One-Shot: The Long Road to Triboar

Three travelers search for shelter from the rain only to find themselves employed by a kind stranger.

Summary
Abyssinia, Celerus, and Rayleigh found themselves in the frontier town of Longsaddle, along with droves of other travelers travelling south from the city of Mirabar. The adventurers had attended a tournament in the city of Mirabar before arriving in Longsaddle, although heavy rains had forced many to seek shelter in the many establishments of the small town.

The party made their way to the largest inn in town, the Gilded Horseshoe, only to discover that the business did not even have enough room to close the door after entering. Celerus attempted to obtain a room but the innkeep, a tiefling that went by Mom, apologized profusely as he turned the adventurers back to the streets.

A Kindly Half-Elf
As the adventurers made their way onto the empty main road of Longsaddle, they were immediately hailed by a lone man standing outside their open front door. The adventurers hurried to the man, revealed to be a middle-aged half-elf, as he retreated inside and welcomed the rain-drenched travelers.

Abyssinia was quick to ask what the man needed of the party as they took their boots in the entryway of the half-elf's home. Surprised by the adventurer's direct question, the half-elf introduced themself as Yarin, a merchant. Yarin invited the adventurers to take a seat in his common room which contained a welcoming fire. The merchant explained that he was in need of escorts to protect him, and his merchandise of precious stones, as he travelled south to the town of Triboar.

The adventurers were suspicious of the half-elf but agreed to the job after Yarin offered compensation in gold and supplies for the trip.

High Road or the Low Road


The rains has subsided the following day and the adventurers visited the town's general store to procure goods before they regrouped with Yarin and made their way southbound. Yarin entertained the adventurers with tales of his past exploits for several days before coming to a fork in the road that caused the half-elf to curse under his breath.

The adventurers took stock of their surroundings before Yarin revealed that he forgot that the rains would have flooded the low road to Triboar. The low road was known as the Merchant's Pass, it was the most commonly travelled and safest route from Longsaddle to Triboar. It was visible to all that the other route had seen less travelers, Yarin explained that the low road had very little space for bandits to hide, while the high road was dense with trees and brush that bandits would use for cover when ambushing travelers. Yarin left the choice of paths to the adventurers and they decided to brave the high road.

Ambush!
The adventurers moved cautiously through the woods, until Abyssinia stopped their march. The wood elf took note of movement in some brush just before a crossbow bolt flew out from the thick of the woods and plugged into the ground in front of Rayleigh. Celerus quickly ducked into cover while Rayleigh attempted to rush toward the crossbowman only to be struck be a projectile from another direction. Abyssinia drew her crossbow to release a blind shot at the attackers and managed to take down one of the crossbowman. Another bolt flew from the forest, rendering Rayleigh unconscious. Celerus sneaked through the cover of the trees and managed to take down the crossbow-wielding bandit that incapicated the elf fighter. A third bandit emerged from the wood and brandished a sharp scimitar toward the elves as Abyssinia unleashed a magical attack that the bandit managed to evade. Yarin was able to resuscitate Rayleigh, who closed in on the remaining bandit to deal a killing blow.

Triboar
Yarin was shook from the encounter but was grateful for the bravery of the adventurers. The party continued on south for two days, moving more cautiously along the way, until they arrived at the north gate of Triboar. The half-elf merchant once again thanked the adventurers for their bravery, dispensing payment and a bonus for their victory in battle and protection of the merchant himself.

Yarin pointed the adventurers toward a local dive, the Talking Troll tavern at the north of Triboar.

Rumors in the Realms
The adventurers made their way to the Talking Troll where they were greeted by the barkeep, a wood elf name Briatha. The party spotted several interesting figures spattered about the room of commoners and drunks. Celerus approached a female human illusionist that was producing magical effects at a table in the middle of the dive. Rayleigh and Abyssinia purchased drinks for themselves and for a lone dwarf that had been prodding at coals in the tavern's cold fireplace.

Celerus learned from the illusionist that gruesome tales of mangled and eaten dwarf bodies had been found in Neverwinter Wood, the illusionist did not know much else, but suggested that the tabaxi ask questions around the settlement of Phandalin for more information about Neverwinter Wood and the rumors about it. When the tabaxi pressed for more information, the woman could only provide the local gossip, which was that Briatha's partner, Kaelen, wanted to turn the Talking Troll into a theater. Meanwhile, Abyssinia and Rayleigh asked the dwarf about anything interesting and learned that a lone survivor of some cult or religious group that had "summoned something vile to the north."

The adventurers' rumor-gathering was brought to a hold as the doors to the tavern swung open and crashed against the rickety walls of the establishment. A man wearing a thick, leather apron and covered in soot stood wide-eyed at the entrance of the tavern and shouted "She's missing! Someone took Bess!" The man's shaking legs gave way as he dropped to his knees into the Talking Troll.

Player Characters

 * Abyssinia the wood elf cleric of knowledge
 * Celerus the tabaxi ranger
 * Rayleigh the high elf fighter

Non-Player Characters

 * Briatha, the female elf barkeep of the Talking Troll tavern in Triboar.
 * Mom, the male tiefling innkeep of the Gilded Horseshoe in Longsaddle.
 * Yarin the male half-elf merchant who hired the adventurers as bodyguards.