Session 4: Will You Follow? (Part 1)
General Summary
The month of Raath consumes the city of Highburn in the cold embrace of early winter. It has been two and a half-weeks since Orstia (the harvest festival).
The party begins in the lightly snowing Forest of Highburn. Having met Ash only a day prior, they talk and joke around the flickering fire they have set up. Garet tells a story about a bakery disaster. They encounter the rabid Von'ga they had been tasked to kill as it limps Northward, apparently not seeing their fire. It already had been damaged by several guardsmen (Garret inspects the arrows in it's hide), and it barely has any chance to retaliate before Garret casts Shatter and Dulmir stabs and then shoots it with his crossbow. Brandt takes a claw from the beast in order to have proof that the job was completed. Buck smells something Northward. The party follows his sense of smell to a cliff face leading up. Garret makes a stunning acrobatics check (30 wtf) and scales the 30 ft cliff no problem. Brandt tosses him a rope and Ash and Brandt climb up after Garret both with similar checks (14). Dulmir, guessing that Buck has smelled something else and he dosesn't want to lug a fifty-pound dog up a 30-foot cliff-face (good logic), follows Buck as the dog leads him to an overhang. Within the safety of the overhang are a few bushes and a humanoid skeleton, on whose lap is a nest of 5 puppies. Dulmir investigates, finding that the puppies are not dogs, but tiny Von'ga cubs, sleeping in the security of their nest. Everyone follows Dulmir and stay for a bit in the overhang, debating on what to do. They come to the conclusion that they had just killed the puppies mother, and Ash cries. (I'm a monster). Unwilling to kill the puppies, they tuck them into the nest with a spare blanket (Ash), and set out some food (Brandt). Ash loots the skeleton finding the warding necklace (deer skull giving off a faint yellow light) and 2 sp (poor dude). They head back to Highburn, some crying (Ash and Brandt holding each other's hands), passing a field of snow-covered cows, then closer to the city a pair of dancing snow-dryads. Ash's tears freeze to her face as she watches them (again, I am a monster). They meet Captain of the Guard Neal Bardia at the North gate, who takes the claw and tells them to drop by the guard station in the morning to get their pay. Dulmir pulls Neal aside to tell him about the Von'ga pups, and Neal tells him they will probably be killed to keep the Von'ga population from growing in the area. The party heads back to the Bullmar for some quick eats and sleep. The next morning Garret and Dulmir head over to the guard station for their pay. Instead of Neal, they are greeted by Gustave Marion, Captain of the Guard. Confused, the two ask where Neal is, to which Gustave answers there has never been a man named Neal working in the guard, much less the guard Captain. Garret and Dulmir wonder if Neal had been lying about his status. They get their pay and head back to the Bullmar to discuss with the others. On the way back, Garret (with small, really bad looking bouquet in hand) stops by Jilcy 's stand. Instead of Jilcy, a halfling woman named Honey is running the shop. She tells the two that her family has been running the shop for a generation, and they haven't employed anyone named Jilcy. (Garret looks shocked and heartbroken I'm so sorry). The four meet up at the Bullmar. They discuss what is going on (maybe they woke up in a different year? Does the medallion Ash took from the body in the cave give off a magical aura? Was the Von'ga a talisman to another universe???) Eventually, they decide to go visit one of their friends, - Ness Fraser. They head down to her Aunt Faelore's farm to discover that she is also missing, and Faelore has no idea who Ness is. Instead of Ness, they meet Faelore's son, Wilovar. Dulmir asks him what year it is (656 duh), and Garret examines him for any magical auras. Visibly worried because he has apparently known them for a while (except Ash), Wilovar asks what is wrong. They ask him if he knows anyone named Ness. He says that he remembers that his Aunt (Faelore's sister) would have named a baby girl Ness, but she never had a daughter. Intrigued and worried, the four head back to the City to inquire in the guard station again. First they drop by Jilcy's shop again, meeting Wens. They ask people around for the last name Bardia, and are given nothing. They see Jien, who is looking for Shurae with no success, and he seems grumpy about having to shop for things himself. Garret heads to the shop the Hands of Fate, where he buys a strand of peals from the Tiefling Careful. They head to the guard station where Gustave Marion gives them the name of the guard that had been at the north gate the night before (Faepax). They question Faepax, who tells them that he had saw them come in -had received the claw- and that Dulmir had pulled him aside to talk to him. When Ash and Brandt question Faepax about what he and Dulmir had talked about, Faepax panicked and told them about the puppies. Ash looks ready to cry again poor kid. Dulmir's credibility is lowered because he kept that a secret from them. Once Faepax leaves, Gustave tells the group that if they are looking for a missing person, they should inquire into Jozana Woodenhawk, one of the arcane members of Highburn. They head over to Jozana's shop Faevein Herbalizim. They tell her of their search, and she invites them to sit down as she tells them about an individual who went missing about two years ago, Hi-Len