Complete Acquiescence

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The city of Brightkeep was magnificent. A city that was built around the temple to Helm, the deity of protection, is a many layered city that has enjoyed being protected by the knights of Helm known as the Watchers. The people appeared to be a wealthy lot as they strode around the markets in fine clothes. Many bought richly coloured vibrant fabrics, jewellery or even exotic foods.

The party headed towards the centre of the town, the market place was too chaotic and busy and there was quite a lot to see in this city. Many of the guards laughed, drank and indulged in the delights of the city as much as the rich patrons. In fact on multiple occasions the party witnessed a theft, pickpockets or something more dire where the guards look almost displeased to give chase of the thieves.

After a few minutes of walking the party noticed that a single, tall robed man had been walking behind them for quite some time. His boots and long white tabard were dirty, filthy with mud and other stains, some of which looked like blood. The clink of mail could be heard over the din from the other inhabitants from this city as the man strode with purpose towards the party.

Friend or foe

They could feel the power radiating from this man, a holy knight, one of the Watchers. To bring upon the gaze of the watchers was to incite the judgement and potential wrath of Helm and this man embodied the feeling of judgement. As they hastened their pace, not wanting to tangle with the man, their twists and turns down alleys only seemed to increase the speed of which the man continued his pursuit. But there was something more. Two shadows, men and women in darkened robes that had the same markings of the watcher, flanked him. The three of them gained ground on the party.

Turning a last corner they came across a large, old door. The stones were worn, besmirched with grime and dirt and the door looked as if there had once been a lock. Now removed forcefully the door provided the party a way out and away from the watchers who were gaining ground quickly. The pink of mail and hurried, yet softened footfalls of the shadows were moments away. Pushing through the door they closed it behind them and let their eyes adjust to the gloom.

The ruined Temple

They were in a large, magnificent building. Large columns of smooth stone held the roof up. The floor was littered with pews and tables, all of which were pushed over, broken or otherwise defiled. Suddenly the door behind them creaked before it was ripped from its hinges. The water and shadows trickled into the room and stood there in shock.

“What has happened to the temple of Helm…” one of the shadows, a woman, asked. “Brother Amed, this would explain the presence we felt. The order of Helm, the watchers. They have gone. the city lies unprotected…”

The large warrior just stood there looking around, his eyes glancing over the party before he strode to a beheaded statue to Helm and knelt. The murmur of prayer echoed dimly from the walls.

Thoughts

Now I haven’t touched on the creature that has triggered this adventure but the fall of a major, the major power in a city is never good. In fact that is what this week is about. I wanted to run the party through the investigation of the issues in the city. I believe that finding the root cause and silencing it will make this adventure something to remember and I cant wait for the party to experience it.

To Take Wolf Ridge

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The party watched the man, a veteran from some forgotten conflict, pace in front of a map. The plans were simple yet the man took a lot of pride in them and strutted like a bird trying to impress a mate. The mission was simple: support the soldiers and escort the transport from some barbarians from Wolf Ridge to town. The veteran began to explain to the other adventurers and sell swords the reason for the raid on the village. The party had heard it before.

The governor of the town of Berkshire was growing tired of the farms being raided for livestock by the barbaric tribe of Wolf Ridge. So he organised the guards of Berkshire, along with some mercenaries to raid the village to capture the tribal people a week before the full moon. The Governor had heard from a passing wise man that the tribe indulged in a week of peace before the full moon. With the soldiers gathered and bolstered by eager to sell swords, adventurers and mercenaries the Governor and his friend, the captain of the guard, planned to attack in the middle of the week.

The party had been approached separately, by the governor, and had been asked to keep the other non-guards in line. Word had reached him of the party’s previous successes and he was keen to have them employed differently than the others. Besides, he was worried about his friend, the captain, as he had left the army after being involved in a large battle but that battle had never really left him.

The Raid

The party approached the village, ready for anything but as predicted they were greeted by alarmed but passive people. A variety of races, ages and people made up this tribe and they dressed in wolf furs to fight off the chill of the alpine village. As the guards rounded up the tribe’s people they left the elderly and kids and escorted the others out of the village. The sell swords stood near the party and watched as the warriors marched, defeated, away from their homes.

