The gang and I have been playing our Monday night D&D sessions live on the twitch stream here : https://twitch.tv/im_method . Our GM is experienced but we (players) are mostly new. It's so exciting having this world unfold in front of us.
The sun is just rising. You can smell bread and smoke, and hear the clucking of hens. You stand just outside a large, ramshackle tavern, still a bit groggy from the night before, in the middle of a large crossroads in the center of town.
Townsfolk are all starting full days of work. They're a mix of farmers, craftsmen, and traders who have come to live here and support the caravans and travelers passing through. Business has been good, but lately whatever has been stirring in the hills to the northeast seems to have brought trouble here too...
Our adventurers find themselves on an early fall day in the town of Red Larch. Lucy met Seebo in the market in Red Larch, and bought him out of all 24 of his "lucky" rabbit's feet, while Arya and Alora explored the town.
Arya headed into the Helm at Highsun first and met up with Kaylessa Irkell, the Innkeeper, who had contacted the adventurers the day before and asked them to meet her at noon. Realizing he was running late, Seebo dashed off and busted in a couple minutes late, but was warmly greeted by Arya who promptly got him drunk.
Alora tried to get Lucy to come with her to meet with Kaylessa, but Lucy was bent on buying a chicken. In a moment of drunkness, Seebo ran out into the road and did a wild chicken impression that attracted Lucy's attention. Kaylessa eventually got them all inside, and after a hearty lunch, she offered them 50gp if they would investigate Lance Rock just northwest outside of town, where her children had had seen some things.
After, Lucy immediately resumed her hunt for a chicken, and Alora followed after. She eventually found herself standing in front a surly half-orc, who she failed to charm, but luckily talked her way out of more serious trouble and bought his largest chicken, who she named "516".
Arya and Seebo headed to the nearby Wagonworks, where they talked to Jaedrin Irkell, Kaylessa's oldest son. After various attempts at intimidation, persuasion, throwing rabbit's feet and Seebo's impressive backflip, they learned that Jaedrin had seen a body near an entrance to a ruin at the base of Lance Rock. He also had overheard from a caravan that there were bandits trying to setup and ambush on the road south of town a couple days ago.
Despite the group's efforts, Lucy ditched them one last time before they could leave town to stop in a bakery, where they bought cheese rolls and twiddle tarts. The baker mentioned hearing rumors of goblins living in an old tomb south of town, before they headed out. After heading northwest out of town, about halfway to Lance Rock, the adventurers noticed an Ankheg just ahead. After blasting out of the ground and cutting a leg off, they eventually slew the beast in a blast of magic, blood, and carapace.
After slaughtering the Ankheg, our adventurers flagged down two passing knights of the Shadow Faith; Lanthander the half-elf and Ogriima the kenku. After trading a few insults with the Ogriima, our adventurers continued on to Lance Rock.
The encountered a neatly painted sign that reads, "Come no closer lest you catch the disfiguring plague that afflicts me! - The Lord of Lance Rock". After some concern about whether or not they were willing to risk becoming infected themselves, Alora pushed them to press on.
Within the mouth of the cave, they encountered a goblin zombie, who sprang to life and attacked Seebo. Luckily, it Alora swiftly killed it, decapitating in and leaving it lifeless on the ground. A voice from within the cave called out "You must go away at once, the Lord of Lance Rock commands it!" Luckily, with near perfect accuracy Lucy imitated a zombie and the voice quieted down.
While Lucy and Alora stood guard, Seebo and Arya headed into the cave themselves to investigate, sneaking past a couple of zombies before Seebo tripped and accidentally attracted the attention of some oddly dressed zombies further in. In the mad dash to escape, while Arya nimbly escaped, Seebo took the full force of a box of rocks dropped on him by zombies above, knocking him unconscious.
Arya, Alora, and Lucy mounted a daring rescue, saving Seebo and they escaped back to town to collect from Kaylessa Irkell and get some sleep. In the morning, Arya bought a bow, Alora talked to some dashing mercenaries, Seebo sought out Dornen Finestone, owner of the quarry, to ask him about an odd stone disk and learned it had the mark of the Cult of the Crushing Wave on it.
Meanwhile, Lucy recruited the help of the Shadow Faith from Seluné, the priest of the Shadow Shrine in Red Lark. After gathering the group, Seluné provided them with tabards, weapons, armor and shields, before they met Lanthander again, who offered them his aid with the help of fellow shadow knight Stanley. Before heading out of town, Seebo bought some stew from an old halfling woman Ursula, then did some talking and trading with Endrith Vallivoe, a tiefling purveyor of miscellany. Arya got a healer's kit; Endrith got an ankheg claw; and Seebo got a newly fixed pocket watch that's still missing a minute hand.
Our adventurers regroup with the shadow knights Lanthander Wygellin and Stanley Browick to return to Lance Rock. They make the trek once more, better equipped and with bigger numbers, to the cave where they find the body of the zombie they slew cleaned up.
This time they were ready. Seebo flashed his shortswords, Alora her scimitar, Lucy eldritch blasts and Arya a bit of nearly every weapon she had until all of the Lord of Lance Rock's guards and "actors" had been fried, sliced, or stabbed.
They crept further still, until they came face to face with Oreioth, the Lord of Lance Rock himself. After a bit of confusion and a Healing Word from Alora, they learned his 'malady' was just a ruse to try to keep visitors away so he could practice necromancy in peace.
Sweet talking got his guard down, but Lucy's charm spell turned "Oreo" to butter, who was happily making them tea, handing over his valuables, and telling them about the believers of Black Earth who follow Ogrémoch. Our adventurers tore through his gold, his supplies, and even took his tea.
