The damp, earthy scent of the cave enveloped Pebblesong as she stepped cautiously forward, her dwarven boots barely making a sound on the stone floor. Soft rays of light filtered through cracks in the ceiling, casting ethereal patterns on the walls draped with tangled roots. Her keen eyes met the gaze of the massive cave bear before her—a hulking creature with matted fur and scars etched across its muzzle. She could feel the beast’s unease, a wildness tempered by confusion.
“Easy now,” she whispered soothingly, her voice gentle yet firm. She reached out with her spirit, invoking the ancient connections between druids and the natural world. Moments ago, she had woven a spell of friendship, hoping to calm the bear and perhaps uncover the mysteries that shrouded this place. But the air was thick with tension, and the chittering of unseen squirrels echoed ominously from the shadows above.
A sudden whizzing sound sliced through the silence. Pebblesong barely had time to react before a small, hard object—some sort of nut or pebble—whistled past her ear. She glanced upward, spotting two squirrels perched among the roots, their beady eyes fixed on her with malicious intent. “What are you doing?” she called out in their tongue, the gift of speech with animals allowing her to bridge the gap. “Why are you attacking me?”
“You’re here to steal our bear!” one of the squirrels screeched in reply. “Leave him alone!”
Pebblesong’s brow furrowed. “I don’t want to take the bear. I just wish to talk.”
But the squirrels were undeterred. Another projectile hurtled towards her, and she narrowly dodged it. The commotion drew the attention of Thalmiir, whose stoic demeanor belied a fierce protective instinct. Pushing aside the curtain of vines that separated them, he stepped to her side, raising his shield to ward off the barrage from above.
“Are yeh alright, lass?” he rumbled, concern etched in his gravelly voice.
“They think we’re here to harm the bear,” she explained, her eyes darting between the agitated animal and the hostile squirrels. “But something isn’t right. The bear seems… conflicted.”
Behind them, the rest of the party edged closer. Bartholemeow peered through the vines with curious golden eyes. Bhakris gripped his weapon tightly, his stance ready but hesitant. Hat busied himself with a contraption, his whimsical hat bobbing as he moved.
“Let’s give her space,” Waer’dara advised softly. Her affinity for shadows made her a cautious observer, and she sensed the delicate balance of the situation.
Suddenly, the bear let out a thunderous roar, the sound reverberating through the cavern. Before Pebblesong could react, the beast lunged forward, claws extended. Thalmiir barely had time to brace himself before the bear’s massive paw struck him, sending a spray of blood across the stone floor.
“Why?” Thalmiir gasped, struggling to remain standing. Pain seared through him, but his grip on his axe tightened.
“Wait!” Pebblesong cried out, desperation creeping into her voice. “We don’t have to fight!”
But the bear’s eyes were wild with rage, and any semblance of the earlier calm had vanished. Hat, witnessing the sudden escalation, scrambled to act. In a flash of inspiration—or perhaps folly—he muttered an incantation, his form shimmering and shrinking until he resembled an oversized squirrel.
“Maybe this will confuse it,” he whispered to himself, scurrying into the cave. But the bear’s fury was indiscriminate. With a savage swipe, it struck Hat, sending him sprawling across the rocky ground.
“Enough!” Bhakris roared, charging forward. His blade glinted in the dim light as he struck the bear, the force of his attack momentarily staggering the creature. Bartholemeow added to the fray, his voice laced with cutting mockery that seemed to pierce the bear’s psyche, causing it to falter.
Waer’dara’s eyes flashed with arcane energy as she extended a hand, dark tendrils of magic wrapping around the bear. She whispered a hex, sapping its strength. “Focus your attacks!” she called to the others. “It’s weakened!”
Amidst the chaos, Pebblesong knelt beside Hat, her hands glowing with a soft, healing light. “Hold on,” she murmured, tending to his wounds. The weight of the situation pressed upon her. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. She had hoped for a peaceful resolution, to understand what plagued the bear, but now blood stained the cavern floor.
Overhead, the squirrels chattered excitedly. “They’re killing the bear!” one squeaked. “Now’s our chance!” Pebblesong looked up to see them scurrying toward a hidden stash, coins glinting as they pilfered the treasure.
“They’re stealing your gold!” she shouted to the bear, a last attempt to redirect its wrath. But it was too late. The bear’s focus was unbreakable, its attacks relentless. Thalmiir, rallying his remaining strength, locked eyes with Bhakris. A silent understanding passed between them.
“Together,” Thalmiir growled.
“Aye,” Bhakris agreed.
