HOUSE RÆVAN

Session 01

4 min read

Session Overview

The party awakens to find their caravan mysteriously vanished, with no tracks or evidence of its previous presence. After gathering themselves and some interesting character introductions involving burnt mushrooms and hungover revelations, they discover a mysterious French-style château in a clearing. The session ends as they approach its ominously self-opening doors.

Thal’s Journal Entry

Scrawled in precise handwriting with occasional nautical doodles in the margins

Another job gone sideways. Typical. One moment you’re hired muscle for a caravan, next you’re waking up to find the whole damn thing’s vanished like morning mist. No tracks, no trace - the kind of mystery that sets my instincts on edge.

Found myself with an interesting crew: a perpetually hungover human bard who’s been on a two-week bender (at least she’s honest about it), a deep gnome who treats burnt mushrooms like fine cuisine, and a half-orc cleric wielding kitchen implements like they’re sacred artifacts. Not the worst company I’ve sailed with, but definitely not the most conventional.

Now we’re standing before some fancy château that appeared out of nowhere - because of course we are. Doors opening by themselves? I’ve seen enough ports to know when something’s fishing for suckers. Had to stop our bard from charging right in - though watching her try to pretty herself up for whatever’s inside was certainly entertaining.

Crew Assessment:

  • Combat Capability: Yet to be tested, but diverse skill set
  • Reliability Factor: Mixed bag - some solid instincts, some concerning choices
  • Spiritual State: Chaotic but not malicious
  • Sea-Worthiness: Would need significant training
  • Notable Moments: Coordinated mushroom-tasting session (concerning)

Attendees & Status

All players present:

  • Jinks (Thal) - Half-elf Rogue/Monk, Level 3
  • Sidney (Hawthorne) - Changeling Bard (appearing human), Level 3
  • Ryan (Selnove) - Deep Gnome Barbarian, Level 3
  • Justin (Grok) - Half-orc Cleric, Level 3

Setting & Atmosphere

  • Initially in woods with thick morning fog
  • Misty environment with dampened sounds
  • Discovery of a well-maintained century-old château
  • French architectural style with wings and forward projections
  • No visible guards or inhabitants

Key Events

  1. Party awakens to find caravan missing
  2. No tracks or evidence of caravan’s presence
  3. Communal breakfast of questionably prepared mushrooms
  4. Discovery of mysterious château
  5. Doors open automatically as party approaches

Character Moments

  • Hawthorne reveals her bardic nature and extensive drinking history
  • Selnove demonstrates deep gnome enthusiasm for mushroom preparation
  • Grok shows motherly/grandmotherly tendencies with food sharing
  • Thal maintains cautious oversight of group

Important NPC Interactions

N/A - No NPCs encountered this session

Relationship Web

graph TD
    Thal[Thal - Cautious Leader] --> |Tries to protect| Hawthorne[Hawthorne - Chaotic Bard]
    Selnove[Selnove - Deep Gnome Chef] --> |Shares food with| Grok[Grok - Grandmotherly Cleric]
    Grok --> |Rewards with meat| Selnove

Emotional Highlights

  • Comedic tension around Selnove’s mushroom preparation
  • Hawthorne’s dramatic hungover revelation
  • Thal’s protective instinct kicking in at château entrance
  • Group bonding over shared meals

Narrative Consequences

  • Party separated from caravan and resources
  • Mysterious château discovery suggests supernatural elements
  • Group dynamic establishing through food sharing and protection

Player-Specific Notes

Thal

  • Hired as caravan guard
  • Maintains skeptical approach
  • Shows protective instincts toward party

Hawthorne

  • Coming off two-week drinking bender
  • Carries mysterious lute-like instrument
  • Attempts to use charm when approaching château

Selnove

  • Enthusiastic but simple-minded cook
  • Focused on cooking implements
  • Forms bond with Grok over food

Grok

  • Grandmotherly figure
  • Carries barrel backpack
  • Uses cooking implements as weapons

Notable Quotes

  • Hawthorne: “A fucking two week bender, and I don’t even fucking know where I’m at.”
  • Selnove: “I found it!” (presenting the recovered rolling pin with great ceremony)
  • Grok: “Everyone together, everybody eats.”
  • Thal: “Listen, we were supposed to go west…”

Cliffhanger/Unresolved Questions

  • What happened to the caravan?
  • Why are there no tracks?
  • What awaits inside the château?
  • Why did the doors open on their own?

Next Time

Party faces decision about entering the mysterious château. Will need to:

  • Determine if entrance is safe
  • Decide formation/approach
  • Search for signs of caravan
  • Investigate château’s nature

Graph View