Highfell Journals Session #3 (7 OCTOBER 2024)

    We were going to do allot in between session via discord. We did not so the session became more of an Roleplaying and planning session. It picks up in the Inn of the Wanton Wench with the PCs dividing their spoils but deciding not to sell the jewelry or use the gold and silver bars in Thatchum as they were clearly marked with the large initials of Bartholmew Krimm and his Mage Sigil. The loot is stored in their communal room and they begin buying drinks in the Inn to loosen lips about rumors and how others are getting up to Highfell. They learn again that the Mystics of Matowb sponsor expeditions but have decided they are not going to deal with that faction nor share any loot or treasure gained with them which is normally  the agreement for items to get adventurers up into the floating ruins. 

    They learn several rumors and then depart to various locations about town to make purchases. Galandar secludes himself and uses his Write spell to start copying a few of the scrolls they had gained from the missing Arch Mages Magnificent Cottage. Bristerhahn tags along with Wolf-Crest to the tent of the travelling merchant Quinari Stol, he purchases a crow bar and inquires about a variety of things learning that the crafty travelling merchant is open to buying things or selling things that other merchants might ask questions about. He leans in says these things quietly. We begin having allot of Watto comparisons and gypsy references but I was trying to go Berber but it works. I rarely do voices but it's come easily for the travelling merchant. Wolf-Crest & Bristerhahn depart to inform the rest of the party that he has found someone who can liquidate; or fence, the jewelry and trade bars.

    Darkass visits the Briny Brothers Caravan Company. He encounters the crippled Master Zag being carried by his large oafish right hand man George. There he purchases a box to send off the severe head of Oswald Kohl. When questioned about the nature of this parcel he bluntly informs Master Zag that it was an assassination for crimes committed in Threshold and he is sending t his parcel to the Assassin's Guild for proof of death. Master Zag has himself lowered and we decide to have his personality as combination of Ricky Berwick and Master Blaster. It works too well. This is a good bit of entertaining role play with obnoxious NPC meeting straight faced gnome killer.

   Meanwhile Postulant Alaric awakens to find his shoes missing. He spends most of the morning barefoot before coming to the realization he has been harried again by the pixies. HE explains his situation to a Cleric in the Temple of the Blue Star and he is referred up to Maladar Stargazer. I still use Reaction Roll Tables and have the PCs roll several times this evening. Postulant Alaric explains how he released the Pixies from book ends simply by touching them and now they are being mischievous to him. The high priest determines that the young monk is not enchanted so it is of their own free will that the faeries are following him. "Are the pixies in the room with us now ?" Deciding to accept his fate or make peace with the fey he seeks out Brother Ambrose to return the magical locket and letter he had sent to Ermelinda Krimm. HE finds him in an excited conversation with Captain Tenneal who departs as Alaric approaches. Returning the items to Brother Ambrose who shortly departs informing he will be checking on the Cottage to make sure it is not defiled or damaged for the eventual return of Bartholmew Krimm & Ermelinda Krimm along with their trusty man servant. HE meets the rest of the party at the Inn of the Wanton Wench and then everyone but the monk Alaric depart to the tent of the transient gypsy merchant Quinari Stol

    Presenting the jewelry and bars he discreetly puts most of them under a blanket on the  table then pockets the jewelry as it is handed to him. He offers a lil over 500 gold coin. This is questioned as being light by Bristerhahn but Quinari Stol counters that he can hail a guard to escort hem to The Silver Nugget and deal with Nyx. All above board mind you in full view of the guard, he shrugs. They take the coinage and return to the Inn of the Wanton Wench. The rest of the day is spent in the Inn buying drinks and attempting to recruit the Sisterhood of the Spear while plying them with Beer & Ale. It turns sour when Bristerhahn tries to enlist the aid of the barkeep Truna. They retire after learning that the Sisterhood of the Spear are going to the Mystics of Matowb on the following day to answer summons about a tower that has fallen from Highfell after hitting a mountain in the Bone Peaks. They believe they can get there ahead of them and plunder it before the four vixens can make it there.

    They Depart on the following morning.

    The Overland travel for Dragonslayer follows basic hex crawl encounter procedure. It is different from how I have run these sort of things in the past but quicker to resolve. Several Skeletons are destroyed by the PCs before camping after a strong storm. I adjust the movement as they travel into the Great Salt Reach and determine it is half move similar to a desert but crunchier. I roll a random encounter and after determining encounter distance decide it is an ambush with the Giant Spitting Beetles hidden below the salt flat and roll for surprise. The Party is surprised and after rolling the attacks Galandar is slain immediately. A surprise round is devastating to a first level group honestly. They dispatch the beetles with one fleeing back underground and as they are cleaning weapons and wrapping up the fallen body of Galandar another elf is seen running towards the party, out of breathe he requests to join them as his adventuring party came to a horrible demise ...

   Its cheesy but it works and fits in nice and snuggly to keep the game running and we will pick up at this exact point next Monday. I still need to make a fallen tower to explore of maybe reskin something really quick, I dunno I got a week to come up with something so its all good.