Session 17: A Nightmare Arises Report

General Summary

The session began with Zeal being ambushed during his sleep at the small village of Eldham, but was quickly saved from being hurt by a new member of the party; Baloasi. This Paladin introduced himself to the party, saying he was following the assassin who was following them. He had heard of their deeds in the Kingdom of Exalos and wished to join the party on their adventures. They tied up the man who was attempting to kill Zeal and questioned him, discovering that he was sent by a "cloaked man" with a "glowing red eye" and made a "ticking noise" much like that of clockwork machinery.    The party then set off for Helmgart, borrowing a horse and cart from the village and promising to return it to the stable master. Whilst they were staying in a travelling inn, a man stumbled in who was bleeding from a severe laceration from an unknown creature that ambushed his trading caravan. He told the party not to go after the creature and stay here, as he believed it was a death sentence. The party ignored the man, believing they could defeat the creature. They found the wreckage of the caravan about ten minutes away from the inn, with bodies strewn across the road and in the trees and what once was a wagon, naught but rubble. Nearby trees that were destroyed denoted a trail that lead into the forest that lead across the road, with clear tracks leading in the same direction. They followed the tracks, and found two dead hill giants, freshly carved and lacerated by whatever was there with them.    After looking around for a while, they noticed something moving past them, back down the trail to where the inn was. They eventually found the creature, a foul beast that radiated a terrible aura that would instil fear in those who would even gaze upon it. Baloasi decided that they should kill it then and there, before charging in, Aes close behind. After a long and exhausting battle with most of the party on their last legs, the creature spoke to them, saying that they are 'no fun' before leaping into the forest once again.