As the first light of dawn failed to penetrate the shadowy depths of the catacombs, the adventurers' way was lit only by the flickering light of their torches, which cast eerie shadows against the ancient walls. The heavy air, thick with the scent of decay, served as a constant reminder of the undead menace that awaited them in the darkness. Amidst this oppressive atmosphere, Hargdof remained vigilant, holding his weapon tightly in anticipation of what lay ahead.
In this moment of tension and uncertainty, the party found their spirits lifted by the unexpected return of Irena, whose sudden appearance amidst them was as startling as it was miraculous. Wrapped in bandages and her cloak billowing as if moved by an unseen force, Irena seemed to materialize from the very shadows of the catacombs. Hargdof, acting on instinct, had lashed out in surprise, his attack inadvertently wounding Irena. The sound of the scuffle quickly drew Redusia, who rushed to intervene and halt the misunderstanding.
With Ethan's healing magic quickly mending the unintended harm, introductions and explanations were hastily exchanged. Irena, transported back into the depths by the enigmatic powers of a dragon, found herself reunited with her companions, her arrival marked by confusion and conflict. Yet, her presence brought with it a renewed sense of hope and determination.
Irena's arcane knowledge, honed through adventures both shared and solitary, became a beacon of light in the darkness that enveloped them. With her help, the once insurmountable obstacle of a stuck door yielded to their efforts, revealing new passages that delved deeper into the heart of the catacombs. The goal that drove them forward—to find and extinguish the source of the malevolent smoke that breathed unlife into the dead—seemed ever more attainable with Irena among their ranks.
The party, now bolstered by Irena's return and her arcane knowledge, felt a renewed sense of purpose. Their goal lay deeper within the catacomb's heart, where the sinister smoke that seemed to animate the dead was strongest. With every step, the air grew colder, and the oppressive darkness seemed to press in on them from all sides.
Redusia and Irena, both humans, began to notice an unsettling effect the deeper they ventured. The suspicion that crept into their minds was insidious, making them wary of their non-human companions. Whispers of paranoia threatened to divide them, but Redusia, ever the leader, reminded them of their shared battles and the trust they had built. “This place seeks to turn us against each other,” she declared, her voice cutting through the tension. “We cannot let it.”
A group of zombies sat in an unsettlingly orderly circle, motionless, as if in meditation, their vacant gazes directed inward towards the nothingness at their center. Initially, the party mistook the scene as a macabre tableau, a moment frozen in time. However, as they prepared to confront the undead, the true nature of the threat became apparent. It wasn't the physical presence of the zombies that posed the greatest danger, but rather the paralyzing fear that emanated in the room from the rune in the center of the zombies!
Understanding that the rune was the source of their unease, Irena acted swiftly. With a concentration that belied the chaos of their surroundings, she summoned her mage hand, sending it dancing across the room to the sigil. Her manipulation of the arcane was precise, the spectral hand moving with deliberate grace to disrupt the rune's malevolent enchantment.
The effect was immediate. As the glow of the rune dimmed and finally extinguished, the spell of fear was broken. With the dissolution of the rune's power, What followed was a clash of survival; the adventurers pitted against the reanimated corpses in a desperate bid for dominance.
The battle, though intense, was mercifully brief. The adventurers, seasoned by their encounters in the depths, dispatched their foes with a combination of martial prowess and magical might. As the last of the undead was vanquished, the chamber fell silent once more, save for the labored breathing of the weary but victorious party.
The source of the smoke, they discovered, lay even deeper within the catacombs, down another set of stairs. Guided by the wisps of smoke that seemed to beckon them forward, they pressed on, their resolve hardening with each step. The path was fraught with danger; traps lay in wait to ensnare the unwary. Yet, they turned the catacomb's own defenses against itself, using an electrocution trap to devastating effect against a horde of undead that dared to block their way.
Exhaustion began to take its toll, their resources dwindling as the battles raged on. The decision to find a secure room to rest was made with the knowledge that the source of the necromantic energy was close. They barricaded themselves in, setting watches to guard against any surprise attacks. As they rested, the suspicion that had clouded Redusia and Irena's minds began to lift, the magic of the catacombs less potent in this small sanctuary.
]]>
In the quaint village of Culhaven, a peculiar event transpired. The adventurers, nestled in their beds, were haunted by vivid dreams of their companion Savean bidding a sorrowful farewell. Upon waking, they discovered that both Savean and Irena had vanished without a trace, leaving behind only the echoes of those ethereal dreams.
