The chronicle record
Session recap
The captured fort stood silent after the defeat of the trolls and their hounds, its dark corners whispering secrets of the vault Sireo had mentioned. Fangwood Six, eager to uncover these mysteries, began their exploration in the trolls’ gambling area, where a strange mix of chess and poker awaited them. Amidst the clutter, they found a magical wand repurposed as a table leg. Vendel Coldblade, sensing the need for rest, led Fangwood Six to seek a defensible spot to recuperate.
As they searched, Arsène, Bruneg, and Finnetharyn Fimbleshanks stumbled upon a corner filled with paint pots. Bruneg’s curiosity led him to taste a peculiar pink paint, which Vendel and Finnetharyn found distasteful. Wren identified it as Marvelous Pigments, capable of animating painted objects, prompting the party to keep it for future use. Vendel also recognized the wand as a wand of reaching and passed it to Finnetharyn. Continuing their exploration, Arsène discovered a troll nest, while Gundugar Herdtender identified a dagger in the commander’s quarters as a Dawnsilver dagger. Vendel noted the gloves Arsène had taken from a troll woman were apprentice cheating gloves. They also found a powerful scroll and a Stone Salve, which Wren agreed to carry. Finnetharyn uncovered a secret door in the commander’s room, which they spiked shut before resting for the night.
After their rest, Bruneg illuminated the dark passage beyond the secret door, revealing two iron plaques with cryptic inscriptions. Gundugar recognized the names on the plaques as rival Chernasardo Rangers. Choosing the aggressive-sounding southern route, the party searched for traps, discovering great-axe-sized slits in the walls. They cleverly used a table to trigger the traps, allowing them to pass safely. At the end of the passage, they found a large steel key, which Bruneg retrieved without triggering nearby traps. However, a wooden construct animated and attacked. Finnetharyn bolstered his companions with a Courageous Anthem, while Vendel healed Arsène during the skirmish. Wren identified the creature as a mindless wood golem, and despite her arrows proving ineffective, Bruneg and Gundugar destroyed the construct with fire, revealing an iron door beyond.
The party then explored the northern route, where another wooden guardian emerged. They fought it off, with Wren and Vendel supporting their allies. After defeating the second guardian, they found a large bronze key and entered a chamber with two sarcophagi. Fangwood Six examined the sarcophagi, discovering a human woman and a dwarf interred within, along with their respective weapons and armor. They activated mechanisms in the chamber that deactivated traps, allowing them to safely open the sarcophagi. Using the keys they had found, the party opened the iron door to a low stone armory filled with mundane weapons and magical items. They claimed several valuable pieces, including a bow that enhanced fire vulnerability, a horned-dragon-breath longsword, and green dragonhide armor. After testing the traps they had deactivated, Fangwood Six decided to rest again in the fort before venturing into the wilderness.
As they explored the surrounding area, they noted the absence of larger animals due to the trolls’ overhunting. They discovered signs of giant stag beetles, which had resorted to feeding on trees. In a clearing, they found remnants of a battle, including a severed hobgoblin arm and drag marks leading to a fissure. Bruneg detected a foul smell and chittering sounds from within. When Arsène attempted to sneak inside, the beetles charged, leading to a fierce battle. The party coordinated their attacks, with Wren intimidating one beetle and Vendel landing a decisive blow. After defeating the beetles, they found the remains of both a Chernasardo ranger and a hobgoblin, along with additional loot.
Concerned about the time they had spent away, the party hurried back to Xulgath Caverns, arriving just before the merchant Norvi was due to arrive with Bruneg’s ordered bastard sword. They learned of ongoing troubles with Ironfang Legion and Molthuni Forces besieging Kragodon. After selling surplus goods and discussing potential magical tattoos, Fangwood Six prepared for their next adventure, with Gundugar crafting protective runes and plans to manufacture common drugs for the hermit.