S&W Sessions Journal: Introductions and Employment

This past session a player didn’t show up again and there’s been no explanation… that’s three times in a row. Maybe I’m a bit dense and he’s just not that into it. Which is fine, but I’ve been left wondering what to do with his character. I’m thinking again about my post about just who owns a PC - now I’m feeling pretty justified in letting him be played by someone else or used as an NPC. Either way he could easily die. Meh.

There were some major plot developments this session and for the first time in a long time the party seems to have a sense of direction and purpose. They were nearly broke. Kitoth the magic user offered to sell shares of his horse to the other party members (which they respectfully declined), and then he considered casting sleep on everyone in the inn’s common room and robbing them all. In the end, Wagstaff loaned him a few gold pieces, and they decided they should follow up on the lead that the mayor’s clerk had given them, especially considering that they'd paid for it.

They traveled west to the Turnapeak, an inn near Castelnaud. There they met a man named Stebbins. He hired them to investigate a small castle which his master had inherited - one that had fallen into ruin during the plague years some forty years ago. I should mention that some more regional history and background information was given this session - At present, the Dordogne valley was at peace but this was the exception rather than the norm. There was a deadly plague that nearly wiped out the human population a couple of generations back, and it’s only more recently that the population has begun to prosper from its (popkin) spices and grow again with the aid of outsiders. During the dark period, the forests in the area encroached upon the towns and are now host to numerous ruins of fairly recent origin. This was how I justified there being so few people in the area considering the size and number of castles. It also allows for a great deal of exploring opportunities relatively close to safe havens - an ideal place for low level adventurers.

Stebbins works for Tirel, who works for Claude. I’m hoping that this castle clearing business will turn into regular work for the party, eventually involving regular procurement of the free range monster meats that the semi-deranged Claude craves.

They made their way to the castle, did a short recon, and entered. They quickly ran into a trio of goblins (yep, just goblins!) and two of their number nearly died, one being brought back from the edge of death by Agnal the cleric. It’d been raining, and they were without blankets, bedrolls, or shelter of any kind. They elected to sleep outside, without fire and in silence, for fear of arousing the interest of any other denizens. Physically they’re a miserable bunch, but they’ve already recovered thirty five pounds of silver and gold - a small fortune in their experience.