| Game Master: System: Date: | Ken Dungeons & Dragons 5e Homebrew Campaign 6th Oct 2022 |
| Characters: | Fayd – Half Orc Barbarian Gunnar Orcsson – Half Orc Barbarian Jaraziah Grimm – Human Cleric (On Hiatus) Iivan – Drow Rogue/Fighter Balasar Aurumingis – Dragonborn Sorcerer Luther Merton – Half Elf Bard Navarro – Half Elf Paladin Hamlet – Half Elf Warlock Dorian Hammerbeard – Dwarven Cleric Tad Hemlock – Halfling Bard (Retired) Tianzi – Half Elf Sorlock (Retired) Yorhorn – Half Elf Paladin (Retired) |
After a surprisingly uneventful night’s rest that featured a conspicuous lack of werewolves, invisible presences and no sleep walking party members, the party started their day in the inn. Having taken breakfast together they went their seperate ways agreeing to meet up later that day to prepare for the quarter finals of the festival’s competition.
Hamlet, still determined to win back Kevin’s affection visted several of the local markets, soaking in the vibrant hum of the city and festival goers before stunning one local shopkeeper by purchasing an otherwise unremarkable comb for the eye watering sum of 600 gold peices. Having ensured the comfortable retirement of at least one local he then went in search of Kevin but over the course of the day found neither hide nor hair of the creature. He did however encounter the Lady Ophelia, a figure shrouded in myth but known to be a powerful entity. But Hamlet knew her better than most men, for she was the source of his power and the one who’d sent Kevin to him.
Iivan spent his day in communion with the seers of the local Elven temple, seeking more knowledge around the Promise and it’s siblings and the gates that led to the great war that wiped out the Nearith civilisation. However, the sharp eyes rogue noticed a familar face among crowds – Starling, the red haired criminal who had been on their trail for soem weeks, even though it was they who were meant to be hunting her. Following her to a tavern he found her lounging at ease by the fire, kicking a chair out from the table as an invitation for him to sit. His eyes were at their best in the shadows, and he took a moment to survey the tavern and it’s clientel before sauntering over to join her. In the crowds he’d spotted a powerfully built but sallow and gaunt faced warrior clad in fine plate mail along with what seemed to be a blacksmith or surgeon of some kind sat by a creature the likes of which he’d never seen or even heard of before, a hulking brutish looking thing that looked to be a twisted joining of human, great ape and Goliath blood, it’s torso and limbs covered in a network of stitching and scars.
“Come darling, please sit with me” purred Starling as he approached, he noted that she poured wine for them both and smiling at him pointedly took a sip from both cups before offering him a glass. He wasn’t so easily fooled though, this attempt to reassure him that neither drink was poisoned merely declared that she must have recently taken the antidote to whichever poison she’d used on the wine. Snorting in contempt for such ameteur theatrics he sat down on the proffered chair but resolutely did not reach for his glass.
“Darling, you simply must tell me about those monoliths” Starling began, Iivan paried her clumsy probe with ease and began to find himself warming to the game of verbal fencing they were engaged in. So much so that he failed to register that while Starling spoke the rest of the tavern’s patrons fell quickly silent so neither she nor Iivan would need to raise their voices above a conspirital whisper. During the sparring which followed Iivan learned that Starling was not in fact working with Billy but served a dragon known as Nexus, the name rang a bell with Iivan as something Balasar had said he’d seen or heard in a dream. It also became apparent that powerful forces were arrayed against him and his companions, with them all now having substantial bounties on their heads – enough to attract more than enough of the wrong kind of attention in the Drow’s considered opinion.
Fayd sought help from the local arcanists for some kind of mental shielding which might prevent his nocturnal possessions, but after a confusing vision found himself morphing into his wolf form uncontrollably and causing panic as he ran through the tightly winding streets of the city.
Dorian continued his solitary research into the Blight, while Luther visited the Chimera. Gunnar, not one of nature’s natural scholars found himself in the Grand Library and hit upon the notion that these locals with their love of books would be far more skilled at discerning infomation than he might, offering gold to some of the staff he secured the assistance of several of the junior librarians and with his aid was able to pin point the archepeligo portrayed on the map he’d stolen from the pirate captain Silvereye months ago. When Luther wandered into the library to find Gunnar scowling at a pile of maps and dusty tomes his curiosity got the better of him and he agreed to help Gunnar navigate these strange waters of academia. The young bard’s insight proved invaluable, having risked the half orc’s ire by pouring water on the old parchement map they both watched in amazement as a magical projection eminated from the ancient map, rendering in the air a translucent model of the lower portion of a huge pyramid – clearly Nearith in origin.
