Session #001 Journal: A Journey Begins in Meadowfen
Party Members:
The session commenced in the quaint village of Meadowfen, nestled in the western part of Humblewood. The village square buzzed with adventurers and locals alike, rallying to address the dire situation caused by the fiery onslaughts from The Scorched Grove.
As discussions ensued, an injured Strig woman, her feathers charred and body marred with cuts, stumbled into town. Skookum, with a quick stride, offered his shoulder to the weary traveler. Nyx hurried forward and, with a gentle touch, healed the woman's wounds through the spell Lesser Restoration, and offered her water, which she accepted gratefully. The Elder of Meadowfen, an old Gallus woman named Ardwyn, invited the party and the woman inside her home, turning away the curious crowd.
Now healed and thirst quenched, the Strig woman identified herself as Cara Stormsinger. Despite her weakened state, she managed to convey the dire news from Ashburrow — a town now reduced to ashes by the relentless fires, its survivors possibly ensnared by bandits. Cara’s tale unfolded further within the safety of the Elder’s house. She had ventured out to investigate the encroaching flames only to witness the devastation of Ashburrow and the peril of its fleeing citizens to banditry. The gravity of the situation prompted Ardwyn to entrust our party with a crucial mission: journey to Alderheart and alert the Birdfolk Council of the tragedy and the looming threat along the roads.
The journey was not without immediate danger. Encountering hooded figures menacing over a prone body. A skirmish ensues, leaving the bandit ranks diminished and the party with captives in tow — a Mapach bandit and Vulpin leader, Fray Merridan. Despite the captives' silence and resistance, Skookum's cunning use of Suggestion unveils their connection to a bandit named Unknown and hints at a fortress hidden in The Crest Mountains. The party assists the prone Eluran merchant, Eliza Pennygleam, who is grateful for the intervention. Despite the urgency of their mission, the party agreed to escort Eliza to the safety of Winnowing Reach.
The party sets out for Winnowing Reach, battling and defeating two swarms of Emberbats on the way.
Upon reaching Winnowing Reach, the party took the opportunity to replenish and prepare. Nyx and Rose sought the apothecary for supplies and knowledge on potion making, while Skookum procured magic scrolls and lodgings for the night. An unexpected encounter with a Mapach named Bensen "Bricks" Babblebrook, and Fray’s daring escape into the woods, marked the evening’s unexpected turns.
The night brought an urgent request from Magistrate Walden Krane, concerning a missing researcher believed to be in the perilous Mokkden Caverns. In exchange for their assistance, Walden offered an introduction letter to facilitate their audience with the Birdfolk Council. Understanding the weight of their original mission yet compelled by the magistrate’s plea, the party agreed to embark on this detour come morning.
As dawn breaks, they prepare to delve into the unknown, their quest for the council momentarily paused, but their resolve unwavering.
As the first session concluded, our adventurers found themselves at the heart of unfolding mysteries and looming threats, their journey through Humblewood just beginning.