Heraldry, Healers and Horns

445SuHeHeHo

In the bustling city of Jostaire, nobleman Radulas Rustlestone lies bedridden, struck by a mysterious affliction that no healer could cure. His wife, Kathryn Rustlestone, desperate to save her husband, has reached out to the party, renowned for their heroism and their ability to complete any tasks that they are charged with. A messenger from the distant Church of Lathander arrives, bringing news that Clarice Brightborn, a healer from the church, believes she can cure Radulas. However, Clarice is being targeted and requests an escort to the nobleman’s side. With a generous offer of gold, titles, and land, Lady Rustlestone implores the party to undertake this perilous journey to save her husband and restore order to their city.

Recognizing the urgency and the potential foul play at hand, the party must decide whether to accept this high-stakes mission, knowing the rewards could transform their lives forever. Their decision could change the fate of Jostaire and its people.

The party made it to Narrowbreath where the church of Lathander stood proudly in the morning light. They had been ambushed three times on the way to the small city and even as they walked along the streets there was signs that they were being watched everywhere. But despite this no one dared to approach them as the guards, the local clergy of Lathander and their reputation surrounded them like a cover of awe for many people. They spent their day finding information out about their future ward, Clarice, as they prepared for the trip ahead of them. Finally as Clarice stepped out of the temple to Lathander it was evident that her keen senses picked up on the party watching her. Not surprisingly so as from what they had found out it had been a tough few weeks for her, filled with threats and actual attacks. Her priestly robes were replaced with battle ready armour and equally tested and tried weapons, a testament to the danger she had faced.

The party watched as she made her way to the Mindful Badger, the tavern they were meant to meet her at which confirmed that she was indeed the woman they were looking for. As she takes her usual seat and sips her water, the party catches her eyes as they enter the tavern. Approaching her booth, she raises a cautious hand, warning them of her rough week and testing their intentions by mentioning Lord Rockenworth. When they present Lady Rustlestone’s letter, she breathes a sigh of relief.

“Please forgive my deception,” she says, explaining the numerous attempts on her life and the growing desperation of her attackers. “So tell me, when can we leave to cure the lord?”

As the party departs from Narrowbreath, they find the journey unexpectedly calm, free from the usual threats they’d encountered before. On the second day at dawn, they carefully break camp, ensuring their surroundings remain secure. Just as they finish preparing, a distant, mournful horn echoes through the air, hinting at a hunt or impending danger.

Clarice comments on the sound, suggesting it might be noble hunters from Jostaire or Narrowbreath. They begin their trek, but the horns sound again, accompanied by the ominous thud of hooves. The dawn light reveals a smooth, polished and lightly ridged object moving among the trees. Realization dawns too late: it’s the horn of a massive Minotaur.

Bursting through the foliage, the Minotaur’s broad, armoured form becomes clear. It bellows a mournful call, soon echoed by several more of its kind, all bearing the same clan symbol on their armour and shields. The party quickly understands this isn’t a random encounter; the Minotaur’s are here with a purpose, likely targeting Clarice.

With weapons drawn and senses heightened, the adventurers brace themselves for the impending battle, knowing that this fierce opposition is far more than just a chance encounter.

PDF adventure – Heraldry, Healers and Horns

Valley of Fire

444SuVaFi

The party had received word of a job that was the highest priority and seeking only the best. Of course that meant that it was exceedingly well paid and that they were the right people for the job. The guild leader in Musca acted as the middleman between them and their client but the royal seal on the letter indicated that their client was the royal family of Musca.
‘I need a group of adventurers to come and secure the Rekuldor and ensure their safety. My most trusted men will assist you and one of them, Rovi, will meet you and escort you to where we need your help.’

True to the king’s word Rovi arrived the next morning at the guild hall with the horses that they would be taking into the valley. ‘It is good to meet you. The Guild has spoken highly of you and I am glad that you will join me into the Mascalar valley. Once we reach the ridge we will leave the horses and continue on foot into the valley itself.’

