Chapter One: The three Hunters

The three heroes find their way by multiple paths, to the crossroads of Red Larch, and the crossroads of their destinies.

Plot points/Scenes

Storm clouds roll overhead. Magni. You stand at the crest of a hill. Below you, you can see your destination. The crossroads town of Red Larch. You've heard that The Hunters keep a lodge there. The town is surrounded by Larch pine trees. The needles a yellowish red. The landscape around you is grey and dreary. A cold wind blows from the north coming from Stige Pass behind you. You look back one last time and hear a long mournful howl of a Dire wolf who has been separated from its pack. Rain begins to fall. You wrap your cloak around you tightly and raise your hood before continuing on towards Red Larch. 
Arne. Rain hits your snout where it sticks out of your hood. You approach Red Larch from the East, coming up Cairn Road. You see the Larches that line the road on either side. These have needles of blood red. On either side of you are what was once farmland but is now empty and burned.  Electricity crackles in your breath as you let out a sigh. You come upon a clearing with a single Oak tree in the middle. Blackened, but not with fire. You can feel the necrotic energy in the air, corrupting the tree and everything around it. This is a place of death. You know the feeling well, the battlefields are thick with it. A man swings by a rope around his neck, blown in the wind. his lifeless eyes open. the corpse of a woman is at the foot of the tree with a stake through his chest. You continue on towards Red Larch.
Seraphina. You sit in the Swinging Sword inn, in the north quarter of Red Larch. You have your hood up to conceal your elemental features. Yet you still look around wide-eyed at everything. Filled with the wonder of the material plain. The tavern is crowded and noisy. It looks like a performance is about to begin. Though everyone looks somber. The serving wench is rushing to and fro. What are you doing?

Magni. You approach the Swinging Sword inn, looking for a place to rest for the night before going to the Hunting Lodge tomorrow. You have to duck to fit in the doorway, but the inside has a tall roof and you can stand comfortably. The room stares at you when you enter. Some look scared, others eye you with suspicion. But there are some friendly expressions. The serving wench approaches you she is a young attractive woman.
"What can I getchya?" 
Arne, You enter the inn and shake off the water. You smell the food immediately and your mouth waters. What are you doing?
Someone by the fireplace begins to sing. 
The townsfolk join in the song. This almost seems ceremonial. 
The townsfolk look somber. A man in fine clothes stands and storms out. 
A middle-aged woman approaches you. "Will you be staying the night? 5 silver per night."


The rain has died down outside. A man comes rushing. "The sky! The sky! A sign!" The townsfolk rush out.
What are you all doing?
You look up and see this. 
The next morning you leave the inn and head towards the Hunters Lodge on the south side of the crossroads. As you crossover the middle of the crossroads you feel a chill run through your body.
You approach the Hunting lodge. It's a two-story T-shaped building that stands at the corner of the crossroads. A tall iron fence juts out from the building wrapping around a fairly large property. Runes and sigils cover the walls of the building and the fences, a magical aura is felt emanating from the building. Fifi you feel a sense of unease when you approach them, but you are not sure why. 
You enter the lodge and see a sparsely decorated antechamber. The only adornment is runes painted on the walls. No one is there.  What do you do?
A man rushes in, silver blade in hand. He levels it at Ffi. "What are you and what are you doing here creature?"
A woman walks in. "Put down the sword Somerled, she is no monster. She is a genasi."  The woman steps between you and Somerled. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Ragna Solveig The mentor of the Red Larch Hunters. Can I assume you are here in peace? Or are you here to avenge a dead parent? I can assure you, no one here has killed a fire elemental lately."  


Do you swear to uphold the laws and customs of the Hunters? Do you swear to never attack a fellow hunter? Do you swear to never shame the guild? Do you swear to always finish a contract, and if not able to, to return whatever payment you have received?  Now drink.
The thick dark liquid of the vial slides down your throat, it is tasteless but the experience is no less disgusting. Make a constitution saving throw. 
Your whole body feels like it is on fire. (Fifi feels like her body is freezing) Choose one skill to get proficiency in, if you are already proficient in it you can double that proficiency. 

In the future, you may choose your own contracts but for now, we will test your merit. It turns out we received a new contract earlier today. There is a farm to the east that was attacked and burned by something yesterday. Guards went to investigate this morning and were also killed. They believe it to be some kind of monster. Go to the site, investigate the deaths, determine what kind of creature it is and research how to kill it. Our library is open to you as well as the allfaith's shrines library. 
You leave Red Larch on the Cairn Road heading east. The sky is cloudy and the road is muddy from the previous night's rain. You pass the hanging tree the body of the woman at the foot of the tree is gone, but the man still sways in the breeze.  You see smoke rising in the distance.
After walking a mile, you approach what is left of a farmhouse. It's been burnt to the ground. There are several bodies lying scattered across the farm. Looking out into the fields you see the grain as far as the eye can see guarded by loyal scarecrows.  Two gaurds are among the dead, killed along with thier horses. You recognize them as Gunnar and Hulger from the inn last night.

Components

Hooks

Clues Slashing wounds. Trail of victims. The dead were not eaten by the initial attacker, (Some have been gnawed on by wolves in the night.) A strange powdery substance left on the victims. (Ectodust)

Red Herrings

Some bodies were gnawed on by wolves overnight.

Relations

Allies

Ghilee Kayleesa Obadiah Oyvind Imdarr Iraun Gunnar, Holger

Adversaries

Sindri is the name of the scarecrow.

Backdrops

Past Events

30 years ago, Sindri was hung for several murders.

Completion Date
11/5/2022

Related Organizations

• The Hunters

Related Locations

• Red Larch