2025 Campaign Adventure 20

Plot:

New Companions and Travelling Arrangements

The party woke up and had a hearty meal consisting of sausages, bacon, eggs, thick cut toast, and in Taters case, a breakfast Ale. With Groku and Armaeth joining them as they finishing the last parts of their meal they caught sight of Tobias who had a tired and worn look to his normal smug expression. As he approached Tater and Kai, sitting down next to them, he explained that Steffani had approved a small group going to investigate the Bashe remains. He had been approved to travel with the party if they requested due to the mysterious nature of the mission.

Gwen had indicated that there was a lot of unknowns or conflicting reports but the request for aid and Payment in advance was enough for the guild to go and investigate. With little ceremony the party had invited Tobias, Tobi, to come and join them as long as he organised his own horse. Appearing uncertain about it he hurried off to procure a suitable steed.

The party caught up with Tobi as he sauntered side-saddled towards them on a rather fetching white riding horse. Its blond mane and tale complimented the golden accents to the riding tack and the very small riding bags that he had with him. Explaining for some while as he admired the green died leather accented harness and saddle he commented that it appeared to be quite uncommon for adventurers to ride side saddled – but he was determined to continue.

After Tater had taken to the Draft horse, Armaeth sitting with Groku on her riding horse and Kai deciding to walk until he could call forth his paladin-graced steed, they were about to head off where Tater was thrown to the ground by the ornery old draft horse. Tobi did not let up the comments about providing some tips and tricks about riding a horse and even suggested that the sturdy dwarf ride side saddled as it may prove more suitable.

Even despite the while stallion receiving an almighty whack from Tater that sent it dashing off towards the eastern gate Tobi managed to stay on the horse through sheer luck – much to Tater and Kai’s chagrin.

Cross Roads

The party continued for some time and Kai made an effort to show off some of the magical tricks that he head learnt when he was travelling with the wizard Tim. Tobi being amazed at first was a quick study and soon was boasting bout the age at which he had mastered the spells that Kai had likely spent ages learning. This wasn’t earning him any brownie points but the conversation was still civil as they continued along the eastern road.

The roads were busy this side of Warrensdeep with most of the traffic being agricultural or trade. The roads were well maintained and guarded as they approached a busy crossroads. Taking the path towards Faerstead the roads got a lot quieter and it was here that Kai was finally sick of walking and instead decided to play another trick on Tobias.

‘Hey Tobi, have you ever seen ancient goblin magic?’ he asked as he proceeded to vomit forth his paladin steed. The creature had a large wolf-like body with several bat features woven heavily through the creatures appearance. Lage ears, a wrinkled nose and sharp teeth. Along is muscular forelegs – where it divulged from mainly bat features – vestigial wings with a leathery skin between the inoperable bones that sprung rom near its clawed feet.

The mage nearly passed out, both Tater and Kai mocked him while the girls continued on like nothing happened. After a bit of time where the animals were needing a break, and so was Tobi as he was not used to riding horseback side-saddled or otherwise, they came across a small spring and some trees. Taking this time to rest they recounted how quiet it had been even with the potential ambush along the road where Armaeth had flown off to scout for the potential attackers only to see them fleeing into the distance away from the party. As they wrapped up their short break they continued towards Faerstead.

Sudden Test

Wanting to regain some dignity after the near-passing out incident Tobi volunteered for first watch that night as they were cooking a few large tubers he managed to find and a partridge he had caught. As they ate roasted vegetables and bird Kai and Tobi concocted a plan to test Tobi to make sure he was aware of what was involved when on watch.

Messaging his summoned steed via the telepathic link he organised for the creature to sneak off and, periodically, growl near by to test how Tobi reacted. Instead of raising the alarm he pulled out a little leather book called ‘A guide to the world’ and began taking notes around a Growling Owl. It wasn’t until the creature had pounced on him and licked his face that the party let him in on the test. Mordekai joined him for the rest of his watch and they experienced nothing foreign in their period. Rousing Tater, another prank from them both gone wrong, with a hefty kick to the stomach Tobi withdrew to a meditating like trance while Tater took watch.

