Kraken Trading CompanyCampaign Archive

Appraisal

In This Episode

  • Starting episode brought the party together and set up the world/format
  • PC premise is that they applied to work for The Kraken Trading Company
  • PCs asked to attend the Local Company HQ in Turnsburg

Places

  • Turnsburg
  • Local Company HQ
  • Elmshade Forest
  • Graythorn Camp

NPCs

  • Archie
  • Bebop
  • Callan Dainhart

Factions

  • The Kraken Trading Company
  • The Church of The One True God
  • Elmshade Rebels

What Happened

A Routine Appraisal

The party arrived at the Local Company HQ in Turnsburg to begin their careers with The Kraken Trading Company. Amid the bustle of merchants, adventurers, craftsmen and deliveries, they were called together to meet Archie, their assigned adventurer liaison. Archie appeared to be fairly new to the role himself, with a more experienced shadow frequently correcting him as he worked through his introductory spiel.

Their first job was supposed to be a straightforward appraisal: hunt five boars, return with their pelts and earn the rank of Rookie along with a Kraken "seal" granting access to company-backed discounts and services. Before they could get started, however, Archie's shadow was called away and returned with new instructions. The routine assessment had been overridden by a special contract "from up high": the party were to deliver a sealed letter to Callan Dainhart, believed to be somewhere in Elmshade Forest, while Archie accompanied them as an overseer.

Into Elmshade Forest

At the edge of town the party found Archie waiting beside a conspicuously gilded carriage, apparently guarded by the well-dressed troll Bebop. Archie admitted that he probably wasn't supposed to be using the carriage, but offered them a lift provided nobody mentioned it to the company. Eventually the terrain became too rough to continue, and the party headed deeper into Elmshade Forest on foot while Archie took another route.

Not far into the forest they discovered the aftermath of a recent battle: wrecked carriages, broken weapons, dead horses and fallen soldiers bearing the blue-and-white cross of The Church of The One True God. Investigation revealed evidence that two separate groups had left the scene in different directions. Bod (Dougie), meanwhile, devoted considerable effort to making sure the dead received proper burials before the party continued.

Terry and Terry

Following one of the trails brought the party face to face with two battered Church soldiers, subsequently known as Terry and Terry, who were investigating strange markings on a tree. The pair attacked when they spotted the adventurers, but during the fight revealed that their patrol had been routed by a rebel ambush. They had apparently been left behind to delay pursuit because they were, in their own estimation, "definitely the best" soldiers in the group.

The party defeated them without much difficulty, including Arnog (Will) chopping one of the Terrys vertically in half. To avoid another lengthy burial operation, the others convinced Bod that launching the bodies into a tree constituted an acceptable "sky burial." Their subsequent loud discussion of the mysterious tree markings attracted another group, but these newcomers lowered their weapons once they realised the party were not "churchies." They were Elmshade Rebels, who explained that they had been clearing the route for an expected delivery of military intelligence being handled through The Kraken Trading Company, and directed the party toward Graythorn Camp.

Graythorn Camp

The party received a far warmer welcome at Graythorn Camp. The rebels had been waiting anxiously for the delivery and quickly sent them to the captain's tent, where Callan Dainhart was visibly relieved to see them. He explained that Church forces had learned of the delivery and had been attempting to stop it, and spoke of the intelligence inside as something that could help resist the Church's continued expansion.

Callan praised the party for making it through and prepared the proof of delivery they would need to return to Kraken for payment. With the job apparently complete, all that remained was for him to open the letter they had carried through the forest.

The Letter

As soon as Callan opened the envelope, wisps of green smoke poured from it. He collapsed and died almost immediately, leaving the party alone in a tent with the freshly assassinated rebel leader and very little idea of what had just happened.

Faced with this unexpected development, the group briefly took stock of their surroundings. Ulyie (Jamie) used the opportunity to procure a +1 Quarterstaff before everyone turned their attention to the more pressing problem of escaping the camp without being blamed for Callan's death.

