(Test) Session 1 Journal: The Search Begins

Date: 11th of Fire Season, 1621 ST

Location: Boldhome, Sartar

Characters Present:

• Hildegard Ironsworn (played by Freya) - A fierce warrior of the Humakti cult, known for her unwavering loyalty and a blade that has tasted more blood than most soldiers in their lifetime.
• Rurik Ravenshade (played by Bjorn) - A cunning trickster and devotee of Eurmal, whose sharp wit is matched only by his penchant for getting into (and out of) trouble.
• Thora Bright-Eyes (played by Ingrid) - A skilled healer and priestess of Chalana Arroy, whose gentle touch is said to have saved countless lives on the battlefield.
• Kjartan Stormcaller (played by Eirik) - A powerful Wind Lord of Orlanth, his connection to the storms is as tempestuous as his mood, and his spear is feared by many.

NPC of Note:

• Vigdis Swiftfoot - Our companion, a swift and silent scout from the Vingan cult, known for her sharp eyes and quick reflexes. She is the one who has gone missing.

Summary of Events:

Our adventure began in the early hours of the morning, just as the first light of dawn began to creep over the mountains surrounding Boldhome. The city was unusually quiet, a silence that hung heavy in the air, broken only by the distant call of a hawk. We were all gathered in the small, dimly lit chamber of the inn where we had been staying, nursing our mead and discussing our plans for the day.

It was Thora who first noticed Vigdis’ absence. She was always an early riser, often returning from her morning scouting runs before the rest of us were even awake. But this morning, she was nowhere to be found. At first, we thought little of it—perhaps she had simply gone farther afield than usual. But as the hours dragged on with no sign of her, unease began to set in.

Rurik, ever the inquisitive one, decided to poke around and see if anyone in the inn had seen her. The barkeep, a grizzled old man with more than a few tales of his own, mentioned that he’d seen a group of strangers in the area the night before. They were asking about Vigdis, though they tried to be discreet. His information was vague, but it was enough to spark our concern.

As we continued our inquiries throughout the day, more disturbing rumors came to light. It seemed that Vigdis was not the first to disappear in the night. Several others had gone missing in the past few weeks—mostly travelers, but a few locals as well. The whispers among the townsfolk spoke of slave raids, of people being taken in the dead of night and sold to slavers from distant lands. No one seemed to know who was behind these attacks, but the fear was palpable.

Hildegard, ever the stoic, was quick to suggest that we begin our search immediately. She had a grim determination in her eyes, one that spoke of a vow not to let another of her companions fall. Kjartan, his voice like distant thunder, agreed, saying that the winds of Orlanth were uneasy, as if they sensed a storm brewing.

Thora, always the voice of reason, reminded us that we needed more information before charging off into the unknown. She suggested speaking with the city guard to see if they had any leads, while Rurik offered to scout the markets and taverns for further rumors. We agreed on this course of action, splitting up to cover more ground.

Rurik's Investigation:
Rurik’s silver tongue proved useful as always. He managed to uncover some interesting tidbits from a merchant in the lower markets—a man who claimed to have seen a group of cloaked figures leading a bound and gagged woman through the streets late last night. The description matched Vigdis. The merchant said they headed toward the city’s eastern gate, disappearing into the night.

Thora’s Visit to the Guard:
Thora’s visit to the city guard was less fruitful. The guards were aware of the disappearances but seemed powerless to stop them. They mentioned that those taken were often never seen again, and the few who had been recovered were too traumatized to speak of their ordeal.

Kjartan’s Scrying:
Kjartan attempted to commune with the spirits of the storm, seeking guidance from Orlanth. He entered a deep trance, the air around him crackling with energy. When he emerged, his face was pale, and he spoke of visions of darkness and chains, of Vigdis trapped in a cold, damp place, far from the warmth of the sun.

Hildegard’s Preparations:
Hildegard, meanwhile, prepared for the worst. She visited a local blacksmith, ensuring her blade was honed to a razor’s edge, and gathered supplies for the journey ahead. Her resolve was as steely as her weapon, and it was clear that she would not rest until Vigdis was found.

By the evening, we had reconvened at the inn, our minds weighed down with the information we had gathered. The pieces of the puzzle were starting to come together, but the picture they painted was grim. Vigdis was in grave danger, and if the rumors were true, we had little time to spare.

Conclusion of the Session:

We ended the session with a plan to set out at first light. Our destination: the eastern gate and beyond, following the trail of our kidnapped companion. There’s a sense of urgency now, a fire lit beneath us all. We know we’re up against something sinister, but as long as there’s a chance to save Vigdis, we will fight with all we have.

Next session, we venture into the wilds, where the truth of these disappearances—and the fate of our friend—awaits.