Category: The Story So Far

Kriv and Berrian are 4^th level

Player	Character	Role	Class	Race
Lofton	Lorian	Controller	Wizard	Eladrin
Jason	Reef	Striker	Rogue	Changeling
Sabin	Xaelin	Striker	Sorcerer	Dragonborn
Pete	Orin	Tank	Fighter	Mul (half-dwarf)
Michael	Kriv	Tank	Paladin	Dragonborn
Perrin	Alphazar	Leader/Striker	Hybrid Druid/Shaman	Wilding
Jason	Berrian	Controller	Mage	Eladrin

 

After clearing out Redthorn’s cupboards, Xaelin found some correspondence between Redthorn and his superior, Lord Vhennyk.  It seems that they came north to the Nentir Vale from the southern city of Sarthel hoping to conquer the entire Nentir Vale.  Redthorn was to lead the vanguard into the Harkenwold, a simple task that he was failing at and earning Vhennyk’s ire.  Redthorn’s pending dispatches are addressed to an inn in Winterhaven, at the western end of the Vale.

After rifling the Iron Circle’s mail, the party did a thorough sweep of the 3^rd and 2^nd floor of the Great Tower finding nothing of value.  Though Lorian may have taken an interest in the library, none here did.

After a short rest to gather themselves and prepare for the next challenge, the party headed downstairs to… the kitchen.  Where an Iron Circle Adept and 2 Guards were waiting.  Orin charged in, dealing some harsh damage to the tough Guard.  Alas, even with the help of the Tar Devil who was guarding the Jail, the Iron Circle were soon defeated, though Xaelin seemed to be struggling with his spells.  (Probably too excited from the recent victories and the climactic battle with Redthorn.)

Once the foes were vanquished, the party freed Baron Stockmer who thanked them, eyed them suspiciously for a moment – cataloguing the magic items they had taken from his personal storage in his apartment on the 3^rd floor – and then embracing them with gratitude and enthusiasm.  “I see you have rescued my things from that villain Redthorn…keep them as a reward for freeing the vale from his tyranny.  The servants have kept me informed of your deeds throughout the Harkenwold and we all owe you our lives and livelihood.  You are welcome in my keep if you ever pass this way again.”  Too exhausted and abused to do much more, his servant escorted him up the stairs to bed.

After some discussion, it was decided that the adventurers should finish what they started and make sure the Iron Circle presence in the Harkenwold was neutralized once and for all.  A search of the walls yielded no foe.  At the Southwest tower, the party saw the open gate and climbed to the top.  From that vantage, the adventurers saw a cloud of dust and horses galloping to the east.  It looked like Snilvor and the remaining Iron Circle were on the run.

Turning inward to the center of the keep, the party found empty barracks and an empty, if dirty, mess hall.  Finally, the party came to the church.  Lining up to enter, they saw two more Tar Devils waiting for them.  These ones were armed with a flaming net that they cast toward Orin and Kriv, catching Orin and pulling him deep into the room.  However, Tar Devils are not as tough as they seem and after Xaelin gesticulated wildly, causing a shower of pretty stars to rain down on the devils, one was soon dead while the other was close to it.  Suddenly, a Spiked Devil flew down from the rafters, sending out a wild spray of needles that struck everything in the room, with several of the poisonous barbs striking the ground outside the door that Xaelin and Berrian were standing back from.

To be continued…

P.S.  As a reminder, when she went back to the Druid’s to study, Jasmine turned over her magic items saying, “I won’t need these where I am going, but you will as your path leads to adventure.”

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Treasure:

Nothing more.

Experience:

138 for the Encounter in the kitchen

200 for the Quest completion event (rescuing Baron Stockmer).

338 Total

Alphazar and Xaelin are now 4^th level!

Player	Character	Role	Class	Race
Lofton	Lorian	Controller	Wizard	Eladrin
Jason	Reef	Striker	Rogue	Changeling
Sabin	Xaelin	Striker	Sorcerer	Dragonborn
Pete	Orin	Tank	Fighter	Mul (half-dwarf)
Michael	Kriv	Tank	Paladin	Dragonborn
Perrin	Alphazar	Leader/Striker	Hybrid Druid/Shaman	Wilding
Jason	Berrian	Controller	Mage	Eladrin

The next morning the party heads off to storm the castle.  On the way, they contrive a plan.