It was then that somethings started to approach the camp. Rousing everyone and dousing the flames they prepared for battle but the eight foot tall bear-like apes that appeared was not what they were expecting. With a flurry of movement and violence Tobi had illuminated the creatures and sur rounding battlefield to make sure that those without Darkvision would be able to see the creatures which is when the first creature lashed out at Groku after her thrown axe barely missed it.

Digging in its sharp honed claws into her sounder it dragged her other shoulder into its mouth and bit down hard. The sudden ferocity and blood lust took the party by surprise and Groku was not looking well after sustaining a critical wounding strike. As the party fought back Kai blessed the party before he and his mount raced to support Tater and Groku who were facing off against two of these creatures. However the sustained damage against them caused a physical change in the creatures. Their wrinkly bear-baboon like faces grew taught and nearly skull like as a crown of flesh extended on top of their heads.

It attacked with renewed vigour and aggression as the smell of its own blood and the pain pushed it into a frenzy. As the party weathered the beating Tobi cast Chromatic orb and as the balls of energy lashed into the uninjured creature that was currently attacking Taters flank he managed to reel in the orb and send it spinning into the enraged, but prone thanks to a trip from Groku, creatures chest boring through as he rotated the orbs faster.

The smell of burning flesh and ozone was briefly lived as Kai smashed his shillelagh empowered attack into the creature. The as the party was able to focus on a single creature Tater raised his Halberd high and with a flurry of attacks spurred on by rage and the growing recognition of the blood-frenzy state that the creature was about to get into, he landed the finishing blow, separating the creatures head from its body.

After cleaning up everyone and tending to the most wounded, being Groku, the party let Tobi examine the bodies before he burnt them in a magically charged bonfire later, his experience as part of a cleaning unit for the guild coming into hand.

Soon the party welcomed a new dawn after some fun the day before, an encounter with creatures they had not seen before, and some early memories of their new party formation being created.

2025 Campaign Adventure 19

Plot:

Tithes of Thanks

The party woke up to a fresh morning with a few things to organise before their next mission. Gathering up their things and saying hello to Marie after a brief breakfast they head towards the Temple of Ilmater to have a chat with the clerics there. Brother Steve, the man who had welcomed Kai into the brotherhood greeted them and after Kai explained what had happened to his arm, in a non-detailed and flattering way, brother Steve managed to restore some of its functionality.

While Kai regained the ability to move his arm the strength and dexterity he once had was yet to return. A longer period of time was required to heal this affliction. As they offered a large sum of money to pay for the healing they also organised to get several healing potions created by brother Simon. As they were enquiring about where to get better weapons and adventuring gear Brother Steve warned them to steer clear of Tsar who runs a Bazaar and deals nearly exclusively in stolen items, including the church’s holy symbol that once adorned their central altar.

Finding a way to fell two orcs with one arrow they head off in search of Tsar and his Bazaar in the market.

Tsar’s Bazaar.

The party eventually found the place they were looking for. Flashy, gawdy and overly expensive the place oozed the arrogance behind the man who owned the shop. Entering they were greeted with a typical pawn shop. Shelves of people’s junk or treasured items lined next to each other. On the wall there was dozens of weapons that, with his trained eye, Tater could tell were all fake or made to look more impressive than what they were.

As they were looking a man that was more moustache than charm waddled up to them and introduced himself as Tsar. He was entirely too focused on himself and his business but made a great deal of effort in trying to sell the weapons that were on the wall to the party. Claiming that one of the axes, which was evident to Tater was intended for carpentry not battle, had felled a dragon and once belonged to a dwarven king.

After Kai enquired about holy relics of churches he used their drift globe as a tool to try and sell the appearance that he too was into the same type of ‘business’ as Tsar. After some clever deceptions the disturbing man produced a small chest filled with iconography of the gods, all of them liberated from churches. Making a great show of leaving and being somewhat uninterested as they had to sell ‘dragons teeth’ they barely left the counter before Tsar stopped them. Retrieving a single tooth that they retrieved from the Snowtown Quarry cave Tsar became transfixed . With some clever thinking Tater and Kai made the man believe that the tooth came from the same dragon that his axe allegedly slew.

Spotting a good bit of business the man ran off, advising them to search through the ‘ugly blade’ bucket as he quickly retrieved an expert in teeth.