Huth. Ever since he left, people have been disappearing from the city. She thinks it is Hi-len's doing, although she doesn't know why. People forget the people who go missing - she is surprised the party remembers (she suspects Hi-len is getting lazy). She suspects that the lanterns are his eyes and ears of the world as he exists on a different plane of existence. She tells them that she usually sees Hi-len at night. Garret buys Jozana a cake from Jilcy's shop. The group head back to the Bullmar to wait out the afternoon and to see if they can catch Hi-len at night. Dulmir disguises himself as a halfling and tries to sneak out without any of them noticing as he thinks it's better if he goes alone. The group caught a suspicious, homeless looking halfing -amazing deception by Dulmir btw- as they don't realize it is him and Ash tells him she can cure his STDs. Dulmir finally reveals himself after realising they won't let him leave. The group head out in the night together to search for Hi-len. They come to the city square, abandoned except for the few guards and a highly shady looking individual standing near the middle of the square. The halfling figure hears them approaching and starts walking North. The group caught up to him - he is covered in a hood. The figure doesn't respond to any of their questions (Are you Hi-len? Who are you?), and he simply holds out a gold coin and says "I grant release." Brandt took the coin. The halfling figure disappeared down an alley despite Garret's efforts to cast Hold Person. The group heads back to the Bullmar, blowing out all the candles in the tavern to the dismay of Ian who just needs to go home at this point. Ash discovers a candle that will not blow out, and the group threatens it to no effect. The party remains downstairs, worried that falling asleep will cause something to happen. Eventually, they all fail CON saving throws (except Brandt who wasn't planning to stay awake ironically), and drift off at the table. Brandt drinks Garret's coffee. Sometime during the night, he watches the snow outside fall, and silence descends over him until he can't even hear his own heart beating (something Jozana had mentioned). The snow outside increases to blizzard-like proportions, drowning out the cityscape in white. He watches as the door to the tavern suddenly drifts into the snow, then the windows silently turn into flakes and drift into the Bullmar. The walls, the ceiling, and the floor follow, until Brandt cannot see anything but white. And that's where we leave off...
The party begins in the lightly snowing Forest of Highburn. Having met Ash only a day prior, they talk and joke around the flickering fire they have set up. Garet tells a story about a bakery disaster. They encounter the rabid Von'ga they had been tasked to kill as it limps Northward, apparently not seeing their fire. It already had been damaged by several guardsmen (Garret inspects the arrows in it's hide), and it barely has any chance to retaliate before Garret casts Shatter and Dulmir stabs and then shoots it with his crossbow. Brandt takes a claw from the beast in order to have proof that the job was completed. Buck smells something Northward. The party follows his sense of smell to a cliff face leading up. Garret makes a stunning acrobatics check (30 wtf) and scales the 30 ft cliff no problem. Brandt tosses him a rope and Ash and Brandt climb up after Garret both with similar checks (14). Dulmir, guessing that Buck has smelled something else and he dosesn't want to lug a fifty-pound dog up a 30-foot cliff-face (good logic), follows Buck as the dog leads him to an overhang. Within the safety of the overhang are a few bushes and a humanoid skeleton, on whose lap is a nest of 5 puppies. Dulmir investigates, finding that the puppies are not dogs, but tiny Von'ga cubs, sleeping in the security of their nest. Everyone follows Dulmir and stay for a bit in the overhang, debating on what to do. They come to the conclusion that they had just killed the puppies mother, and Ash cries. (I'm a monster). Unwilling to kill the puppies, they tuck them into the nest with a spare blanket (Ash), and set out some food (Brandt). Ash loots the skeleton finding the warding necklace (deer skull giving off a faint yellow light) and 2 sp (poor dude). They head back to Highburn, some crying (Ash and Brandt holding each other's hands), passing a field of snow-covered cows, then closer to the city a pair of dancing snow-dryads. Ash's tears freeze to her face as she watches them (again, I am a monster). They meet Captain of the Guard Neal Bardia at the North gate, who takes the claw and tells them to drop by the guard station in the morning to get their pay. Dulmir pulls Neal aside to tell him about the Von'ga pups, and Neal tells him they will probably be killed to keep the Von'ga population from growing in the area. The party heads back to the Bullmar for some quick eats and sleep. The next morning Garret and Dulmir head over to the guard station for their pay. Instead of Neal, they are greeted by Gustave Marion, Captain of the Guard. Confused, the two ask where Neal is, to which Gustave answers there has never been a man named Neal working in the guard, much less the guard Captain. Garret and Dulmir wonder if Neal had been lying about his status. They get their pay and head back to the Bullmar to discuss with the others. On the way back, Garret (with small, really bad looking bouquet in hand) stops by Jilcy 's stand. Instead of Jilcy, a halfling woman named Honey is running the shop. She tells the two that her