Session 48 - The One Where They Went To The Wrong Cave
12th November 2023
In-game timeline: DR1489 Marpenoth 29 - Marpenoth 29
Our "Heroes" are heading for Moonfall cavern, where they hope to find the adult villagers, when they suddenly remember that they left something back at Elder Greylock's house - the area map. So they decide to head back to the village and steal that too.
Back on the trail, they get a move on - it is mid-afternoon and in winter that means only a few hours of daylight remain. At the fork in the track they take the right path and eventually come upon a cave entrance. They cautiously approach, and check out the ground around the entrance, spotting some bear paw prints heading both into and out of the cave.
As our "heroes" discuss their next steps, Mahtis hears some growling from within the cave, and as the group hurry to hide themselves, the dragonborn sees a large, bear-like creature approach the cave entrance from the inside and sniff around.
The party is determined to get inside the cave, but cannot see a way of doing it without tempting the bear(s) out first. In the end this is decided for them when the bear spots the glowing Mage Hand that TC conjures up and rushes towards them. Fight!
It's been a while (in real, and game, time) since the party had a fight and they struggle to remember how to use their weapons. But eventually they do find their rhythm, and the Mage Hand manages to distract one of the bears for a short while, and so the group manages to take down first one, and then a second, bear, ensuring that they knock them unconscious rather than kill them. TC and Carro take some deep scratches and bites before they manage this, however.
While the two bears lay unconscious, the group check out the cave. It seems very much like a bear cave, and no more. It is quite small and there is no sign of any obvious other exits or secret doors. Definitely no room for the villagers. Our "Heroes" retreat back along the path before the bears can wake up again.
It's now twilight and the group head quickly back to the fork in the track and this time take the left hand path. As the moon rises and the party need a torch lit to see, they arrive at another cave entrance that is a little way up a mountainside. Mahtis changes into a dog in order to scout the area better, and sees two human figures standing at the cave entrance, and some flickering torches behind. This seems a lot more promising!
Mahtis retreats back to the others and changes back to her dragonborn form. The humans above, having seen a dog appear and then go down the hill, challenge the party, asking why they are here and what they want. TC, the party spokesman, replies with a truthful explanation that they are travellers and are looking for the villagers to give them some bad news.
The humans disappear for a short while and then return, inviting them up to meet the villagers, who are apparently deeper in the cavern. Our "Heroes" scramble up the hillside and are told to head into the lit tunnel, with the two humans following.
As the party round a corner in the tunnel, TC and Mahtis are surprised when a couple of hand crossbow bolts thud into their bodies from in front of them, and a couple more fly over their shoulders, hitting the wall behind. At the same time Carro, at the rear of the party, turns to see the two humans who were following them in turning into wolf-like creatures and looking somewhat menacing…