- Vera, Female Half-Elf Shaman + Jethro, Wolverine Spirit Companion
- Thun Thunderfoot, Male Goliath Warden
- Arwyn Weatherbee, Male Halfling Wizard
- Peaches, Female Tiefling Paladin
- Rain Du Fran, Male Half-Orc (Orc and Halfling) Bard
- Major Canis, Male Gnoll Paladin
Editor’s note: This session was run by Darby (Usually playing the PC Garrus). Jumping to the other side of the screen, I will be playing Major Canis, the Gnoll Paladin.
Before she can react, a Gnoll leaps upon the wreckage of the wagon and attacks. The Gnoll leader unleashes a mystic mist and surrounds Major with a wall of spirits. Peaches tries to save Thun, but the Gnolls prevent her from administering healing.
Rain tries to bluff the Gnolls. Using Major as his translator, the boisterous bard attempts to bribe the brutish beast-men. The Gnoll leader commands his troops to cease fighting. When asked what they want, the Gnoll chieftain growls that they want food.
Offering them the dead horses for food, Rain tells them to travel ten trees down the road and take a left. He promises that there is food, gold, gems, and a large diamond waiting for them there. The Gnolls are skeptical, to say the least, and resume their battle with the Companions.
A tiny figure stands behind Vera on the cart. It is Arwyn Weatherbee, a Halfling wizard sent by Commander Risland to join them. Vera gives a bearhug to her old friend, squeezing the breath out of the midget mage.
As Arwyn is introduced to the Companions, Rain climbs upon his pony. An agitated Arwyn demands that Rain return his pony. Still upset over the loss of his 12” pocket flute, a sulking Rain refuses to relinquish his equine hostage and refers to Arwyn as “Mister Small.” As they argue, the flames from Arwyn’s fireballs begin to spread. The burning brush causes minor injuries, as the Companions flee from the flames.
Tense negotiations ensue as both Vera and Rain refuse to give up possession of their bargaining chips. A disgusted Peaches convinces Thun that the sooner this ends, the sooner they can fight something. An excited Thun yanks Rain off the pony.
With the drama of the Pony-napping resolved, the Companions believe that they can finally resume their journey to reach their mission. They are sorely mistaken. Even though he has his flute back, a petulant Rain refuses to continue on with them to their mission and runs off. Fed up, the rest of the Companions resume their trek leaving Rain behind.
As they travel, the Companions walk past a series of small farms, houses, and cows. Appropriating a cow, they butcher, eat it, then rest for the night to recuperate. In the distance they hear Rain playing a mournful rendition of “Hot Crossed Buns” on his flute. Taking shifts, the Companions stand watch at night. First shift: nothing happens. Second shift: nothing happens. Third shift: and. . . nothing happens all night (the DM actually rolled for this).
Relating to Sir Jeremy that they are on a secret mission for the Empire, the Companions ask if they can have his wagon. Sir Jeremy is taken aback and refuses their brazen request. Peaches is determined to steal the wagon.
Playing Mum, Vera reminds them that they are on the same side and they shouldn’t harm their compatriots. She asks if there are any places further up the road that sells or rents horses. Sir Jeremy believes that there are several places along the road then demands that they step aside and proceeds to dive the wagon down the road.
Using all of his Bardic persuasion, Rain convinces them to let him play them a tune. A rousing rendition of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” brings the audience to tears. Sir Jeremy whimpers that his mother used to sing him that song.
Rain asks the soldiers if they know his Grandfather, a great hero. To which they reply no. Rain than enquires if they knew his father: Storm, a general in the army. Surprisingly, they do. With his credentials established, Rain relates that the soldiers they saw up the road stole the pony his grandfather gave him. He asks if they will help him recover said pony. With Rain in the back, Sir Jeremy turns the wagon around and pursues the Companions.
The acrobatic Bard manages to flip Gurt off the cart but the other two guards, John and Frank, rush the half-witted Half-Orc. Rain fires off his crossbow, narrowly missing Sir Jeremy.
Major grabs Thun and holds him in place and tells him to wait and see what happens. Gurt gets back on his feet and grabs Rain. For some reason, Vera convinces Sir Jeremy that they will take responsibility of Rain. Rain is unceremoniously tossed at their feet as the wagon turns and the perturbed knights resume their journey.
Vera and Arwyn go to the nearest stable to see if there are any horses for rent. There they meet the owner: Serena.
Vera tells Serena that they are on a mission for the Empire and tries to rent horses on credit. Serena tells them she runs a business and that she can’t afford to handover her horses for no money. She does tell them that some of her horses have been slaughtered by something in the meadow where they rest at night. If the Companions agree to stop whatever is harming her horses, Serena agrees to rent them the horses on credit.
Standing by the doorway with Major, Rain asks the bartender if he can rent a room for 15 minuets and offers to pay him 10 silver. The bartender thinks that’s a great deal and agrees.
Rain slips away before Major can stop him and locks himself in the nearest room. Major decides that he doesn’t care anymore and goes to the bar for a drink. Ordering his ale in a bowl, Major sloppily laps up his drink.
Rain struggles and pulls out his knife and frees himself. He slips out the door while the others are preoccupied at the bar.
A drunken old man with missing teeth, named Patrick, tells Vera that he saw Rain slip out the door. Vera decides that they can’t waste anymore time searching for Rain. Patrick attempts to hit on Vera but is given the cold shoulder.
Finishing their drinks, the Companions head over to the meadows behind the stables. Meanwhile, Rain has already snuck over to the stable and rented a horse. He returns to the Inn and drinks at the bar after the others have departed.
Major has never seen an Owlbear before, but he has heard that they are very large and very strong. He suggests that Thun should fight them. The Companions split up on different ends of the field and wait. . . and wait. . . and wait. Dawn arrives and the Companion’s patience has departed.
They find Serena, who seems confused about the time, and inform her that Owlbears are what is preying upon her horses. Vera and Peaches try and negotiate a deal, since they at least found out what is killing her horses and apologize for not having the time to resolve it. Saddled up, the Companions traverse the roads to their final destination, albeit a few days late.
To be continued? ? ?
Thoughts on this Session: Although hilarity ensued, not much occurred this session. At least not much central to the plot. This “One-Shot” session has now morphed into a three-part saga. But you can’t say we aren’t having fun. Rain is proving to be a demented sociopath but played oh so amusingly. Perhaps we will finally start our actual mission next session. . . or not. Bravo to all!!!