# Return to the Known Lands
# Sessions #15, #16 (12/26/20, 12/27/20)
## PCs:
* Louis (FM 1)
* Osan (Elf F/MU 2/1)
* Omes (Half FM 2)
* Habru (Cleric 2)
## NPCs:
Habru's war dog, named Dog
## LL Notes:
The Larm setting includes the outline of a conflict between two
merchants in town, Guido and Manticor. I fleshed this out a bit and
had Guido working with some local bandits to harm his competition.
## Session notes:
The PCs had a decent rest in Larm after their excursion to the
fortress of the Mountain King. Several days after returning, they
were in the Borderland Tavern when Osan spotted an unusual sight - a
woman stumbling down the main street, with blood visible on her arm
and dress. Osan and the others went outside to investigate, and
learned that the woman was the wife of Manticor, a merchant in town
known to them. She told the PCs her wagon had been waylaid by
bandits a short distance from town, and that her husband's
apprentice, Gorn, had been taken along with the wagon of goods. The
party escorted her to the temple, where they could attend to her
wounds, and paid a visit to Manticor's shop.
Manticor told the PCs he had a load of goods bound for Dolmvay and
had never had problems with bandits before. He offered the party
100gp if they would help him find Gorn and his load of goods, before
rushing off to the temple.
While the party geared up, Osan visited Commander McMillan of the
town militia, and informed him of the bandit attack. He did not have
any men to spare, but offered to loan the party a few horses to make
their hunt for the bandits a bit easier.
The party rode out of town within the hour, easily finding the spot
of the wagon attack a few miles south of Larm on the road to
Dolmvay. They could see signs of a fight, and some wagon and horse
tracks heading southwest into the forest. The tracks were still fresh
and not hard to follow - they led the party to a large clearing and
encampment. From a distance they could see several tents and horses,
and two men who were clearly on guard duty.
Osan dug a scroll of invisibility out of his pack, casting it on
Omes. Omes sneaked off to investigate the camp up close, while the
others took up positions with bow, crossbow and sling at the
ready. He made a complete circuit of the camp, counting eight
bandits, a leader type, four tents, horses, some wagons and a dead
body laid out next to some shovels - presumably that of Gorn the
apprentice. Omes decided a distraction was in order, so he lit fire
to three of the tents and backed out of camp, firing his bow as he
did so. Now visible, the others took their cue and began firing at
any bandits in range. Osan with his bow, Louis with a crossbow, and
Habru with a sling.
The bandits took cover as best they could with several of their
tents engulfed in flame, six of them forming a wedge and charging
Omes and Habru. As melee was engaged, a robed figure emerged from
the one remaining tent. Osan hopped on his horse and rode towards
the figure, while Louis stayed back, taking pot-shots with his
crossbow. As Osan bore down on the robed man - he could now see him
casting a spell in the direction of the melee - Omes and Habru, with
his war dog, bravely fought the bandits. Osan struck down the
Magic-User with his axe, just as Habru came under the influence of a
charm spell, and just as quickly was freed from it.
Meanwhile Habru and Omes were having a rough time of it, they had
killed several bandits, but had been wounded themselves. Habru very
nearly died, his shield taking the brunt of what surely would have
been a fatal blow (LL note: shields shall be splintered house rule),
and Omes lay unconscious (LL note: Omes would have been killed but
for a successful death save), just as Osan and Louis arrived to
finish off all but one of the remaining bandits, who surrendered.
The party tended to their wounds, and after questioning the lone
bandit, they learned that the merchant Guido had engaged the
services of the bandit leader Silas to undermine Manticor's
business. The bandit's loot included the Magic-User's study scroll,
a staff of continual light (LL note: not truly continual, a 3 week
duration), and two potions as well as a strongbox full of gold and
silver coins. Habru and Louis returned to Larm with a plan to trap
Guido, while the rest of the party stayed in camp, gathering the
treasure and Maniticor's wagon, as well as Gorn's body.
Once in town, Habru and Louis updated Commander McMillan on what had
transpired, and their plan to get Guido to admit his guilt. The
Commander agreed to their plan, and sent Sir Harald, his closest
lieutenant along as a witness and to offer what help he could. They
arranged for a note to be delivered to Guido, asking for an urgent
meeting just outside of town at dusk.
Their plan in motion, that evening Louis and Sir Harald hid off of
the main road into town, while Habru waited for Guido in the
road. Guido did show - but with two of his brothers in tow. Habru
told Guido his plan had been foiled, and got Guido to admit his
guilt as planned, but Guido, thinking the lone Cleric an easy
target, cast a charm spell. Poor Habru was charmed for the second
time that day!
Louis and Sir Harald rushed to confront Guido and his brothers, but
were met with swords and a magic missile spell. Habru tried to
protect his new best friend, but in the end Louis and Sir Harald had
killed Guido and his two brothers, and the charm was broken.
