Session 01: Welcome to Ganta

General Summary

As the PC's find their way to a resting point along their journeys, the happen upon the peaceful fishing village of Ganta, where the town appears to be setting up for a wedding in the town square. Making it through town and finally to the tavern the characters find a busy tavern, where the only table includes the other members of the party. We find three newly minted paladins, 2 druids, a rogue, warlock, fighter and wizard/ranger. Shortly afterwards, the tavern empties and enjoys the wedding ceremony along with the villagers - the town leader was welcoming and shared the wedding feast with friends and travelers alike. After finding their way back to the tavern, Tiathina has a vivid dream recalling the events of the night in a different light - a redheaded travelers smile now seen as the look of a hungry jackal, his shadow now appears like it is separate from his being. The adventurers awaken suddenly in the middle of the night, finding the village under attack from a band of bandits, lead by a redhaired captain. Wellys, the Aarakocra takes to the skies to provide reconnaissance, finding a newly landed ship docked and bandits kicking in doors, pulling out people, some captured, some murdered in the streets. Dressing quickly, the crew races to the aid of the village. In the streets, the team finds three bandits dragging the new bride down the street towards the boat. They cut the team off and defeat the three but not before one blows his horn, calling for aid from his team. Before killing the third, they question him and find the captain to be the one directing this battle, asking for her to be taken to the ship, but received little direction other than the captain will tell them where to go next. Angelo has fallen from this first encounter, but Farfignewton lays his hands on Angelo and recovers him. Eight more bandits arrive on scene during the questioning, plus the redhaired captain. As a blessing from her patron Shade Cocoamist is gifted with a Wall of Fire spell, allowing her to create an obstacle for the larger group of bandits, creating a choke point to funnel and limit the actions of the bandits. The battle seems to favor the adventurers until the captain steps through the wall of fire, chooses to cause searing damage to himself to obtain strategic advantage on the team. He fells Angelo and attacks the party before the remaining bandits choose to retreat rather than continue the battle. With one final set of attacks, the captain glares at the team - something seems to now be peering from behind his eyes, looking through them at the characters - his shadow moving separately laughing at the team until he snaps his fingers - eyes roll back in his head and his body falls to the ground. Farfignewton once more revives Angelo. In all eleven villagers were killed in the attack. Upon further investigation, the body of the captain no longer looks as it should - it now appears that the body has been dead for several weeks - even the blood inside the veins and arteries looks long ago clotted.