[D&D Next] Session report...

Ran another session of D&D Next last yesterday evening. Only had two of four players show up, but I figured I would have problems after having to reschedule from last week. Greyon, a wandering dwarf druid and Brann Wildhowl, a musically inclined knight (fighter) were today's participants. I decided to have them "help" me run one of the other characters made for the session, Frannie, the half-orc warpriest, whose player was unable to make it this evening. After failing to stop the necromancer's ritual last time, the adventurer's returned to town and helped clean up after the undead horde unleashed by the ritual had been dispersed. A few weeks later, grisly murders began happening late at night, all around town. One local hunter claimed it was a giant chicken doing the killing and bird-like tracks helped him to convince many others to believe the same. The mayor of Hereford, tired of the giant chicken nonsense, decided to give the adventurers a chance at redeeming themselves in the eyes of the townsfolk by hunting down this "giant chicken" and bringing back proof of its death. Another hunter helped track the beast to its lair in the woods north of Hereford.  The party entered the cave cautiously, even going so far as to douse the torchlight, which sent Brann stumbling about in the dark, trying to keep up with the dwarf and half-orc that could see quite a distance, even in the darkest of caves. They first came upon a gruesome "winery", where missing townsfolk appeared to have been bled dry and their blood used to create orcish bloodwine. Greyon tripped over an old skull and bumped into Frannie, who knocked loose a large rock from the cave wall. The sharp rap of stone on stone alerted the orcs, who were feasting deeper in the caverns. The adventurers were able to get the drop on two of the three orcs, felling them quickly and taking no wounds of their own. The archer however, fled and was able to slow down Frannie with a few well placed shots. The orc archer appeared to be running for a battered set of iron gates that were roughly set into a natural, narrow archway in the main hall of the caverns. Frannie, incensed at being struck by the barbed arrows favored by her monstrous kin, hurled a javelin that slid through the orc archer with ease, pinning its corpse to the iron gates. A large key fell from one hand and bounced a few feet away. The others followed quickly and began investigating the room and peering into the deep shadows of whatever was caged in the cavern to the northwest. Greyon could make out a lumpy shape buried in a stack of hay, but was unable to get a good enough look until he moved up to the bars themselves.  The bloodclaw harpy hidden in the back leapt out of the hay and slammed into the iron gates, causing them to creak and rattle loudly. The chain and its heavy lock clanged against the bars. The lock was strong and the chain stout. The harpy was well and secure... but for its ability to charm others with a crooning song. Greyon recognized this creature and its abilities. The druid quickly tossed the key into the flames, to prevent the harpy from charming him or one of his allies and getting them to open the prison it was trapped in. Two more orc warriors entered the main cavern from the south at the moment, just as Brann tried to reason with the harpy. Frannie leapt into the fray and smashed one of the orcs with her morningstar. The second orc charged forward and pierced the half-orcs thick hide with a rough-edged short sword. Frannie fell to the ground, bleeding profusely. Brann rushed over and tried to entangle the orc with a weighted net, but the orc was wary and ducked out of the way. Greyon moved closed and used a healing word to mend the half-orcs wounds, bringing her back into the battle. Frannie rolled to her feet after clearing the pain from her mind. She swept her morningstar beneath the upraised shield of the orc and clobbered him in the kneecap, severely wounding and crippling him. The orc was quickly overwhelmed by the three adventurer's, leaving them them with just the harpy to deal with. The harpies song overcame the stubborn mind of Brann after he had fished the key out of the fire. The knight, lulled into helping the harpy, opened the lock and was "rewarded" for his efforts with a set of harpy claws digging for his spleen. Brann crumpled to the ground and was revived a moment later by Frannie casting a curative spell upon the knight. A fierce back and forth battle between the adventurer's and the harpy raged in the narrow arch of the cavern... which was fortunate for the townsfolk of Hereford. Had the harpy been able to escape, more would have died to the claws of the vicious winged beast. After slaying the harpy, the adventurers took a moment to catch their breath and clean their wounds. ...to be continued...