2 Jelenios 2993

Picking up from the last session, Shaka enters the Yellow Cloak Inn right as Anders the Snake is leaving. He asks the group, "Who's that?" while they ask him, "Where have you been?"

He's been solidifying his Sheebian faith, it appaers. He met Kara, a Priestess of Sheebus, who has helped him see that his questioning and roundabout path to Sheebus was always the will of Sheebus, and that there are more mysteries to be revealed. He also learns there are Sheebian symbols and codes and that if he keeps a keen eye open, he might see proof that other Sheebians have gone before him.

The party is like, happy for him, they guess, but they're more concerned with the fact that the Benevolent Brotherhood has engaged them to track down Dodger's missing stuff and are providing a tracker to help them do it. Dodger gets her stuff back and the Brotherhood puts the kibosh on some rogue thieves (in 5e I gues that would be rogue rogues?). They buy a few round of drinks and hit the hay.

3 Jelenios 2993

The next morning finds them eating porridge when the Brotherhood's tracker Golric Windwalker shows up, ready to roll. He eyeballs the group, letting them know that each and every one of them is on the Brotherhood's radar already - especially Summer, given her surprise victory at the Truncheon. Message received: best to get out of town for a bit. Bucky and Golric do share a moment as ranger game receognize game.

Thud has a great idea (never thought I'd write those words) and swings by the Livestock & Horse Market on the way out of town. He wants a horse - and why not? He's flush with cash and walking sucks. The rest of the group gets in on the action and buys their own, with the exception of Golric who prefers to ride bitch on Thud's palomino. Ever practical, Dodger gets a mule instead.

They make quick progress on the main imperial road, passing pilgrims and poor boys and various folks heading to and from Gosterwick, including their old friends Hama and Company, who they last met during Session 1 and who lifted some gold from Shaka. Emboldened by religious fervor, Shaka politely demands recompense. Hama claims to not know what he's talking about and the banter escalates to the point that the GM thinks maybe his "what do I do with this campaign" question might solve itself.

Alas, cooler heads prevail. Hama seems to genuinely be in the dark, though Bucky catches a glimpse between Hama and Thorwald. They part ways on frosty but cordial terms.

As they pass through the forest, Bucky wonders aloud if Dodger might find some replacement mistletoe to tide her over until they find her coronet. Thud, Summer and Shaka watch the horses while the more nature-oriented folk (rangers and druids) scour the woods. They do not find any mistletoe but the unfortunate Bucky is set upon by a patch of Flowershroud. He lets out a yell before the convulsions start, and Golric and Dodger are able to free him with only minor damage themselves. Bucky is a bit embarrassed in front of his new mentor but quickly gets his head back in the game.

They camp for the night and get back on the road.

4 Jelenios 2993

At Golric's suggestion, they tie up the horses in a stand of trees and plunge into the deeper forest on foot. They Dodger speaks with her mule and leaves it in charge. The party searches for mistletoe but are again unsuccessful. They camp for another uneventful night.

5 Jelenios 2993

After more relatively easy hiking, Bucky and Golric identify some tracks and are able to follow them to the bandit's hideout - a crumbling ancient watchtower. The sun is setting and fires already flicker inside.

The party approaches cautiously, but not cautiously enough as they miss the fact that a couple of well-hidden guards are posted. Arrows fly and daggers whistle through the darkness and the guards are down. Dodger relieves one body of his armor and pocket change, and the group goes to ground to make sure they haven't alerted anyone else.

When the coast seems clear, they quietly drag the dead guards closer to the watchtower and stage the bodies in an attempt to make it look like they killed each other. The plan is to draw out as many bandits as they can without alerting them to their presence, the better to strategize.

And it works! Once discovered, a large number of bandts and war dogs spill from the tower to gaze upon their fallen comrades. One bandit stands out, however - wearing robes instead of armor and more importantly, wearing Dodger's missing coronet! While the party debates if they should kill him or just report back to the Brotherhood, this bandit begins casting some kind of spell over the dead bodies. Do we have a necromancer among us? Might the ability to speak to the dead blow the whole caper?

Arrows fly, and a shaft juts from the necromancer's shoulder. The spell is broken but the party's cover is blown. To arms!