The Runewild - Story Hour

[mikeawmids1]

So I picked up the Runewild Campaign Setting book on Cyber Monday (a while back).

DriveThruRPG

www.drivethrurpg.com

This thing is a genuine masterpiece of adventure design and I cannot reccomend it highly enough! I stumbled on it by accident and it has rocketed right to the top of my Games to Run Next list. Created this post to make other people aware of this spectacular product.

"Beyond the kingdom of Aruanda, there is an untamed land. It is a place where witches walk, where goblins cavort, where the borders between the mortal and fey realms grow thin. For some, it is a place of unspeakable wonder; for others, only madness and death lie within its trackless depths.


It is the Runewild, and it is beautiful and cruel.
The Runewild is a dark fairy tale sandbox setting for use with the 5th Edition of the world’s most popular roleplaying game. Designed for character levels 1 through 10, it provides locations, encounters, and NPCs to support a campaign lasting months or years, or to be adapted into other campaigns. This book includes:

A history of the Runewild and its surrounding settlements
150 detailed encounter areas for player characters to explore
21 maps (included as separate files for virtual tabletops)
8 new Backgrounds and a new Feat: Fey-Touched
21 unique magic items (like witch embers and the staff of clarity and confusion)
32 new monsters (including clockwork dwarves, fey lions, giant forest sloths, and the terrifyingly beautiful Golden Bodach)
Detailed descriptions of the histories, motivations, and weaknesses of the witches of the Runewild, including the Whitebone Sisters; Missus Switch, the swine hag; Korthsuva, the Witch of Hours; and the Hag Queen Griselda, Mother of Ogres
New optional rules for exploration and resting
Advice for running a sandbox campaign
Dozens of random tables designed to help GMs make a Runewild campaign their own."

 

[mikeawmids1]

Runewild campaign to begin next week. I will miss week 2, and my estranged Irish son will likely be guest-starring in some capacity for weeks 4 > 6.

Just checking I have your character concepts correct;
Ellie: Fairy/Druid (Hag-owned)
Morgan: Human/Wizard (outlawed acolyte)
Rich; Human/Barbarian (runish scion)
Ted: Wood Elf/Fighter (time-lost knight)
Tom: Human/Paladin (devotee of St Adso)

A quick history of the Runewild;

1000 years ago: The Aosidhe (high elves) rule the Runewild and protect it from the Hag Queen Griselda (aka Mother of Ogres). Humans (the Runish clans) settle the forest's borders.
400 years ago: Ruler of Aruanda King Waithrik the Conquerer sends knights into the Runewild to subdue the truculent Runish clans.
Griselda unites many witches in her Grand Coven and strikes back against the Aosidhe elves. The elves convince the Aruandan knights that Griselda is the greater threat and fight together to destroy the Grand Coven. Griselda escapes.
The Aruandans subjugate the Runish clans and establish outposts throughout the Runewild. Most of the Aosidhe elves disappear, the few who remain become the Ruasidhe (wood elves).
70 years ago: The current ruler of Aruanda dies, plunging the kingdom into the Throne War. Knights escort Princess Esme into the Runewild and leave her in the custody of the Ruasidhe elves, far from those who would steal her birthright. Esme has all sorts of adventures and outsmarts Griselda on more than one occasion.
Ten years later: The knights return to collect Princess Esme and crown her as Queen of Aruanda. She bids the Ruasidhe farewell and returns to the capital.
Now: Queen Esme grows old and establishes the Runewardens to safeguard the denizens of the Runewild - be they human or fey - and to foil the schemes of Griselda and the surviving members of her Grand Coven.

... and that is where YOU come into the story

 

[mikeawmids1]

Day 1

Two travellers approach the village of Widderspire; Bruno the Bold (Human Paladin, devotee of Saint Adso - played by Tom) and Merlin (Human Wizard, outlawed apprentice of the Council Arcane - played by Morgan). They carry a decree from Queen Esme of Aruanda, identifying them as Runewardens, tasked with protecting the sprawling forest known as the Runewild. The leaves of the great wood are turning to shades of autumnal gold as the long Summer draws to a close.

Waiting outside the village are a pair of Ruasidhe elves; Verdan (Wood Elf Rogue - played by Adam) and Tinkerbell (Wood Elf Fighter - played by Ted). Years ago, the Ruasidhe swore themselves to the service of the young Queen Esme, an oath they honour even as her long life and peaceful reign comes to an end. Flitting around the two elven warriors is Apogee (Fairy/Druid, hag-owned - played by Ellie).

