# Return to the Known Lands - In Search of the Golden Axe Hideout
# Sessions #39 and #40 (3/13/22, 4/24/22)

## PCs:

* Frakus (Dw FM 3)
* Osan (E1f F/MU 4/2)
* Omes (Half FM 5)

## NPCs:

* Marnes (CL 4)
* Toetag (FM 1)

## Hirelings:

* Unis, Rawood (FM 0)
* Arvay (wagon driver)
* Samtik (porter)

Session notes:

The party, minus Arro and his retainer Burdar, decided to venture
out into the wilds in search of the Golden Axe Society’s lair,
rumored to be somewhere east and south of Larm.

They first made the rounds at some local farms to the south of town,
and learned of a group of highwaymen who were robbing travelers and
kidnapping any Dwarves they came across along the Old Quarry
Road. That road was known by locals, being a route to the town of
Quarry Run some leagues to the east. As the bandit group fit the
description of the Dwarf-hating Golden Axe Society, they headed to
the road, equipped for a lengthy trek with a wagon, supplies and
horses. They tried to appear vulnerable, with just Osan and Omes
driving the wagon, and the others hidden in back. The other horses
they towed along behind the wagon, and took their time, staying
alert to any dangers that might come from the forest to either side
of them.

Later that afternoon, they saw a masked man on a horse ahead,
stopped at a rise in the road. He drew a sword just as five other
men joined him from behind, blocking the wagon. As the wagon drew
near, the man told them to halt and cooperate and they wouldn’t be
harmed. Needless to say, the party didn’t cooperate, and in the
ensuing melee, four of the bandits were killed, while the leader and
another escaped into the forest to the south. The dead bandits
sported the gold axe pendants they had seen before, on their cursed
boat ride to Dolmvay [0]. As they were still just a half-day’s ride
from Larm, they decided to head back to town and resume their quest
the next day.

The next day the party again headed east on the Old Quarry road, but
this time did not encounter anyone. That night, they camped in the
woods a short distance from the road. Their sleep was uninterrupted
until the pre-dawn hours, when they were awakened by the alluring
voice of a Dryad. Both Towtag and Rawood fell under the Fae
creature’s spell, and rose to follow her back to her tree. The rest
of the party, who were unaffected by the charm, blocked the duo, and
began a parley. Eventually the Dryad was convinced she would not
have an easy time fighting the group, and retreated to her tree,
while the party returned to camp.

A few hours later they were up, and this time headed south, deeper
into the wilderness. Sometime near mid-day they encountered three
werewolves, who gave the party a tough fight. Both Unis and Rawood
were killed by the creatures, while everyone else was wounded. They
tended their wounds, gathered the dead and headed back to Larm.

LL notes:

My group is always terrified of wilderness exploration, as I
typically use the stock encounter tables, which are in no way
balanced. Dragons and giants are as likely as were-creatures, and
unless they find a lair, treasure is rare. The Golden Axe bandit
group was a planned encounter if the party stuck to the road, but
the Dryad and werewolves were purely random forest encounters.

[0]: gopher://gopher.smolderingwizard.com/0/rpg/play_reports/known-lands/return-known-lands-25.txt