“You can’t do this… Not during our sacred week.” a voice spoke from behind them. Turning they saw a middle aged halfling woman who dressed in a mixture of merchant and tribal gear. “We spend this week praying and seeking mercy from our gods. To break this cycle is to insight doom upon our people and yours as our gods are unrelenting and merciless.”

After a brief but concerning talk with the woman the guards called for the party to leave. Those that remained at Wolf Ridge cried but stood there, peacefully, as they watched their tribesmen and women be marched off. The party noticed the little halfling woman looking pleadingly at them but slowly lowered herself to her knees and began to pray. Cupping her hands in such a way that a large circle was made she held it to the sky and began a howling chant.

The chant carried them down the hill and sent a shiver down their spines.

Thoughts

Now this one, in my opinion, is a bit of a classic trope that I simply love to throw at parties. The idea behind this week is to seek signs, to question little ‘Easter eggs‘ and for me to tie multiple things together to have an “ah-hah!” moment. I believe that this adventure should be thrown at almost all parties as it can teach them a few things about themselves, the game and their characters.

To Roll with Fate

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What… that is the question on the players lips as they watched what was happening in front of their very eyes. As the pile of coins; silvers copper and golds, piled up in front of the youngster in front of them.

“You want another round? I can’t believe my luck at this. My older brothers showed me how to play once or twice but I never thought that it was this fun!” the youngster, a boy of maybe twelve years old, said with glee.

“No more. I’ve got nothing less to give up. You’re a natural at this my boy!” a large man said with a might grin and laugh. “Unless these other players wish to roll dice against you and loose all their coin I daresay you’ve out played us all!” he said with a chorus of laughter from the men near to him.

The boy grinned broadly, a very innocent smile. “Nah, just beginners luck sir.” he said with a smile as he grab fistfuls of coin and shoved them into a bag. “Here, thanks for teaching me sirs!” he said as he passed out a few silver pieces to all the people at the table, enough for a meal. “I better get home before mother worries!” he said with a skip as he hoisted himself down from the chair and bounced out the door.

“Follow him,” the large man said after the door closed behind the boy, “I want my coin.”

Dishonourable

The boy ran down the alley ways, the men who had followed him from the tavern were catching up and he was now frantically running. “Give us the gold boy. No questions just the gold and you can be free!” one of the goons shouted at him, a dragonborn with large rough scales. The boy ran faster.

As he turned a corner in the unfamiliar part of town he ran into a blocked alleyway. A large mountain of barrels had been stacked here to be unpacked and sorted in the morning. As he looked for way around the sounds of the men got closer and he took a risk. climbing over the barrels was risky but, he was lucky after all.

“There you are boy. Now we can do this the hard way or the easy way. Give us the coin and you can go back home to mother. Don’t and you go back to mother but limping. No one cheats the boss and the boss don’t lose at dice. So that means you cheated!” the other, a half-drow snarled at the boy. The boy didn’t respond and so with a snarl the half-drow jumped forward and grabbed the boy by the ankle. The boy shrieked and kicked out once, suddenly, his foot connecting with the eye of the half-drow.

“Ouch! You little dog. Well let’s say that you don’t even make it back to mother now!” the man roared as he wrenched hard on the boys foot. The boy grabbed onto the barrel with all his might but, he started to slip.

To roll with fate

As his grip faltered and the barrels started to tip his lucky dice fell from his jacket and bounced down the barrels. The boy let go of the barrels, determined to not let the dice finish falling. But as he fell, the man looked shocked as the boy fell on him and the dice clacked down the barrels.

Picking himself up he dove for the dice but it bounced off his finger tip as the man under him pulled him closer “Gotcha!” he snarled with a manic grin. But the dice stopped rolling just as the boy grasped it. With a sound like a bell being struck the dice resonated with power and with a sizzling snap the boy, the boy, the half-drow and half the barrels disappeared in a flash of deafening light and a thunderous Roar. When the dragonborn could see again all that remained was floating barrels and a single silver piece.

Thoughts

Oh boy, magic dice, a lucky lad and a missing henchmen. This adventure has all the things that a good “What” could want. The answer to what is simple. A magical artefact that is possessed by a lucky boy who has disappeared with a large sum of coins that a gang leader believes is his. Tomorrow we will look at the who, the part of the story that will drive the involvement for the party and the adventure.