Session X - River Pigs, Scorpions and Betrayal

07/07/42 Aper Tertius (morning)

The group investigate the crate, finding some explorers gear. Cefesee noted that the goods were not very wet and were likely from not very far up the river. A little way up they spotted two humans and a dwarf, defended by a giant scorpion, were under attack by two River Pigs! Two bodies lay nearby.

Batthu drew the attention of one of the hippopotami who charged and attacked the nearest target (Tian), nearly killing the dragonborn. Belam distracted the hippo whilst the scorpion saw off the other beast and Belam beheaded the second hippo. 

Tian conned the other explorers into thinking that he was a member of the Crook, those who work for the Shepherd. The dwarf, Sulla, believed Tian's lie and the group were to be taken along. They discovered that the two humans were members of 'The Web' a smuggling ring in the Valley of Deichtine. Tian accidentally gave the impression that they had orders to turn on the guides. One body was Sulla's partner was one of the bodies and the other belonged to a strangely dress high elf. On taking the slippers from the bodies feet, Tian noticed that the material shifted colour. 

They discovered that one of the guides was a druid called Kam and her scorpion was called Wesley. The uncomfortable trip continued north. When the group reached the dumped packs of the criminals. Kam took off, literally, in the form of a vulture so she could scout. Her ranger companion tended to the scorpion. Batthu nearly rendered Sulla unconscious with information whilst Tian attempted to befriend the ranger.

The group hatched a plan to jump the dwarf but, in the confusion, the ranger and Wesley attacked too. A web bound the scorpion to the ground for but a moment whilst the ranger looked on confused. Seeing the dwarf die quickly to the attack, she supported the angry scorpion in it's attack.

In the end the ranger fled with her friend's heavily wounded animal companion whilst the group tended to an unconscious Cefesee and Tian.