Beginnings
We begin our adventure in BRICETON, a fairly small logging town alongside a river. The population is roughly 1000 people, mostly human. The weather has been rainy for days, and no boats have been passing or picking up passengers. This has resulted in a group of strangers trapped inside the local tavern, called THE DIRTY WORM.
The bartender at the tavern is a male gnome named TOMA. From him they learn there have been bad circumstances in town since JOSEPH BRICE, the town founder and owner of the lumber mill, died. His son, FURIO BRICE, is not well-liked in town, and is referred to as “Fuckio” by the locals behind his back.
A distraught woman enters the tavern. This is MATILDA, aka “MAD MATTIE”, a human woman in her mid-50s. She was once pretty, but now appears worn down, her hair an ashen gray. She insists that her son has been “taken,” and wants the people in the tavern to help find him. She says several baffling things like “He’s innocent!” and “You know what I can do!” The other locals seem disinterested, brushing her off.
The members of our party, still unknown to one another, are curious and gather behind the tavern in the barn to discuss the issue with Mattie. She isn’t exactly forthcoming with information, only that she wants us to find her son, ROBERN, who has been taken. He is not a child, but rather 21-years old, and works as a bookseller in the town. The bookstore owner, Robern’s boss, is called EDWINA, and is already known to Brin from his previous days in town
The party agrees to look for Mattie’s son. The following morning, we set out, passing what are surely many interesting and useful storefronts on the way out of town. At the outskirts of town, they find MATTIE’S HUT. A brief investigation of the empty, apparently abandoned hut does not reveal much of consequence; however, they do discover a MAP OF TEMPRIS , which they take.
The group decides to forego a trip to the lumber mill, opting instead to head for the forest. On the path, they discover a trio of shifty hunters. One of the hunters has a sack over his shoulder, and when prompted, they proudly pull out the three-tailed fox they’ve captured. The fox appears to be making meaningful faces at the party, so after a failed attempt at bargaining, Dango simply takes the fox from the hunters. As they are outnumbered, they relent and leave.
The fox is actually a magical creature named VICKAS. He can transform from his fox form into that of a human; he is very grateful and fervently pledges a “life debt” to Dango for saving him.
Vickas leads the party further into the woods, answering questions about the area. These enchanted, ancient woods are called THE LAURELS, so-named for Joseph Brice’s missing daughter. Vickas reveals that he knew Brice and once granted him a favor; it seems he made a woman fall in love with Brice (perhaps against her will?)
ENCOUNTER: While in the woods, the party’s lack of stealth leads to a fight with four direwolves… which they easily defeat.
The path eventually leads the group to a RUINED ESTATE, surrounded by the wild remnants of a beautiful garden.
Vickas seems nervous, claiming they shouldn’t be there; he warns the party not to disturb the garden, and then disappears. The party attempts to carefully explore the garden, moving closer to the house, but Remy drops his axe and awakens an enchanted elk statue. (The statue is very similar in style to the statue of Joseph Brice that stands in the middle of town.)
ENCOUNTER: The group soundly defeats the animated elk statue.
~ end of session ~
RANDOM NOTES
- First Natural 20 of the campaign: Jess ?
- First Natural 1 of the campaign: Kel ?
- The party levels up: 2