Session 5
Cellar Conversations
Section titled “Cellar Conversations”The party are caught off guard by the man introducing himself as Drethos Longwood; who propositions Graxious directly after making an appearance.
“I must say; cub, your armour and declaration of faith the other day reminded me of my Sister-in-law. I thought it but a coincidence but seeing your eyes and self-important demeanour just now - that reminds me of my Brother.
You wouldn’t happen to know them, would you?”
- Drethos to Graxious
The two Leonin males spoke around each other in a tense discussion - with neither side truly sure of how much the other side knew. Drethos suddenly rocketed upwards as the ladder; the only entrance to the ground floor of The Snatchers’ Headquarters, was yanked upwards.
An armoured Bugbear jumped down from the skylight, and a Hobgoblin - by knocking the young girl from the prior day unconscious - made his presence known in the back of the cellar.
A test
Section titled “A test”“If you truly are Zertheous’ son, you’ll find your way to me. I’ll be waiting.”
- Drethos’ command
Drethos’ words boomed down from above as a battle began in the dark and damp cellar. The party of 6 adventurers made quick work of the combatants - with a truly brutal show of force by Jin against the Hobgoblin male. Morgyn dealt the final blow against the male Bugbear using a Ray Of Sickness spell.
Aurevald and Jin worked together to acrobatically pull the ladder back into the cellar.
Drethos Fight
Section titled “Drethos Fight”The party each made their way up the ladder; with Jin leading the way, and witnessed a crowd of The Snatchers part - leading them towards a makeshift combat ring against Drethos. The older Leonin male shouted at Graxious - publicly recognizing him as his Nephew - whilst drawing a shortsword and the large, ornate scimitar off his back.
“Maybe you’re more than a cub, Nephew.
If you and your friends can best me in combat, I’ll tell you the truth about Eriana’s Vow AND I’ll disband The Snatchers as well.”
- Drethos’s offer to Graxious and the party
A large scale combat took place amongst the crowd of The Snatchers; commanded by Drethos not to intervene in the fight, between the 6 adventurers and the older Leonin male alone. Graxious attempted to intimidate his Uncle with a roar but failed to frighten him fully. This distracted Drethos enough however that Morgyn was able to successfully administer a short-term poison via a Ray Of Sickness spell, reducing the older Leonin male’s impact in the early part of the conflict.
“That sword should have been mine… Even as children, Zertheous promised me he would give it to me if he was chosen. He said that for our entire lives, right up until the day where it chose him…
He was a hero for wielding it, whilst I was labelled an outlaw!”
- Drethos to Graxious about Eriana’s Vow
The fight drew on with Drethos recovering from his poisoning and launching Jin into the crowd for an impactful blow. All combatants noticed that the red right eye of Drethos began to expand across his face as he grew stronger and more violent.
“Elysia’s elders turned their backs on me - they all knew I was the stronger brother and yet they still sided with him…
The jokes’ on them though. He got sick and ”
- Drethos to Graxious about his experience in Elysia
The veteran fighter proved his prowess after managing to knock down the durable Aurevald with a flurry of slashes; seemingly enhanced by an enchantment on the Scimitar.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you Nephew. You would’ve been so much stronger had I taught you instead of that washed up kitten of a father.”
Through teamwork and resolve, the party managed to withstand the onslaught of Graxious’s Uncle. As the fight entered it’s closing moments, Drethos made a final command to The Snatchers surrounding the fight - fulfilling the first part of the deal he had made to the party.
“Goddamn it. I’ve made my bed and I’ll sleep in it - but maybe I can save some of them from this fate. Snatchers, my final order is this:
Leave this place and find work elsewhere. I led a life of crime and look where it got me - an early grave at the hands of my Nephew. Each of you, turn over the new leaf that I wasn’t strong enough to and there could be a happy ending for you still.”
- Drethos’s final command to The Snatchers, accepting his defeat
Drethos used the remainder of his strength to knock both Graxious and Jin unconscious, before asking SHAI to heal his Nephew in order to share his final words.
Another man’s dying words
Section titled “Another man’s dying words”Drethos; through laboured breaths, made good on his promise to his Nephew and shared the truth about Eriana’s Vow - the sword that Graxious has been searching for.
“Graxious, is it? Please come close to hear another dying man’s wish.
