Shadows in the Harbor Session 45
General Summary
The arrival of the second giant and its dire wolf coincided with a sudden, violent dust storm that whipped through the Windless Cliffs. The ochre winds howled, stinging eyes and obscuring vision, turning the already perilous valley into a disorienting chaos.
Caught in the swirling dust, Damakos took a heavy blow from the enraged giant, the creature's massive club connecting with a sickening thud. Just as the situation seemed dire, a new figure emerged from the swirling dust – Malark, arriving just in time to reinforce the beleaguered party.
The remaining dire wolf, a snarling shadow in the storm, lunged at Tim the Not-so-Tiny. A brief but brutal exchange followed, the clash of steel against fang lost in the wind's roar. In the end, Tim stood victorious, the dire wolf collapsing into the dusty ground.
With the immediate threat somewhat lessened, the party briefly discussed how to deal with the remaining giant, now partially obscured by the storm. Keck, ever the pragmatist, quipped to Tim about using his aerial abilities to scout, "If you come flying past our heads we'll know you found something." However, the disorienting nature of the dust storm proved too much, and Tim soon found himself lost within its sandy embrace.
Taking advantage of the reduced visibility, the giant, displaying a surprising amount of cunning, lumbered back towards the gaping maw of the cave, disappearing into the darkness and the swirling dust.
With the immediate combat over and Willow's family still trapped within the cave, the party made a decision. Once the Ravenwind family was safe, they would need to secure their future. Brennan Ravenwind, grateful for their aid, was offered a position within the party's nascent trading company, a glimmer of hope in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Exhausted and battered, the party opted for a short rest, seeking to regain some of their strength before venturing into the potentially dangerous cave. After a brief respite, they freed Willow's relieved family from the crudely secured cage, the blighted vines easily cut away. Wishing the Ravenwinds the best in their uncertain future, the party turned their sights north, towards the ominous depths of the Slate Forest.
The transition from the open, dusty cliffs to the shadowed embrace of the Slate Forest was immediate. Ancient, gray-barked trees loomed overhead, their branches intertwined, creating a perpetual twilight on the forest floor. It wasn't long before they encountered a figure unlike any they had seen before – a Wood Woad, his form seemingly grown from the very trees around him. He introduced himself as Oakhart, his voice a deep, resonant murmur like the rustling of leaves in an ancient wind.
Oakhart regarded the party with cautious curiosity. Recognizing the blight that clung to them from their encounter near Slate, he listened intently as they explained their purpose and their desire to confront the cultists. An alliance was tentatively formed. Oakhart, deeply concerned about the encroaching corruption, offered to aid the party. In exchange for their help in removing the blight that festered within the abandoned town of Slate, he promised to guide them through safe paths within the forest, provide them with a secure place to take a long rest, and offer his knowledge and assistance in dealing with the insidious Cult of Baal. The fate of the Slate Forest, and perhaps more, now rested on this newfound, if unlikely, partnership.
Rewards Granted
- 800xp per player for defeating the giants and the dire wolves
- 600xp per player for advancing the plot
- 150xp for Keck for bringing Brennan Ravenwind into their new merchant's guild
Character(s) interacted with
- Brennan, Elara, Willow, and Finn Ravenwind
- Oakhart
Report Date
04 Apr 2025
Primary Location
Related Characters
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