Introduction to Journey to Hommlet
Cast of Characters
Craddock the Mad (Ranger lvl 1)
Jed Bonebridge (Cavalier)
Kure Acolyte (Cleric 1)
Lornan Calihye Level 1 1/2 Elf AC 9
Slash the Bard1
Crush The Half-Orc1 AC1 HP6
Greyhawk Calendar
Fireseek 1, 576 CY – The Call to Adventure
Beneath a steel-gray sky, the chill of Fireseek settled over the town of Narwell, where six strangers found themselves brought together by fate—or the promise of gold. Brigands had turned the Gnarley Forest into a treacherous expanse, and the merchants of Narwell had hired this band to escort a caravan westward. A modest mission, but for adventurers like Craddock the Mad (a dour ranger), the fiery Jed Bonebridge (cavalier), Kure the Acolyte (cleric of St. Cuthbert), Lornan Calihye (a soft-spoken half-elf), Slash the Bard (a charming troubadour), and Crush the Half-Orc (a hulking fighter with a penchant for action), it was the first step in what none realized would become an epic tale.
Their journey began uneventfully, the caravan rumbling west along the road. Craddock scouted ahead, his sharp eyes scanning the barren landscape for threats. That first night, the eerie sounds of the winter wilderness accompanied their campfire, but nothing disturbed their rest.
Fireseek 2, 576 CY – Uneasy Beginnings
The group awoke to a pale dawn, frost clinging to the grass like silver lace. Craddock once again took the lead, his keen instincts leading him to an abandoned campsite. The remnants of a fire pit and a few scattered belongings told a quiet story of travelers passing through, but the ranger’s unease grew.
By late afternoon, they reached the Jewel River and crossed into Redpatch, a quaint village nestled along its banks. The settlement offered little in the way of comfort—no inn or tavern for a warm reprieve—but the fields on the outskirts served as their resting place.
That night, as the stars glimmered faintly through the cold, clear sky, the caravan’s horses grew restless. Craddock paced the perimeter, his hand never far from his weapon. Though the source of their agitation remained unseen, it was a foreboding reminder of the dangers to come.
Fireseek 3, 576 CY – Into the Gnarley Forest
The caravan resumed its journey, passing through the sleepy village of Dunmarsh as the edge of the Gnarley Forest loomed ahead. By dusk, they had ventured into its shadowed expanse, where ancient trees stretched skyward, their bare branches intertwining like skeletal hands.
The lead drover, a grizzled man with years of experience on these trails, warned the group of the forest’s dangers. “Every mile counts,” he grunted, spurring them to make camp just within the forest’s edge. As the fire crackled in the growing darkness, the group shared uneasy glances. The Gnarley Forest had a reputation, and none dared to voice the superstitions that lingered in their minds.
Fireseek 4, 576 CY – The Ambush
The morning dawned colder than the last, with frost biting at exposed skin as the adventurers prepared to move. Craddock and Slash took the lead, scouting ahead of the caravan. As the group worked to ready the horses, a sound broke the quiet—a bird call. Then another. But something was off. Too precise. Too deliberate.
Craddock froze, his hand tightening on his bow. He and Slash exchanged a glance and sprinted back to the caravan. “Something’s wrong,” Craddock hissed.
The group set a quick ambush, arranging the caravan to appear exposed while taking defensive positions nearby. Minutes stretched into an eternity. The forest stood deathly silent save for the occasional creak of branches swaying in the wind.
Then, from the front of the caravan, a sudden cry pierced the stillness. The lead merchant toppled forward, clutching his chest. Jed, Lornan, and Crush charged toward the sound, weapons at the ready.
The fight had begun.
The first steps of the journey to Hommlet were proving to be far from ordinary. The Gnarley Forest had bared its teeth, and the adventurers would soon find themselves tested in ways they could never have imagined.
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