Session 21

Dawn breaks at the roadside camp as Jabari, Faus, and Kristov rouse from a pleasant slumber.

Once breakfast is had, the wolfkin announces that he is running back to Ogre’s Thorn to warn the party’s serfs that guests are coming to the keep.

Kristov and Faus get the orc and elf entertainers ready for travel and lead them back to the western road at a slow pace. It’s not long before a pitched battle can be heard from over the hill.

Cresting the low rise, Kristov spies an armored dwarf fighting a winged beast. The four men rush down the hill to aid the warrior, but upon coming near, they see the beast is a fearsome gryphon. The entertainers succumb to fear and dive for cover into the bush.

With a hiss, Faus readies his sling and lets loose a flurry of stones at the creature. Meanwhile, Kristov reaches into his sack, magically pulls out a crossbow and bolts.

The dwarf nods in their direction and readies a swing of his longsword at the gryphon and the battle is set. The terrible beast slashes at the dwarf and grievously wounds him. The three men trade blows with the gryphon before it beats it’s mighty wings and knocks them down. However, the beast has lost its appetite for the fight and quickly flies away.

The entertainers pop up from the cover and run over to the dwarf to provide their help. He growls in response, angered at their cowardice. Kristov is able to smooth over the exchange and invites the warrior back to the keep.

At Ogre’s Thorn, Jabari ambles into the courtyard and meets the wise woman, Lucia. He informs her of the guests and entertainment on the way. She is irked at the imposition and questions why they would share their meager provisions with strangers.

Eventually, Kristov, Faus, the dwarf, and the performers limp to the ruins of the keep. Jabari greets the entertainers warmly and pulls them aside. Lucia rushes to Kristov and demands answers for what happened.

The dwarf speaks up, “I was beset by a gryphon milady. Your friends here saved my life.”

Lucia rolls her eyes, fed up with the endless mouths to feed and witless actions of men, but changes her demeanor when she sees how injured the warrior is.

“Hold still,” she says as she applies a poultice and bandages to the dwarf. “Leave this on for a day, and you will be healed. Also, who are you?”

“I am Sturmburg,” the dwarf says. “A simple dwarven warrior and sword for hire.”

The group turns and sees that the orc performer has a large iron pot set above a campfire and is already boiling a stew. Several serfs add the days’ foraging to the hearty broth. That night, the performers put on a merry show, and the keep is alive with music and laughter.

Late that night, as the serfs and hirelings head to bed, Jabari, Kristov, Lucia, Sturmburg, and Faus sit at the campfire together.

Jabari stands up and announces, “My friends, I have decided to remain at Ogre’s Thorn for the winter. The story of these villagers has touched me, and I feel it is my duty to protect them. I will rejoin you in the spring after making sure the keep and our lands are well on their way to repair and the people are safe.”

The wolfkin turns to Lucia and Sturmburg, “In my absence, I would ask that you join my friends. They could use a good sword hand and a healer in their travels. I think you two could benefit from the arrangement as well.”

With that pronouncement, Jabari lets a mournful howl out and ambles to one of the broken bunk rooms in the keep. The rest of the group looks at each other and nods in approval, their minds set on the open road and the lure of adventure and riches.

“So,” Kristov says with a wry grin. “Where should we head first….”