Session 2: Chapter 1 - Caravan of Peril Recap

General Summary

Day 09 -- May 23

The Long Road Caravan

The caravan moved deeper into the Tanglebrier fringe. The road became crowded with a thick canopy overhead and a bumpy, root-filled road jarring the wagon wheels and catching unwary feet. The travelers moved slowly to minimize chances of wagon mishaps or worse, horses stumbling in their traces and breaking a leg.
Staas rode in companionable silence with Green Imsa at the read of the caravan. Gaston sat alongside Spindlehop on the anatomist's wagon, just ahead of Imsa's cart; the half-elf and the halfling whispered occasionally to one another about things perhaps best left secret. In front of the odious anatomist's wagon was Odaire LaMerchante and his wagon of perfumery ... placed there by the caravan master to provide a buffer between the smells coming from the halfling's wagon with the sweet and spicy aromas wafting about the stout merchant's own wagon. Next came Findazzle, the gnome wizard, and his wondrous wagon, accompanied by Bun-Bun. Jasper prowled along between the wizard's wagon and Wanda Thimblthumb's heavily laden covered wagon. Marv walked alongside Wanda, talking cuts of cloth and stitching techniques to be used on the suit she was crafting for him in the evenings. Griañne rode her sturdy mare up and down the caravan, chatting to any who cared to. The Steelflower family came next, the two girls poking their tongues out at Marv each time he looked, and then ducking behind the canvas flaps of their covered wagon and giggling. Boric Steelmelt's trundling behemoth of a wagon, with its small forge gently spewing forgesmoke into the light breeze rode ahead of the family and just behind Dugal in the lead with his master's wagon.

Forest Travels

A piercing whistle all had learned meant "Possible Trouble, Halt" carried easily back down the curving trail through the dense forest. Several of the travelers noticed, and mentioned, that the normal sounds of forest wildlife were missing ... few birds chirped and sang their melodious tunes, and the seeming content rustle of small game (and larger) to the trail sides had ceased. And it was remarked the hushed forest sounds had been this way for a few minutes now.
Marv moved up at Gugal's calm and measured call for a guard. The others disembarked their seats and took wary positions, eyeing the forest with apprehensive gazes. The wagon-drivers did their best to keep the animals at ease, though the horses seemed to sense something, making them snort and stamp, quietly agitated.
Tense moments passed as Staas began to move up the caravan line and Marv examined a several feet wide path of churned earth crossing the trail and into the forest on either side. Dugal was stumped as to what caused the disrupted earth and began making plans on how to get the horses and wagons across the soft, deep section of ground. A slight tremor was felt in the feet of those standing on the forest trail. Everyone looked at one another questioningly as the horses grew more agitated.
That's when the ankheg attacked!

Ankheg

Several draft horse-sized insects erupted from the ground with terrifying speed! One thrust up before Dugal, mandibles clacking inches from the caravan master's bearded face, knocking the dwarf to the ground. A second ankheg burst up at the rear of the caravan, mandibles and legs snatching the screaming Imsa from the seat of her small cart. "STAAS!" the verdant hued woman cried out in terror.
The half-orc barbarian immediately turned to race to Imsa's defense, though he was several wagons away by this point. Gaston managed to squirm free from the menacing mandibles of his buggy attacker and scooted to the far side of the wagon. Marv leaped to defend the prostrate Dugal, punching the anhkeg with little effect on the thick, heavy carapace. Griañne wheeled her mount and began racing back to aid those in the rear. Jasper rushed forward to help Marv, his form blurring and warping into a huge, shaggy dire wolf, surprising himself as well as those he was traveling with. The dwarven cleric, Bun-Bun, called upon Moradin for a blessing to aid his comrades.

Ankheg's Attack!

The anhkeg that had grabbed the half-elf sorcerer took a mighty hit from Staas' greataxe, as well as a singing blast of fire from the swamp-bred sorcerer. The ankheg spewed a line of acid bile at the group, burning them. The seeress flicked a razor-edged card from her ever-present deck which only causing the ankheg to flinch. Injured and afraid, the ankheg burrowed back down, with Gaston landing a resounding open-palmed SLAP! on the retreating creature's wedged head. Marv and the wildshaped druid quickly slew the ankheg at the front of the caravan.
The remaining insidious insect burrowed away with the screams of his captured prey becoming muffled and indistinct under the forest ground. Staas bellowed a challenge and raced to the area of churned earth and began digging into the partially collapsed tunnel after Imsa. Gaston joined the enraged barbarian and tried to lend what aid he could in excavating the hole. Marv, Bun'Bun, and the dire wolf-Jasper made sure the front ankheg was truly dead and got Dugal back to his feet. The dwarf was terrified, talking rapidly about swarming ankheg and it being too early in their decades-long cycle.