Before the spell could wear off, our adventurers left, with a backflip and an gnomish defecation of unusual size. As they headed out, Seebo left a rope tied across the entrance - just in case.
As the spell effects wore off the Lord of Lance Rock, he realized what had happened. Oreioth had been swindled! If he ever got the chance, he'd make them pay...
Our adventurers return to town, a bit stronger, smarter, and more potent than they were before. After a well earned night at Kaylessa's, go to see the butcher Jalessa Orna who has a goat set aside.
At Jalessa's, they got Black Phillip, the goat, and met Harburk Orna, Jalessa's husband and the constable of Red Larch. Harburk offered them 600gp if they would deal with the bandits along the road to the south.
Arya and Alora went to investigate some of the warhouses they had seen before, while Seebo and Lucy created a diversion with Black Phillip in the market. After finding mostly worthless things, they did pilfer some leather and a mining pick.
Back in the market, Lucy talked to Endrith and learned she had a driftglobe and a wand of magic missiles for 3sp, although he couldn't tell how many charges it had left. After trading some insults, they left, and with now most of the party on bad terms with Endrith. Meanwhile, Arya made arrangements with Chansyrl to make a saddle for Black Phillip for 4gp.
Afterwards, they all sent to Gaelkur's, and sold their jet black gems before visiting the smithy, the Temple of the Flame and meeting Ariel Galarina, and then finally heading out of town for lunch. On the road, they encountered the Tabaxi Kazeel, who offered to enchant their weapons.
Lastly, Our adventurers followed the road, to where a broken wagon wheel sat along the road, next to a faint trail leading to a makeshift camp in front of a cave. Next to the camp, they could faintly make out a caravan, as well as a cage...
The adventurers approached the bandit cautiously. Arya snuck up on the camp and discovered that within the cage... lie a bear. After retreating, talking, and sneaking back, Arya removed the pin holding the cage shut, and Lucy blasted the bear awake with a long distance eldritch blast.
As the bear ran from its cage, free at least, it heard a voice calling to it. Seebo and Alora lured to bear to them and offered it horse jerky, until they managed to wrangle the bear onto a rope. They dragged the bear back to the bandits, and offered a trade.
After much bartering, a deal was struck; the bandits would pay handsomely for the bear once it was safely in the cage again. But just as that happened, one of the goblin bandits struck Seebo with his club, as they bandits tried their best to jump the adventurers while they were distracted.
But the bandits didn't realize who they were fighting. Seebo slew two, Lucy charmed the fourth, and the bear killed the fourth as it escaped again. A quick search of the bodies turned up a note, and Lucy collapsed into a vision of a gray dwarf in an underground chamber. Lastly, Lucy searched Orieoth's journal for clues, and found a name mentioned again: Larrak.
Zotlee's note reads: GRIMJAW - looking for muscle, good pay, at Rivergard Keep LARRAK - also needs muscle, mostly underground work, questionable pay in Red Larch The excerpt Lucy read from Orieoth's journal reads: Master Shatter had no idea of what a wise, powerful necromancer he was turning away! I have discovered an easier way to cast Vampiric Touch, thanks to the supply of bodies from <too difficult to read>
(a spell description)
Larrak is wasting his time in Red Larch - he should put his influence to use immediately and crush them all! I wish he liked me. This cave can smell so foul sometimes. I wonder if I could teach the actors Hamlet next...
Our adventurers returned to Red Larch to claim their reward, and learned that Constable Harburk was investigating some theft for Aerogo Bethendur. Seebo and Alora headed to the warehouses to collect from Harburk, and only just avoided suspicion, and got the reward of 800gp for killing the bandits to the south. Meanwhile, Arya picked up the saddle for Black Phillip from Chansyrl's.
They all reconvened at Kaylessa's, where they asked her about Larrak, but unfortunately she didn't know anything, although she had suspicions about some townsfolk meeting at the quarry. Lucy and Seebo went to talk to Dornen Finestone, while Alora and Arya met a half-orc woman named Bari Melkho.
From them they learned a secret group of townsfolk - The Believers - who discovered an ancient dwarven tomb under the town, with a room where the rocks seems to rearrange themselves to convey messages to the townsfolk. Further, there was a duergar priest named Larrak, who read the stones and interpreted the meanings for The Believers. Dornen mentioned that Larrak had them do some dark deeds, but it was all to keep Red Larch safe.
That night at midnight, our adventurers headed to the quarry, and crept down to the tomb, past two statues, past Grund, another statue, insulted an old man, and then found themselves within the tomb that Lucy had seen before in visions, and found Larrak.
After a short conversation with Larrak, he left the room to talk with others...
Deep underground in the Tomb of Moving Stones, our adventurers waited amongst the monoliths and stone arches. Larrak's followers, the Bringers of Woe, escorted them to a statue of a delver, where they could leave tribute for the god Ogrémoch. Next, they were lead to a room to the side, where there were three bodies and a young boy, trapped. The bodies belonged to an old firbolg coach, a dwarven aquist caravan guard, and Bilbar Briros, a Gnome spice merchant that Seebo recognized from Phandalin.
After some exchanging threats, in a fit of impatience, Lucy slapped one of the Bringers of Woe and what followed was a blood bath. Alora and Arya held the Bringers in the doorway with the their swords, why Seebo and and Lucy attacked them with arrows and magic, as they cut down bandit after bandit. Larrak joined as well, but not even his earthen magic was a match for the adventurers, and he died with an agonizing blast as he tried to escape.