family has been running the shop for a generation, and they haven't employed anyone named Jilcy. (Garret looks shocked and heartbroken I'm so sorry). The four meet up at the Bullmar. They discuss what is going on (maybe they woke up in a different year? Does the medallion Ash took from the body in the cave give off a magical aura? Was the Von'ga a talisman to another universe???) Eventually, they decide to go visit one of their friends, - Ness Fraser. They head down to her Aunt Faelore's farm to discover that she is also missing, and Faelore has no idea who Ness is. Instead of Ness, they meet Faelore's son, Wilovar. Dulmir asks him what year it is (656 duh), and Garret examines him for any magical auras. Visibly worried because he has apparently known them for a while (except Ash), Wilovar asks what is wrong. They ask him if he knows anyone named Ness. He says that he remembers that his Aunt (Faelore's sister) would have named a baby girl Ness, but she never had a daughter. Intrigued and worried, the four head back to the City to inquire in the guard station again. First they drop by Jilcy's shop again, meeting Wens. They ask people around for the last name Bardia, and are given nothing. They see Jien, who is looking for Shurae with no success, and he seems grumpy about having to shop for things himself. Garret heads to the shop the Hands of Fate, where he buys a strand of peals from the Tiefling Careful. They head to the guard station where Gustave Marion gives them the name of the guard that had been at the north gate the night before (Faepax). They question Faepax, who tells them that he had saw them come in -had received the claw- and that Dulmir had pulled him aside to talk to him. When Ash and Brandt question Faepax about what he and Dulmir had talked about, Faepax panicked and told them about the puppies. Ash looks ready to cry again poor kid. Dulmir's credibility is lowered because he kept that a secret from them. Once Faepax leaves, Gustave tells the group that if they are looking for a missing person, they should inquire into Jozana Woodenhawk, one of the arcane members of Highburn. They head over to Jozana's shop Faevein Herbalizim. They tell her of their search, and she invites them to sit down as she tells them about an individual who went missing about two years ago, Hi-Len Huth. Ever since he left, people have been disappearing from the city. She thinks it is Hi-len's doing, although she doesn't know why. People forget the people who go missing - she is surprised the party remembers (she suspects Hi-len is getting lazy). She suspects that the lanterns are his eyes and ears of the world as he exists on a different plane of existence. She tells them that she usually sees Hi-len at night. Garret buys Jozana a cake from Jilcy's shop. The group head back to the Bullmar to wait out the afternoon and to see if they can catch Hi-len at night. Dulmir disguises himself as a halfling and tries to sneak out without any of them noticing as he thinks it's better if he goes alone. The group caught a suspicious, homeless looking halfing -amazing deception by Dulmir btw- as they don't realize it is him and Ash tells him she can cure his STDs. Dulmir finally reveals himself after realising they won't let him leave. The group head out in the night together to search for Hi-len. They come to the city square, abandoned except for the few guards and a highly shady looking individual standing near the middle of the square. The halfling figure hears them approaching and starts walking North. The group caught up to him - he is covered in a hood. The figure doesn't respond to any of their questions (Are you Hi-len? Who are you?), and he simply holds out a gold coin and says "I grant release." Brandt took the coin. The halfling figure disappeared down an alley despite Garret's efforts to cast Hold Person. The group heads back to the Bullmar, blowing out all the candles in the tavern to the dismay of Ian who just needs to go home at this point. Ash discovers a candle that will not blow out, and the group threatens it to no effect. The party remains downstairs, worried that falling asleep will cause something to happen. Eventually, they all fail CON saving throws (except Brandt who wasn't planning to stay awake ironically), and drift off at the table. Brandt drinks Garret's coffee. Sometime during the night, he watches the snow outside fall, and silence descends over him until he can't even hear his own heart beating (something Jozana had mentioned). The snow outside increases to blizzard-like proportions, drowning out the cityscape in white. He watches as the door to the tavern suddenly drifts into the snow, then the windows silently turn into flakes and drift into the Bullmar. The walls, the ceiling, and the floor follow, until Brandt cannot see anything but white. And that's where we leave off...
Rewards Granted
Ash: 2 Silver Pieces, Warning Necklace
Garret: Strand of 5 pearls from Heart of the Hall
All Party: 23 gp from Highburn Guard
Missions/Quests Completed
Von'ga Encounter and Contract commissioned by Guard.
Character(s) interacted with
Jien
Jozana Woodenhawk
Neal Bardia
Faelore
Wilovar
Ianvalor (Bullmar barkeep)
Faepax (north guard)
Gustave Marion
Honey, Wens ( Jilcy 's family)
Careful (not by name, shopkeep)
Related Reports
Notes
Group met with Ash the day before.
Ash Stonefleet
Dulmir
Brandt Ironshade
Garret Hilltopple
Report Date
20 Jan 2019
Secondary Location
Lanterns
Intimidation check of 15.- The Guard House
- Faevein Herbalism
- Bullmar (1)
- City Square
- Hands of Fate
Comments