This week is more gritty and dark than normal and with Welk Tanner having survived the creatures in the storm there is hope. The party must gather what information that they can from the old leather worker before they venture out, for the hunt.
So don’t forget to grab your coffee, a pen and paper as we pay the survivor a visit in tonight’s adventure!
Welk Tanner
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The party were interrupted as they rushed back to Jotund’s boot by a young teen running towards them. The boy shielded his eyes from the rain, sleet and hail that had started once more. ‘Adventurers!’ he called trying to be heard over the roar of the storm. ‘Welk Tanner has woken up. The Elder has called for you to visit him before he rests again.’ the boy said.
As the party hurried to the leatherworking hut of the village the smell overpowered the smell that the storm brought with it. Ignoring the stench the party passed a healer of the village as they were shown inside. Welk lay breathing shallowly but awake. His rugged face bore the marks of a fight and the flight from the creature and its lair. His eyes were wide with lingering fear as his lips moved wordlessly, muttering nonsense to no one. The party gathered around his bedside, eager to hear what he had to say as they took in the wounds he had suffered.
Welk focused on the party as they introduced themselves and prompted his attention onto them. Welk’s voice was hoarse as he began to recount his encounter. ‘I was out hunting,’ he started, ‘the storm had let up for a bit, so I thought I’d take the chance to get some food and pelts for the village. The forest was eerily quiet, like even the animals knew something wasn’t right. And then…I felt it. I wasn’t the hunter anymore, I was the prey.’
He shivered as he continued, his eyes darting to the windows as if expecting the creature to materialize. ‘It moved like a wolf, but it was much larger, with eyes that glowed like the embers of hell. And the worst part…’ he paused swallowing down his obvious fear. ‘It spoke. In a human voice, it taunted me, called me by name, said things that no one would know.’
The party exchanged worried glances, their minds racing trying to pull apart the story with the possibilities of what the creature could be. A creature that could speak and knew intimate details about its victims was no ordinary beast. Welk’s voice grew more urgent as he described the attacks. ‘It came at me with claws as sharp as my hinting knives. I tried to fight back, but it was too fast. The more it attacked, the dizzier I got, like there was something in its claws, maybe poison, maybe it was the cold as the storm was back. As the sleet and rain pelted down my arms grew numb and everything became heavy.’
Welk’s voice faltered for a moment as he relived the terror of that night. ‘The storm hit again, and I lost consciousness as the creature stalked closer again. It’s limbs were too long but everything was blurry. When I came to, I heard the sound of bones crunching. The creature was feasting on the deer I had been hunting. It had piled the carcass on top of me, as if to mark me for later.’ he paused as he shook with fear from reliving the experience. ‘I guess I wanted to live and that feeling took over, and I grabbed a splintered bone from the pile and stabbed it in the eye as it reached for the next part from the pile. It howled in pain, and I ran. I didn’t stop running until I was back here.’
The party asked some follow up questions and he tried his best to answer but he had little more. As the party turned to leave he called out once more. ‘Wait! It’s eyes.’ he paused as he stared out the window. ‘I saw its eyes. They were not of a beast but human, intelligent eyes. The eyes of something that could think, feel and knew exactly what it was doing.’
His story left the party with more questions but also with some answers. The creature was obviously intelligent, malicious, and seemed to have a personal tie to the villagers. They knew they had to act fast, but charging blindly into the creature’s lair could lead to disaster. The village elder spoke up, from outside the door as they passed him, his voice grim but resolute. ‘Welk’s information gives us a chance, but we must tread carefully. This creature is not what it seems, and we cannot underestimate it. But I need not explain that to you I suppose’
The party nodded in agreement. They would ideally need more time to seek out more information, perhaps even seek out old tomes or speak to sages who might know more about such creatures. But with the day beginning its slow descent into night their journey was just beginning and it would be dangerous to leave now. The path ahead would be dangerous but they were determined to protect Askir and uncover the truth.
As they left Welk’s hut a sense of unease settled over them. The storm outside was nothing compared to the storm brewing within the village.
Thank you for joining tonight for the next part in this adventure. Don’t forget that over the next few nights I will expand this adventure further, uncovering the villain of this story and a few truths. So don’t forget to come back each remaining day this week and lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe
Brazen Wolfe Tabletop 