In a realm far removed from Culhaven, Savean and Irena awoke amidst a sea of tall, undulating flowers. The air was thick with the scent of wild blooms, and the sky above was a canvas of unblemished azure. As they sat up, bewildered, the deep, resonant voice of Savean's patron filled the air. Turning, they beheld a sight of awe and terror: a massive ancient red dragon, reclining amidst the flora, its scales glistening like molten rubies under the sun.
The dragon spoke of a spell, centuries in the making, now finally ready to unfold its purpose. Savean and Irena were to be sent back in time to retrieve the Ildatch, a legendary tome of magic, known for its sentience and power. The dragon's words painted a vivid tapestry of an age long past, where the Ildatch lay by the Demon King's throne, in an era dominated by fairies before the rise of mankind.
As Irena bombarded the dragon with questions, her words dissipated into the air, unanswered. The dragon narrated the backdrop of their quest – a dire time when elves and their fey allies were locked in a brutal war with demons and devils. In a desperate move, the elves had created a spell prison, an amalgamation of an elf maiden and a tree, trapping their formidable foes in a shadow realm. This event, the dragon explained, was their window of opportunity to secure the Ildatch.
Before they could digest the enormity of their task, the world around them blurred, and they were thrust through the veils of time.
They materialized in a dimly lit stone room, reminiscent of the ancient Anasazi dwellings, with walls that whispered of forgotten ages. Peering out, they saw a city sprawling below, its buildings clawing at the sky, and a castle looming ominously in the distance.
With a spell of feather fall, they descended from their lofty perch, landing softly in the desolate streets of the demonic city. The city was a ghost town, its once powerful inhabitants vanished, leaving behind only the mindless and the scavengers.
As they navigated the eerie silence of the abandoned city, a lemur, one of the dumb remnants, lunged at them from a shadowed doorway, only to scamper away into the darkness. The city, now a mausoleum of riches and decay, held many secrets in its silent embrace.
Drawn by the lure of untold wealth, they entered a manor, its doors gaping open like a silent scream. The yard, overrun with chained lemurs, was cautiously bypassed. Inside, they found a chest, cunningly placed upon a pressure plate. With a rope and a well-executed pull, they triggered a spike trap, narrowly avoiding disaster. Savean’s eldritch blast shattered the lock, revealing a trove of unknown spell scrolls and coins. Among these, Savean discovered a scroll from his patron – a scroll of locate object.
Their journey led them to the castle gates, where the remnants of a demonic procession lay scattered. Amidst the debris, they found potent weapons and healing potions. However, their foraging was abruptly halted by the attack of four territorial Imps. The battle was fierce; Irena expended her magic to dispatch the Imps, relying on a healing potion to mend her wounds.
The castle, surrounded by a moat of molten lava, stood as a daunting fortress. Using grappling hooks, they scaled its walls – Savean with ease, and Irena with a struggle, ultimately requiring Savean’s assistance to ascend.
Inside the castle, riches beyond imagination awaited them. The throne room, opulent and untouched, held gold and gems aplenty. Savean pried rubies from the throne, while Irena claimed a golden crown. However, their triumph was short-lived as they discovered the Ildatch’s lectern empty – their prize was already taken.
Desperate, Savean unfurled the locate object scroll, sensing the Ildatch moving below them. Delving deep into the castle’s dungeons, they stealthily navigated the labyrinthine corridors. There, they encountered a Dretch, struggling with bags near a secret door. A sudden burst of witch bolt from Savean ended the creature's struggle, only for them to come face-to-face with a menacing Bargura.
In a moment of quick thinking, Irena cast an unknown scroll, creating a rope trick portal for refuge. As the Bargura entangled Savean, he clutched one of the Dretch's bags, miraculously containing the
Ildatch. As he grasped the book, reality seemed to warp and twist around them. The Ildatch, emanating a power of its own, cast an unknown spell.
In an instant, Savean and Irena found themselves back in the dragon's garden, the tranquility of the place a stark contrast to the chaos they had just escaped. However, a crucial piece was missing from the puzzle – the Ildatch was no longer with them. The dragon, sensing their return, opened its ancient eyes, filled with a mixture of relief and concern.
“I had the book in my hands, but now it's gone,” Savean exclaimed, his voice a mix of frustration and disbelief.
The dragon, closing its eyes as if to search through the threads of time, murmured, “It is here, in this time, but hidden somewhere in the world. What have I done!”
The gravity of the situation hung heavily in the air. The dragon, realizing the implications of the Ildatch's loss in time, knew that Savean's quest was far from over. However, for Irena, a different path beckoned.
“I need you, Savean, to continue the search for the Ildatch,” the dragon declared solemnly. Then, turning to Irena, it pondered, “But you, Irena, where shall your path lead? What destiny awaits you?”