Alora rescued Braelen, and the adventurers quickly spread the word to town of their discoveries under Red Larch. Baragustas and Ilmeth disappeared, assumed to have run away. The other Believers came forward, claiming to not realize that Larrak was a Black Earth cultist. Gaelkur and Dornen admitted their involvement with the murders of the survivors from the caravan from Mirabar. The adventurers could rest, but they are still unanswered questions; perhaps most importantly, why was the cult of the Black Earth so interested in Red Larch in the first place.
Twenty days have passed since the events in the Tomb of Moving Stones. In the wake of uncovering the Black Earth cult's manipulation of Red Larch, the town has called for changed. Many town elders were disgraced. Ilmeth Waelvur and Baragustas Harbuckler have fled. The townsfolk felt the need to elect a leader, and elected Kaylessa Irkell as the first mayor of Red Larch.
With Ilmeth missing and Kaylessa taking on mayoral duties, her son, Jaedrin, has taken over most of the day to day at the Swinging Sword.
The bodies discovered in the Tomb belong to members of a delegation from Mirabar that was last seen heading south from Beliard. The delegation had 10-15 members, and there's a lot of questions about the whereabouts of the others.
The Aquists are particularly concerned, as the delegation was under their protection and there are rumors that they had a special interest in the delegation. For the moment, Red Larch has kept news of the events from the Order of the Templar, as Red Larch is afraid of the reprocussions to the town. Our adventurers got some rest. Arya laid low, trying to keep as low a profile as she could; Alora spent some time looking after Braelen, who has work as her squire. They were joined by a tortle, Grok Galu, who wanted to help them investigate the missing delegation as well. Rosa Cloudfang, an old acquaintance of Seebo's from Westbridge, came searching for help, as Westbridge fears they'll be attacked. The adventurers stopped by the shadow faith shrine and asked for Lathander and Ogriima to go to help Westbridge, before heading into the Slumber Hills to look for the missing delegation... with Grund.
At the shadow faith shrine, they learned that within the slumber hills were some old keeps that had been their for ages. Selune mentioned Rivergard Keep and Feathergale Spire as currently occupied. He also mentioned that under the Slumber Hills was rumored to be an ancient Dwarven city... but no one was really paying any attention. He provided them with an old, inaccurate map of the area, and they took off for the hills.
Just as our adventurers were making camp for their first night in the hills, a band of gnolls happened upon them. The gnolls thought they could take this mishmash group of travelers, but were mistaken. One died from electrocution and poop. Another erupted into a meat volcano. A third had his head cut clean from his shoulders as Arya emerged from the shadows. The fourth...
Well, the fourth nearly killed the tortle, but after seeing all his comrades fall, did an exceptionally poor job of hiding and fleeing while the others thrashed about trying to hit him. Eventually, as he ran, finally Seebo landed the fatal arrow, killing him throw a deathblow to the toe.
The adventurers sought out Feathergale Spire. They spotted a manticore high above a canyon, and the spire at the edge of the canyon. After carefully approaching, then madly dashing across the bridge to the tower, they were confronted by Douglason, a feathergale knight. After chatting mostly with Alora, he agreed to show them in to the tower and to let them join in their feast.
Inside, they stole some gold and couple feather cloaks. They met Raoul of Meros, third of his name, lord of the Spire, leader of the Cloud in the Dessarin... and a bit of a lush, who Lucy talked circles around. Dinner was suddenly interrupted - the manticore had been spotted, and they launched a Manticore Hunt, with a prize going to whomever slew the beast.
Four feathergale knights and the adventurers flew out (on hippogriffs) and then pursued it into it was bloodied, exhausted, and had nearly given up when Seebo landed the fatal arrow (in the butt) that dropped it from the sky. The adventurers went after the carcass, and took its head, a couple feathers, and one of the few remaining tail spikes.
They returned to find a drunk Raoul, who drunkenly gave Seebo twice the rings he had promised and was tickled pink to see that they had brought back the head.
We left with Arya and Lucy digging into some creme brulee.
Triumphant, the adventurers started to ask Douglason and Raoul about themselves and the Cloud. Raoul shared a few things; but Douglason got upset. Later than night, the adventurers were ambushed while they slept and taken prisoner by the Cloud, with Seebo tied up in a sack, and told they'd be thrown off the tower in the morning for asking too many questions about elemental cults and the ancient dwarven city beneath Slumber Hills.
The adventurers, unarmed, hatched a daring plan. Lucy charmed both guards, and Arya picked the lock. They took the guards weapons and just barely killed them before they could reach help, with Grok and Lucy landing killing blows. Lucy briefly painted an X, with three strokes going from top left to bottom right, and three more going top right to bottom left, before erasing it.
Arya snuck into the staircase and heard some commotion outside of the spire, and quickly headed back. The adventurers hid in an unlocked cell, when suddenly an old Aarakocra riding a nearly as aged griffon came into the room, and helped the adventurers escape.
This aarakocra was dressed as a skylord - a faction of the Shadow Faith that Seebo and Lucy recognized who acted as guards for much of the plains, foothills, and farms of northwest Faerun, including the Dessarin Valley. He lead them to a hideout in the side of a cliff face, where they met more including Ederas, a old aarakocra woman, who helped them identify some of the arcane items they had.
Although it was early morning, the adventurers were in rough shape, and decided to sleep off their wounds in the safety of the skylord hideout.
