This journal is for a ragtag group of adventurers who through strange circumstances have found themselves together battling the evils of the Realms in the year of 1479. I will try and remember everything that has happened up to the present, but I hope that the players and characters will remind of important omissions.
And now for the current cast:
Arutha - Dragonborn Paladin
Galfaeydryn - Human Fighter
Halenthantalquillious (Hal)- Elven Ranger
Orenthal - Halfling Warlord
Steinheart - Dragonborn Rogue
Members who have already gone from us:
Arrowyn - Eladrin Wizard
Sampsa - Human Barbarian
Taralilia - Eladrin Cleric
Zayne - Human Wizard
Date: Unknown
Chapter 1: Kobold Hall
Our story starts at the crossroads. Hal was heading to Fallcrest in search of adventure and fame. Before he could arrive, he encountered a group of orc bandits, and combat was started. Arutha, Steinheart, and Taralilia were coming from the over direction when they saw the Elf overwealmed by the orcs. Taralilia, being the implusive teenager she was, quickly rushed to help. The battle was soon fulling involved. The adventurers were able to dispatch the orcs with some minor problems. The Elf thought it best to join up with the trio and off to Fallcrest they went.
In Fallcrest they learned that a group of Kobolds were ransacking the village and stealing from caravans coming and going to Fallcrest. They adventurers were hired by Lord Warden Faren Markelhay. They are promised a bounty of 10 gps for each kobold killed and 100 gps if they bring proof that the ruins have been cleared out. The adventurers headed out.
Reaching the Kobold Hall was not a problem, but just as they entered they were attacked by a group of Kobolds. The battle wore on the adventurers and a couple were even knocked out, if only slightly. But they were victorious. After the battle, they checked out the area and Steinheart (not being the brightest) stuck his sword in the sludge pit and touched the sludge and was rewarded with some acid burns to his face. After a short rest, the group decided to move deeper into the hall.
The party enters a room with four tombs and 3 more Kobolds. As the party approaches, darts are shot out of the statues on the find, “A TRAP!!!!” shouts Steinheart, as he quickly works to disable it. While the rest of the party deals with the kobolds.
The part continued on, and discovered a strange room with a pit of sludge surrounded by coffins. Atop a ledge were more kobolds with a rock attached to a rope. Gleefully, the kobolds swung the rock and hit the members of the party. But the party was too smart and Taralilia worked to jump up on the ledge and dispatch the kobolds, while Hal worked with is bow to take out the other one. Arutha and Steinheart opened the door and were attacked by two drakes. The monsters were no match for the party and were subdued.
The party had reached the end of the journey and returned back to Fallcrest. But before they could return, the party was intercepted by a wizard named Zayne and he informed them that important things were happening in Brindol. So the party immediately left for the town.
Unknown start ends on Tarsakh 7, 1479
Rescue at Rivenroar and new Worlds
The group continues to the town of Brindol. There they seek rest at a local bar. While resting, Hobgoblins break down the door and attack everyone in the place. The group decides it best to protect the people, and work to get rid to this surprise attack. A hard fought battle later, they final defeat the last Hobgoblin. After a short rest, they hear an explosion outside. Going outside they find an Ogre pulling a cart with two more hobgoblins shooting arrows of flame at the buildings and essentially trying to destroy the town.
The party defends the town and after a hard fight, final are able to defeat the Ogre and Hobgoblins. The town has been secured and is safe. Councilman Eoffram Troyas calls them into his office. He explains to them, that many of the townspeople have been kidnapped and museum artifacts from a previous war were stolen. He hires the party to go and find where the hobgoblins are coming from and rescue the people and recover the artifacts. The party then proceeds to interrogate a hobgoblin that was captured.
The party manages to get the information about the location of where the hobgoblins, the abandoned ruins of Rivenroar.
The party gets to Rivenroar and are confronted with guards at the entrances. The party defeats them and decides to take an extended rest. That morning, the party discovers that Zayne has mysteriously vanished, but they find an Eladrin wizard named Arrowyn wondering through the area. The party continues on, trying to find the prisoners and the artifacts. Through numerous battles and searching, the party manages to find two people, however, each of them had assumed room temperature. The party heads back to Brindol with this sad news and to allow the town to mourn those that have died.
