A ragtag group of wanderers, all while travelling independently, have come together as they trek through the wilds between Darokin and Karameikos. To this point, nothing has dared challenge a group of this size and the going has been relatively easy. Between the lack of molestation and using a light, disused animal path (that may have at one time been a road, based on the width and relative smoothness of the trail) has made the travel rather pleasant. As the group comes down from the mountain and into a valley of rolling hills between two of the ranges, the party is stopped by a Leprechaun who beseeches the party for their help – His brother has been kidnapped, and will likely be tortured or killed!
They discuss, and after doing some due diligence (checking the immediately surrounding area for an ambush, discussing whether or not they can afford the distraction as they head to Threshold, etc.) the party agrees to help. The Leprechaun leads them off the trail and deeper into the wood stopping short of an odd clearing – one devoid of trees, shrubs, etc. Here, the party observes what he has said to be true – Two highwaymen have a small campsite, and are busy poking and taunting at another tiny man in a wicker cage, the other Leprechaun.
The party sets up strategically around the clearing and campsite, and Obsidian the Dwarven Paladin and Ivor the Half-Orc’n Barbarian step forward into the clearing to ask the highwaymen what is going on and what their intention is with the small man they have caged. Protecting their “prize”, they step in front of the cage and posture threateningly hoping to drive off the goody two-shoes.
Magic crackles through the air from areas outside the thick brush & brambles… and fizzles at the edge of the clearing. A fierce melee ensues as the party rushes in to fight. During the fight, Brutus was able to muscle open one of the bars of the cage in a bid to free the Leprechaun mid-battle (quite a feat for the little Gnome!), but wasn’t quite able to open it fully. The highwaymen were outclassed, but the larger of the highwaymen put his sword through Ivor before the end of the battle, dropping him to the ground (all the while getting pierced by Evra the Half-Elven Cleric’s arrow, and taking a thumping from Obsidian’s hammer and shield). The smaller of the highwaymen didn’t fare as well. The Elven Ranger Anore, brandishing two swords in a flashy display of technique, had him completely mesmerized (or was it terrified?) while Cale, a human who has yet to show any profession to his fellow travelers, broke the man’s rib using his staff and the Dark Elf known as Aeron deftly ran him through with his rapier.
Having safely reunited the Leprechaun brothers, this band of former strangers and travelers – brought together by fate, destiny, or just dumb luck – have together earned the good will and enduring respect of the Treemoss Leprechaun clan! When the Leprechauns got home, the entire clan was so overwhelmed with the generosity and kindness of this group of strangers (to both help the reckless Leprechaun, and not demand payment or attempt to reveal the secret location of the Treemoss clan), they returned to the party with the biggest and best treasure they have. It’s a magical fire-poker that they find too large to use, and since it’s so big it must be their best item!