As the dragon contemplated their next steps, Savean and Irena stood amidst the sea of flowers, the weight of their unfinished quest pressing upon them. They had journeyed through time, fought demons and imps, and touched an artifact of immense power, only to return with more questions than answers.
The sun began to set on the dragon's garden, casting long shadows and bathing the flowers in a golden hue. The adventure had taken a turn neither Savean nor Irena could have anticipated, and as the stars began to twinkle in the twilight sky, they knew their journey was far from over. The quest for the Ildatch had become more than a mission; it was now a race against time itself to prevent the unknown consequences of the book's displacement in time.
]]>Hargdof, with his keen perception, sensed that something was amiss. He could feel the unnatural aura surrounding the girl, an aura that hinted at undeath. Yet, the girl appeared alive, with all her memories intact. She spoke of her family, her home on 6th Street near the bakery, and her longing to return to her mother. She had died at such a young age that she never truly understood the concept of death itself.
The party was faced with a moral dilemma. They could not bring themselves to harm the innocent child, and they could not bear to tell her that her parents were likely long gone. Their hearts ached as they grappled with the impossibility of fulfilling her wish to return home.
In the end, they decided to split the party. Redusia and Sissy, their hearts heavy with compassion, led the young girl back to their camp, determined to protect her from the horrors of the catacombs. Meanwhile, the rest of the party continued their exploration, seeking answers and confronting the darkness that gripped the catacombs.
In one of the chambers they entered, they encountered a terrifying sight—a pair of zombie ogres locked in a gruesome battle with each other. The room was strewn with debris, and the two hulking figures clashed with mindless fury. Sensing an opportunity, Ethan, a member of the party, channeled the divine energy within him and turned the undead. The two ogres, now filled with fear, crashed through doors in a frantic attempt to escape.
Meanwhile, in the relative safety of their camp, Redusia and Sissy sat with the young girl, learning about her life, her friend Sally who lived nearby, and the simple joys of her childhood. The weight of their situation pressed upon them, and they whispered quietly in the corner, discussing the unthinkable possibility of ending the girl's existence to spare her the horrors of her new reality.
As they turned to face the young girl again, they were met with an unexpected surprise—she had vanished. Unbeknownst to them, the child had slipped away, using the secret passage they had originally entered the room through. Redusia, her heart racing with concern, gave chase, moving swiftly through the many open doors left by the party's passage.
The girl's desperate escape led her to the church basement, where town guards were now stationed to prevent any undead from leaving the catacombs. In her innocence, she had triggered their fears, and in the dim light, they mistook her for a threat. Shots rang out, and the young girl fell, her unlife extinguished once more.
Redusia, devastated by the tragic turn of events, collected the girl's lifeless body and returned to their camp. With reverence, she and Sissy performed the sacred rites, laying the child to rest and offering prayers for her eternal peace. It was a somber moment, a reminder of the cruel and unforgiving world they had found themselves in, as they resolved to continue their quest to end the malevolent force that plagued the catacombs and bring closure to the restless dead.
]]>Redusia, the only fully human member of the group, couldn't shake the unnerving feeling that something was amiss. Her thoughts became increasingly intrusive, her mind wandering to unsettling visions of her companions turning against her. She clutched the hilt of her sword tightly, trying to banish the disquieting thoughts from her head.
As they pressed forward, the party noticed an unsettling phenomenon. Whenever they pushed open one of the many doors that lined the catacomb's walls, a thick, billowing smoke would crawl out and slither along the ceiling like a malevolent serpent. It moved with an unnatural fluidity, casting eerie shadows in its wake. It was as if the very air was tainted with malevolence.
Their mission was clear: they had to uncover the source of this corruption, for it was the reason why the dead had begun to rise in this forsaken place. Every door they opened, every step they took, brought them deeper into the nightmarish labyrinth. The incessant moans and shuffling of long-dead souls echoed through the passages, a constant reminder of the horrors that lurked nearby.
Battles erupted with relentless frequency as skeletal warriors and reanimated corpses clawed their way from the cubicles that lined the catacomb walls. The party fought valiantly, their weapons cleaving through bone and flesh, but the relentless onslaught took its toll. Exhaustion gnawed at them, and fear gnawed at their resolve.
It wasn't until they stumbled upon another door and saw that familiar creeping smoke slithering along the ceiling that they realized they were onto something. Gilby knew that this eerie smoke was connected to the source of the malevolence they sought to eradicate.
Determinedly, they followed the trail of the sinister smoke, pushing deeper into the labyrinth. The battles grew fiercer, and the horrors more grotesque, but they pressed on. They had to reach the heart of the corruption, no matter the cost.
