Our heroes reach the toll bridge into Falxmed and pay the tax/toll collector, an ogre named Harold, and his "old friend" imp, Hazephas. Sentie takes a liking to Harold and wants to chat, but Barclay urges the party onwards.
Almost as soon as they arrive in Falxmed, the heroes begin to hear wolves, ever closer throughout the day. They even spot the wolves on a far-off mountain cliff, and they appear larger than the wolves our heroes have encountered.
While they travel, Barcley uses sending to gain more information about Raehendra and her parents. Her parents were put on trial and found guilty of enslaving kobolds in their shop, along with a handful of subordinates. Wendlaf, the cultist of Eltheodir who Raehendra remembers her parents once discussing, was strangely not mentioned at their trial. Raehendra also remembers an instance when her parents don't remember Grindhalf, a manager who was also found guilty at the trial. It seems unusual that they wouldn't remember, although Raehendra is known for her flightiness and perhaps her parents are the same?
Barclay and Sentie discuss religion, and Barclay suggests that Sentie's god, Corus, is not the positive force that Sentie believes he is. Sentie walks into the woods and prays to Corus—and a being answers. However, Sentie understands that it is a being of darkness, not light. Two celestial messengers, Hyathe and Sorvelle, arrive to warn Sentie about Corus, explaining that he is a god of death and deceit. They urge Sentie to scrutinize Corus before putting his faith in Him.
Our heroes reach the peak of some foothills and find the Top o' the Hill Inn, a place that Gerne recommended, burned to the ground. Aevyr quickly investigates the smoldering ruins and finds evidence of arson but no bodies. A sign indicates that this was punishment for "harboring terrorists", signed fancifully "J".
The party hears movement in the woods and prepares to fight the wolves they've heard all day, only to be surprised by a buck, which is immediately slain by a hunter, an older woman named Radya. She invites the party to her home, where she runs an orphanage. Radya recounts stories about Falxmed, about how the land is cursed, about a recent attack on the viceroy Dimir, and about the tyrant Earl Vict Falkor. She also mentions the Earl's governess, Elena Tesar; Raehendra remembers her own nanny, also named Elena—an intriguing coincidence?
Sentie again visits the woods during the night and disfigures his tattoos of Corus. Raehendra, Kodrak, and Radya find him and bring him back to the group, where Renn binds the wounds.
The next day, our heroes continue their journey, first riding through a village that closes their doors and windows, and finally into the capital city. Once inside the gates, they immediately see some dead bodies, strung up for the attack on Dimir.
The party continues to the Bartholomew & Company offices, where the local agent, Mousek, thanks them for their efforts. As promised, he gives Kodrak a well-crafted axe and a Ring of Proof against Detection and Location to Barclay. Mousek gets them a set of rooms at the inn next door, where they discuss what to do next. They mostly agree to investigate the Earl, Vict Falkor, and stop him if possible.
At that time, they are interrupted by soldiers and the viceroy, Dimir. He welcomes them to Falxmed, and quells any concerns that they are being investigated for the attempt on his life. He also invites them to meet the Earl at their convenience. Dimir then goes on to say that he recognizes Raehendra, and he knew her parents—in fact, he had tried to get them to expand into Falxmed but they chose Lyrum and Myruna instead. Dimir closes by implying that he can't believe Raehendra got away with the crime of slavery.
Soundtrack:
Robin Carolan & Sebastian Gainsborough, The Northman (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:
- Corus[?], sun god[?]
- Dimir, viceroy of Falxmed
- Harold, ogre, tax/toll collector
- Hazephas, imp, friend of Harold
- Hyathe, an aulxa [celestial messenger] of Vallo, god of light in the Hallasar pantheon
- Mousek, human, agent of Bartholomew & Company in Falxmed
- Radya, [human?], orphanage owner
- Sorvelle, errandthane [celestial messenger] of Currend, goddess of the day, knowledge, and light in the Sedeyr pantheon
See the full cast list at Campaigns in Elsemorn—now with photos of the miniatures used in the game!
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