Chapter 1: Into Haranshire

Aldeera desperately slashes at a retreating orc.

The warrior slashes at the retreating orcs...

Almadel again attempts to slash at one of the fleeing axemen with his longsword.

Devon cleaves down the shieldless orc while Aldeera manages to drive her blade right through the back of another orc's neck, slicing through spine and cartilage for a decisive killing blow. One last orc did manage to get away, but the offensive was swift and decisive.

XP: 15 each, adjusted for individual XP bonuses
3 battleaxes
2 spears
4 shields
34 silver coins, 40 copper coins
plus whatever items have been left here since the first orc attack

"Well, that went better than I'd hoped for, if I'm honest" says Kuiper, looking around at the scene. "Certainly need to spread the word on these new orcs' presence before things spiral out of control. Speaking of which, we should be on our way back soon. With Maxim returned, it'll be too dark to get back to any town, but you're welcome to stay at my farm and be on your way tomorrow. If you find yourselves in Milborne anytime soon, make sure to let Garyld know of these orcs."

Hanzel looks around him. Just how many of these orcs are there?
The sound of Kuiper's voice makes him turn to look at the ranger. "Hm? Oh, yes, definitely have to tell Garyld about this..."

The warrior was unhappy that one of the orcs escaped, but thankful that they had routed them so quickly. "I agree we should resume our travels. No point in loitering here long now that we have gotten rid of some more of these orcs."

"Yeah, let's go. The orcs might be back with reinforcements if we're not careful. And I'd like to get the werebear off our hands as soon as possible."

With great caution, you trek the woods along Hog Brook, on the lookout for any more orcs. Fortunately, there are none to be found by the point you exit the woods and begin to march across clearer land towards Kuiper's place. The sun is starting to set and nightfall will be upon you soon, so things only feel more tense when the werebear begins making growling sounds and convulsing as it slows down. Kuiper stretches a hand out to prevent you from getting any closer and within a few seconds, the massive frame shrinks, the fur retreats to reveal skin and where the bear once stood, a young, broad framed teenage boy is laying on the ground.

"I see you managed to shift back into your human form, Maxim. About time, sun's going down and we have about an hour till we're back at my farm. We'll have a long discussion there, over a hot plate of food. And get you some clothes to put on" the ranger chuckles, an attempt to lighten the mood as the boy looks around in confusion.

"I... Oh wow..."

The warrior watched as the boy returned to his normal form. He had never witnessed such a transformation. When the common farm boy appeared, he was glad they had risked themselves for the lad. It was difficult to see the cost when the bear was before them, but seeing the lad, Devon was glad they had helped him.

Devon pulled off his cloak and stepped forward, extending it for the boy to take, "Take this for now, until we get you something else."

Aldeera watches the transformation with fascination.

"Thank you..." the boy says to Devon, as it takes the cloak and wraps itself with it. "Everything's so... fuzzy. I just ran off the house when my body started aching again, I didn't want anyone to see me. Thought I'd wait it out in the forest, but then those orcs appeared and... then you guys... I'm so sorry, I was so scared and confused. Did I... did I hurt anyone?"

"No one from our group, no. But those orcs got it good. Looked like you ran into a few of them by the time we found you. If I know orcs, they wouldn't let you get away alive unless you'd taken down at least a couple of them. Then there's the ones you disposed of while we were with you on the way back. It's not all that bad, being a werebear. Doubt you'd have held your ground as well in your current form. But you did the right thing in running away from your home when the change started happening. You spared your family from getting caught in the way. Could have gone very bad. This may be new to you, Maxim, but you handled it well. You're a good lad."

Devon just nodded at the thanks. Looked like Maxim had been through a lot.

Hanzel is just glad that everyone's in one piece.

It's a short walk, less than an hour, until you're back at Kuiper's farm. Once you're welcomed inside, the ranger beckons you to get comfortable as he makes arrangements with his farmhands for bedding and dinner for their additional guests. "I'll have a private chat with Maxim and meet you over a hot plate, if you don't mind" he says, in a way that's more of a statement and less of a question.

Your group reconvenes a little later around a decent sized circular table, where some stools have been brought in to provide additional seating besides any existing chairs. The meal itself is a simple but filling, roast chicken with a side of cheese, bread and vegetables, most of which you assume are local to the farm. After a few days of trekking in the woods, fighting orcs and capturing a werebear, the simple luxuries of a hot meal and an upcoming indoors sleep seem a bit more grandiose than you'd expect.

"Welcome, all. It's not often I have guests here, but it's the least I can do for friends that have risked life and limb alongside me. Tomorrow, I will ask you to return to Milborne and informe Garyld about these orcs, as well as the lack of any findings regarding Jelenneth. As for you, Maxim, we'll head back to your family's farm and have a chat with your dad, hopefully reassure him and smoothe things over with everyone around. I'm curious to ask a few questions about your grandparents and their parents, if you haven't seen a bear in ages, I'm starting to suspect lycanthropy might run in the family and it just jumped a few generations. But for tonight, we are all united under this roof, you are all my guests. Eat, drink and be merry, friends. I thank you for your help and I'm glad to have you here."

The warrior accepted a plate and looked forward to hot meal. "Have you any ideas where else we might look? I hate to return with nothing. Although I suppose not finding anything might be well. Her father expected her to show up on her own."

Hanzel accepts the meal gratefully. The whole place reminds him of his old childhood home, only bigger and more...inhabited.

He mulls over the matter of Jelenneth. So far they've found nothing except the possibility of her being ambushed by orcs. He can't completely rule out the possibility of her having been killed, but he thinks - or maybe just hopes - that she's alive right now.

"Anyway," he says, turning to Maxim, "how are you holding up, Maxim?"

"Doing better now, thanks. I'm just glad I didn't hurt anyone while in my bear...skin? Version? Except those orcs. But they attacked me anyway, I panicked and I... I'm sorry, still not making much sense of this whole turn-into-bear thing of mine."

"There is much to learn about this, Maxim. I'm guessing Oleanne is the go-to person, but that's something for another day. We'll get you back to your folks tomorrow and take things from there. As for Jelenneth, we only know she's not in her usual haunts along Hog Brook. Which means she's probably strayed from her usual routine. Then there's this new orc group. I wonder if the two are connected. This warrants further investigation. Me and Oleanne will keep an eye in this area, I trust you to inform Garyld so he'll do what he must in Western Haranshire, I'll make sure the people who watch over the Eastern bit are alerted as well."

The warrior grew somber as he ate. The ranger was right, there was little more they could do at the moment. Return with what news they had and perhaps get more people involved in the search.

"Fair enough. We will do what we can for now, until something else becomes possible."