Smog, the Dragonborn member of their group, had been in a deep magical slumber during their exploration regained his consciousness in the cart where they left him. Alone and confused he eventually made his way to the church and the priest that guided him to the entrance to the catacombs in the basement. Smog, his draconic instincts intact, knew he needed to join his friends in their perilous quest.
Finding the others, they pressed on, Smog adding his formidable strength to their struggles. The catacombs seemed unending, a nightmarish labyrinth that tested their mettle at every turn. Yet, with each battle won and each mystery unraveled, they moved closer to their ultimate goal.
Eventually, the group found themselves needing to make camp to rest and recover. They chose a relatively secure chamber, barricading the entrances to ensure their safety during the night. As they huddled together, the eerie sounds of the catacombs echoing in the distance, they discussed their next steps.
The following morning, however, they were met with an unsettling sight. Smog, once again, had fallen into a deep magical slumber, his body unresponsive to their attempts to awaken him. Desperate to protect their friend and complete their mission, the party faced a difficult decision. They realized that they could not afford to carry Smog while they continued their exploration, as it would severely limit their mobility and combat effectiveness. With heavy hearts, they decided to place Smog in one of the empty cubicles lining the catacomb walls.
With reverence and care, they laid Smog to rest in the stone niche. They marked the cubicle with a sigil to indicate his presence and vowed to return for him once they had dealt with the source of the corruption that plagued the catacombs. Their decision was not made lightly, but they knew it was their best chance to protect him and accomplish their mission.
Leaving their dragonborn companion behind, the party set forth once more, determined to confront the malevolent force that haunted the catacombs and bring an end to the rising dead. They knew that their journey was far from over and that the challenges ahead would test their strength, resolve, and the bonds of friendship that bound them together.
]]>They then go to the hostle run by the local church which is near the cemetery. Redusia sneaks away to make contact with the local thieves guild and practice her profession as a thief. While Gilby and Hogdorf decide to stealth around the cemetery hunting ghosts while Sissy and Ethan fall asleep.
Twards the end of redusias looking for houses to enter she spots the ghost of a soldier walk into the alley with her but she manages to hide from it in time as it walks buy and through a wall. Meanwhile, Gilby and than from across the cemetery sees a ghostly figure of a young woman looking for something as she walks down the road next to the cemetery but she disappears before they can stealh too close to her.
Intreged the next day they head to the local hall of quests to see if there is a quest about these ghosts. As it happens there is and the clerk takes them to see council woman Lillianna Ravenshadow who has been tracking the reports and believes that something is disturbing the dead from within the catacombs beneath the city. She Authorises their quest and sends them to the bishop of the church to get access to the catacombs.
The bishop explains to them that there are probably many old enterances to the catacombs all were locked long ago and he can only let them into the first level from the churches basement and that many years ago a previous bishop sealed the way deeper but kept no notes on how to unseal it. He lets the group in into the catacombs and as they explored the area encountered the 6 ghosts that were looking for lost Items and a room with a stone door magicly sealed and 6 small cubby holes. The ghosts were a mother looking for her daughter lilly, a soldier looking for his silver sword, a scoller looking for his bronse glasses, a priest looking for his healing relic, an artist looking for his eagle feather brush, and a noble lady looking for her amathist broach.
The group go back to the bishop and ask if he knows what the priests relic might be. After some thought he suggests a Pariapt of healing and offers them one at the churches cost. They give the item to the body of the ghost who thanks them and staingly goes to a wall and puts his hands through it before going back to his body. Gilby pushes the wall where the ghost touched and a pannel opens to reviela a stone with a holy symbol on it. Unfortunatly the party does not have the money to go and buy all of the items so they return to the hostle to think. Ethan wonders out loud how hard is it to fool a ghost? An the party set out the next day to craft items for the ghost. Gilby buys a Lilly for the mother hoping it will do the trick.
The ghosts are all satisfied with the items and each shows them the secret location of a similar stone. They now have six stones and are confident they can open the way to the lower levels and find out what is awaking the ghosts…
]]>
While continuing thier journy along the road they are joined from behind by a gnome riding a troll. It is Trogdur and his new friend Smog. He explained that his new friend has amnisia and has no idea who he is.
As the group follows the road along a curve they emerge into a clearing in full view of a fortified roadside checkpoint. It was originally created to house soldiers while they patrol the roads but are told that recently a tiumverate arrived with new orders to question any groups traveling with non humans to see if they have committed any crimes and judge them. Gilby notices that some of the parts of the armor the soldiers are wearing don't match the rest. It appears that the newer pieces are black in color and have an irredescent sheen to it.