The skylords flew the adventurers to Rivergard Keep, where they met Jolliver Grimjaw, and the Shore Kings - the same group that took over Aalaron Isle and exiled Alora and her people. They asked to join up, ate some dinner, got beds in the barracks, and ended up placing bets with an orc named Kreck about whether they could throw a dagger into a fish in the river.
While that was going on, Arya and Alora slipped out and started sneaking about Rivergard, until they came across a drow guard named Olond in the north tower. After discussing... their kinks and trying to arrange a 'date' the following night, they learned there was an area that they kept prisoners within the Keep.
Unable to reach that part of the keep, they headed back to the barracks, to get some sleep. Tomorrow they're supposed to start work for Grimjaw "haulin' stone"... or something like that.
The adventurers awoke to be sent down an underground river, to old ruins. Along the way, they had to fight off some ghouls, to the laughter of the shore kings with them. Once down in the ruins, they were set to work clearing out some rocks that were blocking boats from passing in the river. Seebo slipped away, to follow a guard with a prisoner, but only just in time to watch the prisoner sent to a watery death. After trying to kill the guard and then running for his life, Seebo hid and luckily another, unfortunate gnome was blamed for his antics. Arya also tried to slip away, but didn't quite get a chance.
They witnessed a magical being that appeared differently to each of them talking with Grimjaw, discussing their progress, before they returned to the surface in time for dinner. Olond the drow confirmed that he had swapped shifts, so that ~2:00am, Arya and Alora should stop by where the prisoners are kept...
Late that night, after dinner, the adventurers snuck out to meet Olond. While others kept kept watch, Arya and Alora went in to find Olond had prepared as best he could. After seducing and murdering him, they turned their attention to the prisoners - a templar and an Aquist mercenary.
While questioning the Aquist, a triton woman named Otlunen, Arya slipped across the hall and tried to kill another guard - Tarkell, a kenku. Unfortunately, Tarkell noticed, and called for help before Lucy could charm him. Alora tried to seduce Tarkell and convince the other guards nothing unusual was going on... but was unsuccessful.
Grok stepped in to save a few from the edge of death and barricading Jolliver in him room with the naked, lifeless body of Olond. In a fit of insanity, Lucy let out a horrible scream and killed the last guard, and the adventurers are catching their breath for a moment. However, Jolliver isn't particularly well trapped, and more guards were sure to hear that scream...
Facing certain capture, the adventurers snuck out onto the wall and lowered Otlunen outside of Rivergard Keep and sent her to search for Grund and Braelen. They snuck back across the courtyard to the river, to clean the blood off themselves and pretend that they were oblivious to the night's previous events, going so far as to return to the keep and play dumb to Jolly himself, and volunteered to be part of the efforts to search for the escaped prisoner.
Lucy and Seebo ventured out on horse. Seebo talked to Pete the horse. Arya discovered more Aquist tridents and armor sunken in the river north of the keep and brought one back and gave it to Jolly. Later that night, the adventurers decided that their curiosity was irresistible, and snuck back down into the ancient city beneath Rivergard. But first, Arya snuck out, asked Braelen to run back to Itar and the skylords to send word to Westbridge of Gar Shatterkeel's imminent attack, while Grund and Otlunen (with Black Phillip) returned to Red Larch for safety.
They found some wells? or pits? where the prisoner had been pushed, and noticed some kind of unliving thing(s) within. They then snuck further into the ruins, and plotted to ambush some guards while they slept...
It's a dark, noisy night. Trees rustle in the wind, bats chirps overhead, and some faint howling can be heard in the distance. The sound of a burning torch drowns out anything else.
Braelen Hatherhand is running as hard as he can thorugh the Dessarin Woods. He's been running for hours through the night, with a little over an hour to go before dawn. He's made it the edge of the Sighing Gulch, and while this area is unfamiliar, he hopes he'll see something more familiar soon if he follows the edge. He stops to catch his breath, and notices a shape in the sky... At this distance, he can't tell whether it's a griffin or another manticore, or something even worse.
He yells out – and only afterwards realized the danger he might be in. There's hardly any cover where he's stopped, and without Alora round to protect him –
He looks again, and can just make out a stout, Arakocran figure riding on the back. He's made it.
The guards within the ancient dwarven city are awoken suddenly with our adventurers looming in the doorway. However, these guards quickly gain the advantage, and soon the adventurers are fleeing for their lives with Alora unconscious. They narrowly escape back to a boat, With only Alora, in half-awake stupor, noticing some lizardfolk emerging from another part of the ruins behind them.
The adventurers head north, and stop to gather their strength under the ancient stone bridge over the Dessarin River. After laying low while some dwarfs pass, they head on to the town of Beliard, on the far side of the Slumber Hills from Red Larch. In Beliard, they met Reno, an old Genasi jeweler, and got some of their weapons silvered by the black smith using melted down cutlery they stole from The Cloud at Feathergale Spire.
The adventurers continued to explore around Beliard. They got their weapons silvered at The Stonehammer, bought some potions from a kenku at Goldclow's Remedies, visited Bella's (the fletcher.)
Eventually headed to the Chillhand Traders guild hall, where they met with Mirik the Gray, a lizardfolk, and his henchman, the goblin Fang. After some pleasantries, eventually the adventurers settled down with Mirik, learned that the Chillhand Traders also dealt in drugs. Mirik was persuaded into everyone doing a bit of every drug... and it had effects. In particular, Lucy and Seebo were out and out hallucinating and running amok, ran into a Hand of the Prophet, before eventually passing out and sleeping most of the effects off in a backroom at Chillhand.
