Unrest in Arkensol

414SuUnAr

Arkensol had been, for many years now, the centre for games and entertainment for the adventurers and those who love excitement and the combat that takes place in the arena. 

Arkansas was always a place of trade rather than one of excitement and extreme games but the last decade saw a rise in business in the city when they started having wild, dangerous animals fight in the arena. The pinnacle of this being when they started to give criminals the choice, fight in the arena or serve out your sentence. 

 Nearly none of them made it past the first few minutes. But the organisers of the games made it interesting enough that they never had a short supply of creatures to fight or criminals fighting for their freedom. 

The party had come to Arkensol to relax and perhaps spend some money as this latest game that the city had promised was meant to be the biggest one yet. 

The original arena had been built quite small and level with the rest of the city but as the games grew they had dug out a sunken arena with light filtered down through skylights that lit up the arena and the stadium. A true masterpiece of engineering and magic combined. 

With just a few gold pieces they were able to secure a seat and an ale as they waited for what was promised to be a fight to remember.

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PDF adventure – Unrest in Arkensol

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The Shadow of Oscowl

413SuShOs

Walking the streets of Oscowl the party keeps an eye out for people they know, suspicious characters or people that they recognise from the night that Ikob was killed.

After an hour or two they find themselves looking down a busy street of merchants with their wares on tables, mats or stalls. Barrels of produce lined the walkway and the merchants called to not just the party but everyone, proclaiming their goods superior quality as they tried to make more sales.

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PDF adventure – The Shadows of Oscowl

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The Steel Princess

412SuStPr

The party had been drawn to Luistira – the city of steel to replenish their arms and armour after a few intensive battles. The steel here at the beginning of the Ferrous highway was famous. Many of the best smiths worked here and several notable blades had been created in the several forges that were established here.

However it was not the shopping that kept the party here but a request for aid. 

The Iron Harvest was calling for people to escort its many wagons to the Kings Castle, a few days from Luistira, and they were asking for only the best. 
Either those with great repute would be hired or those who could test themselves and prove themselves worthy and it just so happened that the party was also heading in that direction.
“What makes you think you are ready to join the Iron Harvest Guard?” the guard, dressed more like a royal guard than a caravan mercenary, asked. 
“We have heard word of your party. Some good work but surely these tales of your exploits and endeavours have been exaggerated.” a second spoke, this time a female who was dressed as the part of a caravaner. 
“Now Sal, we can’t jump to conclusions.” the man spoke looking across his broad shoulder to where she sat in the back room at the inn.
“Easy captain. Let them speak. They have a reputation for getting the job done.” Sal continued leaning towards the party.

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PDF adventure – The Steel Princess

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The Dragonslayer Cult

411SuDrCu

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Garius had told them that the Cult of the Dragon slayer could be found near the Pickled Hog Inn and posing as beggars and gamblers. He also produced a card that had a mark defaced into the surface – a Dragon Slayer card from the three dragons Ante card game. “If you can sneak this card into your hand and play it, they will show you where you need to go. But be careful as that is all we could get out of the cultist.”

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PDF adventure – The Dragonslayer Cult

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The Ironbound Druids

410SuIrDr

“The Ironwood forest is an ancient place ruled by a conclave of druids who have protected the lands for generations. The woods themselves have trees that grow into the sky and boast the strongest wood that you can find in the content. That’s the main reason why the Druid conclave protects these woods. 

They need to protect these lands from the people in the neighbouring kingdoms from harvesting the trees for their own use.”

The travelling bard that the party had met up with had not stopped talking since they met along the road heading towards Crakenburg to assist in carting grain out as part of a job from a few wealthy merchants. Despite the party liking company the bard had personally alerted bandits to their position, a pack of wolves had followed his noise and no game dared to stay nearby as they travelled through the woods.

But the party stopped him talking as up ahead the forest was silent and they could see a few humans standing perfectly still as if they were in trouble.

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After the conflict with the woods themselves the party find themselves following Kevin in the direction of the druids enclave. The druids are the only ones who could deal with that many locusts and protect the job that the party were here for – escorting the caravan and its harvest of grain and straw back to the merchants. 

It’s not long until the party is walking towards a giant Ironwood tree. Where its roots and trunk meet has formed a hollow under its massive form and stairs have been shaped out of the earth leading upwards to the space in the tree. Stone carvings of animals line the pathway and the sense of them watching the party as they move upwards follow them even until they are stepping into the hollow. 

