Session 276 - The Head of the Orc Inn
General Summary
29th to 30th of Peonu (Second Month of Spring) 726TRThe Story So Far
The rugged bounty hunter Cassius and his sidekick Salvador, a priest of Ilvir, have decided to help Berda, a young dwarven woman from a wealthy family, on her quest to find a husband in the faraway dwarven Kingdom of Kuzjera. The pair decide to help as her escorts have been murdered.
The trio and Cassius's pet Bear are now making their way north along Noron's Way trade route, with their next stop being the Head of the Orc Inn.
This is the continuation of Session 274 - The Giant Noron.
Location - Anoth Delta along Noron's Trail in the Kingdom of Orbaal.
Part 1– A Shocking Experience
The Anoth Delta is a wetland filled with all manner of vicious biting insects; however, today, the fish prove to be more dangerous. One section of Noron's Trial is particularly damp, and three huge Electric Eels demonstrate their displeasure with the travelers. The Eels are remarkably dangerous, their bites are deep, and they stun the heroes with their tails. They are eventually cut in half and become lunch.
Soon an outpost built on a rocky crag, the famous Head of the Orc Inn, comes into view.
Part 2 - Head of the Orc Inn
A guard lets the party in through the barred gate, and the traveler receives some respited from the insects. The huge Ivinian innkeeper Rothaar Stylin welcomes them into this extraordinary establishment. The walls and ceiling are lined with the tarred head of hundreds of Orcs, and although there are only a half dozen patrons, the room is filled with lively energy.
Cassius is more interested in the bounty board. Innkeeper Rothaar advises him that there is a price on the head for an ugly, monstrous man attacking travelers around the Inn. He is described as half-man and half-frog. Intrigued, Cassius and Salvador collect his pet Bear who is hiding in a nearby thicket, and investigate.
Part 3 - The Frogman
Finding the trail of the Frogman takes most of the day, but the Bear's keen sense of smell eventually detects something amiss. Following the scent trail, the hunters spot a strange figure in the distance, and they attempt to sneak up on him but are noticed.
The man is indeed half frog with slimy grey-green skin and a long sticky tongue wielding a staff and has a rusty iron chain necklace set with a large emerald. He hops forward and unleashes a hideous croak, which causes the character's ears to bleed. He apologizes for the violence in a lispy voice before becoming focused and aggressive. He must be insane; however, Cassius suspects he may be under some form of compulsion. Nevertheless, although taking numerous heavy arrow shots to the chest, the Frogman is a dangerous opponent and causes bruising injuries with his staff. Eventually, he is knocked unconscious by Cassius's sap and secured to a tree with his weapons, armor, and strange necklace removed.
The necklace is interesting; Cassius runs his hand over the emerald. At first glance, it appears sticky, but nothing seems out of place on closer examination. While Salvador tends to the party's injuries, Cassius interrogates the prisoner. He is confused, sometimes remorseful, sometimes enraged, and other times quivers with fear. Cassius notes when in the fear state, he seems focused on the necklace, so he smashes it. The emerald pops like a giant eyeball, and the characters hear a hideous scream of pain from nearby.
Part 4 - The Witch's Eye
The sound emerged from around 100 feet away. Searching the characters can't see anyone; however, the Bear smells something amiss and points at it with his nose. An Invisible creature is nearby. The Bear and Salvador charge. Emerging from Invisibility is a hideous old woman with greenish skin and bleeding, bloodshot eyes. She has been temporarily blinded but still is dangerous, breathing out a toxic mist that weakens Salvador, and her touch cause disgusting boils to burst on the Bear's hide, nearly killing him. Cassius launches a barrage of arrows from his enchanted short bow, Whispering Wind, and badly hurts the Hag. The Witch backs off and is hit by another arrow, nearly killing her; unfortunately, boils also break out all over Salvador, further weakening him, and he is too sick to continue fighting. The Hag turns Invisibility and escapes, quickly moving out of Cassius's shortbow range.
Cursing, Cassius looks back at the Frogman and is surprised to see he is transforming. His ugly amphibious features are melting, and he returns to human form, a heavily tattooed, muscled Ivinian who introduces himself as Vig Thorlac. He is a rough but good-natured hunter and sometimes trade caravan guard who was seduced by a gorgeous young woman at the Head of the Orc Inn. That was the last thing he clearly remembers; his life had been a confusing haze for the previous month.
Back at the Inn. Cassius collects the bounty, and the party spends the night drinking with Blaine and his new friend Vig. Salvador being an artist, shows interest in Vigs's tattoos. The tattoo artist was Illog of Maldwyn, a famous Jarinese master craftsman in the port town of Lorkin, the character's next stop. Salvador wants to replenish his own tattoo supplies, so he plans to visit.
To be continued.
NPC Interactions
Rothaar Stylin.
Blaine the Orc Scholar.
Vig Thorlac.
Challenges Overcome
3 x Electric Eels.
The Cursed Man and the Green Hag.
Rewards
The Strange man's Bounty and lots of free drinks.
Created Content
Nothing This Week.
Related Reports
Head of the Orc Inn - Updated.
Player Characters
Cassius - Human Bounty Hunter - L2 Ranger - Archer
Salvador - Human Artist - L2 Cloistered Cleric of Ilvir (Change) - Eldritch Researcher.
NPC Character Status
Berda - Dwarf Noble - L2 Fighter - Sentinel.