The party heads back to Rivenroar, and while heading up to an area they thought was secured, find a human fighter on guard. Galfaeydryn stands guard. The party talks with him and discover that Galfaeydryn’s party died in one of the rooms with a prisoner in it. The party attempts to free her, but are attacked by Animated Statues. The party is able to defeat the statues and free the prisoners. They also free two other prisoners. The freed townspeople make way for the exit, as the party continues to search for the artifacts stolen by the hobgoblins.
Finding the artifacts, they pick them and the room starts to rumble and fall apart. Some don’t make it and find themselves trapped in a tapestry. The other make it to the room with the tapestry and encounter a group. The Dragonborn are told they are not a part of this world. A battle begins, those stuck find themselves freed to attack. When the battle is over, the images of the tapestry change. They see gods and goddesses. The tapestry zooms in on a god sneaking up and killing another goddess. This is the image of Cyric killing Mystra. The room fills with wild magic and they see the images fast forward what appears to be 100 years. The image in the tapestry slows down until it stops of a scene of a totally alien landscape. The party leaves Rivenroar, only to find the area different than the last time they entered. They manage to make it to a town. When they get there, they learn they have traveled to a different land to the world of Toril and find themselves outside the town of New Breen.
The Findings and Losing of Steinheart
Tarsakh 8, 1479 - Tarsakh 11, 1479
After spending the day getting familiar with this new land, Steinheart receives a letter stating that he can learn the truth about his mother and that she is still alive (He was brought up to believe that she died at birth). Heading to the tavern without telling the rest of the party, Steinheart seeked out the person who could give him the truth.
Meanwhile, the rest of the party worried, especially Taralilia, set out to find Steinheart. Taralilia and Arutha went to the local market and found a muffin man to talk to. He had not seen the Dragonborn in question, but did warn them that recently many caravans and travelers were attacked by Dragonborns and to be careful where they walked and what they said. With this warning they went back to the inn to wait for word on Steinheart.
Steinheart went to the tavern and met with a strange person cloak and only showing a little of the bronze skin. The conversation led to Steinheart learning his mother was alive and on this new world. This revelation startled Steinheart. Also through the conversation, He was able to get a map of the Akanapeaks, and the entrance to his mother’s lair. The stranger got up and left, leaving Steinheart to ponder the situation. As Steinheart followed the stranger out, he never saw the person again, but felt a strange wind blow past him. With this information, he knew he would need the party to help find his mother. So he went back and told them about a map that told him of a treasure that could be found.
The next day they set out for the Akanapeaks. The journey was tough, the party managed to find a clearing and with a successful search check, were able to find a small entrance. Wondering into the forest they encounter a Carrion Crawler, but before anything could happen, they ran into the cave escaping the dangerous creature. Travel through the caves was tough, but they managed to find an entrance room and in this room were some Homunculuses. The Iron Cobras struck out and attacked the party, defending the room, while the iron defenders stayed near the chest. Steinheart eying the chest went over to it and was immediately attacked by them. The battle fought hard, and the adventurers were victorious. A short rest later, the party entered a large chamber and at the far end was an ancient female bronze dragon.
Steinheart learned that he was created through corrupted bronze dragon eggs to be create as a servant to the Chromatics and The Dragon Cult. Only through some weird circumstances that still have not been explained, he was sent to another realm to be brought up away from this evil. Before they could learn more, a black dragon, a follower of Tiamet, soared down and struck the bronze dragon in a critical area and killed her. Enraged, Steinheart drew his shortsword and charged to attack.
With the battle engaged, the dragon cast darkness over the area. This did not deter Steinheart. Overcome with rage with the death of his mother, after only finding her, looked deep within himself and was able to recharge his dragonbreath. But even this didn’t help much. The battle looked bleak and without being able to see the dragon, Arutha proposed a retreat.
Sensing victory, the black dragon emerged from the darkness to pursue the adventurers, but he was defeated as the party charged into attack.
The group decides to rest here for the night. In the morning, they discover that both dragons have magically disappeared, going off the to great dragon war in the sky.
The group decides to continue to explore the caves to see what else they can find. Perhaps more about this Dragon Cult, and what is going on with the Dragonborn.
I am eager to read the rest of the recap...quite an undertaking you've undertaken. I wonder if there is a way to post the most recent adventure and then backpost the events previous to that?
I am eager to read the rest of the recap...quite an undertaking you've undertaken. I wonder if there is a way to post the most recent adventure and then backpost the events previous to that?
I could post the current adventures first and then run backwards from there, but since I am also trying to keep track of the current date of the adventures, this is easier. I was going to post the next one (Death of a Friend) but new computer took over.
