An unlikely assortment of travelers have started North on the Western road. Amidst rumors of strange creatures in the Wildlands, whole towns going missing, and the armies of Talism edging closer to victory in an 1800 year old war; our band of adventurers are heading to Anestral city to find their fortune. The road is long and a week of travel North of Grans Keep our characters come to the Inn of the Hungry Gods, a reprieve from the road for travelers of all sorts. Just before they reach the inn, they come across the body of a hobgoblin being torn apart by a pack of dogs. After beating off the dogs, they discover a magic dagger left in the bushes. Once at the inn, a gruff stranger claims the dagger for himself and a fight breaks out. Sheriff Cage breaks it up, but not before an extremely valuable shroud is burned up. The sheriff holds our characters responsible, decrees that they must make amends, and confiscates the dagger until its rightful owner can be determined. In the course of the night, the dagger is stolen and everybody starts blaming each other for the disappearance. In the morning, Professor Krane, the previous owner of the shroud names his price to make up for his loss. He asks the party to venture into the Wildlands to find a old druidic friend of his who is the keeper of five ancient artifacts of a forgotten king. With these artifacts Krane will be able to create another shroud, equal to the one that was destroyed. The five artifacts are the Breastplate of Sacred Fire, the Wand of the Earth's Ire, the Codex of the Firmament, the Vial of Pure Water, and the spirit-staff of the Lost King. After some consideration, the offer is accepted and the party heads into the woods. They discover a druidic circle in the forest with five riddles inscribed on two monoliths. After dealing with an Assassin Vine, the party starts following the riddles to the items of the panoply. After encountering a bear, a nixie, a giant beetle, and a competing band of adventurers; the last of the riddles (and the captured mage Pudge) leads our party to the ruins of what was an Elven trading post. The trading post itself shows signs of some relatively recent battle. Claw marks litter the stone walls and there are blood stains everywhere. While being ambushed by the competing party, an element of the woods rises from the ground, possibly protecting the body of the druid. After fighting off the wooden protector and most of the other party, all elements of the panoply were recovered and brought back to the inn. Professor Krane is able to create his shroud and the party is off the hook for the destruction of the first one. Since the druid who was watching over the panoply is dead, the five items are given to the party to watch over. In addition, while the party was in the forest, the Sheriff recovered the dagger and accepts that it rightfully belongs to the party.
When the Bough Breaks ⇛