A Dignified Retreat

Their solution was to behave as though absolutely nothing was wrong. The party formed a conga line through Graythorn Camp, arranging the stronger performers around the weaker ones, and somehow managed to leave without attracting enough suspicion for anyone to discover what had happened inside the tent. Once safely clear, they abandoned subtlety and ran.

Eventually they stumbled onto a road near the edge of the forest and spotted Archie's carriage, with Bebop looming above it. The party immediately suspected Archie might have knowingly sent them to assassinate Callan, but he appeared genuinely confused and questioned why the intended recipient would have ordered something that poisoned him. Archie agreed to take them back toward Turnsburg, albeit on the outside of his carriage because they were now covered in forest mud.

Arnog (Will) took the passenger seat beside Bebop and passed the journey discussing the carriage horses with him. When Arnog pointed out which horse he thought was the best, Bebop considered the matter and delivered the final verdict of the session: "Bigger cock."

Important Discoveries

  • The Kraken Trading Company operates a formal ranking system for adventurers; successful recruits are granted ranks and a Kraken "seal" that provides access to company-backed services and benefits.
  • Adventuring work handled through Kraken can originate from external clients, and the party's routine appraisal was overridden by an unusually sensitive delivery contract.
    • The identity of whoever commissioned this particular job was not revealed to the party.
  • The Church of The One True God and the rebels in Elmshade Forest are engaged in active hostilities.
    • The rebels had been deliberately clearing the party's route and believed the delivery contained military intelligence intended for them.
    • Church forces had apparently learned that the delivery was taking place and were attempting to intercept it.
  • Callan Dainhart and the rebels considered the Church's expansion a serious threat and believed the expected intelligence would help them resist it.
  • The sealed letter delivered to Callan Dainhart was lethal, killing him almost immediately when opened.
    • The party does not know who prepared the letter, who commissioned its delivery, or whether The Kraken Trading Company knew what it actually contained.
    • The circumstances nevertheless caused the party to become suspicious of Archie and Kraken's involvement.
    • Archie appeared genuinely confused by Callan's death and questioned why the intended recipient would have requested something that killed him.