The next day of travel was easy going with many soldiers on the roads patrolling and ensuring the public’s safety. However the business quickly evaporated when they reached the edge of the valley where they began to travel on foot over the ridge and deeper into the valley beyond. There were plumes of smoke here and the smell of burning soil and wood. Rovi showed his true prowess here pointing to tracks, stopping and redirecting the party to avoid a particular unfriendly denizen of the valley and even finding them fresh food.

As the party moved deeper, the signs of human presence and the smell of burning grew stronger. They reached a concealed camp, where Jovi was welcomed back by scouts who reported seeing the first Rekuldor and signs of other intruders. It did not take long for them to reach the camp that they had been travelling to where Jovi introduced the adventurers as crucial support, highlighting the need to identify and mitigate any variables that could disrupt the migration. His pointed look at the party signalled that he expected their input and readiness to help.

As the white robed man bearing a flaming sword fell, the scout they came with called out ‘I’ve got it’ as the barrels stopped smoking and the drip fed vial of flaming chemicals was disposed of. An hour passed as they cleaned up the barrels and the bodies and slowly the first of the Rekuldors appeared. Their long necks were covered in wrinkles of armoured skin and they plodded along on large sloth-like arms and claws. As they passed by irate shouting could be heard coming closer.

The Rekuldors paused before moving back towards the party and away from the barrels which had stopped smoking now. 

‘Those idiots probably forgot to use the flame charges!’ a woman shouted as several more guards surrounded a black robed figure. ‘Oh. That explains why there was no explosion. But now I can deal with the pesky Musca warriors who have been interfering with our orders. Kill them, leave one alive for questioning.’ she ordered.

PDF adventure – Valley of Fire

Magnifico’s Cursed Vault

443SuMaCuVa

The party had recently explored a series of ruins that led them to a cave where two pristine silver statues had been located. Despite their best attempts they could not work out the purpose of the three foot tall statues only that they were masterworks, made of silver and extremely valuable. Not wanting to leave empty handed they took them to the nearby City of Dalken where the attempted sale of the statues created a bidding war which saw the party leave with a great deal of money. They managed to catch the name “Magnifico” mentioned more than once as people enquired about where the statue was. It wasn’t long until the city guard appeared. ‘Sorry about that, word on the street is that the statue you found was an original Magnifico.’ the guard said with a smile that he knew more than he was letting on. ‘To verify these reports, you’ll have to come with us and for your safety of course as people go crazy for anything from Magnifico.’

The party travels back the way they came from Dalken with a few guards and Captain Claud Flay, a two day journey in total but in relatively good company. The captain seems sensitive and anxious and after a few hours on the path they can’t blame the captain. Frequently as they retrace their journey from the cave to the city they notice a set of hoof prints and the occasional single boot print. An occasional extinguished camp fire, a bit of red fabric caught on a bush or branch all of which the Captain claims must be the cult they were warned about.

The party managed to push their way through the golems as they were crushed and knocked over by the falling rubble from the cave in. Scrambling over the rocks and debris they ran for the lifeline, a rope swinging from the ceiling. The owner of the shadow they had seen earlier turned out to be a woman. She introduced herself as Jessica and that she worked with Harper to ensure that weapons, like Magnifico’s golems, would never be found or used. So when the party had happened upon the vaults entrance the harpers had entered the Vault and taken the amulet that controls the golems so that they would not be used. 

As she led them off the side of the mountain she mentioned that captain Claud Flay had been trying to get the golems for the king for years now, a sure way to get appointed a noble. 

It was at this point that the sounds of distress and pain could be heard. Racing down the mountain they found Claud half-crushed in the rocks of the cave-in he had created to bury the party. He promised the party riches if they could help him be free, once he was a noble he would see to it that they be treated as equals by the king.

PDF adventure – Magnifico’s Cursed Vault

Bleak Levels of Supplies

442SuBlLeSu

Supplies are running low at the party’s home base of operations, a bastion of sorts, and the closest and established route to purchase supplies is in the Orchreweld, a sprawling desert city of traders. The staff at The Bleak, their keep, have established trade connections in the city and have organised the desert trader Var’Snikk to provide the party goods.  However complications have arisen as there are rumours of a great beast, a wyvern, that has begun to prey on the travellers through Fester Chasm, a large scar on the earth where great spires of stone rose out of the ground forming a twisting chasm-like valley where traders could get respite from the sun and dust storms for at least some of the day.