The adventurers were asked to 'deal with' Taram Cragstorm, the local innkeeper, by Mirik. When they came to, they went to visit the inn, The Sleepy Cask. While there, they spotted an arakocra, and a familiar old human, Baragustas, who they had last seen in the Tomb of Moving Stones under Red Lark. They also learned that Orieoth had come through Beliard at one point.
They met Taram, a frostbeard dwarf, his wife Maggie, and their children Lukhal, Thori, and Frain... And were starting to have second thoughts about killing Taram. Taram also said something about needing someone to help keep his family safe while he went to check on the brewery in Yartar that supplies him, as they've missed the last two shipments.
Hi All,
The gang and I have been playing our Monday night D&D sessions live on the twitch stream here : https://twitch.tv/im_method . Our GM is experienced but we (players) are mostly new. It's so exciting having this world unfold in front of us.
Here is a back log of the story: https://www.method.games/dungeons-dragons/
Introduction - Apr. 27
The sun is just rising. You can smell bread and smoke, and hear the clucking of hens. You stand just outside a large, ramshackle tavern, still a bit groggy from the night before, in the middle of a large crossroads in the center of town.
Townsfolk are all starting full days of work. They're a mix of farmers, craftsmen, and traders who have come to live here and support the caravans and travelers passing through. Business has been good, but lately whatever has been stirring in the hills to the northeast seems to have brought trouble here too...
Session I - Apr. 30
Our adventurers find themselves on an early fall day in the town of Red Larch. Lucy met Seebo in the market in Red Larch, and bought him out of all 24 of his "lucky" rabbit's feet, while Arya and Alora explored the town.
Arya headed into the Helm at Highsun first and met up with Kaylessa Irkell, the Innkeeper, who had contacted the adventurers the day before and asked them to meet her at noon. Realizing he was running late, Seebo dashed off and busted in a couple minutes late, but was warmly greeted by Arya who promptly got him drunk.
Alora tried to get Lucy to come with her to meet with Kaylessa, but Lucy was bent on buying a chicken. In a moment of drunkness, Seebo ran out into the road and did a wild chicken impression that attracted Lucy's attention. Kaylessa eventually got them all inside, and after a hearty lunch, she offered them 50gp if they would investigate Lance Rock just northwest outside of town, where her children had had seen some things.
After, Lucy immediately resumed her hunt for a chicken, and Alora followed after. She eventually found herself standing in front a surly half-orc, who she failed to charm, but luckily talked her way out of more serious trouble and bought his largest chicken, who she named "516".
Arya and Seebo headed to the nearby Wagonworks, where they talked to Jaedrin Irkell, Kaylessa's oldest son. After various attempts at intimidation, persuasion, throwing rabbit's feet and Seebo's impressive backflip, they learned that Jaedrin had seen a body near an entrance to a ruin at the base of Lance Rock. He also had overheard from a caravan that there were bandits trying to setup and ambush on the road south of town a couple days ago.
Despite the group's efforts, Lucy ditched them one last time before they could leave town to stop in a bakery, where they bought cheese rolls and twiddle tarts. The baker mentioned hearing rumors of goblins living in an old tomb south of town, before they headed out.
After heading northwest out of town, about halfway to Lance Rock, the adventurers noticed an Ankheg just ahead. After blasting out of the ground and cutting a leg off, they eventually slew the beast in a blast of magic, blood, and carapace.
Session II - May 7
After slaughtering the Ankheg, our adventurers flagged down two passing knights of the Shadow Faith; Lanthander the half-elf and Ogriima the kenku. After trading a few insults with the Ogriima, our adventurers continued on to Lance Rock.
The encountered a neatly painted sign that reads, "Come no closer lest you catch the disfiguring plague that afflicts me! - The Lord of Lance Rock". After some concern about whether or not they were willing to risk becoming infected themselves, Alora pushed them to press on.
Within the mouth of the cave, they encountered a goblin zombie, who sprang to life and attacked Seebo. Luckily, it Alora swiftly killed it, decapitating in and leaving it lifeless on the ground. A voice from within the cave called out "You must go away at once, the Lord of Lance Rock commands it!" Luckily, with near perfect accuracy Lucy imitated a zombie and the voice quieted down.
While Lucy and Alora stood guard, Seebo and Arya headed into the cave themselves to investigate, sneaking past a couple of zombies before Seebo tripped and accidentally attracted the attention of some oddly dressed zombies further in. In the mad dash to escape, while Arya nimbly escaped, Seebo took the full force of a box of rocks dropped on him by zombies above, knocking him unconscious.
Arya, Alora, and Lucy mounted a daring rescue, saving Seebo and they escaped back to town to collect from Kaylessa Irkell and get some sleep. In the morning, Arya bought a bow, Alora talked to some dashing mercenaries, Seebo sought out Dornen Finestone, owner of the quarry, to ask him about an odd stone disk and learned it had the mark of the Cult of the Crushing Wave on it.
Meanwhile, Lucy recruited the help of the Shadow Faith from Seluné, the priest of the Shadow Shrine in Red Lark. After gathering the group, Seluné provided them with tabards, weapons, armor and shields, before they met Lanthander again, who offered them his aid with the help of fellow shadow knight Stanley.
Before heading out of town, Seebo bought some stew from an old halfling woman Ursula, then did some talking and trading with Endrith Vallivoe, a tiefling purveyor of miscellany. Arya got a healer's kit; Endrith got an ankheg claw; and Seebo got a newly fixed pocket watch that's still missing a minute hand.
