Concerned about the emotional shift in his companion, Elaric nods. "I do not recall seeing many Goliaths in Timberway, so avoiding them until we find a cure should not be very difficult. I also think the suggestion that we keep two on watch at all times to be a good idea... no offense intended to you, Guan Hao. If I can complete two more hours of reverie, I will be able not only to stand watch for the second half of the night, but also refresh my arcane abilities for the day. Wendell, how much rest do you require to prepare for your arcane needs?"
[Religion check: 9 ]
DM note: I put the religion check in because I, as a player, thought of something but wasn't certain the same could or would occur to Elaric. Based on his roll, it does not.
With Guan Hao and Balasar free of the dark nature spirit's curse, the party is able to leave the cave system with considerably fewer battles than it took to reach the central chamber.
Upon their emergence, the party find all but one of the barbarians have dispersed. The lone remaining shaman looks the group over, his eyes glowing with arcane sight, and nods approvingly. "You are indeed cleansed. The dark spirit has fled back into the shadows from whence it came. Go now, travelers, and return to Timberway. Warn the people that, though the forest is safe, it is not yet fit for hunting. In time, balance will be restored, but it will be several moons and their intrusions will only slow the process." Without another word, the shaman turns and disappears into the wilderness.
After several uneventful days of hiking, the party reaches the edge of the forest and the town of Timberway. Does anyone wish to take any actions prior making the magically-assisted journey back to the city?
The captain is easily found at the town's barracks. Upon reaching the barracks, Wendell finds the captain behind a desk looking cold and rather forlorn. "Yes, traveler? How can I help you?" What would Wendell like to say or do?
Wendell goes off in search of the captain of the town guard.
Who was it we needed to get the journal to?
Somebody's dad...
Elaric replies, "Assuming that... ghost? Illusion? Shared hallucination? Hhmm... well, assuming that manifestation of Kyle spoke the truth, we should seek out Timberway's magistrate and give him the journal."
"Sir, I'm very sorry to have bothered you, but my companions and I have recently been inside the Timberway Woods to investigate the Bluerock Lodge. I'm sorry to report that we found several dead there, along with... some sort of avenging spirit that had killed them. Some locals we ran across called it a Wendigo. We dealt with the creature and buried the dead, but we took a few items to show proof of who we found, and I thought you might be able to help us identify the owners through their possessions. Does this dagger shows Kyle's weapon and this ring shows guard captain's ringbelong to anyone you know?"
The captain's eyes, which had progressed from sleepy to alert as Wendell spoke, nearly popped out of his head at sight of the ring. "My ring! Gods be praised, I never thought to see it again. It was a gift from my... Oh, but where did you - you said this was at Bluerock Lodge? I don't suppose you found it in the possession of a scoundrel calling himself Keller, did you? And that dagger; it looks nice enough to belong to Magistrate A'dar. Was this also found at Bluerock Lodge?"
"The man who possessed this ring... was still alive when we arrived at the lodge. The Wendigo had twisted him somehow, made him like itself. He tried to eat one of my companions."
Wendell's eyes wander as he recalls the scene at the lodge, and he shivers.
"He turned that place into a charnel house. Besides him, we found no one else alive. Or, intact."
He shakes his head and seems to come back to himself.
"Yes, we found the dagger there as well. Do you suppose Keller stole it too?"
Though clearly disturbed, the captain is a professional. He spends the next hour speaking with Wendell, Elaric (who tagged along), and any other members of the party present, collecting details and testimony. In the process, the group learns that the dagger was more likely to belong to Kyle A'dar, the magistrate's son. Does the group mention the journal or save that until they can speak with the magistrate in person?
Though clearly disturbed, the captain is a professional. He spends the next hour speaking with Wendell, Elaric (who tagged along), and any other members of the party present, collecting details and testimony. In the process, the group learns that the dagger was more likely to belong to Kyle A'dar, the magistrate's son. Does the group mention the journal or save that until they can speak with the magistrate in person?
Wendell is inclined to keep it to themselves. It doesn't mention anything of special import, and all the people who could be implicated are dead. Also, he gives the ring back.
Though clearly disturbed, the captain is a professional. He spends the next hour speaking with Wendell, Elaric (who tagged along), and any other members of the party present, collecting details and testimony. In the process, the group learns that the dagger was more likely to belong to Kyle A'dar, the magistrate's son. Does the group mention the journal or save that until they can speak with the magistrate in person?
Wendell is inclined to keep it to themselves. It doesn't mention anything of special import, and all the people who could be implicated are dead. Also, he gives the ring back.
Guan Hao is mostly silent, only responding in short, clipped sentences to direct questions, with a minimum of detail. He's accustomed to letting others do the talking. He doesn't volunteer any information he isn't directly asked for.
After finishing all the questions, the captain thanks you for your assistance in this matter. Additionally, for returning his ring, he gives 10 gp and a healing potion for each member of the party (i.e. 50 gp and 5 potions total). Everyone take 30 XP for completing this side quest.
Upon leaving the barracks it is a simple matter to locate the magistrate's office - it's nextdoor to the building you just exited.
The party is shown into a large office; A fieldstone hearth, fire blazing away, dominates the wall to their left while the wall to the right is covered by built-in bookshelves which have been filled to capacity. Behind a grand oak desk, a row of floor to ceiling windows make up the far wall. Though sparsely furnished, the few chairs by the fire and in front of the desk look comfortable. Magistrate A'dar, rising up from behind his desk, circles around to greet the party, shaking each of their hands in turn. "Gentlemen, I understand from the local Uthgardt tribesmen that our town has you to thank for 'restoring balance to the forest' in some way. May I assume this means you found and dealt with some sort of threat in the woods?"
