DW War To End All Wars

This is a multi-session Dungeon World campaign set in the forested region known as The Green Maw in Andorith. Although using the Dungeon World rules, it utilizes class and character content created in the game Elf Genders.

Players:

• Jon C = Indra - Dragongrown Wizard
• Tom F = Gormflee - Heartgrown Barbarian
• Ben F = Sveinonee - Chaosgrown Druid
• Kam W = Bortris - Dreamgrown Paladin
• Mark W = GM

Chapter 1: The Threadherd Camp

The group is travelling from the settlement of Zunreverd, near the edge of civilized wood, to an Outrider Ranger Station two days away. They found sign of a possible Abyssal Render near Zunreverd and want to report it as soon as possible.

• Balefire trees destroyed
• Scaled Stalker corpse found crushed and squeezed
• Grim portent from Indra's teacher

The group is about half-way between Zunreverd and the Ranger Outpost where they hope to find a Threadherd camp known to operate in this area.

Session 1 (Feb 11, 2022)

Around twilight and group is approaching area they expect to find threadherd camp. As darkness grows the group must make a decision to continue for the camp or make camp of their own. Then they notice a flicker of firelight, such as from a campfire. Just as they decide to hurry towards it, they begin to hear a loud buzzing. Sveinonee readily identifies it as the thrum of a Firborer... but somethings a little off about it. The group sets out towards the camp while the thrum becomes louder. As the group comes in sight of the threadherd camp they witness great, writhing, tentacles crash up from the abyssal zone below. There's no doubt that it's an Abyssal Render attack! As the group watches in horror, the Render makes quick work of the camp. Sveinonee transforms into a bird and quickly flies to the camp reaching it just in time to see the tentacles retreat back into the abyss as quickly as they appeared. In it's place, it left only a large, gaping hole.

From fler vantage point, Gormflee was able to notice that the tentacles are highly elastic like an octopus rather than the commonly held belief that they're more solid like a snake. Flee also realized that, instead of suction cups, the Render destroys through hundreds of long, retractable, razor-sharp claws embedded along the length of the tentacles. These claws rip and shred anything that gets in it's way.

As the group stands there in stunned silence pondering their next move, an older halfling heartgrown herder rushes up asking if the group has seen any children. Two are missing and flee is desperate to find them but also has other pressing duties tending to the rest of the camp after the attack. Gormflee asks the group to find the children as quickly as possible... the Maw is a dangerous place for anyone after dark, let alone children. As they look around for a sign of where the children may have gone, the group eventually discovers a propeller tree seed pod, decorated and with the stringed launch stick still attached. The session ends with the group preparing to set off after the children.

Session 2 (March 25, 2022)

Before heading out to find the children, Bortris recruited a member of the camp to erect a fence around the hole into the Abyss. Sveinonee turned nerself into a hummingbird and flew off to scout out the children. Gormflee searched the area with the propeller tree seed pod to get an idea of the direction the children went. Flee discovered that the children appeared to be joined by an adult and the three went into the forest.

As the light failed, the group heard the sound of the wings of a large beetle. Indra attempted to cast Light on a stone but it turned out to be fragments of a Crimson Threadwing and would not take the magic. Meanwhile Sveinonee flew off in the direction of the sound and was met by a Firborer Beetle flying in the direction of the camp... and back towards the group. Nee followed as quickly as nee could and overtook the beetle shortly before it came upon the group and nee turned back into halfling form.

As the beetle came upon the group, Gormflee assumed a stance of challenge but failed to secure the undivided attention of the beetle (probably for the best, as it turns out). The beetle flew past Gormflee but circled back around towards the group. Bortris stepped forward to engage the beetle but the Firborer latched onto trim, shredder their armor. After more combat with the beetle, both Bortris and Sveinonee lost their armor and sustained significant damage. Finally the beetle was defeated. Gormflee secured the carapace and provided a food ration for all in the process. Two Crimson Threadwing wings were found in the beetles stomach.

The group decided to do some healing and set camp for the remainder of the night, planning on picking up the search of the children in the morning. Indra brought out dram firebowl as they made camp while Sveinonee used ner herbs and poultices to perform some healing. They set watch as: Sveinonee, Bortris, then Gormflee with Indra being given an uninterrupted nights rest.

Session 3 (June 4, 2022)

During trim watch, Bortris heard the cries of two children. Very shortly after tris heard a low hoot that descended in pitch into the subsonic causing anxieity and discomfort. Immediately after the cries of the children could be heard to rise to a panicked pitch. Bortris concluded that an Owlbear was hunting the children and quickly woke the company in an effort to reach the children before the Owlbear. Sveinonee didn't awaken so Gormflee threw ner over fler back and carried ner along roughly. Sveinonee eventually woke and, changing into a bird, flew high up out of the way. The group struggled to recall anything about Owlbears and how imminent the threat was. While Attempting to share some information with the rest of the group, Bortis crashed through a Bougain Tangler taking significant injury in the process but landing amidst the frightened children. The kids screamed in terror prompting a response from the Owlbear and forcing Bortris to use trim commanding presence to get the children under control. Gormflee wanted to stand and fight the Owlbear but Sveinonee convinced fler to protect the children to safety.

Back at the threadherd camp, the group reunited the children with Slaflee, who is greatly relieved. Flee asked the group to escort them to the ranger camp where flee had a grovemate who is a ranger there. As the group had business there anyway, they agreed to escort them.

Chapter 2: The Ranger Outpost

Scrap of a patch found in the Green Maw

With a group of traumatized refugees in tow, it took most of the day to reach the Ranger Outpost. As the group, in the vanguard, approached the outpost it became clear that something was wrong. They instructed the refugees to stay back while the outpost was investigated.

