Kingmaker: Ep. 33

The Owlbear Adventurers were confronted with several new and troubling events in the region: a lumberjack’s sister murdered near LeBroad, a foppish man named Grigory slandering their name, strange lizard-like tracks around their fort, a monstrous child born at Otto’s Trade Fort, and a mysterious golden-haired gnome appearing in Puck’s locked room. The party decided the murder was the most pressing issue and escorted the bereaved lumberjack, Scarl, to LeBroad, hoping to investigate and confront Grigory.

Upon arriving in the village, the party split. Ashla, Brother Carl, and Yohei headed straight for the tavern to deal with the troublemaker, Grigory. In a bold display, Brother Carl placed the man under a zone of truth, forcing him to publicly recount all the good deeds the adventurers had done for LeBroad, much to the crowd’s approval and Grigory’s humiliation. Meanwhile, Puck and a companion visited Scarl’s mother to inspect the victim’s ashes, a bizarre and inconclusive process that nevertheless earned them a small reward for their clerical condolences.

Reunited, the group investigated the murder scene in a berry patch outside of town. They found little more than some long brown fur on a thorn bush, leading them to suspect werewolves. A night-long stakeout, with Ashla acting as bait, yielded nothing but damp clothes and a basket of berries. Seeking new leads, they visited their kobold allies, who, after some chaotic hospitality, provided the location of a troll lair in an old dwarf fort to the south. The kobold chief, Yik-Yak, also revealed that two of his own tribe had gone missing near Fort Owlbear.

Following the kobolds’ directions, the party found the fort and ambushed a hunting party of two trolls and two hobgoblins. The battle quickly turned disastrous. The trolls’ rapid regeneration, bolstered by mysterious glowing brands on their chests, proved overwhelming. Despite their best efforts, the adventurers were cut down one by one. As the survivors fled into the forest, Ashla and Puck were left behind, captured by the victorious trolls and dragged away into the darkness of the dwarven ruins.

OUTLINE:

New Threats and a Mission to LeBroad

The party learned of five new developments: a lumberjack’s sister murdered near LeBroad, a man named Grigory slandering them, lizard tracks near Fort Owlbear, a monstrous baby born at a trade fort, and a gnome appearing in Puck’s room.
They decided to prioritize the murder and accompany the lumberjack, Scarl, to LeBroad.

Confrontation and Investigation in the Village

The party split up upon arriving in LeBroad.
Brother Carl, Yohei, and Ashla went to the tavern and confronted Grigory.
Brother Carl used Zone of Truth to make Grigory publicly list the party’s good deeds, humiliating him.
Puck inspected the cremated remains of the murder victim, Saki, but found no clues.

The Murder Scene and a Failed Stakeout

The party investigated the berry patch where Saki was killed.
They found a tuft of long brown fur on a thorn bush, leading to speculation about werewolves.
They spent the night hiding in the rainy field with Ashla as bait, but nothing appeared.

An Audience with the Kobolds

The party visited their kobold allies to get information on trolls.
Chief Yik-Yak told them trolls were located in an old dwarven fort to the south.
Yik-Yak also revealed two of his kobolds, Krizak and Prasal, went missing near Fort Owlbear.

Disaster at the Dwarven Fort

The party found the fort and ambushed a hunting party of two trolls and two hobgoblins.
The trolls demonstrated powerful regeneration linked to glowing brands on their chests.
The party was overwhelmed in the fight; several members were knocked unconscious.
The survivors were forced to flee, leaving Ashla and Puck to be captured by the trolls.

NPCs:

Corrin: The alderman and sheriff of LeBroad. He is weary of the adventurers but accepts their help with the recent murder.
Grigory: A foppish, well-dressed man who has been spreading slanderous rumors about the adventurers in LeBroad. He is the ex-boyfriend of the bard Eulisha and was publicly humiliated by the party.
Krizak: A cunning kobold from Yik-Yak’s tribe who has gone missing near Fort Owlbear.
Lady Kremenko: A royal lady from Tarka who is funding the bounties on problematic creatures in the region, including the trolls.
Prasal: A great warrior from Yik-Yak’s kobold tribe who has gone missing near Fort Owlbear alongside Krizak.
Saki: Scarl’s sister, who was found murdered and partially consumed in a berry patch near LeBroad. She was picking moonberries at night during a full moon.
Scarl: A lumberjack working at Fort Owlbear whose sister, Saki, was murdered near LeBroad. The party accompanied him to the village for her funeral.
Scarl’s Mom: An older woman living in LeBroad. She was bewildered by Puck’s inspection of her daughter’s ashes but grateful for his blessing.
Yik-Yak: The chief of the allied kobold tribe, who the party helped install as leader. He wields a staff made from a stick with a deer head tied to it and a magical wand that fabricates items which later disappear.

ITEMS:

Brown Fur: A few strands of long, brown animal fur found on a thorn bush at the murder scene. Puck kept it as evidence.
Chonk the Mule: Puck’s loyal mule, used for carrying gear. His fate is uncertain after being left unattended near the troll fort.
Drow Razor: A wickedly sharp razor used by Puck. He attempted to surgically remove the trolls’ regenerative brands with it.
Saki’s Ashes: The cremated remains of the murder victim, kept in a clay urn. Puck inspected them for clues but found nothing.

LOCATIONS:

Fort Owlbear: The adventurers’ home base and fortress.
LeBroad: A forest village to the northwest of Fort Owlbear. It has a thriving market and a tense relationship with the adventurers.
Old Dwarf Fort: A weathered stone building built into the side of a hill in the Narlwood. It is currently being used as a lair by trolls.
Otto’s Trade Fort: A nearby trading post that offered the bounty on the trolls, funded by Lady Kremenko.
The Narlwood: The large forest in which many of the party’s adventures take place. It contains LeBroad, the kobold warrens, and the dwarf fort.

FACTIONS:

Yik-Yak’s Kobold Tribe: A tribe of kobolds who live in warrens in the hills. They are allied with the adventurers after they helped install Yik-Yak as the new chief.

QUESTS:

Investigate Saki’s Murder: The party took it upon themselves to investigate the murder of a lumberjack’s sister near LeBroad, believing it to be the work of werewolves.
The Missing Kobolds: Find out what happened to Krizak and Prasal, two kobolds from Yik-Yak’s tribe who disappeared after heading towards Fort Owlbear.
Troll Bounty: A bounty issued by Otto’s Trade Fort on behalf of Lady Kremenko to eliminate troublesome trolls in the area.

PLAYER CHARACTERS

Ashla: A capable warrior who seems to favor ranged combat with a longbow but is equally skilled with a sword. Practical and direct, Ashla often takes the lead in tactical situations, such as suggesting and participating in the stakeout. Ashla rides a horse named Winning Tickets.
Brother Carl: A devout cleric of the god Ord. He wields a warhammer and holy symbol, serving as the party’s primary healer and moral compass. He is quick to defend the party’s honor and is not afraid to use his divine magic to compel the truth or mend his allies’ wounds in the heat of battle.
Puck: A deep-dwelling Minvari, a cross between a dwarf and an elf. He is an albino with white hair and pupil-less white eyes, and a worshipper of the chaotic god Bacchusora. He dresses in a black cultist robe and wields a Drow Razor, not shying away from strange or morbid investigative techniques.
Yohei: A martial artist, referred to as ‘Karate Man’, who channels his chi and fights with his fists. He is also capable of transforming into a fox and surprisingly wields a holdout pistol. He has a personal grudge against Grigory, who is the ex-boyfriend of his girlfriend, Eulisha.