Date: 17th March 2024
It's a Sunday and we're in Aldershot for session six of Evils of Illmire.
Fresh new heroes have arrived at the titular town, what will they encounter? Lots of wolves it would seem!
It's a Sunday and we're in Aldershot for session six of Evils of Illmire.
Fresh new heroes have arrived at the titular town, what will they encounter? Lots of wolves it would seem!
A whole new world...
The King's Highway was an old trade route, it cut a meandering path through the lesser populated westernmost wilderness, carrying travellers and merchants alike along the fringes of civilisation. One of the 'stops' was the gloomy frontier settlement of Illmire, a town so named for the sombre wetlands to the east.
It was here that our heroes disembarked from a peddler's wagon and came to be at Illmire's palisades, having heard the stories of hidden riches accumulated in supposed lost settlements.
First stop though, was the Inn of the Weary Wagoner and a pint.
Early afternoon slatted light shone dimly through time-stained windows and shutters. It was quiet, only four patrons were frequenting the common room, nursing their beers dourly at a table. Ballard, former stableman turned barkeep eyed our heroes entering and welcomed them in.
After some drinks and a chat, our heroes learnt of the Balding fever which was afflicting Illmire, Ballard was somewhat dismissive, believing that someone was poisoning the town instead.
Zach meanwhile, wasn't really interested in the conversation and was instead trying to goad the locals into a drinking competition with no success.
A little later, conversation turned to the circus our heroes had seen camped out east of the King's Highway, this piqued Zach's interest. Ballard informed our heroes that most of the townsfolk had little interest in it.
Our heroes however, were interest in it! It was a walk of just couple of miles along the King's Highway and they would be there after perhaps an hour of walking through lightly forested, swaying grasslands.
However, once Illmire was out of sight, events took a turn for the worse.
Our heroes heard it first: The howl of hungry wolves.
The beasts closed in, a rippling green wake through the grasses left behind them with only tails and hind quarters visible above it. Our heroes loosed a volley at them but it did not deter the attack.
Lunging savagely, a wolf hit Socks hard and she went down, the fight was on. It was brutal, but our heroes emerged victorious without too much injury - other than Socks!
The King's Highway was an old trade route, it cut a meandering path through the lesser populated westernmost wilderness, carrying travellers and merchants alike along the fringes of civilisation. One of the 'stops' was the gloomy frontier settlement of Illmire, a town so named for the sombre wetlands to the east.
It was here that our heroes disembarked from a peddler's wagon and came to be at Illmire's palisades, having heard the stories of hidden riches accumulated in supposed lost settlements.
First stop though, was the Inn of the Weary Wagoner and a pint.
Early afternoon slatted light shone dimly through time-stained windows and shutters. It was quiet, only four patrons were frequenting the common room, nursing their beers dourly at a table. Ballard, former stableman turned barkeep eyed our heroes entering and welcomed them in.
After some drinks and a chat, our heroes learnt of the Balding fever which was afflicting Illmire, Ballard was somewhat dismissive, believing that someone was poisoning the town instead.
Zach meanwhile, wasn't really interested in the conversation and was instead trying to goad the locals into a drinking competition with no success.
A little later, conversation turned to the circus our heroes had seen camped out east of the King's Highway, this piqued Zach's interest. Ballard informed our heroes that most of the townsfolk had little interest in it.
Our heroes however, were interest in it! It was a walk of just couple of miles along the King's Highway and they would be there after perhaps an hour of walking through lightly forested, swaying grasslands.
However, once Illmire was out of sight, events took a turn for the worse.
Our heroes heard it first: The howl of hungry wolves.
The beasts closed in, a rippling green wake through the grasses left behind them with only tails and hind quarters visible above it. Our heroes loosed a volley at them but it did not deter the attack.
Lunging savagely, a wolf hit Socks hard and she went down, the fight was on. It was brutal, but our heroes emerged victorious without too much injury - other than Socks!
Greatest show in Illmire
Having caught their breaths, our heroes pushed on to the circus. A little later and they spied the colourful pennants fluttering from equally colourful tentpoles off the side of the highway.
It was subdued at the circus, none of the acts or sideshows were performing at that time and it would be a couple of hours until they did. Our heroes were given the occasional suspicious glance from infrequently passing crew, otherwise, nothing was going on.
This didn't stop Zach exploring though, eagerly looking for any sideshows that might allow him to participate in feats of strength. His luck was in, he stumbled across a 'test your strength' booth, although it was shut for the time being.