With coordinated precision, they pressed their assault. Thalmiir’s axe struck true, carving a deep wound, while Bhakris shield-bashed the bear, knocking it off balance. Waer’dara’s eldritch blasts slammed into the creature, and Bartholemeow’s biting words continued to erode its resolve.
Finally, as the bear reared back for one last attack, Thalmiir seized the opening. Letting out a battle cry, he swung his axe in a powerful arc. The blade met flesh, and with a final, pained roar, the bear collapsed, its massive form hitting the ground with a resounding thud.
Silence settled over the cave, broken only by the distant skittering of the fleeing squirrels. Pebblesong’s shoulders sagged as she gazed upon the fallen creature. A mix of sorrow and frustration welled within her. This wasn’t victory—it was a loss.
“Are you alright?” Bartholemeow asked gently, padding over to her side.
She shook her head slowly. “It didn’t have to be this way. Something was wrong with that bear. It wasn’t behaving naturally.”
Hat stirred, groaning as he sat up. “Did we win?” he mumbled, rubbing his head.
“In a manner of speaking,” Waer’dara replied, her gaze drifting to the remnants of the bear’s hoard. “But it seems our squirrel friends have helped themselves to a share.”
Thalmiir began gathering the scattered coins, counting meticulously. “We need seven hundred and fifty to settle our deal,” he reminded the group.
As they collected the gold, Hat’s eyes flickered with mischief. Quietly, he slipped a few extra coins into his pouch, but Thalmiir’s sharp gaze caught the movement. “We’re taking what’s owed,” the dwarf said firmly. “No more.”
Hat gave an exaggerated shrug. “Can’t blame a goblin for trying,” he said with a sly grin.
Nearby, Pebblesong knelt by the bear’s side. Gently closing its eyes, she whispered a prayer to the spirits of the wild. “May you find peace,” she murmured. The weight of responsibility pressed upon her—had she failed in her duty to preserve life, or had she acted as necessity demanded?
“Perhaps we should make use of what remains,” Bhakris suggested, placing a hand on her shoulder. “It would honor the bear not to let it go to waste.”
She nodded slowly. “You’re right.”
Together, they began the laborious task of skinning the bear. Thalmiir’s survival skills proved invaluable as he guided the process, ensuring the pelt was preserved as best as possible despite the battle’s toll. Hat, ever resourceful, assisted with carving portions of meat.
“What will we do with the meat?” Bartholemeow inquired, his whiskers twitching thoughtfully.
“Could provide food for those in need,” Pebblesong replied. “Though bear meat isn’t the most palatable, especially without proper preparation.”
“Better than nothing,” Waer’dara conceded.
As they worked, a somber mood settled over the group. The thrill of battle had faded, replaced by contemplation. Each member grappled with their own thoughts—the weight of choices made and the path ahead.
Emerging from the cave, they were greeted by the fading light of dusk. The forest around them was quiet, shadows stretching long across the ground. Pebblesong paused at the entrance, casting one last glance back into the darkness.
“Come on,” Thalmiir urged gently. “We’ve done what we came to do.”
She took a deep breath and stepped forward. “Yes. Let’s return.”
The party set off through the woods, the promise of resolution guiding their steps. But beneath the surface, unanswered questions lingered—about the bear, the squirrels, and the unseen forces that might be at play. Their journey was far from over, and as the shadows deepened, they knew challenges yet awaited them in the days to come.
The session begins with Ben, the DM, recapping the previous events: Pebblesong successfully cast Animal Friendship on a bear in a cave but was attacked by a squirrel throwing a missile at her. Combat had just been initiated, with Pebblesong at the top of the initiative order. Merideth, who plays Waer’dara Dryaalo’ara, is absent due to a migraine. The group discusses whether they had a long rest after the last session. It is clarified that they had a long rest before the bandit ambush, so Hat decides he has his Alchemy Jug infused. The adventurers recall that they approached the place to drop off goods, intending to make a business transaction, but it was an ambush by bandits. Waer’dara’s turn in the initiative comes up. Since the player is absent, Waer’dara advances cautiously and stands ready. She readies an action to cast Eldritch Blast at anything aggressive that comes around the corner. The party hears growly bear sounds but sees no immediate sign of trouble. Hat’s turn comes up. He attempts to move stealthily into the cave. He dashes forward, moving closer to the action, and hides as a bonus action, rolling a high stealth check. He finds a spot among the tree roots to conceal himself. Bartholemeow considers his actions and decides to cast Minor Illusion. He creates an image of a friendly squirrel with its arms crossed at the rear corner of the cave entrance, aiming to support Pebblesong’s attempt to befriend the bear. The squirrel image is facing into the cave, presenting a friendly demeanor. Bartholemeow steps forward slightly, positioning himself to support his companions. Pebblesong is attacked by