Meeting back at the inn for a meal before the nights combat and performance the group gathered to share their discoveries, though some were more forthcoming than others with Iivan warning the others that they now had a price on their heads, but not mentioning that the largest bountry was offered not for Navarro as he claimed but instead for Luther – the young bard’s head being worth 5,000 gold to anyone with the right contacts.
In his quarter final Fayd faced a human fighter named Ruggi, in the ensuing brawl neither Fayd nor Ruggi could knock out their opponent and after 5 bloody rounds of combat both fighters were beaten and swaying on their last legs. Fayd won the right to progress by judges decision to the crowd’s delight. Gunnar faced off against a powerful fighter and was on the verge of being defeated when he landed a lucky blow and managed to knock his opponent out, progressing to the semi finals despite being well behind on the judges scorecards. Over at the House of Echo’s tavern Luther also faced stiff competition in his quest to win fame and glory with his lute, eventually the charismatic bard was able to win over the crowd and also progressed to the semi finals, set for the following evening.
Arriving back at the inn they debated how to deal with the risks of the Promise and Fayd, Gunnar and Balasar agreed to take the first watch and guard the stone while Fayd sought shelter in the basement with Amberclad….a sure sign of the seriousness which the young Orc was taking the threat of his possessions. Amberclad’s solution to the barbarian’s problem was remarkably simple, the strange scholar offered Fayd use of his bed, then with the help of his bodyguards he bound Fayd to the bed before then levering it vertically and pushing it to face the stone wall of the cellar. While Fayd’s night proved less than comfortable he did eventually find a way to sleep and remained uneffected by any strange visitations throught the night.
The following day Gunnar returned to his studies, though Luther had decided he’d unlocked all of the maps secrets and refused to assist – thankfully for the barbarian Dorian was happy to accompany him and with the help of the library staff they were able to uncover more of the history surrounding the location portrayed on Silvereye’s map. The island chain was located in the Living Abyss Sea, an area long known to seafarers as a dangerous stretch of water to navigate, a small colony had been established on one the islands some 20 years ago but the dwellings were found abandoned by the supply ship with no sign of the colonists and their families. Since then the only ship that continued to travel to the area was the Bliss, captained by Captain Greywillow and his wife Nell – they were mainly commisioned to explore the strange ruins that could be found in the region. Further studies suggested that at it’s height the Nearith Empire had established a thriving port city there, but some unexplained disaster befell the people and an explosion shattered the city and it sank below the waves. Some of the older texts hinted that this might have been linked to the presence of a gateway used in the great war against Tal and his demonic hordes.
Sadly that was the best Gunnar would be feeling that day, after watching Luther progress to the final of the music competition he and Fayd prepared for their semi final bouts. Gunnar, knowing Magda from his time serving with Silvereye’s crew was keen to bet against himself and then take a dive to earn some coin and minimise the beating he suspected might be coming his way from the Crimson Blade’s main muscle. However, Fayd was confident that they could both win their bouts – with a little help in the form of a potion of brawling. The young orc managed to pursuade Gunnar to loan him over 700 gold to get some additional protection with the plan being that they would split the winnings if they reached the finals. However, Fayd was facing the reigning champion Timson and his optimism soon proved to be misplaced – after taking the first round Fayd was then slowly demolioshed by Timson’s powerful attacks, eventually loosing the bout by knockout in the final round. As he’d feared Gunnar fared little better in his semi final against the Spinebreaker, going toe to toe with the huge Goliath he simply couldn’t match her raw power and despite stealing the 5th round of the contest the end of the fight saw him battered and swaying on his feet, Dorian leaping into the ring at the bell to steer the dazed barbarian back to his companions and using some of his magic to heal the worst of his wounds.
With both barbarians now pauperised and out of the competition Luther remained the party’s sole chance of success and claiming the prize money for this year’s festival.