Our heroes managed to wrangle the name of the ringmaster from passing crew member and went to speak with him. A slim, well groomed man in his forties, they asked him several questions about the circus. He didn't give any answers, he did not know or refused to name the owner of the circus, although he did admit that Esmerelda the fortune-teller ran the circus.
Our heroes went and found Esmerelda, the fortune-teller was dressed much as they would've expected from a seer of the future.
Esmeralda was friendly enough but she too did not impart any particular knowledge to our heroes.
The circus began to become a little more lively, performers and crew were hurriedly going about their business in preparation for the first show of the evening.
Zach went in back to the strength sideshow and now found it open for busy!
Gunder was a stocky man, dressed in a traditional animal skin strongman outfit. Zach immediately challenged him to an arm wrestling match. It was a short, tough match but Zach was victorious!
He strutted off most pleased with himself.
Despite the lack of any audience, it was showtime in the circus. Curious to see what was going on, our heroes headed over to one of the big tops, outside were two staff waiting to collect entrance fees.
Zach wasn't having any of it, he muscled his way past them into the tent.
Inside, without an audience, it was quiet, he could see some staff preparing for the show, they looked at him curiously.
Was he a paying customer they wondered? Zach looked around, there didn't seem to be anything going on.
Sheepishly he left the tent.
Having caught their breaths, our heroes pushed on to the circus. A little later and they spied the colourful pennants fluttering from equally colourful tentpoles off the side of the highway.
It was subdued at the circus, none of the acts or sideshows were performing at that time and it would be a couple of hours until they did. Our heroes were given the occasional suspicious glance from infrequently passing crew, otherwise, nothing was going on.
This didn't stop Zach exploring though, eagerly looking for any sideshows that might allow him to participate in feats of strength. His luck was in, he stumbled across a 'test your strength' booth, although it was shut for the time being.
Our heroes managed to wrangle the name of the ringmaster from passing crew member and went to speak with him. A slim, well groomed man in his forties, they asked him several questions about the circus. He didn't give any answers, he did not know or refused to name the owner of the circus, although he did admit that Esmerelda the fortune-teller ran the circus.
Our heroes went and found Esmerelda, the fortune-teller was dressed much as they would've expected from a seer of the future.
Esmeralda was friendly enough but she too did not impart any particular knowledge to our heroes.
The circus began to become a little more lively, performers and crew were hurriedly going about their business in preparation for the first show of the evening.
Zach went in back to the strength sideshow and now found it open for busy!
Gunder was a stocky man, dressed in a traditional animal skin strongman outfit. Zach immediately challenged him to an arm wrestling match. It was a short, tough match but Zach was victorious!
He strutted off most pleased with himself.
Despite the lack of any audience, it was showtime in the circus. Curious to see what was going on, our heroes headed over to one of the big tops, outside were two staff waiting to collect entrance fees.
Zach wasn't having any of it, he muscled his way past them into the tent.
Inside, without an audience, it was quiet, he could see some staff preparing for the show, they looked at him curiously.
Was he a paying customer they wondered? Zach looked around, there didn't seem to be anything going on.
Sheepishly he left the tent.
Walk in the woods
Stymied, our heroes marched back to Illmire. Shadows were lengthening as they exited the circus and the sun was well into it's western descent, leaving a reddening sky in its wake.
Night had encroached when they entered into the town limits.
Back at the Inn of the Weary Wagoner, it was a little more lively, several tables were occupied by drinkers.
Again, Zach went over to them and again, challenged any of them to a drinking competition, again, none of them were interested.
The others spoke with Ballard again, asking about who ran the town. Ballard explained that Zlatko was the new mayor and resided in the large stone house at the north end of Illmire.
Morning came and our heroes headed to the Mayor's home. The door was answered by Piedmont, a expressionless well dressed looking man. They asked to see Zlatko. He replied, telling them the mayor was otherwise disposed at this time. Our heroes tried to press their point, but to no avail.
Having heard that the loggers who worked close to Illmire were being troubled by 'fishmen', our heroes turned south and headed out, a couple of miles passed and they encountered a wooded perimeter that marked the limits of Illmire's rolling fields and sporadic farmsteads. Open agrarian vista fell away as they strode beneath swaying sun-blocking canopy and over trackless and uneven leaf-littered forest floor. Eventually the trees came to an abrupt end, our heroes had reached the logging site.
Gone was the verdant woodland, replaced by a swathe of sparse, barren land stripped of trees and dotted with piled logs. Our heroes saw a smattering of loggers and foresters at work and in the distance they spied an distant shape near the wooded horizon.