Session III - May 14
Our adventurers regroup with the shadow knights Lanthander Wygellin and Stanley Browick to return to Lance Rock. They make the trek once more, better equipped and with bigger numbers, to the cave where they find the body of the zombie they slew cleaned up.
This time they were ready. Seebo flashed his shortswords, Alora her scimitar, Lucy eldritch blasts and Arya a bit of nearly every weapon she had until all of the Lord of Lance Rock's guards and "actors" had been fried, sliced, or stabbed.
They crept further still, until they came face to face with Oreioth, the Lord of Lance Rock himself. After a bit of confusion and a Healing Word from Alora, they learned his 'malady' was just a ruse to try to keep visitors away so he could practice necromancy in peace.
Sweet talking got his guard down, but Lucy's charm spell turned "Oreo" to butter, who was happily making them tea, handing over his valuables, and telling them about the believers of Black Earth who follow Ogrémoch. Our adventurers tore through his gold, his supplies, and even took his tea.
Before the spell could wear off, our adventurers left, with a backflip and an gnomish defecation of unusual size. As they headed out, Seebo left a rope tied across the entrance - just in case.
As the spell effects wore off the Lord of Lance Rock, he realized what had happened. Oreioth had been swindled! If he ever got the chance, he'd make them pay...
Session IV - May 21
Our adventurers return to town, a bit stronger, smarter, and more potent than they were before. After a well earned night at Kaylessa's, go to see the butcher Jalessa Orna who has a goat set aside.
At Jalessa's, they got Black Phillip, the goat, and met Harburk Orna, Jalessa's husband and the constable of Red Larch. Harburk offered them 600gp if they would deal with the bandits along the road to the south.
Arya and Alora went to investigate some of the warhouses they had seen before, while Seebo and Lucy created a diversion with Black Phillip in the market. After finding mostly worthless things, they did pilfer some leather and a mining pick.
Back in the market, Lucy talked to Endrith and learned she had a driftglobe and a wand of magic missiles for 3sp, although he couldn't tell how many charges it had left. After trading some insults, they left, and with now most of the party on bad terms with Endrith. Meanwhile, Arya made arrangements with Chansyrl to make a saddle for Black Phillip for 4gp.
Afterwards, they all sent to Gaelkur's, and sold their jet black gems before visiting the smithy, the Temple of the Flame and meeting Ariel Galarina, and then finally heading out of town for lunch. On the road, they encountered the Tabaxi Kazeel, who offered to enchant their weapons.
Lastly, Our adventurers followed the road, to where a broken wagon wheel sat along the road, next to a faint trail leading to a makeshift camp in front of a cave. Next to the camp, they could faintly make out a caravan, as well as a cage...
Session V - May 28
The adventurers approached the bandit cautiously. Arya snuck up on the camp and discovered that within the cage... lie a bear. After retreating, talking, and sneaking back, Arya removed the pin holding the cage shut, and Lucy blasted the bear awake with a long distance eldritch blast.
As the bear ran from its cage, free at least, it heard a voice calling to it. Seebo and Alora lured to bear to them and offered it horse jerky, until they managed to wrangle the bear onto a rope. They dragged the bear back to the bandits, and offered a trade.
After much bartering, a deal was struck; the bandits would pay handsomely for the bear once it was safely in the cage again. But just as that happened, one of the goblin bandits struck Seebo with his club, as they bandits tried their best to jump the adventurers while they were distracted.
But the bandits didn't realize who they were fighting. Seebo slew two, Lucy charmed the fourth, and the bear killed the fourth as it escaped again. A quick search of the bodies turned up a note, and Lucy collapsed into a vision of a gray dwarf in an underground chamber. Lastly, Lucy searched Orieoth's journal for clues, and found a name mentioned again: Larrak.
Larrak is wasting his time in Red Larch - he should put his influence to use immediately and crush them all! I wish he liked me. This cave can smell so foul sometimes. I wonder if I could teach the actors Hamlet next...
Session VI - Jun. 4
Our adventurers returned to Red Larch to claim their reward, and learned that Constable Harburk was investigating some theft for Aerogo Bethendur. Seebo and Alora headed to the warehouses to collect from Harburk, and only just avoided suspicion, and got the reward of 800gp for killing the bandits to the south. Meanwhile, Arya picked up the saddle for Black Phillip from Chansyrl's.
They all reconvened at Kaylessa's, where they asked her about Larrak, but unfortunately she didn't know anything, although she had suspicions about some townsfolk meeting at the quarry. Lucy and Seebo went to talk to Dornen Finestone, while Alora and Arya met a half-orc woman named Bari Melkho.
From them they learned a secret group of townsfolk - The Believers - who discovered an ancient dwarven tomb under the town, with a room where the rocks seems to rearrange themselves to convey messages to the townsfolk. Further, there was a duergar priest named Larrak, who read the stones and interpreted the meanings for The Believers. Dornen mentioned that Larrak had them do some dark deeds, but it was all to keep Red Larch safe.
That night at midnight, our adventurers headed to the quarry, and crept down to the tomb, past two statues, past Grund, another statue, insulted an old man, and then found themselves within the tomb that Lucy had seen before in visions, and found Larrak.
After a short conversation with Larrak, he left the room to talk with others...
Session VII - Jun. 11
Deep underground in the Tomb of Moving Stones, our adventurers waited amongst the monoliths and stone arches. Larrak's followers, the Bringers of Woe, escorted them to a statue of a delver, where they could leave tribute for the god Ogrémoch. Next, they were lead to a room to the side, where there were three bodies and a young boy, trapped. The bodies belonged to an old firbolg coach, a dwarven aquist caravan guard, and Bilbar Briros, a Gnome spice merchant that Seebo recognized from Phandalin.