The area within is sparse with a single man kneeling at a short wooden table as he works a mortar and pestle.

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PDF adventure – The Ironbound Druids

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The Lost Horde

409SuLoHo

The ship had bobbed up and down for a few weeks now on the seas. The crew and captain had turned out to be as experienced as the party had been told. The journey had not been difficult or dangerous with the exception of sighting something monstrous swimming at the surface of the sea – which the crew did well to avoid. 

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The next morning the party were charged with helping to gather supplies and odd jobs for the villagers. The supplies were then given to the Party and sailors as thanks for the oddjobs and at night they feasted around the fire again. After a long day of loading the ship the party sat down to rest and watched the ship bob up and down in the waves. They hadn’t seen the Mirage Fish again since the first night but they had frequently cast their gaze towards the keep.

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As the party silences the first skeleton they notice that a single golden coin falls out of its shattered skull which glows a dull green as it hits the water. As the other skeletons fall a similar golden object, bracelet, earring, coin, ring and the like also fall into the water. Soon other lights appear in the water beneath their feet as the battle rages on. Soon the entire inside of the broken keep is glowing with light and the party can feel this throbbing arcane energy attempt to wash over them as the light glows upon them. 

“The Treasure. It’s the reason these lost souls are cursed. I should never have come to this place!” Turk calls at some point during the encounter before climbing up and out. He at least throws a rope down for the party members as he runs off.

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PDF adventure – The Lost Horde

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The Queens Tomb

408SuQuTo

The party had travelled as part of a caravan heading to the desert town of Thone as part of an easy job, escorting the merchant Kollen to the town so he could sell his wares and travel deeper through the trade route. But once arriving there the party were left in the dust as Kollen departed with another group of mercenaries who offered something that they didn’t. Knowledge of the sands and a lower price.

Talking to the merchants in the town, and the residence they found the best place to get work in Thone was the Den of Thieves. Anyone who is looking for mercenaries goes there first and it was the easiest way that they would get paid to leave this town. 

The Den of Thieves was at the edge of town and guarded quite well. The Denizens of the dunes stayed away from the town due to the other fortifications and the ruthless efficiency at which the Den of Thieves dispatched those looking to make trouble.

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The Party had sat down and enjoyed the remarkable iced beer that the establishment had to offer – something that a gnomish smith had created that produced a beer that was nearly as cold as ice. Sitting amongst the other occupants of the building the vast majority of them were quickly identified as being in here for their own gain. Several gangs called this place home and several nearby were boasting about their poor previous employer who they left in the sands poorer than what they found him. 

The door swung open revealing the darkening of the sky outside, the party had been in here for hours waiting for the chance of a job. The shadow at the door slunk in on nimble and experienced feet. A Tabaxi, one that had seen quite a number of things by the looks of it, stood at the door and watched the room – looking for a mark. Smiling, she slunk forward and turned just before reaching the party sitting next to the rougher group. 

After a few moments of low murmurs the woman stood and walked to the bar, grabbing a drink before turning and, for whatever reason she stalked past the group with a simple “I’ve changed my mind boys, sorry for my interruption” before standing in front of the party.

The rough mercenaries looked disappointed before smiling “Ah Lady luck will see us meet again in the future then Norturi – hopefully next time then.” before leaving with a few coppers on the table as a barmen came and cleaned up the empty tankards. 

“Hi, I’m Norturi – a studier of ancient lore and I find myself in need of an escort to where I think a lost treasure is. What say you? Are you looking for some quick and maybe easy work?”

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Moving ahead at night with the bright moon illuminating the dunes wasn’t an issue. The party left through one of the many, many side exits of the Den of Thieves as Norturi didn’t want to risk being seen as they left.

The Sand at night was cool and the party found themselves surprisingly cold – the layers of cloth that Norturi wore finally made sense to the party as they shivered in the desert cold. 

However they weren’t the only ones that were walking amongst the dunes in the moonlight.

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PDF adventure – The Queens Tomb

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To hunt the Grag’s game

407SuHuGrGa

The Town of Grag, not a very imaginative name as it was named after the series of stony mountains and pillars that it was built near. History would say that the mountains and jagged stony peaks were created from the ribs and shattered bones of a great and colossal creature or a god that fell in the land but none can be sure. 

