| Epic Adventures

Icewind Dale 16: The Netherese Ruin

Hammer 15, 1489
Dre'zel my love,

D’zaan tumbled into the depression ahead, having been swatted hard by Taimen’s tentacle. A twenty-foot-high, unusually smooth rock jutted out of the center of the depression.

Hammer 13, 1489
Dre'zel, my love,

Even though we all survived, our incursion into the berserker’s cave went horribly wrong in ways I never imagined. When we first entered, we were ambushed by two white dragon wyrmlings, which breathed their frost breath on us.

Hammer 12, 1489
Dre'zel, my love,

As we rested for the evening with Nimsy and her children, and Auril’s aurora began to fill the sky, we heard shouts coming from the docks. I ran to the dock, and Nimsy was soon by my side.

Hammer 11, 1489
Dre'zel, my love,

With the infamous awakened white moose dead, I quickly surveyed our surroundings.

Hammer 11, 1489
Dre'zel, my love,

As we headed to the Buried Treasures Inn, we found all the fisherfolk gathered around the Five-Tavern Center. Jojo helped Soupmeister Steve bring our six knucklehead trouts to the inn, everyone else was caught up in the merry-making that was being had at the news that the lake monster had been slain.

Hammer 9, 1489
Dre'zel, my love,

After searching the Drow assassins for clues, we turned our attention to Oris and interrogated him about any connection he might have with them. I was very suspicious of his claim of waiting outside the mine and not seeing any Drow enter.

Hammer 8, 1489
Dre'zel, my love,

In the morning, the ‘sun’ that had been following Ambrose was completely gone.

Hammer 7, 1489
Dre'zel, my love,

While Ambrose was searching the cabin for clues, I stared at the snow underneath for any signs of movement. When I was confidant that the cabin was stable, I took a look inside the outhouse.

Hammer 7, 1489
Dre'zel, my love,

I was revived by a hard slap from Taimen’s healing hand and saw that Talyth had just risen. The dragonborn handed me my bow, but the battle was over, and the duergar had been defeated!

Hammer 6, 1489
Dre'zel, my love,

While I fled under the ghost’s control, I learned that the ghost’s name was Pagophil.

Hammer 5, 1489
Dre'zel, my love,

I’m afraid to tell you that Talyth’s bold attempt to commune with Auril turned into a terrifying scene.

Hammer 4, 1489
Dre'zel, my love,

Eager to get an early start, we woke early and departed The Northern Light Tavern, heading to Frozenfar Epeditions to retrieve Jarthra.

Hammer 3, 1489
Dre'zel, my love,

In the morning, Dannika was very upset that we had met the chwingas without her and took her color changing lantern back.

Hammer 2, 1489
Dre'zel, my love,

In the town of Bryn Shander, we reached the Town Hall, a two-story building. Sheriff Markham was there and he told us Speaker Duvessa Shane had travelled to Easthaven where a Red Wizard had been caught.

Hammer 2, 1489
Dre'zel, my love,

I found an unobtrusive place to watch Timber’s home from a distance while Talyth went off to purchase cold-weather clothing and update the rest of our companions.

Hammer 2, 1489
Dre'zel, my love,

I have reason to be optimistic. Talyth and I recently met a group of adventurers that seem interested in putting an end to the neverending night and might have the competence to do something about it.

Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

launch

A Cacophony of Carnivorous Canines

3,384 Chalcanapsion 4,
K,

Thridax told us about rumors of wolves harassing loggers north of town. It was a cool, crisp morning when we headed north with Arktouros to deal with the problem.

August 10

As they approached the shaft leading to the Inner Sanctum, Dameron gave an inspiring speech about how the light of St. Aster had brought them this far. Then he lit his Candle of Invocation, cast Bless, and drank his Potion of Invulnerability. Sausages gave Gruffudd a rainbow-colored fruit that gave him the same benefits as a Potion of Invulnerability when he ate it. Balthasar Hasted himself.

August 10

The cavern thundered as the twenty-foot-tall Bluespawn Godslayer approached.

3,384 Megasphagion 12,
K,

Pericles convinced Aribantes to lead a full on assault against the Shorestalkers in the Triton village! And it was our job to infiltrate the temple in advance and take out the Wave Priest!

3,384 Thriambion 20,
K,

I went on a strange expedition. I hope you would be proud of my restraint.

It all started when Satyr Dawngreets began appearing in the farmlands outside of Neolantika. They were telling of a grand festival they planned to throw at the end of the month, celebrating a day holy to Satyrs called the Xenousia. All who wish to celebrate life were invited.

