C1 S10 - The Witch’s Trail

This session played June 25, 2025

Overland C10 Swamp (UNSAFE) - Day 5 PM

As the rain patters flatly on the midday terrain, Brolga suddenly picks up a different sound—raindrops on steel. A helm! With the insignia of the King’s Gate City Watch! As we look closer, we notice more and more signs of a scuffle, including charred vegetation. Behind a burned tree stump we discover a City Watchman, gravely injured, his armor all but split open by a powerful blast. He’s alive, but barely.

? Can he be saved?

d: 1d20 (disadvantage): 2 → No.

→→ His wounds are too severe, even for Denton’s magic.

@ Brolga kneels and takes the man’s head gently in her hands.

The Watchman is conscious. Roll a death timer +0.

d: 1d4: 3 → Three rounds til death.

PC Rd 1

Brolga: Easy, friend. There is no more danger now. Can you tell me who or what did this to you?

NPC Rd 1

Watchman: It was … a woman … with a child. Such power—never … seen the like of it …

PC Rd 2

Brolga: What happened?

NPC Rd 2

? Solodark Prompts

d: 2d100: 40; 5 → AVOID VICE

Watchman: I was a fool … offered to buy her a drink in the city. Never … never seen such magic!

PC Rd 3

Brolga: Please, friend, can you tell me where she took the child?

NPC Rd 3

Watchman: To the King. Said, “Why would I waste a moment in King’s Gate, when I have an audience with the King?”

With that, Watchman’s eyes defocus. His breath slows and then stops.

Daeniel: I guess we must have missed the castle last time we were in town.

Denton: Indeed. But if there is a King in this land, I’d imagine someone in “King’s Gate” ought to know about him.

Ryarn: Good enough for me. We return to King’s Gate, report the death of this watchman, and see if we can figure out who this King might be. At the least we’ll have a good night’s rest and a stable for the horses.

@ Party moves to D9 King’s Gate, entering K’s G B13.

King’s Gate B13 Artisan District (CHAOTIC) - Day 5 PM

Planning on riding through east to High District.

? Random encounter check 1 of 2

d: 1d6: 5 → Clear

? Random encounter check 2 of 2

d: 1d6: 6 → Clear

@ Party crosses the bridge into High District D11.

King’s Gate D11 High District (CHAOTIC) - Day 5 PM

? Random encounter check

d: 1d6: 2 → Clear

We arrive at the City Watch outpost as the sun dips below the horizon.

@ Brolga approaches the guard at the door.

Brolga: Sir, we have come to report the death of one of your men.

Guard: What? What do you mean?

Ryarn: We encountered him in the swamplands an hour’s ride from the southeast gate. He was barely conscious and his wounds too grave to treat. We gave him companionship until he passed, just a few moments after we discovered him.

? Does Guard believe us?

d: 1d20: 6 → No.

→→ The Guard places a hand on the hilt of his sword.

Guard: Companionship, of course, but you chose to leave him out there for carrion rather than delivering his body to us?

@ Brolga CHA check DC 12 (Guard is suspicious but Brolga is sincere)

d: 1d20: 7 → Fail!

@Brolga uses a luck token to retry.

d: 1d20: 11 → Fail!

Brolga: The body was in no condition to be moved. We—

Guard: Quiet. [calling inside] Hillin! Isolden! To me!

Two more guards emerge and draw swords.

Ryarn: Why would we have come, only to lie to you?

Guard: Something to do with the rest of your little gang waiting for us in the swamps, I reckon.

Ryarn: That’s absurd!

Guard: I’d agree, if it were the first time folk such as yourselves attempted it. Look, fact is, I don’t think there’s a dead Watchman out there. And if there is, I assume it’s you lot that killed him. Either way, we’re holding you until all our patrols report in. If we are indeed down a man, we’ll get to the bottom of it. Now, off those horses, and move it on in here.

@ Party stays here for the night. We are adequately fed and horses are cared for.