The Runewardens have been granted the deed to the late Lord Widderspire's old hunting lodge to use as their base of operations. Before he took up holy orders, Bruno had been a humble carpenter, and he immediately begins planning the necessary repairs and rennovations to the dilapidated loghouse.

The party introduce themselves and their mission to Mayor Aldor Macson of Widderspire, who suggests the villagers may have adventure hooks for them. Verdan learns of unsavoury vagabonds malingering near the Last Watchtower and the Runewardens decide to investigate. Bruno visits the church of Saint Adso and meets the local priestess Hattie Price. Graves in the cemetery have been disturbed and Price suspects the Whitebone Sisters are responsible. Bruno swears to bring the witchy siblings to justice.

On route to the Last Watchtower, the Runewardens encounter a trio of mercenaries calling themselves the Three Bears; Rupert, Yogi & Pooh. They offer their swords for the price of 15gp per day, which the party have neither the funds nor inclination to pay.

The Last Watchtower is a crumbling edifice near the end of Waithrik's Wall, constructed long ago to pen the fey denizens of the Runewild. The Runewardens explore the tower and find the bodies of five brigands in the basement. A swarm of fat rats gorge themselves upon the grim banquet. Brandishing a torch to drive away the vermin, Verdan and Tinkerbell examine the bodies. All five men sport blood red rags and expressions of horror frozen unto their dead flesh, but no obvious signs of whatever felled them.

Evening approaches and the party make camp in the upper floors of the old watchtower. During the night, a ghostly figure - hulking and spectral - approaches along the crumbling battlements. The ghost's rude garb marks it as a Runish clansman of the tribes that settled the fringes of the Runewild prior to the Aruandan conquest some 400 years ago. Intuiting the ethereal beserker slew the bandits in the basement - and that they have few effective means of combating a ghost - the party opt to flee. Bruno boldly stands his ground as the others scramble down the wall - and would have been cut down by the clansman's incorporeal axe had Apogee not distracted the ghost by slinging magic pebbles at his head. The Runewardens flee into the dark forest, whilst the ghostly apparition jeers their cowardice.

 

[mikeawmids1]

Day 2

The rest of the night passes uneventfully and the party enjoy the benefits of a short break - although Bruno is still looking rough after his run-in with the Runish revenant. Tinkerbell finds tracks leading away from the watchtower - apparently not all the bandits were slain by the ghost. The party follow the trail, heading north-west.

Soon they hear a loud, incessant buzzing sound, and spot three goblin scouts patrolling the skies from the backs of three giant flies. The Runewardens attack the patrol and quickly take the goblins out - although one wounded fly escapes the ambush.

The party follow it back to the ruins of an old Runish keep on the crest of Flyspeck Hill. Verdan draws his dagger and sneaks ahead, stealthily eliminating several more goblins before raising the alarm. The Runewardens battle their way through the dungeon and confront the goblin broodmother and her animate honey golem. Bruno gets his halberd stuck in the golem's torso and Apogee's dainty wings are hopelessly gummed up with sticky honey. Merlin blasts the honey golem with a barrage of Firebolts, melting it into a gooey amber puddle on the dungeon floor. The broodmother hits Bruno and Merlin with a sleep spell, moments before Verdan finishes her off with a poisoned arrow. Apogee identifies the healing properties of the magic honey (recover 1d4+1 hp per spoonful) and the injured heroes get down on their hands and knees to lap up what's left of the golem like a pack of wild dogs. The party search the broodmother's lair and discover a map to the location of the magic honey tree, and instructions on how to craft their very own honey golem.

Everyone advances to level 2!

TBC

 

[mikeawmids1]

Day 2 (cont)

The Runewardens have routed the Flyspeck goblins and slain their wretched broodmother. In the dungeon of the goblin lair, they find Ian the Igneous (Fire Genasi Barbarian - played by Rich), an imposing bald man with alabaster skin and a flaming beard. The Runewardens release Ian and recruit him as their new meat shield and cosmetologist.

The party investigate a large stone door inscribed with the wolf head emblem of some long-lost Runish clan. Bruno places his hand against the stone and is cursed to violently oppose anyone trying to open the door. While Bruno grapples Ian, Verdan manages to slip through the opening into the dark and dusty crypt beyond. His intrusion causes the skeletal remains of six Runish warriors to stir from their long rest. Verdan retreats, sealing the undead clansmen in the crypt behind him.

