Session 03 - "Whispers of the Woods"

Session 3 Recap

Tracking the Townsfolk from Rassalantar

Setup: After Session 2’s Mind Flayer encounter, the party returned to Rassalantar (on the Long Road) to regroup with the miners they were escorting. The miners, shaken by caravan abductions, reported the entire town (200 people) had walked into Westwood, leaving it abandoned.
Investigation: Tracks showed various sizes (men, women, children), heavily churned ground, heading into Westwood. A smaller group’s tracks flanked the main path, suggesting they were being led or controlled (likely by Mind Flayers, per later findings).
Miner Interaction: The miners debated returning to Waterdeep or continuing to Westbridge, ultimately deciding to head back. They paid the party 20 gold each for the day’s travel (not the full escort fee) and requested the party investigate the disappearances, believing them to be competent adventurers.
Looting Rassalantar:

General Store: The human rogue and tabaxi looted 500 gold worth of currency (split evenly, 100 gold each to those present), plus tools, cloth, and farm equipment (not immediately useful).
Temple: Dedicated to a god of luck, good fortune, and adventurers (likely Tymora). The tabaxi and dwarf cleric looted 200 gold from the donation box, plus small religious trinkets (candles, silverware), which they left behind due to low strength (tabaxi’s negative strength modifier). The dwarf cleric offered a prayer, hoping to help the townsfolk.
Town Hall: The human rogue searched the mayor’s home for clues but found no suspicious correspondence or financial issues—nothing explained the mass disappearance.
Barracks: The wizard (via party) quickly searched, finding common armor (chainmail, no plate) and spears, but took nothing significant.
Stables: Found draft horses, suitable for carrying supplies but not riding.

Preparations: The party considered purchasing mundane items (e.g., spell components) but focused on moving forward. Total gold looted: 700 (500 from general store, 200 from temple), split as 100 gold each among all five members (prior gold + new loot adjusted).

Travel Through Westwood

Decision: The party chose to travel at night to follow fresh tracks, despite cold, windy weather (survival check confirmed). The wizard led tracking with a 15, noting the central path and flanking tracks.
Camping: After traveling into Westwood, the party camped for the night. The tabaxi slept, while the human rogue, Githyanki artificer, and dwarf cleric stayed awake, guarded by the Steel Defender and sphinx familiar. A campfire was lit.
Merchant Encounter: The human rogue heard three voices—a merchant and two guards from Red Larch, unaware of Rassalantar’s emptiness. The rogue briefed them on the situation, noting Mind Flayers are rare outside the Underdark. The merchant sold:

Gloves of Missile Snaring
Boots of Elvenkind
Half Plate
Hat of Wizardry
Enduring Spellbook
Full Plate (1100 gold)
The party spent heavily, leaving them “super broke.” The Githyanki artificer now owes the human rogue 122 gold.

Journey to Kryptgarden Forest

Westwood Exit: The party emerged from Westwood after a day, briefly checked Kheldell (no issues reported), and continued to Kryptgarden Forest.
Kryptgarden Forest: A misty, lush forest with overgrown vegetation, flowers, and a “different vibe” (dragon-influenced). After two days of travel:

Corpse Discovery: Found a corpse off the main path, brain eaten, likely by a Mind Flayer (matching Session 2’s enemy). Tracks confirmed the victim was part of the townsfolk group, pulled aside as a “snack.”
Corellon Shrine: Encountered a ruined, two-meter statue of Corellon (elven god of art and craftsmanship), missing its head. Offerings (dolls, lockets, jewelry) were left at its base, some fresh, some faded. The Githyanki artificer used calligraphy supplies to create a “pretty” offering, rolling a 15 for craftsmanship, pleasing Corellon.
Moon-Touched Longsword: An hour later, the party spotted a blue gleam in a bush. The human rogue stealthily investigated (despite noise), finding an old skeletal corpse holding a glowing Moon-Touched Longsword of elven make (glows in the dark, can be sheathed to dim). The wizard ritual-cast Identify to confirm its properties. Faint music in the distance suggested Corellon’s favor from the offering. No one claimed the sword immediately (party unsure who uses swords).
Cow Bones: Found several cow bones, a week or two old, picked clean with deep notches from large teeth. The Githyanki artificer (nature check 22) identified green dragon marks, confirming an adult (or larger) green dragon’s presence. The tabaxi (Arcana/history check) noted green dragons create lush, overgrown forests, identifying Kryptgarden as the lair of an ancient green dragon, possibly the “Green Witch of the Forest.” The Githyanki shared that his people ride red dragons, not green ones, and warned against confrontation.

Response: The wizard apologized aloud for trespassing, citing their pursuit of “illithids” (Mind Flayers), and the party cautiously backed away from the dragon’s territory, continuing to follow the townsfolk tracks deeper into the forest.

