OLD SKOOL CAMPAIGN: VILLAGE OF HOMMLET PT 1

It is a time for adventure!  An eon after the Twin Cataclysms reshaped Eastern Oerik, referred to as the Flanaess, opportunity abounds!  Ruins of old are being discovered, ancient treasures unearthed and the spirit of exploration has been rekindled.  As a tentative peace is maintained across the central Flanaess, adventurers take to the hills, valleys and mountains searching their fortunes. 

One such group gathers in Verbobonc.  Drawn together by happenstance, the group find common ground in a tavern, where so many such compacts are formed, and together they hit the road to learn what troubles the village of Hommlet. 

Anton Loyalar, Oeridian paladin of Heironeous and member of the Knights of the Hart

Eli Pendar, Flannish cleric of Pholtus

Coppyr, Halfling monk, and

Tharn, dwarf barbarian of the Fireforge clan

Together, this group travels the trade road from Verbobonc in to the Kron Hills and towards Hommlet, but they encounter a group of brigands in the road, intent upon relieving them of their purses.  The heroes quickly show them the error of their ways.  Though one escaped the scuffle, the others will harass travelers no more.  Hidden upon one of their number was a strange parchment bearing a symbol of a flaming eye.  Not knowing the significance of this, the group tuck this away for future reference and continue onward to Hommlet.

Upon reaching the village, they are immediately accosted by a member of the local church.  Calmer greets them upon the road, hands full of the writtings of St. Cuthbert of the Cudgel, and attempts to lure them into the nearby temple to fill the offering bin.  The heroes bypass the cleric and continue on into town towards the large inn. 

Outside of the large structure, a sign bearing a smiling, buxom young lass and the words The Welcome Wench Inn, greet them.  They enter the structure and find a few patrons partaking in food and drink.  They are welcomed by a young lass who escorts them to a vacant table and takes their orders with a smile.  They survey the room and see a number of locals and a few others that appear to be passing through as they are.  A couple of Flan or Baklunish  travelers speaking in a tongue none of them are familiar with, give them an unfriendly glare before returning to their private conversation.  Another fellow seems to be trying his luck in convincing the serving girl to return to his chambers.   Another sits alone dining in the center of the room, casting glances back towards the heroes’ table. 

Eli, skilled in reading lips, tries to discern any interesting conversations, but abandons that for a more direct approach and goes to the bar when a couple of locals speak animatedly with the barkeep.  Near these three, a stranger watches and listens to that conversation with great interest as they speak of the financial troubles of Hommlet due to the reduction in traffic thanks to a rash of bandit attacks on the roads. 

Eli and the stranger, who introduces himself as Spugnois, talk and the latter reveals himself to be a mage seeking adventure so that he may grow in his magical prowess.  He tells Eli of rumors of activity in a structure on the outskirts of town that the locals call the “moat house.”  Apparently, some time ago, the moat house was used as an outpost for a cult of evil doers, but that cult was wiped out and the moat house has been abandoned ever since.  Spugnois believes it to be a perfect hideout for the bandits that have been plaguing town and has been looking for others to go check it out with him.  Eli takes the mage to meet the others and as a group they agree to accompany Spugnois to the moat house.  The group agrees to meet at first light, and the mage excuses himself to study and to get some rest.

End of session.

OLD SKOOL CAMPAIGN: VILLAGE OF HOMMLET PT 2
https://dndmw.blogspot.com/2017/11/old-skool-campaign-diary-village-of.html