August 10

As Balthasar performed a ceremony for the deceased drakkenwhyte, he addressed his remaining brothers, “We stand in the shadow of a grievous loss. Brave souls—our kin, our family—gave their lives this day in a battle against an ancient terror. They faced fury and lightning with unyielding courage, knowing that their sacrifice was not for themselves, but for the greater good.

3,384 Polidrysion 6,
K,

Pericles, the High Priest of Heliod in Neolantika and the Polemarch's Spiritual Advisor, recently hired me to be his personal bodyguard. He asked me to join him in exploring the Eldenwood with Kleon the witch. Something about following the voices or the wind. Not really sure what he was going on about. Arktouros and Koal joined us.

August 9-10

The day after the battle, Dameron cast Word of Recall on the Morninglory Temple. Camwise cast Scrying on the Black Bolt and then the War Duke but could not scry on either.

3,384 Astrapion 3,
K,

It was a cool, clear night when I met with Thridax, Anekdotos, Koal, Pericles, Hellen, and six hoplites just outside Neolantika. The hoplites each brought an extra horse for the six of us. Together, we followed the coast south for many hours until dawn when we found we had just reached the northernmost hills north of the Triton village.

August 8

The air grew heavy and there was a foulness in the wind. As forces gathered in the darkness and light, there was a crack of thunder and lightning in the sky. The blood of all those slain, from folk both foul and noble, drained upward into the night sky in a quintet of ichorous streams. As the lighting flashes faded, the Daring Friends gazed up to see that the blood had gathered above the horde and morphed into a massive, shifting image that morphed from a five-headed terror, into a single head with hellish eyes, and finally settled into a mortal portrait of a scaled hobgoblin, crowned with horns. The massive figure in the sky looked down, a sneer of triumph on its face. It was the face of Azarr Kul, warlord and high Wyrmlord of the Red Hand. It’s voice echoed through the night.

3,384 Protokynion 4
Dear mom,

It seems the Shorestalkers sought revenge sooner than expected for the public execution of their fellow that we captured last month. The night before we were to return to the Seaside Grotto to explore its depths, I was awakened by a poisoned urchin spine sword plunged into my gut, held by a Shorestalker whose skin shifted to match its surroundings. I was unarmed and bleeding badly. As it drew back to finish me, I lunged for my spear and stabbed it twice, I called out for Heliod’s divine power to grant me a respite and empower my strike.

August 8

The Fire Elemental thrashed at the Iron Bands of Binding. Jaervellios struck a Redspawn Firebelcher with an arrow. Balthasar was struck by lightning. Gruffudd blasted two Redspawn Firebelchers to pieces with Call Lightning. Camwise blasted a Redspawn Firebelcher with his Wand of Lightning Bolts. Advancing toward the dragon, the Hill Giants tossed boulders at it. Aaqastal rattled the Fire Elemental with Confusion. Dameron sprinted toward the dragon. The Redspawn Firebelchers closed in on the Abyxrla.

3,384 Lyokymion 2
Dear mom,

So much has happened since I last wrote. It has been an exciting break from the tedium of governing. It all started late last year when the heads of the five families came together and agreed the Shorestalkers have disrupted trade routes for too long and the current state of trade cannot stand. They said I have one year to establish safe trade routes with Meletis to the south and Deyda Harbor to the north.

August 7

After spending the day making preparations throughout Brindol, The Daring Friends braced themselves for the impending assault.

3,383 Therimakarion 10
K,

A lot has happened in the past month. According to Athyn and Arktouros, the Polemarch believes the Shorestalkers are planning an assault on Neolantika and asked us to do something about it. Athyn came up with a plan to infiltrate the Triton Village and get more information from one of their wave priests.

August 6 - Day 4

The revived prince introduced himself as Dristan and explained that he was cursed by a beautiful woman who turned out to be one of the hags. The Daring Friends escorted the prince back to the house and discussed their missions, sharing The Chanson of the Grayl with him. Prince Dristan suggested the case could refer to a reliquary and the Meroving sceptre might belong to the old Merovingian bloodline. He also mentioned the passing of Roland, who was betrayed by one of his own and is now remembered in song.

3,383 Necrologion 5
K,

Arktouros, Anekdotos, Athyn, Maia, and I gathered to venture deeper into the necromancer’s cave. Before leaving, we visited Melaina so Maia could deliver a crystal to her. She was thrilled to receive the crystal, which started glowing as she held it.

