Campaign Journal #16: Action-Oriented Ambush

 Addendum from the last session:

• Barclay's ritual spellbook has been updated to add new spells.
• Sentie gains a Mantle of the Hummingbird, a Cloak of the Bat but flavored after a hummingbird and based on light instead of darkness.

The party is still awake after inspecting their new or upgraded items. Barclay heads to the port to see if he can get their cargo available sooner; Renn and Sentie go with Barclay to keep an eye on him. Raehendra goes back to bed. Kodrak goes for a run.

Barclay gets the ship moved to the front of the customs queue. Gerne makes arrangements for their cart while Barclay sells his plundered spyglass to Eofra. Gerne tells them to watch for highwaymen, to pay the merchant rate of 20g per person when they get to Falxmed, and to stop at the Top o' the Hill Inn for the best food outside Fellsdare. Kodrak finds the three getting ready at the port. They pick up Raehendra and depart Myruna.

After a couple days of travel, the party fights highwaymen—or highway...persons? Their leader is a woman, after all, as are several of the bandits. [I used the "action oriented monsters" from MCDM's Flee, Mortals! book: a Knave, 2 Brawlers, 2 Trickshots, and an Owlbear!] It was a difficult fight: Renn is repeatedly knocked down and Kodrak ends the battle with only a fraction of his health remaining. One hostage, an archer, is taken.

Barclay and Kodrak investigate the bandits' camp and find a reluctant bandit practicing an "I quit" speech. He's sent on his way. They locate the treasure horde, which includes some gold, scrolls, a magical Wire of Comprehend Writing, and a runic spell page that heals. The hostage shows no remorse for his deeds and is slain.

Our heroes get back on the road and soon find themselves on a floodplain with a river in the distance—and the Falxmed border! As the afternoon passes, they come to the toll bridge and find an ogre toll-taker and an imp playing chess. The ogre introduces himself as Harold...where we'll pick up next time!

Soundtrack:

Basil Poledouris, Conan the Barbarian (1982) and Conan the Destroyer (1984)

Christopher Larkin, Hollow Knight (2017)

The Main Cast, our player characters:

• Barclay Stone (he/him), human bard (college of eloquence)
• Aevyr, his imp familiar
• Kodrak Kukkerlun (he/him), dwarven fighter (battle master)
• Raehendra Tiddlybumpkin (she/her), gnomish ranger (hunter)
• Renn Summerstar (he/him), elven cleric of Lioris (twilight domain)
• Sentie Rancis (they/them), human wizard (school of transmutation)

The Supporting Cast, non-player characters:

• Eofra, Captain of the Errandgull in Brass
• Gerne, Bartholomew & Company agent in Myruna
• Harold, ogre
• Unnamed imp
• Some bandits

See the full cast list at Campaigns in Elsemorn—now with photos of the miniatures used in the game!

Campaign Journal #15: In Myruna

Our heroes speak with Mili, a middle-aged dwarven woman who is (at least temporarily) running Dweorfton after the deaths of its priests and elders. She doesn't know much, but she confirms that the cultists of Eltheodir were all slain.

Kodrak goes for another run around the city and discovers the wide variety of human vendor food and drink: lizard on a stick, meat pies, "roc" wings, wolf nipple chips, durian, and gnomish root beer.

Raehendra, Renn, and Sentie return to Captain Eofra's home, where they are staying. Renn gets some rest while Raehendra and Sentrie work on hobbies and chat about Barclay.

Barclay investigates the assassinations of Myev and Haymil, wife-and-husband sheriff-councilors. This involves speaking with the two guards at Myev and Haymil's home (and stealing the couple's locked chest), Ol' Jack at nearby "Murder Alley", and apothecary/sewer explorer Theren. It turns out that Myev and Haymil were investigating (a) some magical pages that had recently appeared on the black market and (b) anyone asking questions about those pages—which includes adventuring party the Silver Hare and also our heroes. Barclay surmises that the assassin exited the sewer in "Murder Alley", entered a skylight in the home of Myev and Haymil, and murdered them from above.

Barclay explains everything at their temporary home. There is a general sense of unease, bordering on paranoia, as our heroes discuss the assassin's probable targets—including themselves. Sentie sends a message to Bartholomew: "Sentie here. Assassins are after people in contact with the books. Keep on the lookout. They are of the highest caliber." Bartholomew replies: "Thank you, will be on my guard. Stay safe."

That night, Renn wakes Kodrak, Raehendra, and Sentie and brings them outside. His concern is that Barclay is the assassin. They discuss it and come to no conclusions except to keep an eye on him.

The following morning, the party awakes to the scent of brimstone and sweet incense. They discover that their magical items have all...changed:

• Kodrak's greataxe and hammer have merged into a Greataxe with a meteor charm; it grants an extra attack on critical hits and reveals anything invisible within 60 feet.
• Raehendra's bracers of archery have gained the ability to store items, such as arrows.
• Renn's glaive has gained a racial damage buff that can be changed daily.
• Barclay and Sentie's item changes are still to be determined.

Barclay and Renn are immediately suspicious about the brimstone and the intrusion into their belongings. They each call out for the Catamount, a rakshasa (devil) that our heroes freed in the dungeon below Thyrre. (At the time, he gave his name as Ilfa Thurk.) The Catamount denies being involved.

Our heroes prepare to leave Myruna—if possible, doing whatever they can to push up their departure—to get to Falxmed.

Soundtrack:

Austin Wintory, Abzu (2016) and Traveler: A Journey Symphony (2022)

The Main Cast, our player characters:

• Barclay Stone (he/him), human bard (college of eloquence)
• Aevyr, his imp familiar
• Kodrak Kukkerlun (he/him), dwarven fighter (battle master)
• Raehendra Tiddlybumpkin (she/her), gnomish ranger (hunter)
• Renn Summerstar (he/him), elven cleric of Lioris (twilight domain)
• Sentie Rancis (they/them), human wizard (school of transmutation)

The Supporting Cast, non-player characters:

• The Catamount, rakshasa
• Mili, dwarf, new head of Dweorfton
• Ol' Jack, (likely) unhoused alcoholic
• Theren, apothecary, sewer explorer
• 2 unnamed guards

See the full cast list at Campaigns in Elsemorn—now with photos of the miniatures used in the game!