The Runewardens exit the goblin lair just as the clouds burst. The tracks they had followed from the Last Watchtower are obliterated by the sudden downpour. The party decide to return to Widderspire for a long rest. The skies darken and the storm worsens. A group of bandits emerge from the muddy ditch, encircling the party and demanding a toll to use the road. They look as wet and miserable as the Runewardens feel, and are broadcasting strong 'let's-just-get-this-done-so-we-can-all-go-home' vibes. The party empty their pockets, producing little more than pocket fluff (Tinkerbell has all the gold and Ted was absent this week). The bandits try to take Merlin's spellbook, but the wizard resists and ends up brawling with a jug-eared bandit in the muddy ditch.

Bruno presents Queen Esme's decree to the thug captain and places the entire gang under arrest. The bandit captain tears up the decree. Bruno is stunned by this flagrant disregard for his authority. Sharing this sentiment, Ian flies into a rage, severing the bandit leader's head whilst screaming; "A little off the top, sir?!" Merlin summons his green flame blade and emerald fire leaps from body to body. Verdan does a nutshot. The remaining highwaymen flee into the night, leaving their wounded fellows to be taken into custody by the Runewardens.

 

[mikeawmids1]

Days 3 - 7 (Long Rest)

The Runewardens return to Widderspire to rest and recuperate. Interrogating the prisoners, Bruno learns they work for the infamous robber baron Ianto the Red. The prisoners don't know where Ianto's main camp is, but the gang maintain an outpost in the ruins of Widderspire Keep. Bringing Ianto to justice would make the road to Caerfell safer for everyone, and cement the Runewarden's reputation as champions for good.

During downtime, Bruno repairs the leaking roof of the Runewarden lodge. Verdan goes hunting. Merlin pores over maps of the Runewild, searching for... something. Ian sets up shop in the village, offering his services as barber and stylist. He overhears two customers discussing Elenwen's Tree, a local landmark the heartstruck visit to carve the name of their beloved into the ancient trunk.

Bruno spends his evenings standing vigil in the Widderspire cemetery, to deter the Whitebone Sisters exhuming any more of the graveyard's long-term residents. The witches do not return, but Bruno hears haunting music originating from the mausoleum of the late Lord Widderspire. He investigates and meets Hoorah the bunny-eared Pookah girl, who often visits the cemetery to talk to the ghosts. She says the spirit of Lord Widderspire is sad because he misses his wife and children. Bruno recommends Hoorah vacate the cemetery as the Whitebone Sisters may be nearby. The Pookah girl is unperturbed - she is under the protection of Grandfather Pookah, and even the Grand Coven know better than to mess with him.

 

[mikeawmids1]

Day 8

The Runewardens head north, following Waithrik's Wall toward the ruins of Widderspire Keep. Merlin spots a severed head watching them from a nook in the wall. The head is uncommunicative, but seems pretty chill. The party decide to take it with them. They continue north across the rolling hills - pausing briefly to shout at an unfriendly forester - before finally reaching the hilltop ruin.

Verdan scouts ahead under cover of darkness, scampering up the rubble-strewn hillside. Two bandits stand guard atop the crumbling gatehouse, and a third emerges to tend to a malnourished donkey tied to a post in the castle courtyard. The bandit laments his many woes to the disinterested animal, citing his poor bladder control as the primary reason he fell into a life of skullduggery. He always aspired to be a cobbler, like his father before him, but nobody wants to buy pissy shoes. He starts to cry. Verdan sheaths his dagger and slips back into the shadows, overwhelmed with pity for the plight of this tragic figure. When the coast is clear, Verdan scales the outer wall of the gatehouse to eliminate the sentries. He kills them both, but not before alerting the rest of the gang.

Watching through the eyes of his owl familiar, Merlin waves the fighters forward. Ian crashes into the gatehouse and buries his axe in the skull of the would-be shoemaker. Merlin is shot in the spleen - the most magical organ in the human body! Verdan plays whack-a-mole with the bandits trying to get onto the roof of the gatehouse, until thug captain Harden arrives and clobbers him good. The party fight their way up through the gatehouse to reinforce the beleaguered elf. Harden is taken alive, the rest of the bandits not-so-much. The Runewardens have reclaimed Widderspire Keep! Hopefully, their new captive can lead them to the main camp of Ianto the Red.