A guard notices the dead body wrapped up in the back of the cart and they expaine that they are on a quest and shows their papers to the guards. One of them walks off and returns in a few minutes to move them to the front of the line of people waiting to be questioned and shown in right away. along the way, one of the guards offers 100gp each for the dead elfs ears but are rebuffed by the party. The leader of the tiumverate questions them in a circle of truth about any crimes of which non were found. Then expaines that they are in need of assistance.
They had identified a group of dwarfs as spys and assassins and were holding them to send to Dechtera for questioning when they manages to dig into a cave system below the checkpoint. They send the party to reteave the dwarfs from the caves offering 50gp for each dwarf nose recovered and 100gp each if they are returned alive.
Because of the large size of their new Troll (dragonborn) companion they ask for help from the soldiers in digging out the dwarfs hole so they can all get to the caves. The cave ended at a hole in a metal plate that looks to have rusted through. They then find themselves in an underground metal tunnel which they can only summise was left over from the time before the apocolipse that ended the old world. The tunnel is caved in in one direction so they travel through the tunnel fo about a quarter mile when it opens into a stairwell going down and an open cabinet that was rummaged through which contained old tools. It looks like the dwarfs are now armed.
The bottom of the stairway opened into a hallway the led to some sort of old control room with crumbling rusted terminals alog the walls and one that was obviously made from better materials in the center of the room. Nothig functioned anymore and as they looked around was attacked by small acid creatures that were hiding in the rubble but among the junk they found some spools of gold thread (wire) which looked valuable. In the back was another stair that went to the remains of a living area where they fought some adult and juvenile borrowers. Obviously the dwarfs did not come this way so they returned to the first hallway and found another metal tunnal the led to a large circular room the went up and down into darkness.
It looked like the room once had walkways around the edges but only some of them were left. They could hear the dwarfs working somewhere above them and realised thy would have to climb the pipes on the far wall to get to the upper levels. While claiming the pipes the dwarfs started throwing stones at them and the fight began. Level to level they fought up the walkways, ladders and pipes. One by one the dwarfs lost their footing and so did the heroes of our group. Each falling into the darkness below with a loud splash followed by silence until there was only Smog and one charmed dwarf left. Not really knowing what to do Smog pushed the warf off the walkway and did a swan dive after him as that was where everyone else had went.
It turned out the the bottom of the underground silo was in a fast moving underground river and as they fell into it they were wisked away by the current underwater, smashing into the sides as they went until eventually they were thrown into a blinding light, and fell into a pool under where water was emerging from the side of a cliff. Some were unconscious and others fighting to get to shore. In the end all but one of the Dwarfs were captured and nobody died. However, one dwarf (Dexter) had escaped and spent and exaused the bound dwarfs were marched all night to get back to checkpoint justice. The Group was paid and allowed to sleem in the barex beds to recover. The Cleric of the triumvirate also cast gentle repose on siltani's body.
]]>Trefor's wife tries to convince him not to go, fearing for his safety, Reluctantly, Trefor decides to stay back and entrusts his son, Sam, with the group. “Take care of him,” Trefor says to the group. “He's not an adventurer like the rest of you, but he's a good cook. Maybe you can put his skills to use.” Sam nods and looks at the group with a mixture of apprehension and excitement.
Redusia, feeling that they could use some extra help, hires Sissy Onterio, a local ranger with a reputation for being an expert tracker. “Glad to be of help,” Sissy says, adjusting the bow slung across her back. “I've heard that you're heading towards the elven lands. It's a dangerous journey, but with me around, you should be able to handle anything that comes your way.”
With the group now complete, they set out on the road towards the elven lands. The weather is overcast and very foggy, which makes everything look twisted and ghostly as they travel. They pass over a stone bridge with no edges, adding to the eerie atmosphere of the journey. The day passes without incident, and they make camp for the night, with Sam preparing a delicious meal that impresses everyone.
As they settle down for the night, Siltanae Ellisidel begins to tell stories of his travels and experiences in the elven lands. His words paint a vivid picture of a world far different from the human lands they are used to. He speaks of sprawling forests, majestic cities, and ancient ruins filled with magic and wonder. The group listens with rapt attention, hanging onto every word.
Around noon the next day as they traveled along the road the party approached a rover camp, they could hear the sound of shovels hitting the dirt. As they came closer, they could see that the rovers were digging a grave to bury one of their own. The group dismounted from their horses and approached the camp cautiously.
The leader of the rovers, Johnathan Gorm, greeted them and explained the situation. “We've lost five of our own to this beast,” he said, gesturing to the grave. “It comes at night, leaving no trace except for the bodies.”
Gilby examined the dead girl and noticed purple marks on her chest. “This is not the work of any natural predator,” he said, “This is something far more sinister.”
