The Root of the Problem - Group 3 - Session 1
from the game session held on 06 July, 2022
General Summary
After doing some shopping - particularly a bit of weapon upgrading - our adventuring party of Dhraanng, the half-orc champion, Gambit the goblin alchemist, Kleone the halfling druid, and Tom the halfling bard have departed Karnstown and headed toward the mining village of Stannilode. They have accepted the job of rooting out and dealing with the mysterious "they" that the witch Fenric Morrikarn claimed would seek some sort of revenge after the group disrupted his plans to disrupt life in the city.
The trip took a week, after which the party got its first glimpse - and whiff - of the village they were seeking. Stannilode is a dismal place. The smeltery - by far the largest building in the village, and the first one encountered - belched thick black smoke into the air, and the slag piles behind it gave off a burning, sulfurous odor that Kleone - a druid - found particularly offensive if not downright nauseating. Beyond the smeltery lay a small cluster of buildings that formed the village center, and beyond that a ragtag collection of small wooden shacks all in great need of upkeep. It was around midday, and the street was deserted.
The group's first stop was the livery stable, to make sure Dhraaanng's mount Roach and the halflings' two ponies were taken care of. They briefly chatted with the stablekeeper, Godfrey Dynham. and paid the 2sp each for the care and stabling of their mounts for the first day. When they commented on the fact that this price seemed a bit steep - twice the rate in Karnstown - Godfrey ownly shrugged and said something to the effect of "This is a mining town. Things are pricey... get used to it." His attitude was one of resignation, though, not belligerence.
The group then decided to check out the tavern. There was not much going on there either - a barkeep, serving woman, and three or four patrons were the only apparent occupants. The group had no trouble finding a table. When they were seated, the halfling woman that had been sitting atop a human-intended stool chatting with the barkeep hopped down and sauntered over to ask they what they wanted. Inquiries about available food were made, and bowls of some sort of meat stew were ordered. They were quickly served by the halfling serving woman (she was too old to be a "serving girl") and the goblin cook that appeared from the kitchen behind the bar. Qirx, as the server had addressed her, was wearing a rather dirty, greasy apron and a chef's hat that once - long ago - was probably white in color.
Fortunately, the food was actually not that bad, though far spicier than what the halflings were used to. Three of them washed it down with ales that were surprisingly pretty good. Kleone, the druid, was looking for something that would replace the ever-present lingering stench of sulfur fumes that pervaded the town, though, and purchased a full bottle of something called "Old Ironsides Dwarven Spirits". This stuff was quite powerful, but Kleone found that keeping the small glass held under his nose between sips had the desired effect of counteracting the sulfur fumes.
The group semi-introduced themselves to the serving woman, who gave her name as Theodora, claiming to be representing someone interested in purchasing interest in one or more mines. This perplexed Theodora, who pointed out that the Cooperative owned all the mines, and since the Cooperative was essentially an arm of the Karn family back in the city, it was quite unlikely that anyone would be brave enough or stupid enough to attempt to operate independently. Theodora quickly surmised - and announced to the group with a smile - that she was sure they actually worked for the Cooperative, but didn't want people to know. She smiled, said something about their secret being safe, and suggested they try a better cover story. Theodora then quickly scurried back to the bar to tell the barmaid everything.
The group looked around and did a quick study of the other patrons in the tavern. Two human females sat quietly talking to each other, often glancing at the party. The halfling servant also couldn't stop eyeing Dhraanng, though whether it was because of the array of weapons strapped to his back or something else could not be determined. The only other patron was a half-orc male who sat alone, muttering to himself (or perhaps to his ale tankard?) When his tankard needed refilling he did not even turn to face the bar staff; he merely held it up and shouted, "More Ale!" The halfling brought it.
After eating, Dhraanng decided to try to talk with the half-orc. Sitting down across from the fellow that continued to mutter into his tankard, Dhraanng tried to start off with "small talk" conversation. He was ignored, but he was finally able to make out a few words amid the mumbling. A few words: "ghost"... "crazy"... "don't believe me"... were often repeated. So Dhraanng asked, "Tell me about this ghost." Almost immediately, the half-orc, whom the serving woman had identified simply as "Kal", snapped his head up to look at Dhraanng.
"Why? So you can make fun of me too?" the half-orc asked.
Dhraanng reassured him that this was not the case, and that he was genuinely interested. Kal then launched into a rapid banter about how he and four others had gone up to someplace called the Tancreedy Mine to get operations started, but they encountered a ghost who killed his companions. He was lucky to escape. But when he got back to town, nobody would believe him. Some even suspected him of foul play. He was beginning to doubt his own sanity since nobody seemed to give his story any thought at all. Dhraanng reassured Kal that he was indeed interested and did believe him. Almost immediately, Kal seemed to relax and regain a modicum of calm and sanity.
