COTN Session 2

Hello all, this is the third session of the Call of the Netherdeep campaign I am running. As always, please leave any comments or advice that you may have for me. I am running a few sessions behind but I am always wanting any type of feedback anyone can provide. So, here you go.

The Wandering Village

Not much of interest occurred the days before the group found Urzin. Except on the night before, everyone noticed a slumped over figure near a tree in an area they intended to bed down. It was after Hexton snuck up to it that he recognized it was a dead body with armor resembling the scout they had encountered. Though it looked as if his armor and equipment had been sundered completely in whatever struggle occurred, there was one untouched bottle with a note on it, “For my beloved Marcus, this will heal your wounds in times of need”. Hexton passed the bottle over to Sinna to verify its contents while Oloren inspected the body discovering that snakes not to dissimilar to ones they fought likely attacked and killed this person. Sinna confirmed the bottle as a potion of healing and handed it to Hexton who decided Oloren would be more useful in holding the item. After the party separated from the body a bit to camp for the night, Sinna quietly prayed over the lost soldier, hoping that it would connect with a beacon if this person was consecuted, so they may continue their journey of becoming a perfect soul.  She then took watch and didn't mention when Uthar took the body and placed it on the cart. Oloren did though, and he waited until Hexton had awoke for the last watch for them to take it and bury it. As they came back to camp, they had evidence of mud and dirt from the experience and the party started their search for Urzin.

It took them quite a while, Hexton and Oloren navigated the marsh easily in the journey to this site, but it seemed like finding something more pin point specific was more of a challenge. Eventually, toward late afternoon, Hexton heard the crack of wood, and wet sound of mud being depressed. They had found it. An hour later, they were looking at a whole town on the top of large horizonback tortoises. Shacks and structures that look like they should fall off, stood steady, with bridges and ropes connected from tortoise to tortoise. Uthar handed their cart along with Tony to a nearby hobgoblin who was marching through the marsh in front of the first set of tortoises. From there, the party climbed up a ladder and into the village.

Urzin was much more intricate than originally thought from a distance and the group weaves in and out of alleys and 'streets' on the back of a tortoise, while crossing bridges in between them. After going through what several ringed 'layers' of the town with different intended purposes, the one they passed through being the most residential in nature, the group finds themselves in a bustling economic area. As Oloren asks for directions to Lord Buhfal, Uthar takes this chance to split from the group, followed by Hexton, towards the nearest tavern, The Simple Moor. Hexton entered this smaller wooden building and was greeted by an orc who was tending the bar. She gave him a drink and made sure to eye him up and down, asking him why he was there. Meanwhile, Uthar had started asking the locals if he could find and thing 'strong', most likely looking for drugs. But due to Uthar being a newcomer, or his demeanor, it seemed like many of the inhabitants of Urzin avoided him and any of his questions.

The remaining members of the group, Oloren, Sinna, and Morgan, continued on with the directions to the Buhfal Shell, a district of governance for the village. Upon arriving, they enter a hall greeted by a large ogre who introduces himself as Lord Buhfal II, as various orc stewards and attendants move to offer them food and drink at Buhfal's request. Oloren brought up Sunbreaker Olomon to the leader and asked for any information on the whereabouts of his brother. Buhfal seemed unconcerned with Oloren's search for information but informed them all of the increased military presence of the empire from a fort they believe was erected. In addition, the Lord is concerned that the empire soldiers have kidnapped on of their village elders, a goblin by the name of Bol'bara. He stresses that his village didn't come from the dynasty originally but they are part of it not and the ongoing conflict between them and the empire often falls on their shoulders, which rings a source of familiarity with Oloren. Buhfal states that though he doesn't have information regarding his brother, they can search for it while they are in the area. He then asks them to help recover their elder, Bol'bara, for a reward, offering weapons to aid them. He then calls for an attendant to take them to retrieve the weapons and leaves.

After being shown the weapons, not of any reputable quality, Oloren and Morgan accepted a weapon each and they all left to meet back up with their party. Back in the Copper shell, Oloren veers off the buy some handmade hunting traps and a quiver of arrows from a drow named Vreya at a small booth. Sinna intercedes Uthar in a question to a goblin who gladly takes the opportunity to run off. From there everyone converges on The Simple Moor to enjoy the noy early evening. Rounds of ale were bought and consumed, though Uthar decided to get something stronger without much thought or question. It was with this confidence that he decided to single out a hobgoblin with his buddy, in what seemed like military garb, and challenge him to an arm wrestling competition. The hobgoblin, who later revealed his name was Rissek, cheerfully took the challenge several times with Uthar, Hexton, and Oloren. Along the way, the drinks flowed, and Rissek became a bit tipsy. When Uthar noticed, he jumped at the chance to hint for any type of drugs in the village, but all Rissek could mention was the ale they'd been drinking. 

While the night progressed and the arm wrestling ensued, Morgan made sure to keep their ears open around the tavern for any types of rumors of importance, while Sinna sat at the bar and wrote a couple of letters, keeping an stray eye out on the boys enjoying boasting their prowess. About the time that the bartender, a new face of a young drow woman, brought a fresh round, Oloren piped up on knowing about Bol'bara's disappearance. At the mention of them being hired to find the missing elder, Rissek attitude shifts. He doesn't stay too long after this information was mentioned. The rest of the party decide to call it a night with them taking small rooms with beds upstairs. Uthar decides to flirt with the orc owner, offering his services as a bartender for free. And after several hours, late into the early morning, she brings him with her to her shack beside the tavern for the night.