The truth about Eriana’s Vow is… I lost the sword shortly after I took it from your Father - I crossed the border into Terick and was quickly captured by the guards.
A man named Douglas Beck collected it from the Guards before I was locked up. I haven’t managed to learn much about him other than that he has business in Roan and Zenytha.
One more thing… Be careful, Nephew. I have a feeling that something larger is happening behind all of this. I spent 30 years searching for a way out of that prison - if one existed by accident, I would’ve found it much sooner.
Someone; close to the Crown, wanted us to escape. I’m sure of it.”
- Drethos’s dying words to Graxious.
Drethos Longwood’s body fell limp as his consciousness passed into afterlife, with roots and plants surrounded his corpse; creating a makeshift gravesite for Graxious’ fallen Uncle.
Rest and Revelations
Section titled “Rest and Revelations”In the moments after the battle, the party tended to their wounds and began to asses the situation in front of them. Graxious collected his Uncle’s swords and keys before he and the party investigated the cells behind them.
From left-to-right, they opened each cell and freed the captives inside. The elderly woman from the other day; introducing herself as Rootkeeper Drahn, was concerned about the young girl she’d protected the prior day before finding her climbing up the ladder from the cellar. The second and third cells contained Amon Romellet and Evony Julio; who had been noticed cuddling up to each other whilst in private - before sheepishly , and the other citizens of Rookwell - Evan Braelon, Marcus Grane, and Darren Stock.
In the fourth cell; alongside the adventurers that worked with Declin Bellum, they found a command Human woman with red hair and pale blue eyes. She identified herself as Carmen Flint - the leader of The Homestead that Varg had asked them to return safely. She expressed gratitude for and admiration of their rescue efforts before warning them about the cell next to them.
In the final cell they found 4 unconscious men wearing the attire of The Rouge, the other criminal gang from Forest’s Edge. Graxious and Jin decided best to leave them locked up for the time being.
Aurevald attempts to speak with the voices
Section titled “Aurevald attempts to speak with the voices”Aurevald wandered off and attempted to commune with the voices he’d been hearing for the past while. Whilst it wasn’t clear to those outside, he was reliving a memory that had long been buried in his subconscious. The Goliath male’s meditation was broken by the voice of Rootkeeper Drahn as she approached the Goliath male, breaking him from his meditation.
“You… Born of Fire… Raised by the Wind… Matured on the Sea… And now you explore the Earth. You are one with the natural spirits, are you not?
I am Rootkeeper Drahn; a… tenant of these woods. It is my job to tend to sacred sites and protect the natural beauty of this place.”
- Drahn interrupts Aurevald’s meditation.
Drahn shared words of wisdom with the Goliath male whilst promising him assistance in navigating out of the Shadesorrow Forest.
“Freedom is many things; but trading a cruel master for a benevolent one, it is not.”
- Drahn advice to Aurevald
SHAI confronts BLUE
Section titled “SHAI confronts BLUE”SHAI noticed one of the men working for Declin Bellum; as part of Bellum’s Bell-Ends, consistently looking over at him with a sense of recognition in his face. SHAI seemed to recognize him as an acquaintance known as BLUE and confronted him. The two appeared to share words telepathically before going their separate ways.
As SHAI turned to leave, he caught Declin Bellum mumbling under his breath whilst looking in the direction of Lady Snowblood. SHAI informed Lady in case the words meant anything to her.
“Ignis…”
- Declin’s mumbling to himself…
Lady Snowblood gets the truth from Declin Bellum
Section titled “Lady Snowblood gets the truth from Declin Bellum”Lady approached Declin Bellum; who had a more sombre look on his face than prior conversations, and the two shared a touching conversation where Declin revealed truths about his role in the death of Lady’s father. He also confirmed that the bracers worn by Drethos were once owned by Ignis Snowblood himself; although he wasn’t sure how they’d ended up this far from Stahn.
Declin apologized again for his inaction surrounding the death of Lady’s father and offered her any assistance in the future that he could provide to help make amends for it.
Celebrations with endless booze
Section titled “Celebrations with endless booze”As night began to set in, Morgyn infused a jug to pour out a seemingly endless about of beer for all to drink. The 6 adventurers and the rescued townsfolk of Rookwell and Forest’s Edge prepared for one last night in former hideout of The Snatchers before heading to sleep.