One Returns; Another Leaves
Tarsakh 12, 1479
The party wakes up the next day to find that both dragons have disappeared from this realm. They agree to continue to explore the caves. While journeying through a tight section, they are ambushed by some chokers. The party is able to get rid of them with little trouble. Although they notice that Taralilia is pouting. Arutha feels that it is his duty to protect her, and stays with her. Meanwhile the rest of the party enters a large chamber with doors to the north and west. The party minus Taralilia and Arutha continue through the doors to the north. Taralilia, still pouting, sits down in the chamber. But then decides to head off to the doors in the west. (Great worst nightmare for a DM, the party splits up. They do this often). Arutha follows.
Taralilia and Arutha set off a trap and are soon swarmed by snakes. They manage to kill the snakes, but not before the snakes are able to inflict some damage. Continuing around this series of rooms, they find a tiled floor. On some of the floors, they see faces on them. Taralilia steps on one of the tiles without a face and starts to sink in. Arutha manages to save her. They step on one with a face and nothing happens. Taralilia, being impulsive steps on the blank tile again, but this time Arutha is unable to save her and she becomes incased in a tile trap. Arutha then decides to go get the rest of the party.
Meanwhile, the other members of the party are exploring the chamber, which is man made, they manage to find a book room with a couple of rituals for the casters (which are now useless). Steinheart kept journeying alone (great three splits, maybe I should kill all the characters). Arrowyn, Hal, and Gal find Arutha and he explains what happened to Taralilia.
They return to the trap, minus Steinheart. The group decides to break a tile with no face on it. It shatters, revealing the ground below. They shatter a tile with a face, and find a human male trapped for over 100 years. They then proceed to free the other 2 people and Taralilia. The people are blind and have been trapped for over 100 years. The party recommends they stay here safe and they will be back to help them get to a village (They never did go back to save the people).
Meanwhile, Steinheart encounters a mage and his followers. The mage asks him to join his cause and destroy the adventurers. The dragonborn thinks it over as the party approaches, but not before Arutha and Arrowyn head off in a different direction (Gee Whiz can’t this party stay together). Arutha did find a group of dragonborns digging for an artifact that could cause problems.
The others find Steinheart eating at a table with the mage, who reveals himself to be Zayne. Words are spoken and a battle begins. Before long Zayne teleports out, leaving the party to his followers. The battle is long, but finally Arutha and Arrowyn appear and the tide begins to turn. But not without problems. Taralilia is knocked out.
She is unable to recover in time and no one was able to get to her to save her before she assumed room temperature.
As the party takes a rest, they find themselves one member short and an old party member reappearing, trying to kill them. It is agreed that after the rest the party will take down the dragonborn dig site.
Dragonborn Temple
Tarsakh 13, 1479
The party takes an extended rest before continuing on. As the party followings Arutha, leaving Arrowyn with the deceased Taralilia. As they continued down the hall, Steinheart noticed a secret door. Checking the door, they encounter a set of rooms designed for resting and a storage area. Unfortatenly, the bedrooms were occupied and a battle between the heroes and the soldiers was started. Without thinking, one member opened a door revealing some drakes guarding the room and more creatures attacked the party.
The party did manage to dispatch the guards, and even got a mage to surrender to them. They also found a trapdoor heading down, further into what would be a temple. The party hid the trapdoor and set out to stop the dragonborns, that Arutha discovered the previous night, from digging up evidence of Tiamet. Soon the battle erupted. The dragonborns were no match for the party and they were quickly defeated. The one small snag was that as Hal went to engage the combat, the mage took of running for safer grounds. After the fight, the party discovered he had left and quickly went after him. They found that the boxes were thrown aside and the mage had opened the trapdoor and escaped.
The party followed, down the dark ladder. The ladder ended in a small room with a door at the other end. Opening the door revealed a large room with double doors on each of the four walls. The first door they went through, they found a teifling ordering some kobolds to store eggs next to a furnace to warm them up for the final conversion. The party battled this group and defeated them. Gwendalfyn (Gwen for short), started to destroy the eggs before Arutha interrupted and let it be known these are good dragon eggs and should not be destroyed. The next door they went through was tapped and a pit opened up on Arutha and Steinheart. Both managed to reach the other side without a problem, but were trapped on that side. What they saw were two sickly looking dragonborns caged up at either end of the hall.
As Steinheart released on of the deranged dragonborns, he was attacked by it. Soon the other was banging on its cage and ripped open the cell door and attacked. With only Arutha and Steinheart in the battle, things looked bleak.