Familiar Faces

While the man left the shop open Kai retrieved Ilmaters symbol from the box, which he had spotted earlier and stashed it in their pouch of holding. Noting a wicked looking repeating crossbow armed and ready behind the counter in case Tsar needed to deal with ‘business interference’. As they searched through the blades in the ‘ugly bucket’ they realised that all of these had been taken from graves. Some still had grave dirt on them but they were well made and were suited for combat unlike the ones on the wall.

Tater noticed that two stood out, the blades themselves showing no sign of decay, damage or wear and tear. A rapier that’s blade was razor sharp and nick-free and a long sword which had its blade glow like molten silver. Grabbing those blades and following Tsars advice, as he excitedly left, ‘Take any blade from the bucket. I can’t have my business partners going around unarmed.’ they stood their and waited for the man to return.

Using a trick that Kai had learnt early in his days of travelling with the wizard that had ‘adopted him’ he had an unseen servant rotate the supposed dragons tooth above the counter, holding it a foot above the wood. Tsar returned with a familiar face. Tobias, the mage that they had interviewed briefly to accompany them.

Recognising the party Tobi made a silent pact to not reveal each other to the man, or their employers as he inspected the tooth. Not a dragon. Something more. A bashe, a large serpent that used to hunt dragons and had a strange kindship with purple worms. After hearing about how rare they were and how valuable these teeth were Tobi helped the party convince Tsar that it was worth more than his shop was worth. Tobi agreed to sell his shop on the condition that he would receive the tooth – greed taking over his eyes. Agreeing to meet the party at Ms Trotters Tavern, where the party had no intention of visiting, he would bring what gold he could to purchase the tooth from them.

As the man hurried them out the door, the tooth still in possession with the party, he ran off to begin making as much coin as possible in a short amount of time to pay for the tooth and to truly become rich. Tobi confirmed it was a Bashe tooth, that part was not deceptive, but also advised they are valuable to certain people – he being one of them.

As they left the party discussed with Tobi the potential of him joining them on their next journey to Faerstead. Considering the offer he agreed to meet the party at the Five Fat Ravens Inn later to discuss the tooth, the mission and more. The party head back to the Tavern, spoke to Tobi about where they found the tooth so the guild could go and retrieve more teeth for study and, profit.

As they rested they prepared themselves for their next mission.

2024 Campaign Adventure 17 & 18

Plot:

Evil Unmasked

Leaving Fustmach with supplies they followed the path down the mountains. The travel down was easier than up the mountain and with the snow disappearing and the mud hardening they made good time. Following the tracks of the Orc family that left the day before they discovered that the gnoll’s had separated from the others earlier in the path. The party found traces of the goblin, Gorbo, that the freed travelling with or near the orcs but the tracks were different.

As they continued they found a camping site where it appears the family of Orcs they had rescued had rested, but there were other tracks as well. Larger tracks mingled with goblin tracks were found around the outskirts of the camp site. The reason for these tracks was later discovered.

As they continued on they came to a familiar spot near where they rested on the way up the mountain. However instead of a, wolf ridden place to reside they found the Orc family killed, butchered and eaten with the main evidence being deep knife-like cuts and large bestial footprints. Deciding to avenge the slain orcs they set up a trap to see who would bite by, to no ones surprise, Kai pretending to be injured.

However, despite the obvious portrayal to the trap it worked. A goblin appeared, the same one they rescued from the cages beneath Fustmach. After a brief discussion and concern for Kai’s wellbeing because “the civilised people are not to be trusted” they offered the goblin paladin a choice, join their movement to free the goblinoids and other monstrous races by overthrowing the civilised world. Agreeing as he believes in freedom of his people and wants to see their persecution end he followed the goblin to meet with his other associates. Another mistake to the growing list.

Monstrous Intervention

His associates? Hulking bugbears. The initiation ceremony? Murdering his travelling companions. Tater had seen him leave suddenly and had summoned Armaeth and Groku to follow urgently in case his friend was in danger. Gorbo revealed that they had agents within many major cities and that the enslaved goblins, including those in Warrensdeep were to be freed and an uprising would occur. However despite the freedom of the perceived tyranny that his people were under Kai had made up his mind.

