On a bright spring day in Strefyr, the town gathered for the annual Felling Festival , commemorating the legendary tale of Gwilym Vaughn, who allegedly slew an owlbear during the town’s early years. The celebration unfolded on the grassy banks of the river, near the scar where the mountainside collapsed a century ago, severing Strefyr from the kingdom beyond. The festival drew a vibrant and diverse crowd — Humans, Rakashans, Half-orcs, Barkborn and others mingled freely. Festival goers competed in log racing, wood chopping, apple bobbing, and caber tossing, all building toward the main event: Gwilym’s Gauntlet.

Laughter and music filled the air. The Bran Family’s cider tent and the monastery’s wine stand proved popular, while a lone Dwarf offered dangerously strong liquor from a crate. Nearby, tents offered curiosities and cloth goods. Thalandir and Harriet commissioned Flossy the Gnome seamstress to tailor cloaks for their unusual needs. Gonzo the Gnome sampled the Dwarf’s brew and promptly regretted it — the drink hit like a felled tree. Satina the Rakashan met Ivanek the peddler of curios and took interest in the finer daggers. Harriet entered the woodchop and won a hand-axe, along with a new nickname.

The party spotted a sorrowful owlbear in a cage, guarded by a Dwarf and a Half-orc. Gonzo tried to free it, but only managed to fuse and weaken the lock. Sensing something was amiss, the Dwarf stomped off to fetch reinforcements. The Half-orc turned out to be Korger, whom Harriet had been urged to speak with about her past — specifically, an old caravan attack from which she was the sole survivor. Korger mentioned that old Kraga lived across the river near The Fall, and might know more.

A memorial anthem to Gwilym Vaughn was performed from the main stage — well sung, but heavy on propaganda. Gonzo found it overly exaggerated. It became clear the festival celebrated the @Vau and the town’s working folk, with little sign of the ruling Madoc family, who seemed distant from Strefyr’s daily life.

During the caber toss Thalondir noticed one of the cabers was made from a semi sentient being called a Rootkin. This led to learning of The Sawmill, which also piqued Gonzo's interest. As they made to leave, the owlbear broke free through the weakened cage lock, and despite attempts to get through the panicking crowd to variously subdue or kill the beast, it fled. The scene had turned to chaos.