The others examined the camp and asked questions, trying to get a better understanding of the situation. However, Tormag, the rover whose wife was the first casualty, did not like Gilby or the interference of strangers. He scowled at them and muttered under his breath.
That night, Gilby took the first watch and walked around the outside of the camp. Suddenly, he was attacked by Tormag. Gilby could feel some of his life being drained out of him as Tormag attempted to overpower him. Gilby managed to defend himself and Tormag ran into the camp, yelling that Gilby had attacked him.
In the confusion, the rovers began to attack the party while the party tried to knock out the rovers. Sissy Onterio, who had been hired by Redusia, used her spells to stun some of the attackers. Meanwhile, the party faced off against Tormag, who after taking enough damage transformed into a demon. At that point everyone joined the battle against the demon and after a fierce struggle, they managed to vanquish it. Tormag's body disappeared into a pile of ash, leaving everyone stunned and uncertain of what to do next.
The next morning, the rovers thanked the party for their help and gave them some supplies for their journey. Sam, who had grown fond of the rovers during their time together, decided to stay with them and become their new cook. The party said their goodbyes and continued on their journey.
]]>”I was on my way to Culhaven and saw your cart here. I thought it might have been abandoned and wanted to see if everything was alright,” Hagdof said, with a friendly smile.
Ethan and Savean welcomed Hagdof and they continued their conversation, discussing the events of the day and sharing stories of their travels. As they were talking, they saw the other group coming down the mountain, helping the wounded Gilby. Gilby communicated mentally with Ethan for help, and Ethan went to him and used healing magic on him. The group invited Hagdof to join them as they returned to Culhaven. Hagdof was amazed by the group's bravery, and he eagerly accepted their invitation to join them on their journey to Culhaven. As they journeyed on, they talked and laughed and shared stories.
As they journeyed down the road, they passed the same farmer they passed this morning traveling in his cart but without his wife. A few minutes later, they saw the farmer's grumbling wife walking down the road on her way home. The group stopped and Ethan offered the woman a drink from his Amphora that his god had given him. The drink was so strong that she immediately got woozy and passed out. The group continued on to town, leaving her to sleep it off on the side of the road.
As they entered the city of Culhaven, they were greeted by the warm light of the streets and the sound of the people going about their business as the sun set over the horizon. The group was tired but content, knowing that they had accomplished something great and that they had made new friends along the way. And so, they went back to the travelers came for dinner and to discuss Digger's suggestion that the town would be better off without the forts commander.
As the group sat around the dinner table at the traveler's camp, they discussed the events of the day and what their next steps should be. Hagdof, the halfling paladin of Thor, expressed his self-righteous and stubborn opinions on the matter, insisting that they should go to the local authorities and report what they had seen. However, the rest of the group had different ideas.
”I think we should investigate the farm where the murdered family was found,” said Gilby, with a determined look on his face. “We should do it under the cover of darkness, so we can gather more information without drawing attention to ourselves.”
The group agreed with Gilby's plan and after dinner, they set out for the farm. They walked through the city and out the west gate, several miles to the farm. As they approached the farm, they saw the eerie silhouette of the corn maze, where the previous group of adventurers had encountered the scarecrow monster.
Ethan and Irena decided to investigate the corn maze, retracing the steps of the previous group. As they made their way through the maze, they followed the clues that had been left behind and eventually came upon a burnt patch where the scarecrow had met its demise.
Ethan and Irena began investigating the area, and Ethan stumbled upon a human molar that looked like it had been ripped out with a tool. Irena, using her detect magic spell, held the tooth up to her eyes and could see the faint glow, indicating that it had once been a magic item or held a spell.
”This tooth must have belonged to the person whose soul was necromantically bound to the scarecrow,” said Irena, with a look of disgust on her face. “It's clear that this person was tortured to death and given a task to complete by its master.”
the group made their way to the farmhouse on the other side of the road from the corn maze, they saw a glimmer of light coming from inside the should-be-empty house. Hagdof, being the self-righteous and stubborn halfling cleric he was, insisted on approaching the house head-on and knocked on the door. The rest of the group, however, were more cautious and decided to take a more stealthy approach. Gilby, being the stealthiest of the group, decided to sneak around the house and enter through a kitchen window.
When the person inside the house answered the door, they were taken aback by the group's presence. The person introduced himself as Trefor, a member of the original group sent to investigate the house. He explained that he had returned to see if there was anything they had missed, as he was personally dissatisfied with his previous group's lack of adventuring ambition.
As they entered the house, the group was met with the sight of bloody beds and bits of hay in the bedrooms. The bodies had already been removed, so there was little else to be found. The group decided to stay the night, with Redusia climbing up on the roof to keep watch.
