Bear Flute (Date 1/8/25)

After much debate and politicking, the council came to an agreement on future projects. A town hall, an orphanage, and a barracks would be built over the coming months. Taxes would be lowered to encourage loyalty in the citizenry by letting them share in the kingdom’s windfall. Also, they would complete the road to the Viecelli Mine and open it for business.

With all the fiscal affairs in order, Marty pushed the group toward a long simmering issue: the fort of the fey queen still sat in the woods, and Gaston might yet be a prisoner there. At the very least, they needed to investigate what Antionne was up to, lest he awaken a powerful enemy of the state. Begrudgingly the party agreed and once again set off for the woods.

Giada took leave to head back to the land of the elves to see what they might know about the supposedly joint fortress. Yuri came along to perform for the queen. On the road they prepared their performance. Lex would play while Yuri would relate tales of daring and heroism both augmented by the Prince’s magics.

The group opted to skip the lumber camp and stick to the river road. Along the way, Justice made yet another attempt to restore Malwan to the monarchy, but the Prince’s confidence in his friends was unshakeable. He was more than content to allow them to choose the path, that he might lend his support and together they would decide the future of Malwan. Justice was nonplussed.

When the party stopped to camp, a familiar melody intruded on their practice and soon they were attacked by giant, monstrous bears. They fought through them. One almost ate the prince. The source was sought out and found to be another drowned sailor with translucent, slimy skin and gills. The skum were still after Prince Euwyn!

Power Grab (Date 1/8/20)

A few days later the call went out across the plains, “Fall back!” Bar’Bark and the other gnolls confirmed the order was clear, Bellanna had called for a complete withdrawal back into the canyon. The heroes had succeeded in claiming the plains, but had failed to draw her out to battle.

A message arrived from the lumber consortium addressed to Marty. It contained news that Antionne had been deposed in favor of Drova and a request for Marty to come quickly. After some debate, during which Hedge came clean about giving the note to Antionne, it was decided that the Prince would journey back to town with the Lex and the others while Marty and Hedge remained in the village for a time preaching the word of Strom.

Lex arrived at the lumber lodge and agreed to Drova’s continued command and set up Fennic as second command and his contact with the consortium. The party moved on to the city, and when Marty arrived, he told Drova about Fennic wanting to kill her father. She chased him out of town with her greataxe and had sex with the priest on the council table.

Lex and Giada did not return directly, actually not returning to town until after Marty and Hedge.

Back in town, the group gathered for a pre-council meeting meeting. Euwyn insisted Relania attend. It was generally agreed they would push for a barracks, a town hall and Hedge’s orphanage, and that the gnolls would be left to fend for themselves. Marty suggested that if any council members seemed resistant to a town hall, that they might be persuaded to vote for it to guard against the church gaining overt influence.

Justice did not attend, choosing to spend more time down at the fort.

Barbarian Pack (Date 1/8/11)

The gnoll warden tried to run. His arrows were deadly, but he was no match for the numbers on the Prince’s side, nor did he have an answer for the magics the party possessed. At the first fireball, the gnoll were routed, all save the leader giving flight. By the time the warden thought to flee, the warriors were upon him. A few gnolls fled back to the chasm, and though Giada said to hunt them down, it was decided to let them report this failure to the priestess. Searching through the band’s gear, Euwyn surprised to find they possessed many newly-made, enchanted items.

Over the next 5 days, Marty was convinced to preach the word of Strom to the gnolls. Reluctant at first, he was encouraged when his prayers to Strom were answered with mysterious mumblings about building a force to battle the “real” enemy.

On the 5^th day a group of enemy gnolls was spotted. The gnolls spoke in hushed tones of the Rager Pack, so the party made a plan to ambush them inside the village. The converted gnolls helped out. The fight was fast and brutal. One gnoll perished, but Bar'bark saved Hedge from the leader’s powerful falchion. The rest of the party suffered only minor injuries.

Preaching (Date 1/8/6)

After the fight, the band spent 3 days helping repair the damaged village and heal the injured gnolls. There were some tensions at first. Hedge had to punch out the village’s big man, calling upon Euwyn to enlarge him to do so. The gnolls tried hard to urge the party to come with them to meet the Bellanna, the priestess, but Lex insisted, in the name of his priest, that she must come to Strom. A runner was sent, and the group settled in to wait. Marty was excited about the new magics he and Euwyn were now capable of. A bonfire was held. After 3 days, the runner returned, with the gnoll’s warden. The party met the warden outside the village. He again urged the party to come meet the priestess. When they flatly refused, he appeared to head off, but once he was a safe distance removed, he opened fire!