The party recaptures the West Haven Beastmaster's ogre and kuthrik, and spends a night at the inn owned by Jerry's former CO. With guards on the lookout for the Party, can they clear their names before being thrown in jail? No.
In search of a cure for the were-rat curse, the Party had met with the Magistrate of Corellon Larethian, Andraste Netyoine, who says that in the matter typical for that god, we must find an exchange of actions before being healed of the curse. The assigned task is to help the Beastmaster recover his escaped beasts. Our objectives:
2 wolves
1 ogre
2 warhorse
1 kuthrik
It is late afternoon.
Following the Kuthrik
We track the kuthrik heading east. Jerry's 12 survival check (with advantage) lets us follow its distinctive triangular spike tracks: it heads east, then makes a hard turn to the north. After an hour's tracking, the tracks end in a hold dug in the grassy plains. Kuthriks are known for their ability to dig; the hole is three feet across.
For a short while, we discuss what the best approach would be to capture the kuthrik. Should we bait it with some game? Enter the tunnel ourselves? Wait for it to return to the Haven to rescue its children?
We decide to go back to the gate and track an ogre.
Following the Ogre
We momentarily discuss how the priest is a cunt, and how we would prefer any alternative to have this were-rat curse be removed.
We follow the ogre tracks. They go west. Jerry's 20 leads us along the trail of the ogre, who was fairly obviously sprinting through the trees. There's a clear path of trees knocked aside. We notice that one young pine tree is missing its top entirely, as if the ogre had taken the top of the tree.
There's an hour left until sunset. Jerry asks whether we should set up camp for the night or continue tracking. The Party elects to continue tracking.
The Party discusses what they should do when they get back to town with the ogre: buy a feedback and oats for the warhorses, find a carcass to lure the kuthrik.
Eventually the ogre's tracks turn southward, and slow down.
We come across a shallow valley, and there in the valley is the ogre. The ogre has built a small fire, and is now roasting a deer over the fire. We discuss strategy, quietly. Should we attack, or wait until the ogre falls asleep?
It's about half an hour before sunset now.
"Why are we wasting our time here?" asks Tula, and starts to walk in the direction of the ogre. Everyone follows her, because she's going to attack the ogre.
Against the Ogre
Surprise Round
Tula charges at the ogre, and misses the cut with her longsword.
Ryltar casts Eldritch Blast upon the ogre, for 1 point of damage.
Round 1.
Ryltar casts Fairy Fire on the ogre, who ducks under the spell's purplish bolt.
Jerry casts Ensnaring Strike on the ogre with a thrown dart, ensnaring him in vines for 1d6 piercing per turn plus 1d4 + str = 1 + 4 = 5 piercing from the dart.
Vurguron, charging alongside Tula, smacks the ogre with the flat of his sword twice for 8 and 8 damage.
Bugfood moves up to the ogre.
Salris moves up to the ogre.
The Ogre breaks free of the ensnaring vines, and runs, provoking attacks of opportunity:
Ryltar fires a Ray of Frost at the ogre, damaging the ogre and slowing its attack speed by half.
Jerry gives Vurguron one end of a rope, and dashes to catch up with the ogre to 10 feet behind him.
Tula runs up to the Ogre ans swears a Vow of Enmity against the ogre.
Vurguron sprints ahead of the ogre, running, holding the rope. The rope now stretches along the Ogre's left side.
Bugfood casts Frostbite on the ogre, dealing no damage.
Salris sprints towards the ogre, at least 40 feet behind the ogre now.
The ogre tries to punch Tula, but misses. Then the ogre stays in place. The Ogre is visibly wounded and wheezing.
Round 3.
Ryltar advances to the ogre's fire, but holds his action. There's a deer carcass, a treetop, and a fire.
Jerry runs the rope around the ogre, with Vurguron's assistance, and casts Hunter's Mark upon the ogre.
Tula Smites the ogre, but aiming for nonlethal damage. With 25 damage the ogre falls unconscious.
Vurguron starts tying up the ogre, doing a Medicine check to see if the ogre is dying. He doesn't understand huge people's bodies; the medicine check is useless.
Bugfood walks up to the body and examines.
Salris runs up to the party gathered around the ogre.
Round 4.
Ryltar moves up.
Jerry checks the ogre's health, with a medicine check of a natural 24, confirms that the ogre is stably unconscious.
We tie up the ogre in chains and rope. The ogre weighs half a ton, so Jerry (19), Tula (18) and Vurguron (18) pull him back to town, with the rest of the party helping. We throw the half-roasted, hundred-pound deer carcass on top of the ogre.
The sun sets as we drag the ogre back to town.