When Kai refused to murder his friends the bugbears revealed their mutated nature claiming they had been blessed by a pact with the gods. Maglubiyet, Malar, Yeenaghu and Gruumsh had supposedly blessed their kind with power. As Kai fended off the attacks from clubs, axes and blades the Goblin attacked him with a dagger held in a now-revealed third hand.

After calling for his companions to flee from the Goblin and hobgoblins, who pursued Kai, the party did what they thought was best… they engaged the goblinoids in combat and it was a bloody affair. Groku took a few massive hits from the brutish goblinoids while Kai was poisoned by Gorbo’s dagger attacks. After a few horrifying rounds of combat the goblin lay dying, cut in half and the bugbears were not moving in various stages of death.

Discussing the battle and the disagreement in the approach they made two revelations. Half the goblin was missing, he had crawled off and the second discovery? The wounds of the bugbears had twisting, purple worms attempting to re-knit the surface of the wounds again. Following Gorbo Kai found he trying to escape. Again Gorbo mocked Kai for betraying his people and forsaking true power, the power of the gods and even as he was being dragged back to where they were disposing of the bugbear corpses he tried to escape even as the corruption tried to knit together his wounds.

Fork in the Road

None of the party slept particularly well that night and as they rose the next day, fed their adopted giant albino bat and prepared to finish the travel to Warrensdeep their minds and hearts were heavy. Leaving at dawn they made great time. The roads were all downhill from here and with no snow or slush they were able to reach the crossroads at Suncrest.

Taking the more direct path it wasn’t until mid afternoon that they came across anything that gave them pause. A large tree had been ripped from the ground, splintered from an impact about mid way and large claw marks were seen in the surface of the bark. Marking in the ground indicated that there had been some form of confrontation here. Claw marks, large indentations and shifting of dirt from something heavy, or strong, dragging across the roads surface and then, the loser of the confrontation fleeing and heading north west towards the mountains.

The party deduced that they had been made by something possible reptilian or dragon-like but, there were conflicting information and evidence. The number of sword-length claws didn’t align to dragon or reptile, the blunt markings were too unfamiliar and unusual with no evidence of scale or chitin which would be expected from a wyrm, dragon or other beast. As they moved on they exchanged theories including the possibility of A turtle-bear, a creature that Tater swore existed but the others had not heard of such before.

Upon dusk due to the incline towards the city, the mule and draft horses progress on the good roads they were able to see Warrensdeep. Entering the town they were advised to find a good place for the caravan, which reeked due to the giant bat living within it, and they eventually settled with stashing the caravan nearby with the horses and mule residing at the Five Fat Ravens tavern while they waited for the morning.

New Orders

The morning brought good warm food, no pork knuckle to Kai’s dismay, and a resolution. A warehouse was to be sought so that Batrick could stay within the city while they prepared for their next job, or longer. And, of course, the reason they were here was to report to Steffani and Gwen. A tip-off from Marie the tavern owner saw them heading towards the guards barracks where they heard some unsettling news.

A cult had rumoured to have started within Warrensdeep. The nature of the cult, its people or purpose were strangely unknown but the citizens were rallying around the barracks and even the mayors residence to bring an end to it. According to Steffani and Gwen, who got her information from Sebastian; the Aasimar descended captain of the guard, the cult had strong ties with the guard, the mayor and the city itself which put everyone on edge. However, this was all they knew and that Sebastian was looking into it.

The other news that Gwen provided them was a new job, the Township of Faerstead (Fae-RR-Stead) had hired them to come and investigate the strange happenings in their town. Strange creatures, bestial forms and shadows had been seen around the village at night. The town itself had been built upon the ruins of a long-destroyed city so there was a relatively extensive tunnel system under Faerstead which they believe the creatures dwelt within. However due to not having a military presence of themselves they had not confirmed or investigated their suspicions.

The party had a tough decision to make. Investigate the rumours of a cult in Warrensdeep, something they would do on their own time and accord without being paid for it by Gwen or the order. Or, take the paid mission and go help the village of Faerstead.