a squirrel throwing a small hard root at her face. She makes a Dexterity saving throw and succeeds, dodging the missile. Pebblesong, who has Speak with Animals active, confronts the squirrels, asking why they are attacking her. The squirrels accuse her of trying to steal their bear and tell her to leave him alone. She protests that she doesn’t want the bear and asks if she can talk to him. The squirrels insist she can’t and accuse her of trying to poison the bear with her alluring thoughts. Pebblesong takes one point of damage from another attack by the squirrels. She becomes distracted by the squirrels’ aggression. Thalmiir steps forward, hearing the bear growling and Pebblesong’s interactions with the squirrels. He pushes through a curtain of vines blocking the cave entrance to see what’s happening. As Thalmiir enters, he is attacked by the squirrels. He makes a Dexterity saving throw and dodges the first attack. However, he takes one point of damage from a second attack as an acorn strikes him above the eyebrow. Thalmiir holds his shield over Pebblesong’s head to protect her from the squirrels’ attacks. He focuses on defending her from the airborne debris. The bear, due to the effects of Animal Friendship, cannot attack Pebblesong but becomes increasingly agitated. It perceives Thalmiir’s presence as a threat and attacks him. The bear claws at Thalmiir, hitting him and dealing significant slashing damage. It then bites him, causing further damage. Thalmiir is severely wounded by the bear’s ferocious attacks. Waer’dara advances 25 feet into the cave, preparing to cast Eldritch Blast if necessary. She hears the bear’s roar but hesitates to act immediately, allowing Pebblesong a chance to calm the situation. Hat decides to disguise himself as a large squirrel using Disguise Self, making himself appear as a two-foot-tall squirrel. He casually walks into the cave in this form, hoping to blend in or confuse the squirrels and bear. The bear, hating squirrels, perceives Hat (in squirrel form) as a threat. The sight of a giant squirrel in its lair enrages the bear further. Bartholemeow notices Hat has disappeared and is concerned. Unable to see him, he tries to support his allies. Bartholemeow casts Healing Word on Thalmiir, restoring some of his hit points. He encourages Thalmiir, bolstering his resolve. A squirrel comes into the cave and is perplexed by the presence of the giant squirrel (Hat). The squirrel hesitates, unsure of how to react. Pebblesong is attacked again by the squirrels but makes another Dexterity saving throw and avoids the attack. She is frustrated by their relentless aggression. Pebblesong confronts the squirrels again, demanding they stop attacking her. She expresses her frustration verbally. Another squirrel attacks Thalmiir, but he dodges the attack or blocks it with his shield. He remains focused on protecting Pebblesong. Bhakris moves up towards the front. Seeing that the curtain of vines is blocking their view, he decides to cut them down to see into the cave, despite Thalmiir’s objections. The vines are cut down, allowing everyone to see into the cave. The illusion of the friendly squirrel created by Bartholemeow is now visible to everyone, including the bear. Pebblesong tries to persuade the bear, telling it that the squirrels are stealing its gold. She attempts a Persuasion check but rolls poorly, failing to convince the bear. The bear becomes enraged. Feeling betrayed by Pebblesong and provoked by the presence of Thalmiir and the giant squirrel, it attacks Hat. The bear attacks Hat, still disguised as a large squirrel. It claws and bites Hat, dealing massive damage and knocking him unconscious. Hat falls to the ground, gravely wounded. The squirrels are surprised by the sudden violence against the giant squirrel. They begin to discuss stealing the bear’s treasure while it is distracted. Waer’dara considers casting Levitate on the bear but realizes it is too heavy. Instead, she casts Hex on the bear, targeting its Strength ability. She then casts Eldritch Blast, dealing damage enhanced by the Hex. Hat makes a death saving throw and fails, moving closer to death. Hat’s mechanical companion, Puppet, attempts to stabilize him but fails. Puppet’s efforts are insufficient to prevent Hat’s condition from worsening. Bartholemeow casts Vicious Mockery on the bear, insulting it to distract it. He taunts the bear, causing it to fail its saving throw, take psychic damage, and suffer disadvantage on its next attack. A squirrel, confused by the giant squirrel (Hat), hesitates to act. The presence of Hat’s unusual form causes uncertainty among the squirrels. Pebblesong casts Healing Word on Thalmiir, restoring more of his hit points. She also tries again to persuade the bear that the squirrels are stealing his gold, but her persuasion attempt fails. She attempts to shove Thalmiir back out of the cave to protect him from further harm. The squirrels begin to steal coins from the bear’s hoard, preparing to escape with the treasure while the bear is distracted by the fight. Bhakris attacks the bear with his sword, hitting it and dealing significant damage. He attempts to shove the bear prone using his shield but fails as the bear resists his efforts. Thalmiir, enraged by the bear’s attacks