The land itself is harsh, untamed and flooded with dangerous beasts and monsters – hence the township sprung up. Attracting the most foolhardy and brave of the lands hunters, the hunting lodge is the main, and only, attraction of the town. Acting as a central hub for all hunting that occurs within the Grag – the mountains and stones beyond.

Drawn here to the hunting competitions the party find themselves at the lodge, a kind of inn-come-guild hall.

El’thirnol approached the party once the rest of the hunters had left in a hurry, pulling up a chair he sat down and signalled a barmaid to bring over. “I will cut to the point. Callum is a liar and risks giving the hunters of Grag Town a bad name. There are many adventurers, hunters and would-be glory seekers that are present here who could never return if and when Callums lies catch up to him. I want to pay you, in advance of course, the prize money if I can provide  guidance to you as to where the eggs would be and if you can beat that man to this prize, I will pay you again in full.” the elf stated before the flask of wine was set in front of him and several other drinks that the party would enjoy. 

“But I wish to test if my instincts are correct. If you can bring me back a single beast from the Grag I will take that as proof of your worth. But time is short, if we have an accord we shall depart shortly. I have a quarry and a wager I do not wish to lose.”

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PDF adventure – To hunt the Grag’s game

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Hunger at Hawkcreek

406SuHuHa

The Famished are a blight upon the existence of the living. Drawn to energies of excess and creatures fulfilling their needs and desires these creatures feed off the residual energy as a way of fuelling the fire that is their life force. Drawn to places of mirth and debauchery alike it is no wonder that inns, taverns and less reputable establishments can attract these creatures in the dozens. 

However such creatures can not exist without torment and so the taint of fear, misery and loss needs to be great to summon them from the planes. A cursed existence is what it means to be one of The Famished as they will nearly never become sated and will always want for more. 

Those Famished ones that do achieve a mote of contentment will become Sated, bloated and a new swollen form will appear. By consuming enough residual energy they can create a new form and in doing so a new being is created. However being a cursed creature it means that wherever they go the famished are drawn to them. As being sated means being filled with mirth, contentment and not being hungry for any more. So the Sated seeks out places to create the perfect situation to create a new stated one in the attempts that the famished that follow them like hungry gulls do not tear down the new form they have managed to create. 

This is the endless cycle of the Sated and the Famished ones as they seek, devour and destroy themselves for eternity.

This is the endless cycle of the Sated and the Famished ones as they seek, devour and destroy themselves for eternity. 

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PDF adventure – Hunger at Hawkcreek

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The Avermeet Agitators

405SuAvAg

The party huddled around the job board at the Fogmourne Tavern and wondered what they were doing here, not for the first time this week. A few odd jobs had held them here for the week but the work was getting thin or repetitive.  

“Forgive me for asking,” a voice began from behind them which belonged to Rufos, the innkeeper for where they had been staying. “I have a job that’s just come through and instead of tacking it to the board I’d wondered if you’d be interested. The Lord of the Avermeet has an issue that he needs sorting. The messenger produced seals to allow safe passage to those who wanted to help him. You just have to travel to Calewan which is on the other side of the Avermeet Forest from here.” he paused for a moment. “If you do decide to help, the messenger said it was urgent. So you’d best decide fast”

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The party made their way to Calewan after little to no delays or issues on the road. The escort with several Avermeet Guard and the dwindling population of the wildlife in the forest made it somewhat safe to travel through. 

Entering the small city they were escorted to the keep first instead of any of the other buildings. Not surprising given that they were currently considered suspects of the poaching. As they moved through the hallways of the keep several people looked at them including a well dressed man, probably a noble. The man quickly greeted Bareth in a friendly manner and watched the party from the corner of his eyes.. 

“Lord Stoneleaf, Bareths Uncle.” Kirili offered as they watched the exchange and they were shown to a room, rather than cells. However, the door did lock from the outside which sealed them in with no ways out of the room as the windows were closed and barred. They were given food, not the best but definitely a few rungs higher than trail rations as they waited for an audience with the lord of the city.

The following morning they were brought to the Lord who looked at them with embarrassment. 

“It seems we may have made a hasty mistake in assuming your guilt in poaching from the Avermeet. However my advisor, Lord Stoneleaf, has made a convincing point that you were found in the act of actively poaching in the forest. However, this has since been cleared up as a misunderstanding as Kirili has vouched for your innocence. If you are indeed the ones who we sent out for you must have evidence of such.” the Lord said. Sitting at the large table that was in the small meeting room.

PDF adventure – The Avermeet Agitators

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