Salris takes a point of exhaustion from walking all night.
Delivering the Ogre
We approach the north gate of the West Haven.
"We have recaptured the Beastmaster's Ogre," says Jerry. "You should wake him up."
One guard runs off to fetch the beastmaster. "You captured an ogre!?" says the remaining guard. There's a brief banter bit about how awesome we are.
The messenger guard and the Beastmaster return, and the Beastmaster is surprised that we only brought back the ogre. He thinks that the kuthrik has gone to bed for the night, but the haunch of deer should be a good lure. He's most concerned about the kuthrik; the wolves and warhorses are more easily replaced.
The beastmaster's assistants come and haul the ogre away; we are given ropes and chains to replace the ones we used to capture the ogre.
The beastmaster informs us that the kuthrik is about the size of a giant spider or pony.
Tula smacks Vurguron for making dumb remarks; Jerry tells Tula how to educate an adopted child.
We truss the deer on a spear and carry it back in the direction of the kuthrik hole.
The Kuthrik's Hole
Tula waves the deer over the hole, then places the deer beside the hole. Then we wait.
Tula hears echoing clicking coming from the hole, but the clicks get no louder.
Ryltar looks down the hole, but sees nothing.
Tula tears off a chunk of the deer, and throws it down the hole. Ryltar sees a spike-arm of the kuthrik spear the hunk of meat, and then drag it back.
Tula proposes tying meat to a chain, and then going fishing in the hole. Salris summons his pact weapon in the form of a grappling hook, attached to the chain. Salris has to be within 5 feet of the weapon every minute, or otherwise it will disappear. Vurguron anchors the chain; Bugfood and Ryltar are next, then Jerry, then Tula. Salris stands next to the hole, counting the seconds.
Three minutes pass. On the fourth minute, there's a yank on the chain, and Tula hooks the kuthrik. She faceplants as the kuthrik yanks the chain 5 feet into the hole. Then we pull the chain out 10 feet, putting the kuthrik on the edge of the hole. With a final heave, the kuthrik is pulled out of the hole.
Salris stands beside the hole; the rest of the party holds the chain, 30 feet from the hole.
Round 1
Vurguron drops the chain and advances towards the kuthrik. He tries to fire a crossbow bolt from his bow, and misses horribly.
Ryltar casts Ray of Frost for 3 damage, and the kuthrik's speed is halved.
Salris Misty Steps away from the hole, and then misses with Eldritch Blast.
The kuthrik tries to dig into the ground, but Jerry and Bugfood hold it aboveground with the chain. Then it throws two quills at Vurguron, who's poisoned.
Jerry casts Ensnaring Strike and throws a dart at the kuthrik, but misses.
Bugfood casts Frostbite on the kuthrik for 5 damage and disadvantage on its next attack.
Tula jams a javelin through the chain, into the ground. With assistance, it will remain in the ground. Then she runs up to the kuthrik.
Round 2.
Vurguron runs up to the kuthrik, drops his longbow, and grapples the kuthrik. He realizes that it's made of spikes, and is very challenging to grapple, like grappling a porcupine.
Ryltar observes the kuthrik: it's healthy, despite the various bits of frostbite. It's not oozing or bleeding. He Ray of Frosts it, but misses.
Salris Eldritch Blasts the kuthrik for 8 damage. Part of its exoskeletal plates cave in.
The kuthrik stabs Vurguron with its forearm, but that stab slides off his armor. Then it stabs Tula, again sliding off the armor. It tries to dive back into the hole, but is held by the chain.
Jerry throws another dart, and misses.
Bugfood casts Fairy Fire to hit the kuthrik, and paints it lime green. Then he Balm of the Summer Court on Vurguron for 6 hp plus 1 temporary HP.
Tula misses the kuthrik with her grapple.
Round 3.
Vurguron tries to grapple it, and succeeds this time. He takes 1 point piercing damage.
Ryltar casts Mage Hand and smacks the kuthrik around a bit.
Salris pulls out his chain and tries to tie up the kuthrik. Its thrashing prevents him from doing anything.
The kuthrik is grappled. It tries to dislodge the hook from its throat, and succeeds. It's still grappled, though.
Jerry grabs the chain, runs up, and tries to loop the chain around the kuthrik's protruding body part. She succeeds, taking 11 points piercing damage. The monster is now restrained.
Bugfood runs up to the kuthrik.
Tula hits the kuthrik with her sword, non-lethally smiting it for 15 non-lethal damage. It's still up, and it's still pissed off.
Round 4.
Vurguron continues grappling the kuthrik, and smacks it with the butt of his sword. He misses in the mess.
Ryltar walks up to the scrum.
