Session 1
Session 1: Arrival at Kendall Keep
Date: Day 1 (Late Afternoon) to Dawn of Day 2
Location: Kendall Keep
Summary
The party arrived at Kendall Keep after a twelve-day journey from the Temple of St. Cuthbert in Greyhawk. They had been hired by the temple to investigate rumours of evil stirring in the Borderlands—travellers vanishing, caravans slaughtered, and whispers of a Hidden Temple dedicated to dark gods.
Events
Arrival at the Gates
The party approached the Keep in late afternoon under a bruised, overcast sky. They were greeted at the Main Gate (Location 1) by Sabine, the Gatekeeper, who peace-bonded their weapons and welcomed them to the Keep with her customary warning about keeping the peace.
Zeale instructed Brother Marcus to handle introductions but to keep their true purpose vague—they would pose as sellswords looking for work rather than temple investigators.
Securing Lodging
The party made their way to The Green Man Inn (Location 14), where Wilf the innkeeper provided four beds in the common room, plus meals and ale, for 1 gold and 4 silver pieces.
The One-Eyed Cat Tavern
The party took their evening meal at The One-Eyed Cat (Location 15), the tavern connected to the inn. There they noticed several other patrons, including a woodsman by the window who was watching them with interest.
Conversation with Cob
Zeale approached Cob, a huntsman who knows the local wilderness. In exchange for ale, Cob shared troubling information:
- He has seen gnolls in the woods three times in the past month—creatures not seen in the area for a decade
- The Goblinwater (the stream running from the Caves of Chaos) has run red with blood twice recently
- He discovered murdered travellers on the road a fortnight past—not merely killed, but ritually arranged in a circle with symbols carved into the trees and the bodies
- The woman who appeared to be their leader was pinned to a tree with a spear through her chest, "like an altar"
- The gnolls he saw were not raiding—they were fleeing south, as if something in the caves terrified them
- He mentioned Father Abercrombie at the Chapel has been warning of a Hidden Temple and evil gathering in the hills
Cob provided the party with a hand-drawn map of the trails between the Keep and the Caves of Chaos.
Conversation with Jess
The party also spoke with Jess, the serving girl at the One-Eyed Cat. She provided additional information:
- The Castellan (Devereau) pays bounty for proof of bandits or goblins killed
- Lord Macsen is the ultimate authority but doesn't deal with common sellswords
- Father Abercrombie has been trying to convince anyone who'll listen about evil in the hills
- There are rumours of a spy somewhere in the Keep, feeding information to unknown parties
- The Bee Man, a hermit in the woods, supposedly knows secrets about the forest
- Mendel the scribe at the fortress keeps old records and maps that might be useful
Jess revealed that her own parents were adventurers who went to the Caves fifteen years ago and never returned. She asked the party to bring her any information about their fate.
Plans for Day 2
The party retired to the common room and agreed to visit Father Abercrombie at the Chapel (Location 17) at dawn to learn more about the Hidden Temple.
Session End
The session ended at dawn on Day 2, with the party entering the Chapel and meeting Father Abercrombie for the first time. He has just asked them who told them about the Hidden Temple.
Treasure & Equipment Gained
- Cob's Map — A rough sketch of wilderness trails between the Keep and the Caves of Chaos
Experience Points
To be awarded at end of adventure
Party Status
| Character | Class | HP | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zeale | Fighter 1 | 11/11 | Healthy |
| Mira Ashwood | Mage 1 | 4/4 | Healthy |
| Finn | Thief 1 | 6/6 | Healthy |
| Brother Marcus | Cleric 1 | 8/8 | Healthy |
NPCs Met
- Sabine — Gatekeeper of Kendall Keep
- Wilf — Innkeeper of The Green Man
- Cob — Huntsman and wilderness guide
- Jess — Serving girl at The One-Eyed Cat
NPCs Mentioned
- Father Abercrombie — Chaplain of St. Cuthbert
- Devereau — Castellan of the Keep
- Lord Macsen — Lord of the Keep
- Mendel — Scribe (rumoured to be connected to the spy)
- Bee Man — Mad hermit in the woods
- Greeves and Peta — Jess's grandparents, work at the Guild House