Session 001: The Road to the Keep

Player Characters

• Igor: Level 1 Dwarf Fighter
• Eduardo: Level 1 Halfling Rogue
• Daniel: Level 1 Elf Wizard
• Cameron: Level 1 Dwarf Cleric

Non-Player Characters Encountered

• Haldryk: The dwarven Innkeeper at the Keep, encountered hunting an elk.
• Pral: An extravagantly dressed bandit who attempted to rob the party.
• Bartho & Gala: Guards at the Keep's main gate.
• Umbrusk: The barkeep at The Drunken Dragon tavern.
• Dwern: An advisor to the castellan, offered the party a quest.

Locations Visited

• Keep on the Borderlands
• The Drunken Dragon (Tavern)
• The Fortress (within the Keep)
• The Woods (Wilderness region)

On the Trail to the Keep

The party, having accepted a job to assist the Keep on the Borderlands, traveled for over a week to reach the final trail.

• The Abandoned Wagon: The party discovered an abandoned wagon with signs of a scuffle, but found nothing of interest inside.
• The Elk and the Innkeeper: They startled a majestic elk, which drew the ire of Haldryk, a dwarf who introduced himself as the Innkeeper. He was displeased when the party refused to help him hunt the animal.
• The Bandit's Bluff: Nearing the Keep, the party was stopped by a well-dressed bandit named Pral who demanded their valuables. The Cleric and Fighter successfully intimidated him, causing him to back down. As he left, he whistled, revealing at least four hidden allies who did not engage.

Arrival at the Keep

• The party arrived at the Keep and was greeted by the gate guards, Bartho and Gala.
• After stating their business, the drawbridge was lowered. The guards provided a brief overview of the available services and warned them that combat is prohibited within the walls.

The Drunken Dragon Tavern

• The group went to the tavern and met the barkeep, Umbrusk.
• The mood in the tavern was welcoming.
• Umbrusk shared a rumor: "the guards in the outer gate will let anyone in for the right price".
• He directed them to the castellan and his advisers in the Fortress.

The Fortress & A Quest

• In the fortress courtyard, the party saw several guards training.
• They were welcomed inside and met Dwern, one of the castellan's advisers.
• After reviewing their job letter, Dwern offered them a new quest.

New Quest: Chart the Wilderness

• Quest Giver: Dwern
• Objective: Travel to the three regions of the wilderness and have an encounter in each to successfully chart them.
• Reward: A large gem (valued at 80-100 gold) and free lodging (no food/drink) at the Inn.

Secret Ritual in the Woods

The party first ventured into the Woods to begin their mapping quest.

• They discovered a strange, rune-carved statue surrounded by four robed figures chanting in an evil ritual.
• The cultists attacked on sight when the party tried to intervene.
• Combat Summary:
  • The Wizard put one cultist to sleep.
  • The Fighter landed two critical hits, decapitating two cultists.
  • The Rogue dispatched the third cultist.
• The party subdued and held the final, sleeping cultist to interrogate him.
• Upon waking, the cultist broke free of the grapple, screamed "CHAOOOOOS", and fatally impaled himself on his own sickle.