8: Caravan Nights

🚚 Escape from High Forge and Into the Wild

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The party finally leaves the deep tunnels under High Forge, emerging into the dawn-lit foothills of the surrounding mountains. As they rejoin a larger caravan of fleeing citizens and merchants, the group maintains a low profile while still accompanied by Bo, the Twilight Company remnants, and the now-painted vehicles: Vroomfall and Zoomfall.

• Van aesthetics update: Vroomfall now features the iconic “Three Steve Moon” (wolves wearing sunglasses) howling at a stylized moon.
• Zoomfall is painted in a Mad Max–inspired style, waiting on Ellie’s final flair.

🧪 A Wave of Revelations

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The session opens with a retrospective on Silas’ backstory:

• Silas and Bru were once part of a gang that stole a powerful artifact from the criminal syndicate The Iron Claws.
• The stolen item is a glass orb containing a dragon, which is extremely dangerous if mishandled (e.g. stored in a Bag of Holding).
• The Iron Claws are now actively pursuing Silas by name—meaning his current identity has been compromised.

Other shocking reveals include:

• Olivia’s family cat, Bodega, is implicated in drug smuggling—using produce to transport a dangerous eye-drop drug called “V”.
• Olivia is devastated to learn her local bodega may have been a front for narcotics.

💰 Loot Recap & Equipment Shopping

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The group discusses gold totals:

• Everyone received 2,000g, contributed 666g each for a Bag of Holding, leaving 1,334g remaining per player.
• Olivia, Elspeth, and others consider what items to buy. Common and uncommon items are approved.
• Clarifications about heavy armor proficiencies are made, especially with updated 2024 rules.
• Healing potions are recommended for low-slot clerics.

🌄 Traveling Toward Milstrom

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The party travels with the caravan toward Milstrom, Red’s hometown.

• Bo questions what’s next for him after High Forge. Olivia tries to keep him on the moral path.
• Silas confesses he’s rattled that his “clean” identity was discovered by the Iron Claws.
• The party confirms the town’s name is Milstrom, though it takes a while to recall.

🛑 Paladin Encounter: Religious Persecution

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A disturbing road encounter introduces Eldoran paladins—human knights wielding weapons and armor embedded with violaceous crystals (the same material powering Elspeth’s racer).

• They are forcing refugees to swear allegiance to Empress Eldora, demanding abandonment of their former gods.
• A knight accosts a dwarven monk who refuses to forsake Tyr.
• Olivia, Elspeth, and Red intervene—Olivia tries diplomacy, Elspeth supports, and Silas pretends she’s a senile grandma to de-escalate.
• Silas rolls a 29 deception, diffusing the situation.
• The monk, named Hoboken, joins the caravan under the party’s protection.

⛺ Campsite Revelations and Side Missions

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The caravan stops for the night at a seasonal festival site turned refugee camp. Players pursue side activities:

Helisanna

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• Drinks with caravan guards and trades stories about the dragons and Eldoran knights.
• Learns of another caravan approaching with more paladins a day behind them.

Red

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• Performs triage on injured refugees, healing a severely burned boy using Healing Word.
• Befriends the boy’s father, Frederick, who insists on repaying the party by joining them and offering his services.

Silas

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• Takes Frederick under his wing, probing him for intelligence.
• Learns that Project Purple Patch, a mysterious effort related to missing Tyr pilgrims, seems centered around Milstrom.
• Confirms that Red’s family was likely involved in the coven—raising more mystery around their deaths.
• Discusses promoting another Hellasana concert to earn gold.

Elspeth

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• Acquires 20 spare car parts from Trevor, a mechanic merchant.
• Silas negotiates a sponsorship deal for discounted parts in exchange for promoting Trevor’s brand.

🧭 Arrival of Tien & Tiefling Lore Drop

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The party meets Tien, their employer from the Steven Guild.

• Tien reveals that his entire family are Tiefling refugees from Avernus, having escaped through a rift in the mountains.
• This is the first canon introduction of Tieflings into the world—players are stunned.
• The family brought wealth and skills with them, earning a place in society and launching a merchant operation.

📜 Eleanor’s Offer: The Blight and the Hearth Seed

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The party is approached by Eleanor, a halfling hedge mage from Eleanor’s Wandering Coven:

• She asks for help taking a Hearth Seed to a Druidic Altar near Milstrom to counteract a mysterious blight affecting the area.
• She implies that this may be linked to deeper corruption or the nearby hell rift.
• Red is visibly disturbed—his hometown is falling apart.

📋 The Milstrom To-Do List

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The session ends with the party compiling a running list of objectives in Milstrom:

• Investigate the blight and help restore the Druidic altar.
• Locate the hell rift and determine its threat.
• Investigate the disappearance of Mayor Jed Carter.
• Follow leads on Project Purple Patch and the missing Tyr pilgrims, possibly linked to Red’s family.
• Figure out the new government structure of Milstrom.
• Set up a Hellasana concert for funds and influence.
• Reconnect with Finnegan, a go-between for the Twilight Company.

Fred also returns, having located 100 MP3 blanks and assisting with acquiring them for the next concert.

🌙 Final Thoughts

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The party rests under the stars as Bo’s caravan and Tien’s family merge with their group. Hellasana is drunk, Red is contemplative, Silas is scheming, and Olivia remains ever vigilant. With their next destination looming, Milstrom promises answers—but also deeper mystery and danger.