shifty louts

Shifty Louts Session 45 - The Snake & The Hawk

Players

Summary

Morning of the 3rd of Nolus

As the rain shower awakens the camp, Orlandus and the Garibath dwarves return to the caravan commons. Burial preparations are made as the Dwarves have no option but to bury Eliver in the woods amongst a small cairn they built. The Lord of the Azure Bowl will welcome Eliver into the clan hall of his ancestors. Sadly, his body cannot make the trip back to Azadmere.

While the Dwarves bury their brother, two stragglers, Linn the Younger and Robert the Acrobat, have managed to make it to Fort Taztos after the Ramali picked off their caravan. The two groups mingle and decide that it is better to travel together as they make preparations.

The group buys nearly one hundred gallons of small beer, knowing the near two-week journey to Trobridge lacks potable water sources along the route from Taztos to Trobridge.

The group pushes onward east, then the trail cuts northward through the Ramala Gap and the heavily forested Athul.

athul

Around midday, as Kennard scouts ahead, a feathered serpent slithers out from a hidden burrow. As tall as a man, it spreads its hood like a cobra and attempts to hypnotize the Tulwyn, who only yawps at it.

It slithers away as the group proceeds with caution. It once again pops out, defending its territory and hypnotizing Jetter, one of the wagon’s sumpters. The other, Jevell, panics and begins to jack-knife the wagon as Orlandus and Linn attempt to steady the wagon. The wooden frame groaning under the strain!

Vast attempts to calm Jetter down, as Kennard lops off its head. The group talks about whether the two Tulwyn have seen such a thing before. Its size, strange blue, yellow, and red feathers, as well as its non-ophidian face, indicate no.

Vast tosses the creature's body into the wagon as Linn harvest so it its feathers for the Barbarians and Orlandus’s fancy hat, and tastes its blood. Later in the day, Linn the Younger’s skin is pale, he sweats, and his lips are swollen and purple. His heart rate is elevated.

The Barbarians say they have seen the work of serpent poison before, and this is such. Orlandus suggests perhaps preparing a grave. Linn performs the spell Control Self, balancing his humors and purging himself of a thick, black ichor

After some time recovering off the side of the Route, the group makes for camp. Orlandus, Res, and Linn the Younger volunteer. The night passes without any incident.

The 4th of Nolus

The caravan awakes to a morning shower. Camp is broken, and the two Tulwyn speak that the group is finally entering true Tulwyn territory. The caravan’s size may make it a target as Tulwyn bands demand tribute. Quality weapons, jewelry, silver, and strong drink are preferred! The group must remain vigilant even with two Tulwyn amongst them.

The day passes, as the caravan finds an opening amongst the woods here, a field stretching some eight hundred yards. A herd of thirty or so deer can be seen foraging ahead. A huge black shade occludes the sun and strikes a deer. A giant hawk, its wingspan wider than the wagon itself!

The giant hawk picks up the deer and drops it to the ground, killing it instantly! The group’s horses winny and neigh in fear of such a sight, the Hawk begins to screech and flap its wings as the group decides to make a break for it across the open field.

ghawk

Orlandus and Linn drive the wagon, but the Hawk manages to attack, grabbing Jevell, ripping her straight from her harness, and nearly breaking the wagon in twain. The hawk flies up and drops the cream-colored sumpter to her death!

The group begins to attack, with Orlandus and the hirelings firing arrows protected by Robert’s spear, Kennard and Vast charging the great beast, while Linn attempts to cast Ensnare Hawk to no avail.

Kennard lands a devastating strike, his powerful sword finding purchase as the Hawk speeds toward Vast, knocking him on the ground. Orlandus’s arrow is true and finds purchase in its left leg, hitting an artery with a spray of blood.

The Hawk arcs skyward, attempting to attack another horse, but misses. Robert fending off such an attack. Linn grabs a Tulwyn bow, taken from the massacre at Mimea Hills, and his arrow flies true through the throat of the great beast as it plummets to the ground.

cart

Luckily, the wagon isn’t broken, yet without another sumpter, the group doesn’t wish to risk having one of their riding horses with lameness, and so a plan is formed for the Dwarfs, Linn, Robert, Vast, and Res harvest the great bird for food and trade goods while Kennard, Orlandus, and the guardsman Suluc ride two days back to Fort Taztos to purchase another sumpter. If all goes well, their journey should only be delayed by four days!

Aftermath

Treasure Found:

Foes Encountered:

Rumors:

Deaths:

XP Awarded:

Notes