Session 57: "No plan survives 1st contact...." or "A horse, a horse, Boar leadeth onwards....."

 

19th Day of Snowmoot 

The market was about to close  as Zindra purchased 5 flasks of oil from a vendor there was some confusion as she kept addressing the vendor as a woman, the man became upset, especially after the 2nd mistake of gender identity.  Zidra eventually walked away with 5 flasks of oil that she was sure she paid over the odds for. Later Hagnulf returned to the inn and informed the group he had learned that the caravan from Red Larch was going to be ambushed some 10 miles outside of Bargewright. The caravan was due to arrive in the next 2 days.

A quick plan was made in which Aerie would depart for a quick reconnaissance around Womford to see if she could spot the 'Bat' creature. She would hide in the town hall bell tower. Aerie spent an hour preparing and eating a hot meal. Then Aerie entered a trance for 4 hours. Whilst Aerie was in a trance the group finalised their plans. They would depart before dawn and try and make the ambush site before the bandits could act. They would set up a counter ambush and save the convoy. They would get Fargrims boar to lead the horses back to Bargewright.

Around 11pm Aerie left the Bargewright Inn and flew over the Dessarin River and entered the bell tower.

She waited for approximately 5 hours until she saw movement. It was Jim, the barman. 

20th Day of Snowmoot                                                                                                                               Aerie observed Jim approach the large barge and go onboard. He was there for about 1 hour then departed with the crew and heads back to the Ironford Inn.  Aerie used this opportunity to fly down to the barge and have a look around. 

Concentrating on the central wheelhouse Aerie begins her search. She noticed a map on the map was the same symbol Tom had scratched on the barn floor.

She began to draw a map on a piece of paper she had. Time passed, it was the noise from the two humans coming back to the boat that alerted her. One of the humans she noticed was carrying a sack. Aerie noticed the two struggling with the sack as the Genasi and Halfling approached. She heard the Genasi tell the humans to get 'it' stowed on board, cast off as they had to be in Riverguard in 2 days.  Aerie snuck out the other door and heard fooststeps that seemed to be going into the forehold, then a thud as though something had been dropped. Footsteps returning. She chanced a look and could see the humans heading fore and aft, the Halfling standing watch above the stairs leading down to the forehold. She heard the Halfling shout up at the wheelhouse, "Grimjaw will want to talk to this one himself". Aerie heard two splashes then "Were cast off boss" She silently slipped into the freezing water as the barge slowly turned and headed north up river. Reaching the shore Aerie was too cold to fly. She was literally freezing. She just made it to Toms house and the warmth inside. The front door was open but the house had been ransacked. Aerie took time to warm herself up by the fire and dry off. SHe then went looking for Tom and his wife. She found Toms wife in the barn, she had been torn to pieces. Shocked, horrified, Aerie assumed the sack carried onto the barge had Tom inside. A noise outside and she could hear Tom the barman's distinctive growling voice, "I tell you I seen it, as I was locking up it flew into the barn, it attacked Toms wife. About 5 minutes later it flew out carrying Toms body. It was big and black, huge it was. I tell you them strangers brought it, its all their fault". She decided to fly back to the Bargewright Inn and alert the group.

By this time the group were awake, fed and mounted, well on their way to cover the 10 miles out of Bargewright along the trail to Red Larch to find the ambush site. Having discovered the encampment of the ambushers, they travelled closer to the road. Here Zindra worked her Ranger skills and informed the boar to lead the horses back to Bargewright. The group tied their horses to the boar and off it trotted.

Aerie arriving at the inn found the note they had left, written in Elvish. She departed again and flew in their direction. She followed the line of cairns that marked the road and after 3 hours spotted the group in a wood.

They walked a little further then came to a hill overlooking the road. 

A shortwhile after the caravan slowly made its way along the road then all hell was let loose as bandits erupted either side and attacked the caravan.

 Some of the escorts went down immediately some fought where they stood. The group fired arrows and bolt where they could and injured some of the attackers.

Bron, Hagnulf and Garet charged down the hill. Garet ran into a wall of ice which Aerie dispelled.

 Fargrim charged down the hill as did Grog. Zindra and Aerie kept up a hail of withering, accurate arrows, Suddenly 4 Ice Elementals erupted out of the ground. Hagnulf, Garet, Fargrim and Grog each faced one. 

                              

One was dispatched and a fifth appeared. Garet launched himself over an elemental and took up position on a wagon. 

                              

Aerie went airborne and kept up a hail of deadly arrows.

                             

Only 3 bandit were left and the remaining guards dealt with those. the first 4 elementals had been dealt with too. Garet, Grog and Hagnulf searched the wood the 3 bandits had hid in. They found nothing. Garet moved through the wood as Zindra fired at the fifth elemental. Only this was not an elemental but an illusion, the arrows sped through and hit Garet. Garet had to heal himself.

The caravan leader was pleased the group had saved them. It transpired that the caravan was a Zhentarim caravan. On arrival back at Bargewright  The unofficial leader of the Zhentarim in Bargewright, Chalaska Muruin (female Damaran human veteran), the terse, cold-eyed “Senior Sword” and master of the gate guards. She thanks them for saving the convoy and informs them that she is aware of their mission. The Zhentarim will support, not openly, their efforts. She can tell them that she thinks, from her spy in Womford, Darreth, who has gone missing, that a cult is running a people smuggling ring there. She also believes it is one of 4 cults based on Earth, Fire, Water and Air that have taken over 4 haunted towers that were once part of the ancient Dwarven kingdom centred hereabouts.

She looked at Aeries' map and told the group the symbol was the Water Cult, she believed they are based up river in an old fortress once called Riverguard. She also informed the group about the missing delegates.

The delegation included a renowned shield dwarf historian named Bruldenthar, who was transporting his collection of manuscripts to Waterdeep. Three important diplomats were leading the delegation: a moon elf from Silverymoon named Teresiel, a shield dwarf from Mirabar named Rhundorth, and a human noble from Waterdeep named Deseyna Majarra. The diplomats are important. The delegation was also transporting the body of a knight who was killed fighting orcs in the Spine of the World. The knight was to be interred with honour at Summit Hall, the chapter house of an order called the Knights of Samular.