Players in Attendance: Chris Rocco (Pendrynn Hamut), Jason Jurisch (Froimos), Dustin Haugen (Barack Tenderfoot), Jason Alway, (Kurok Stonehammer)

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Recap: Last episode, we saw the Dragonslayer Cohort tying up their visit to Port Flume, traveling on to Burrowdown Vale, home of the halfling farmers. Their caravan was attacked on their final leg of the journey, just north of Korba Pass, by a large undead Landshark (Bulette) and metal hammerers raining from the skies. Our heroes fought off the ambush, defeating the metal champions Sarpodon and Myrmidon, and limping the caravan back to the gates of Blackfield in the dark of night.

Date: Early Morning, Iounsday, the 12th of Tyden, 617 S.R. in the Elder Council Chambers, Town Hall, Blackfield.

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The party used the remainder of the day to tie up loose ends and prepare for their foray in the wild. The elders stressed that it is both an honor and a challenge to be named as a candidate of the title “Hunter of Blackfield” and that they’ll have to not only survive for at least a month outside the city’s walls, but to prove their mettle and tackle any of the concerns listed on the Messenger Scroll of the Elder Council. Also, the council continues to urge secrecy as to the challenge issued to the Dragonslayers, as it is the tradition of the Trials as well as for their own safety.

• Everyone is issued horses/ponies and full rations/water if the party wants them. The elders warn that horses might be a liability in certain terrain, and they are quite valuable to the town, so be careful with them!
• Everyone is issued pay for the remainder of the month, in advance. (37 gold each for Hunter pay) and will be paid/accrue 75 gold on the first of each future month.
• If the party had special requests for items, Turley Tunhill handled it at Bits and Bobs (within limits). Everyone is issued a basic mess kit and will be assumed to have it if they have their backpack. (Bowl/Utensil).
• Pendrynn dropped off a letter for Lisette Tunhill, talked to Elder Worthwords about a matter of legal records behind Mir’s petition to leave Blackfield. Alicia seemed nervous to be communicating about the subject, however Pendrynn ended up talking her into looking into it while he’s away. He then went to the Temple of Erathis and talked to Sage Corvara about being sent from the town on a quest to become Hunters, seeking what aid he could find. Corvara mentioned that Mir was still angry with the Dragonslayers (as are many of Erathis’ faithful) and that there is the potential for a Moonmeet at the end of the month.
• Barack took the time after packing his gear to meet with his “Boys” in their newly rented shelter. Toad was happy to see him, and gave a thorough report as to how busy and productive the Boys had become. Barack conveyed with all seriousness that they needed to stay sharp and train for the trials that would be coming. He also took the time to gift toad with the medal he earned during the Commencement Clash. Toad was overwhelmed, but promised to keep the boys in shape and training hard.
• Before heading out, Pendrynn played one final prank on Talon cohort by hiding a slab of the rotten Bulette meat under their barracks.

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Day 1 – Midnight, Meloren, the 13th of Tyden

After departing in the middle of the night through Blackfield’s Dig Site gate, the party spent the day exploring the immediate terrain surrounding Blackfield, located the collapsed exit tunnel of the AoE, located Blackfield’s small disguised fields & gardens and foraged from them before heading north and camping. The party enjoyed a sumptuous dinner of fresh vegetables and several amazing tasting hearty mushrooms that Kurok managed to spot as they rode.

Barack ranged ahead as a scout/lookout for the main party.

That night, the party decided that they would prioritize the investigation of the “Metal Men of the Mist Fens”.

The party set up three watches of 3 hours apiece. (DM Note: I’m assuming this is the official watch order unless I hear otherwise.)

1st Watch – Pendrynn and Kurok, 2nd Watch – Barack and Froimos, 3rd Watch – Poe, Davros and Kailithe

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Day 2 – Bahmsday, the 14th of Tyden

The party continued their trek north into the hilly lowlands where they searched for the entrance to Shyssal’s Lair and the Goblin caves. They found the entrance grate broken open, and signs of the cohort that followed their Namesake foray into the dragons lair. The lair itself was empty, the ice long since melted; a miasma of mold and death hung in the air.

The party ransacked the already destroyed lair, but were fortunate enough to discover a rotten pouch of gold under the partially decayed remains of one of the goblins they had killed.

Before departing the area, Froimos camouflaged the entrance to the cave with several twigs and brush.

Midway through the day’s ride north, the party discovered a small spring, refreshed themselves and their horses and refilled their waterskins.

That evening, the party wrote on their messenger scroll with updates of their progress for the Elder Council. Penndryn could be seen writing on a piece of parchment around the campfire as well.

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Day 3 – Pelsday, the 15th of Tyden
The party awoke to a mild southerly wind, the beginning of a light haze the telltale sign of the beginning of the fens to the north.

The entire day was spent skirting the periphery of the Mist Fens to the North West.

The party camped out on a hilltop.

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Day 4 – Morsday, the 16th of Tyden

Another day wrapping around the mist fens. The party moved apace despite diminished visibility and made excellent time.

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Day 5 – Iounsday, the 17th of Tyden

After another heavy day of riding, the party began to approach the range of hills that held the compromised Coal Caravan Camp One.

Barack spotted a small cave in a low hill, the party clustered around as he headed in, allowing his glowing short sword to illuminate his way. The low entrance opened into a small warren, littered with fur and dirt. A low mewling sound drew Barack’s attention to a small wolf pup cowering in the corner. Planting his sword in the dirt, Barack pulled out a sack and tried to capture the pup, as it growled, snapped and resisted his advances.

