Players:
TrustonAntioch
Cedric
Maeve
Downtime Recap:
Between sessions, the party had a few weeks of downtime, using the time to upskill and earn money using the passive downtime table. Maeve focused on hunting for furs and meat, which she turned into "protection charms" for Truston to market and sell around Fairstead. Her skills in survival paid off, making these charms quite popular among the settlers. Antioch, continuing his work as a blacksmith, began to meet more of Thorne's acquaintances. This helped expand his network and build relationships in the town, including some that might help him gain valuable connections in the future. Cedric spent his time among the villagers, helping the halflings settle into their new life at Camp 2, providing healing and aiding in the transition for the settlers. As winter approaches, the weather has turned cold and biting, with light snow common in Fairstead, though it isn’t as intense as in some northern towns.
Downtime Events:
The Late Arrival of a Small Settler Family:A family of new settlers arrived late, adding to the growing population of Fairstead. Their arrival caused a stir, and the settlers at Camp 2 were quick to help them settle in.
The Trade Crisis Caused by Raiders Stealing Supplies:
Tensions are high in Fairstead, as raiders have stolen supplies from merchants, affecting trade in the region and causing the town's merchants to scramble to secure resources.
Debate Over Land Packages for Long-Term Residents:
There was a heated debate about whether to alter land package conditions to include long-term residents of Fairstead, with Greycloak pushing for fairness in distribution.
Greycloak’s Call to Action:
With the raiders becoming more of a threat, Greycloak called for a mercenary force to help deal with the growing unrest in Fairstead.
Tobias Hart’s Bakery Disaster:
Tobias Hart, the baker, faced a disaster at his bakery, causing major delays in his business and affecting his ability to meet demand. Cedric helped clean up the mess as he had arranged for the halfling couple to be employed there.
Session Recap:
The party reconvened and spoke with Aeliana, who had used the flowers they collected near the last tower to enchant a small compass. This compass could detect a slight increase in the arcane energy, helping to pinpoint which of the towers the cult was using for their input rituals. Aeliana directed the party towards the Northeast Tower, where she believed the cult was conducting its next ritual.The party made their way towards the tower, the snow covering the ground and the cold wind making their journey uncomfortable. The sound of the wind made it difficult to hear anything from upwind of the tower. While Truston, Antioch, and Cedric were distracted with banter, Maeve scouted ahead, noticing the odd statues guarding the entrance. She crept up to a side window and overheard snippets of the cultists' chant as they performed their ritual inside. The tower was lit with an unnatural blue-violet light, and a lantern had been raised to the roof, serving as an arcane beacon.
Maeve struggled to make out the words of the chant but did hear vague references to the manifestation being summoned. Meanwhile, the rest of the party approached the main door of the tower. Truston, suspecting the statues might be some form of eidolon, reasoned that their presence was likely meant to deter direct combat. He approached the statues, showing Antioch’s amulet, and was granted safe passage.
As the door opened, Truston turned invisible and entered the tower. The wind outside masked his entry, and Maeve seized the opportunity to move into a better position near the window. Inside the tower, Eldara Rookwood, the elderly cultist leader, was leading a chant from a leather-bound book. The cultists were chanting about the Ashbound Boar, a dwarven mythological beast. Truston silently climbed into the rafters to observe, while Maeve overheard a conversation between Alec, Gareth, and Mira about their concerns over the elk still roaming the woods. They seemed to be worried about its power, suggesting that the manifestations were not under their full control yet.
As the ritual concluded, Antioch and Cedric decided to try their hand at impersonating cultists. Cedric used a fake amulet to try and convince the statues to let them pass, but they only allowed Cedric to enter, blocking Antioch. This caused a disturbance, and the cultists, now aware of the interruption, opened the door. In the chaos, Cregg, a cultist the party had met earlier, recognized Cedric's voice and a scuffle broke out.
At that moment, Truston took his chance. As the cultists focused on the situation at the door, he fired a crossbow bolt directly into Eldara’s head, pinning her to her seat. For a moment, her death went unnoticed, and Truston used the distraction to become invisible again. The rest of the cultists, in a panic, attempted to carry Eldara’s body toward a secret door hidden beneath the tower.
Maeve opened fire on the cultists, and Gareth and Alec attempted to get Eldara's body to safety. Meanwhile, Cregg grabbed Cedric and pinned him against a wall. Three other cultists rushed to help, believing they had the upper hand with the eidolons. Erik Ironfist, a blacksmith whom Antioch recognized from the forge, commanded the eidolons to seize Antioch. Truston, observing the scene, saw how Erik had used his amulet to control the eidolons and decided to act. He raised his own cultist amulet and commanded the eidolons to release Antioch and follow the cultists underground. With the eidolons distracted, the party quickly dispatched the remaining cultists to prevent them from revealing their true identities.