Session 13: Ghouls, More Ghouls, and a Friendly Face

After inspecting the cracked skull and ensuring the immediate threat was over, the group took inventory of their singed belongings and considered their next steps.

Session 12: Death And Flames In Wave Echo Cavern

The group slept uneasily in the cavern as the rhythmic thunder of pounding waves echoed all around them, loud enough to make the stone underfoot shiver. But their sleep would not last long.

Session 11: Surprises on the Way to Wave Echo Cavern

After overcoming the hobgoblin ambush at the edge of Neverwinter Woods, the group went back to deal with the trail of bodies.

Session 10: Ambushed Again

With Gundren revived, the group was wrapping things up at the castle and planning their next move.

PC: Julious Foragain

Dead human male druid.

As a young boy, I was raised by poor traders in a small town. Sometimes they traveled to make ends meet. Occasionally they would bring me with them, but often I was left to fend for myself. I never really got along with people and felt more at home among the animals in the woods. As I grew older I spent more time in the woods until I decided never to return to civilization. Eventually I was approached by the keepers of the woods, the druids of The Emerald Enclave. They took me in as one of their own, but also they left me to my own business, enjoying the solace of nature.

Letter to Ma 4

916 Ikinampu 10

We decided to investigate the slavers and we brought Suffereact with us. We scouted the house and rescued Bellerophon from a slave purchaser. Then we returned to the slaver house and rescued two more slaves: Sufferact’s friend Wolfgang and a human named Charlie Hawthorne. We went back to the slave purchaser who we had tied in the woods. His name was Olin, and he said he need the slaves to run his farm, or the Haybill corporation would burn it down. We returned to his farm with jima and freed ten more slaves, who were eager to flee the area.

916 Ikinampu 11

We stayed the night with Olin and his family. We advised him to do his best on the farm for the next 5 months, and if we didn’t return, he should take what he can and flee the area. Hopefully we’ll be able to return in 5 months, before the Haybill corporation returns.

Sufferact and Wolfgang went on their way, but Charlie Hawthorne decided to join us. We all went into town together. We updated Isaac about the slavers and we purchased chainmail armor and a mace for Charlie. We used the swords we retrieved from the slavers to offset the costs.

John told us that new orders came in, and we headed back to Fort Guardian.

916 Ikinampu 12

We headed out to Umbria in the morning, and arrived midday. When we got to our room, it had been vandalized with a Shou message inscribed in the walls. It said “You cannot live this way. We are coming to get you.” It looks like they’re after me again. But this time I’ll be ready for them.

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Session 9: Saving Gundren

With King Grol and all his minions defeated, the group began to prepare their next steps.

PC: Albrecht Engelhart

Half-elf male bard/warlock.

As a young boy, I was raised by a very powerful gentry family in the large city of Neverwinter. My mother was an elf, and my father was a human, and despite the relationship between elves and humans, my mom and dad got along fine. The story I’ve been told is that a godlike figure brought them together and said that this was a destined meeting. They got married two weeks later and began preparing to have a child. The life that was provided to me as being the only child of a noble family was one of time and freedom. I was able to pursue whatever skills I desired. I quickly picked up on the art of social manipulation and economic theory, which lead to my outstanding abilities as a merchant, and conman. One day, however, our manor was raided by bandits and chaos was sewn throughout the lands we owned.

Session 8: Cragmaw Castle Ambush

A few minutes after Ivor entered the castle, the group decided to enter after him. Unfortunately, from the edge of the surrounding wood, no one heard the ringing of the alarm bells being sounded from within.

Session 7: Stalkings To Cragmaw Castle

With all of the hobgoblins down, and one spared, the group considered their next steps before continuing to Cragmaw Castle.

Session 6: Departures and Heading North

Having just defeated Glasstaff and his minions in the Redbrand Hideout the group quickly descended into an argument about what to do next.

Letter to Ma 3

916 Ikinampu 8

Later that day we arrived back at Fort Guardian. I took John to the general and we reported our success. They healed John at the infirmary. Tomorrow we will receive another mission.