A Light Snack

Griañne was carefully picking her way between a giant bole of a tree and Findazzle's big wagon when the ground beneath her horse spewed upwards, a chittering form of an ankheg, one scorched and with a cracked carapace, sprang forth. Jagged mandibles ripped the throat from her mount, tossing the seeress to the ground like a ragdoll. The horse screamed, gurgling on its lifeblood, as a spray of crimson patterned Griañne's robes.
Jasper, running on animal instinct and human cunning, gave a resounding howl and bolted back toward his fellow guards to the rear of the caravan. As the huge dire wolf passed by the dwarven cleric, the wolf ducked slightly. Bun-bun, quickly catching on, grabbed a fistful of coarse fur and swung onto the racing wolf's back. The dwarf held on for dear life as the druid/wolf sped as fast as a galloping horse between the wagons and with a mighty leap fairly flew to the high-peaked roof of Findazzle's wagon, using the back of the gnome's horse as a launching pad. A sudden stop atop the wagon sent the heavily armored dwarf careening at the bloodied ankheg like a steel-encased bearded missile of mayhem.
The ankheg had only just succeeded in tearing the entire head off the poor horse as Griañne scrabbled away.
"MORADIIIIIN!" came a deep, guttural warcry as Bun-Bun slammed hammer first into the foul insect with a savage crack! The bug seemed dazed, landing a glancing blow on the dwarf as he staggered to his feet. Griañne sent a wash of energy into the dwarf, restoring a bit of his divine power. Just then, a small cast-iron skillet ricocheted off the huge tree bole, bashing into the already cracked carapace of the thing. Having had enough and dripping gooey ichor, the bug dove into the disturbed earth and vanished.
Jasper bounded toward Staas, still frantically digging in the soft earth and calling out for Imsa, and slammed into the looming half-orc with both front paws, shoving the barbarian into the anhkeg tunnel and clearing the way for the others.
The runnels were low and cramped, forcing everyone to crawl. Light was soon left behind and the earthy smell of soil, roots, and stone filled the heroes' nostrils. Marv was still above ground, rushing to the hole everyone else had entered. Roots and the confines of the tunnels caught and slowed the large dire wolf and the heavily armored dwarf cleric, both bulling through when this happened. The wolf relied on his keen nose to guide him in the darkness, as the others had darkvision, seeing the twisting tunnels in shades of monochromatic greys. Except for Griañne, who crawled along in the darkness, guided by sounds or some other sense unknown to the others.