After Dhraanng returned to the party's table and explained what he had heard, the group decided to investigate a bit further. They were directed to the office of the Karnstown Mining Cooperative, where they could surely get any questions answered about the Tancreedy Mine. After finishing their bowls of stew and ales, they left the tavern to find the Cooperative Office.
In the Cooperative building, which was the only one in town that seemed to be kept neat and in good repair, they found a halfling male sitting propped up behind a huge desk. A half-orc male and full-orc female sat idly tossing dice onto the tabletop between them. The halfling was busy shuffling papers from one side of the desk to another and seemed to be making it a point to not notice the four as they entered. Only when they approached the desk, and he got sight of the muscular half-orc with several nasty looking weapons strapped to his back did the halfling - whose nameplate on the desk identified him as Dado Heywood - look up and ask what the party wanted.
Dhraang explained what he had heard from Kal, and explained that they were "problem solvers". Dado suddenly looked quite interested, though he tried (poorly) to hide it. He explained the history of the Tancreedy Mine, and how it was one of the richest tin strikes in the town's history, but it lay idle because workers wouldn't go near it. He further explained that two prospectors had come into town a little over a year before. They went into the hills to prospect, and returned after a short while with ore samples - rich ones. They then returned to the mine. A week or so later, one returned saying they were interested in selling the mine rights to the Cooperative. He explained that his partner, Owen something? or Owain something? was prospecting for another, richer strike and he was authorized to effect the sale. Dado drew up the paperwork and turned over a tidy sum to this Kayden Tancreedy. Afterward, though, Tancreedy did not return to the mine but instead headed for Karnstown - and hasn't been seen or heard from since. The partner was never seen again either.
After a few weeks, Dado put together a team of mine workers to go check out the mine. They returned with tales of "strange things" happening near the place. Spooky things... things that convinced them not to stay. So they didn't. A second group was sent out with the same result. Finally, a third group went out - this group included Kal. Only Kal returned, but he came back ranting about ghosts, and terrible things, and curses, and dead companions... Gibberish!
Obviously something's going on there, but who could tell what?!
The party agreed to investigate, and Dado explained that there was a 10gp per person reward if they could get the mine operating. The group agreed to give it a shot.
They decided to head out in the morning. They'd have to stop at the general store for some equipment first, but tonight they'd hang in the tavern and see what other information they could gather. They had heard some bits and pieces about gnolls... and giants... and another unfortunate miner that apparently was eaten by something?! Nothing pointed directly to the "mysterious They", but some possibilities were forming in their heads. The more info they could gather, the better off they'd be.
The trip took a week, after which the party got its first glimpse - and whiff - of the village they were seeking. Stannilode is a dismal place. The smeltery - by far the largest building in the village, and the first one encountered - belched thick black smoke into the air, and the slag piles behind it gave off a burning, sulfurous odor that Kleone - a druid - found particularly offensive if not downright nauseating. Beyond the smeltery lay a small cluster of buildings that formed the village center, and beyond that a ragtag collection of small wooden shacks all in great need of upkeep. It was around midday, and the street was deserted.
The group's first stop was the livery stable, to make sure Dhraaanng's mount Roach and the halflings' two ponies were taken care of. They briefly chatted with the stablekeeper, Godfrey Dynham. and paid the 2sp each for the care and stabling of their mounts for the first day. When they commented on the fact that this price seemed a bit steep - twice the rate in Karnstown - Godfrey ownly shrugged and said something to the effect of "This is a mining town. Things are pricey... get used to it." His attitude was one of resignation, though, not belligerence.
The group then decided to check out the tavern. There was not much going on there either - a barkeep, serving woman, and three or four patrons were the only apparent occupants. The group had no trouble finding a table. When they were seated, the halfling woman that had been sitting atop a human-intended stool chatting with the barkeep hopped down and sauntered over to ask they what they wanted. Inquiries about available food were made, and bowls of some sort of meat stew were ordered. They were quickly served by the halfling serving woman (she was too old to be a "serving girl") and the goblin cook that appeared from the kitchen behind the bar. Qirx, as the server had addressed her, was wearing a rather dirty, greasy apron and a chef's hat that once - long ago - was probably white in color.
Fortunately, the food was actually not that bad, though far spicier than what the halflings were used to. Three of them washed it down with ales that were surprisingly pretty good. Kleone, the druid, was looking for something that would replace the ever-present lingering stench of sulfur fumes that pervaded the town, though, and purchased a full bottle of something called "Old Ironsides Dwarven Spirits". This stuff was quite powerful, but Kleone found that keeping the small glass held under his nose between sips had the desired effect of counteracting the sulfur fumes.
