As dawn’s golden light spilled over Broadhurst, the air buzzed with anticipation and the remnants of fatigue from the party’s recent skirmishes. The Silver Wood lay behind them, but its challenges lingered, particularly the underground river that now flowed with a gentler current, beckoning for a safe crossing.
With a plan in hand, Gorda, the agile wood elf brawler, deftly leaped across the rocks, securing a rope for his companions. Sera, the winged elementalist, soared above, flanked by CAS10, the steadfast combat automaton. Clefspeare waded through the shallows, while Marin navigated the riverbed, and Zeff stood guard, ever watchful for lurking aquatic threats. Upon reaching the far bank, Gorda took the lead to scout ahead, his instincts honed for stealth. An unsettling silence shattered when a female Werewolf’s voice broke through, promising power and freedom, as she loomed over a captive man. The party, concealed behind boulders, held their breath as the Werewolf bit the captive, inflicting a curse rather than a lethal blow.
The battle erupted when Marin marked the Werewolf, commanding his allies to attack. CAS10’s shot went wide, but Sera’s twin fire blasts scorched the beast. As the fight raged, CAS10 executed a strategic diversion, drawing the Werewolf’s ire away from the captive. The creature retaliated, inflicting further harm on the captive and turning its ferocity on Gorda. Gorda met the attack head-on, while Zeff unleashed his psychic powers, slamming the Werewolf into a boulder. The tide turned as the Werewolf unleashed a wave of terror, sending Marin fleeing, but Clefspeare’s divine prayers dispelled the fear, restoring their courage. In a climactic moment, Gorda landed a brutal strike, only for the Werewolf to transform into a more formidable form. CAS10, striking from the shadows, delivered a critical blow that finally brought the beast down.
In the aftermath, the party hurried back to Broadhurst, reporting their success to Carpenter Mikael and delivering the Werewolf’s body to Abbot Loric for investigation and the crafting of a cure. The Feather Bed Inn welcomed them with cheers from Bordoff of the Gilded Hand, whose team sparked a tense debate about adventurer responsibilities. Clefspeare rebuked the Gilded Hand’s refusal to aid the locals, while Sera sought a more diplomatic approach. After their departure, the party enjoyed a well-deserved respite. CAS10 gifted Sera a Bloodbound Bands, strengthening their bond as they collaborated with Abbot Loric to prepare several doses of a lycanthropy cure from the Werewolf’s remains.
As the day wore on, a group of dwarven merchants led by Murkik approached with tales of an ambush on their caravan and a ransom demand for their captured kin. CAS10 offered to escort them, but negotiations quickly soured when Murkik dismissed the proposal, citing contractual obligations. The party resolved to continue discussions, ready to confront the challenges that awaited them on the East Road.
Threads to Watch:
- The implications of the Werewolf’s transformation and its effects on the party.
- The potential for a cure for lycanthropy and its impact on those afflicted.
- The strained relations with the Gilded Hand and their refusal to assist the locals.
- The fate of the dwarven merchants and the threat posed by their captors.
- The developing bond between CAS10 and Sera, enhanced by the Bloodbound Bands.