916 Ikinampu 9

Ursula, the paladin, gave us our next mission: to investigate goblinoid disturbances in the town Renabow in Pensar, about three hours away.

Upon entering the town, Maric was attacked by Crazy Mike, a merchant outside town. Maric killed him with a catapult of gold pieces.

Isaac, the town master mentioned multiple issues:
• Freedom Fighting force
• Brawling over town
• Goblins
• Strange house to the east

Isaac was glad to be rid of Crazy Mike.

We followed the Sinwin River north for about 10 minutes to find the gobins. We encountered eight of them and a warg. We had a tough battle and Dragart and Maric almost fell. Among the goblins was Sufferact, a wolf mage. He was a fan of Lia and helped us defeat the last of the goblins. He told us of slavers in the town of Renabow. His friend Wolfgang is enslaved.

Sufferact led us to ruins told to have healing powers. Once there Maric regained consciousness. In the ruins we found a scroll with scroll with a poem about a golden sword. Isaac found us in the ruins and suggested we investigate Crazy Mike’s hut.

We went back to Crazy Mike’s hut and found  a pouch of 20 GPs and a letter about the rise and fall of the Bretentius’ house. We also found a hidden hatch in the floor leading down to a tunnel.

We investigated Crazy Mike’s cart and we found a potion inside. Brententius identified it as a potion of healing. We followed the trail of Crazy Mike’s blood back to town and into a weaponsmith shop. Inside we found Isaac and the weaponsmith. Apparently they cremated Crazy Mike there. While there we purchased two long swords for Lia.

We decided to head back to Sufferact’s camp for the night.

916 Ikinampu 10

We rested for the night at Sufferact’s camp. In the middle of the night Lia woke me up, alerting me to voices outside our camp. We woke Brententius and investigated. They said they were the owners of the land, specifically a nearby farm. We told them we didn’t want any trouble and that we would leave in the morning. They were concerned about Sufferact. We assured them there wouldn’t be any more trouble. They left and we went back to sleep.

In the morning we went back to Crazy Mike’s Hut with Sufferact. Sufferact stayed in the hut while we went down to investigate. We found tunnels leading to hideouts built into the trees. The hideouts contained storage areas and barracks. We stumbled across some Freedom Fighters and they attacked us. We were forced to kill many of them before we were confronted by their leader, General Ibragim. She refused to surrender, committing seppuku instead. The remaining Freedom Fighters, terrified of Maric’s magic, surrendered. They told us there were only a few Freedom Fighters left roaming around. Inside the hideout we found a letter to General Ibragim from Scout Omega Delta, and it was about us! They must have been the group we encountered in the woods. Apparently the wolf we killed was not their pet, and when they asked us if “we wanna tussle” it was code words. We also found a magic longsword, which we agreed Brentious should carry.

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Letter to Ma 2

916 Ikinampu 8

John told us we were assigned a mission to take out Karakana Knights. Of course we don’t know anything about them. John led us to the knight's hideout. As we were approaching, John slipped in some brush and sprained his leg, so we had to bring him back to the horses. The hideout was more like a cave. Inside the cave we found two rooms, each guarded by a glyph. Maric disabled the glyph, using his head, literally. Fortunately his impulsiveness did not get him or anyone else killed. In the first room we found a study with a lift, like the one in the jade temple, but not as fancy. We found the following interesting items:
• A letter from High Knight Jason de Ga to Knight Bellerophon
• A letter from Antallia to Bellerophon, maybe a love letter
• A journal entry, presumably from Bellerophon

While we were investigating we were attacked by a guard drake. I managed to put it down without anyone getting harmed.

In the other room we found a riddle. It contained three books, three statues, and three murals. One of each were incomplete. It was Lia who figured out what we needed to do. Using the clues from the mural and the format of the other books, I filled in the incomplete book. Then we were able to complete the final mural and statue. Solving this riddle gained us entry into the Knight’s holy coffer. There we found piles of treasure, but we left it untouched. (I think some of the others were reluctant to leave it.)

