On to ADVENTURE!

Welcome traveller! Sit, sit. Well, likely you already are, unless you're standing up. In that case...sit! For the tales that unfold on this blog will no doubt make you tremble with delight and feel jelly-like at the knees... The Worg Pack will bring you the story of three firbolg brothers, out in the wild world together, on missions for themselves and their clan. The setting - the realm of Eastern Farraway, a little known conclave by the Spine of the World in Faerun.

This is the very first chapter in an ongoing saga, a homebrew campaign designed by DM Matt, with the aid of the Midnight Tower, and our valiant trio of firbolgs; Eldest brother, player George, Middle brother, player Jim, and the Young One, player Jordan.

Let us set the scene - a strange group of firbolg brothers have left their clan, enticed by the Festival of the Hunter's Moon in nearby town Buckbridge. Clan Elders are eager to see the back of the siblings, for their strange ways have made life in their clan... tense... to say the least. Upon arrival at a campsite that marks the halfway point of their journey to Buckbridge, the excited group settle down for the evening, Young One teasing his older brothers with illusions as he practices his burgeoning skills as a sorcerer. The three use their own inherent firbolg magic skills to disguise themselves as humans; a rough Barbarian, a mighty Paladin and a Wizard. The gruff Eldest then sets off into the nearby undergrowth to rustle up some food, being an experienced hunter. But on returning a few moments later with nothing but a handful of berries, the Middle brother wanders off to find some tasty rabbit for a meal. But as they settle for their meal, Middle notices eyes in the dark, watching, blinking and on investigation a young boy jumps out the bushes. Both the boy and Middle scream in horror, perhaps Middle a little louder...and Eldest moves to calm them both. Young One casts an illusion around himself and all that is noticeable by the campfire is now a rather simple box, that appears to be shivering in fright. The boy, Mans, explains that he and his sister were attacked by goblins, lead by an Orc Shaman, and while his mother lays dead in their cabin nearby, his sister was captured and taken by the horrible band.

Middle, inspired by his reading of a simple picture book about a brave Paladin, feels that the brothers should investigate and aid the boy. Eldest is suspicious of Mans and his tale, but after some convincing tells the boy to lead the way to where he last saw his sister taken.

Taking them through the forest a short way with ease, Mans leads the brothers to a Druid Circle which upon some investigation yields a group of goblins! The firbolgs are inspired as Young One unleashes magics and toasts a Goblin before his brothers eyes. Intrepid Middle boldly wades into battle, followed by his Eldest brother, and Middle turns one ugly Goblins' head into a mist of red spray, his make-shift warhammer dealing a killing blow. Eldest can only swing his mighty axe around clumsily, and while one Goblin escapes, the brothers take first blood. They return to Mans and tell him that he has nothing to fear now, and he should be able to retrieve his sister. But the boy is reluctant.

At this point the brothers disguises fade, and the boy watches in terror as the three humans transform into their true forms, but this horror turns to excitement as he rushes to ask for their aid once more. He can't go any further due to a spell the Orc Shaman has cast, but as the brothers are so much like him, and can change form, he pleads. Eldest again is suspicious but once more Middle (as a brave figure like his Paladin heroes) brings the brothers together to embark on saving the young girl. Mans leads them to a cave opening where he insists he cannot go any further due to the spell on the area, and the brothers spy two Goblin guards at the mouth of the cave. Inspired from the earlier fight, Young One uses his magic to cast a spell upon a nearby fire pit, and causes a whisper to attract one of the guards, who then screams in terror as the fire tells him to RUN! The Goblin flees, attracting the other guard to the fire in curiosity, his finger removed only briefly from his nose. Again Young One casts a spell, setting a Mage Hand to rise from the fire and grasp at the Goblin, who like his partner in crime turns and escapes with his life, screaming in terror as he does so.

Emboldened, the firbolg brothers walk into the cave and are immediately confronted by two more Goblins, but this time the fight is not as it was at the Druid Circle, these Goblins are tougher! Blows are shared by Eldest and Middle before striding from the back of the cave comes the Orc Shaman, her voice echoing out in gravelly tones "For Gruumsh!" Eldest decides that as he is having little luck in connecting with his axe, he rushes forward to tackle the bulky Orc female, and together they crash to the floor tussling, grunts and fists and arms and legs writhing together, and the Orc seems to be enjoying the proximity of this strong hulking beast...until tired and pinned, Middle strikes, his heavy stone-edged tree trunk caving a hole in the Shaman's head as the other Goblins are felled.

The cave now quiet, the brothers investigate, to find a strange straw effigy in the middle of the cavern, and to the rear Young One finds a covered cage, and inside what appears to be a young, injured wolf. Middle looks closer at the effigy of Gruumsh and finds a talisman hanging from it, and Eldest frees the wolf from the cage, enticing it out with a calm voice and the promise of no harm. As Middle takes the talisman, the wolf alters form, into that of a young girl. Before fainting away, the girl whispers to Eldest, "Burn it..."

Eldest nods, and tasks Young One with the job. And as they exit the cave, a burning conflagration explodes behind them as they stride forth(almost in slow motion), with prizes of their courageous actions - and the thanks of a boy lycan and his sister, now protected by the talisman the brothers had retrieved!

Catch up on the next chapter in the saga, as the Brothers continue to Buckbridge to join in the merriment of the Hunter's Moon Festival! But perhaps there is more going on in the town than they might anticipate...