The Ballad of Old Jarvey

General Summary

Three manticores had stalked and surrounded the Party in a small group of hills. The Party decided to rush the manticore that had attacked Old Jarvey, but Lyza chose to stand her ground against the two manticores from the south. As they surrounded Jarvey's attacker, it took flight directly overhead. Hobart tried to ground it with a hideous laughter spell, but it unfortunately fell onto Jarvey from 40 feet. Benefiting from a potion of speed, Axelrod cut through the monster, and Barty aided Lyza with a well-timed slow spell. They withstood the attack, but Jarvey did not survive. They buried him and performed his last rites in the hills outside his village. Barty harvested several manticore claws to expand his collection of monstrosity-based daggers.
As night fell, the Party saw a campfire in the near distance. Hobart and Clarence scouted it out and saw a camp with seven humanoids. The group decided they would try a non-violent approach to complete their task without further bloodshed. The escapees were on their guard once Axelrod made himself known, but the Party (and especially Lyza) persuaded them to hold rather than launch into open conflict. The criminals were shaken once they heard the Party was capable of taking down manticores, and Axelrod kept their interest by offering the boss a potential deal: their service in exchange for avoiding more prison time.
One of the less brave escapees decided he would have no more of this and began to run away toward the back of the hill. Hobart moved to intercept, and after speaking with the man, he returned to the main group very upset and questioning the boss' motives. Axelrod showed her Bilmop Xert's holy symbol of Quoros and demanded to know if she knew what it meant. She denied it, but Axelrod didn't believe her, and tensions continued to rise. Seeing an opportunity to end things quickly, Barty launched a polymorph spell at the boss, turning her into a chicken. All others promptly surrendered.
Axelrod gave the non-polymorphed escapees a choice: they could continue to cooperate and return to Mystryl, where the Party would collect the bounty and then try to secure their release into Axelrod's care to serve out the rest of their sentences; or they could not cooperate and see what happens. They agreed, and while they were bound together, they were treated with respect. The boss was immediately manacled after Barty cancelled his spell.
While on their way back to Garrigill, the group was attacked by a pride of griffons drawn to Bubbles. One griffon attacked her, not realizing she was a magical beast, and then lashed out at the bandit boss who had just been riding Bubbles. The Party took down the creatures and reassembled the prisoners. This time, it was Lyza who recovered more claws for more daggers. Their collection was growing. Once they reached the small village, the Party found Old Jarvey's wife to explain what happened and give their condolences. They also gave the villagers all the coin they collected from the escapees. Hopefully the Party's visit would provide some safety and stability for the villagers.
The group returned to Mystryl. Axelrod collected the bounty on all seven prisoners and was able to secure the willing ones for a small fee. The Party rested and made their next plans: head to Rybury and investigate the gnoll problem. Will the former prisoners demonstrate their value on this trip? Find out next time...

Report Date

16 May 2021

Primary Location

Garrigill