. Next would be the forgemaster, Borric Steelmelt in his heavy wagon, then A'lan Bindlebrew's ake wagon, Odaire LaMerchante with his boxy perfumer's wagon, and bringing up the rear would be Wanda Thimblethumb with her surprisingly heavy load of fabrics in her covered wagon.
Gaston and Marv were given the task of moving and rearranging the thick ironwood planks for each wagon and horses before they crossed. Jasper and Staas were on side detail, keeping a watch for dangers, more environmental than predatory. Bun-Bun was given rear guard duty several dozen paces to watch their rear. Talia climbed one of the ancient, crumbling guard towers to both get a better vantage to watch for danger and to oversee the crossing.
Dugal's heavy wagon crossed without incident, as did Griañna's horse and Green Imsa's cart. The Steelflowers were crossing, the mom clutching her children protectively as lightning flashed nearby rattling the bridge and nearly blinding all at the Crossing.
It was then Talia screamed out a warning ... "Stormbird!"
Another flash of lightning showed a humanoid shadow gliding across the ground, arms outstretched. But the unsettling shadow did not match the form of the diving monstrosity bearing down on the covered wagon sitting in the middle of the bridge.
The bizarre, man-sized creature blended the body and wings or a vicious bird of prey with the head of a fang-mawed stag, its plumage and fur perfectly camouflaging the winged horror against the stormy sky. Malevolence flickered in the eyes of the foul thing, reflecting the flashes of lightning in their near-human depths.
As fast as an elf can run, the stormbird swooped past the bridge, snatching little Kari, screaming, from her mother's clutched upon the front seat of the covered wagon, and soared upward over the swiftly streaming river below. A screech of triumph from the creature sent horrific shivers down the spines of all who heard it over the thunderous rumble following the lightning blast.
Talia whipped her longbow from its protective sheath across her back and fired a shaft at the beast fleeing with its newly caught meal of squirming, squealing human child. The arrow sped true but the shaft bounced harmlessly off the breast of the creature ... something about this thing resisted attack!
Undeterred, with a mighty heave and deep-chested grunt, the half-orc barbarian Staas threw a javelin at the stormbird. Even with the rain, winds, and distance, the mighty barbarian's strike was true and the sharp-tipped javelin struck the creature in nearly the same place Talia's arrow had. A normal bird or stag would surely have perished at the blow, but the stormbird squawked with pain and rage as the javelin tip briefly dug into its flesh before dislodging and falling away. The force of the blow however caused the stormbird to lose its grip on the human toddler, and Kari plummeted into the swollen Whiterun racing by 30 feet below.
Without a thought, Jasper raced to the river's edge and dove into the turbulent, frigid water and swum down to the small dark shape floating just under the surface. The human druid breached the water with a gasp, clutching the unmoving girl to his chest and cast about for the quickest way back to shore.
Another flash of lightning showed a second stormbird the instant before it slammed into Talia's back at full speed. The jagged stag horn burst through the elf woman's chest as the vicious claws grasped her now-limp form and flew over the stalled caravan moving south. A mighty shake of its head dislodged the elf archer who dropped with a meaty thwack to the stony rocks below near the river's western edge.
Marv screamed at the shocked Steelflower family to get off the bridge. The elven father gathered his wits and with the help of Marv and Gaston got the draft horse moving. Griañna had been intent of watching the underside of the bridge for any cracks or structural damage and only caught the image of Talia slamming to the ground across the river from her, but the plucky seer gathered her voluminous skirts and began racing across the narrow bridge railing to offer aid. Imsa, too, began making her way back across the bridge on foot, however, the surly, enigmatic green woman cried out in a strange tongue calling into a being a blast of silvery light around the stormbird that had snatched little Kari, but to minimal effect.
The other travelers were attempting to keep their animals under control between the sudden lightning, the screeching stormbirds, and the sounds and action of battle. Bun-Bun began racing back from his rear position top lend what aid he could.
The first stormbird folded its wings and plunged downward at the struggling druid cradling the unconscious child in his arms. Jasper drew his bark cloak around the pair a moment before the stormbird stuck, avoiding any real damage and using the strike to start kicking himself and his charge to shore. The second stormbird landed next to Talia's body and dipped its cervine face into the elf woman's burst chest and ripped her heart out with a muffled screech of malice.
Stass raced over to the feeding monstrosity and swung his greataxe but the creature's nature caused the blow to bounce off without any real effect. Gaston shot a bolt of arcane flame at the beast, singeing it, but the creatures soaked feathers blunted the hit of fire. Marv began running to aid Staas, as Imsa followed behind Griañna, the seer flicking one of her cards at the flying stormbird, but missing, with the card reappearing in her deck.