Ankheg Tunnels and Larvae

Muffled cries from deeper ahead in the tunnels proved Imsa was still alive, but for how long? Staas burrowed and crawled and swore and tore at the roots on crumbling earth in his way. His prone rampage drowned out the soft sounds of multi-legged scuttling slowly surrounding the heroes trapped several feet below the ground. Just as Jasper picked up the oily, musty scent of insects, a cluster of ankheg larvae swarmed out of the stifling darkness and attacked the easy prey.
Cramped spaces, darkness, clinging roots, and their crawling positions hampered the heroes' defense as well as attacks. The larvae were small and weak, but they nipped and tore at exposed flesh, burning the heroes with small amounts of acidic saliva. Staas smashed several with his bare hands as Jasper bit and chewed at any that got within reach. The weak acidic in the larvae was strong enough to confound the wolf's keen sense of smell, making the druid truly blind in the darkness.
After much struggling, Staas and the wolf made it into deeper yet taller and wider tunnels, allowing them to first crabwalk then stand nearly upright as they raced toward the weakening cries of Imsa. The remaining heroes fought off the rest of the swarming larvae. Marv finally made it into the tunnels. The seeress lit a candle as Bun-Bun healed the worst of the wounded and placed the clean, white light of Maradin's blessing on his armor to light the way for the others.
[img:1629747|right|300The barbarian and the druid burst into the Queen's lair. A huge Ankheg, belly bloated and pulsing, tended a clutch of squirming eggs. She held the nearly senseless Imsa in her claws, green robes shredded around her nearly naked form. Long, deep rents in the deep flesh of the green woman dripped blood, as the Queen slowly moved Imsa over the eggs to release her lifeblood as sustenance for the unhatched brood. A few piles of animal bones littered the floor.
The barbarian raged to attack. The Queen flung the now limp body of Imsa to the side, smashing into a wall and falling to the rocky ground in a pile. Several nearly full-grown larvae skittered out of the piles of bones and another normal ankheg moved in to join the battle. Just then Jasper growled into the scene. The queen unleashed a spray of acidic juices that burned flesh and fur alike.
Several frantic moments passed with blows being traded between the raging barbarian, snarling wolf, and their insect foes. Staas went down to one knee, his endurance near gone, gaping wounds from claw and mandible across his already scarred body. Jasper moved to stand protectively over the half-orc. With a supreme effort, fueled by his ancestors, Staas rose back to battle with a howl to match the giant dire wolf at his side. Gaston rushed into the room and stood guard over the crumpled form of Imsa, throwing blasts of fire at anything with more than four legs. Marv, once at the rear of the heroes, made it into the chamber and began pummeling bugs to paste. Bun-Bun and Griañne entered the chamber in the final moments of the battle.
The Queen was dead, the tunnels silent and musty with the tang husk smell of insects and acidic tang of their bilious spit. Bun-Bun used the final remnants of his power to revive Imsa, who clutched fearfully to Staas. In the divine light of the cleric's glowing armor, all could see Green Imsa was truly green from stem to stern ... even her blood was a dark green.
A short discussion ensued during which Spindlehop came into the chambers. He told them of a small battle up top where a fourth ankheg was slain by Borric Steelmelt and his firey hammer. Dugal wanted the heroes back up top and moving, as this was likely only a small pocket of ankhegs and more of the untimely swarming insects could be nearby. The halfling offered to dissect and provide the chitin from any ankheg they could get into his wagon. He also relayed that Odair, the perfume merchant, was willing to pay for any acid collected, and handed over a few vials to fill if they could.
Marv tried to salvage chitin from one slain beat, but the carapace crumbled, leaving only bits which he collected to hopefully fashion reinforced gloves for his hands. Staas left Imsa in the care of others as he vented the last of his burning anger on the corpse of the ankheg queen and gleaned several glass vials of acid. The insect bodies would take too long and be too difficult to drag back through the tunnels, so they were left behind. Jasper slipped back into his human form, confused, and unable to answer the questions as to how he changed form like that.
Up top, the slain ankheg was loaded into the anatomist's wagon. It was hoped the strange halfling could salvage the chitin which could be used to fashion a touch, yet light armor or shield and breastplate, if someone of sufficient skill could be found to craft it. Imsa was placed in Findazzle's, and Griañne took the reins of Imsa's cart as the caravan hurried on before more of the voracious insects showed up. Hours and many miles later, the group set up camp in an abandoned hunting camp.

Day 10 -- May 24

Morning came with many aches and pains. Imsa awoke under the ministrations of the white-haired wizard but was still too weak to drive her cart. She did make an appearance to the group to give her thanks for her rescue. Staas's eyes nearly popped from his head as Imsa especially thanked him, her bright yellow dress contrasting and fitting snugly to her form ... the first time the travelers had seen her in anything but shades of green.
The day passed with the forest as dense as ever, through the trails widened and smoothed. Murmurs rose among the caravan as they slowly passed a large swath of charred and burned forest an hour past midday. Marv spoke to Wanda about helping to craft the gloves. She agreed but claimed work on his suit would suffer. She might have to charge more.
As late afternoon neared, the air around the wagons was filled with the buzzing sounds of arrows. Several feathered shafts thwacked into wood neat feet and hands. Either the shooters were unlucky, or very skilled and placed the shots exactly where they wished. Soon, elven voices called out in accented common from the shows of the forest fringe. The group was warned to tell others that no longer were caravans to be allowed along the trail. too many careless humans had done enough damage to the forest, the recent fire several miles back being just one instance.
Dugal cautioned care in dealing with the hidden elves. A confrontation so soon after the violent ankheg attack had left the group weakened. A skirmish now might be disastrous! A back and forth ensued, with a few more arrows being fired and the group agreeing to relay the message when they arrived at Grayhaven. The elves seemed to slip away then, though the travelers felt their eyes upon for the next mile or so.
That night, the camp was uneasy and guards were doubled. No one got any real rest in the open clearing where the tents and wagons were circled. Not wishing to chance fate, Dugal forbade the usual bonfire in the center of the circle and all made do with cold rations. the only saving grace was the nights were warming and the coll night had lost the bite of the waning chilly spring.

