Buckbridge or Bust!

Our intrepid firbolg brothers wake fresh and eager to travel on to the Festival - with a small detour through the nearby Druid's Circle - after a fond goodbye to Mans and Luna, who assure them that their pack will look out for them. Enjoying time within the forest, Eldest halts the walk at a dried up river for a moment of soft contemplation and communing with nature, before the group travel onwards with the sun marking the high part of the day, just as the brothers break through the forest on to flatter land.

Ahead of them they see the fringes of a settlement, but before they can make out any buildings the sounds of a blacksmith's forge carries across to them. Sensibly, Eldest tells his younger brothers to disguise themselves, and their magic turns them into humans again. Following the sound of metal beating against metal, they are soon stopped in their tracks by a friendly greeting from the blacksmith, who introduces himself as Gorm Amberclan.

Gorm Amberclan - Dwarf Blacksmith

The dwarf defies his stereotype and is so friendly that before long he has put the brothers at ease, so much so they drop their disguises. Gorm is pleased to meet the brethren, and of course asks their names. Quickly, Young One blurts out, "I am YELSALOR", and the Middle brother gasps - it is a fantastic name! Eldest raises an eyebrow, but calmly states he is "Peak Norris", while the excitable middle brother blurts out that he is "Malcolm". With their new monikers fresh on - like woollen socks from a hot drying rack - and the dwarf telling them they are welcome here in Buckbridge, Gorm advises them to stop at the Grey Hare Inn and ask for Rosie, she's sure to have a room for them.

Making their way into the town they are greeted by the sight of a bustling township, readying for the three day festival.

The Town of Buckbridge

The brothers walk slowly through the streets, with many new sights and sounds to behold; the call of street meat and taster samples of food of every kind filling them, particularly Malcolm, with excitement! Peak Norris drags the trio through the street, ever vigilant, even when a strange fellow pushes a pamphlet into their outstretched hands, then bounding off. It tells of the three day Hunter's Moon Festival, and the brothers are horrified to discover that Day 1 is that of fasting!

Rosie Tanner - Gray Hare Inn landlady

Before long, the sign of the Gray Hare Inn swings gently above their heads, and taking a deep breath, Peak leads his brothers into the inn, and they are welcomed by an attractive woman who confirms she is the Rosie that Gorm spoke of, and that her husband will pour them drinks while she prepares a room for them.

A booming voice calls them to the bar, where Dave Tanner passes over their preferences. The inn is busy, but there is a table free, albeit near a dark, hooded figure. The brothers settle down, enjoying their drinks (but not Peak, he needs to keep his wits about him among the humans). Yelfallor sips his apple lemonade, while Malcolm not only downs his drink, but unbeknownst to his elder brother also has some mead, supplied by his younger brother.

'Sylvia's Kiss' goes straight to Malcolm's head, and he starts being a little rowdy. This in turn attracts the attention of the hooded figure at the nearby table, who rises and approaches the trio, and has stern words with the group. The elven ranger warns them to quiet, he is wanting solitude in the loss of his daughter. Peak advises him that a busy tavern might not be the best place for that, and while sorry for his loss recommends he go somewhere else, and this causes the elf to lean in close. The tavern noticeably quietens, and then Dave shouts across the room while striding from the bar "Finel! Finel Autumnleaf, are you making trouble?!"

Dave strides over and claps the elf on the shoulder, before gently pushing him back to his seat, and explains to the brothers that Finel is a bit dramatic. His daughter Jillian went out hunting for gnolls some two days ago and has not returned, so he has come in to drink wine and be sorrowful about his 'lost' daughter, who is probably just out in the woods making trouble for the wild beasts around the place!

The inside of the Gray Hare, a hive of... well, a nice place really.

Finel explains to the firbolgs that together with Dave they need to check the surrounding area for gnolls, so can't take the time to look for Jillian to the south in the Rabbit Hills, and he would pay them for their trouble. While not a rich man he would be grateful if they could at least find news of Jillian, or even bring her back to him.

Malcolm slurringly remarks that if he lost Jillian, maybe he should put posters up, and while Peak is aghast at the words tumbling out of his brother's mouth, the elf looks darkly - then laughs hard. "I like you! Please, I need to prepare for our scouting party, but look for Jill to the south". Malcolm, his eyes blinking, makes note and calls after Finel, "Don't worry mother, we will find your daughter!", the long, blonde hair of the elf like that of the human women he has seen in the books he reads about heroes and pretty maids and righteous, just causes! Finel looks back, but then shrugs and leaves the inn. Dave explains to the brothers where to find the path that will lead them into the Rabbit Hills, where Jillian was last said to have been.

Malcolm, a little giddy, but excited to rescue a damsel in distress, is half-pulled, half-carried out of the Gray Hare by his brothers. In the fresh air, he sobers up a little as the group trek through the township to the south, leaving the walls of the settlement and then finding the path into the Rabbit Hills, and southern forest.

