Session 076 Waiter theres a head in my soup.md
title: "76th Session - Waiter theres a head in my soup" aliases: "76th Session - Waiter theres a head in my soup" foundryId: journal-lydoPgWKZLKA5bvK.JournalEntryPage.wE9QzGrFj4zLSvgk ---
|session date= 7 Oct 2022 ===
Day: 7 Early evening, Flocktime 28, CY621
|synopsis=Session Summary: ===
As the party prepares to move through the trap door they notice a slow but steady dripping of blood running through the crack in the floor above has formed a pool in the dirt of the cellar. Sticking to the plan Horin carefully puts the head up through the hatch and attempt to determine what has been making the scratching noise on the floor above. He perceives a rotten figure wearing a bloodied apron carrying a meat cleaver moving towards him slowly while nearby a body lies motionless on the floor he identifies as the innkeeper. A second body lies in the corner of the room also motionless.
Horne throws the head across the room at the creature as Ragnum uses his divine sense - he detects undead yelling out “I’m itching for a hammering” as he pushes past Horin standing on the ladder launches into a brutal attack completely dismembering the former cook now a zombie. As as they take stock of the situation inside Gallandrin arrives with a group of troops and others gathering outside the building. As they move to breach the building from multiple windows and doors Horin opens the front door to allow fresh air into the fetid room. Shortly thereafter Alain arrives with a few Flan youth who have been hiding in the bog north of town. He is directed to collect the Hobgoblin and other troops armor and items for trade or sale while Gallandrin directs the regular troops to complete their search of the town.
Horin and Ragnar heal the innkeeper (Brunze) and casting spare the dying return his recently deceased wife to the land o the living - who still in shock, haltingly relates detail of what happened over the past week. Continuing their search of the Inn they discover additional body parts, neatly chopped up and left on the table, while the remainder have been slowly cooking in a cauldron. The party realizes they appears to have interrupted some form of ritual magic but cant determine its purpose.
Underneath the cauldron Gallandrin discovers series of old ledger books mostly burned beyond recognition but a few pages detail names and prices of various townsfolk who have been captured and sold. Brunze tells the party about the systemic purging of the Knights of the March and as they wear that symbol they are also surely marked for death by the Rippers. After some additional prodding he also mentions the towns former Lord was killed, his daughter was captured and sold for 200 gold pieces to the Red Company and likely taken to Spinecastle. Less valuable slaves are simply shipped off to the Ripper mines about two days to the east or in some cases simply eaten.
After exiting the building Horin moves to bless and purify the mass grave just behind the Inn. As they converse with some of the citizens who have started to trickle back into town one of the Flan elders mentions that a small group of elves has gathered about 10 miles north at the purple worm coach house. The elder also mentions that a large concentration of troops is to the north and he appeared to be headed this way. A lone rider rides up in a out of dust from the south and hands a scroll to the party. The note states that a mercenary company (Burtons Irregulars) is gathering near Darzog Hold and planning to head north within a week. The courier offers them a rum of Cardum whiskey and note signed by Stirkirk. Ragnar lets out a shout of joy and the courier heads back south on a fresh horse.
Recognizing the precariousness of their situation the party directs their troops to hasten work on the earthworks and more importantly finish gathering the various bodies scattered around town and take them to the mass grave for a ritual burning and subsequent burial. The intention is to prevent their potential resurrection by one of the shamans reportedly accompanying the forces to the north. Gallandrin uses his last Summon Elemental spell to conjure up an earth elemental to complete raising the earth works to the north of town. Now quite late in the afternoon and low on spells as well as suffering the effects of exhaustion the party moves back to the building across from the Inn to get some sleep before the upcoming battle.
|exp=
2100XP Learning more about the Rippers intentions, interrupting a ritual spell, cleansing the town, planning the defense of the town/region.
| Individual Experience Bonuses | ||
| NAME | XP | NOTES |
| Gallandrin | ||
| Horin | ||
| Luthaist | ||
| Mourn | ||
| Ragnum | ||
| Kruger | ||
| treasure =
See party sheet
|key_npcs=
Oleme - Member of the Red Company
Gilren - Member of the Red Company
| tasks =
|rumors=