We went down the lift and soon met with the knights and their leader, Belltrilion. They seem to be an honorable band, more so than any other we have met so far. We agreed that they would hide out and we would report that we had completed our mission. They gave us 100 GP and suggested we take some specific items from the holy coffer to prove our success.

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Session 5: Confronting Glasstaff

The group slipped through the secret door to find a bedchamber with scarlet cloth drapes covering the walls. The furnishings included a comfortable-looking bed, a wooden chest at the foot of the bed, and a small writing desk with matching chair. Sitting at the desk was a short, dark-bearded human male in robes, studying a tome. He wore a princely mantle of ermine. Briefly startled, he looked up. "Ah my good gentlemen, please come in and join me," he said as he grabbed the beautiful glass staff that was leaning against his chair, to stand.

Session 4: Freeing Prisoners In The Redbrand Hideout

After the Redbrands in the barracks surrendered, the group moved further into their Hideout.

Session 3: Into The Redbrand Hideout

After being attacked by the Redbrands outside The Sleeping Giant, exploring their hideout under Tresendar Manor seemed like the next best step.

Letter to Ma 1: On the road in Akan's Reach far to the west

916 Ikinampu 6

Ma,

I just arrived in the city state of Pensar this morning. This area used to be a part of Akan’s Reach, but that empire fell two years ago. I arrived just in time to watch the “Festival of the Lost” parade down the main street of Pensar. As I was watching I saw an assassin shoot down the emperor right in the middle of the parade. I chased down the assassin and captured him. (It seems like I find trouble everywhere I go.) There were some other assassins as well, and I helped capture them, along with a few others I met. Along with the Pansar guards, we took the assassins to emperor’s building. It seems that the assassins were sent by Empire of Umbria, just to the north. They asked us to undertake a mission. (And you know I can never pass up a mission.) We are to travel to Fort Guardian in Umbria and join their militia in order to learn their intentions.

I doubt I will have much time to practice my drumming, since I’m trying to maintain a low profile. I’m hoping I can make enough money to buy a nice longbow. I really need the practice. I’m writing to you to keep up with my calligraphy. Obviously I won’t be able to show you this until I come back home.

916 Ikinampu 7

Traveling with me are Dragart Bretentious, a human knight, Maric Pulsivius, a half-elven sorcerer, and Lia Xiloscient, an elven ranger. They are on add bunch, but formidable allies. Dragart wavers between pompous and overly apologetic. He’s overly inquisitive and rigid about personal things. Somethings are the same the everywhere. Maric wavers between practically everything. He is quick to act, but not as quick to think. Lia, is probably my favorite. She is quiet, but competent.

We reached Fort Guardian. On the way we only encountered minor trouble. Some rebels in the woods let their pet wolf off the leash and it tried to attack our horses. They were upset that we put it down. Fortunately things did not escalate.

In Fort Guardian we met with our contact, John of Beverley. He led us into the fort and had us settle in.

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PC: Ang/Xiang Yang

Shou human monk

From Shou Lung, far to the east, where customs are unfamiliar to the folk of Akan. Longing for home, but as an outcast due to androgyny and inability to conceive, it is better to stay away. Among strangers, where everyone is foreign, it is less uncomfortable.

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Session 2: From Cragmaw Hideout to Phandalin

Having just defeated Klarg and all the goblins in the goblin cave, the group began to survey the area.

Session 1: Into Cragmaw Hideout

Having just defeated the goblins at the cave mouth, the group considered their next move.

Dead PC: Ivor the Great

Dead human male knight.

While passing through Phandalin, I was hired by Barthen to travel to Neverwinter to find out what was holding up Sildar Hallwinter and Gundren Rockseeker, who should have arrived days ago.

Session 0: From Neverwinter to Cragmaw Hideout

In the city of Neverwinter, the old warrior Sildar Hallwinter introduced the characters to his dwarf friend, Gundren Rockseeker. On Sildar's referral, Gundren hired them to escort a wagon of supplies to the village of Phandalin. The characters were to be paid 10 gp each by the owner of Barthen's Provisions in Phandalin upon safe delivery of the wagon to the trading post.

PC: Atilius Hummus Valentinus

Human male sage and wizard.