Step one of the plan was to have Reef bluff his way into the castle through the main gate.  Unfortunately, Sturmik, the tiefling that commands the gate house saw right through his disguise and ended up arresting him, tying him to a chair in one of the tower rooms and beating on him trying to find out what he was up to.  Reef played it sly though and faked unconsciousness to get them to leave him alone.

Meanwhile, the rest of the party was waiting in the tall grass just at the edge of the cleared area north of the North Tower.   After waiting for Reef to signal them, they took the initiative, assuming he had been caught.

Somehow, the party managed to get within 20 feet of the wall before they were spotted.  The alarm went up and archers on the wall brought their bows to bear on the adventurers.  Xaelin reacted quickly and carried Kriv into the air, landing cleanly on the top of the North Tower.   Xaelin then dropped a rope over the side to help Orin and Alphazar up.  Kriv kept guard at the top of the stairs.  As the Sentries came up to the top of the stairs, they found themselves face to face with death.

Surging down the stairs the fighters hacked and slashed their way through the Sentries on the northeast wall and the east wall as they charged into the Great Tower.  There they slashed and burned more Sentries and a couple of Dragonborn Soldiers.  Just when they thought thing had calmed down, two Hobgoblin Sellswords emerged from their sleeping chamber, morningstars whirling to bring a hail of blows on the fighters.  Orin went down, but Alphazar used the mystic arts to heal him so that he could get up and fight again.  Just then, two more Iron Circle Brigands appeared at the main entrance to the hall.  Just before Xaelin unleashed his fiery doom upon them, Alphazar recognized Reef and called out to him to stand down.  Reef unleashed his sly flourish upon the Hobgoblins, followed by the other Iron Circle guy’s magic missile.

While the fighters were battling their way along the battlements, Reef was being guarded by a single Iron Circle Brigand.  That Brigand helped Reef out of his bonds and helped him get his weapons, explaining that he was changing sides and would like to help Reef and his allies.  Berrian turned out to be a Mage and used his arc lightening and magic missile to good effect during the encounters.

After killing the hobgoblins, the party was able to take a short rest to debrief the new guy and get the layout of the Great Tower and its occupants.  Of note was Nazin Redthorn’s apartment on the upper floor, and the Gaol on the lower floor where Baron Stockmer was being held.  During the break, Alphazar bit a chunk out of one of the Dragonborn Soldier’s legs and ate it up with gusto.  A short search of the Sentries, Soldiers and Hobgoblins revealed that the Hobgoblins were carrying 50 gp each.  The Soldiers wore Scale Armor, which may be of interest to some of the fighters.

Once the break was over and a plan was laid out, Reef and Berrian headed upstairs to try to get Nazin Redthorn to come downstairs to judge the foolish attackers.  Nazin Redthorn was hiding in his apartment, well guarded by an Iron Circle Adept and three Hobgoblin Sellswords.

Successfully bluffing Nazin and his guards, Reef and Berrian convinced Nazin to check out their story, so he sent one of his Hobgoblins down with them.  The Hobgoblin was subsequently ambushed and slaughtered before he could even raise the alarm.  Reef then took on the form of the Hobgoblin and went back upstairs to let Nazin know the way was clear and that he should come, even though he sounded more like Yoda than a Hobgobliin.  Alas, the trap could not be sprung because Berrian had a coughing fit while Kriv’s sneezing gave his position away.  Without surprise, the party had to move quickly to engage the Hobgoblins, shut down the Adept and kill Redthorn.  Redthorn, however, had other plans, and upon seeing the ambush, turned tail and ran back up the stairs.  However, Xaelin flew himself and Reef in pursuit, preventing Nazin from getting away.  Reef then smashed Nazin in the face and sent him tumbling through the air to land on his feet in front of Orin, who turned his attack on Redthorn and cut him hard.