The loggers were friendly enough and when asked who 'was in charge' told our heroes that they should 'speak with Rigdorf at the lodge' and pointed towards the horizon and the shape.
It was a twenty minute walk through stretches of old stumps and flourishing patches of treelings until they reached the shape which had expanded to become a largish, sturdy looking timber lodge.
Upon knocking at what appeared to be the main door, it opened and our heroes explained that they'd come to lodge. They were taken to a room with seats that was called a reception area.
A minute later and Rigdorf walked in, stooping as he stepped through the doorway; a giant of man he was, stout-limbed, stocky and seven feet tall, he cradled a long shafted axe in his colossal thick-fingered workman's hands.
Zach was immediately enamoured with Rigdorf, staring at the enormous woodman in awe, it took him a couple of seconds to shake it off and challenge him to an arm-wrestle.
For a moment, a look of bemusement crossed Rigdorf's face, he seemed happy to indulge Zach though. It was a short contest, Zach could not hope to match Rigdorf's sinewy strength and was practically thrown to the floor as he lost.
Rigdorf explained that had been managing the forest for decades - which seemed strange to our heroes as from his appearance - he seemed barely in his thirties. He went on to explain that he was concerned about attacks by 'fishmen' who came from the lake in the west and was willing to pay a reward to anyone who stop the attacks.
This got the attention of our heroes! Rigdorf said he would pay one thousand gold pieces for this and also gift them his magic axe.
Our heroes readily agreed to this.
Even though there was a lake in the direction that Rigdorf said that the fish-men had attacked from, our heroes decided that they could not be sure that's where the fish-men were actually coming from.
After some discussion our heroes concocted a plan.
They would disguise themselves loggers, wait for an attack and capture a fish-man.
Our heroes acquired some logging axes from Rigdorf who also agreed to give them some place to sleep during their ruse.
Our heroes went out to the western perimeter of the loggers camp and began their efforts of chopping down trees in anticipation of drawing the attention of fish-men.
Stymied, our heroes marched back to Illmire. Shadows were lengthening as they exited the circus and the sun was well into it's western descent, leaving a reddening sky in its wake.
Night had encroached when they entered into the town limits.
Back at the Inn of the Weary Wagoner, it was a little more lively, several tables were occupied by drinkers.
Again, Zach went over to them and again, challenged any of them to a drinking competition, again, none of them were interested.
The others spoke with Ballard again, asking about who ran the town. Ballard explained that Zlatko was the new mayor and resided in the large stone house at the north end of Illmire.
Morning came and our heroes headed to the Mayor's home. The door was answered by Piedmont, a expressionless well dressed looking man. They asked to see Zlatko. He replied, telling them the mayor was otherwise disposed at this time. Our heroes tried to press their point, but to no avail.
Having heard that the loggers who worked close to Illmire were being troubled by 'fishmen', our heroes turned south and headed out, a couple of miles passed and they encountered a wooded perimeter that marked the limits of Illmire's rolling fields and sporadic farmsteads. Open agrarian vista fell away as they strode beneath swaying sun-blocking canopy and over trackless and uneven leaf-littered forest floor. Eventually the trees came to an abrupt end, our heroes had reached the logging site.
Gone was the verdant woodland, replaced by a swathe of sparse, barren land stripped of trees and dotted with piled logs. Our heroes saw a smattering of loggers and foresters at work and in the distance they spied an distant shape near the wooded horizon.
The loggers were friendly enough and when asked who 'was in charge' told our heroes that they should 'speak with Rigdorf at the lodge' and pointed towards the horizon and the shape.
It was a twenty minute walk through stretches of old stumps and flourishing patches of treelings until they reached the shape which had expanded to become a largish, sturdy looking timber lodge.
Upon knocking at what appeared to be the main door, it opened and our heroes explained that they'd come to lodge. They were taken to a room with seats that was called a reception area.
A minute later and Rigdorf walked in, stooping as he stepped through the doorway; a giant of man he was, stout-limbed, stocky and seven feet tall, he cradled a long shafted axe in his colossal thick-fingered workman's hands.
Zach was immediately enamoured with Rigdorf, staring at the enormous woodman in awe, it took him a couple of seconds to shake it off and challenge him to an arm-wrestle.
For a moment, a look of bemusement crossed Rigdorf's face, he seemed happy to indulge Zach though. It was a short contest, Zach could not hope to match Rigdorf's sinewy strength and was practically thrown to the floor as he lost.
Rigdorf explained that had been managing the forest for decades - which seemed strange to our heroes as from his appearance - he seemed barely in his thirties. He went on to explain that he was concerned about attacks by 'fishmen' who came from the lake in the west and was willing to pay a reward to anyone who stop the attacks.