My family is no stranger to wealth, power, and privilege. In the glory days of Neverwinter, my parents were the count and countess of Corlinn Hill, a large estate located in the hills northeast of the city; however, disaster struck when Mount Hotenow erupted twenty-nine years ago, which devastated Neverwinter and erased Corlinn Hill from the map. As one of the few survivors of the devastating eruption, I was on the road at age eight. As a child, I was fascinated with maps and had a very keen mind; as a result, I was able to find my way to Triboar, a nearby town, with a map and a compass.

PC: Lee

Human male former soldier turned ranger.

Lee is just a really tough guy who just wants the best for others without people being ridiculous.

Born Angaid Comhan in the Neverwinter Woods, Lee’s life began with his mom, Fionn Buids, and his father, Grand Ciaran Comhan. His parents were both druids of the Emerald Enclave, and Lee was born next in line to be one of the clan council members. The clan council was made of three men and three women who voted on all issues of the Emerald Enclave and the family name Comhan had an important force in the council. Most of his life only involved discussing the basis of debate and the rare books on politics to prepare him for his council role, never allowing him to venture out into the woods or hunt for the group.

PC: Turenim Sendri

Human male scholarly priest of the Morninglord Lathander.

Always committed, rational, and good, Turenim just finished studying at the very young age of 29 and on a mission to preserve the just cause of hope, faith, and charity.

As a young child, Turenim was raised into a position of privilege. He attended a highly exclusive university with small classes and famed professors. Here he debated philosophy with progressive elitists, learned classical religion and art history, and explored cutting edge metaphysical science. Turenim and his close knit group of idealists adopted entitled and unrealistic ideas about morality and philosophy.

PC: Moula Arbacent

Human female far traveled monk.

I grew up in a small lumbering village in the southern hills of T’u Lung, a country to the far east. Our entire village loved knowledge, and at least partially worshiped Oghma, god of knowledge, and my family was one of the stronger supporters of him. Although we loved knowledge, my family was so poor that we couldn’t afford me any schooling. They hadn’t gone to school either, so I didn’t learn much.

Since the oppressive, corrupt T’u Lung government didn’t allow anyone but the troops and guards to have weapons, we learned at an early age how to fight unarmed and with self carved branches. Anyone who spoke up and voiced their opinion was executed; either hung or beaten to a pulp, depending on the offense.

PC: Pippin Thomas

Human male urchin boy turned rogue.

My parents were murdered in a stabbing in my home city. I became an orphan and learned to pick locks and act stealthy by escaping orphanages or sneaking out of a foster home.

My parents were pretty wealthy before they were murdered and my father got most of his wealth from inheritance from his father. His father was a wizard and got his wealth as an adventure completing tasks for people. His wizardry caused him to age fast and he died while my father was relatively young. Before he died he gave my father his spell book, which my father gave to me. My father also gave me his father's necklace with a token on it.

Frulam and Langedrossa

We managed to dispose of Frulam and her guards without taking much damage, and only using a few spells.

Rescuing Leoson

We decided to split into three teams, all disguised to some degree, with the goal of freeing the monk, Leoson:

On To the Raider Camp

After our full night’s rest we met with the governor to plan our next move. While we were discussing we were approached by a monk Nesim, who told us about his brother Leoson, who was captured by the cultists. Leoson has been researching the cult and may have information that could help us.

Battles in Greenest

We made it, barely.

Trouble in Greenest

There are six of us:

Unveiled

Bianca, Elemra, Dirien, Lander, Henrad, Rikas, Norfin, and the pack mule plodded down the road to Waterdeep in hopes of finding adventure. It was a crisp but lovely day, and the sun was just breaking above the horizon. A few birds chirped merrily, and, if the group listened closely, they could faintly detect the sound of rushing water from a hidden stream. The worn dirt road under their feet separated the swamp to their right from the hills to left, which gradually led into the peaks that made up the Sword Mountains. The Mere of Dead Men, as the swamp was accurately named, ruined the otherwise surreal atmosphere and outstanding view. The road was uneventful, a pleasant surprise from the activity of the past two weeks.