The Road Home
Section titled “The Road Home”The following Tormark morning brought with it a refreshing warmth despite the gloomy atmosphere of the Shadesorrow Forest surrounding the stone structure around them. Jin and Graxious noticed that the 4 generals of The Rouge had regained consciousness overnight and were demanding to be let out; with a Human male with Blonde Hair in a ponytail being quite snippy with Carmen Flint through the bars of his cell.
The Rope Dilemma
Section titled “The Rope Dilemma”Graxious and Jin opened the cell, with the latter binding the arms of the generals. Aurevald suddenly came over and undid these bindings; protesting the use of the bindings at all. A dispute between Jin; concerned over the risk of losing out on additional rewards from Varg, and Aurevald; displeased with restricting the freedoms of another living being for personal reasons, took place during the morning’s preparations. After a back-and-forth, Jin relented so long as Aurevald accepted the blame if any-or-all of them did manage to escape.
Leaving the forest
Section titled “Leaving the forest”Rootkeeper Drahn gave Aurevald a special stone with a temporary enchantment enhancing his; and only his, ability to navigate the tricky terrain of the Shadesorrow Forest. She, and the young child with her, bid farewell as they disappeared into a portal opened in a nearby tree.
The stone lead them through the path of least resistance, providing Aurevald with a clear vision even in the darkness of the forest. With this enhancement, the party were able to travel a prolonged distance and found their way back to the clearing; with the 4 mysterious pillars, they’d found the prior day. Aurevald inquired if BLUE knew anything about them but the conversation quickly got derailed in part due to BLUE’s snarky attitude.
The party and the rescued townsfolk made the trek back to Forest’s Edge on the same day due to leaving the Shadesorrow Forest easier than expected.
The 6 adventurers returned to All-On-Red with Carmen Flint and the 4 generals of The Rouge to receive their reward from Varg.
“Well Carmen! Aren’t ya a sore for sight eyes?!”
- Varg’s reaction to the return of Carmen Flint
The party were offered 300 Gold pieces and a choice between either a special dagger or a pair of boots.
“For returning ‘er safely to us; here’s 300 gold to split between each of ‘ya.
And for delivering the Rouge bastards to us - you can take your pick between this ‘ere special dagger I stole off a military advisor from Zenytha or these magical boots that helped me stay extra sneaky on a mission a while back.”
- Varg’s description of the rewards.
The group decided to take the Boots; as they’d likely be helpful for Morgyn in the future, and made their way out of the casino. Jin tested his luck on the way out of All-On-Red and managed to win over 100 gold with a dealt Blackjack.
They party found lodging at The Drunken Delight with Krike Wildborn offering them and their rescuees cheaHomelodging as a Homeur for helping out The Homestead. Graxious noticed Pepper hanging out at the bar and decided to speak with her, whilst Morgyn began to identify the magical items they’d come into ownership of. Drethos’ sword was identified as Overkiller’s Edge and the boots were identified as Boots of Enhanced Stealth.
Searching For Shops
Section titled “Searching For Shops”After a few drinks, Aurevald and Graxious headed out to explore the rest of Forest’s Edge where they drank some less-than-stellar alcohol made by Darla Thene at The Grog Stop, had their fortunes read by a Tabaxi woman named Fate, and were barred from entry at Fortune’s Flavour; a casino/bar owned by The Rouge.
Jin left in search of a weapon shop and ended up speaking to a bodyguard at All-On-Red. There he learnt that The Rouge controlled a small black-market in the town for weapons and other magical goods, but it was likely not well stocked at the moment. The bodyguard also warned that he and the party might be blacklisted from their establishment because of the deal they made with Varg.
They all turned in for the night and prepared for the upcoming journey home to Rookwell.
An uneventful Lowmark morning awoke the 6 adventurers as they made final preparations to escort the townsfolk of Rookwell home. The journey was peaceful; a welcome change of pace from the thrill of the past few days for most of the party. As the sun began to crest the horizon, the town of Rookwell came into view - with reunited friends and family cheering at the visage of their newfound heroes.
Sheriff Gavyen Theos personally thanked the party and awarded them 600 gold for their efforts. He also informed them that Axton; the Tiefling male that had briefly accompanied them, had headed North East towards Roan. Gavyen Theos had asked him to head there with Aurevald and Morgyn’s cart; which needed repairs not feasible in Rookwell, and to find help for the amnesic Halfling woman they’d rescued on the road to Forest’s Edge.