A citizen of Red Larch asks the characters to lend a hand with a fire witch dwelling in an Uthgardt barrow and terrorizing the Nettlebees. Locals who visited the ranch confirm the scorched barrow
mound and describe a fire symbol branding the animals. Fearful talk of an evil fire cult operating in the nearby hills fills every taproom
in the vicinity. The gossip includes much pity for the
Nettlebees, who are known for prize livestock.
Kleah and Harley are approached by a representative of the Emerald Conclave during their stay in Red Larch. The Enclave wants you both to investigate a curious event. Elizar Dryflagon has sent word throughout the Dessarin Valley that an obscure druid circle called the Circle of the Scarlet Moon knows the Rite of the Wicker Giant, a ritual that can restore nature's balance in the troubled region. Several groups have set up camps on the slopes below Scarlet Moon Hall, waiting for Elizar to invite them up to partake in the rite. He has convinced those gathered here that he's a druid of the Circle of the Scarlet Moon and promises to teach others the rite as it's performed. The Enclave is suspicious about this circle, and ritual as well, because the never heard of them. They have lost contact with some of their fellow druids who went to join in the ritual. They are not looking at them hostilely, they just want more information on this new Circle.
Fedward and Szuki you have had found some unsavory contacts. They have mentioned that the Zhentarim want to hire you to better relationships with Mirabar. They desire to expand their Black Network with Mirabar by gaining favor with them with locating the rest of the delegation that was lost. If willing to work for them, not become them, they will share information in exchange for credit for saving the delegation.
[dice=Intelligence]1d20 + 2 + 8[dice]
After a week you hear that you can get one in Thay, the Zents have accesses to one, Bregan D'aerthe can get you one, and the Pasha/Djinn in Calimshan have been known to have one.
Do you know who the Bregan De'aerthe are? Do you know where to get in contact with them? Do you have a contact to parley with? What means of communication are you going to use? Is your character ok with who the Bregan D'aerthe are?
I need you to spend the gold and roll for it Princess
I try to remember what I can about Zhentarim to see if they are acceptably trustworthy.
800 sp, 65 pp, 70 gp, 90 gp, 40 ep, 120 gp, 90 ep, 12 turquoise worth 10 gp each, gold braclets, and 47 bottles of 151 left. So 800 sp, 280 gp, 65 pp, 130 ep + 120 gp turquoise, and gold braclets and booze to sell?
Szuki you remember hearing "This shadow network seeks to expand its influence and power base throughout Faerun. Its members coerce,
persuade, or buy their way into every major area of
influence. Rogues and warlocks fill the Zhentarim's
ranks, but the faction recruits any who can conduct its
business without too many moral reservations.
Marek makes sure that the freed slaves all get where they need to be, and they have been returned to full health. Afterward he sets up shop in the local cathedral, offering healing and augury. During this Marek hears about the troubles at the Nettlebee ranch, and decides to go investigate. However, when he returns to the inn and convenes with the others it appears the have gotten word of another issue - investigating a druid ritual for the Enclave. Before leaving we purchase some wondrous items from a travelling merchant after a great deal of negotiation and intimidation.
Upon arrival at the the location of the ritual Harley and Kleah melt into the smoky haze surrounding the place. The rest of us greet a group of druids who have made camp at the edge of the gathering, and converse with them over a meal. Marek wonders why Harley and Kleah have not reappeared, since these people seem to be quite friendly.
As I sprint toward Kleah and see the brown bear charge, I dive at it, attempting to grapple it and bear (heh) it to the ground. Provided the attack and grapple both succeed, I say to the creature, "If you happen to be a wildshaped druid, now would be the time to say so."
Noticing the others look about I also attempt to catch sight of our allies.
I stop sprinting as Harley and the bear tumble to the ground in a strong bear hug. Midnight also stops (she was sprinting in front of me). I say to Harley, "I do not want to kill the creature. It was in chains at that other camp for 'causing issues with the camp grounds' around this ceremony. I wish to relocate it away from here - somewhere safer for it."
Harley you attack hits but he beats out your grapple check to continue chasing Kleah.
Szuki and Princess can see through the haze a large brown mass chasing after Kleah with Harley right behind.
Marek kind of hears a commotion of in the distance from the camp, he believes he makes out Kleah's voice and a loud growl.
"Excuse me, my new friends, but I fear another of our party may be in trouble. Thank you for dinner, hopefully we will see you again before the ritual!"
Marek heads towards the commotion.
Move toward bear once within 120' firebolt. Also stealth when I get close to 120'.
If any hit kills it, I turn the blow and do subdual damage.
Via initiative order.
Fedward turns to the commotion to the east where he hears Kleah. All he can make out is a large brown mass in the haze and dim light. Blindly he fires a fire bolt that illuminates the sky barley striking the Bear in its side, singeing it's furry broad side. Angery it turns it's attention toward Fedward's direction. As dread starts to creep into Fedward Harley burst forth the smoke striking the brown bear three times. With one big swipe of his blade he carves a scare along the bear's back to face. As spittle flies from the enraged beasts mouth, Harley undaunted proceeds to place two savage blows with his feet to the skull of the now lumbering beast. The large brown bear begins to fall down unconscious just as Kleah and Princess cry out to not kill the beast.
"It's alive. You're welcome."
I turn back with a face of shock as I see the beast fall the ground in a bloody mess. Midnight returns to my side.
Marek stabilizes the bear. The "druids" that had been keeping the bear attacked us with fire magic and killed the friendly druids we sat with. After we killed them they turned to ash. Kleah uses some restorative ointment on the bear to heal it.Harley informs us of his battle with the werewolves, and his bite. He says that he intends to conquer the curse again.
