Man, I love those badges.
Thanks for the propz. Glad to hear folks like the write-ups. This is the sort of thing I know I like to read, so I'm glad to hear other folks do, too.
So, to finish the write-up on the adventure:
The rogue and bard both met with the majordomo, and quickly determined that while he wasn't lying, he was withholding information. They coaxed several pieces of information out of him over the course of their conversations. The majordomo was quite emphatic about his trust in Lord Overbrook, and was quite clear that he considered his leige's affairs to be a private matter. Over the conversation, they determined that Lord Overbrook would often depart for short, unannounced trips from one to three days. During these times, the druid and majordomo would handle any affairs that required tending to, which were few in a town this size. When questioned about the seemingly unused tower standing next to the castle, he stuttered, referring to it as the "Tower of Ty...errr, Trimdall." Of the mysterious stranger, he would only identify him as wearing a blue robe, and shrouding his face behind a viel bearing a symbol of an eye. The bard suspected he was a member of the Silent Brotherhood, an arcanist society in Keoland dedicated to hiding dangerous magic and secrets away from those who would use them from without wisdom. But why was he here now? The majordomo didn't know, but admitted that the stranger had come a few times before in the previous year or so, rarely staying very long.
The majordomo asked if the party, who were obviously seasoned professionals, could check on the two residents who lived outside of town, Old Tym (pronounced Tim) and the druid, Bulwark. His absence worried the majordomo. With only three men-at-arms and himself, the town's populace needed guarding, and the priestess was tending to the wounded already. The party agreed, but also asked for dates from the majordomo, since the rogue had a hunch. Sure enough, Lord Overbrook was always absent during nights just like this one...that is, ones that bore a FULL MOON. Much consternation was revealed from this revelation.
The party made due haste to the druid's grove, on the edge of the forest. But as they approached, they found large, beastial tracks. No expert at tracking was in their company, but they guessed the tracks to be wolf-like. Maybe. Preparing for the worst, they entered the stone circle...to find the deceased form of the druid and his animal companion, a cougar. Amidst the poor light, it was clear that the druid had barely had time to see what was coming. While the cougar appeared to have been savaged and exposed to some sort of poison (the scent of which the familiars in the group could scarce ignore, but couldn't place), the druid had been killed by an extremely powerful edged weapon that had nearly cleaved him in twain.
While the party was examining this, the bard used a detect magic to investigate the area...and discovered that there was something wrong with it's shadow. It radiated an aura, and didn't actually look
right. Realizing that it had been seen, the Umbral Dire Cougar abandoned it's attempts to hide and leapt to attack! Battle was quick and vicious. The monstrosity dealt out swift damage, nearly slaying more than one party member before it fell. It's death left more questions than answers, though. The group quickly determined that the druid had had two animal companions, and this abberation was the second...or had been. The group found another set of tracks that worried them more...something not unlike a giant snake had slithered through here...
but where was it now?
Returning back to town, the group reported their findings to a now considerably disturbed majordomo, who immediately sent them to check on Old Tym at his cabin in the woods. They moved swiftly, expecting trouble. Travelling swiftly but carefully along the deer path, they found themselves at the small building that was Old Tym's Rest. A small shack, it was simple, quiet and
dark. The front door was hanging loosely on it's hinges, having been smashed open by what was clearly the signs of a powerful claw that had savagely splintered part of the door. The familiars caught the scent of blood on the air.
Fully prepared to engage whatever horror would face them within, the sorceror used a simple open cantrip to push the door inwards. It opened slowly, then stopped with a bump. Something was preventing the door from opening. What to do? Exchanging looks, the rogue decided to brave the entrance, her companions right behind her. As they walked up the four creaky steps, they drew their weapons and pushed the door open.
to be continued...