The two heroes know only battle and were able to destroy the poor deranged dragonborns and get back across the pit. They rested for 5 minutes while the others looked into another room. The party discovered several vats with dragonborns emergin from them. They also spotted more people overseeing the process. The fight was quick and painful. Arutha, sensing that the party was having problems, stopped resting and helped the party out. With Arutha’s help, the tide was turned and the party was victourous.
With one door left, the party decided to check it out. What they found was a barbarian trapped in a magical cell. They defiantely needed Steinheart and his trap and open lock skills. But when they looked for him, he was gone (presumably back upstairs). Also, Arutha decided to investigate the weapons of the unknown barbarian. When Hal approached the cell, the Barbarian (who we shall name Sampsa), cowered back. Touching the runes, a radiant light exploded out damaging several around the area, including Sampsa. Gwen decided to try and shoot the runes with an arrow, same thing happened but only Sampsa took damage (the others knew to stand back, but Sampsa had no where to go). Finally, the party decided to find Steinheart (oh Arutha was still trying to identify the magical weapons). Hal returns with Steinheart and he attempts to disable the trap, but fails, and sets it off again. Several more attempts finds Sampsa unconscious and still trapped. The party finally disables the trap only to find Sampsa dead. (for more on the curse of Sampsa read up on Something Rotten in Nyrond campaign journal).
The party emerged from the room and were confronted by the mage and the leader of the temple (also several minions). A battle ensued, Arutha wanted the mage dead and unleashed a powerful daily attack upon him. Killing him. The battle was over at the party was victourous. Both Arutha and Gwen tell the party to head back up into the main room while they take care of some business. They go back into the room with the vats and dump them over destroying the liquid used to make the dragonborn.
The party all gathers up in the main dining room were they find Arrowyn dead next to Taralilia. The party doesn’t worry about it, more concerned with catching Zayne. The party members each touch the orbs that Zayne used to teleport out and find it dark. When their vision returns, they are knocked out only to awaken in cells with weapons, items and armor stripped from them…
Prison Escape
Tarsakh 15, 1479
Two days have past since the party was knocked out, they don’t seem to remember much of what has happened, but Arutha finds himself awakened in a cell. He shouts out to the rest of the party. They answer, and look out of the barred doors, can catch a glimpse of two cells. They also hear strange sounds from another cell. First the meowing of a cat, and then a strange attempt at sounding like each of the party members. Tired of this communication, Arutha, using all his strength busts out of his cell. He then breaks Steinheart out, and then proceeds to move silently to retrieve their weapons. Steinheart, meanwhile, gets all the doors and meets a new partner, Orenthal the Halfling.
Arutha tries to move silently through the prison area, but as he looks around the corner he spots several guards. Unfortunately, they see him also, and a chase ensues. HE leads them back to the party and a fight begins. The unarmed party fights valiantly, even trying to grab the weapons of the guards. But without weapons the battle would have been a slaughter, had the guards not have instructions to keep them alive.
Back in the cells, the party again is without resources. The leader has instructed his people to stand guard in the cell area to ward against another break out. Days past without much going on. Our party is fed, but not allowed out of the cells. Until one night darkness overcomes the entire area. The party is awakening to a loud scream and Arutha hears a clanging sound inside his cell. When the light magically comes back, Arutha finds the cell keys in his room. Upon opening up his cell, he discovers one guard turned to stone and the other turned to dust. He then proceeds to let everyone out. They go together through the prison, and find themselves across from two doors.
The party decides to open the right door, and find more guards cowering in the area. The guards try to act brave and order the party back to the cells, but they are going to have no of that. A battle ensues. Steinheart and Hal decide to check out the other room and find a treasure chest. Opening the chest and set of whirling blades attack Steinheart. Orenthal, who is a warlord and commander in battle works to guide everyone for a favorable outcome. Hal and Steinheart manage to get the weapons to the party. Steinheart notices his Poisoned Short Sword is missing. With weapons in hand the battle is quickly over and the guards surrender.
The party questions the guards and they learn that a female named Tika hired them to guard the party. They also learn they are now in the small town of Loudwater. The guards don’t know why they were being held here. The party ties up the guards and set out through a secret door into the sewers under the town.
