Chapter One: Averwest - Session 06 - Fright at Tristor part 3 of 3

It was long time, since I post last note, as well quite a while since we played. Well, last session was fun for all (including even me) except for Terentz, who was bored out of his mind. If Adrian had not been late for 2 hours we would play together but it went all wrong. Never mind.
As a side note, I laminated several sheets of graph paper and used markers to draw situation plan. Experiment went quite good and helped to visualize combat around the Buren's farm.

The session began when Connal and Ren went back to Burren's farm and hide between bushes. Heavy mists arose from ground(I almost typed it "Mist" :-) ) blocking a line of sight, so heroes moved little closer. when they set up, they heard a roar from the nearby woods and out of fog terrible beast appeared. It was huge and muscular, with glowing eyes, blurred frame, thick plates, spikes, fangs and steel claws. It charged a house and met with Ren at the door. Combat erupted and brave monk was levelled down with fierce blows and (as it turned out later) treacherous poison. Connal rushed to friend's aid and with few well placed blows of his and spiritual hammer, chased beast to the woods. With the fog finally lifted, the were invited inside, where spent night at watch and rest. Following morning the set off Tristor to, only meet on he road mother in fear. Poor woman begged them to find, where her's little daughter is. Brave two agreed and began investigation. Following tracks and stream, the found child's shoe. After a short search the discovered a small cave, where bear lived. To their surprise animal has adopted little girl as her own cub. Little child thought it is quite fun to have bear of her own. Finally, she agreed to go home and set off with heroes. Poor bear stood motionless and moaned softly, as the retreated. After returning girl to home, Connal warned villagers of bear and asked them to treat animal kind.

It was all clear to the heroes, that happenings of late had something in common with hanging of rueni vagabond, twenty years earlier. Not knowing, who might be next target, they set off to find some clues. Alas, the found one in the butchered carcass of Tristor's Most Dangerous hunter. It was clear, he followed beast-bear and fell pray to stabbing knife. Connal and Ren decided to pay a visit to local witch. she was polite and charming but refused their help. Instead, she directed heroes to her friend, a local hermit. His cave was far away in woods, but Connal and Ren decided to take a look. What the found, was much different to their expectations.

Bolt from a crossbow was warning, that current inhabitant of cave does not welcome uninvited guest. Bear charged them but other bolts went off. After a short combat and chase, Connal captured tormentor of Tristor. Fright at Tristor was over. Or wasn't it?

With a prisoner captured, Connal sent for help and Helm's priest, who would rule the trial. In response an Blessed Aristoi with unit of 10 knights appeared. Trial lasted for three days of in-septh testimonies and was ended wit "guilty" verdict. As it turned out, twenty years earlier group of Riuvanni vagabounds were travelling in this area. The sold an fake potions of haling and went on. But, some of the imbibers were found dead. To enraged locals it was clear the died from mixture sold by strangers, not self-made alcohol. The chased the group, beaten everybody to bloody pulp, and hanged at Tristor's execution Tree. Only one boy was spared, to show him "mercy of Helm". Many years later, he came to seek revenge. Aristoi sentenced him to death, what boy took with bold laughter. After that, a severe and harsh judge sentenced to death all those, who arranged lynch. Connal and Ren head back to Appleshade.

In the meantime Xandos tried to rise puppies and teach them some human rules. He learned of pack structure and tried take leader's place. Without success. Not wanting to drown animals, he set off to find druid Hieronymus. One night, when camping in forest, wolves asked him to free them. After short argument and promising the won't hurt people, Xandos freed animals and watched them to disappear in the gloom and then turned around and head back home.

Chapter One: Averwest - Session 05 - Fright at Tristor part 2 of 3

On November 2nd we had another session. In the meantime we played on one ocassion but there were too many topics and too little roleplaying, to consider it a full game session.

Ren and Connal arrived at Tristor along with their new found friends. During travel they stumbled upon an old and sinister looking tree. It was a hangman tree, as old man said, but it's been long time, since last criminal was hanged there.

