Session 9
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Beginning XP | 290 |
| Beginning gold | 163 gold, 142 silver, 13 copper |
| Ending XP | 620 |
| Ending gold | 163 gold, 142 silver, 13 copper |
13 Pharast 4710
The morning began under a heavy shroud of mist, where Djames suffered a restless sleep. His dreams were haunted by the visage of an undead bridge-builder, who begged for justice at Nettle’s Crossing at the crossing of the Shrike River. Djames heaved, coughed, and wheezed most heavily in his sleep, and was awoken by a concerned Leonardo and Lizzy. Upon waking, Djames was drained and fatigued, a grim reminder of the nightmare’s impact, but counted himself blessed with the continued support of Leonardo and Lizzy.
Despite the oppressive mist and Djames’ weakened state, the party pressed onward, with Lizzy using her scouting abilities to speed up travel. Djames, still weary from his ordeal, hung across his horse, brushing his faithful steed Jet during breaks to calm his restless mind.
By evening, the group made camp, but rest was short-lived. A wild owlbear descended upon them, screeching into the night. Fear gripped the party - Djames and Lizzy steeled themselves but were shaken, while in rare moment of fear, Leonardo’s resolve faltered. The creature lunged for Djames, slashing his face and piling on conditions that slowed and sickened him. Despite his wounds, Djames began singing to inspire his allies, retreating toward them with halting steps.
Lizzy fired her bow, but her shot missed its mark, skittering off rubble. The owlbear charged again, sending Djames crashing to the ground under its relentless assault. Leonardo leapt into action, his healing magic stabilizing Djames as the two worked to regroup. Meanwhile, Lizzy found refuge in a narrow slit in the ruins and, using her wits, called upon the surrounding flora to animate a corpse. The result was a Yellow Musk Thrall, a shambling construct of bone and vines adorned with yellow flowers.
The owlbear, undeterred, turned its fury on Jet, Djames’s loyal horse, striking the beast with devastating force. Djames and Leonardo, recovering from their conditions, joined forces with the thrall to drive the owlbear back. Leonardo struck from behind, while the thrall tangled the creature in vines. After a brutal exchange, the owlbear fell, leaving the party battered but victorious.
The night was quiet once more, but the cost of survival weighed heavily. Jet’s, Djames’, and Leonardo’s grievous injuries cast a shadow over their victory, while the events of the day served as a grim reminder of the dangers they faced in the untamed wilds of the Greenbelt.
Summary
14 Pharast 4710
After recovering from the ordeal, the party resumed their journey and arrived at Oleg’s Trading Post. By midday, they reached Oleg’s Trading Post - sometimes referred to by Djames as “Oleg’s Début,” a nod to the place where their adventure began. There, the party turned in two completed quests, earning experience and rewards for their efforts.
At the trading post, the group was introduced to the druid Jhod Kavken. Jhod spoke passionately of visions he had received: a temple hidden to the east, overshadowed by a cursed presence. Though his descriptions were vague, Oleg’s familiarity with the area knowledge filled in the gaps, providing clearer directions to both the mysterious temple and Nettle’s Crossing.
While at the trading post, the party restocked supplies and made preparations for the next leg of their journey. Leonardo placed a special order for a pair of Healer’s Gloves to enhance his abilities, ensuring their group would be better equipped for the challenges ahead. After a hearty meal and an evening of rest, the heroes resolved to set out in the morning, their goals firmly in mind: to locate the temple and uncover the truth behind Jhod’s vision.
Summary
- The party meets Jhod Kavken
- Leonardo orders Healer’s Gloves
15 Pharast 4710
With Jhod Kavken accompanying them, the party set out toward the location of the temple described in Jhod’s visions. Lizzy took the lead, her scouting abilities quickly identifying their destination: the Temple of the Elk, hidden within the wilderness. Overgrown with vines and moss, the temple was a serene yet eerie sight, marred by the presence of a massive, cursed grizzly bear. Like Lizzy, branches sprouted unnaturally from its pelt, a manifestation of the corruption it carried.