Salris joins in the restraint chain, taking 7 piercing.
The kuthrik struggles, but doesn't succeed.
Jerry, having wrapped the chain around the middle of the kuthrik's torso, punches it for 5 and Ensnaring Strike kicks in, but the kuthrik's strength save prevents it from being double restrained.
Bugfood donks the kuthrik over the head with his quarterstaff for 5 damage. The kuthrik is knocked out.
We finish chaining and tying up the kuthrik. Salris is grossed out by the condition of his pact weapon grappling hook, so he resummons it as a khopesh.
Then we carry the kuthrik back to the West Haven. Tula, Vurguron, and Salris take a level of exhaustion.
Back to the West Haven
"Knock knock," says Jerry.
"We bring tidings of a fucked-up praying mantis," says Ryltar. "Can you fetch the beastmaster?"
The guard says, "the beastmaster said to put it in the crate with the other things."
The party takes exception to this, because the cage is full of baby spiky monsters. But the babies are asleep, so we carefully drop it into the cage. The babies don't wake up.
Jerry suggests kipping up in the stable. Ryltar objects. Vurguron says that he knows a place where we could sleep tonight, pointing outside the city walls. Everyone says no. He suggests another place inside the town, The Forest Floor. Tula asks the guard what the nearest non-shit place is; the guard says the Golden Ladle.
We go to the Golden Ladle; the door is shut and the lights are out. Tula pounds on the door until it's answered by a well-dressed elf in a nightshirt; he says that we cannot afford a night's stay, with an eye cast upon Tula's muddy armor. She insults him. (It's 2 a.m. at a fancy inn.)
So we follow Vurguron to The Forest Floor, where at least the lights are on and the doors are open. We're invited inside, and Jerry sees her old commander, Cato Fenross, lounging behind the counter.
An old friend
Jerry straightens up a bit; Cato says "good evening, Jerry."
"Good morning, Colonel. I thought you went into politics."
"I retired. No one's gonna listen to an old fart like me." He's an old light-skinned man with wiry white hair. He's standing behind the bar, which is a cross-section of a huge old log. The bar stools are huge chunks of well-polished log; the place is high-class and feels like a thick forest.
Jerry asks, "Is Majorie around?"
"Majorie's at the college. I put up housing for her in one of the student areas; she's working with one of the lower logistics managers of the Trade Guild."
"Well that's good to hear."
"She comes by, time to time, papers piled high. She seems to like it here."
"Well that's what she said in the letters."
"She's come by several times in the last week, looking for you."
"There was a some stuff in the way."
"What took you so long?"
"We fought a kuthrik," says Jerry. The rest of the party chimes in, with Tula notably asking, "Can we just get a room, please?"
Fenross says two gold per room; Tula slaps it down, and takes a key. The rest of the party all takes keys; Ryltar pays for Bugfood's room. There's banter and stuff; Fenross learns of the were-rat curse. He chastises Jerry for getting bitten. Jerry says it's nothing to worry Majorie about; they're getting the curses lifted.
Ryltar learns that Fenross knows Under-common, they chat for a bit while getting food for Bugfood.
And then we take a long rest. Salris goes down to one level of exhaustion.
An inauspicious morning
It is Forn, the fifth day of the fifth week of the month of Tarsakh in the year 997 P.D.. It is six days until the spring equinox.
We wake to globes of light drifting through the tree branches.
Ryltar wakes up and goes out to see a female elf working the bar; a male halfling raking the floor. Ryltar greets them, and Salris when he enters the room. Ryltar buys breakfast for the group.
The bartender hands over a note that Cato left:
The government is looking for people who arrived in West Haven two nights ago. Jerry, go clear up whatever issue it might be. Do some reconnaissance like olden times.
Ryltar asks Jerry what the old-time reconnaissance looked like. Jerry sighs. "The last time I went on reconnaissance, I had an entire company of soldiers, and they got wiped out by Yuan-ti. What he's saying is to get the hell out of dodge."
Ryltar says, "But I don't think we've done anything wrong in the city."
Salris guesses that Vurguron did something stupid. Jerry frowns at her breakfast. Salris asks whether we're still planning to get the warhorses and wolves back.
Jerry recounts what she learned from the cross-bow seller, who said that the crossbows were guards' crossbows, so the crossbow-seller probably told the Woven Council's guards.
Salris buys a glass of orange wine: his celebratory post-monster-hunting drink that he didn't have the chance to drink last night.
Jerry asks the barkeep elf whether she knows anyone who might be able to lift curses. She recommends the Magistrate, but we say that we're looking for someone as a fallback option in case the Magistrate falls through."
