The chronicle record
Session recap
The air was thick with the scent of blood and burnt leather as the party approached the cleared Fahrak Main Camp. A surrendered female Captive Alchemist lay under guard, while a ratlike survivor from a previous encounter skittered through the shadows. Arsène tended to the Alchemist's wounds, while the others scavenged the bodies of fallen foes, gathering armor and tools. Vendel Coldblade's curiosity led him into a gruesome tent made from stitched humanoid skins, where he uncovered dark furnishings and a +1 Whip among other treasures. Meanwhile, Wren followed tracks to another tent, where she nearly fell victim to the Fugitive ratlike creature. In a tense exchange, the creature, claiming to be a Hobgoblin transformed by a wererat, offered information about the Alchemist in exchange for his life.
The party pressed the Alchemist for the truth, and under duress, she confessed to using lesser beings for experiments and revealed her detachment's mission to hunt down refugees. She explained that the Ironfang Legion believed they deserved land in Nirmathas and that troops could move rapidly through a mysterious tower. The Escaped Ratlike Survivor, revealing his true identity, offered to kill the Alchemist for the party but was instead spared, leading him to shoot the Alchemist in the knee as she fled. Before departing, he advised the party to dig beneath some roots for hidden treasures.
As they continued their search, Wren discovered two wounded wolf cubs in an animal pen and tended to their injuries while Finnetharyn Fimbleshanks coaxed them with food. The cubs soon bonded with the party. After sorting through their loot, they identified several magical items, including a Suit Of Eelskin Armor, which Wren claimed. Returning to their Camp with the recovered belongings lifted the spirits of Camp residents, and they set up a memorial for the unclaimed possessions. In the following days, Camp thrived under the party's efforts, with Gundugar Herdtender building a goat herd and Vendel calming the wolf cubs. Fort Trevalay, a Camp leader, gathered the party to discuss their next steps, emphasizing the need to ensure the Fangwood's safety, learn more about the Ironfang Legion, and investigate the missing Chernasardo Rangers. Wren prioritized finding a ranger fort, and the group set out northward.
Their exploration led them to a pair of Owlbears attacking a rabbit warren. The party engaged the creatures, with Wren marking one as prey and launching arrows. Despite the Owlbears' ferocity, the party managed to defeat them, though not without injury. After butchering the beasts for provisions, they camped for the night. During the watch, Arsène noticed signs of a large creature passing nearby, while Wren discovered a solitary cherry tree that mysteriously vanished by morning.
Continuing their journey, they encountered a trapped elf named Vardalel, who had been hiding from hobgoblins. After rescuing him, he led the party to the bodies of two Chernasardo Rangers, revealing that hobgoblins had ambushed them. Vardalel accepted the party's offer of refuge, and they decided to investigate a nearby fire before returning to Camp. In the scorched clearing, they found evidence of a deliberate fire and two burned bodies lodged in a tree. As they examined the scene, a giant's arrow struck nearby, and a Wood Giant accused them of arson, threatening violence. The party prepared for confrontation, ready to defend themselves against this new threat.