TBC

XP
100xp for clearing Flyspeck Hill
325xp for surving bandit ambush
100xp for befriending Hoorah the Pookah girl
100xp for exploring new hexes
500xp for reclaiming Widderspire Keep

1125/4=281+300=581 (next level at 900)

 

[mikeawmids1]

Day 8 (cont)

Having overwhelmed the bandits, the Runewardens take a short rest in the liberated gatehouse. While on watch, Bruno hears the same haunting pookah-song he heard in the Widderspire cemetery, and finds Hoorah the Bunny-Girl near the flame-scarred foundations of a crumbling chapel. The ghosts of Lady Widderspire and her two children endlessly relive their final moments, trapped in the burning chapel during the Griselda's assault on the keep some 100 years ago. Bruno gathers up their fire-blackened bones and carries them back to Widderspire to be interred within the family mausleum. The ghost of Lord Widderspire manifests to express his gratitude, and gift Bruno the Helm of the Intercessor.

Day 9

The Runewardens return to Widderspire. Attempts to flip thug captain Harden fall on deaf ears. This hench dude is straight-up unflippable. Eventually, the party wall him up in their dark basement; maybe 72 hours of gruelling psychological torture will loosen your tongue, eh?

While they wait for Harden's mind to break, the party resume their night-time vigil over the Widderspire Cemetery. Three disheveled figures appear among the headstones, one is pushing a wheelbarrow with a squeaky wheel. The figures are wrapped in filthy rags and reek worse than the corpses they have been sent to collect. Apogee wildshapes into a oversized spider, triggering Verdan's arachnaphobia. Bruno flails around in the dark. Two ghouls are defeated, the third flees back into the forest.

Verdan tracks the fleeing ghoul, hoping it will lead him to the lair of the Whitebone Sisters - but the trail goes cold when it enters Ruasidhe territory. Verdan turns back after interrupting a group of wood elf scouts teabagging their kill.

Day 11

The Runewardens release Harden from solitary confinement. After three days without food, water, light or social contact, he is ready to spill the beans. He reveals Ianto the Red maintains a camp in Redcap Pass, in the mountains south of Caerfell. The robber baron has allied himself to the Daughters of the Chimera, a coven of green hags, and they have gifted him with the power to shrug off even the most grievous injuries.

The Runewardens hand Harden and their other prisoners over to a patrol of Aruandan knights to be imprisoned in the Kingdom proper.

Day 14

The Runewardens head for Caerfell, the largest settlement in the Runewild. They meet a commoner called Lucinda Travers, leading a large, unsettling cow. Lucinda wants rid of the beast, and is prepared to trade for Merlin's mule. Doris looks scandalized by this transaction. Mid-negotiation, Lucinda's father Dellwood appears to reclaim the cow. An argument ensures; Lucinda wails that the beast is bad luck, while Dellwood roars the cow is not for sale for any price. Apogee recognises the creature is a worry-cow, a fey-monster created by a hag after listening to a mortal's woes, but witholds this info from the party so as not to reveal her association with the witch Malicraft.

It is getting dark and the Runewardens arrange to sleep in the Travers barn. The surrounding fields lie fallow, and the only living livestock is the worry-cow. Bruno must be jonesing for vitamin A (and other essential nutrients), as he decides to milk the monstrosity. It ejects a frothy green ichor from its slimy udders. Bruno gulps it down and is immediately poisoned, because what were you expecting to happen Tom, really?!

The worry-cow assumes its worrying form, feeding on the fears of those around it to change its appearance; a hooded Darth Sidius-looking motherf*cker with snake arms and a bad afro. Dellwood Travers bursts in brandishing a pitchfork, intent on defending the worry cow. Merlin "accidentally" decapitates the old man on the backswing of his green flame blade. Jade fire spreads, filling the barn with celadon smoke. Lucinda Travers shrieks hysterically. Bruno is trapped in the burning stall with the rampaging worry-cow, with one foot stuck in the milking bucket and a very dicky tummy. Ian hauls him out, but is kicked in the head for his trouble. The genasi barbarian stumbles and falls, and is trampled into porridge beneath the beast's powerful hooves. Apogee casts Thunderwave, unleashing a sonic boom that explodes the worry-cow from the inside-out and demolishes what remains of the burning barn.

Emerging from the choking green smog, the Runewardens mourn the abrupt demise of their front-line fighter/style guru. Alas, poor Ian. Tinkerbell attempts to persuade Lucinda her father was killed when lightning struck the barn. A freak accident that no-one could have forseen or prevented. Meanwhile, Bruno gorges on magic honey, and suddenly grows to twice his normal size!

TBC

XP
Putting the Widderspire ghosts to rest 100xp
Learning the location of Ianto's primary camp 100xp
Defeating the ghoulish graverobbers 850xp
Destroying the worry-cow 700xp

1750/5=350+581=931

The Runewardens advance to lvl 3!

