Brazen Wolfe Tabletop

2024 Campaign Adventure 17 & 18

Plot:

Evil Unmasked

Leaving Fustmach with supplies they followed the path down the mountains. The travel down was easier than up the mountain and with the snow disappearing and the mud hardening they made good time. Following the tracks of the Orc family that left the day before they discovered that the gnoll’s had separated from the others earlier in the path. The party found traces of the goblin, Gorbo, that the freed travelling with or near the orcs but the tracks were different.

As they continued they found a camping site where it appears the family of Orcs they had rescued had rested, but there were other tracks as well. Larger tracks mingled with goblin tracks were found around the outskirts of the camp site. The reason for these tracks was later discovered.

As they continued on they came to a familiar spot near where they rested on the way up the mountain. However instead of a, wolf ridden place to reside they found the Orc family killed, butchered and eaten with the main evidence being deep knife-like cuts and large bestial footprints. Deciding to avenge the slain orcs they set up a trap to see who would bite by, to no ones surprise, Kai pretending to be injured.

However, despite the obvious portrayal to the trap it worked. A goblin appeared, the same one they rescued from the cages beneath Fustmach. After a brief discussion and concern for Kai’s wellbeing because “the civilised people are not to be trusted” they offered the goblin paladin a choice, join their movement to free the goblinoids and other monstrous races by overthrowing the civilised world. Agreeing as he believes in freedom of his people and wants to see their persecution end he followed the goblin to meet with his other associates. Another mistake to the growing list.

Monstrous Intervention

His associates? Hulking bugbears. The initiation ceremony? Murdering his travelling companions. Tater had seen him leave suddenly and had summoned Armaeth and Groku to follow urgently in case his friend was in danger. Gorbo revealed that they had agents within many major cities and that the enslaved goblins, including those in Warrensdeep were to be freed and an uprising would occur. However despite the freedom of the perceived tyranny that his people were under Kai had made up his mind.

When Kai refused to murder his friends the bugbears revealed their mutated nature claiming they had been blessed by a pact with the gods. Maglubiyet, Malar, Yeenaghu and Gruumsh had supposedly blessed their kind with power. As Kai fended off the attacks from clubs, axes and blades the Goblin attacked him with a dagger held in a now-revealed third hand.

After calling for his companions to flee from the Goblin and hobgoblins, who pursued Kai, the party did what they thought was best… they engaged the goblinoids in combat and it was a bloody affair. Groku took a few massive hits from the brutish goblinoids while Kai was poisoned by Gorbo’s dagger attacks. After a few horrifying rounds of combat the goblin lay dying, cut in half and the bugbears were not moving in various stages of death.

Discussing the battle and the disagreement in the approach they made two revelations. Half the goblin was missing, he had crawled off and the second discovery? The wounds of the bugbears had twisting, purple worms attempting to re-knit the surface of the wounds again. Following Gorbo Kai found he trying to escape. Again Gorbo mocked Kai for betraying his people and forsaking true power, the power of the gods and even as he was being dragged back to where they were disposing of the bugbear corpses he tried to escape even as the corruption tried to knit together his wounds.

Fork in the Road

None of the party slept particularly well that night and as they rose the next day, fed their adopted giant albino bat and prepared to finish the travel to Warrensdeep their minds and hearts were heavy. Leaving at dawn they made great time. The roads were all downhill from here and with no snow or slush they were able to reach the crossroads at Suncrest.

Taking the more direct path it wasn’t until mid afternoon that they came across anything that gave them pause. A large tree had been ripped from the ground, splintered from an impact about mid way and large claw marks were seen in the surface of the bark. Marking in the ground indicated that there had been some form of confrontation here. Claw marks, large indentations and shifting of dirt from something heavy, or strong, dragging across the roads surface and then, the loser of the confrontation fleeing and heading north west towards the mountains.

The party deduced that they had been made by something possible reptilian or dragon-like but, there were conflicting information and evidence. The number of sword-length claws didn’t align to dragon or reptile, the blunt markings were too unfamiliar and unusual with no evidence of scale or chitin which would be expected from a wyrm, dragon or other beast. As they moved on they exchanged theories including the possibility of A turtle-bear, a creature that Tater swore existed but the others had not heard of such before.

Upon dusk due to the incline towards the city, the mule and draft horses progress on the good roads they were able to see Warrensdeep. Entering the town they were advised to find a good place for the caravan, which reeked due to the giant bat living within it, and they eventually settled with stashing the caravan nearby with the horses and mule residing at the Five Fat Ravens tavern while they waited for the morning.

New Orders

The morning brought good warm food, no pork knuckle to Kai’s dismay, and a resolution. A warehouse was to be sought so that Batrick could stay within the city while they prepared for their next job, or longer. And, of course, the reason they were here was to report to Steffani and Gwen. A tip-off from Marie the tavern owner saw them heading towards the guards barracks where they heard some unsettling news.

A cult had rumoured to have started within Warrensdeep. The nature of the cult, its people or purpose were strangely unknown but the citizens were rallying around the barracks and even the mayors residence to bring an end to it. According to Steffani and Gwen, who got her information from Sebastian; the Aasimar descended captain of the guard, the cult had strong ties with the guard, the mayor and the city itself which put everyone on edge. However, this was all they knew and that Sebastian was looking into it.

The other news that Gwen provided them was a new job, the Township of Faerstead (Fae-RR-Stead) had hired them to come and investigate the strange happenings in their town. Strange creatures, bestial forms and shadows had been seen around the village at night. The town itself had been built upon the ruins of a long-destroyed city so there was a relatively extensive tunnel system under Faerstead which they believe the creatures dwelt within. However due to not having a military presence of themselves they had not confirmed or investigated their suspicions.

The party had a tough decision to make. Investigate the rumours of a cult in Warrensdeep, something they would do on their own time and accord without being paid for it by Gwen or the order. Or, take the paid mission and go help the village of Faerstead.

---

Main NPCs:

Sidekicks

---