and his own injuries, enters a Rage. He attacks recklessly with his axe, hitting the bear but dealing minimal damage due to poor attack rolls. The bear, now severely wounded and enraged, attempts to attack Pebblesong but is hindered by the Sanctuary spell she cast on herself. Unable to attack her due to failing its Wisdom saving throw, it attacks Thalmiir instead. Due to Vicious Mockery, it has disadvantage on its attack rolls. The bear claws at Thalmiir, but Thalmiir manages to block the attack with his shield. The bear’s attacks are less effective due to the magical hindrances. Waer’dara, seeing the dire situation, casts Eldritch Blast again, dealing damage and including the extra necrotic damage from Hex. The bear is visibly weakening from the sustained attacks. Hat makes another death saving throw and succeeds, stabilizing slightly but still unconscious. Bartholemeow casts Vicious Mockery on the bear once more, further weakening it with his cutting words. The bear suffers additional psychic damage and disadvantage on its next attack. Pebblesong uses Thaumaturgy to amplify her voice in the squirrels’ language, intimidating the squirrels and warning them she will get them for attacking her. She makes an Intimidation check and succeeds. Her booming, chittering voice frightens the squirrels. The squirrels, frightened by Pebblesong’s display, drop the coins they were stealing and flee. The sound of clattering coins echoes in the cave as they retreat. Bhakris attacks the bear again, hitting and dealing significant damage. He attempts to shove the bear prone and succeeds this time, knocking the bear to the ground. Thalmiir delivers the final blow to the bear. He places his boot on the bear’s head and brings his axe down in a decisive strike, beheading the bear. The bear dies, and the immediate threat is over. The cave falls silent as the sounds of battle cease. Pebblesong reflects on the bear’s death, feeling conflicted and guilty. She realizes the bear was not acting like a normal bear and suspects it may have been a person transformed into a bear. She experiences sadness and remorse. The party begins to collect the gold from the bear’s hoard. They were promised 700 gold pieces for the job, plus an additional 50 gold for dealing with the bear. They find more than 750 gold in the chest and begin counting. Hat, recovering from his wounds, attempts to stealthily pocket some extra gold. He succeeds twice, collecting additional gold without being noticed. On his third attempt, he fails his stealth check. Thalmiir and Bhakris notice him trying to steal extra gold. Coins clatter as Puppet struggles to help Hat, drawing attention. Thalmiir confronts Hat, placing a firm hand on him. He tells Hat that they are taking only what they are paid and that they are not thieves. Hat deflects blame onto Puppet, insisting they are not stealing. Bhakris observes the interaction but chooses to smirk and let Thalmiir handle it. He is aware of Hat’s actions but does not intervene further. The party collects the agreed-upon 750 gold pieces, ensuring they have fulfilled their end of the deal. Bhakris uses his last spell slot to cast Cure Wounds on Hat, healing him and bringing him back to consciousness. Hat regains some hit points and is able to stand. Pebblesong tends to the bear’s body, saying a prayer to the nature gods and feeling remorseful. She attempts to close its eyes and push the head closer to the body. She notes that the bear was guarding gold, which is unusual behavior for a bear. She contemplates the unnatural circumstances. Pebblesong makes an Insight or Nature check to understand more about the bear’s behavior but rolls poorly. She remains conflicted about the situation. Hat, still disguised as a large squirrel, suggests they take some bear meat. Pebblesong agrees, noting that they should not let the animal go to waste. She advises that in nature, nothing should be wasted. Thalmiir and Hat work together to skin and butcher the bear. Thalmiir uses his survival skills, assisted by Hat and with Pebblesong providing Guidance. They work diligently to harvest usable materials. They successfully skin the bear and obtain a good pelt, though the head was severed during combat. They consider reattaching the head to the pelt but realize they don’t have the Mending spell to do so. They collect bear meat, though they acknowledge that bear meat is not particularly tasty and can be risky to eat if not properly prepared. They discuss that it must be cooked thoroughly to be safe. Hat considers using his cook’s utensils to prepare the meat. They acknowledge that it would take significant time and resources to make the meat palatable. The party discusses giving the bear meat to the bandits outside who were hungry, possibly as an ironic gesture since the bear may have been their former captain transformed. They see it as a way to provide food to those in need. Bartholemeow sets up his one-man band and plays a sea shanty-style slaughtering song as they work, adding a musical backdrop to their activities. The session concludes with the party deciding their next steps, possibly returning to the bandit camp with the gold and bear meat. They consider how the adventure will continue and reflect on the events of the day.Session Notes