A DnD Tale: Forrest Walk

What else is there in a fantasy forest than elves?

So midsummer has come and gone and with it, the gathering of the family which makes it for the continuation of our DnD adventure. Last time the party had been pardon by the Lord Warden for... trespassing? They encountered a secret tunnel to Kobold Manor from the lighthouse and are now researching the Tiamat-cult that have stolen their artefacts of unknown origin.The new session begins as the smith's apprentice knocks on their door and tell them that the smith has finished their weapon (which I retconned from a sword to a bow since the only ones using a sword are my own character that shouldn't steal the main PC stuff and the wizard that rather uses magic). They awake the others and leave, leaving behind my characters Tyrell, the half-elven bard and Argent, the drow ranger. They go down and collects a Screaming Longbow +2 (which I modified so that it only screams when critical since it isn't the best weapon for a stealth mission) that Kiera the Bard pretty much took, but since Sphinx the Paladin had payed for it they settled for a payment plan. Then they split up, with Sphinx going to the temple of Bahamut and seeking guidance. The high priest told him to seek the seer in Winterhaven to ask for help in these dark times. The wizard Sarion heads for the Green Wizard Towers and buys a couple of healing potions since we are figuring out the rules a bit more, meaning healing surges can't be done just anytime you want. He gets it for cheap (20 gp each) since the wizard really wants back the stolen crystal rose. Kiera and the tiefling rouge Despair heads for Sandercots to learn more about the necklace around their necks. And basically learns that it is a 30 square area and it gives electric shocks if strayed beyond that. Despair tried to get her hands on the key ma Sandercot showed, but she snaps the tail and basically tells her that there is another key and Despair shouldn't bother. While leaving they are met up by Despair's gang of kids who she scolds for stealing from them and get back her 10 gp from Charlie, the leader of the gang. Sadly for Kiera another kid takes 5 gp from her so she forces Despair to pay her back.

They met back at the Silver Unicorn and then continues back to the Importer store to look for a job. Opening the door Argent and Tyrell walks out telling them that they are signed up for the caravan toward Harken and then back to Fallcrest and onward to Winterhaven. They enter and haggles a bit and for 30 gp are signed up as caravan guards per trip (10 gp more than my other characters, but they don't actually spend anything and has "unlimited resources"). They set of the next morning and are on their way. They listen in to some of the merchants and apparently the goblins in the area has become more dangerous and organised as of late. They suspect an ambush and scout a head, but they fail spectacularly at seeing anything so when the arrows and spears starts flying they are surprised as anyone else. Around 20 goblins attacks and closes in on them. Horses races, people are hurt or killed and then... more arrows start flying. Goblin after goblin falls with a long feathered arrow sticking out of them as around 50 elves are hiding in the forests around them.The leader is none other than Vorsilder Wolfunter, slayer of witches and skull lords. Yes, I brought him in from the shadows of time and promoted him to a captain of the elven military in Harkenwood. He knows Tyrell and Argent and invites them to help him with the goblin problem. The problem is that they have noticed higher goblin activity since an orc appeared and now they have established a fort with around 300 goblins. Heavily fortified the elven army of 150 elves are cautious to attack and need a distraction. After some planning, the heroes lets Despair and Argent use a flask of alchemist fire that Tyrell prepared for them so that they can sneak near the camp and start a fire on the east and west side. Meanwhile Sphinx dresses up as a Bane Paladin since they have noticed a clear religious schism in the camp as the hobgoblin leaders are following Gruumsh and bullying the smaller goblins to servitude. They are Bane servants. While he approaches from the south, the guards mistake him from Wren, a fallen Paladin that stalks the trade routs in the northwestern part of the valley. Apparently he buys food from the goblins. Sphinx tries to get them to stand up against the oppression, but they don't dare. So when the fires start he rallies them around him and attacks the closest hobgoblin that whips the goblins to train. The goblins bloodlust awakens and they begin shouting Wren and Bane in unison as the camp falls into disarray in a civil war.

As he makes a run for it the hobgoblin leader together with his two bugbear bodyguards steps out of the tent in the middle and see the chaos. He roars at them and spots Sphinx. He hisses Wren and charges at him. After a short intense battle the bugbears and hobgoblins are slain. Meanwhile the elves started their attack, saying any goblin they got their hands on and the rest dispersed into the forest. The day is saved and as thanks they are granted elven cloaks +2, which basically does the same thing as the elven cloaks in Lord of the Rings, highten some defence stats and gives a bonus to stealth checks. They return to the caravan and continues. And that was pretty much everything from the first session, next week the adventure continues.