The group semi-introduced themselves to the serving woman, who gave her name as Theodora, claiming to be representing someone interested in purchasing interest in one or more mines. This perplexed Theodora, who pointed out that the Cooperative owned all the mines, and since the Cooperative was essentially an arm of the Karn family back in the city, it was quite unlikely that anyone would be brave enough or stupid enough to attempt to operate independently. Theodora quickly surmised - and announced to the group with a smile - that she was sure they actually worked for the Cooperative, but didn't want people to know. She smiled, said something about their secret being safe, and suggested they try a better cover story. Theodora then quickly scurried back to the bar to tell the barmaid everything.
The group looked around and did a quick study of the other patrons in the tavern. Two human females sat quietly talking to each other, often glancing at the party. The halfling servant also couldn't stop eyeing Dhraanng, though whether it was because of the array of weapons strapped to his back or something else could not be determined. The only other patron was a half-orc male who sat alone, muttering to himself (or perhaps to his ale tankard?) When his tankard needed refilling he did not even turn to face the bar staff; he merely held it up and shouted, "More Ale!" The halfling brought it.
After eating, Dhraanng decided to try to talk with the half-orc. Sitting down across from the fellow that continued to mutter into his tankard, Dhraanng tried to start off with "small talk" conversation. He was ignored, but he was finally able to make out a few words amid the mumbling. A few words: "ghost"... "crazy"... "don't believe me"... were often repeated. So Dhraanng asked, "Tell me about this ghost." Almost immediately, the half-orc, whom the serving woman had identified simply as "Kal", snapped his head up to look at Dhraanng.
"Why? So you can make fun of me too?" the half-orc asked.
Dhraanng reassured him that this was not the case, and that he was genuinely interested. Kal then launched into a rapid banter about how he and four others had gone up to someplace called the Tancreedy Mine to get operations started, but they encountered a ghost who killed his companions. He was lucky to escape. But when he got back to town, nobody would believe him. Some even suspected him of foul play. He was beginning to doubt his own sanity since nobody seemed to give his story any thought at all. Dhraanng reassured Kal that he was indeed interested and did believe him. Almost immediately, Kal seemed to relax and regain a modicum of calm and sanity.
After Dhraanng returned to the party's table and explained what he had heard, the group decided to investigate a bit further. They were directed to the office of the Karnstown Mining Cooperative, where they could surely get any questions answered about the Tancreedy Mine. After finishing their bowls of stew and ales, they left the tavern to find the Cooperative Office.
In the Cooperative building, which was the only one in town that seemed to be kept neat and in good repair, they found a halfling male sitting propped up behind a huge desk. A half-orc male and full-orc female sat idly tossing dice onto the tabletop between them. The halfling was busy shuffling papers from one side of the desk to another and seemed to be making it a point to not notice the four as they entered. Only when they approached the desk, and he got sight of the muscular half-orc with several nasty looking weapons strapped to his back did the halfling - whose nameplate on the desk identified him as Dado Heywood - look up and ask what the party wanted.
Dhraang explained what he had heard from Kal, and explained that they were "problem solvers". Dado suddenly looked quite interested, though he tried (poorly) to hide it. He explained the history of the Tancreedy Mine, and how it was one of the richest tin strikes in the town's history, but it lay idle because workers wouldn't go near it. He further explained that two prospectors had come into town a little over a year before. They went into the hills to prospect, and returned after a short while with ore samples - rich ones. They then returned to the mine. A week or so later, one returned saying they were interested in selling the mine rights to the Cooperative. He explained that his partner, Owen something? or Owain something? was prospecting for another, richer strike and he was authorized to effect the sale. Dado drew up the paperwork and turned over a tidy sum to this Kayden Tancreedy. Afterward, though, Tancreedy did not return to the mine but instead headed for Karnstown - and hasn't been seen or heard from since. The partner was never seen again either.
After a few weeks, Dado put together a team of mine workers to go check out the mine. They returned with tales of "strange things" happening near the place. Spooky things... things that convinced them not to stay. So they didn't. A second group was sent out with the same result. Finally, a third group went out - this group included Kal. Only Kal returned, but he came back ranting about ghosts, and terrible things, and curses, and dead companions... Gibberish!
Obviously something's going on there, but who could tell what?!
The party agreed to investigate, and Dado explained that there was a 10gp per person reward if they could get the mine operating. The group agreed to give it a shot.
They decided to head out in the morning. They'd have to stop at the general store for some equipment first, but tonight they'd hang in the tavern and see what other information they could gather. They had heard some bits and pieces about gnolls... and giants... and another unfortunate miner that apparently was eaten by something?! Nothing pointed directly to the "mysterious They", but some possibilities were forming in their heads. The more info they could gather, the better off they'd be.
The session ended here. Tavern interaction roleplay will continue in the Discord channel.
Missions/Quests Completed
The party arrived in Stannilode and began to gather information about what they might be facing.
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