The Jade Scorpion was quiet yet comfortable and as they settled down for a meal the Innkeeper, Barthos, offered them tankards of refreshing ale as he kept an eye on a group of mercenaries in the corner. Two of the three women were Orcs who evidently spent a lot of time in the sun with how their skin had fared and the other was a solid looking human that was decked in a lot of steel. As they chorused for more ale they discussed how their latest job appeared to be little more than a ruse to ambush them. 

After the party had shopped for their own personal supplies, rested and prepared for the journey back. Var’Snikk was talking to Pralu, Zaroh and Yazmin as if they were old friends, companions in fact. As they saddled up with their new escort, and Var’Snikk who insisted on seeing his wares get through the Fester safely they were warned about bandits from the Ochre city guard. It wasn’t long until they noticed signs of their presence.

As the convoy formed a defensive wall from the bandits who obviously bluffed by threatening to summon a tamed wyvern a real roar echoed through the chasm, calling out a challenge to any and all to flee. Moment by moment the beating of wings heralded the arrival of the ruler of these sands, an adult blue dragon. The moment the creature’s glittering blue scales could be seen in the sky the bandits fled and the convoy quickly raced to get to a more favourable position. The party managed to board the wagons as they raced past the panicked would-be slavers now attempting to escape something far more dangerous.

PDF adventure – Bleak Levels of Supplies

Silence Over Sunleaf

441SuSiOvSu

The party approached Sunleaf village, passing tidy farm houses and a prominent church steeple. They stabled their horses at the Silver Bucket inn and were welcomed by Harry, a cheerful halfling innkeeper. He informed them about the mysterious happenings in the village and cautioned them to take care as there was a shortage of healers within Sunleaf as the clerics were unable to receive blessings from their goddess. Harry advised caution and mentioned the songstress at the church as, nearly, the only source of magical protection within the village due to the unnatural silence that had fallen upon the worshipers of the deities of Sunleaf Village. As another visitor arrived Harry excused himself, leaving the party to settle in for the night.

A few hours after nightfell the party was about to wrap up for the night when the door started pounding. Harry had barred the door as he prepared to lock up for the night as he began preparation for the next day. However as the door pounded loudly Harry dashed across the room to let in a frantic man, Adam, who claimed a spirit had chased him. While Harry calmed him with food and drink, Adam shared his harrowing tale of encountering a faceless entity near the Church of Chauntea. Harry had warned the party of the unsettling events in the village over the past few weeks and days upon arrival however despite suggesting they leave it looked like danger had come before they could make good on his advice. Just as Adam was talking, he froze, and we saw the faceless figure drift towards those gathered around him. The room fell silent with fear as the reality of the ghostly presence set in. Harry, ever brave, grabbed a skillet, ready to defend his inn.

As the creature drifted in space, its faceless vision scanned the party. Wearing tattered purple robes that drifted as if caught in a breeze it watched them with its eyeless face. The only thing that stood out was a thin, twisted silver circlet. Suddenly it rushed forward towards them with its bony claws and slashed at them with surprising speed. The world fell silent as it drifted into their midst and the party’s connection to their deities severed as they fought with the creature.
Suddenly a dark presence invaded their minds like a flame lit arrow launched into a darkness. A vision of a figure dressed in purple, rotting robes and a twisted silver crown sat on a throne of bones. The fight raged on and eventually, after the creature fell, the silence lifted.

A peal of thunder heralded something more as a thunderstorm formed outside. Rushing outwards revealed more spectres descending from the clouds themselves. The party realised they were amidst a divine battleground, with god’s warring above them as a bolt of lightning lit the figure of a large broad shouldered man as the lightning clashed with the belltower of Chauntea, a flash of golden energy flashing into existence to protect the tower just in time.

PDF adventure – Silence Over Sunleaf