Campaign 1, Episode 1: Bringing Home the Bacon

Episode 1: Bringing Home the Bacon (1x01) is the first episode of the first chapter of the first campaign of Venture Maidens. Three adventurers gather at an inn in a sleepy town, awaiting a response from a mysterious organization.

Hogshollow
The Maidens have been staying in the sleepy town of Hogshollow for two weeks, awaiting word on their application to an adventuring guild called the Sisters of Sorrow. The group grows impatient as their funds begin to dwindle.

They call the Sleepy Sow their temporary home. The Sleepy Sow is a two story inn with four rentable rooms, a bar, a kitchen, and an attached residence belonging to Charlie Saltman and his adult daughter, Ronnie Saltman.

Sawyeh greets the morning with yoga as Arrnodel attemps to wake Kara up. Kara wakes with a start and lands on Sawyeh's yoga mat, causing the two to argue.

The sound of clanking dishes draws the Maidens downstairs where the smell of bacon leads them to the bar where they greet Charlie. The Maidens order breakfast and Kara attempts to order an ale, but Charlie denies the request due to Kara's age. He offers her cider instead and she begrudgingly accepts.

The Maidens ask Charlie what he knows of the Sisters of Sorrow and if it usually took this long to return a reply. Charlie only knows rumors surrounding the Sisters and sheepishly asks if the Maidens could cut wood to pay off some of their debt. They agree and thank Charlie for his hospitality.

While Arrnodel speaks with Charlie, Sawyeh notices tapping at a nearby window and drawing back the curtains she spots a fluttering raven with a note tied to its leg. Kara swiftly calms the bird and passes the note to Arrnodel, revealing that she is illiterate and cannot read the message.

Arrnodel reads the note out loud:


 * "Your application to join the Sisters of Sorrow has been recieved. Your first test: Investigate the trouble at Middleton; we eagerly await your results.
 * -Sincerely, Rem 

On Sawyeh's suggestion, Arrnodel scrawls a flowery scripted thank you note and sends the raven back to its masters.

Arrnodel asks Charlie if they can chop wood when they get back, even offering a few of her books as collateral to honor their debt. Charlie accepts the offer, suggesting the people of Hogshollow might enjoy a library in the inn. Sawyeh asks for information on Middleton, and Charlie produces a map from behind the counter.

Middleton is a half day travel from Hogshollow. It is known for its cows and because it connects three trade roads. Charlie explains that he had dinner with the mayor, Reggie Prospect, the last time he had gone to Middleton and describes the mayor as a decent fellow. Arrnodel asks if he can supply them with a writ of introduction so that the Maidens can properly introduce themselves when they arrive in Middleton.

Ronnie is summoned with breakfast of eggs and bacon. She sneaks a small glass of ale for Kara while her father is preoccupied with writing the letter. The Maidens eat and bid their temporary neighbors goodbye as they depart for the southeast, heading for Middleton. The journey take a few hours and the Maidens admire the fall scenery in the surrounding forest.

Middleton
When the Maidens finally spot the smoking chimneys of Middleton, something feels off. The nearby farm fields are nearly empty of livestock and vegetation. Getting nearer to the clusters if cottages, Kara grows concerned and peeks into an animal pen. The cow inside of the stall is thin and shrivelled with thick yellow mucus coating its eyes. A bad smell radiates from the pen.

Coming into town, the Maidens notice that the houses of Middleton are closed up. People peek out, watching the group as they pass into the town square. All of the townsfolk that they pass in the streets duck their heads and look scared, hurrying past the adventurers.

The Maidens approach the Mayor's house before knocking at the door. Multiple heavy bolts slide back and the door cracks open, revealing Laura, a human woman with big watery eyes floating above heavy bags, topped with a messy bun. Laura invites the Maidens in and begins to lead them into the house.

Arrnodel speaks into Kara and Sawyeh's minds with the aid of her warlock ability, Awakened Mind. Together, they decide if it would be better to lie about what brings them to Middleton and they quickly cobble together a cover story. Laura leaves them in a sitting room and heads to fetch the Mayor.

Mayor Reggie Prospect arrives and introduces himself to the adventurers. The Maidens guide the conversation to the town, asking about the sick cows. Reggie explains that the livestock and crops aren't well and the townsfolk rumor that the town is cursed. The only animals that don't appear to be sick are cats. The troubles began two week ago and Reggie is worried about his prized cow, Lulu Bell, as well as the trade caravans turning away from the town.

Arrnodel asks for a tour of the town, including any local water sources as well as accommodations. Laura leads the group to Lulu's Lounge, the local inn. The inn is modelled after old saloons, and the doors swing open when the Maidens enter the heavy atmosphere of the bar. The Maidens take their things upstairs while Laura handles the accommodations, and the party meets Larry, the barkeep.

Upon being questioned, Laura informs the Maidens that the townsfolk have done everything they can think of to save their livestock. They have changed out the food and water, but nothing has worked and many believe that dark magic is at work. Laura suggests the Maidens speak to Thomas, the local librarian, whose assistant ran off a few weeks ago.