After some exchanging threats, in a fit of impatience, Lucy slapped one of the Bringers of Woe and what followed was a blood bath. Alora and Arya held the Bringers in the doorway with the their swords, why Seebo and and Lucy attacked them with arrows and magic, as they cut down bandit after bandit. Larrak joined as well, but not even his earthen magic was a match for the adventurers, and he died with an agonizing blast as he tried to escape.
Alora rescued Braelen, and the adventurers quickly spread the word to town of their discoveries under Red Larch. Baragustas and Ilmeth disappeared, assumed to have run away. The other Believers came forward, claiming to not realize that Larrak was a Black Earth cultist. Gaelkur and Dornen admitted their involvement with the murders of the survivors from the caravan from Mirabar. The adventurers could rest, but they are still unanswered questions; perhaps most importantly, why was the cult of the Black Earth so interested in Red Larch in the first place.
Session VIII - Jun. 25
Twenty days have passed since the events in the Tomb of Moving Stones. In the wake of uncovering the Black Earth cult's manipulation of Red Larch, the town has called for changed. Many town elders were disgraced. Ilmeth Waelvur and Baragustas Harbuckler have fled. The townsfolk felt the need to elect a leader, and elected Kaylessa Irkell as the first mayor of Red Larch.
With Ilmeth missing and Kaylessa taking on mayoral duties, her son, Jaedrin, has taken over most of the day to day at the Swinging Sword.
The bodies discovered in the Tomb belong to members of a delegation from Mirabar that was last seen heading south from Beliard. The delegation had 10-15 members, and there's a lot of questions about the whereabouts of the others.
The Aquists are particularly concerned, as the delegation was under their protection and there are rumors that they had a special interest in the delegation. For the moment, Red Larch has kept news of the events from the Order of the Templar, as Red Larch is afraid of the reprocussions to the town.
Our adventurers got some rest. Arya laid low, trying to keep as low a profile as she could; Alora spent some time looking after Braelen, who has work as her squire. They were joined by a tortle, Grok Galu, who wanted to help them investigate the missing delegation as well. Rosa Cloudfang, an old acquaintance of Seebo's from Westbridge, came searching for help, as Westbridge fears they'll be attacked. The adventurers stopped by the shadow faith shrine and asked for Lathander and Ogriima to go to help Westbridge, before heading into the Slumber Hills to look for the missing delegation... with Grund.
At the shadow faith shrine, they learned that within the slumber hills were some old keeps that had been their for ages. Selune mentioned Rivergard Keep and Feathergale Spire as currently occupied. He also mentioned that under the Slumber Hills was rumored to be an ancient Dwarven city... but no one was really paying any attention. He provided them with an old, inaccurate map of the area, and they took off for the hills.
Just as our adventurers were making camp for their first night in the hills, a band of gnolls happened upon them. The gnolls thought they could take this mishmash group of travelers, but were mistaken. One died from electrocution and poop. Another erupted into a meat volcano. A third had his head cut clean from his shoulders as Arya emerged from the shadows. The fourth...
Well, the fourth nearly killed the tortle, but after seeing all his comrades fall, did an exceptionally poor job of hiding and fleeing while the others thrashed about trying to hit him. Eventually, as he ran, finally Seebo landed the fatal arrow, killing him throw a deathblow to the toe.
Session IX - Jul. 2
The adventurers sought out Feathergale Spire. They spotted a manticore high above a canyon, and the spire at the edge of the canyon. After carefully approaching, then madly dashing across the bridge to the tower, they were confronted by Douglason, a feathergale knight. After chatting mostly with Alora, he agreed to show them in to the tower and to let them join in their feast.
Inside, they stole some gold and couple feather cloaks. They met Raoul of Meros, third of his name, lord of the Spire, leader of the Cloud in the Dessarin... and a bit of a lush, who Lucy talked circles around. Dinner was suddenly interrupted - the manticore had been spotted, and they launched a Manticore Hunt, with a prize going to whomever slew the beast.
Four feathergale knights and the adventurers flew out (on hippogriffs) and then pursued it into it was bloodied, exhausted, and had nearly given up when Seebo landed the fatal arrow (in the butt) that dropped it from the sky. The adventurers went after the carcass, and took its head, a couple feathers, and one of the few remaining tail spikes.
They returned to find a drunk Raoul, who drunkenly gave Seebo twice the rings he had promised and was tickled pink to see that they had brought back the head.
We left with Arya and Lucy digging into some creme brulee.
Session X - Jul. 9
Triumphant, the adventurers started to ask Douglason and Raoul about themselves and the Cloud. Raoul shared a few things; but Douglason got upset. Later than night, the adventurers were ambushed while they slept and taken prisoner by the Cloud, with Seebo tied up in a sack, and told they'd be thrown off the tower in the morning for asking too many questions about elemental cults and the ancient dwarven city beneath Slumber Hills.
The adventurers, unarmed, hatched a daring plan. Lucy charmed both guards, and Arya picked the lock. They took the guards weapons and just barely killed them before they could reach help, with Grok and Lucy landing killing blows. Lucy briefly painted an X, with three strokes going from top left to bottom right, and three more going top right to bottom left, before erasing it.
Arya snuck into the staircase and heard some commotion outside of the spire, and quickly headed back. The adventurers hid in an unlocked cell, when suddenly an old Aarakocra riding a nearly as aged griffon came into the room, and helped the adventurers escape.