Where We Left Off

  • Callan Dainhart is dead, killed by the sealed letter the party was contracted to deliver.
  • The party escaped Graythorn Camp without the rebels realising what had happened or identifying them as responsible.
  • The party does not know who commissioned the delivery, who prepared the lethal letter, or whether The Kraken Trading Company knew what it contained.
  • Their suspicions briefly fell on Archie, though his reaction suggested he did not know why Callan had died.
  • The group reunited with Archie and Bebop and began the journey back towards Turnsburg.
  • Ulyie (Jamie) left with a +1 Quarterstaff taken from the camp.
  • The session ended with Arnog (Will) discussing the carriage horses with Bebop, who settled the question of which was best with: "Bigger cock."
Detailed Session Reconstruction
  • PCs observed a view of everyday business in the Local Company HQ
    • Busy hustle and bustle of various tasks - merchants, adventurers, craftsmen, deliveries etc.
  • Called as a group to approach Archie, introduced as their adventurer liaison
    • PCs note Archie is being shadowed and seems to be new/being trained as he is often corrected by his shadow
  • Given a standard appraisal/assessment task to hunt 5 bears boars and return with their pelts
    • Given a rough idea of the process and ranking system at Kraken - once they return with proof of completion (5 boar pelts) they will be awarded the rank of Rookie and blessed with the Kraken "seal" granting them discounted access to Kraken backed services and supplies. More successes will lead to higher rankings, which means better jobs, fame, money.
  • Shadow called away and returns to interrupt the spiel
    • Normal assessment is being overridden with a special task from "up high"
    • PCs are tasked delivering a sealed letter to Callan Dainhart whose exact whereabouts are unknown but is believed to be in Elmshade Forest - which lies between Turnsburg and Valkora
    • Archie is assigned as an overseer to assess the parties performance and ensure they complete the job
      • He tells them to meet him at the forest exit from the town
  • PCs approached a gilded carriage at the gate, seemingly guarded by a well-dressed troll
    • The troll knocks on the carriage and Archie exits to introduce Bebop
    • Archie suggests he isn't supposed to be using the carriage but offers the party a ride if they don't mention it to the company
  • The party disembarked the carriage once it reaches unpassable terrain heading deeper into Elmshade Forest where they must go
    • Archie told them to go ahead and he will take a different path
  • After some brief exploring the party came across the scene of a recent battle
    • There were broken weapons, carriages, dead horses, and dead soldiers on the road.
    • They observed blue and white cross insignias, related to The Church of The One True God
    • Investigation revealed 2 separate paths leading away from the site - evidence of 2 parties leaving the scene in different directions, one showing evidence of carriages arriving and leaving
    • Bod (Dougie) spends significant time ensuring the bodies are given proper burials
  • Following one of the paths the party ran into 2 church soldiers (Terry and Terry), investigating a tree with markings as they arrive. Both were dishevelled and one was visibly injured.
    • When noticed, the soldiers attacked them
    • During the fight some conversation was made and the soldiers revealed their patrol was routed by an ambush from the rebels, but they were left behind to distract and prevent the rebels chasing the larger group because they are "definitely the best" soldiers in the group.
    • The party easily defeated the 2 soldiers - one being chopped in half, vertically, by Arnog (Will)
    • To save time, the party persuaded Bod (Dougie) that the bodies can be given a "sky burial" by flinging them into a tree
  • After spending too long loudly discussing what the markings on the tree could mean after realising they were something to do with the rebels, the group is ambushed by an unknown enemy
    • The new group, after realising that the parties are not "churchies" reveal themself as a rebel squad
    • The rebels explained that they've been expecting the delivery of military intel through The Kraken Trading Company and have been clearing the path for them, ambushing The Church of The One True God troops.
    • They directed the party to Graythorn Camp to find Callan Dainhart and promised to hold any further attempts by The Church of The One True God to pursue
  • Upon reaching Graythorn Camp the rebels welcome them warmly and were excited for their arrival and direct them to the captain's tent
    • Callan Dainhart was overjoyed to see them and explains the relief at seeing they made it despite The Church of The One True God catching wind of the delivery and making attempts to stop them.
    • He praised the party and suggested that the church has evil intentions and that the military intel they delivered is going to help end their expansion.
    • He sealed and handed them the proof of delivery they need to receive payment and confirm to The Kraken Trading Company that the job was completed.
    • Upon opening the letter, Callan Dainhart was overcome with wisps of green smoke billowing from the envelope and dropped dead in front of the party
  • Being alone in the tent with the now dead rebel hero, the party took a moment to have a look around and Ulyie (Jamie) procured a +1 Quarterstaff
  • The party concocted a plan to escape the predicament by acting cool as they leave the tent and camp hoping nobody notices what has happened and blames them for the assassination
    • They formed a conga line through the camp, keeping up cool appearances by having the best performers surround the worst and were able to vacate the area without raising suspicions.
  • After some blind running away from their new problems, the party lucked upon a road near the edge of the forest where they spotted Archie's carriage, topped by the large figure of Bebop
    • The party were suspicious of Archie thinking he had sent them to assassinate the rebel leader
    • Archie acted confused and explained the recipient wanted the package and wondered why somebody would order poison for themselves.
    • The party was able to hitch a ride home with the carriage, but Archie insists they stay on the outside of it due to the forest mud and dirt.
    • Arnog (Will) took the passenger seat next to Bebop who was driving. They began a discussion about the horses, with Arnog (Will) asking which is Bebop's favourite and pointing out which he believes is the best.
    • Bebop agreed: "Bigger cock."