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Message: <blockquote data-quote="lykkenthrope" data-source="post: 9410386" data-attributes="member: 7045440">Session 7:Cruelpigs party do not read upon pain of toad.Brief recap: Party is in the Gauntlet on the way out of Gate Pass and being attacked by the Black Horse thugs. Grom’s horse startled and bolted pretty far down the pass (and then he kept going off on his own) and the rest of the party (Sorien, Vic, Reshi, Ze, and Torrent) are making a stand at the top of pass.Dropping straight into action with this fight.The main group was having a go of things with attacks connecting, but not having a huge damage follow through. Eventually, with some great team work (Sorien grappling a thug and Ze using her shadow and sneak attack) were able to fell the rest of the thugs so it was just 4 v Renard. At this point Reshi felt 1) confident the group could handle the Black Horse Leader and 2) had the most consistent range attacks with his spells that he should head off looking for Grom (worried about more ambushes)Switching to Grom—on the other side of the map—was still holding on to a black horse thug (He had met this Thug, now named Romulus, Session 1 at the Poison Apple Pub) and riding down the pass. In a sudden spark of self-awareness, Grom asked the thug why his people were attacking his friends. Romulus was able to convince Grom that the other bandits weren’t his friends and Grom’s friends were his friends. The thug then produced a horn and Grom let him use it.[SPOILER="Fun Spoiler-y Fact"]Grom's PC had asked for this Black Horse Thug to make reapperences throughout the Campaign and--if possible--eventually have the thug have his own "I've traveled and trained and able to take you on now Grom" storyline that was happening in the background. So I’m hoping to work in Romulus sometime in the future when the reach another city and eventually have a big “lets fight” moment when/if the group makes it back to Gate Pass”[/SPOILER]After this interaction Grom turned his horse around and began to go back up the Gauntlet towards the main group (still well over 300 ft and two big blind curves away).  Grom eventually saw Reshi as Reshi rounded a hill and decided to let Romulus go, saying something of the sorta that "Reshi was an attack first ask questions later type friend."  Romulus didnt think twice and booked it down the road.  Reshi's horse unfortunetly got spooked by something and went into a straight gallop and went racing past Grom.  Grom, being Grom, decided Reshi wasnt coming for him and trusted that Reshi knew what he was going and wanted to find the rest of the group so he didnt follow.Reshi, on a slightly uncontrollable horse, rode right into the ambush of the thugs and scouts that had been alerted by the horn call.  Reshi almost met his end. Miraculously, he was able to get his horse under control--it was a well trained Warhorse after all--he was able to bolt for saftey back up the pass.  .  Saying a small prayer to the fallen dragons to protect his back from arrows.  His prayers were answered as 3 crossbow bolts whizzed by his head narrowly missing him.  Back to main party: While this was happening, everyone else was able to take down Renard. Vic, using a Vine Whip spell taught to her by the Artificer that saved her life after Ragesia and the Inquisitors attacked her village, she was able to pull Renard off his horse and keep him bound while everyone else attacked.Unlike other thugs and scouts, Renard was too proud of ask for mercy.They took Renards arm band and found a note on his person listing the bounty for a group that was described eerily like their group and offering a 10,000 Gold reward for the mages to be delivered alive and all the belongings, including all books, to be returned to Ragesian Inquisitors.Vic, Ze, Torrent, and Sorien got back on the horses (Ze taking Renard’s horse as hers was taken by the Scout that got away) and they continued down the road. What felt striaght out of a Bluey episode, the session could not continue until I named the horses. So the Warhourses were named Cabbage, Carrot (two horses from my groups Strahd campaign) followed by Potato, Raddish, Ginseng, and the horse the took from the thugs is named Katerina.  Back to Reshi who was currently being pursued by thugs: Grom had heard the fighting behind him and turned around at the top of the pass.  Right as he went riding back down to help Reshi, the rest of the group crested the hill and the gang was finally back together. Suddenly, Kathor came riding into view.  The moment Kathor locked eyes with Grom, their minds connected. Grom leaned into the connect and saw what appeared to be a few years younger Kathor in a barn with a dark being approaching him from behind. He then saw the being touch Kathor, searing pain went down the mental connection. Grom could not infer much from the vision, all he could gather was that he (grom) was not personally scared. He was just filled with a sense of…Propriety…whatever that word meant.Once this vision cleared, Grom felt an instant connection to Kathor. He felt like he was the brother he never had, So when Kathor called for the other thugs to stand down Grom trusted his actions. The group has been used to Grom being a trustworthy litmus test of patience and diplomacy and hestiantly also stood down.Kathor introduced himself and some in the group instantly recognized his name as the son of a Ragesian general. Though, he quickly explained that he had left the army and was not on good terms with his father. He explained that he had joined the black horse thugs, but had not been happy with their eagerness to take bounties from the inquisitors and round up magic users, for obvious reasons and he nodded towards Grom.  (Though Grom had not shared any of his vision with the Grom)Kathor explained that he was happy that they had killed Renard, they had done what he could not, as Renard was a butcher and had no morals when it came to making money. Kathor trusted the remaining thugs, as they were his men and Renards had been at the front of the ambush.  He took his own Black Horse Band off and said they would form a new group.  Times were changing.Kathor stated he would do what he could to slow down any other parties coming after them…maybe make a rock slide block the road that could have happened during an intense battle.Before they left Kathor asked them to find a cave up ahead…that Renard had chases a sorcerer in there and there had been a bitter stand off. Kathor wasn’t sure if he was still alive, but he would be grateful if we could check along our way. Sorien realized that Kathor was asking this as he felt a kinship to the sorcerer. In another life or even in a few days if the wrong people found out, that could have been him.  With that, the group continued on down the Gauntlet and the session ended right as they came upon the cave.[SPOILER="DM Note"]I wanted to personally thank almost everyone who has ever posted their WotBS Gate Pass write ups, you really helped me figure out how to use the campaign guide and add in my own flair, though I'm sure you all can see some of your influences in this write up.  It went really well and has set a great stage and intrigue for whats to come.[/SPOILER]</blockquote>

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