Session 1 - I Kill You!

(In which our heroes right a few wrongs by committing some more.)

Cheet talked some more with the shaman of the lizardfolk and they discussed which animal form would be best for the new druid. The shaman thought the crocodile was a magnificent beast to become and extolled it's stealth, cunning and mighty tail while Cheet felt the bear was more to his sensibilities. The shaman muttered something about mammalian chauvinism.

The shaman also requested that his fellow druid aid him in reclaiming some land from a deserted dwarven infestation. The shaman described it as a place of carved stone, dressed wood and metal tools lying atop a river of stone. There was some confusion among the band about this mysterious river until they realised the shaman meant a road. After a brief cultural exchange in which the shaman learned a new word and Cheet received a mangrove staff to plant in the infestation and begin a transformation into swampland.

Meanwhile Perren had spent most of the night communing with the book which whispered to him of dreadful secrets and terrible powers with which could be his. In the morning Perren was ready to face the world, head full of mysteries no elf has any business knowing and a spring in his step.

The band then left, intendng to intercept the departing priests and relieve them of their most sacred treasures. Along the way they passed again Ashrak's tower and stopped to drop of the grave moss. Ashrak took some prompting to distract him from the tome he was perusing but then thanked them for the delivery. He then asked the band if they could go retrieve some sacred druidic tablets that were hidden in the aftermath of the dwarven invasion. If the band could bring them to him he said he could enchant their armour so that with a drop of blood it would ward one, maybe two blows. The band asked how that worked but Ashrak's explanations quickly went over their heads. The band added this to their list of things to do and left.

A day later they came to the road to Londinium. Heading south to catch the priests they spied a lone figure crawling northwards along the road. It was a young dwarven woman by the name of Kyra. She had been part of a group of priests travelling south when brigands had attacked them. The guards and priests had been beaten and sent fleeing south while the brigands helped themselves to the booty and the women. Kyra had been beaten and abused and then thrown out of the brigands camp and left to die. While Cheet was able to heal her body, her mind was shattered.

While this was happening the band heard the sound of small bells and tambourines playing a lively beat coming from the south. The band prudently hid in some nearby bushes and dragged Kyra with them. Soon the musicians came into view. Four attractive women, dressed lightly despite the weather. Devotees of Beshaba, goddess of misfortune. The band stayed hidden rather than attract any attention from the mistress of calamities.

After the women had passed the band tracked the brigands to their campsite. There was a brief argument about what to do as all they wanted was the holy symbol. However after hearing Kyra's tale of what happened to her and her friend they decided killing them all would suit them fine.

Scawl led them down a gully that brought them almost into the camp and then he and Perren crept off to silence the sentries. That did not go as well as planned as the elf was concentrating more on eldritch mysteries than woodland craft. Alerted, the sentries cried out and much fighting ensued as the others charged the camp. Heskin set a tent alight with a mighty roar and soon a vicious melee was on as some brigands stood and fought while others ran. Outnumbered the band fought on and things were looking grim until Cheet turned into a large bear and Perren appeared cackling and controlling the minds of his enemies. The brigands panicked and ran or surrendered in the hopes that our heroes were not murder crazed lunatics.

That was a fatal error. The two cleanly killed by Heskin's blade got off lightly. The rest were killed by the band and Kyra in inventive and grisly ways. Of note was Perren's victim, who was ritually sacrificed and his soul gifted to the Creature of the Book. The others were understandably disturbed by this show of devotion. After seeing Kyra to safety in a nearby village they resolved to return the book to Ashrak. Along the way they dropped off the idols to the lizardfolk.

Returning the book proved troublesome as Perrin refused to give it up. Eventually Heskin wrested the book from him and smote it with godpower. The book charred and crumbled into ash. Satisfied the band continued on unaware that Perren could still hear the books whispers. Evil is not so easily banished.

The band then returned to Mamucium where there had been a change in management. A local bravo, by the name of Galbatorix had come to stay with his band of warriors. They also learned that it was he who had sent the brigands to waylay the priests. Of a more salubrious nature the devotees of Beshaba had set up shop as well. Not wishing to appear impious (for accidents can happen to those who do not honour Her) Scawl and Cheet paid their respects. After an enlightening ceremony the priestess offered a little 'job' for the newly faithful. Could they take a graven image of the goddess and erect it in the nearby village to the west so that more may pay homage to the Mistress of Misfortune.