The next morning, Redusia was awoken by the sound of a squad of human soldiers marching down the road from town. She stealthily watched as the squad marched past the farm and down a hill into a swampy defile. From her vantage point, she could also see a squad of dwarf soldiers marching from the mountains. The two groups met, stopped, turned, and began marching back.
Once the soldiers were out of sight, Redusia climbed down from the roof and woke the rest of the group. She pointed out how the farm would make a strong strategic position for a fort to protect the human lands or possibly launch an invasion from. The group discussed the situation and came to the conclusion that there was not enough evidence to attempt to assassinate the commander of the guard.
Instead, they decided to take on the quest to escort the elderly elf to his homeland. As they reached the outskirts of the city, Trefor came to a decision “I hope you don't mind, but I've decided to join you on your escort mission,” he said, a determined look on his face. “I've grown tired of the complacency of my previous group, and I desire to see more of the world.”
The group welcomed Trefor with open arms, and they made their way to the Hall of Quests to pick up their next mission and they accepted the quest and set out to find the elderly elf, who was said to be staying at a traveler's camp on the outskirts of the city.
Searching the camp, they saw the elf sitting on a log by the river, regaling a group of travelers with tales of his travels. “When I was staying with the trolls there was this young one that wanted to hunt with the older ones but they would not let him so he snuck off on his own and ended up bringing back the largest creature on his own. So never underestimate a troll because of his age or size.” he was saying. The group approached him and Redusia stepped forward to introduce them. We are the ones tasked with escorting you to your homeland.” The old elf looked up at them with a twinkle in his eye. “Ah, yes, the adventurers! I have been expecting you. I am Siltanae Ellisidel and it will be an honor to have you by my side on my journey home.”
The group spent the rest of the evening making preparations for the journey. Trefor said his goodbyes to his family and they set off the next morning, ready for whatever lay ahead.
]]>
As the group traveled north, they eventually reached a point where the road began to turn away from the mountain they were trying to reach. In order to continue their journey towards the mountain, they took the cart off the road and searched for pathways that would lead them closer to their destination. However, the terrain became increasingly difficult to traverse as they continued, with the path growing steeper and more difficult to navigate. Eventually, they reached a point where they couldn't go any further with the cart, and so Ethan and Savean decided to stay with it while the others continued on foot up the mountain. After some time, they finally reached a clearing at the peak of the mountain, where they were greeted with a stunning view of Culhaven and the silver river below. From their vantage point, they could see the grave marker they were searching for – an obelisk that had become overgrown with nature. While Irena stayed to enjoy the view, Gilby and Reduzia worked to clear a path to the peak and around the obelisk.
As Gilby approached the obelisk, he noticed that it was covered in intricate runes and a plaque that told the story of Mulbin, a great warrior and leader of his people. According to the plaque, Mulbin had fought bravely in a great war and was buried on this mountain to watch over his people. Gilby placed his hand on the obelisk and recited the key phrase from the scroll: “As Mulbin's descendant, I hereby claim my birthright.” As soon as the words left his lips, the runes on the obelisk began to glow and a ghostly image of a halfling warrior appeared before them.
“You, descendant of Mulbin, must prove yourself worthy of my inheritance by proving your strength and wisdom. Defend yourself.” As the image disappears three skeletons manifest, one next to each of them! The skeletons were bony and brittle, with long, curved swords clutched in their hands. The one next to Irena held a bow, its string drawn taut as it aimed. The other two skeletons had their swords raised as they prepared to attack. The one with the bow firing at Gilby. The arrow strikes him, causing him to stumble and fall to one knee. Despite the injury, Gilby grits his teeth and rallies, determined to prove himself worthy and claim his inheritance. Irena quickly destroys the archer skeleton with a burst of magic missiles from her fingertips. While Reduzia takes on the skeleton closest to her, using her fighting skills to deliver precise blows that shatter its bones. As Gilby, faces off against the remaining skeleton, his muscles straining as he delivers powerful blows. The skeleton is no match for Gilby's strength and it soon crumbles to the ground. The group stands victorious, panting from the intense battle.
The ghostly visage of Mulbin reappears, impressed by their strength and bravery. “You have proven yourselves worthy,” he says. “I am proud to have you as my descendant. May these items serve you well on your journey.” and With a final nod, the warrior disappears and the plaque pops open revealing several magic items which Gilby shares among his friends.
]]>When they arrived at the hall of quests, they were met by Lucy, who was happy and greatly relieved to see them. ”I'm so glad you're all back safe and sound,” she said, giving them a warm smile. “The mayor was upset with me for sending such a new group on such a dangerous quest, but I knew you were up to the task. He'd like to speak with you, but he's currently in a meeting. Can you wait?”