Day 11 -- May 25

After the tense night of wary inaction, the morning dawned with a light fog snaking through the trees. Still uneasy, the subdued caravan began traveling again. Imsa, clad once again in her usual greens, rode with Griañne on her cart, allowing the seeress to drive, their heads bent together in hushed conversation with many a glance to the menfolk in the group and more than a few giggles.
Midafternoon found the caravan slowly passing an abandoned box wagon on the side of the wide trail. There was plenty of space to move past; indeed, three wagons abreast could carefully travel this section, if needed. A break was called as the heroes discussed whether to investigate or not.
The abandoned wagon was missing three wheels and the fourth was cracked and warped. The door to the box wagon was closed, however, there were several small, narrow ventilation windows near the eaves. A decent-sized section of the roof and upper wall facing the road had been staved in. Perhaps a halfling could fit through if he were thin enough. A humming sound could be heard within after a closer, stealthy investigation was made. Several fat wasps, several inches in length, bloated and weirdly jointed, erratically buzzed in and out of the gaping hole and the small windows.
The rear door was carefully prized open and the room was found to be filled with buzzing wasps, a sickly black marring their spindly bodies. A thick mud-daubed nest covered a large portion of the interior. A partially covered desiccated corpse could be seen, as well as a small pouch.
It was determined that Jasper would enter. Gaston called upon the spirits to imbue the druid with a barely shimmering barrier of repulsion. Bun-Bun called upon Moradin to grant the druid safety and sanctuary from enemies. Wishing for some better armor, Jasper was surprised to feel a swelling of power inside as vines, dirt, and stone rose up to cover his body in a thick yet pliant sheath or armor. So guarded, the druid crept into the wagon and began to carefully rummage about.
Staas was collecting moss and other damp materials to craft a smoke bundle to deter the fat, stinging creatures if needed.
In the abandoned wagon, Jasper gently worked free a pouch embedded in the wasp nest. The pouch held a small number of coins. The desiccated body had a small bone amulet around its neck ... three wavy lines, the symbol of Avandra, adorned its surface, though one line was worn and blurred. The wasps grew more agitated, but the warding effect of Bun-Bun's prayer kept Jasper from being stung, though several landed on him and crawled about. Inside the pot-bellied stove, Jasper found a small box. Upon attempting to pull it out, he learned it was trapped as three darts sprang from the corners of the wagon not blocked by the wasp's nest. One dart was deflected by the shimmering field of energy from the sorcerer, while the thick vines and grass encasing Jasper blocked another. The third found purchase in the druid's neck and the toxins upon it was still potent. Jasper slumped to the ground, unconscious, disturbing the nest, and suffering several stings from the roused wasps as they began to grow angry enough to overcome the divine protection around him.
Staas's smoldering branch of moss and grasses was quickly used to subdue the wasps long enough for Marv to lash out with his long whip-like belt to snag Jasper's foot and bodily drag the comatose druid out. They quickly slammed the door and retreated to the caravan waiting a short distance away.
Jasper awoke a few minutes later, mostly unharmed. The amulet he found was determined to be a Charm of Avandra's Luck with one of the trio of activations used. Bun-bun told the group the charm would grant a small modicum of luck to its wearer in times of great need ... though it hadn't seemed to help the last bearer in the wagon.
As evening approached, the caravan stopped for the night in a small fishing village along the shore of the Whiterun River. It was a pleasant evening, and the baked and broiled trout was the freshest and best many had ever had.

