Chapter 2 - Session 1: Dinner with Sir Isteval

An Invitation

While relaxing and training after eliminating the Wererat menace from the sewers of Daggerford, the party received an invitation for dinner with Sir Isteval at his residence in Daggerford.

Pork Chop asked Erzenei what he knew about Sir Isteval, since he grew up in the town and Z answers, "He's an old dude...pretty cool, though..I understand he got injured fighting a dragon. I'm pretty excited to meet the guy!". That prompted Pork to say, "Ah ha! Now we know where the dragon treasure is!" The party discussed the invitation and agreed to accept it and meet Sir Isteval, informing the courier of their response.

Some Importance?

The adventurers traveled to Sir Isteval's home on wall street in the early evening hours on the 27th, taking a path that eerily led them past the place of their first encounter with the thugs working for Virion the Wererat of the 'Scarlet Rats'. The journey was uneventful as they safely arrived at his door. They were greeted by the butler Giles, who escorted them to the lounge where Sir Isteval was waiting to greet them. In spite of the badly injured left leg, a grievous injury he suffered while fighting a green dragon and that had resisted healing, Sir Isteval maintained a regal appearance. Ever the gracious host, he offered up whatever spirits each adventurer desired. They settled into the couches in the lounge to enjoy their drinks and to hear the details of Isteval's proposal.

"There is a matter of some urgency that requires attention and after your success in defeating the Wererat, I thought your band would serve well in my stead. There has been an alarming lack of traffic into Daggerford from the east. Where there is usually significant merchant and traveler traffic along the Delimbiyr Road and rivers, it has all but stopped. My agents and I fear that something has befallen the town of Julkoun and would like you to travel there and find out what is wrong. I will pay you 50 gp each if you are willing to take on this task. What say you?"

Not unexpectedly, Fosgrim asserted his values into the discussion by stating, "If you had strict curfews and a tight watch schedule all of this could be avoided". While appreciating his dedication to principles, Isteval defended the town policies, "the towns do have guards and restricting the freedom of citizens doesn't work well in my experience". Fosgrim attempted to negotiate pay in advance and a larger fee, exclaiming that Isteval had no idea what was in the area, it could be something quite dangerous. Isteval didn't succumb to the demands, instead countering with that as long as they determine what was going on and provide a full report they would get full pay. He didn't expect them to put their lives in grave danger for the fee.

The party considered the proposition and agreed to investigate what was going on in Julkoun. Before leaving town, they decided to stock up in the local shops, including the purchase of horses to help travel the distance to Julkoun. Afterwards, Fosgrim led the party to the constables office to attempt to extort more reward money from the town. He was successful in getting another 100 gp for completing the investigation. Erzenei was a bit annoyed by Fosgrim's higher priority of making some coin rather than showing concern for the villagers.

The Journey to Julkoun

The characters headed east on the Delimbiyr Road, comfortably on the back on their new mounts. It was an uneventful day and a half ride before they reached the fork with a sign that pointed south to Julkoun. They were in the plains, but could see that the new path led them through some woods on it's way to Julkoun. As they started entering the woods, they heard the sound of something moving rapidly towards them from the east. As the intruders cleared a patch of trees the party saw the source of the commotion: three goblins riding wolves with bows aimed in their direction.

The party prepared to meet the advance of the goblins. Kalain quickly drew his longbow and with a precise shot took out one of the wolves, causing it's goblin rider to tumble to the ground. Pork moved up to get within range of the advancing goblins and launched a bullet from his sling. Shudo took a defensive posture, while Fosgrim sent an Eldritch blast at a wolf, and Erzenei fired his bow into the fray. A couple of the goblin riders moved to take out the advanced half-orc cleric, Pork Chop and they were able to take him down. Their success didn't last long though as the party quickly dispatched the pair that took down Pork, while the rider that was knocked off his mount by Kalain attempted to make a run for it. He fell quickly to another well placed arrow from Kalain.

After allowing Pork to recover from his wounds, the party decided to try to track the goblins back to their camp. Kalain was able to pick up their trail with little difficulty and they followed until they hit a dense area of foliage. Here, Fosgrim was able to pickup the lost trail and they proceeded with their search.

A Hidden Voice

After continuing down the trail a couple hundred yards, the party was greeted by a voice from the trees. The delicate and feminine voice posed the question, "What are you searching for?". In spite of a concentrated effort to spot the source, none in the party could see her. After some conversation, the voice gave them some details about where to find the rest of the goblin camp and that there were many similar creatures that attacked the town. Another useful bit of information is that a robed figure with several gnolls left the town shortly after the initial attack, escorting the enslaved townsfolk somewhere north of the grove.

Using the information gained from the voice, they snuck up on the goblin camp to find several goblins and a few wolves around a camp site and completely unaware of their presence. Taking advantage of their surprise, the party launched a barrage of missiles and spells at the unaware creatures, knocking down about half of them. When the goblins were finally able to respond, one sent a well placed arrow at the hiding Erzenei, heading right for the center of his chest, but Z's luck held out and at the last second the arrow glanced off a small branch in trees and fell harmlessly to the side. The party thrashed the remaining goblins and wolves and the camp was secured.

Kalain piled the corpses up and proceeded to burn them, creating a huge and smokey bonfire, much to the chagrin of others in the party. He explained that they must be destroyed so they do not return as undead and hoped the smoke would draw out patrols from the town so they would be able to pick them off, weakening the goblinoid defenses. The characters moved much closer to the town and took refuge in a farmhouse on the southern edge of the farmlands, a few hundred yards from the town, while sheltering their mounts in a nearby barn.