'Neath a Crimson Throne, Session IV

 October 12^th, 2021/Raccoons 29th-30^th, 749

Heroes present:

•Pendor, level 1 fighter, played by R

•Sigurd, level 1 dwarf, played by J

Their entourage:

•Two horses

Pendor and Sigurd awoke early the next morning. They sat on the porch of the Gray Moth Inn and watched the sun begin to rise.

This relaxing moment was broken by war-cries. A band of spear-wielding horsemen rode into the village, attacking the few peasants who were outside. Pendor and Sigurd leaped to engage the marauders in combat.

The two heroes knocked out four marauders. Two more managed to escape their wrath. It was a difficult fight, and Sigurd had to resort to using more murder-tree sap in order to survive. In the chaos of battle, the mayor of Dunnage was slain.

The heroes tied the bandits up and interrogated them. It turned out they were all under the effects of a charm spell cast upon them by an orc named Bloodrot. By repeatedly beating one of the bandits in the head, the heroes were able to lift the spell. The man told them everything they asked: that they had been raiding nearby frontier steadings at Bloodrot's command, and that the orc was still at his camp several miles due north.

Sigurd had been badly wounded during the fight, although he could not feel it due to the magic sap. He and Pendor went to the village's midwife, its only healer, to see if she could help. She told them that Sigurd's injuries were beyond her talents, and that they would need a blessed cleric to help him. Joan had left the previous night in order to participate in an important spring equinox ritual with her church. So, Pendor and Sigurd rode to Nordale to speak with Friar Brian.

When they reached him, Brian cast a spell of healing upon Sigurd – but it was not enough. The dwarf's heart had been pierced by a spear, and completely destroyed. Once the effect of the murder-tree sap wore off, he would die.

Sigurd was determined to go out in a blaze of glory. He and Pendor went north, following the bandits' directions, looking for Bloodrot's camp. They came to it just after sun-down. There were several uninhabited tents, and a cottage on top of a hill. A light was on inside the cottage.

Sigurd kicked in the door, and found Bloodrot sitting in front of his fireplace. The orc rose from his chair and defended himself as Sigurd charged. A fierce sword-fight followed, during which Bloodrot seemed to have the upper hand. But, while the evil sap flowed through his veins, Sigurd could not be killed by any normal blade. He gored Bloodrot upon his greatsword, then finally collapsed from exhaustion. Bloodrot and Sigurd both died.

Pendor looted the cottage and the camp. He found a decent hoard of silver coins, some rations, and a set of rare elvish silverware. He knew this last item would be worth a lot of money to a collector.

The fighter loaded his fallen comrade onto one of the horses, and returned to Dunnage to deliver sad tidings.

The next day during breakfast, a stranger walked into the Gray Moth Inn. He introduced himself as Beowulf of Kryza (J's new character), a fighter looking for fortune and glory. Pendor welcomed him along on the quest to survey Mount Skullfyre.