Winding through the sewers, the party gets lost and is surprised by an otyugh. The battle is hard fought as the creature grabs at the party and infects them with Filth Fever. But the party does manage to kill the creature and set out again to find the exit to the sewers. They set down and examine their surroundings to see the best plan of escape. Unfortunately, a couple of vicejaw crocodiles have other plans. The party tries to fight them in the water, Arutha is grabbed by the jaws of one crocodile, and Orenthal has to tread water to do anything. The battle is difficult, but the party does manage to defeat the creatures.
After a brief rest and more examining the surroundings, the party sets out and finds a ladder leading up. As Steinheart opens the grate and looks around, he spots his short sword. However, it is next to a dead body and dripping in blood. The others step out and see this scene, just as the town guards show up (just like in every other set up). The town guards (not the same as the prisoners). Ask questions and take the party in for further questioning for murders that have been taking place. And several witnesses describing the different party members (even Taralilia and Arrowyn both of whom are dead).
The party tells the town what happened and points them in the direction of the underground prison. The guards return with the thugs (guards) tied up and say they know nothing of the murders and were just told to keep the party held prisoner.
With this information the town judge, allows the party out to find this killer (if they are real). The party checks out different areas and gathers some information. They learn that Tika is behind this and she is a red-head female possibly a shape changer of some sort. The party meets Marsh Laval, a Halfling and owner of the Green Tankard Tavern. He explains what he knows and will help Orenthal in any way he can.
Hal, Arutha, and Steinheart come out of Fisher’s Friend Pub to see a red-head town the street. The chase is on. She rounds a corner and as the trio round that corner only sees an elderly lady moving quickly out of the ally. They grab the lady and accuse her of being Tika. The lady shouts out and Steinheart takes off deeper into the ally and searches and finds a secret door leading into a building. Meanwhile, Hal and Arutha are in the ally when the town guards show up. The guards ask what is going on and Arutha tries to say this is the woman that set up the murders (pointing to the old lady knocked out by Hal). The guards tell them to lay down their weapons and surrender. A brief battle begins, with Arutha and Hal attacking first. After reinforcements show up the duo surrender and are arrested for attempted kidnapping, resisting arrest, and murder.
In Search of Truth
Tarsakh 17, 1479
After spending a day in prison, both Hal and Arutha have strange dreams. They are also informed, as well as the rest of the party that the trial will take place in five days (Tarsakh 22). With Arutha and Hal out and Steinheart falling ill, it was left to Orenthal and Gwen to gather evidence to help free their friends.
Orenthal had received a letter from Marsh Laval regarding something he has seen at the Green Tankard Tavern. Orenthal went that morning and spoke with Marsh. Marsh told him that he had managed to locate the house were the read-headed girl (known as Tika was). With this information, Gwen and Orenthal went there posing as door to door salesmen, selling equipment to help a fallen hero. They worked other houses before trying the target house. When they knocked on the door, it opened without any problems. They walked in and found the small house dusty and appeared to be abandoned. When they entered the kitchen, they saw a door leading to the cellar, and sounds coming through the door. Cautiously, they went down the stairs.
In the cellar the duo encountered a necromancer and his undead creations. And battle ensued. The duo was able to come out victorious, and while searching the cellar, found a note from Tika directing the necromancer to report to a burnt out schoolhouse in the neighboring town of Zelbross. They also found a book detailing the set up and pictures of each member of the party for Tika to mimic. 2 days away.
The duo purchased two horses to make the journey easier and headed out. The next two days were uneventful, and the duo found themselves out side of Zelbross. They asked the guards about the schoolhouse and even pretended to be a professor in search of reopening the school. The guard was happy to hear about this and directed them to were the school was. The guard had not heard of a red-headed girl. They decided to enjoy the night and found a tavern with rooms and settled in for the night.
The quiet night was not quiet for long as the Fighter and Warlord decided to have a little fun and found a couple of women who they could have fun with. Thus not a quiet night, but enjoyable.
That morning with the ladies having taken their leave, Orenthal and Gwen searched out the school house. They found it without much trouble, thanks to the guard and proceed to enter. What they found was an ambush as two brutes, an arcane caster, and hidden between the desks, a dire rat. The battle was without problems. The duo attacked the caster and worked to take him out of the battle. Gwen used tide of iron to push the caster into one of the holes in the floor. They then worked on the brutes. The dire rat took bites out of both of them. These bites resulted in both members getting Filth Fever. The battle was over and the pair was victourious. They found a letter from Tika saying to report back to Loudwater after dealing with the party. Back to Loudwater they went. Two days later they found themselves back in Loudwater for the Trial.