At Tristor they were reluctantly welcomed at protegee's house. Fed with dinner and given bath, Ren and Connal slept well. Next day they went to the city. Visisting inn they leaned few details about winter wolves. Innkeeper turned to be an ex-mercenary, hailing from Icewind Dale. Small talk at local shop turned up, that shopkeeper was quite Helm fanatic, claiming "wrong believers are to blame for recent disasters and anima slaughtering". Local blacksmith was able to repair Connal's armour. When the brace two was to take it back, they caught signs of tumult, at the town's gates. As it turned out, it was a boy on horse, who came to Tristor for help,because his family was brutally attacked. Instantly joining ranks of town guards, Ren and Connal set off to find out, what is happening.

After a long trip through dark forest, heroes cam upon an farmhouse. All was unnatural quiet and peaceful. Short investigation revealed some curious clues: main house was abandoned, barn burned out, livestock slaughtered and inhabitants missing. Not sure what to do, Ren and Connal stayed in house. In the small hours heroes heard an explosion, sound was coming from woods. Next morning they found bear's tracks and steel claw. Following tracks, Ren and Connal found path worming through woods and small glade with and lake. On the shore they found bodies of two adults, while in the water children's corpses was floating.

Following tracks deeper into woods, heroes came upon another farmstead, also burnt, with it's inhabitants slain and deep crater in the middle of yard. Here were also tracks of human and bear. Another bodies proved, that this attack was also successful. Curious thing, tracks disappeared at the base of the hill.

Heroes decided to head back. On the way they meet a local hunter, who mocked and threatened them and beside the hangman tree the found fresh flowers. Before they had a chance to investigate this mystery, they overheard moaning from bushes. As it turned out, it was Constable Parsons, beaten and dying from wounds. Connal invoked power of Moradin and healed him, s along with Ren, they rushed wounded to Tristor. From his malign whispering the learned, that Bosko farm is in danger. After delivering wounded to healer, the ran to farm. Goodman Bosko was reluctant to talk and did not want help, so heroes decided to watch over farm from hiding.

Chapter One: Averwest - Session 04 - Fright at Tristor part 1 of 3

Session was held as expected, on August 16th. Unfortunately, due to family obligations, Terentz was unable to show up. Weather was very climatic but would better fit to Ravenloft session, as we experienced violent storm, thunder and lightnings with torrents of heavy rain.

Adventure began from short synopsis of happened before. After resume, PC decided to split party. Xandos and Andala gathered winter wolf's puppies and set off to Appleshade. Idea was to present them to Xandos' father who will decide, if their peaceful upbringing is possible. In the meantime, Connal and Ren decide to travel to Tristor, a town in trouble, that was mentioned by Steeplefall's mayor.

Before leaving, the brave two opted for one day of rest to gather strength and rearranging supplies. The tried to find some informations about religion and historical topics (including strange sect of elves, that lived here). Quest for knowledge turned out to be fruitless and next day heroes set of to face real dangers and troubles.

The found them two days later at corner of the forest road, where a couple of village commoners were attacked by an monostrosity. Beast turned out to be starving owlbear. After short and vicious fight, attacker was slain. Grateful peasants thanked heroes and invited them to their house. During conversation, Connal and Ren learned that girl and her grandfather were intending to leave farm,a s cattle was slaughtered by mysterious monster. No one hear it coming and only marks of bite were left behind as a trail. Fearing evil sorcery, the decided to find shelter in nearby town Tristor.

After meal and quick investigation, heroes prepared to guard and rest on ground level, while house inhabitants on the first floor. In the dead of the night a cat appeared, whose hiss warned Connal of incoming troubles. With savage roar and brutal force, a group of grin-skinned, horned and armed with assaulters broke into the house. A bloody and vicious fight erupted. Fighting two against the four, defending back to back, Connal and Ren was able to slain night-intruders, who turned out to be orcs.

Next day, all four travelled to Tristor. Passage was relatively peaceful and uneventful. Only passing by an old gallow tree was very unpleasant sensation. Voyage ended in house of grandfather's relative house (a family renowned for making cheese) with dinner and bath.

Fights gave result of level advancing and loot. As usual there were to many off-topics but always pleasant and entertaining. Sitting players at table (instead of letting them disperse around a room) was a good move, they were more focus and cooperative with each other.

Due to my family plans and vacations, next term was not specified. I will set it upon return from holiday.