The party emerges, unscathed, from the Sanctum of the Insatiable Savant fresh on the heels of a new adventure. Aparrently, Ebermund's companions Byron and Sharlayne have been whisked away to the lair of the Beast of Barren Hill, if the Savant's claims are to be believed.

Of course, the party is now well familiar with the tales of the Beast of Barren Hill, for they have spread far and wide. Stories of its attacks on men, women, and children can be heard around firesides for miles around.

Villagers rush in from their tasks at night and armed guards watch over livestock. The Beast has shown no fear of fire or blade and has an uncanny ability to avoid traps.

The party has managed to piece together the Beast’s appearance from reports, but even that is fragmented. What is clear is that it is at least as large as a man and covered in black fur, with huge teeth and claws. Those who have seen the aftermath of its attacks first hand claim there were not enough pieces left to identify the bodies.

As to its lair...Barren Hill has long been considered cursed. Many villagers claim that the goblins that recently inhabited the caves beneath Barren Hill awakened something terrible.
Whatever the case, there are no traces of the goblins either. Perhaps the Beast ate them too.

Tracking the Beast is near impossible because it inexplicably leaves no tracks after its attacks. But everyone in the area knows where the Barren Hill caves are, so it is a simple matter of taking the one-hour hike from the road to the Hill.

True to form, Barren Hill is truly barren. It is covered with dried-out stumps of trees that have been viciously hacked down, probably by the goblins. At the bottom of the rocky hill is a maw-like entrance that spirals down into darkness. The wind blows a forlorn wail all around you.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:36, Sun 02 Apr 2017.

"Let's get out of this wind and light a torch!" Eoni shouted over the wind as she held the flapping hood of her cloak from her face.  She pointed down at the dark entrance and the sleeve of her dress whipped in the wind.  It had seemed to rise gradually as they'd crossed from the Savant's lair but now it was enough to stir even the stoutest of trees.  Was it truly unnatural or just happenstance that they'd arrived during this fearsome gale?

"Be careful!"

Standing as out of the way of the wind as she can, Aldara draws a torch out of her bag and lights it.

Sarah tightens her cloak around her so that it flaps less in the wind.

 The journey to the caves was a welcome relief to the Warrior. All that talk, talk, talk, got on his nerves. He was a man of deeds, not constant babbling. When they arrived at the appointed place, the wind hammered at them like a weather god took umbrage at their daring to be in this place.

 The Warrior inspected his gear and weapons for the umpteenth time out of old habit. With spear and shield in hand, Marklin stepped forward.<Red> “ Right! We be here, so let’s get organized, you lot. I be taking the lead til we reach the blasted underground, then Valthur will lead us.  Decide who wants to be torch bearer, and we get on with it. If there be enough room, the Dwarf and me be side by side."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:31, Sun 02 Apr 2017.

Valthur steps alongside of Marklin and awaits their descent down the rocky slope to the opening at the base of the hill.

"Well let's get started. At least it'll get us out of this blasted wind!" He spins his axe a few times in his hands to reacquaint himself with the balance. Still untried, except in practice. He suspects that will soon change.