Current Status

Finances: The party is “super broke” after merchant purchases (total spent: 1100+ gold for full plate, plus other items). They looted 700 gold from Rassalantar (100 each), received 20 gold each from the miners, but spent heavily.
Debt: The Githyanki artificer owes the human rogue 122 gold.
Location: Deep in Kryptgarden Forest, two days in, following the townsfolk tracks, aware of a green dragon’s presence.
Party Condition: Tired from night travel, cautious after dragon signs, but equipped with new gear. The tabaxi is optimistic about bargaining with the dragon, though the party prefers avoidance.

NPCs

Miners

Description: A group escorting the party (Session 1 quest), now returning to Waterdeep.
Role: Paid 20 gold each for the day’s travel, requested investigation into Rassalantar’s disappearance.

Merchant and Guards

Description: A merchant and two guards from Red Larch, encountered during the camp.
Role: Sold magical items (Gloves of Missile Snaring, Boots of Elvenkind, Half Plate, Hat of Wizardry, Enduring Spellbook, Full Plate), unaware of Rassalantar’s state but disturbed by it.

Rassalantar Townsfolk

Description: 200 people (men, women, children), missing, tracks leading into Westwood/Kryptgarden.
Role: Likely under Mind Flayer control, one confirmed dead (brain eaten).

Quests

Investigate Rassalantar Disappearance

Source: Miners (Session 3)
Status: Active
Details: Track the 200 missing townsfolk into Kryptgarden Forest, likely controlled by Mind Flayers. Evidence of dragon activity complicates the pursuit.
Reward: 20 gold each (partial payment from miners).

Escort Miners to Westbridge (Session 1)

Status: Abandoned
Details: Miners returned to Waterdeep due to abductions, paid partial fee.

Locate Beholder in Sword Mountains (Session 1)

Status: Pending
Details: Find a one-eyed creature (suspected beholder) in Sword Mountains (near Westwood/Kryptgarden). May tie to abductions.
Reward: 500 gold for info, more for killing.

Loot & Items Acquired

From Rassalantar:

700 gold total (500 from general store, 200 from temple), split as 100 gold each (prior gold adjusted).

From Merchant:

Gloves of Missile Snaring
Boots of Elvenkind
Half Plate
Hat of Wizardry
Enduring Spellbook
Full Plate (1100 gold)

From Kryptgarden:

Moon-Touched Longsword (elven make, glows in the dark, sheathe dims light), unclaimed.

Prior Loot (Session 2):

Wand of Translocation (held by the absent wizard).

Current Situation

Where: Deep in Kryptgarden Forest, two days in, following the townsfolk tracks.
Status:

Party is financially strained after purchases, but equipped with new gear.
Confirmed Mind Flayer involvement (corpse with eaten brain) and green dragon presence (cow bones, forest traits).
Tracks suggest the townsfolk are being led, possibly to a Mind Flayer lair or dragon-related site.

Next Steps:

Continue tracking the townsfolk, likely encountering Mind Flayers or the dragon.
Decide whether to confront or avoid the dragon (tabaxi favors bargaining).
Investigate potential overlap with the beholder quest in the Sword Mountains.

Additional Notes

Party Resources:

120 gold each (prior 700 + 20 from miners, minus merchant purchases). Track in D&D Beyond.
New gear enhances combat and utility (e.g., Boots of Elvenkind for stealth, Hat of Wizardry for spells).
Tabaxi’s spynks familiar and Githyanki’s Steel Defender provide night defense.

Character Dynamics:

Human Rogue: Takes a leadership role, practical but cautious (avoids dragon).
Tabaxi: Charismatic and reckless, pushes for dragon interaction.
Githyanki: Strategic, provides dragon lore, cautious of green dragons.
Dwarf Cleric: Supportive, likely focused on survival post-revival (Session 2).
Wizard: Absent, but his Wand of Translocation may be key for planar threats.

Plot Hooks:

Mind Flayer involvement suggests a nautiloid or Illithid colony, tying to SpellJammer.
The green dragon (“Green Witch”) may be an ally or foe in the abductions.
Beholder quest (Sword Mountains) may connect to the broader magical talent abductions (Session 2 elf).

World Details:

Rassalantar’s abandonment escalates regional tension (Lord’s Alliance may investigate).
Kryptgarden’s dragon presence complicates travel routes (e.g., miners’ path).

Transcript Insights:

SPEAKER_09 (human rogue) led town searches and merchant talks.
SPEAKER_00/SPEAKER_02 (tabaxi) used Awakened Mind, looted the temple, and identified dragon signs.
SPEAKER_07 (DM) managed the narrative, hinting at Mind Flayer and dragon threats.
SPEAKER_06 (likely another player) assisted with tracking and lore.