Over the River and Through the Woods

First Adventure of the Arcadia Campaign

Our story begins on Chrysalis, one of the islands of the kingdom of Arcadia.

Norha the foxling (a fox-human creature) druid and Aenghar the Exiled, a half-orc ranger, were tasked by Hothgar, the chief druid of the Gleamwood to investigate the source of the monsters that have been recently plaguing the Briarwood. Hothgar was concerned that it could be a plot by the minions of Erlik.

Needing assistance, they journeyed to the nearby town of Dawnspeek. These disciples of Altarra sought an alliance with the Temple of Daeus, since both deities opposed the machinations of the Dark Lord of Death. Reluctantly, the chief priest Rothgar agreed to send along a representative, one Gabe Godsend.

Armed with a protection scroll, the trio entered the Briarwood and faced the following perils:

• They fought off a marauding band of goblins.
• They discovered a river of toxic sludge. Gabe and Norha tried to purify it but they were not powerful enough. They were able to cross the river by making a bridge from a log.
• After heading left at a crossroads, they encountered a wounded boar. It attacked and wounded Gabe but Norha calmed it with her druidic powers. Then she prevailed on Gabe to heal it. The grateful boar gave Norha a kiss!
• They passed a plant that flung poison darts at them. Aenghar was hit by darts before the party destroyed the plant.
• The party came out of the woods where they were challenged by a guard from the King's Legion, who thought that Norha and Aenghar were monsters. Realizing that their mission had not been completed, the party re-entered the woods.
• Returning to the crossroads, the party took the other path. A giant spider attacked. Its bite temporarily paralyzed Gabe, but the party managed to drive it off.
• Finally, they discovered a glowing green orb attached to a tree. From it oozed a sickly green ichor that flowed into a nearby stream, corrupting the entire forest. As they were investigating it, a hooting roar echoed through the wood. Then the party was beset by an owlbear! After a hard fight, the owlbear was killed.

• Returning to the orb, the party tried to move it and to attack it, to no avail. Norha and Gabe tried to purify it; the orb lost some of its power but still spewed its foul ichor. Seeing that aid seemed to hurt the orb, Aenghar grabbed a healing potion and dumped it on the sphere. A keening sound emanated from the orb as it began to shrink. Gabe then cast a healing spell on it; it shriveled into a small, dull rock. The flow of ichor ended and the rock could be picked up. Aenghar pocketed the rock and the party headed for home.

Notes

• This was the first adventure for Norha (Elizabeth) and Aenghar (Robb). Gabe (Rowan Bishop) previously participated in the adventure of Vykaard's Crypt. 
• Thanks for the title, Robb Rodgers.