As the group approached, they encountered Tristian, a man of faith and a fellow seeker of the temple’s purification. Lizzy was completely distracted by Tristian’s appearance and discovered new facets of her own romantic and sexual identity. However, the looming danger of the cursed bear demanded their attention. Tension simmered with the cursed bear before Tristian fired the first shot, forcing the bear to charge.
The battle was ferocious. The cursed beast ignored most attacks, singling out Djames as its prey. With terrifying strength, it flung him aside like a ragdoll, leaving him battered and vulnerable. Lizzy urged the party to let her deliver the killing blows using Amiri’s dagger. The blade, imbued with primal power, struck true, her second hit finding its mark as the creature turned its attention to Leonardo.
As the bear collapsed, its form shifted, revealing an old, wrinkled man beneath its monstrous exterior. Lizzy rushed to catch him as he fell, cradling him as he began to age rapidly before their eyes. With his last breath, he whispered, “Thank you…” before his body crumbled to dust. As his life faded, the temple itself seemed to awaken. Grass grew greener, vines thrived with vibrant energy, and waters sprang forth, crystal-clear and healing.
The group drank from the rejuvenating waters, feeling their wounds mend and their spirits lifted. The revitalized temple stood as a testament to the cleansing of corruption, its beauty a stark contrast to the curse that had once tainted it.
In the aftermath, Lizzy and Djames noticed vibrant purple flowers scattered across the temple grounds. They gathered the blooms together in a rare moment of levity, and Lizzy even tucked a flower into Djames’s well-maintained white curls.
The Temple of the Elk, once a place of despair, now once again shines as a beacon of resilience and renewal.
Summary
- The party has found the Temple of the Elk
- Defeated the cursed grizzly bear
- Found purple flowers
16 Pharast 4710
The party set out toward Nettle’s Crossing. Djames was determined to confront the source of his nightmares and find peace from the ghost that had plagued his sleep. By nightfall, they arrived at the haunting site. Two dilapidated houses stood on either side of the river, and a rusted bell hung on a pole near the shore. Lizzy curiously rang the bell, summoning the figure from Djames’s dream.
The apparition emerged from the nearer house. The specter introduced himself as Davik Nettle, once a toll-keeper on a bridge he had built over the Shrike River. Nettle recounted his tragic fate: he had defied the Stag Lord’s demand for the Stag Lord Bandits to use the bridge Davik had built freely and without question. In retaliation, the Stag Lord and his men burned Nettle alive in his home. Now, consumed by vengeance, Nettle haunted the crossing, demanding retribution for his death. He tasked the party with killing the Stag Lord and throwing his body into the river to appease his restless soul.
The party, though sympathetic to Nettle’s plight, hesitated to make a promise. They were determined to see justice done but unwilling to commit to outright revenge. Lizzy offered Nettle a new bridge and the freedom to continue operating the bridge to help travellers cross in peace, once the Stag Lord was dealt with. Nettle, blinded by his desire for vengeance, dismissed these gestures as inadequate.
Lizzy attempted to reason with the spirit through a healing spell, seeking to calm his anger, but this only served to anger Nettle, and he retaliated with his ranseur, warning the party against further action. Though they healed Lizzy quickly, the group realized that Nettle was beyond reason, consumed entirely by his hatred for the Stag Lord.
Disheartened but resolute, the party left the haunted crossing, deciding to confront the Stag Lord on their own terms. While Nettle’s demands weighed heavily on their minds, they chose to follow their principles, balancing justice with their instincts. The specter, left to his hatred, faded back into the shadows of the cursed crossing as the party prepared for the challenges ahead.
Lizzy prepared a hearty meal for the group before they departed, boosting their spirits and sharpening their resolve. Her cooking seemed to be more than just nourishing, and the party felt alleviated and encouraged by the meal.
Still unsettled from their encounter with Davik Nettle, the party set out once again, their path winding back through the Greenbelt, back towards Oleg’s Trading Post.
Summary
- Party finds the source of Djames’ nightmares
- Party has met Davik Nettle
- David Nettle has demanded that the party throws the Stag Lord’s body in the Sellen River. The party has refused, out of a desire to avoid actions purely rooted in vengeance.
- Party heads back to Oleg’s Trading Post