Characters:
- Keane (Druid)
- Florian (Barbarian)
- Odran (Illrigger)
Beginning our adventure, our heroes head to the tomb of the dragon warrior, and after preparing for the journey ahead decide to rest the night there. But their night is interrupted by the machinations of goblins.
After dispatching most of the Goblins and Keane having taken a good deal of damage, the last remaining goblin, a Cursespitter, surrendered. After some “polite inquiry” as to the current state of the disarray of the goblins by the newest addition of Odran, Florian suggests they send the goblin to town (induced by fear of mystic retribution) to make peace and lead to unity with the local goblins. Odran being the prime communicator takes the opportunity to make the goblin his servant to work his fell ambitions in this world. Regardless however the goblin is sent away and our heroes are able to rest and recuperate from the unexpected battle.
Leaving the statue the following day, the party set out and while initially making good progress, immediately got lost as soon as Odran attempted to navigate. Having eventually gotten back on track however, they discover a ruined fort. Seemingly inhabited by spiders, Odran and Florian believed taming them would be to the town’s benefit (though clearly for different reasons).
After resting outside the fort for the night, the party is surprisingly unassailed and continued on into the mountains. They encounter and quickly defeat an Ettin, due in large part to Keane’s quick spellwork. This encounter however did prove the warnings received from the Dragonslayer, Isabella.
Moving forward the party climbed to the peak, seeing farther to the north. As they ascended to the highest peaks they heard the sound of metal being worked. Upon reaching the highest peak, they found a figure working a forge, and after making their presence known to the mountain smith, they elect to wait until he finished his work.
Eventually the smith finishes his work and the group introduces themselves. The smith, Anahel, shares that he works atop this peak away from the conflicts of mortals to perfect his craft. He has forged many weapons of powerful make, but none can be prevented from falling into the hands of evil and in turn becoming evil weapons themselves.
He asks Odran, “What is a sword?” Odran replies that, “They are tools which are used to subjugate and dominate others. All to lead to a better peace.” It was with this answer that it became clear to Anahel the true nature of Odran’s ambition, but elected to return to the conversation. Now in his hermitage, Anahel is more selective of his clientele, for he wishes to create a weapon that will do no harm and to make it for one whose convictions and ideals resonate with that goal.
Keane being no warrior is impressed with this conviction and his dedication to his craft, even upon this lonely mountain top. Florian now understood the weight of Anahel’s words, contemplates them and considers if even he has the conviction worthy of such a weapon. Odran however, forgoing his niceties, misses the intent and imagines a weapon that would allow him to subjugate others.
It was at this point that Anahel told the trio that if they wish to receive weapons he creates, they must prove their convictions true in a spar with him. Odran was prepared to stand with his infernal conviction and prove himself to the hermit smith, but Keane and Florian decide to stand back. This was no fight for Keane, and Florian did not feel he had the conviction to participate in this fight yet. And so it was Odran’s fight alone.
The two faced off and with quick decision, Odran advanced unleashing the power of his infernal master to try and subdue Anahel quickly, but the smith was far stronger than the Hell Knight expected and quickly subdued him.
Upon the end of this trial, our heroes left Anahel in peace. Welcome to test their convictions in the future, and he was welcomed to come to Sophia’s Rest even if only for supplies. And upon parting immediately got lost eventually meandering into the nearby wood.
That night, as the group rested. Florian was taking watch contemplated what his convictions are, and the words of Anahel. This however prevented him from noticing the approaching Shambling Mound that nearly consumed him in quick succession. Luckily, our heroes were able to turn the situation around and quickly defeat the living predator plant.
The following day the party headed southward returning to the mountains and discovering a large tower that had become a nest for Griffons that could be used for future adventures. From that vantage point as well they discovered to the northeast a large tree that vastly overshadowed the others surrounding it. Its exact nature remained unknown, but it was clear that it had some importance to the wood.
Descending from the mountains into the deep forest southward, in an attempt to return to town, our heroes discover a thankfully nonfunctioning witch trap, and were able to rest without being attacked, but did discover more snake heads and broken and slashed branches and trees. Keane and Florian suspected that it might have to do with a nearby cave learned of from the remains of swamp witch, but elected to leave that matter for another day, and perhaps for others to take on.
And with that (along with some last minute navigation troubles) the trio were able to return to Sophie’s Rest without issue, with news of the mountain and finding more locations to renovate.
And after this tale, Odran is nowhere to be found.
