The chronicle record
Session recap
The Phaendar Trading Company market festival buzzed with laughter and excitement, the air thick with the scent of food and the sounds of merriment. The party reveled in games and drink, with Arsène tackling the “Smash the Legion/Foxclaws” game, only to get stuck momentarily before triumphing and earning cheers. Bruneg smashed through the cart with brute force, while Finnetharyn's illusory war horn drew mockery from local hunters. At the archery range, Gundugar hit targets with ease, while Wren amazed the crowd by splitting Gundugar’s arrow. Wren later tracked a “rabbit” game, finding a leather pouch of worthless stones, which she claimed as a trophy. As night fell, the group gathered at the Taproot Inn, where Aubrin, a retired ranger turned cleric, entertained the crowd with a lively story. Finnetharyn followed with a comedic tale, earning the party a round of ale and food.
The festivities took a dark turn when Aubrin was suddenly struck down by a ballista bolt, collapsing with a grievous wound. Chaos erupted as three hobgoblins burst through the inn door, weapons drawn. As patrons fled, Arsène rushed to Aubrin’s side, stabilizing her with quick aid. The party chose to fight rather than surrender, with Finnetharyn launching a rousing anthem and hurling a tankard at the hobgoblins. Gundugar and Bruneg joined the fray, while Wren commanded her hawk, Nova, to attack. Together, they fought off the hobgoblins in the taproom.
With the immediate threat neutralized, they found Aubrin unconscious but alive, while the remaining patrons hid. In the kitchen, they discovered the back door had been kicked in and much of the stores looted, along with a trapdoor leading to a root cellar. Finnetharyn overheard the innkeeper shushing people below. The party organized the hiding townsfolk to come up for safety, planning to move them later. They slipped out the back, avoiding notice, and witnessed columns of hobgoblins marching through the streets, with a newly raised Blackstone Tower dominating the market square. They decided to head toward the Chernasardo/Fangwood via the river, first moving to Oreld's Fine Shop. Upon arrival, they found the door open, bloody footprints leading inside, and An injured man at the threshold with a javelin through his abdomen. Combat erupted as looters spotted the party, and An alchemy-using foe threw fire and glue bombs, gluing Bruneg in place. Despite the chaos, the party cut down the defenders and revived the injured man, who urged them to gather valuables and free those hiding in the basement. Finnetharyn discovered a concealed hatch, and after Arsène disabled the trap, they guided six townsfolk up from the basement to join their growing group of refugees.
Next, they moved to Finnetharyn’s parents’ home, only to find it ransacked with a pool of blood among the debris and no sign of his parents. They proceeded to the Phaendar Trading Company, where they engaged two hobgoblin archers. During the fight, a small earth wisp emerged from a fire, attacking the party. Wren identified it as usually friendly but violent when defending its home. Despite attempts to deter it, Vendel ultimately struck it down. Two locals on the smithy roof, fearing for their lives, calmed once the threat was eliminated. Inside, Kining Blondebeard, the blacksmith, initially refused to open but recognized Wren and Finnetharyn, agreeing to join their escort along with other townsfolk.
As they moved toward the shrine, a well-fed wolf scented the party near a shack. Wren attempted to command it to leave, but it did not comply. Suddenly, a large hobgoblin burst from the shack, taunting the party before charging. They surrounded and slew him, but the wolf attempted to flee and was struck down as it ran. Upon reaching the shrine, they found it desecrated, with bodies scattered about, including Father Noelan and Rhyna, who had fallen trying to retake it. Finnetharyn searched the altar area, discovering whiskey and an ebony butterfly carving, a keepsake of Aubrin’s. He prayed at Desna’s statue for his parents, while the party noted the sounds of fighting in Phaendar Trading Company had largely ceased. They discussed the challenge of getting their growing refugee group across the gorge to the Fangwood next.