1.04 The Zoo Crew Report

General Summary

The Low Bar have completed a week of downtime in Etran's Folly. Gunnar spends his time healing the sick and infirm within the town's community, building society with each act of trade. Meanwhile, Zal works to train Dog in the woods beyond the fringes of society while Lucky follows along practicing his whip skills. He has already killed two squirrels by accident, so he still needs practice. Kreck offers to help Farmer Ellom pick turnips. He does the work of two locals and Ellom offers him a book of histories and tales of the region as thanks. Rehana has Kreck setup the popup shop in the center of town, offering miracle cures to those untrusting of Gunnar's divine aid. Veerefel spends his time looking over the locals in The Feedmill to make sure they don't start anything. At the end of a week, some made money, others learned skills. All were eager to journey on and continue the adventure   The party first traveled to Noala's camp where they returned the cart and were offered a brace of rabbits. Kal hoped to use the rabbits soon with the dogs north near Hallods. Heading off into the glowing morning light, the crew took stock of their growing team. Dog the bear now had Prince the bluebird and Dimitri the bat as packmates. Their first hurdle was Cold River, running south from Kilman's Lake. They had to ford this river to continue on towards Hallod's hideout. Kreck offered to wade in first, being the tallest and strongest. Kal choose a crossing spot, but the half orc soon found it over even his head. Swimming near the docks where he worked was common enough, but this water was moving fast and he lost control. Water over his head, the orc might have drown there and then if not for his friends, holding a rope on the near side, pulling him back to control. With their aid, he was able to push off the bottom towards shallower bank and climb up. The rest now used the rope to cross, including lucky who danced across the tightrope with ease.   The overland travels north followed a narrow unnamed creek skirting the forest. Ahead and up were the Damsel Mountains and these were their foothills. Fortunately the sun was warm on the cold wet skin of the party, and their spirits were high. Natural vistas and sweeping views filled their vision as the Altaerien Valley laid out behind them to the east. Kal scanned ahead with Dog, feeling particularly in his element. Soon the beauty of the day filled the two's hearts and they forgot their mission for a time. Kal began growling at Dog in playful banter. Dog growled back slightly louder. The two continued this game for a time, growing louder as they went. Dog, determined to win this contest, reared back on two legs and filled the air with a terrifying roar. The party heard this call ahead and Kreck, already unsure of the bear's intentions with the party, leapt ahead to save Kal. Lune, meanwhile, followed along as did the rest. What lune found on arriving was Dog being mock fierce, Kal doubled over in laughter, and Kreck misreading the situation and preparing to fight the bear. And he would have had Veerefel not arrived and, wanting to join the fun, resounded a magically amplified roar of an animal the gnome recalls hearing in a Mwangi Expanse exhibit in Absolom years ago. As the lion roars from Veerefels small frame, all turn to look in horror and delight, even Dog. Soon all were on their knees with laughter and the day's serious mission forgotten, if only briefly.   Eventually the party continued on, only not for long. Lucky's keen eyes spotted something shiny in the creek water ahead. It was a sword hilt and half blade, submerged and sticking out of the ground. Its base had calcified into the bedrock and took a cleverly constructed lever and the strength of the entire party to pry free, only to fly into a tree. 'I can throw you' Kreck offered to the halfling, who accepted with glee at the very thought of flying through the air to grab at a sword, mindless of the obvious danger therein. Kreck had the strength but his aim was off, and Lune was 'lucky' to grab a branch on the way back down to earth. He used the branch to climb further and retrieve the sword, which proved to be a Low Grade Silver Rapier.   The Low Bar headed out once more to Hallod's. The cave mouth opened in a clearing with a spring fed lake. Inside they found evidence that the dogs were still living here. They also found Hallod's strongbox. Inside they discovered some potions, some gold, and some notes. They notes themselves were scraps of information Hallod had gathered. The first instructed him on how to find a Dropoff location. The second was directions from said Dropoff to a place called The Pen. Meanwhile, Kal was befriending the pack of guard dogs with raw rabbit and kind gestures. He became their pack leader by virtue of being a dwarf who could feed them, and so they followed his lead. Having gotten what they came for, and Kreck shouldering the crate of reagents for Morta in Breachill, the party decides to return to town. Kal leads them true in direction over land and the beauty of the area is again on display, this time with the setting sun over the Damsel's at the right and back. They arrive near sunset and Kal is aware that they lost no a moment in that trek as they were being hunted by something hungry. Edra the Stablehand is delighted to watch after the dogs for the group, and they find their beds in the loft for the night, all but Kal who wanders off to sleep in the woods with Dog.   The next morning Delma tells them where to find horses and a cart, over a bowl of breakfast grains and fresh milk. Mr Pardon happens to have a barn of draft horses that he is willing to sell as winter comes, being one less mouth to feed over the long season. Gunnar selects a marbled gelding and names him Strudel. The wagon is more difficult, but he parts with a spare one for the cost of a second horse. Gunnar offers to cover this transaction, knowing that an investment here will keep the party in good stead over the long miles ahead. Veerefel asks if the man has a dog he can ride. Pardon does and calls forth an enormous trained St. Bernard who Veerefel names Bear.   Fully mounted up, the Low Bar ride out north again towards Noala. Today is overcast and misty, giving the sweeping plains a more ominous and foreboding appearance. They find her at her camp and quickly set out to a wolf den many miles to the east. While they ride, Noala talks with the party as she runs easily beside them. 'Do you know Donovan?' she asks Lucky regarding his sword. Lucky learns that this Donovan was searching the valley three years ago for something important and that he was known by his silver rapier. Lucky thinks he hears her speaking to herself and picks up the words Alesta's Ring. She speaks as well with Gunnar and with Veerefel and with Kal on varied subjects to which her natural elven curiosity and heritage lend her interest. Eventually near end of day they reach the wolf den, far in the east of the valley in the Tinderteeth woods. Lucky offers to scout ahead. Eager to do so, he find a natural clearing after an hour of walking. Interested and overly curious, the halfling wants a closer look. He sidles up next to a bush and sees in the center of the clearing is a pile of wolf bones, picked clean. He also sees a vine move, but too late he realizes he is standing next to a Bloodvine bush. Lucky moves away but the mobile plants uproot themselves and give slow chase. He is lashed by vines from more than one bush as three animate after him. If not for his friends being close behind, he might have died there an then.   Fast on his heals, the Low Bar move into the fray. Dog, Kal, and Kreck advance into the front lines while Gunnar and Veerefel remain back. The Bloodvines spin around, lashing everyone with 10 feet with weeping wounds. At one point they even reach out to Dog, siphoning that blood back to feed their unnatural tendrils. But the plants are no match for the party this day. Lune flanks one, tripping it, and bashing it with a sap. Kal and Dog work together to damage one. Kreck finds them easy targets for his powerful blade. Even Veerefel finds purchase for his intimidating glare. In the end, the greenery were no match for the Low Bar working together as a team, using reach weapons and spells, flanking and tripping, debuffs and demoralization, and being healed by Gunnar. This all bodes well for the party for the challenges to come.