This got the attention of our heroes! Rigdorf said he would pay one thousand gold pieces for this and also gift them his magic axe.
Our heroes readily agreed to this.
Even though there was a lake in the direction that Rigdorf said that the fish-men had attacked from, our heroes decided that they could not be sure that's where the fish-men were actually coming from.
After some discussion our heroes concocted a plan.
They would disguise themselves loggers, wait for an attack and capture a fish-man.
Our heroes acquired some logging axes from Rigdorf who also agreed to give them some place to sleep during their ruse.
Our heroes went out to the western perimeter of the loggers camp and began their efforts of chopping down trees in anticipation of drawing the attention of fish-men.
Logging on and on and on
Day one; no fish-man attack.
Day two; no fish-man attack.
Day three; no fish-man attack.
Day four; no fish-man attack.
Day five; no fish-man attack.
Day six; no fish-man attack.
Day seven; no fish-man attack.
Day eight; no fish-man attack.
Day nine; no fish-man attack.
Day ten; no fish-man attack.
Day eleven; no fish-man attack. Our heroes were bumbling through their logging when a familiar sound met their ears; Wolves. From the south-west they came, eight of them. Our heroes steeled them selves for the attack, loosing a volley at the bounding lupine predators. Then the melee was upon them, things went well for our heroes who defeated their foes.
Day twelve; no fish-man attack.
Day thirteen; no fish-man attack. Once again though, a band of baleful, hungry wolves impinged upon our heroes from the west through the woods, numbering nine this time. Our heroes managed to defeat them without mishap.
Day fourteen; no fish-man attack.
Day fifteen; no fish-man attack.
Day sixteen; no fish-man attack.
Day one; no fish-man attack.
Day two; no fish-man attack.
Day three; no fish-man attack.
Day four; no fish-man attack.
Day five; no fish-man attack.
Day six; no fish-man attack.
Day seven; no fish-man attack.
Day eight; no fish-man attack.
Day nine; no fish-man attack.
Day ten; no fish-man attack.
Day eleven; no fish-man attack. Our heroes were bumbling through their logging when a familiar sound met their ears; Wolves. From the south-west they came, eight of them. Our heroes steeled them selves for the attack, loosing a volley at the bounding lupine predators. Then the melee was upon them, things went well for our heroes who defeated their foes.
Day twelve; no fish-man attack.
Day thirteen; no fish-man attack. Once again though, a band of baleful, hungry wolves impinged upon our heroes from the west through the woods, numbering nine this time. Our heroes managed to defeat them without mishap.
Day fourteen; no fish-man attack.
Day fifteen; no fish-man attack.
Day sixteen; no fish-man attack.
Once the sixteenth day had passed, our heroes discussed matters and since having encountered no fish-men in these days decided on a change of strategy.
Instead, the next day they left the logging camp behind and headed to the lake. It was but a short march through arboreal landscape and after a few hours the forest had thinned away, replaced by unhindered sky that reached above a sprawling grassy vista.
Our heroes continued, soon they could smell the lake's musty aroma and hear the lazy slosh of lapping water. Arriving at a shoreline, they encountered dense swathes of reeds which grew along the gently curving perimeter and could see a number of fishermen boats on the rippling surface.
They had decided to search for any possible ways to the bottom of the lake that did not involve swimming down it's waters. Perhaps a path the fishmen took?
Looking around, our heroes saw nothing that could be a considered a cave or anything similar.
It was still morning, so they decided to walk the lake's shoreline, looking for any clues. The searching took the best of the remaining day and was met with no success, they had found no ways downwards.
After camping, our heroes concocted another plan to search the lake on the next day.
Instead, the next day they left the logging camp behind and headed to the lake. It was but a short march through arboreal landscape and after a few hours the forest had thinned away, replaced by unhindered sky that reached above a sprawling grassy vista.
Our heroes continued, soon they could smell the lake's musty aroma and hear the lazy slosh of lapping water. Arriving at a shoreline, they encountered dense swathes of reeds which grew along the gently curving perimeter and could see a number of fishermen boats on the rippling surface.
They had decided to search for any possible ways to the bottom of the lake that did not involve swimming down it's waters. Perhaps a path the fishmen took?
Looking around, our heroes saw nothing that could be a considered a cave or anything similar.
It was still morning, so they decided to walk the lake's shoreline, looking for any clues. The searching took the best of the remaining day and was met with no success, they had found no ways downwards.
After camping, our heroes concocted another plan to search the lake on the next day.