Main NPCs:

Sidekicks

2024 Campaign Adventure 16

Plot:

Suspicions

The party regrouped to watch the entrance to Toms manor with the suspicion that any accomplish of Tom would try and break into the manor at night. However with the only visible way in, the front door, the party then tried some trickery with Kai sending messages (via the spell) to one of the guards to try and sew confusion. However a lucky streak of unnatural savvy for Kurt and his fellow guard Dave saw them unperturbed by the voice in his head.

Meanwhile John, the newly elected new mayor of Fustmach watched as they hauled Tom’s body out of the manor and took it out of town to be burned, along with any other bodies or meat they found in the manor. The party managed to get some information out of Kurt, that he lived next to the blacksmith which was their first stop on the way back to the Fat Sow where Kai used divine sense to check for any more fiendish presence in the building – but alas, there was none and his excuse to burgle the mans house evaporated with it.

However as they entered the Fat Sow, were offered food and a place to rest (which Armaeth and Groku were already deeply keen for) they ascended the stairs. That’s when Kais divine sense picked up on something small. A fiend at the edge skirts of town. Calling for Tater the goblin rushed out of the Fat sow and gave chase of the divine sense, not able to see what it was but knowing where it is due to his divine connection.

Eventually he found his way to the wagon where to was resting and to his and taters surprise, and one of the villager’s horror, the tentacle of Mayor Tom was still moving. With a deft chop with Taters new axe he severed the limb but, more importantly, revealed that there was an invisible fiend that scurried off from the large corpse of the mayor.

Fiendish Foray

In hot pursuit of the creature Kai cast Entangle, which to his credit bound the creature. This enabled Tater to get a hit in with the crossbow bolt which broke the imp out of its invisibility. Kai, a bit rattled from the adventures of the last few days, strode forward with the intention of capturing and interrogating the imp, however the creature screeched forward and large winged shapes descended from the mountains nearby.

As the creatures descended Tater called out and got one of the villagers to run off and get Groku and Armaeth from the Fat Sow while a final crossbow bolt put an end to the Imp. As the Imp died Kai released his concentration on the entanglement spell, cast Shillelagh and hold person on one of the large-winged small spiny creatures. The spell failed to hold.

The first creature flew buy and stabbed Tater with a trident-like fork while barely missing with its razor sharp teeth as it continued to fly past the stout dwarf. Kai dodged the stabbing fork but was bitten instead, his armour meaning nothing without his arm to hold his shield.

Tater lashed out at the creatures with this halberd – the extra reach coming in handy while Kai tried to pepper them with spells where his melee weapons could not hit. Seeing Taters success in reaching the creatures Kai imbued him with divine favour which made his strikes hit particularly hard. After seeing tater’s reach and lethal accuracy the creatures, spined devils, split up. The uninjured one swooped Kai hitting with his fork while the injured one flung spikes from its tail at Tater, which the psionic energy from his fathers forge protected Tater from some of the blow.

Tater then cut one of the creatures in half with two powerful strikes while Kai managed to paralyze the other, making it fall 30ft from the sky and crash into the earth. Tater then followed up with a large slash from the pole-arm before Kai tried to tie up the creature to question. Breaking the spells hold on it the spined devil was too feeble and confused to break free from the ropes that Kai tried to tie, one handed, around the creature. However Tater came and made short work of the knots.

Both Kai and Tater questioned the devil and at the end of it learnt little apart from the devils were here to check on the statue, the one that the party had destroyed just yesterday. However, as the party both tried to free and murder the spined devil it attempted to flee – Kai dragging it backwards with a risky use of the Iron Thorn bracers before a psionically empowered bolt from Tater shot it down. More bodies to be burnt with Mayor Tom.

Farewell to new friends, and old foes

The party stumbled back into the village and returned back to The Fat Sow to rest. In the morning they ate breakfast while Kai learnt more about the origins of the creatures, they were from Malbolge – the prison layer of hell for the most disobedient of devils. Tater however received a raven from Gwen, the leader of their order.

Good work over there. Come back for full report. New mission ready when you are – Gwen

After this, some farewells and checking on Batrick, the albino bloodhunter pup, the party left the village and began the trek back to Warrensdeep.

Main NPCs:

Sidekicks