Session 21
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Beginning XP | 380 XP (Level 5) |
| Beginning gold | 2 platinum, 455 gold, 353 silver, 813 copper |
| Ending XP | 635 XP (Level 5) |
| Ending gold | 2 platinum, 455 gold, 353 silver, 813 copper |
29 Arodus 4710 (Continued)
Confrontation with Howl-of-the-North-Wind
Howl-of-the-North-Wind snarled in Orcish. Leonardo translated: leave or die. The hex belonged to the wargs, claimed for Hargulka.
Djacques’s Hypercognition had dug up contradictory rumors about Hargulka—either the greatest troll warrior in the region’s history, commanding thousands from a fortified stronghold, or just some brute with a tree branch and fifteen followers. Hard to know what they were actually dealing with.
Lizzy wondered if they could recruit the wargs and trolls instead of fighting them. Leonardo shut that down fast. “We shouldn’t allow monsters to claim hexes. We need to keep our citizens safe."
"The wargs and trolls are mostly a threat to the River Kingdoms,” Kairos said. “If they were as dangerous as the worst rumors say, the kingdoms would be gone already.” She looked at Lizzy. “Actually, I’m impressed you talked those Frost Giants into leaving back in Brevoy. That took skill.”
Lizzy turned to Howl-of-the-North-Wind and asked for an audience with Hargulka. The words came out wrong—a diplomatic faux pas. Djacques jumped in with Distracting Flattery, making it look like a miscommunication between party members instead of an insult.
Howl-of-the-North-Wind growled. “Hargulka owns the entire Stolen Lands. He would not deign to parley with the likes of you.”
The bushes rustled. Shapes moved in the undergrowth.
Leonardo glanced at the others. “Should we really allow the wargs to invade our territory?” He drew his weapon. Kairos heard the question, understood what he meant, and drew hers too.
The Warg Pack Attack
Wargs exploded from the bushes. One lunged at Lizzy, jaws gaping wide. It used Swallow Whole and Lizzy vanished down its throat. Ryu was still outside, safe for now.
Leonardo activated Security, casting Shield of the Spirits. Kairos got the protective aura for a minute. Leonardo’s shield raised.
Djacques started Courageous Anthem with Lingering Composition, then cast Command on the warg that had eaten Lizzy: puke her out. Inside the creature’s stomach, Lizzy cast Hydraulic Push at the same time.
Another warg charged Braun (Djacques’s horse Weiß, renamed for the day) and bit down. Shield of the Spirits triggered—the warg took damage from Leonardo’s divine aura. It tried to Trip Braun. Shield of the Spirits hit it again.
Kairos moved in for a Spellstrike. Missed. Another warg went for Kairos. Leonardo used Glimpse of Redemption, giving it a chance to back off. The warg refused redemption and kept attacking, but Leonardo’s power cut the damage to nothing. The warg tried to trip Kairos next, took another 5 damage from Shield of the Spirits.
Several wargs flanked Leonardo, trying to bring him down through numbers. Leonardo struck the one that had swallowed Lizzy, hit hard enough to make it vomit her up. He refreshed Shield of the Spirits.
A warg attacked Leonardo, missed twice. Another charged Kairos, took damage from Shield of the Spirits.
Djacques and Braun got up from prone. Djacques mounted and they broke free from the two wargs that had pinned them.
Lizzy was out of the warg’s stomach. She cast Horizon Thunder Sphere, the full three-action version. Howl-of-the-North-Wind stood close by. He struck back at Lizzy but took damage from Shield of the Spirits. Leonardo hit him with Glimpse of Redemption—would he accept it? Howl-of-the-North-Wind refused and kept attacking.
A purple-furred warg went for Braun. Missed. Shield of the Spirits hurt it. It attacked again, took more damage, but this time its fangs sank in. Braun bled from the bite.
Kairos cast Twirling Staff. The spinning weapon killed the warg Lizzy had hit with Horizon Thunder Sphere, then slammed into another warg. Kairos entered Arcane Cascade and moved. The injured warg went for Braun. Shield of the Spirits triggered. The retaliatory damage killed it.
The surviving wargs surrounded Lizzy. They smelled blood. Howl-of-the-North-Wind struck—critical hit. Lizzy collapsed, dying. Leonardo rushed over and used Treat Wounds while Howl-of-the-North-Wind kept attacking. Lizzy came back, wounded but conscious. Leonardo struck Howl-of-the-North-Wind. The warg leader fell dead.
The rest of the pack broke and ran.
Kairos chased them and cut down one. Lizzy, Leonardo, and Djacques went after another. Kairos chased a third. The chase crossed a small pond. Kairos jumped it. Lizzy fell in with a splash.
Lizzy dragged herself out, soaked. She and Kairos cornered the warg and threatened it until it talked. The creature knew almost nothing—Howl-of-the-North-Wind had terrorized it into service. But it had heard one thing: Hargulka was probably based in a former dwarven settlement.
Good intelligence. The party captured the warg and decided to take it back to Hexpan for taming.
30 Arodus 4710
We begin our travels back to Hexpan, with the wolf. When we return, Djacquess take the time to finally tell Leonardo about his relationship with Lander Lebeda. Leonardo is left with several questions, mostly on what it means for the court politics, but isn’t particularly saddened about him.
There’s a travelling merchant travelling through the area. The merchant is named Floris. He has a private workshop and is willing to fix the sword. Lizzy buys an armor rune for 160 gp.
We spend our 2 platinum to have the sword fixed. He also transfers the Striking rune to the Bastard Sword, for 5 gold.
Djacquess receives a deadlock mint in a letter, where the letter says it’s ” from a secret admirer”, though Djacquess recognizes the handwriting as Lander Lebeda’s. Djacquess asks Lizzy what it is, but Djacquess himself only knows it grows at places where a big battle has occurred.
Ryu knocks the letter out of Djacquess’ hands. Djacquess is somewhat upset with Ryu and asks Lizzy to return the letter as soon as possible.
Summary:
Major Events (29 Arodus 4710):
- Failed diplomatic negotiations with Howl-of-the-North-Wind
- Combat with warg pack led by Howl-of-the-North-Wind
- Lizzy was swallowed whole but rescued
- Defeated Howl-of-the-North-Wind and his pack
- Captured surviving warg for potential taming
- Learned Hargulka is likely in a former dwarven settlement
- Intelligence Gathered:
- Hargulka claims ownership of the entire Stolen Lands
- Hargulka refuses diplomatic contact
- Hargulka is likely based in a former dwarven settlement (location still unknown)
- Wargs serve Hargulka through intimidation and fear
XP Gained:
- Warg pack combat: 75 XP
- Cave encounters: 180 XP
- Total: 255 XP
- Session total: 1380 XP → 1635 XP
Loot:
- 1 captured wolf (being brought to Hexpan for taming)
- 2 days of Warg Jerky
- A warg pelt