Session 25: Bounty For the Hunter Report
General Summary
The session started as the group was exiting the inner keep of the Castle Quarter in Helmgart when they came across a halfling who was in a hurry and told them he had to speak with the queen. They saw an entourage of people they had never seen before, who Orion knew were ambassadors from Dranghyr. The party went past the people, but took some positions in case there was trouble. The queen appeared to welcome them as guests, bringing them inside to the meeting room within the keep. Orion used his familiar to spy upon the meeting, where he learnt of a possible alliance down the line and that Exalos will be borrowing war equipment from Dranghyr to help in the war against the Draconians on the western front. After this, the party decided to head to their keep, but on the way their they heard musket shots by the northern gate in Helmgart. Crowds of people began running from the location, where the party found out that the city was under assault by a similar creature they escaped at Morgensloft farm. This one appeared to be bird-like in nature, with teeth and eyes covering its body. It crawled over the wall, landing and crushing someone as it slumped over the wall. It began to attack the party, while being peppered by muskets and javelins from soldiers on the wall. Orion took the initiative and casted a spell, ducking behind cover while the creature charged forward. But just as he thought he was safe, a man, sweating and clearly uncomfortable stumbled towards Orion, before erupting into another creature like the one they were already fighting. After a bit of combat, the creatures were defeated and the soldiers graciously thanked the party, inviting them for a drink later that night. The party then went to retrieve some bounties after coming back from the keep, where they took an interest in an Elf named Vayana. They went to the small inn named "The White Wolf", where they met with someone who could know information about Vayana named Panertha. He appeared to be scared of the snake around Geraldt's neck, but not as if from what it was, but who it was. He was very cryptic about why, but still showed his fear about the snake. The information about Vayana they got from him was that he didn't know that someone who he was with, was already in a relationship with Vayana and she caught them. He was confused but he said that Vayana killed him out of rage and attempted to kill him too but escaped before she could. He found a journal in the man's home, which belonged to Vayana, that detailed a place they went together to get away from things - a cabin in a grove by the northern road from Helmgart. The party followed this lead, eventually arriving to a small grove with a long abandoned cabin within. On the approach, a few members of the party made a disturbance, alerting Vayana. She kicked a plank in the cabin, dropping into a hidden tunnel where she appeared at the other side of the grove, escaping into the forest. After a long and enduring chase, Geraldt eventually captured her by summoning a giant snake which constricted her. After cuffing her, she pleaded that she was innocent and it was just an accident, Aes felt as if she was telling the truth and after short discussing with the rest of the party, decided to take her back to the keep while the Geraldt, Orion and Zeal went to retrieve money from her home. When they reached there, they retrieved the money and escaped just in time before the rest of her family came back home.
