Session 1: A Journey Begins Report
General Summary
Seventh of Shesti 2783
The party set out on the 7th of Shesti from the small town of Rafeld on the western edge of an area known as Aebeald's Gap or, more sinisterly, as the Plains of Ruin. Their intended destination was the regional capital of Myrkan. They were to accompany Thirin Vonthal and his caravan of goods along the King's Road as part of their hired duties as caravan guards. Shortly after embarking, however, the party was came upon an obviously pillaged caravan and a disoriented hobgoblin. Thirin ordered the party, including the newly "deputized" hobgoblin, to drive off the bandits while he got a lone survivor to safety. Thanks in no small part to the effort of their two, burly half-orcs, Trask and Krull, the motley guardians successfully drove off the bandits but discovered some troubling indications that this was more than a simple one-off bandit attack. After interrogating a lone survivor, the party learned that there was a bandit compound located near the burned out ruins of Earwich about a days travel to the southeast. They also found a map of an abandoned mine known as Glitterdeep. Weaponry they recovered from the defeated bandits also seemed to indicate that the bandits had access to old, castle-forged steel. Sir Tancred, a veteran of the Great Northern War and itinerant hedge knight, immediately recognized that the most likely source were the ruins of the Eyes of Aebeald. Two twin fortresses that were sacked during the initial Freelander invasion of Faladrion. After discussing this new development with their employer, the group, now including the hobgoblin known as Azar, was tasked with figuring out more about these attacks and the people behind them and to meet with Thirin again in either Rafeld, if they returned quickly, or Myrkan if it their mission took longer than a couple days. They opted to figure out what they could by visiting the purported bandit camp near Earwich and set out at once across the plains towards the ruined city.8th of Shesti 2783
The party, despite some small setbacks, arrived the following day under the cover of darkness in the burned out husk of Earwich. After searching the ruins, the party discovered signs of recent habitation but no bandits in the area. They stored their packs and in one of the more servicable buildings and set out to see if they could locate the bandit camp. They quickly discovered a trail and followed it into a dense forest known as the Wailing Woods. Whether because of their exhaustion, the darkness, or distraction from the foreboding nature of the woods themselves the parties stumbled into an ambush. Despite being surprised, the group handily dealt with the bandits but two were allowed to escape. This escape ultimately proved troublesome as the group continued to follow the trail. At its end, the trail led to a ramshackle wooden longhouse that was apparently serving as a bandit compound. The adventurers, sensing a trap, attempted to negotiate with what they assumed were several bandits inside. Ultimately the succeeded in negotiating the surrender of two of the bandits thanks to the efforts of Sir Tancred. While Trask and Krull prepared to rush the longhouse, another member of the group, Daryl, set off to find a way to smoke the bandits out. With a crash and shout, the other members of the group stormed the longhouse and while several of them were injured during the ensuing fight they ultimately triumphed with no casualties. Following the battle, the group scoured the longhouse for any clues as to what was motivating these bandits beyond outright greed. The group surmised, based on two platinum pieces found earlier at the sight of the caravan ambush, that this group was part of some larger organization whose goals were not yet apparent. They found additional reference, in the form of a letter, to something going on in the Glitterdeep mines. They found additional castle-forged steel in crates which they opted to carry with them and attempt to return for a reward. And found, perhaps their sole new lead, a reference to a tavern in Myrkan known as the Balding Goat Tavern. The group also took one prisoner from the fight, while another was able to escape. After some discussion regarding the best course of action, the group decided to stop by Eastwatch, one of the twin fortresses that made up the Eyes of Aebeald, on their way to meet with Thirin Vonthal in Myrkan. They set out and made camp near Earwich and prepared for their journey to Eastwatch the following day.9th, 10th, and 11th of Shesti 2783
The spent a day traveling and arrived at Eastwatch in the early morning hours of the 10th of Shesti. While they were prepared to do battle with bandits that were likely lurking about the ruins, the group discovered that someone had beat them to it. All around was evidence of some magic being used to devastate a small bandit encampment located in the ruins. The group discovered, and subsequently hid, several more caches of weapons left over from the Great Northern War era and located further reference to the Balding Goat Tavern and the Glitterdeep mines. With further confirmation that this was a larger issue than it had first seemed the group set out towards Myrkan to inform their employer what they'd found, deliver their prisoner to justice, and return the weaponry they'd confiscated from the bandit encampment in the Wailing Woods. After a hard day's travel the group made camp, but, shortly thereafter were set upon by bandits who wielded the same castle-forged steel they'd seen previously. The fight was short but fierce as the group dispatched the five bandits that ambushed them. Exhausted, the group collapsed into their camp for the night. A restful sleep was not destined for them, however, as during the night a bear stumbled into the camp nearly killing Trask were it not for the efforts of Sir Tancred to revive him he surely would have fallen. The morning of the 11th of Shesti saw a battered, but reasonably well-rested group set out for the regional captial of Myrkan and they arrived in good time without further incident. The group split ways with some members going to seek solace in a tavern while Sir Tancred and Azar sought out a Court of Common Pleas to surrender the weaponry and bandit to the King's justice.Rewards Granted
All characters advanced to level 2. The party also received various items and loot from their encounters which they are responsible for tracking.
Character(s) interacted with
The characters met their employer, Thirin Vonthal, who is the owner of the Vonthal Royal Trading Company based out of Myrkan.
9th of Shesti 2783 by Moradin Magebane?
8th of Shesti 2783 by Moradin Magebane?
11th of Shesti 2783 by Moradin Magebane?
10th of Shesti 2783 by Moradin Magebane?
Report Date
17 Sep 2019
Primary Location
Secondary Location