Meanwhile, outside the cave, the Dragonslayers began to hear the echoing calls of howling wolves. Davros and Poe gathered the horses rains, as the rest of the party readied their weapons and scanned the drifting mists.

Led by a feral looking goblin riding a brutishly large alpha wolf, the pack of wolves crested the neighboring hill; snarling and howling, the wolves bore down on the party’s position. Pendrynn mounted his horse and charged directly at the wolf rider. He was promptly enveloped in sea of gray fur and snapping fangs.

Shouting orders to Poe and Davros to guard the horses, the Warlord Froimos rushed forward to aid the Paladin, Kurok’s short legs pumping furiously to keep up with the lanky half-elf. Poe yelled a warning into the cave that they were under attack.

As Pendrynn rushed the goblin wolf rider, he shouted invocations of Erathis, blasting away at his foe with holy light, flinging him off his mount.

In the cave, Barack pulled out his crowbar, slamming it into the loose dirt of the cave wall, he used it as a hook to hang up the bagged and subdued wolf pup.

his horse soon fell beneath him, its throat torn out by the wolves. His horse collapsing  from underneath him, Pendrynn managed to leap off at the last minute, avoiding being pinned beneath his mount.

Froimos shouted, “Here’s where to hit them men!” and proceeded to bifurcate the entire front half of a wolf in a single gristle-spewing chop of his golden great-axe.

Davros and Poe worked on keeping the horses under control and with their backs (and hooves!) to the lone harrying wolf who was away from the pack. Nipping at the horses flanks, he didn’t see the approaching rogue until being cracked unconscious with the hilt of Barack’s short Sword.

Combat XP awarded – 150 XP for Kurok, Penndryn, Froimos and Barack. 75 XP for Poe, Kailithe and Davros

When the party mounted up to move on, Pendrynn shared Poe’s horse, as his had fallen prey to the wolves during the battle.

Barack attempted to feed the captured wolf pup but was only nipped and growled at.

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Day 6 – Meloren, the 18th of Tyden
The party, having recuperated from their fight with the gray wolves, pressed on deep into the heart of the Mist Fens. The terrain irregularly shifted between small bars of dry ground to ankle deep mud to waist deep brackish water.

The thick fog bubbling up from the murky water promptly dropped visibility to anywhere between 5 to 30 feet. (DM Note: -2 to Perception checks and Ranged Attack checks.)

Poe felt a tickling in the back of his brain and noticed that his black feather began to twitch rhythmically in a specific direction. Bringing this to the party’s attention, they determined they should attempt to head in the direction it seemed to be indicating. Sound reasoning, considering the lack of identifiable terrain features and lack of visibility.

After finding a relatively solid surface to hobble the horses, the party set up  camp and attempted to drive away a bit of the fog with a fire and a good nights sleep.

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Day 7 – Bahmsday, the 19th of Tyden

Poe’s feather seems to be pointing in a new direction. The party ends up exiting the northeastern edge of the fens, frustrated and tired at the waste of their day, they turned and plunged back into the fog.

Fate frowned on the party and left them with no suitable ground to camp. The party pushed on through the night, visibility almost zero due to the darkness and soupy vapors.

Barack swore that he saw a flash of movement off in the distance, but wrote it off to the his eyes playing tricks on him.

Barack turned back from his scouting to discover that he was separated and lost from the party. Hearing him blow on his whistle, the rest of the Dragonslayers pulled out their signal horn and responded with a low blast. After several alternating whistles and responses, Barack was reunited with the party and promptly thereafter, the entire group roped themselves together, to avoid becoming separated.

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Day 8 – Pelsday, the 20th of Tyden

Doggedly following the imperceptible movement of the icon of Poe’s deity, the party found a large patch of ground capable of supporting their horses. The group settled in to their soggy camp, lit a fire and used the remainder of the diffuse daylight to rest, cook up some grub and feed their mounts.

Determining that it would be unwise to travel the Mist Fens in the dark, the Dragonslayers enjoyed the rest of the evening around the campfire, regaling each other with their perspective of the battle with the gray wolves.

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Day 9 – Morsday, the 21st of Tyden

Waking the next morning, Froimos and Penndryn begin to show signs of some form of delirium, visibly shaking and acting nervous. (DM Note: -2 to Perception and Skill Checks)

Kurok however, was SURE he saw something out in the mists. A pair of yellow orbs, flicking in and out of view.

Drawing weapons and putting their backs to the horses, the Dragonslayers peered sharply at the outline of the figure slogging towards them, a strange “Froaking” sound coming from it. “Don’t look now men, but they’re all around us” Kurok mumbled under his breath. Indeed, the party could see several shapes approaching from all directions.

Holding their attacks, the party watched as the Bullywugs crept forward in the muck; accompanied by giant barrel-sized toads they prodded forward with spears.

Kailithe thought he could translate their primordial croaking into something resembling coherent thoughts. Much back and forth about friend or foe ensued..

A robed Bullywug stepped forward, accompanied by a massive Alligator like creature. He pointed at the plate-mail clad Pendrynn and let loose a series of throat-rending warbles. “Metal Man?” Kailithe translated a vociferous “No!” and waved at Pendrynn to remove his helm.

The robed Bullywug waved his staff in the air and dozens of additional bullywug warriors stepped forth from the mists surrounding the party. The Mud Lord waved at the Dragonslayers and croaked a terse “FwallLLooW!”

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DM Notes:

• Alway, I need an updated character creator file for Kurok
• Before the next adventure, I’ll need to level up the remaining characters, issue pre-departure gear and hand-out pay.