The party meets in the inn. They sit drinking spirits and tea. Our adventurers are Alexander , Mama , Miss Coco, Nausicaa. Exploring the town, they find that there's a few things to be seen, but are eager to pick up a quest to earn some gold. They look over the quests available, and their leader, Alexander, is eager to put some orcs to the sword. They take the listing for the Butterskull Ranch and begin setting about picking up provisions.
Coming to the Barthen's provisions, they seek to stock up on rations so that they can make the 60 mile journey out to Butterskull Ranch and back. Elmar Barthen is currently away from the store picking up some supplies, and Coco sees this as an opportunity to try and get one over on Ander and Thistle who are watching over the store. Coco attempts to talk them into "investing" in the party, as they are going to make the town safer, and to give them the provisions for free. She's not entirely successful, but they do agree to give the rations for 1 SP instead of 2 SP. Nausicaa, seeing an opportunity to make sure the party is not without purchases all 50 rations. They are split between the 4 current party members, and they quickly realize that this is going to weigh them down too much. The store owner, Elmar, returns and finds that his clerks have sold all his rations at cost. They find that they need to haul the food somehow and as the provisioner of the party, Nausicaa decides to purchase a donkey and wagon from Barthen. Coco attempts to persuade him as she did the clerks, but he isn't fooled. He charges them 43gp for the donkey and wagon. The party loads the wagon up of the provisions they got at discount, and choose to alternate people who ride on the wagon.
Before leaving Phandalin, they visit the shrine of luck. Sister Garaele is away, but in her place are a couple Harpers she works with regularly. The Harpers were entrusted to watch over the shrine while she was away, and when the party comes close the Harpers stop them and ask their business. The party wishes to enter to see if they can glean some good luck from the shrine and its goddess, Tymora. Being Harpers, they see Nausicaa's regale and jewelry and assume she is someone of wealth, someone who might not advocate equality and someone who might oppress others. The Harpers test the party, to see if they think they can buy their way in, and offer to let them in for 5 GP. Alexander refuses and attempts to intimidate them in order to get into the shrine, but they are not easily swayed. Still, seeing the dedication of wanting to enter, the Harpers offer another test. They offer a stone to the party. There is debate amongst the party of four about what the rock means. After examining it, and with no instruction from the Harpers, they choose to take the rock. The Harpers let them pass and the four enter the shrine. Inside there was a pile of stones, and again after discussion the party added their stone to the pile. With nothing else to see in the shrine the party departs.
Wanting some additional information about the threats regarding the town, the party seeks out Harbin Wester's home. They start off wanting a conversation, but he's incredibly dismissive and tells them to go away. The party heckles and badgers him through the door regarding his reclusiveness over the white dragon. He tells them that he can survive in his home, and that if they want to help they can accept quests and make the nearby areas safe, and that he's not coming out except to get provisions and post quests. They ask him what he'd do if the dragon came and iced his house over, to which he said that he had enough inside to last until the house thawed. Eventually they tired of trying to get him to step outside and touch grass.
Now stocked and ready, the party treks north to the Triboar Trail and head east. They make it five hours out of town before the sun sets behind them. Choosing not to travel at night, the party chooses a place to settle on the Triboar trail, nestled in between Mountain's Toe Gold Mine and the southern tip of Neverwinter Wood. The party has used their survival skills to glean information on the safety of the area before they stop for the night. They hear mining and forging operations to their right, and frogs in the woods to their left.
While the party attempted to settle down for the night, they noticed the frog noises getting louder. Before they could sleep, frogs swarmed out from the forest. They attempted to run, but a giant toad ambushed them. It attacked Alexander first, being the closest to the wooded area. Alexander dodged. Nausicaa cast Witch Bolt and hurt it for 2 HP. Mama attempted to find crickets in order to help Coco cast a sleep spell, but was unsuccessful. Coco, unable to cast sleep, tried to distract the giant toad with prestidigitation and conjured the image of a fly. The giant toad turned its attention to Coco and attacked her hand. It latched on and hurt her for 5 HP. Alexander attempted to Command the giant toad into a prostrate position in order to remove it from Coco's hand. He unfortunately failed and the toad stayed latched. Nausicaa used her natural born ability and attunement to nature to conjure rose petals for Coco. Strategically, Mama damaged the toad for 13HP, and Coco cast Sleep, narrowly putting it into a slumber. It unlatched from her hand and fell to the ground. Alexander grabbed his two daggers from his belt and took stabs at the sleeping toad for 11 HP. The toad awoke and attacked Alexander who happened to be in range for 4 HP. Nausicaa cast Eldritch Blast and hurt the toad for 8 HP. The final strike was made by Mama, and with a swift dagger strike, felled the Giant Toad. Despite knowing that the toad wouldn't likely have anything of worth, they still searched the toad and found a stone in its belly. The adventurers kept the stone, and a frog from the forest as a pet.
Weary, the adventurers were able to finally rest, knowing they'd staved off the threat of the Giant Toad. They earned their long rest. (200 EXP)
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Froggy Tea Party Presents: Dragon of Icespire Peak
AventuraA D&D Campaign for new players!
