Adventure #05 - Moving Day!

General Summary

Adventure #5 - Moving Day! 2/16/24
Players: Terri: Oriana Tealeaf Sean: Sylvi, with Raven companion Aly: Schmibblefritz, Halfling Bard Tim: Laerwynn, Half-elf Ranger
Synopsis: With the construction crew busy at work erecting buildings for prospective citizens, dwarven business owners Bitsy and Bob Battershield want to move their general store to Aberystwyth! Their shop "Bits and Bobs" currently resides in a neighboring town Crelling, and they want to set up shop somewhere fresh that doesn't have so much competition. They love the idea of supporting a growing town with their goods, supplies, and appraisal know-how, and are excited to get started! However, it's a long enough journey between locations that they don't feel comfortable transporting their entire livelihood unprotected from unknown threatens such as bandit raids or animal attacks. The job is to escort Bitsy, Bob, and all their goods safely from Crelling to Aberystwyth before nightfall! Pappy also requests that the party purchases a horse for the town, since there is a severe lack of them in Aberystwyth.
The party rises early and reaches Crelling without trouble, and locates the Bits and Bobs storefront easily enough, finding Bitsy and Bob busily loading their wagon with the remainder of their supplies. The party splits up, with Sylvi and Laerwynn seeking a horse to purchase from a local man named Magnus (whom Bitsy and Bob consider a real jerk and not likely to be easy to work with), while Oriana and Schmibblefritz stay behind to help load the wagon. While Laerwynn wanders aimlessly through town, Sylvi and her raven find Magnus outside his home and next to his white horse for sale. Sylvi casts an enchantment, in hopes of convincing Mangus to sell his horse quickly and cheaply, and it works; as soon as Laerwynn finally shows up, Magnus eagerly sells his horse for a measly 10 gold pieces, throwing in a saddle, reigns, and bit for free. Laerwynn is essentially forced on top of the horse by the eager Magnus, who slaps the horses rear and sends off Laerwynn careening through the streets of Crelling. While Sylvi and Laerwynn return to Bits and Bobs, a local farmer named Hugie approaches Bob back at the shop, apprearing tired and desperate for more valerian root, an herbal remedy commonly used as a sleep aid, and complaining that his nightmares just won't stop and keep him awake. For old times sake, Bob rummages through the his belongings for what's left of his valerian root supply, and Schmibblefritz successfully casts a sleep spell on Hughie, where he falls face first on the ground and succumbs to a magical sleep. Bob returns to the scene and a bit perturbed that someone would do that without Hughie's permission, and help him inside the shop to rest somewhere more comfortable. Laerwynn arrives shortly after atop the horse, which none of his party members seem to be impressed with or care about, as they're busy discussing Hughie and what should be done to help. Sylvi then returns, while Bitsy and Bob try to convince the party that, despite Hughie's condition, they really can't delay leaving, and that Hughie will need to get help from someone else in town. As they talk, Hughie unexpectedly emerges from the empty shop, with a vacant, trance-like look on his face, announces that he has to leave, and walks in a straight line into the bustling crowd of the town. Oriana, Laerwynn, and Sylvi's raven search the town for where Hughie went, but despite their efforts, he is nowhere to be found. Wanting to find him, but also feeling the urgency from Bitsy and Bob to leave, the party ultimately decides to depart Crelling.
Halfway along their quiet journey, someone in the distance stands in the middle of the path and blocks the way. As the party draws nearer, they discover that it's Hughie, with a vacant, menacing look on his face, much like when he abruptly departed. They party calls out to him, and two more figures unknown to the party step out from the bushes to join Hughie, with the same expression and demeanor. Bob calls out to his friend, and Hughie and the two others respond in unison, with a claim that the traveling party have something that belongs to them, and explains no further. At that, the three attack the party together, and the party defends the Bitsy, Bob, and the wagon. Surprisingly, Hughie strikes Bob with lethal intent with his scythe, and Bob uppercuts him try to snap him out of it. In time, the party dispatches each attacker, with Hughie being the last to fall with a crossbow bolt to the chest. As Bob holds the dying Hughie in his arms, Hughie's trance snaps, and Hughie's final words of "I'm sorry" escape his lips on his last breath. Distraught, Bob declares that Hughie and these other civilians deserve a proper burial, he wants to bury them back in Aberystwyth. The party loads the bodies in the wagon, and depart solemnly from the forest.

Report Date

16 Feb 2024