Session 3: The Beasts of Butchery

Key Plot Developments
The goblins, Stool, Sarith, Shuushar, and Jimjar finish pillaging the deceased gnolls. Kind-hearted Glyn feels guilty about killing them, and resolves to commune with his god--Tempus. Tremble, who has grown closer with Stool, wants to get his new friend home. He clashes with Bogtooth, who had carelessly caught his fellow goblins in the blast of his magical attacks. Pyrite and Pix similarly get into a verbal fight over Pyrite's reckless battle strategies.

As the group enters into the cavern, which Sarith suggests is the best way to cut through to the Neverlight Grove, they encounter a pack of gnolls. After fighting off the vanguard, Shuushar is cornered. Jimjar and Tremble intervene to save his life, and Trix brings him back from the brink.

Before the group can continue, one of the gnolls is empowered by fiendish magic. He chants the name of his apparent benefactor as new power crackles through his warped body. The fight pushes the group to its brink. Sarith avoids direct confrontation as Glyn takes the majority of the beast's blows.

When the group has a moment to breathe, they investigate the gnolls' encampments. They find bloody meat, many combat-related provisions, and the desecrated bodies of large, armored bird monsters: Hook Horrors. When Pyrite examines the area further, she discovers an egg in the Hook Horrors' nest. The egg hatches, and the baby Hook Horror imprints on her.

Glyn and Trix both attempt to commune with their gods (to no immediate avail).

Stool, Jimjar, and Tremble bond; Jimjar supplies the scared goblin with advice about courage and making one's own luck.

Sarith is insulted by many members of the party for his lack of combat initiative. He claims that he was behaving strategically and that unnecessary confrontation won't get Stool back to his family.

Pyrite, maligned by Pix, resolves herself to locate a new spellbook. She is able to locate what registers as her original spellbook within 1,000 feet of her--back at the entrance to the gnolls' caverns.

New NPCs

 * 1) Pyrite's Hook Horror

Memorable Quotations
Shuushar (brought back from the brink): Are you prepared for the wars to come?

Trix (asked about communing with his god): Oh, Pelor? Pelor's my b*tch!

Pyrite: I'm the daughter of the chief. The chief is gone. That makes me the chief. Follow your leader!

Sarith: It was, uh...strategy.

Jimjar: It is not the cards we are dealt. It's what we do with them.