3,383 Chalcanapsion 7
K,

We had a very successful excursion and even you would be proud. My only worry is that we still don't know if magic using children are being abducted. You see, Arktouros, Autolycus, Athyn, and I met a wizard named Kleon who was eager to join us on our return to the cave. He had an owl named Gust.

3,383 Megasphagion 6
K,

My companion, Anekdotos, was freed after having been briefly locked up for stealing the Brethren’s wagon. It was a merciful sentence considering what we had done. I am ashamed of the part I played in it. It was my plan that went wrong, and we didn’t mean to kill them even though they probably deserved it. Knowing very well what it’s like to be wrongly imprisoned—as you are well aware—I wanted to intervene but what could I do? As merciful as the polemarch might be, my pleas could just have easily made things worse. And then I wouldn’t be able to hunt down the Brethren or whoever’s responsible for abducting these magic users.

August 6 - Day 4

As the crushing juggernaut pivoted to face the Daring Friends, it rammed into Balthasar and Dameron. The priest used his Force of Will to resist it. Camwise hit it with an acid arrow as he retreated north. Dameron withdrew into a side corridor. Balthasar used his Air Charm to cast Whirlwind Kick, knocking it ten feet back, spinning past it, and retreating further into the room beyond.

3,383 Thriambion 4
K,

Hoping to stake out the Brethren of Fate’s monastery, we teamed up with Athyn, a triton rogue.

August 6 - Day 3-4

They each took an item from the large pile of treasure. Gruffudd took the chest of gold and gems, Camwise took a Helm of Reading Magic and Languages, Balthasar took an Elixir of Life, and Dameron took the Staff of Healing.

3,383 Polidrysion 4
K,

After purchasing a map of the surrounding lands from the merchant, Arestes, we left Neolantika to circle the northern edge of the Elden Wood, hoping to find more bandits from Krimnos or clues to the missing magic users.

August 6 - Day 3

After escaping from the Sphere of Annihilation, Sertieren clung to Balthasar’s cloak as the Daring Friends took a different route to one of the remaining tombs.

3,383 Lyokymion 17
K,

We decided to look for adventure and discovered that people had gone missing. After speaking with the watch, we investigated the house of the most recent victim. The neighbor said her husband heard suitors at the house when the victim went missing. At the temple (Karametra) where the victim worked, the priestess, Thea, told us that the victim worked as a gardener and had nightmares recently. The priestess referred us to a philosopher named Anaxomander who had information of the Nightmare Shepherd.

3,383 Lyokymion 11
K,

Since regaining my freedom, I've been toiling away in the docks of Meletis, trying to keep a low profile. But recently the city was devastated by Thassa's wrath. The Twelve have requested emissaries travel to her allies to secure disaster relief in the form of food and supplies for the reeling refugees. When I heard one of those destinations was Neolantika, I felt compelled to sign up. I wonder if I will see you there. Have you moved on? Are you still alive?

August 6 - Day 3

After a short rest, the Daring Friends explored the sacrificial chamber. A statue of a halberd-wielding wearing unfamiliar garb stood to the north. Gruffudd used Thunderwave to destroy the sacrificial circle. Camwise found a map of the grounds and a priest’s journal containing several scrolls (Enervating Light, Dispel Good & Evil, Commune, Raise Dead).

August 6 - Day 2-3

After taking a short rest and exploring the Jabberwock’s cave, the Daring Friends followed the trail back to see Frederick D’Amber with the head of the Jabberwock.

August 6 - Day 2

Waking, the Daring Friends did not recall ever stopping to rest. A wild-looking bearded man stared down at them. Looking around, they found themselves near a small, ramshackle stone building in a clearing with a cave entering a nearby hill. The man spoke in a foreign language while he swung a cudgel in the air.

August 6 - Day 1

Challenging the rock troll, Balthasar dashed atop the log bridge. Dameron hit it with a Sacred Flame as his wolves blasted it with cold breath. Gruffudd hit it with a Thunderwave. Impacted by the cold and thunder, the troll leaped off the log, grappled Gruffudd and Dameron, and took a bite out of the dwarf.

August 6 - Day 1

While they took a short rest in the library, Dameron perused the books on the shelves, noticing one with the image of a sun.

August 6 - Day 1

Balthasar asked Aaqastal about the Castle Amber Miniature and how Rufus is connected to it or the castle.

August 6

In the morning, Camwise cast Contact Other Plane and questioned a being of fire about Aaqastal the Unnumbered, learning what he could for the upcoming duel.

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