Farraginous Cogitations

The Black Wyrm of Brandonsford Session 3 Recap

Spoilers for "The Black Wyrm of Brandonsford" are included in this recap...

Our Heroes:

Warden Note: As previously mentioned, as a Downtime Action Kevin had to succeed on a WIL save to progress his learning of a beast language. He failed his roll. This was reflected in the fiction as...

The party spent the night at the Clumsy Fox Tavern. Though Akshara stayed up reading The Wild Tongue, he fell asleep and didn't really understand or retain any of what he read. The party ventured north, somewhat paralleling the stream. Approximately a mile or mile and a half outside of town, they were suddenly attacked by four emaciated and vicious wolves. Gunther reacted quickly and decisively, dousing himself in Essence of Wolfsbane. Gump banged his shortsword on a crockpot, creating such a a racket that one of the wolves immediately fled back the way they came. Akshara and "Drop Dead" Ned each attacked a wolf. Both wolves shrugged off or evaded the attack. The three remaining wolves, deterred from attacking Gunther, each selected a target and tried to bite Gump, Akshara and "Drop Dead" Ned. All three were wounded by the wolves but stayed in the fight. Each member of the party again attempted to strike the wolf they were fighting but the wild animals, driven by hunger, seemed to ignore or shrug off the attacks. Both Gump and "Drop Dead" Ned were seriously wounded. Gunther rushed in also banging on a pot. Another wolf bolted, disappearing into the trees. Unfortunately, the remaining two wolves again savaged Gump and "Drop Dead" Ned. "Drop Dead" Ned fell, ashen faced and unresponsive. Gump.... Gump just fell. And lay still, blood flowing freely from wounds he would never recover from. Akshara and Gunther, quickly dispatching the remaining wolves, rushed to their fallen comrades. "Drop Dead" Ned, though bloodied from several severe lacerations, would survive. For Gump, nothing could be done.

Using some Mandrake Root Tea they got "Drop Dead" Ned up and walking, though he was forced to lean heavily on Akshara. Gunther did what he could to drag Gump's body back to town. Their return caused quite a stir among the townspeople. Father William rushed from the temple, quickly taking "Drop Dead" Ned into his care. A brief word was had about performing the necessary burial rites for Gump. Assisting in the care and healing of "Drop Dead" Ned was Wulf Cutwell, a Barber Surgeon who had a shop in town. While he tended to "Drop Dead" Ned's wounds, Father William performed the accepted burial rites for Gump and his body was buried with Gunther and Akshara in attendance. A marker for Gump with the following inscription was placed over his grave: Here Lies Gump, Battler of Wolves. Forever Gump the Brave

Warden Note: "Drop Dead" Ned is out of action for at least a week to heal.

The diminishing of the party's numbers was temporary as Wulf's request to accompany them was well received. They immediately set about planning another foray into the forests to the north, intent on reaching Sir Brandon's Barrow and retrieving the relic he had used to defeat his dragon. The group first stopped at Farmer Gil's to rent his mule, Seamus, and a cart. They next stopped at Ingrid's to replenish some supplies and break the news of Gump's death and to give her the little bit of Wood Anemone Gunther had foraged for outside of town. Though saddened by the untimely death of her new friend, she chose to honor her friend by providing some chamomile tea in a gorgeous teapot for Warwick. The group delivered the tea and teapot to Warwick, who seemed pleased and only wished that Ingrid had delivered it herself.

The party next stopped at the town's general store Gunther and Wulf acquired buckskin coats the only protection available to them, for which they had to barter preciously. Additional tools and items necessary for their expedition were acquired and stored in the cart attached to Seamus the Mule.

The group returned to Ingrid's to relay Warwick's words expressing a desire that Ingrid herself had visited. This pleased the young woman who then asked the group if they would walk with her to Warwick's and introduce the two. Upon arriving back at the smithy, it was clear Warwick was engaged in some busywork given the amount of noise emanating from the smithy. They rang the bell and the noise stopped. The appearance of a sweaty and shirtless Warwick caused young Ingrid to blush which caused the smith to also turn progressively redder. It was obvious to the party there was chemistry between the smith and the alchemist. The two made a date to meet and walk together later that night after Warwick had time to wash and dress more appropriately.