Jasper fought the water trying to drown him and his charge and made it to shore just as the first stormbird again dove on the attack. Though the brave druid kept harm from the small girl he protectively curled himself around, the claws and horns of the stormbird pierced his lower back and legs, shredding muscle and sinew. With the last of his rapidly fading strength and consciousness, Jasper pulled the still and silent child under him and cried out in a strange tongue, pulling a bit of essence from the attacking stormbird and pushing it into the nearly dead Kari. The little girl stirred with a coughing gasp and began to cry, alive.
Stass swung again at the feeding stormbird, this time connecting with a mighty blow that definitely got the beast's attention, his mounting rage lending power to the strike. The stormbird spun and attacked, landing its own hits upon the half-orc, but the barbarian shook off most of the pain from his wounds in his rage. Marv made it to the battle and landed several punches on the bird-beast to no effect. Gaston spoke a cursed one of the stormbirds with the bane of his ancestors. Imsa called out again in the strange tongue, sending silvery light into Staas, causing the deep scratches on his chest and arms to close. The seer drew upon the power of her cards and Pulled Jasper from the brink of death with healing power.
The druid stumbled to his feet, avoiding the stormbirds claws, and began carrying the alive but insensate girl to the safety of one of the ruined buildings. Staas again struck a telling blow to the stormbird who'd eaten the elf archer's heart, and the creature having fed and having had enough combat, began to fly away heading north directly over Borric Steelemelt's wagon.
Marv followed, leaping onto the side of the wagon and being helped up with a boost from the dwarven forgemaster. Pulling his long belt from about his waist, the pugilist lashed out with it, catching the stormbird around one clawed leg and pulling it back down a bit. A mighty struggle between bird-beast and half-orc ensued, with only the doughty nature of the half-orc keeping him alive from the savagery of the captured and enraged stormbird. Eventually, Marv pulled the bird down and wrestled to the ground below with Gaston lending a well-timed and well-aimed firebolt. Still, the stormbird was able to survive and once again flew away and into the storm, lost to sight.
Staas, Griañna, and Imsa faced the remaining stormbird, keeping it from following its prior prey of the Druid and child. Dropping his axe, Staas wrestled with the beast, trying to rip a wing out of joint or snap it's surprisingly muscular neck. After a bit of back and forth, and just as the thing was about to escape like its companion, Staas regained his great axe and split the thing down the middle. It dropped dead near the body of Talia.
Still in a daze, the group hurriedly patched up as best they could, bound Talia's body in nice fabric donated by Wanda Thimblethumb, and left the body of the stormbird behind despite Jasper's protests. They got the remaining wagons across the bridge just before a wall of water slammed into it. Surely anything crossing it at the time would have been washed away. The caravan traveled several more hours as the rain lessened but never stopped and made camp in a washed-out ruin, passing the night without any real rest.
Griañna told the group about what she thinks those creatures actually were ... a form of peryton. Dugal had heard of them, even supposedly saw one flying in the distance a couple of times, but never had one attacked, though he had heard of them doing so from other caravan masters.
by ProdigyDuck
Day 4 -- May 18
The morning dawned with heavy rains and hail forcing a late start. The caravan moved from the low mountain passes and valleys into lightly forested rolling hills. The rains slacked off by late afternoon with sun and warm breezes. As evening approached, the caravan could see the vaunted Windlass Hill in looming in the distance; a steep climb that would shave days off the journey if they otherwise went around through the dangerous Tanglebrier Forest. Camp that evening was at Windlass Waystation, a caravan-maintained collection of small shacks at the foot of Windlass Hill.Day 5 -- May 19
The morning came with a light fog that quickly dissipated. Dugal explained the back-breaking work ahead of the caravan getting the horses and wagons up the steep incline using the surprisingly well-maintained windlass atop the hill and the chains and ropes he carried within his wagon for just this purpose. The animals were brought up one by one along the same winding path several others carried the required gear up. It was was hard work, even harder winching each wagon up the nearly 30° slope of over 500 feet. Accomplished through ropes, pulleys, chains, the sturdy windlass, and heavy chocks behind the wagon's wheels, took the entire day. Camp was a mere 3 miles journey away in a well-maintained site. Fortunately, the night passed without issue.Day 6 -- May 20
Out of the mountains and going into the fringes of the Tanglebreir, the weather was warming up slightly. The 6th day passed with no major issues as the group moved from the rolling foothills into moderate forest trails.Day 7 -- May 21
Morning broke with light rain and gusty winds. As the day wore on the rain grew heavy again. The journey was miserable and tensions were high as the strain and stress of the journey, as well as the loss of Talia and near-loss of the toddler Kari, wore on everyone. As the miles ground by the forest moved from moderate to heavy. Trees grew thick and large, closer together, with more underbrush. The canopy above closed in letting only a few small patches of direct sunlight through, lending a strange gree twilight to the surroundings. Animal life was abundant with birds everywhere and small (and larger) animals heard in the woods off the trail. By late afternoon the rain had stopped, as well as the caravan. Dugal's lead wagon had run into a thick sprawl of fungus covering the trail and deep into the forest to either side. When trampled, the fungus would release a black cloud of foul-smelling spores and let loose a pained moan that set the animals on edge and tingling in the hearer's teeth. Within a few moments, it was determined the fungus was too large to try to go around, even if a path could be found through the close-packed trees and uneven root-covered undergrowth. Too, the mushroom sprouts were visibly growing, moving from a few inches to over six inches in height in the half-hour the caravan was discussing options.
