We start, of course, in the tavern of an inn, drinking and just hanging out. A Half-Orc Paladin named Penny, a Half-Elf Fighter named Nicholas, a Human Warlock apparently named Azkabam and myself, a Half-Elf Rogue called Euraxia. It's a little past sunset and we're expecting another regular night when in walks a distraught Sophie, whose uncle Manuel, the Mug Mage and locally renowned politician, has gone missing and hasn't contacted her via their speaking stones for a few days.
She takes us to her large home, where there is a large portrait of the missing man hanging in the entrance hall. After a few useful questions, awkward (and belated) introductions and some less-useful comments from the Warlock and Paladin, we accept her request to find her uncle and return to the inn, setting out in the morning.
The day starts and we head north towards the town Sophie said her uncle lived in. A short argument at a crossroad later, we take the road we think is the most north-headed and enter a forest. At a bridge we are accosted by a rough pair claiming to be taxmen gathering tolls for the 'new' bridge. Not believing them, the Halfer trio call the leader out on his obvious lie, not helped by his claim of the local Lord's name being 'F**k You'.
Calling on the rest of his small group of bandits, the leader attacks Nicholas, hitting twice and taking a little under half his health in one turn. The Warlock retaliates with an Eldritch Blast, dealing a good bit of damage himself. The first of the rest of the bandits is next, attempting retribution on the Warlock but missing. Nicholas disengages, hiding behind the 7ft tall Penny, who is attacked by one of the other bandits, who manages to deal a huge chunk of damage to the Paladin.
Now it is my turn and Euraxia shoots at the leader, hitting for another small percent while the Paladin threatens the rest of the bandits with 'flossing with their intestines' which encourages a ranged approach which fails the first attempt.
The leader tries to attack the fighter again, not appreciating his idiotic taunts from behind the hulking Half-Orc, and despite a successful attack of opportunity manages to hit the Fighter, rendering him unconscious. Azkabam casts another Eldritch Blast at the leader, this time missing while the second-in-command tries and fails again to hit the Warlock. With Nicholas still unconscious, the bandit attacking the Paladin has another go at her, taking her out too.
Euraxia's second attack on the leader misses, as does a bandit's aim at the Warlock, but the last manages to give the magic user a new piercing.
The leader is fed up and nearly dead and persuades the remaining party members to give up a ration pack, the Rogue's short-bow and the Fighter's boots before the gang disappears into the forest.
Now combat is over, the Rogue manages to stabilise Penny and Nicholas. Penny then uses 'lay on hands' to heal herself and the Fighter a little before we all take a short rest to recuperate a little before we continue on our journey. Nicholas is upset about his boots but copes, and gives Euraxia his crossbow as she is not pleased herself with the prospect of having to melee with a dagger, preferring ranged weaponry.
We travel onward until nightfall, where we trek a little way into the forest to make camp for the night. The next day we're hale and healthy and continue along the road until late afternoon, when into view comes a town, surrounded by a palisade and a large building atop a mesa at the back. Even from a distance, however, we can tell that something is not right; there's no smoke or general hubbub coming from it, nor any sign of movement.
Investigating as we enter, we discover it to seemingly be freshly abandoned; meals sat uneaten but unrotten at dining tables and the inn seems like it simply didn't open for business that morning. Outside on a noticeboard are posted plenty of 'missing' posters, mostly tools, dogs, and children; and also a poster about a town meeting set for the night before our arrival.
Climbing up the steps to what turns out to be the town hall, we find the door locked and a light somewhere inside. Euraxia soundlessly picks the lock and pushes the door open, but as the group steps inside the floor disappears beneath them and they tumble into a lightless room.
Euraxia inquires on the health of everyone, and four voices answer her.
Startled, the Fighter manages to light a torch and discovers that we're in an apparently entryless, stone-walled cell with a high ceiling and clothing scraps on the floor - and an emaciated man in the corner.
This being the very man we had been tasked to find, we ask about what happened, but as far as he can recall there was nothing unusual happening before he himself fell into the cell on his daily trip to the town hall a few days ago. The trauma of this has aged him; he barely resembles the portrait his niece had shown us.
Looking around, a quick investigation of the walls reveals the stone is an illusion cast over a weaker material, and the Warlock finds a particularly weak spot, which the Paladin attacks with gusto, punching a fist-sized hole through whatever material it was made of.
Euraxia peers through, to find her action mirrored by another being on the other side...