 

[mikeawmids1]

Day 15
The side-effects of magic honey become apparent to all, as Bruno bursts out of his chainmail vest in an explosion of small metal rings. Bruno is now Large, has Advantage on Strength-based rolls and inflicts an additional 1d4 melee damage.

The Runewardens continue their journey toward Caerfell. On the road, they meet Ghoralt Ironbane, half-orc fighter (skateboard cavalier, played by Rich), wearing a t-shirt proclaiming the wearer to be 2 KOOL 4 SKOOL. Ghoralt happens to be going the same way, so of course the Runewardens induct him into their organisation.




Ahead, the party see three oversized beetles attack and overturn a wagon laden with scrap metal. The dwarven driver clambers onto a large tree stump and curses in dismay as the greedy monsters devour his haul. After the Runewardens drive the beasts off, a possessed toaster emerges from the junk scattered across the road and insists that it too will be joining the adventure! Meet Toasty the Module (thanks for that Arcanomicon LLC), played by guest star Owen the DM's son.




The heroes arrive at Burly Point, a dwarven settlement on the road to Caerfell. After convincing the guards that Big Bruno is not allied with the evil giants living in the mountains, the party are allowed inside. The heroes want +1 weapons and armour, but learn only the master of Earthdragon Forge in Caerfell can craft such items.

The Coppertank Clan seek adventurers to slay the monster lairing in their mine. Details are slim, but the Runewardens suspect they might be dealing with gypsies. The dwarves promise to craft a suit of authentic dwarven platemail if the party clear out the mine.

Day 16
Bruno wakes up to find he has returned to his regular size. The Runewardens + hangers-on travel to the abandoned Coppertank Mine. Verdan scouts ahead, aided by Merlin's familiar. The entrance tunnel is littered with bodies, gored and trampled by some kind of horny beast. A deep shaft descends 120ft into the earth, a wooden lift platform is suspended about halfway down. Not trusting the dwarven mechanism, Verdan lowers his own rope and descends. Another tunnel leads off from the main shaft. Verdan spots movement in the shadows and finds a solitary human bandit hiding in the dark. Colton Frey used to run with Harden's crew at Widderspire Keep, but found himself ill suited to the life of a highwayman, and fled with a satchel of stolen loot. Soon thereafter, he was attacked by a monstrous figure with the body of a man and the head of a stag! He hid in the mine and has been trapped here since.

Meanwhile, the rest of the party are taking it easy. The chill vibe is ruined when a bloodthirsty werestag jumps out of a bush and tries to bite Ghoralt. The half-orc remembers his lessons: Say No to Lycanthropy! Ghoralt does a cool kick-flip. Bruno breaks his halberd. Toasty... helps? Merlin casts Booming Blade, causing the werestag's head to explode, showering the party with fragments of skull and shattered antlers.




The party cherry-pick the platinum coins out of Colton's hoard, then send him on his way. They deliver the headless corpse of the werestag to the Coppertank Clan and Bruno is kitted out with a new suit of dwarven plate.

Day 17
The Runewardens press on toward Caerfell. As they near the city, they encounter a pair of expectant parents hurrying the opposite way. The man explains that Caerfell is afflicted with a terrible curse, wrought by the Hag Queen Griselda, so that children born within the city walls do not age (so a newborn baby would stay a baby forever). The woman cries out in alarm as her waters break! Bruno steps up to deliver the child and out pops a healthy baby boy. The new mother names the child Bruno Junior, while the relieved father hands out cigars to the rest of the party.

The Runewardens finally enter the city of Caerfell, largest settlement in the Runewild. Wanted posters cover every flat surface, offering a generous bounty for the capture of Ianto the Red. The party visit Earthdragon Forge, only to learn they only make +1 weapons/armour at the behest of Lord Caerfell.

The Runewards visit Caerfell Keep, to request an audience with the young lord. They are stopped at the gate by Knight Captain Olvane One-Eye. Bruno presents Queen Esme's (somewhat bedraggled) decree, and explains their intent to apprehend Ianto. Auhorisation is granted for the Runewardens to use Earthdragon Forge, and the party splurge several thousand gold on new gear.

