top of page

Session Three: Orcs and Dragonborn


As Wynn-frid left Brindor, she felt a sense of pride in the way things had turned out. Not only had she rid Balgus of his poisonous affliction, she had helped negotiate a peace between a Goblin and the village. Larx had a home now, one that wouldn't turn him away for doing what he felt was right. She walked along the road, renewing her sense of purpose and making for Telim. She could just begin to see the top of the Spiral Palace when she crested a small rise in the road, the ruby Flame of Telim like a homing beacon in the distance.

As she continued on her path, however, the day began to drag on and she felt no closer to the city. Fields passed by, travelers made their way to and from other villages, and still Wynn-frid walked. About two hours before sunset, she decided to stop for the evening in a small town just off the path. The signs identified it as Woodbend, and the road looked well-maintained. As she neared the town, she saw shops and an inn, and decided that this place seemed large enough that an arcanist might live here.

Wynn began searching for a magic shop, and it wasn't long before she came across a small house with various strange-looking items in the windows. There was no sign, but the door was open, and two people were just leaving down the front steps. Wynn-frid stepped up and knocked on the frame of the door. She was a bit startled when a silver-scaled Dragonborn swooped into view. The Dragonborn wore scarlet robes adorned with gold symbols, and every inch of exposed scales seemed covered with jewelry-even her horns were pierced. Even with all of this jewelry, though, the Dragonborn woman was quiet and swift. She eyed Wynn up and down before inviting her in, her voice quiet and raspy.

Wynn stepped inside and introduced herself, and was informed that the Dragonborn's name was Elena Wraist. She owned the shop, and provided small magical services to those in need. Elena offered some coffee and a seat and began speaking to Wynn about her business here. Wynn removed the magical-looking scroll from her Bag of Holding and gave it to Elena, who looked it over. Her eyes flashed with an electric blue, and she Identified the scroll as one of Teleportation. This scroll, she explained, could be used by an arcane practitioner who knew the incantation; it would instantly transport the user to a specific location. She was unable to decipher the location, but the sigil caught her attention. She immediately began muttering to herself, then stopped and inquired whether Wynn would be willing to sell the item to her. She offered 300 gold pieces, which Wynn declined.

The Dragonborn cautioned Wynn-frid about attempting to use the scroll, since it seemed to bear the mark of an ancient cult of necromancers and assassins. The cult was long dead, she explained, but one could never be too careful when dealing with The Vestige. Elena reluctantly handed the scroll back to Wynn, who then produced her ring she had found. Elena Identified the ring as a Ring of Spell Storing, and noted that it seemed to already have a spell inside of it that would produce lightning when used.

The two spoke at length about Elena's past, once she had grown comfortable with Wynn-frid, and she revealed that she had once been the Fourth Keeper of the Flame of Telaris. She and her husband had moved to Woodbend ten years ago, but he had passed away just three years past. She indicated that she had grown bored with life in Woodbend. Wynn seized this opportunity, and asked Elena to be her guide in the city of Telim once she arrived. Elena was hesitant at first, but agreed that she would come to Telim after she had ensured her shop would be cared for while she was away.

Elena gave Wynn-frid a page from her Book of Telescription, and explained to her that, when one of them writes a message and speaks a command word, the message will appear on the other's corresponding page. This, Elena said, would be a quick way for Wynn-frid to let her know when she arrived in Telim and that she had found lodging.

The two conspired to meet in Telim in an establishment known as the Bluebill Inn. They were preparing to part ways for now when they noticed a commotion outside. Peering out of the doorway, they noticed a young boy stumbling down the street, blood streaking down his chest. He collapsed in the street and some nearby villagers ran to help him. Wynn and Elena both headed towards the boy as well, Elena grabbing a healing potion from her shop on the way. When they reached the boy, he was still conscious, but bleeding heavily from wounds across his arms and chest. Elena administered the potion, healing the boy, and calming him enough to speak coherently.

The lad spoke of his father and him being ambushed by a band of Orcs along the road. He pointed towards the main road, to the forest across the way, indicating that the Orcs came from that direction. He had managed to escape while his father tried to fend off the bandits. He didn't know what had become of his father once he began running to the village.

Some nearby town guards heard the commotion and came to investigate. Upon hearing what had happened, they began calling to the villagers for able-bodied men and women to help them track and kill these bandits who had attacked one of their own. A few people filtered out, and soon the mob was nine strong, with Dexter, Elena's young Wizard apprentice joining the group. Wynn decided to join as well, welcoming the chance to kill some Orcs. Satisfied with their number, the group marched towards the forest.

Quickly moving into the trees ahead of the group, Wynn discovered the corpse of a young woman who looked as though she had been stripped of her valuables after being slain. She also found a middle-aged man who was on the brink of death, bleeding from many cuts and punctures. She administered a healing potion to him, and he immediately began asking about his son. Wynn gathered that this was the father of the young man who had come into the village previously, and sent the man towards Woodbend, imploring him to hurry and to be careful.

As Wynn caught up with the villagers in the trees, they quickly discovered the temporary camp of the Orc bandit group. Battle quickly ensued, and at the sight of the Orcs, Wynn-frid's fury flared. She moved in quickly, lashing out with her Thorn Whip to grab one of the Orcs around the chest and squeeze the life from him before tossing his corpse aside. Sidestepping the line of guards that had formed an orderly line of defense, she leaped over the head of one of the guards, landing squarely in the midst of three Orcs. She blasted outward with her Thunderwave, knocking two of the Orcs backward, one directly into the spear of a waiting guardsman. The one left standing near her, she grabbed with another Thorn Whip and felt a swell of satisfaction as the thick barbs cut jagged strips into the Orc's flesh, leaving it in tatters. He fell dead at her feet. Two more Orcs remained.

The Orc that had been pushed back by her Thunderwave was quickly mowed down by a Fireball from Dexter, and the last one fell to the line of guards as they swarmed him. The only enemies left standing were two partial Orcs, one of which gaped at Wynn-frid in recognition. She met his gaze, and realized that this was the same man who had tried to kill her only two nights prior. She watched as two archers from the village gave chase to the pair, who had begun running. Wynn left the pursuit to the villagers, who would know these woods better than she, and she joined the guardsmen in the march back to the village.

Back in Woodbend, Wynn-frid was congratulated and thanked by the guardsmen, who were impressed with her bravery and ferocity during the battle. The man whose life she had saved turned out to be the town's most notorious baker, and he offered her whatever she wanted from his shop as thanks. She took some bread and his gratitude, and made her way to the Dancing Tree to find a room for the night.

As Wynn-frid, exhausted and feeling good about her contribution in the fight and in ridding the world of more Orc filth, sat in her bed, she began to enter her meditative trance. Roughly two hours into her rest, she saw a shadow move outside her door. She tensed herself, but the shadow stopped, then a thick envelope was slid underneath her door. The shadow departed, and Wynn-frid continued her rest. The mysterious letter would wait until tomorrow.

bottom of page