Rewards Granted

Loot

• Low Grade silver rapier (Donovan's Pride)
• Owlbear Claw Talisman (one each)
• Cart (large enough for 4 humans)
• Draft horse (named Strudel)
• Riding Dog (named Bear)
• Sock Puppet (named Glove)
• 14 gp, 37 sp, 45 cp.
• 1 vial Lesser Antiplague (Vilree Brand)
• 2 vials Lesser Juggernaut Mutagen (Vilree Brand; Tainted)
• 1 vial of Fitch & Son's Miracle Tonic (Snakeoil)
• 1 vial Oil of Potency. (Vilree Brand)

• For crossing the river without anyone dying - 30xp everyone
• Winning the growling contest - 50xp Veerefel
• Lucky finding Donavan's Pride - 25xp Lucky
• Learning the location of The Pen - 50xp everyone
• Learning the location of The Dropoff - 10xp everyone
• Bringing back the Guard Dogs to town - 60xp Kal
• Purchasing a cart for the party - 15xp Gunnar
• Killing 3 Bloodvines - 160xp everyone
• MVP of the fight - 20xp Kreck
• Tripping a plant - 10xp Lucky
• Intimidating a plant - 10xp Veerefel

Missions/Quests Completed

Started the Blighted Den quest. The party now knows the location of The Pen. Lucky has learned of someone named Donavan searching for something called Alesta's Ring three years ago.

Notes

Sarah will be pausing her character for now, so please divide the loot 6 ways instead of 7.