"There is … one … but he's weird." The barkeep is very reluctant to recommend this healer; he's weird and the cures he makes don't leave people as they were before. We're better off dying than going to him.
Ryltar asks, "Does he have a name?" She marks a spot on our map, half a day's ride north-northwest. His name is something like Slate. The halfling staff grimaces and walks away from the conversation, rubbing his upper arm.
Recruiting Valna as a witness
We discuss whether we can catch up with Valna and use her to intercede with the government on our behalf. We know she's spending most of her time in the government head office. Bugfood casts Pass Without Trace, and we go stealthily through the town to the government offices on the other side of town.
We arrive at the government building.
Ryltar and Jerry enter the building, and ask the secretary where they can find Valna, from Hillthorpe. It turns out that Valna is off at the Council Chambers, Jerry asks the secretary whether she could pass a message to Valna for us. The message that Jerry sends is "Your escorts from Hillthorpe need to meet with you on a matter of some urgency," and gives her name as "Retired Master Sergeant Jerry Falone." The secretary writes down a note, and goes off.
The council chambers are right next door, so Ryltar casts Message with a note for Valna explaining what's up with the swords and crossbows. She replies, and then hurries over.
Outside, the four other members of the party recast Pass Without Trace and continue waiting.
Valna arrives; Jerry and Ryltar convey their worries about the guards, Cato's note, the swords and the crossbows. The secretary reenters the room and is puzzled; she says something about having asked at the Woven Council chambers, and …. She sits down.
Outside, the group hiding in the alley sees a guard walking towards the council chambers. They hear the font doors of the building opening and closing.
Inside, Valna asks who the group has talked with: the Magistrate, the crossbow-seller, the Beastmaster, Cato Fenross. Valna suggests that the presence of the curse might be good evidence in favor of the presence of the were-rats. She asks for more information about the crossbow-seller, and thinks that it might be Karellion, who she remembers is greedy but not dishonorable.
"We're working under the assumption that it was the crossbow-seller," says Ryltar, "but maybe it was someone else."
Jerry muses, "There was a worry at the Magistrate's about the acolyte we met on the road."
"Vicar?" asks Valna. "What happened to him?"
"He may have been thrown out, or lost his faith."
We discuss going to visit the captain of the guard with Valna. The guard captain would be found in the barracks at the west gate. Jerry suggests going with Valna, and having Ryltar go catch the rest of the party up on the plan.
Outside, the group in the alley sees another guard pass outside.
Ryltar catches Salris up on the plan with many casts of the cantrip Message. Tula thinks it's a bad idea; it might be better to go openly.
Vurguron predicts that there would be another guard in moments, but there is not.
So Jerry and Ryltar open the front doors, and there are three guards waiting. "Good morning," says Ryltar.
The gig's up
"You have been requested to come with us," says the center of the three guards.
"Oh, excellent, we were going to go talk with you," says Ryltar. "Should we get the rest of our party?"
"There are more of you?"
"Yes," says Ryltar, and they escort him to go find the party members in an alley. Large numbers of guards fall in, escorting us to the guard post at the west gate. Salris complains about having had to wait.
The barracks has a large open area in the middle; one one side of the area is a barred-off set of windows and doors, mirroring the un-barred left side. The guards lead us through a set of double doors to a secretary, a hundred-year-old elf.
"Who's all this?" asks the guard.
"This is the group of people who came in two nights ago, and seemingly killed the east guard outpost?"
The secretary asks if we recognize a person with a very specific appearance; it's exactly the were-rat that first attacked us on the road. So the secretary orders us thrown in cells.
Under arrest
The guards take all our weapons and stuff. Jerry gets to keep her book, ink, and shitty reed pen, but loses the Bag of Holding containing a lot of stuff. Tula pokerfacedly claims that her hands are weapons, so she gets manacled. Salris surrenders his pact weapon to a guard, then resummons it into his hand, smiling.
Valna tries to explain, to get us off the hook. The secretary of the guard is unmoved. He says that the trial will be the next morning, once the Elders could be assembled for the trial, and that she should be prepared to make her testimony then.
Ryltar asks to send a message to the Beastmaster, letting him know that he'll have to find someone else to capture the wolves and warhorses.
And then we wait.
A long rest passes, and it's the next day.
Next session
It is now Pené, the first day of the sixth week of Tarsakh. It is five days until the solstice.
The entire Party is under arrest, held in the jail cells of the West Haven's western gate's guardhouse.
Jerry and Salris are still potentially affected by the were-rat curse.
Several party members have goals that will take them to the Sky Diamond Academy, south and west of the Haven.
Jerry still needs to meet up with her daughter, Majorie.