This is the story about how three friends, one of which was a halfling, headed out into the deserted wasteland of northern Katapesh in order to help the merchant princess Almah Roveshki free the former trading outpost of Kelmarane from its gnoll occupiers. Let's introduce our heroes:
Norr the Awkward - half-orc ranger who has been captured by gnoll slavers when he was child. While he doesn't talk about his sobriquet, it is assumed that his awkwardness stands in direct connection to the fact that he has never remained for too long in the service of a single master. His last owner finally died without an heir so all his possessions fell to the Pactmasters who in turn offered Norr to earn his freedom by joining an expedition to Kelmarane.
Saredoc Sandheaver - a halfling rogue who grew up in the streets of Solku after his parents - you guess it - had been abducted by gnoll slavers. Fortunately for Saredoc, a benevolent woman by the name of Haleen took him under her wing and gave him food and shelter when he was in need. Lately, Haleen has gone missing without but the slightest of a trace that pointed to the woman having been seen near the ruined village of Kelmarane. When Saredoc heard about this guy called Garavel who was one the lookout for mercenaries to drive Kelmarane's gnoll occupiers off, he didn't hesitate for a moment and signed in.
Mustafa - mustafa is the third son of a wealthy merchant family from Katapesh city. While his father's business has lately been given to the hands of his two older brothers, Mustafa was sent to the temple of the Dawnflower to become a paladin - which would be a honorable profession was it not for the fact that Mustafa is more of a comfy guy who enjoys good food and delicious wines more than cutting through the hosts of darkness with a holy sword. Anyway, Mustafa was not a rebellious kid and so he did as he was asked. His apprenticeship in the temple has just ended and he has been sent on his first mission: The high priest ordered him to accompany an expedition to the village of Kelmarane that has been lost to gnoll raiders some years ago. Mustafa shall restore the village church of Sarenrae and report back to his superiors in Katapesh.
tbc.
I love the title. But technically, it's two men, since one of the "men" is a half-orc. ;)
Right, but he's a hulk and easily counts for a full man plus half an orc :D
So far, we have played two sessions and will continue tomorrow tomorrow in the evening. What has happened so far:
- The group arrived at the Sultan's claw and prevented the fire from spreading, saved Hadrdod's livestock, yet their help for the wounded mercenary chick didn't prove to be very helpful (natural 1 on Mustafa's Heal check).
- After interviewing the entire camp, the PCs ventured out into the pesh fields for the pugwampi hunt which they finished successfully, taking back a living gremlin that was then "questioned" by Garavel to reveal that its tribe dwelled in the ruined monastery north of the Sultan's Claw and was led by "mighty King Moknokk".
- On the next day, the party travelled to the monastery, stumbling over the mortal remains of a nomad warrior that animated as an undead skeleton as they approached and were put to final rest by a large rock thrown at its skull by Norr.
- The exploration of the above-ground part of the old monastery has been completed successfully even though the heroes got injured seriously in the battle against the baboons and the giant spider. The pugwampis in the chapel turned out as not so tough as my players were very lucky, rolling high against all odds which turned the aura of unluck virtually useless.
- The group decided to literally smoke out the pugwampis in the chapel and set the rafters, the pugwampi nest and the remains of the roof on fire. The pillar of smoke that rose from the monastery has of course been plainly visible in both Kelmarane and at the Sultan's Claw - so the gnolls have probably realized that something's going on in the monastery.
Tomorrow I think that the adventurers will explore the monastery basement which I will run quite a bit different from what's written in the book. After that, we will see.
Warning: My players probably read this thread, so please no (major) spoilers.