The party is shown into a large office; A fieldstone hearth, fire blazing away, dominates the wall to their left while the wall to the right is covered by built-in bookshelves which have been filled to capacity. Behind a grand oak desk, a row of floor to ceiling windows make up the far wall. Though sparsely furnished, the few chairs by the fire and in front of the desk look comfortable. Magistrate A'dar, rising up from behind his desk, circles around to greet the party, shaking each of their hands in turn. "Gentlemen, I understand from the local Uthgardt tribesmen that our town has you to thank for 'restoring balance to the forest' in some way. May I assume this means you found and dealt with some sort of threat in the woods?"
"Yes," says Guan Hao. "We were asked to give you this."
He hands over the journal.
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DM note: I put the religion check in because I, as a player, thought of something but wasn't certain the same could or would occur to Elaric. Based on his roll, it does not.
Totalling everything and dividing amongst the party, 650 XP each.
Level 3 hit point increase for Gong: 6
Nice!
Guan Hao hits level 3, and takes the Champion archetype!
Now crits on a 19 or 20.
With Guan Hao and Balasar free of the dark nature spirit's curse, the party is able to leave the cave system with considerably fewer battles than it took to reach the central chamber.
Upon their emergence, the party find all but one of the barbarians have dispersed. The lone remaining shaman looks the group over, his eyes glowing with arcane sight, and nods approvingly. "You are indeed cleansed. The dark spirit has fled back into the shadows from whence it came. Go now, travelers, and return to Timberway. Warn the people that, though the forest is safe, it is not yet fit for hunting. In time, balance will be restored, but it will be several moons and their intrusions will only slow the process." Without another word, the shaman turns and disappears into the wilderness.
After several uneventful days of hiking, the party reaches the edge of the forest and the town of Timberway. Does anyone wish to take any actions prior making the magically-assisted journey back to the city?
Wendell goes off in search of the captain of the town guard.
Who was it we needed to get the journal to?
Somebody's dad...
The captain is easily found at the town's barracks. Upon reaching the barracks, Wendell finds the captain behind a desk looking cold and rather forlorn. "Yes, traveler? How can I help you?" What would Wendell like to say or do?
Elaric replies, "Assuming that... ghost? Illusion? Shared hallucination? Hhmm... well, assuming that manifestation of Kyle spoke the truth, we should seek out Timberway's magistrate and give him the journal."
"Sir, I'm very sorry to have bothered you, but my companions and I have recently been inside the Timberway Woods to investigate the Bluerock Lodge. I'm sorry to report that we found several dead there, along with... some sort of avenging spirit that had killed them. Some locals we ran across called it a Wendigo. We dealt with the creature and buried the dead, but we took a few items to show proof of who we found, and I thought you might be able to help us identify the owners through their possessions. Does this dagger shows Kyle's weapon and this ring shows guard captain's ring belong to anyone you know?"
The captain's eyes, which had progressed from sleepy to alert as Wendell spoke, nearly popped out of his head at sight of the ring. "My ring! Gods be praised, I never thought to see it again. It was a gift from my... Oh, but where did you - you said this was at Bluerock Lodge? I don't suppose you found it in the possession of a scoundrel calling himself Keller, did you? And that dagger; it looks nice enough to belong to Magistrate A'dar. Was this also found at Bluerock Lodge?"
"The man who possessed this ring... was still alive when we arrived at the lodge. The Wendigo had twisted him somehow, made him like itself. He tried to eat one of my companions."
Wendell's eyes wander as he recalls the scene at the lodge, and he shivers.
"He turned that place into a charnel house. Besides him, we found no one else alive. Or, intact."
He shakes his head and seems to come back to himself.
"Yes, we found the dagger there as well. Do you suppose Keller stole it too?"
Though clearly disturbed, the captain is a professional. He spends the next hour speaking with Wendell, Elaric (who tagged along), and any other members of the party present, collecting details and testimony. In the process, the group learns that the dagger was more likely to belong to Kyle A'dar, the magistrate's son. Does the group mention the journal or save that until they can speak with the magistrate in person?
Wendell is inclined to keep it to themselves. It doesn't mention anything of special import, and all the people who could be implicated are dead. Also, he gives the ring back.
Guan Hao is mostly silent, only responding in short, clipped sentences to direct questions, with a minimum of detail. He's accustomed to letting others do the talking. He doesn't volunteer any information he isn't directly asked for.
After finishing all the questions, the captain thanks you for your assistance in this matter. Additionally, for returning his ring, he gives 10 gp and a healing potion for each member of the party (i.e. 50 gp and 5 potions total). Everyone take 30 XP for completing this side quest.
Upon leaving the barracks it is a simple matter to locate the magistrate's office - it's nextdoor to the building you just exited.
Guan Hao requests a meeting with the magistrate.
[OOC: I'm assuming the whole party is trouping around together unless somebody says otherwise.]
The party is shown into a large office; A fieldstone hearth, fire blazing away, dominates the wall to their left while the wall to the right is covered by built-in bookshelves which have been filled to capacity. Behind a grand oak desk, a row of floor to ceiling windows make up the far wall. Though sparsely furnished, the few chairs by the fire and in front of the desk look comfortable. Magistrate A'dar, rising up from behind his desk, circles around to greet the party, shaking each of their hands in turn. "Gentlemen, I understand from the local Uthgardt tribesmen that our town has you to thank for 'restoring balance to the forest' in some way. May I assume this means you found and dealt with some sort of threat in the woods?"
"Yes," says Guan Hao. "We were asked to give you this."
He hands over the journal.