This aarakocra was dressed as a skylord - a faction of the Shadow Faith that Seebo and Lucy recognized who acted as guards for much of the plains, foothills, and farms of northwest Faerun, including the Dessarin Valley. He lead them to a hideout in the side of a cliff face, where they met more including Ederas, a old aarakocra woman, who helped them identify some of the arcane items they had.
Although it was early morning, the adventurers were in rough shape, and decided to sleep off their wounds in the safety of the skylord hideout.
Session XI - Jul. 16
The skylords flew the adventurers to Rivergard Keep, where they met Jolliver Grimjaw, and the Shore Kings - the same group that took over Aalaron Isle and exiled Alora and her people. They asked to join up, ate some dinner, got beds in the barracks, and ended up placing bets with an orc named Kreck about whether they could throw a dagger into a fish in the river.
While that was going on, Arya and Alora slipped out and started sneaking about Rivergard, until they came across a drow guard named Olond in the north tower. After discussing... their kinks and trying to arrange a 'date' the following night, they learned there was an area that they kept prisoners within the Keep.
Unable to reach that part of the keep, they headed back to the barracks, to get some sleep. Tomorrow they're supposed to start work for Grimjaw "haulin' stone"... or something like that.
Session XII - Jul 23
The adventurers awoke to be sent down an underground river, to old ruins. Along the way, they had to fight off some ghouls, to the laughter of the shore kings with them. Once down in the ruins, they were set to work clearing out some rocks that were blocking boats from passing in the river. Seebo slipped away, to follow a guard with a prisoner, but only just in time to watch the prisoner sent to a watery death. After trying to kill the guard and then running for his life, Seebo hid and luckily another, unfortunate gnome was blamed for his antics. Arya also tried to slip away, but didn't quite get a chance.
They witnessed a magical being that appeared differently to each of them talking with Grimjaw, discussing their progress, before they returned to the surface in time for dinner. Olond the drow confirmed that he had swapped shifts, so that ~2:00am, Arya and Alora should stop by where the prisoners are kept...
Session XIII - Jul. 30
Late that night, after dinner, the adventurers snuck out to meet Olond. While others kept kept watch, Arya and Alora went in to find Olond had prepared as best he could. After seducing and murdering him, they turned their attention to the prisoners - a templar and an Aquist mercenary.
While questioning the Aquist, a triton woman named Otlunen, Arya slipped across the hall and tried to kill another guard - Tarkell, a kenku. Unfortunately, Tarkell noticed, and called for help before Lucy could charm him. Alora tried to seduce Tarkell and convince the other guards nothing unusual was going on... but was unsuccessful.
Grok stepped in to save a few from the edge of death and barricading Jolliver in him room with the naked, lifeless body of Olond. In a fit of insanity, Lucy let out a horrible scream and killed the last guard, and the adventurers are catching their breath for a moment. However, Jolliver isn't particularly well trapped, and more guards were sure to hear that scream...
Session XIV - Aug. 6
Facing certain capture, the adventurers snuck out onto the wall and lowered Otlunen outside of Rivergard Keep and sent her to search for Grund and Braelen. They snuck back across the courtyard to the river, to clean the blood off themselves and pretend that they were oblivious to the night's previous events, going so far as to return to the keep and play dumb to Jolly himself, and volunteered to be part of the efforts to search for the escaped prisoner.
Lucy and Seebo ventured out on horse. Seebo talked to Pete the horse. Arya discovered more Aquist tridents and armor sunken in the river north of the keep and brought one back and gave it to Jolly. Later that night, the adventurers decided that their curiosity was irresistible, and snuck back down into the ancient city beneath Rivergard. But first, Arya snuck out, asked Braelen to run back to Itar and the skylords to send word to Westbridge of Gar Shatterkeel's imminent attack, while Grund and Otlunen (with Black Phillip) returned to Red Larch for safety.
They found some wells? or pits? where the prisoner had been pushed, and noticed some kind of unliving thing(s) within. They then snuck further into the ruins, and plotted to ambush some guards while they slept...
Session XV - Aug. 13
Prelude
It's a dark, noisy night. Trees rustle in the wind, bats chirps overhead, and some faint howling can be heard in the distance. The sound of a burning torch drowns out anything else.
Braelen Hatherhand is running as hard as he can thorugh the Dessarin Woods. He's been running for hours through the night, with a little over an hour to go before dawn. He's made it the edge of the Sighing Gulch, and while this area is unfamiliar, he hopes he'll see something more familiar soon if he follows the edge. He stops to catch his breath, and notices a shape in the sky... At this distance, he can't tell whether it's a griffin or another manticore, or something even worse.
He yells out – and only afterwards realized the danger he might be in. There's hardly any cover where he's stopped, and without Alora round to protect him –
He looks again, and can just make out a stout, Arakocran figure riding on the back. He's made it.
The guards within the ancient dwarven city are awoken suddenly with our adventurers looming in the doorway. However, these guards quickly gain the advantage, and soon the adventurers are fleeing for their lives with Alora unconscious. They narrowly escape back to a boat, With only Alora, in half-awake stupor, noticing some lizardfolk emerging from another part of the ruins behind them.
The adventurers head north, and stop to gather their strength under the ancient stone bridge over the Dessarin River. After laying low while some dwarfs pass, they head on to the town of Beliard, on the far side of the Slumber Hills from Red Larch. In Beliard, they met Reno, an old Genasi jeweler, and got some of their weapons silvered by the black smith using melted down cutlery they stole from The Cloud at Feathergale Spire.
We finally got to play our next session!
More tonight on twitch https://twitch.tv/im_method