Thankful to the party for their efforts in bringing Ingrid together with her love, she gifted them her Firelight Citrine, a glassy orange stone the size of an egg and warm to the touch. She told them that when shaken, it produced the light of a torch but she cautioned them to keep it away from actual fire, as it would explode violently.

The party had another delicious dinner at the Clumsy Fox Tavern, witnessing an romantic dinner between Warwick and Ingrid. They also noted the townspeople's reaction to seeing the shy young woman and her paramour. The respect for the giant man would be extended to Ingrid and there would be no more disparaging rumors of Ingrid being a witch within Warwick's hearing. The group retired for the night, Wulf to his shop where he made arrangements with his apprentice, Jasper Goldworthy, son of the owner of the Clumsy Fox. Akshara and Gunther to their shared room at the Clumsy Fox with Akshara again reading from The Wild Tongue but the events of the day weighed too much on his mind and grieving, he put the book away.

Warden Note: Another Downtime Action for Akshara. Kevin attempted a WIL save and failed. Reflected in the fiction above.

Arising early, the party again set out north, again intent on reaching Sir Brandon's burial spot. They passed the landmark of the previous day's events and continued north. After another mile or so, Wulf noticed a beautiful creature (a dryad) beckoning to him from the trees. Charmed, he rushed forward. Gunther desperately clinging to him to stop him. Akshara, having nearly succumbed to a similar event, attempted to discreetly circle around behind the faerie creature but failed. Drawing his awl, he attacked her. His attack found no purchase in her bark-like armor and she rushed to Wulf's embrace. Gunther abandoned his futile efforts to restrain Wulf and, relying on his Greenwise abilities, quickly grabbed some nearby bluebells. Grinding them in his palms, he dashed to the dryad and smeared it on her face. The soporific effect caused her to slump bonelessly in Wulf's arms and for her magical charm to fade. A confused Wulf found himself holding an unconscious dryad. The group chose not to harm the dryad, instead leaving her asleep against a tree with some nuts and a note apologizing. They quickly continued on their way, not wanting to be around when the effects of the bluebell wore off.

Following the stream as they ranged further north, they noticed a clearing some distance to their east. Within this clearing was a cottage. A cottage at least three times larger than it should be. It appeared to be made of cyclopean rocks, fitted with a tree bark door and a mud brick chimney. They noticed abnormally large footprints in the soggy ground going in both directions between the stream and the cottage. The party made note of the location but only briefly entertained the thought of investigating.

Returning to their plan of following the stream, they continued north before a bend in the stream altered their course to the northeast. Almost immediately after this slight turn in direction, they heard cries for help. Rushing in the direction of the voice, they found a small man atop a rise, fishing pole in hand. At the end of his line was a very large, very orange salmon. In between the pole and the salmon, the line was tangled with his prodigious beard. He seemed to be engaged in a tug-of-war with the salmon and the salmon was winning. Gunther and Akshara hastily grabbed ahold of the line, attempting to help pull the fish in. Wulf jerked his scalpel from his pack, intent on severing the line or the beard. Slashing, he hacked off a significant portion of the little man's impressive beard. This caused Gunther and Akshara to suddenly be without the little man anchoring strength. The line slipped from Akshara's hands, but Gunther had wound the line around his arms and was yanked into the stream.

Angered by his beard being so inelegantly cut without his leave, the clearly upset little man stamped his foot and made a curious gesture. Wulf's buckskin coat was polymorphed into a transparent and flimsy looking material over a very buxom décolletage. The little man then disappeared from view. Akshara jumped in to the water to assist Gunther in pulling the large salmon ashore and getting out of the knee deep mud of the stream bottom.

Gunther and Akshara laughed uproariously at Wulf's discomfiture over his armor as they cleaned and cooked the giant salmon.

Warden Note: The group elected to stop here for the evening. I'm not a fan of Gygax's 'strict time-keeping' and/or 'game time = real world time' BS. So we will pick up here next week.

This ends Session 3. More to come next week...