The chronicle record
Session recap
The fort loomed ahead, a potential stronghold for Fangwood Six. As they ascended the stairs, Arsène's keen eyes caught a glimpse of danger above, prompting a warning to his companions. Wren followed cautiously, spotting a young redcap on the upper floor. Remembering the creature's aversion to religious symbols, she prepared for confrontation. The redcap rushed down, tripping Wren with its scythe and attempting to stomp her, but she narrowly evaded the blow.
Bruneg charged up the stairs, using his shield to push the redcap back, though he struggled to drive it further. Finnetharyn Fimbleshanks attempted to navigate the jammed stairwell but remained below. Arsène climbed over the railing to the upper floor, clearing space for his allies, while Gundugar Herdtender scaled the wall to join him. Wren, now on her feet, took aim with her bow, inflicting a serious wound on the redcap. The creature retaliated against Gundugar but failed to bring him down, continuing to bleed. Bruneg then delivered a powerful blow, causing the redcap to burst into a mist of red.
The party surveyed the gruesome Upper Room, noting the blood-slicked floor and the sight of three flayed hobgoblin corpses lashed to tables alongside four dead Redcaps. Gundugar examined the bodies, deducing that the redcaps had fought amongst themselves, with only the one they had just slain surviving the conflict. Finnetharyn discovered an expanded healer’s toolkit, five healing potions, and several bandages. Continuing their exploration, Gundugar spotted an older Redcap wielding a runed scythe, accompanied by a strange dog-like beast. The redcap shouted a warning, claiming she would kill them all. Wren assessed the situation, realizing this foe was tougher than the others and capable of striking again after dropping an opponent. She fired an arrow, while Bruneg engaged the redcap directly. The creature attempted to heal itself and trip Bruneg, but he managed to shield himself from her kick. Finnetharyn arrived, inspiring his allies with a battle song, while the beast lunged at Bruneg, biting him.
Arsène attempted to intimidate the beast, and Wren sent Nova to assist in the melee. Bruneg rose to hammer the older Redcap, while Gundugar armed himself with a cold iron spear. The redcap retaliated, tripping Gundugar and threatening him, but Finnetharyn renewed his song and struck the creature with magic. The beast, now wounded, turned its attention to Vendel Coldblade, snapping at him. Wren identified the beast as a trollhound, realizing it could only be stopped by fire or electricity. Bruneg patched himself up before rejoining the fray, while Gundugar hurled his spear, dropping the older Redcap.
As the redcap fell, it cursed Gundugar, wishing for Halk to smash him. The party searched the nest-room, discovering a wounding scythe and a potion of flying amidst the crude living conditions. Gundugar returned to the hobgoblin bodies, uncovering the horrific truth of their torture, concluding that the redcaps had been extracting information from them before turning on one another.
In another building, the party encountered frightened Draft Animals, which Finnetharyn calmed with a performance. After feeding them, he instructed them to stay put until they returned with more food. In a training room, Finnetharyn discovered a magical rune that concealed a deadly trap. After a failed attempt to disarm it, Arsène succeeded, ensuring the party's safety.
Ascending further, they stumbled upon three leprechauns arguing over dwindling alcohol supplies. Finnetharyn negotiated with them, learning about Halk, a korred warlord who had taken over the fort. The leprechauns warned of traps and a ghost haunting the broken tower. Trusting their information, the party moved on, eventually encountering animated stuffed bears in a forge. After a fierce battle, they defeated the bears and uncovered a hidden cache of weapons.
In the workshop above, they confronted a korred who initially resisted their claim to the fort. After a brief skirmish, the korred revealed he could help them with a gear puzzle box that contained a deadly trap. He agreed to assist the party in exchange for his life and the promise of keeping Halk's club. The party then entered the throne room, where they found Halk and two spriggans. A fierce battle ensued, with Wren targeting Halk while Bruneg engaged him directly. The party fought valiantly, ultimately defeating Halk and sparing the remaining spriggan, who promised to clean up the room.
After searching the sealed stone blocks in the throne room, they found no visible seams or traps. They decided to return to the workshop korred for further assistance, offering him a deal to stay and fortify the fort in exchange for Halk's club. Persuaded, the korred agreed, and Arsène opened one of the sealed blocks, releasing a foul stench that filled the air.