The Runic Wood 36 // The Way to the Drune

27 Feb, 2026

Session 36

Adventurers

Caspian Burl, Noble. Wants Revenge for his dead brother and then retire with a family.
Breagle Burl, Mercenary. Uncle of Caspian. Wants mastery in battle.

10th of Bright, Dry season. Pleasant sunshine.

Breagle bought more of Gibbet’s gift from Ol’ Toby and smoked it with him. Toby told him of recent goatkin attacks and that a large garrison of the Baron of the East has set up camp in the eastern hills with giants.
Caspian went to Martha for herbs and wrappings to preserve his dead brother’s body.
He told her of his noble family. Aragon Burl was his father and Aylnn Burl his mother.
After their report to Sir Ogden of the Alekeep, he offers them a noble’s stay in the Keep along with an offer for them to fight with the new mercenary company he has hired (The Silver Spike Company) against goatkin incursions. They passed but they said they might in the future.
Caspian threw some dice against the local dandy. After winning, he got to know Mika (Resident of Alekeep. Long black hair. Hates jerks. “You’re better.”) He gave her a simple string bracelet when they left next morning. “Please be safe.”
Breagle fought a fist fight with “Lil’ Devil” and nearly got his eyes gouged. Ultimately, he won after body slamming the lil’ guy.
That night Fallow questioned them. She revealed her Drune identity after they shared that they were against the Bat Lord Zubeck and gave them what they needed to return Reidoth’s body to the Drune in the wood.
- Owl Rod (stick with owl head at the end. wand/idol of the Drune)
- Sense Spellbook

11th of Bright, Dry season. Pleasant cool breeze.

Morning Watch. Event: exhaustion.

The party set out from the wooden palisade onto the main road. Where it veered off into the misty Runic Wood they paused to eat and think over Fallow’s words.
Breagle cast the Sense spell on the Owl Rod and could see its copy over a mantle.

Breagle: “Northwards.”

Following an old pilgrims’ path marked by star stones, they could see an overgrown Cloister in the distance. They continued on.

Afternoon Watch. Event: Encounter.

Past an ancient elfkind shrine and the mountain of Zubeck’s lair, they came upon a sprung trap. A dead goatkin with bat wings hung upside down by a rope, its throat cut.

Caspian: Drune trap. We must be cautious.

Evening Watch. Event: Loss.

A rock cleft provided enough cover for their horses and themselves that night. Caspian stays up for the watch, allowing Breagle to fully recover his fatigue.
At dawn, worms were discovered in their rations. They were out of food.

12th Bright, Dry Season. Sunlight tingling their skin.

Morning Watch. Event: Discovery.

Breagle casted the spell again and they continued.
In the distance a large dirt and rock mound could be seen with creatures flying in and out of it.
To their left a group of Goatkin ran through the woods, not noticing them towards the mound.
They crept up close and Breagle let loose an arrow into the top of the mound.
Two bat-winged goatkin flew down at them as they galloped away and a small combat ensued.
- Breagle shot two arrows, maiming them.
- Caspian threw his hammer to no avail.
- One was struck in the heart by one of Breagle’s shafts.
- The other took an arrow to the back of its skull before it could harm Caspian.
Just a bit further (an hour or two) was a small clearing with two round cottages with thatch tops sunken into the ground.Breagle: This is the place.
Two 2ft clay golem guys came running up to them. One hugged Breagle’s horse leg, and the other hopped up on Caspian’s horse mounting it in front of him.
The mist cleared, and behind the cottage stood a human with a deer head mask with massive antlers. Goloksadin.
They spoke with him and gave him Reidoth’s body which he was grateful for.
At his Owl throne carved from a 10ft tall tree stump, he proposed to them a quest.

Goloksadin: Erect the 6 Runestones of the Runic Wood and fully banish Zubeck and its fey kin.

This is the beginning of a short campaign in which we will finish the first campaign a group of us started in Cairn 1e and then 2e. It is heavily inspired by the Wormskin Zines of Dolmenwood and Norse mythology.
Cairn is so much easier than DURF to run. Less dice rolls. No little maths. I still love DURF, but man. Cairn just works.