Following the trail, and checking for tracks along the way, the firbolgs, comfortable in the forest walk into a clearing where they are confronted with the noise and commotion of a group of worgs snarling and snapping at a young woman who has scrambled up a nearby tree. Two of the beasts lay dead at the base of the tree, but the hunter's bow lays on the ground out of her reach, her injuries starting to weaken her grip in the branches.

Peak moves forward, trying to calm the creatures with soothing tones and his natural intuition, but he makes the wrong motion as the pack leader turns, barks, and bounds toward Peak, biting viciously and knocking him unconscious to the ground with one leap, its teeth gripping him at his throat. The remaining worgs circle the tree and the woman further, sensing there is no threat here.

Dismayed at his brother being knocked to the ground, Malcolm rushes forward to his aid, laying a hand on his wounded elder brother and bringing him back to land of the living. Yelsalor senses his moment, and using his natural firbolg abilities, turns invisible and makes his way to hide behind a nearby fallen tree. Sensing fresh meat, another of the worgs peels off and rushes to attack Malcolm, as he stands over his brother, its own pack leader now gripped in a tenacious battle with the revived Peak, who sensing his chance as a firebolt seemingly streaks out of nowhere, slams his great axe into the worg's back and spine, cleaving it in twain as the creature's life blood splatters against him. He then spies the other worg biting at the heels of the woman in the tree, but it in turn has seen a figure appear out of nowhere, standing on the fallen tree overseeing the battle. Yelsalor squeaks out loud, and at this Peak also uses the distraction to turn invisible, and as the worg bounds towards his younger brother, he runs towards it, unseen and unheard, and slams his axe into its neck, the head lolling and falling, hewn from its body.

Seeing this through a haze of anger and concern, Malcolm turns to beast attacking him and glances a meaty hit into it with his hammer, but not enough to knock it down, and it bites into him. He falls limply to his knees, unconscious for a brief moment, before he seems to find an inner strength, and his eyes flick open! He rises and pounds into the worg with his heavy weapon, just as his younger brother again sends a ball of fire into the beast, its now scorched and beaten body falling to the ground, dead.

With the creatures accounted for, and breathing hard from the battle, Peak approaches the woman, who despite her injuries drops nimbly from the tree, true hero pose style. She greets Peak, thanking him for the aid, and introduces herself as Jillian Autumnleaf.

Jillian Autumnleaf

She explains that she had been hunting gnolls, but was attacked by this pack, and concerned that more may arrive urges the brothers to leave and return to the town. She accepts a hand from Peak, who helps her to her feet, and she stoically limps by his side. Just for a moment, until a strange set of events unfolds.

Yelsalor is up close to his brother Malcolm, seemingly whispering in his ear, while Malcolm has remarked loudly to Jill a comment about her mother, then screams sharply, with Yelsalor stifling a giggle, having caused his brother to hear the barking of worgs once more with a minor illusion. As this scream from Malcolm ripples out, it is met by another sound. The roar of a fully grown brown bear, charging from the treeline at Malcolm and his younger brother.

Yelsalor turns on his heel as the giant beast rushes forward, intent on taking down Malcolm. As it pounds the earth towards the startled firbolgs, Jillian looses an arrow from her retrieved bow, the dart finding its mark, as another firebolt strikes the bear in its side. Peak rushes to his brother's aid, who luckily dodges the bear's bite and slams his stone hammer into the belly of the bear, at the same moment it feels the searing heat of the flame from the firebolt, and the piercing attack of the arrow in its spine. The combined attacks of the three brothers and their new friend fells the bear with almost dizzying speed, but not wanting to tarry any longer they all run, as fast as their wounds will carry them, from the clearing and on to the path back to Buckbridge.

The party almost collapsing through the doors of the Gray Hare, Dave is astounded to see them back so quickly, and with them Jillian! News seems to have travelled fast, for as soon as the four take their seats with Dave bringing refreshing drinks (that Peak does not have), and Jillian flirting awkwardly with Malcolm, a hush goes over the tavern. Finel Autumnleaf strides in, the patrons making a path for him to his daughter and the firbolg warriors. He stands at the table, then slams his fist down, his eyes glaring at the bloodied brothers.

Finel looks at his daughter, and softly tells her of his gladness to see her well, and she hangs her head, somewhat ashamed, but there is a moment of understanding between them. The elf then says, "And YOU! I am a man of my word, I cannot thank you enough." and he deposits a small purse onto the table, full of gold. Finel then sits down at the table as Peak, eldest brother, reaches across and takes the purse, handing out coin to his brothers (but not too much coin), with Finel shouting above the cheering, his hand clasped around his daughter's own hand, "Dave! Drinks for us all, and keep them coming!" At this, the group settle down for the evening, recalling the intense moments of their fight with the worgs and bear, "Yes! A Bear!"

What will the Brothers Three find as dawn breaks on the next day in Buckbridge? Breakfast in bed with extra bacon? Perhaps heavy heads and an aversion to bright lights? Join us next time, as they continue their adventure!