The group nodded and took a seat in the waiting area, eager to hear what the mayor had to say. As the group waited in the hall of quests, they couldn't help but overhear the muffled shouting and arguing coming from the mayor's office. Suddenly, the door to the office slammed open and a large, armored man stormed out, leaving the building in a hurry.
The mayor then invited the group into his office and sat down at his desk, clearly flustered. “I apologize for the disruption,” he said, taking a deep breath to calm himself. “Another group of adventurers was sent to investigate the missing family, and they reported that they were killed by a possessed scarecrow. They managed to defeat it in the corn maze and said they found an offer to buy the property from the Commander of the city's fort. Then the commander of the fort comes in to my office and is now demanding the property, but we have procedures that need to be followed.”
As the mayor spoke, Reduzia noticed a map on the wall and realized that the portal hadn't sent her to another place on her world, but to another world altogether. She was surprised by this revelation and couldn't help but wonder how she was going to get back home.
The mayor, noticing Reduzia's interest in the map, walked over to join her. “It's a reproduction of an old map of the world from before the calamity. Now all we know are the five lands.” he said, gesturing to the map. Reduzia nodded. The mayor then turned his attention back to the group, his expression becoming serious. “I must confess, I have a suspicion that the commander may be behind the family's death,” he said. “But I have no proof and, for political reasons, I cannot make it a quest. I'm sorry, but I must ask you to keep this information to yourselves.” Reduzia nodded, understanding the delicate situation the mayor found himself in. They vowed to keep the mayor's suspicions to themselves, but couldn't help but wonder what other secrets and dangers lurked in the shadows. “Anyway, I personally wanted to hear about how your quest went.” the mayor continued.
Then Gilby reached into his bag and pulled out the stone head of one of the town's guards. “We found this in the woods,” he said, placing the head on the mayor's desk. “It was a couple of cockatrices that killed your guards. we thought you would want to know what happened to your guards so you could inform their families. It's all that we found of them.”
The mayor looked stunned and impressed as he picked up the stone head and examined it. “I'm just glad you all made it back alive,” he said. “I'd like to write up a letter of recommendation for you, to let other towns and cities know that you can be trusted with important and dangerous quests. And if you ever get the chance, I highly recommend seeking training at Paranor. It's the finest training facility for adventurers in the five lands. But getting in is not easy. Only a druid of Paranor or a high official from one of the kingdoms can do that.” With that, the mayor escorted them out of his office and instructed Lucy to take the cockatrices and pay the group their reward.
Meanwhile, Reduzia wanders out of the town hall and sees Digger sitting on a bench in the town square park feeding birds. Clandestinely, she wanders over and sits on the same bench while pretending to wait for her friends. ”Have you heard what happened to the nice dwarven family that was murdered?” Digger says. “They were well loved in the community and hosted the harvest festival for everyone every year.” Reduzia tells him that she just heard about it and that the commander is keen to get the property. “That racist bastard,” Digger scoffs. “Nobody likes him or would miss him if he were to suddenly drop dead. Did you know that he even has an expensive wine brought in from Dechtera just for himself. I think it is a hundred year old Womblenose white chardonnay.”
Reduzia feels Digger drop something into her pocket. “I might even celebrate by selling that old chest I have no key for to someone for a silver,” Digger continues. “That thing must weigh at least 500 gold.” She catches his meaning and says that she might go take a look at the farm belonging to the murdered dwarven family. “If you do,” Digger says, “you should check out the view.”
Reduzia gets up to rejoin her friends as they exit the city hall. Reaching in her pocket she finds the vial of poison that Digger had placed there.
As they stand outside the town hall, wondering what to do next. Ethan tells tells Reduzia that Lucy doesn't have any other good quests available. “Except for escorting an old elf back to his homeland, but that doesn't pay much. ” adds Irena. Gilby suggests they shouldn't stay in Culhaven forever and proposes they gather supplies, including a cart and a horse, before remembering that he needs to find his ancestor's grave so that he can claim his inheritance. Ethan suggests everyone goes shopping and meets up later tonight at the traveler's camp outside the city's west gate. Gilby agrees, adding that they shouldn't impose on his family any longer. The group splits up to go shopping, with plans to meet later at the camp.
That night at the travelers camp, Reduzia shares with the rest of the group the conversation she had with Digger, in which he expressed a desire for the Commander to be killed. Later, as everyone goes to sleep, Gilby has a dream where he is stranded on a raft in the middle of the Silver River, that runs next to Culhaven. In his hand is a puzzle box, and he can see the travelers camp on the river's shore, but as he tries to solve the puzzle, he finds himself drifting further and further away from the shore and the camp.
]]>