Going closer to the outpost it was obvious that some sort of struggle had occurred although all was quiet now. The front door was ajar, the hut was dark, and dark shapes lay on the stairs and landing ahead. A quick search in the fading light confirmed that a significant number of individuals (probably halflings) attacked the outpost but there was no sign any of the assailants remained.

The scene in the hut was grim: Blood and body parts lay strew about. Several Rangers were identified and one, or two, others but it was difficult to know the full count. Amidst the debris a scrap from a patch was discovered but no-one recognizes it or what it is.

The refugees wish to proceed on to Rothare but it's too late to travel then. They requested that the group stay with them and assist them to Rothare.

Session 4 (July 8, 2022)

Normally, the trip to Rothare would take about two days on a lightly traveled (hence somewhat overgrown) trail. With the group of refugees to guide and protect, they figured to add an additional day to the journey.

Sveinonee was very apprehensive about staying so near the scene of such carnage and attempted to convince Bortris that they needed to proceed at once...this very moment, in fact. Bortris explained that venturing into the forest at night is far more dangerous than camping here for the night. As if to confirm trim words, a distant scream echoed in the quickly darkening night. It started as the high-pitched scream of a halfling being horribly tortured then trailed down in pitch, but not in volume, to that of a guttural howl. Although the precise creature wasn't identified, the call was determined to be the coordinating call of a creature that hunts in a pack. Although it was quite distant, the group decided it was best to stay put and set watches for the night. The terrifying call, which struck fear in the already traumatized children, never repeated.

So, with some trepidation, the group set off early the following morning with Gormflee and Indra scouting, Bortris trailblazing, and Sveinonee quartermastering. Bortris performed trim respective task to par and so neither hindered nor greatly assisted in their travel. Sveinonee failed to locate suitable provision en route so the group consumed an additional ration. Gormflee failed to see the signs of a night fissure.

The fissure stretched right across the trail to either side as far as could be seen from the trail. It was too wide to jump across, especially with the refugees, and the edges were too precarious to allow venturing too closely. While a cloud island was found in the canopy stretching across the fissure, it was determined to be too unstable to safely get the refugees across (or, rather, it was rendered so after a near disastrous attempt to stretch a safety vine across it.)

A closer look at the fissure from the canopy revealed that it was possible to go around it but at the cost of another day of travel. It was decided that this was the safest approach so the group worked their way around and proceeded on to Rothare.

Chapter 3: Rothare

Session 5 (July 15, 2022)

Notes:

• Factions (like a county, canton, or district):
  • Bristlecone Alliance: Faction on the frontier
    • Town of Bristlecone: Faction seat
    • Village of Callinara:
    • Town of Malen:
    • Village of Rothare:
      • Medium sized village in the canopy
      • Faction HQ for Rangers
    • Settlement of Zunreverd:
      • Most remote permanently inhabited halfling settlement in The Maw
  • Cloud Tower: Most "urban" faction
    • Crown City: Faction seat
• Events:
  • Reconnoiter:
    • Indra (et. al.?) ask around and show patch fragment
      • No one seems to recognize it...
      • ... except when they do and immediately clam up.
  • Gormflee and the Balance Competition:
    • [I can't recall specifics except that Gormflee made a very large enemy in fler Heartgrown opponent!]
  • Sell them wares -- make some money!:
    • Group wants to sell the Threadwing carapaces retrieved from the Firborer (Session 2)
    • Slaflee has a contact, Bryndra, in Rothare and arranges a meeting
    • Bryndra examines the carapaces and offers 200(?) bezant for each, which seems a bit high, but suggests one might be donated to Slaflee's operation to help rebuild stock (inflated offer may have been a face-saving way to do some charity without doing charity). Group accepts offer and walks away 200 bezant richer.
• Persons of interest:
  • Bryndra: Threadwing dealer. Friend of Slaflee.
  • Gwedra: Elder/Leader of Rothare
  • Iphiflee: Balance competition with Gormflee (now an enemy)
  • Takatris: Leader of the Rangers. Based at HQ in Rothare

Session 6 (August 5, 2022)

A raucous band of children swarm past the party. As the children round the corner, Indra realizes that dras purse of bezants has been stolen! The group rushes after the youthful thieves and into an alleyway. In the alleyway they find a ranger holding the purse, Iphiflee, the same sport competitor that fancies themselves rivals with Gormflee. This ranger alleged that the threadwing trader Bryndra reported a theft of coin, and this must be the stolen property which they are duty-bound to confiscate. As the party disagreed, the ranger warned them not to escalate and 2 more ranger confederates emerged to cut off retreat from the other side of the alleyway.

Bortris led the party in trying to deescalate but the forgettable ranger, Iphiflee, drew their sword to keep the Gormflee's posturing out of reach. Things unfolded quickly from there, there will certainly be disagreements if any statement is given to the ranger station. Gormflee baited the ranger into drawing their blood, which would justify a well-deserved beat down. Indra went invisible and grabbed for the purse, managing to only catch the sword's blade in their side instead. Sveinonee flew out of the alleyway a Crown bird before crashing back down again onto one of the flanking rangers. Bortris scared off one of the ranger toadies. Indra cast Charm Person on the remaining two rangers, creating the opportunity to accept the purse's return for no further violence. The party skedaddled because the feelings of friendship would surely last for only a few minutes.

The party took rooms at the inn, The Stone Arch, and healed. Word was sent to Bryndra and a written statement denying any theft and confirming honest payment was received. Sveinonee scouted out the ranger station, learning that the three crooked rangers had beat the party back to the Ranger's Guildhall, a seat of authority in this community.