Morning after
Crowd in the Empty Net arguing — burn the forest, escape, fight. Looking to us for guidance. We told them we’d head to Briarhollow for answers. They calmed.
In a private room, we planned: find Garrin the woodsman to guide us. Tell Old Briar to take charge and rally everyone. Tell him to direct the Harrow’s Wake crew to help when they arrived. Ask Lord Alric’s militia for support.
Recruiting
Garrin
Garrin told us the forest was cursed and had the scars to prove it. Capable fighter — stacks of redcap and needleblight corpses outside his place. Did not want to help. After lengthy back-and-forth we convinced him; paid 5gp upfront with promise of first pick of loot.
Ivon
Ivon was a dumbass and didn’t really listen until we pressed him that Hal had been taken. Once he realized we were telling the truth he became ready to fight. Joining us in the morning.
(Muhammad fell asleep.)
Apothecary
Cisco cut a deal with Ethel for a few healing potions. Yort Li bought a potion of growth.
Lorien’s speech
Town square. Lorien Painbearer gave an arousing speech. It was actually sick — where the hell did that come from? He left behind his most prized possession, a Tome of Ilmater given to him by Pavel from the Bloodstone Valley monastery, with Old Briar for safekeeping.
The speech was a huge success. Old Briar would be the interim leader. Townsfolk posting up in the Empty Net. Party tonight in our honor.
Into the forest
Next morning, met up with Ivon and Garrin for the journey to Briarhollow.
The forest sucked. Suffocating. Trees closing in. Darkness closing in.
Came to a clearing where the road continued but veered off toward carnage and wreckage:
- Elijah J. Lucas found a letter to Cisco from the woman he’d been searching for (Alicia).
- Cisco found a longbow + 10 arrows.
- Elijah gave the letter to Cisco in friendship/trust, hoping for the longbow in return. (Nothing yet :(.)
- Another note addressed to “Father” — turned out Yort Li’s son Dear Li was part of the previous adventuring group and missing.
- Cisco finally gave Elijah the bow.
We moved on.
The wolf and ghouls
New clearing, combat. Tons of ghouls and a few direwolves. One wolf was still and silent overlooking the battle.
We won, at large cost:
- Fernie lost a leg
- Elijah J. Lucas punctured lung
- Ruasar deep infection
- Yort Li roguish scar