Day 18 - 22 (Long Rest)
While the Runewardens wait for their order to be fulfilled, they engage in some downtime activities. Bruno visits the Cathederal of Saint Adso and is reminded he is supposed to be investigating the increasingly ominous silence from Wexmore Abbey. Merlin investigates Archmage Rikus and learns he is Councillor Arcane to Lord Caerfell, and rarely leaves the castle. The archmage is obsessed with lifting Griselda's curse (so Lord Caerfell can turn 16 and legally rule the city), and offers a great boon to anyone who helps in this endeavour. Verdan meditates and receives an urgent plea for aid from a powerful entity trapped below Feather Lake. Ghorlan begins building a sick half-pipe to grind for mad air. Finally, Toasty investigates the whereabouts of legendary baker Firkin, hoping the reclusive patissier can make him a waffle cannon, or something equally ridiculous.

TBC

XP
300xp for defeating the Rust Monsters
100xp for discovering Burly Point
1,100xp for defeating the Werestag
100xp for saving Colton Frey
100xp for delivering a baby
100xp for discovering Caerfell

1,800/5=380+931=1,291 (next lvl up at 2,700)

 

[mikeawmids1]

Day 18 - 22 (cont)

Ghoralt Ironbane is approached by pro-skating legend Birdman (yes, he is an Aarakocra), who challenges him to a Combo Mambo. Because my dice suck, Birdman rolls a nat 1 and breaks his naughty word ankle after failing to land a sweet 360' Hardflip*.

* I spent altogether too much prep time this week on the Wikipedia page for Tony Hawk Pro Skater.

Birdman is distraught - he is scheduled to perform his trademark trick; the 900' Big Spin for the sick children of the Caerfell Children's Hospital later that day! But... perhaps Ghoralt can perform the trick in his stead, then the poor, dying children won't go to their graves having never witnessed true greatness! The DC is only 25, you can make that! Ghoralt is determined! He won't let those kids down!

Ghoralt rolls a 7, or somewhere in that ballpark. Ghoralt sucks. He tried his best, but sometimes that isn't enough. The children jeer, their fleeting mortality temporarily forgotten in the aftermath of Ghoralt's epic boner**.

** noun, slang; foolish and obvious blunder; stupid mistake***

*** NOT noun, slang, vulgar; an erection of the penis

Meanwhile, Verdan, Tinkerbell & Apogee are accosted in the street by an angry drunkard. He used to be a lumberjack, until he took an elven arrow to the knee. He's looking for a fight, but the heroes aren't taking the bait. The sotted gimp starts to cry sad, beery tears. Apogee tries to comfort the man, but the only respite he knows lies at the bottom of a bottle. Alas, you can't save folk from themselves.

Merlin receives a sending from his shadowy handlers in the Council Arcane. He is ordered to seek Korthsuva, the Hag of Hours, and the the only other witch in the Runewild powerful enough to break Griselda's curse on Caerfell. The hag's whereabouts are being clouded by the Pookah. Merlin is ordered to capture one of the fey-brats and wring the information out of them.

Finally, Toasty the sentient toaster seeks the legendary baker Firkin, to claim his ULTIMATE WEAPON (which, according to Owen is a sausage-roll sword). A decrepit old beggar approaches and asks for a crust of bread to fill his aching belly. Toasty takes pity on the old man - who sheds his rags to reveal his true identity... none other than Firkin! The legendary baker rewards Toasty's generosity with the Breadskin spell, then disappears in a cloud of yeasty smelling smoke.

Day 23

The Runewardens leave Caerfell and climb into the mountains south of the city. Ianto the Red has established his primary camp in Redcap Pass. The trail is winding and treacherous, but the heroes follow the directions extracted from thug captain Harden and soon reach the bandit's lair. The cocksure crooks have posted a single sentry to guard the approach, Verdan shoots him in the neck. Apogee casts Spike Growth, turning the entrance into a magical meat grinder. After the first wave of bandits get mulched, the rest of Ianto's army get real comfortable inside the cave. Apogee is forced to drop the spell so the rest of the Runewardens can go inside to finish the job.

Toasty flings fiery fougasse. The bandits can't believe it's not butter. Tinkerbell does the whole Legolas-bit. Apogee transforms into a snake and hugs a man until his bones snap, crackle and pop. Verdan has an existential crisis. The bandits have an ogre, but apparently no ogre-sized pants. Ghoralt grapples the hog. The Runewardens capture the bandit camp, and advance further into the cave in search of Ianto and the Daughters of the Chimera.

TBC

XP
100xp for traversing the broken mountain path
100xp for assaulting Ianto tbe Red's primary camp
525xp for defeating the bandit horde
450xp for defeating the ogre

1175 / 6 = 195 + 1291 = 1,486 (next lvl up at 2,700)