Day 12 -- May 26

Morning dawned damp and drizzly, a steady breeze blowing off the wide river. The caravan was in good spirits, however, and left with many thanks and goodbyes and not a few parcels of scrumptious trout wrapped in the wide leaves of local water plants. The road followed near the river before debouching upon the shores of the Broadwater Expanse, an enormous freshwater lake spanning over 30 miles wide. The small city-nation of Thile was situated on the largest island occupying the center of the lake. Even from this distance, the lofty spires and bright pennants could just be made out as if from a dream.
The roads were wide, smooth, and very, very muddy. At one point, Odaire's wagon became mired down. Staas, Marv, Bun-Bun, and Jasper moved forward to muscle free the perfume and concoction filled wagon. The group strained, using long metal pry bars and pure physical strength to shift the wagon from the thick, clutching mud. Suddenly in their midst was a giant spider!
Weapons were pulled, and a slow dawning realization spread over the group that the spider did not seem hostile ... only confused. It's front legs twitched in bewilderment, its chelicerae writhing as if to speak. Even the eight eyes gleamed with a strange puzzlement. It was then they realized Jasper was no longer there. It seemed the druid had once again unwittingly changed forms.
Shrugging, and with the aid of the spider, the three got the wagon loose and the caravan continued on its way. Jasper resumed his natural form a short time later and tried several times to shift again without success.
Evening came as they arrived at Thile Crossing, a small town of white-washed villas with pastel trims and heavy ornamentals and gilding. Many cafes lined the brightly lit streets and viol music was playing from seeming every corner. A large market square abutted a well-kept dock system with several ferries tied up, waiting to take travelers across the glassy waters to the city of Thile.
The caravan set up in the caravansery, each going his or her own way for a night of relaxation from the last week and a half of travel and perils.
Marv set out to sample the local nightlife, finding himself standing out in the snobbish bars he entered. It was not his clothing or even his bearing that set the half-orc apart, it was the absolute and total wreck of his face and the scarred green skin that marked the pugilist. While in the Truffled Sow, Marv found himself accosted by a trio of dandies in pastel finery with ruffled shirts, bloused pantaloons, and tight-fitting jackets. Jibes and comments of parentage were thrown the half-orc's way. Marv tried to be polite, replying in his cultured voice, only to have more barbs hurled. Eventually, a glove was slapped in the fighter's face and a short-lived brawl erupted, with the main dandy surprisingly giving as well as he got. Marv won, though it was not as easy as he had thought, and made fast friends with the trio after. Several taverns, pubs, and bawdy houses were shut down by the foursome ere dawn broke over the glittering waves of the Brodwater.
Elder Chamsky made his way to the local House of the Holy Concordance and handed a sealed report to the too inquisative acolyte on duty. He accepted the offer of lodging in a small, spartan cell for the night and spent the early evening in prayer before retiring.
Jasper spoke at length with the gnome wizard, Findal Dinfizzle Findazzle about the strange transformations he was experiencing.

Staas asked for Imsa to accompany him to a small, out of the way pub where he used the gold coin from the chastened forester to buy a good meal and pleasing libations.
Gaston followed behind, keeping to the shadows and found a seat at an outside table of the pub the two had entered. The swamp-elf eavesdropped on the private conversation until Griañne arrived brandishing one of Marv's cast-iron skillets and threatened Gaston not to interfere with her new friend and Staas. Both then setled down to listen further ...
Imsa and Staas talked deep into the night with Imsa finally revealing the secret behind her malady.
Imsa was from a rich and noble family of Mara. However, she wanted to do more for the people of her city but it was looked down upon by her family. She eventually found herself in a pact with Star the Silver, Ward of Hope, a dragon lord of the Midlands. she used his gifts to bring aid and succor to those less fortunate oin Mara. When her family found out what she had done, consorting with the lesser folk, and worse, with a dragon, and an overlord at that, they had her cursed to forever show her shame. Her body was turned green from her hair to her toenails, even her blood was verdant. She was cast out by her family in a mutual agreement. she used the last of her funds to buy the cart and horse and passage on Dugal's caravan for a journey to Thile, where she would make her way to the Alabaster Academy to seek a cure for her malady. Nothing she had tried or found in the years since had worked.
After this revelation, Imsa drew into herself and seemed indecisive. Staas took her hand and asked what was wrong. The sage-hued woman looked at the half-orc with unshed tear glistening in her eyes and whsipered she now wasn't sure she wanted to continue on the thile and the Academy. She feels like she found acceptance and .. maybe more with Staas. The hulking half-orc nodded and took her her small, trembling hands in his and assured her she was welcome to travel with him if she wished; he would welcome her company.
Imsa bit her lower lip and looked up at Staas from udner her dark green lashes and smiled. She rose, taking his rough hand in hers and led him up the stairs to the rooms above ...

Rewards Granted

• Ankheg chitin pieces able to be made into reinforced (nonmagical) gloves for Marv by Wanda Thimblethumb.
• Ankheg chitin carapace being salvaged by Spindlehop. An armorer may be able to craft a suit of platemail/half-plate, or a single shield and a single breastplate from the chitin.
• Two vials of acid (one sold to Odaire LaMerchant).
• Charm of Avandra (currently held by Jasper).
• A small number of coins from the infested wagon.
  

Missions/Quests Completed

• Guard the Caravan.
  

Character(s) interacted with

• Staas advanced his relationship with Green Imsa. She decided to follow along to Grayhaven instead of seeking a cure for her condition with the mages and sages of the Alabaster Academy.
• Griañne befriended Imsa and helped take care of her after the ankheg incident.

Campaign

Secrets of the Greenwold

Protagonists

Report Date

04 Nov 2020

Primary Location

The Long Road