1 - The Ambush at Saltmire

Date: 6/11/2024

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While hunting a rogue wyvern in the narrow mountain pass near Saltmire, Clovis, Johnny Hotpockets, and Loche stumbled upon a scene of chaos and destruction. A caravan had been ambushed, wagons overturned, goods scattered, and survivors desperately fighting for their lives. Without hesitation, the trio leapt into the fray, determined to turn the tide against the marauding bandits and monstrous creatures.

The battle was fierce. Shadowfang, a dire wolf with an aura of malevolent darkness, led a pack of lesser shadow wolves, their eyes gleaming with predatory intent. Two bandit handlers, Maela and Brogan, directed the assault, their movements swift and deadly. Johnny’s arrows flew true, striking down enemies with precision. Loche, transforming into a mighty bear, charged through the fray, his powerful limbs crushing foes left and right. Clovis, with his formidable combat skills, faced off against Shadowfang, their clash of claws and steel echoing through the pass.

Shadowfang lunged, but Clovis met the beast head-on, delivering a decisive blow that felled the dire wolf. Meanwhile, Brogan seized a hostage, attempting to use the captive as leverage. But Loche, in his bear form, charged at Brogan, crushing him with a mighty leap. Tragically, Brogan managed to inflict a fatal wound on the hostage before his demise. Maela, seeing the battle lost, fled into the depths of the caravan.

As the dust settled, Clovis made a chilling discovery. The fallen bandits bore amulets emblazoned with Count Drusilla’s insignia, hinting at a more sinister plot behind the ambush. Unbeknownst to the party, the hostage who had been killed was the real Corin Spellweaver, a member of the Arcanum Conservatory.

Narvane Shadowspell, a rogue from the Obsidian Circle, arrived at the scene shortly after. Recognizing the opportunity presented by Corin’s death, he quickly assumed Corin’s identity, planning to manipulate the party into aiding his own agenda. With Corin’s guise and a new plan in mind, Narvane set the stage for the next phase of the adventure, convincing the party to press on in their quest to recover the stolen artifact.