The Library
The library sits on the edge of town, and Sawyeh bangs loudly on the door to get the elderly librarian's attention. Thomas answers, permitting the Maidens to enter his small library. The room is nice, with three bookshelves full of books pushed against the walls, and lounge chairs meant to welcome any seeking a moment to read.

Arrnodel asks Thomas about his missing assistant. Thomas explains that Ethan is a very gifted but troubled young man. He had an advanced intellect and had begun reading books of magic. It is rumored that he was getting into some dark stuff.

Satisfied with the questioning, Arrnodel begins to investigate the bookshelves and, with Sawyeh's help, the Maidens cross reference the library's ledger with the books on the shelves. It takes longer than the Maidens anticipated since the collection was out of order and many of the spines were worn and faded, but they discover that two books are missing: An Alchemist's Guide: Poisons, Serums, and Solutions and The History of Necromancy. Arrnodel is familiar with both books, and knows that neither contain any actual spells. She wonders if Ethan was born in Middleton, or if he came from somewhere else. Sawyeh investigates the librarian's shared room, looking for anything that might give the Maidens a clue as to where Ethan went. She finds a lockbox tucked under one of the chairs and opens it to reveal feathers, rocks, a cat skull, and a leather bound journal. She hands the box to Arrnodel as she pours over the contents of the journal. Arrnodel gathers that the contents of the lockbox were a collection of objects and knick-knacks, having no use in arcane rituals. She pockets the cat skull. Sawyeh has better luck with the journal. A few entries catch her attention as she reads through the private thoughts of a library assistant:

''   "Lisa won't talk to me again..." "I don't know why they don't like me." "They think there is something wrong with me." "I think there is something wrong with me." "I felt weird today. I think something's changing."''

The last page read:

    "It was really bad today. They were all outside my house. They threatened me to leave. I think I'm just going to go. I think I'm just going to do it. These people are gonna get what's coming to them."

Arrnodel thinks that it is possible that Ethan may be experiencing something similar to her own situation with her Warlock Patron, and can empathize with him. The journal heavily mentions the forest, but the Maidens decide that it is best to wait until morning to go and investigate the area. Sawyeh goes for a run while Kara and Arrnodel head back to Lulu's Lounge.

Entering the inn, Arrnodel approaches the bar and does her best to fit in with the locals, learning that the townspeople think that the town is cursed. Ethan had come out of the woods when he was young, and was always talking about wizards and adventures. Some of the townsfolk thought that he wasn't quite human. Ethan had taken a liking to a farmer's daughter named Lisa, but her father and a few of the other townsfolk ran him into the forest.

The Forest
The next day, the Maidens wake up and discuss everything that they have learned so far, coming to the conclusion that they need to investigate the woods. Kara takes the lead, picking a safe trail through the thick foliage. A half hour into the woods, Arrnodel catches a glimpse of movement in the trees in her peripheral vision. Investigating the still shaking branch they discover a small pile of sunflower seeds on the ground and a scuff mark on the branch.

A thunderous noise snaps the Maiden's attention. Sawyeh and Arrnodel scramble up the trees. The trees ahead of them shake and they hear a loud roar. Kara draws her battle-axe and rushes the incoming noise. A huge bear barrels into the clearing, frothing at the mouth. Kara can see the yellow mucus coming out of its eyes and the maggots just behind the soft tissue.

The Maidens defeat the diseased beast through a combination of brutal axe swings, furious fists, and eldritch blasts. Sawyeh managed to score a Critical Hit with a dart and Kara slammed her axe up into the bear's armpit as it drew itself to its full height. Kara is coated in blood and sustained minor injuries, and Sawyeh, hit by the beast's blood, has been poisoned.

Arrnodel stops to gather samples from the bear before hearing more crashing, roars, and an explosion of sludge that begins to rain down on top of them.

It is here that the episode concludes and the cast bids us goodbye until next time. -Venture Away

Player Characters

 * Arrnodel Ithil - Played by Brittany Quintero . Arrnodel is a Moon Elf Warlock
 * Kara Brynhilde - Played by Sage Stafford . Kara is a Dwarf Barbarian
 * Sawyeh Noor - Played by Naseem Etemad . Sawyeh is a Human Monk.

Non-Player Characters

 * Charlie Saltman - Owner of the Sleepy Sow inn, located in Hogshollow.
 * Reggie Prospect - Mayor of Middleton.
 * Thomas - Librarian of Middleton.
 * Ethan - Assistant to Thomas. He ran away a few weeks ago.

Mentions

 * Rem

Locations

 * Hogshollow
 * Sleepy Sow
 * Middleton
 * LuLu's Lounge
 * Library

Inventory
Arrnodel receives a writ of introduction from Charlie  which she gives to Reggie Prospect

Arrnodel found a cat skull, a handful of saliva-covered sunflower seeds, and samples from a diseased bear.

Quotes

 * " You're a real salt of the earth kinda guy!" -Kara Brunhilde to Charlie Saltman

Trivia
Sawyeh Noor rolled the first Critical Hit  against a diseased bear!

Kara Brynhilde revealed that she is illiterate.