Session 1: Hound of Ræthran Manor

General Summary

The campaign began as many campaigns do, in a tavern. The Quiet Post is a sleepy little inn right on the border of Ipomea and Thaß, Indi  and Vimal spent the night there and were having a late morning. A little past noon, Raunfre  sauntered into the inn, asked for a double ale, and planted himself down on a table. Then, after a short while, an "adult fairy", Mohavea, fluttered and skipped in with barrels of energy in each step. She was looking for a few adventuring types to help deal with a problem that her employers have been having for the past couple of nights.
On route to Ræthran Manor the party find a large footprint of a dog in the mud which is around 40cm long. When the party reaches the manor gates they can see that the gates have been busted in and sections of it are slightly molten. The door to the manor has been somewhat burned and scratched at with massive claws.
The party meets Lance Ræthran he looks like he's not seen sleep in a few nights. Lance explains the situation and how it starts:

• Two nights ago, a cloaked figure knocked at the front door demanding that due to a contract, he needed to take Wilhelm Ræthran.
• Since turning this cloaked figure away each night, from dusk until dawn, a hound has been attacking the manor and each night it has been getting closer and closer to breaking in.
• He tells the party of the legend he was told when he was younger but never believed. (see The Legend on the sidebar)

Lance then asks the party to kill the hound that's been attacking the house each night so far and offers the party 400gp to split between them.
The party is then introduced to Cecilia and Wilhelm Ræthran. The entire family seems to be all hiding together in the same room right above the front door. This room is Lance's bedridden father's room, David. Then the party goes to explore the attic and finds a small scroll case with a Contract hidden within.
Dusk is here and the manor is greeted with a howl coming from the mists over the moors. A short fight ensues with the party coming out victorious over the hellhound.
As the dust is settling, Avea notices the silhouette of a figure running over the moors carrying what looks like baby Wilhelm. The party quickly gives chase on this individual and follows them to the family tombs. This creature which the party has now identified as being Ulvon, seems to be scratching some sort of infernal script into the wall when the party goes down the steps to the underground portion of the tombs. Ulvon puts up a very little fight reminding the party that if he dies here it's only a temporary matter and that he will be back to fulfil the contract.
The session ended with the fiend being smitten into dust and with Wilhelm being saved from being taken to the nine hells.

Report Date

24 May 2023

Primary Location

Ræthran Manor

Related Characters

• Cecilia Ræthran
• Indigo
• Lance Ræthran
• Mohavea
• Raunfre
• Vimal
• Wilhelm Ræthran

Related Historical Events

• 11395
  Party Formed

The Legend of Ræthran Manor
"The story starts with my ancestor, Theren Ræthran, who built this house around 400 years ago. He poured his heart and soul into this place; it took years and years to build and all-but bankrupted him. As soon as it was completed he made some bad business deals that left him on the verge of losing it.
According to the legend, Theren made a deal with dark forces in order to keep hold of this place and ensure it would never leave the family. In return, he pledged to give up the life of a Ræthran, one every century. People say Theren allowed his own son to be dragged into the family tomb by a foul Hellhound.
Of course, I never believed the story. When my father told me about it I thought he was trying to scare me. But now... I worry there may have been truth to it after all."