We continue to the next camp where we took down 5 goblinoids dressed in the robes of the druids and their wargs. Harley and Princess were trying to ride the wargs but Kleah took them out with a few arrows.
At the next camp we discover the one on watch is a water cultist and the sleeping folk are true druids. We kill the cultists and explain to the druids what is going on. They provide heals to the party and cure Harley from his werewolf bite. (He is not pleased.) They say they are going to clean up the bodies and meet us at the hall. They provide Marek with some "vision tobacco".
At the next camp we attempt to determine if they are on the up-and-up as we tell them what we have discovered, but they are very tight-lipped and we end up heading to the next camp unsatisfied that they are legit. As we walk away a flare of fire goes up and 4 werewolves appear. Harley is bitten again. By the end of the battle all of the fire cultists have again turned to ash.
Marek begins a prayer of healing and restores health to the entire party:
I return to the group, annoyed at the lack of satisfaction from killing these fire cultists. Ash leaves no trophies to be taken, had they even proved worthy for me to take one in the first place.
"Ash, like the others. Just a few coins we can split later."
I see a nod from Princess, who seems to need a private moment, and before I move to join her, I walk over to Kleah.
"The next time someone escapes, let me run them down, especially when Princess has asked me to. The rest of the party needs your marksmanship more than I do."
I put a hand on her shoulder to attempt to convey respect for the excellent shot nonetheless, and then join Princess at the side of the group.
"What do you need, friend?"
Princess: "Harley, I've noticed more savagery than usual from you my friend, and I'm worried about you. Are you certain that you can handle the transformation into a werewolf again?"
Harley: "I'm certain. I've noticed a moment or two myself where I've been more aggressive than usual, but I've reached a conclusion in my meditations these recent months. Since I've lost the wolf, I've gained no additional measure of calm. I always thought that the wolf brought out a level of savagery that I would not possess had I not bonded my soul to him. I was wrong. I'm the savage. It's been me, from the beginning. I could have gone to any number of monasteries, but where did I go? To the home of an order deeply fascinated by death. An order with no fear of death."
"There is an old elven saying; 'L'apnel du vold'. Are you familiar with it?"
Princess: "I can't say that I am. What does it mean?"
Harley: "It's a feeling or an emotion. Most reasoning beings have felt it at one time or another. When you step to the edge of a cliff, and while appreciating the vista before you, for the barest moment, you imagine stepping off. When you're in the heat of combat, and you deftly parry an enemy's attack, there is a flash in your mind of what would have happened had the attack made it past your defenses, and slammed home. These are moments when reality creeps past the curtain we fashion for ourselves and shows us an inevitability. 'L'apnel du vold' translates loosely to 'Call of the Void'."
"And I hear it, friend. All the time."
"Knowing that Death awaits us around every bend, I've embraced every moment. I will continue to do so. Seeing what is behind the curtain has made me less patient with people who have no teeth to bare when death comes for them."
"So when I feel that old hunger thrumming through my veins, begging to become what it needs to become, I feel no fear. I only feel a need to show this beast who is truly the one to be feared. And Deneir supports my right to choose and has faith that I can conquer this. Imagine what that feels like to someone who was going to try and conquer it anyway."
Princess: "I think I know what you mean; I hear this call myself. I once lived on the very brink and desired only to live as beautiful a life as possible to make my brief moment on this plane meaningful in the only way I know how. I still believe in beauty as a way to transform ones life and the world, and I see the beauty of friendship and the bonds we create as part of that dance. What do you cling to? What protects you from the void, sir?"
Harley: "Choice."
"I choose to continue fighting. To make it as difficult as possible for Death to claim me, and not out of fear. But because before Death claims me, it will come to respect me."
Princess: "I envy your certainty. I know exactly what you mean. To know that your God has faith in you is a wonderful thing. Know that I also have faith in you. Whatever comes, I will be by your side. If there is anything I can do to help, ask and it is yours. This time you are not alone."
Harley: "I know, friend. That's why I shared this with you. I'm not certain the others would understand as you do."
"But thank you."
When Harley addressed me before he walks to Princess, I say, "True. I didn't hear Princess direct your attention to her. I was already hyper focused on taking her out as she was casting fire magic on our group and she needed to be eliminated. Even after I saw you run after her, I wanted to slow her at least in case there were others nearby she was trying to run to for help - which could've been an ambush situation for you."
When Harley and Princess regroup with us, I turn and say, "We need to not divulge so much information to strangers about what we've seen and done. It alerted them too much to who we are and gave them reason to set that flare signal in the sky - they may have already sent specifics to their leaders. We must move fast to that other camp (Hc5) to see if the friendlies are still there. And then I feel we just need to push into the fortification to see what is happening. We may not have time to regroup with those other druids who are laying the dead to eternal rest."
"It's not possible to divulge too much information to dead men."
Quick retort:
"You have no way of knowing what communication methods they have. They could have communicated the information you and Princess divulged to others before they were eliminated. And besides, we all have seen that the dead can rise again."
"I don't know why you suddenly think I'm going to try to shroud my intent. I've never done so before, and you've known me longer than most. If our enemies are worth the time, they've known about us since our midnight excursion into the smoke went south. And you joined me on that excursion, when I intended to go alone. Remember that the next time you counsel restraint, or patience."
"I know how you are and admire that you never deviate from who you are. I'm a scout and ranger, scanning perimeters and surveying situations is one of my strengths; I'd gladly repeat joining you in quickening our understanding of a foreign place or situation.
I suppose I'm just being overly cautious in regards to the information sharing. I just have a sour feeling about this area... There's been such a concentration of evil creatures and foul characters. I'll be more at ease once we figure out what is going on and who's behind this. As well ridding these lands of any further filth as we've encountered thus far."