Elmorian RPG - Mystery of Pinerun - The Coming of the Rune Druids (Session #5)

 

The Coming of the Rune Druids

Tyrael and Ruby returned to Mesco's shop quickly with Proctor the Moon Rat. Proctor was very apologetic and could not believe his mental state after the accident. He offered also to help find Chable as he fears the worst for him as well.

Mesco warned them both that during their absence troops from Pinerun led by Verko (2nd in command to the Constable) have been asking about the two of them and what they have to report regarding Silven and the goblins they killed.

Looking over Silven's maps again they noticed the markings of additional goblin caves to the east, and decided to go investigate more. On their way out of town it became clear that Mesco's warning was well timed. Multiple Gobblebrook soldiers began following them.

Before they reached the outer limits of the town Verko and his men stopped the two and began questioning them. Most of it seemed to be routine questions about the situation with Silven, but he specifically was looking for a device they may have found. A scepter. Knowing full well they had the scepter in hand they denied knowing of its existence. 

It seems that Verko and his men were under the influence (or command) of a strange black robed figure. When he was close enough they noticed Runes across his forehead. Runes that look identical to the runes on the Elzar Rune Circle they both saw in Haven in which Cranabus Fork's spirit was binded within according to the Black Diamond Guild and those tales. 

Continuing their journey into forests to explore the additional caves they crested a hill and were astonished to find a small army of goblins being marched out of the caves by the very same black robed runed druids. Several Orcs from Gronk The Pillager's army were also seeming to serve them. They waited in the shadows and watched.

They overheard one of the Rune Druids leading the group shout out that they "March to the Temple!" - when looking at Silvens map's it seems there is a place called "Ward Temple" marked in the forest to the south. 

Elmorian RPG - Mystery of Pinerun - Gobblebrook and the Moon Rat (Session #4)

 

Return to Gobblebrook and Proctor the Moon Rat

With a large amount of wares looted from the Goblin cave, and new information about the strange occurrences in these lands lately, Ruby and Tyrael returned to Gobblebrook. While traveling there Ruby read carefully through Fumptar's diary. He found mostly Fumptar praising himself in the writings, but a few other interesting notes caught Ruby's eye. First that Gronk the Pillager had somehow allied with a mysterious group called the "Rune Druids" who were apparently were on their way to retrieve the device that Silven had gotten from Fara Killvine. -the  "Scepter of Elzar" which Tyrael now carried with him. She also noticed that Fumptar's impatience for an invasion of Gobblebrook was tempered by lines written that "....Gronk and his forces would attack only when the Great One gives the signal."

As they moved through town it was cleat that their presence did not go unnoticed. More townfolk began popping out from their buildings to watch them saunter through town carrying their large bags and covered in grime and blood from the journey into the Goblin cave.

As a first order of business they went into Mesco's shop and sold most of the wares they did not need, and told Mesco they had the Elmorian Rose now and would be seeking out Proctor - his moon rat familiar.

Keeping the news of Silven, and Fumptar and his strange diary about Gronk's new allies and invasion a secret for now, they then proceeded to the North Hollow home they knew Proctor was likely hiding in.

Coming in through the front door, they found growling wolf cubs near the entrance. Tyrael distracted them with some dried meat and continued into the door with Ruby. Once inside they found several rooms in dissary, rotting food in the kitchen, and several forces of enhanced, intelligent giant rats. Likely given their new abilities by Proctor and orders to protect this house from intruders. While the rats were not incredibly dangerous they were still a problem and Ruby and Tyrael continued to battle through them as they moved from room to room.

Eventually Ruby came upon a bedroom in which the original human owner of the house was tied to the bed with her throat cut. Ruby moving to join Tyrael in another skirmish with the rats in the next room set off a fire trap of magic in the bedroom likely set by Proctor. 

Once settled, they found a staircase in the bedroom leading to the house cellar. Down below there they found Proctor, with more wolf cubs and a declaration of a war against the human enslavement. At this he directed the wolf cubs to attack and began chanting magic. Moving quickly both Tyrael and Ruby moved against the wolf cubs. As Proctor completed his chanting vines and plants burst through the ground to grab Ruby and she rolled out just in time to avoid it, and resisted the magical grip of the spell. 

Meanwhile, Tyrael chanted his own magic and captured Proctor into a Web and put a pile of Elmorian roses in front of him. With enough time, Proctor awoke from his madness curse and came to realize all he and his gathered critters had done. He began bemoaning his regret and begged Tyrael and Ruby to return him to Mesco so that he could help fix all this. They agreed and also gathered the items that Proctor had been hoarding down here since his takeover.