by from Dreamstime.com
Day 8 -- May 22
In the morning, A'lan Bindlebrew bid the group farewell as he was Bloom bound to restock his supplies with gnomish and halfling brews found in that town to the North. Two other joined the caravan here, Spindlehop, a male halfling who proclaimed himself a Royal Anatomist returning to Grayhaven, and a gnome wizard calling himself Findal Dinfizzle Findazzle. Spindlehop proved to be a pompous, secretive snob whose wagon interior looked more abattoir than scientific, with a bloody dissecting table in the middle and shelves upon shelves of various parts in fluid-filled jars. Findazzle was a congenial gnome, stating he was a traveling wizard-at-large from the Alabaster Academy. He amiably chatted with everyone and was asked by Jasper to look into how and why he suddenly began exhibiting the strange druidic powers. The neo-druid was given a strange concoction to drink and told to report back in the morning with a stool sample. The gnome also introduced everyone to his per magpie, Peppercorn.
When all was set, the caravan left (afterJasper provided a vivid magenta stool sample to Findazzle). A group of rough-and-tumble trappers, hunter, and woodsman followed behind the caravan. Dugal explained they were not part of the caravan but were following to take advantage of greater numbers, the guard's services, and any amenities offered for sale by the group (like the recently departed Bidlebrew's ales). The dwarf warned the guard that they were to offer no aid to these men as they had not paid for any caravan services.
During the afternoon stop, Staas was talking with Imsa, slowly gaining her trust, when a few of the trappers came up. One in particular was rude and invasive in his questions to Imsa. Staas defended his new green-hued friend and punched the rough trapper knocking him to the ground. The heroes tensed for some retaliation from the downed man's friends, but they only laughed and jeered at their companion before helping him up and going back to the rest of their scruffy band.
During this exchange, Jasper was off-trail scrounging for herbs and the like when a large animal crashed through the underbrush nearby. Not wanting to encounter a possible threat by himself, the druid moved to circle around the unknown beast's path. In doing so, Jasper stumbled upon some sort of shrine to forest spirits in disarray. A large wooden shrine was knocked over and six small idols of vaguely humanoid faces with beatific smiles and outstretched palms lay scattered about.
Jasper felt a sense of weal from the disturbed site and went to inform his group. Dugal felt the shrine was important enough to stop for a short time and investigate. It was determined by several of the travelers that the shrine was indeed a benign shrine to some sort of forest spirits, leaving it might invite mischief upon those who found it. They replaced the wooden shrine back upright and carefully placed the idols into the niches intended for them. One by one each placed an item of "sacrifice" upon the outstretched palms including stormbird feathers, silver coins, a few prayer notes, blood, and other personal items.
A small breeze kicked up in the previously still air, bringing a sense of peace and tranquility to those assembled. A good omen, Dugal advised.
Early evening, a few hours before camping for the night, the woodsy travelers again came up to Staas and Imsa. They seemed a bit abashed and the one who started trouble stepped forward to apologize for his behavior and offered a gold coin (several days pay for the woodsman) to Staas to buy the lady a drink when they reach their destination. Stars accepted and the group filtered into the forest.
Camp the night of the 9th day of travel was at a roadside campsite a few miles down-trail from the shrine. The night passed peacefully and all awoke rested and refreshed, even the animals seemed more full of energy.
Rewards Granted
The heroes advanced to Level 2!
- Blessing of the Forest Shrine (effect unknown to the group)
Missions/Quests Completed
- Guard the Caravan
Character(s) interacted with
- The entire caravan worked together to overcome obstacles due to the leadership of the guards and a bond over the sacrifice of Talia Entwhistle.
- Findal Dinfizzle Findazzle befriended the heroes and is helping Jasper look into his burgeoning druidic powers.
- Green Imsa assisted the group in battle with strange magics and has grown closer with Staas.
- Staas backed down a group of foresters, trappers, and hunters, earning respect from them.
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