Alphazar and  Kriv magically switched places, denying the Hobgoblin’s attack.  In short order, Alphazar and Kriv, slew the Adept and the Hobgoblin while Orin, Reef, Xaelin and Berrian slew Redthorn and the other Hobgoblin.

All told, it was a messy and brutal battle, but the adventurers prevailed.  A search of Redthorn found a large iron key that opened a treasury room in the back of his apartment.  Inside the treasury were some chests filled with gold and silver coins, several magic items and some potions.

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Treasure:

(Optional) 2 suits Scale Armor

250gp (Hobgoblins)

700 gp, 1400 sp (chests)

4 Potions of Healing

x2 pairs of Bracers.

x5 arrows, 75% chance of breaking in use

x2 whetstones, 50% chance of breaking after use

Experience:

270 XP before Berrian appears

280 XP after Berrian appears

(550 total)

Orin and Reef are now 4^th Level!

Player	Character	Role	Class	Race
Lofton	Lorian	Controller	Wizard	Eladrin
Jason	Reef	Striker	Rogue	“Human”
Sabin	Xaelin	Striker	Sorcerer	Dragonborn
Pete	Orin	Tank	Fighter	Mul (half-dwarf)
Michael	Kriv	Tank	Paladin	Dragonborn
Katey	Jasmine	Controller	Druid	Human
Perrin	Alphazar	Leader/Striker	Hybrid Druid/Shaman	Wilding

 

As the battle raged, the adventurers were called to the Radden farmstead where an Iron Circle Dark Adept, a couple of Cutthroats and some new adversaries, Tar Devil Guards.  Even with the added strength of the Tar Devils, the Iron Circle was no challenge for the combined might of our intrepid party members.  They hammered the Adept into the ground before he could mount an assault.  Then they took out the cutthroats and the tar devils with alacrity.

Before they could take a breath, a rider appeared on the road with more Tar Devils and a bunch of Iron Circle Rabble.  The party decided to hold its ground.  Sabin leapt onto the roof of the nearby farmhouse and Alphazar ran up the nearest tree, but then came back before he could get surrounded and slaughtered by the Rabble.

The party hit hard and fast and the rider nearly died before escaping to get back on his horse.  It turned out that the rider was Nazin Redthorne.

Several of the party members took a licking, but they crushed the Iron Circle and chased off its leader.

There was some celebrating in the Harkenwold that night, but for the most part, the citizenry was recovering, tending to the wounded and trying to figure out what to do next to get the Iron Circle out of the Harkenwold once and for all.

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Treasure:

None Yet

Experience:

360 XP

Kriv is now 3^rd Level!

Player	Character	Role	Class	Race
Lofton	Lorian	Controller	Wizard	Eladrin
Jason	Reef	Striker	Rogue	“Human”
Sabin	Xaelin	Striker	Sorcerer	Dragonborn
Pete	Orin	Tank	Fighter	Mul (half-dwarf)
Michael	Kriv	Tank	Paladin	Dragonborn
Katey	Jasmine	Controller	Druid	Human
Perrin	Alphazar	Leader/Striker	Hybrid Druid/Shaman	Wilding

 

Oh, it’s On!

After two long nights of plotting and planning, the rebel leaders are as ready as they’ll ever be to confront the Iron Circle battalion that is coming to crush them.  The Woodsinger’s long bows are strung,  the Tor’s Hold fighters have taken up positions.  Recruits from Harken, Albridge and throughout the Harkenwold are armed and stationed at the battle front.  And the adventurers are set up to play their part.

As the morning broke, the Iron Circle could be seen across the field, some arrayed in ranks and files, many more crowding in behind, a rabble armed with short swords and clubs.

Soon after the fighting begins, the adventurers rallying point, old Greygill’s farmhouse, was assaulted by an Iron Circle squad that was torn to pieces by the adventurers in very short order.

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Treasure:

None Yet

Experience:

379 XP

 

 

Player	Character	Role	Class	Race
Lofton	Lorian	Controller	Wizard	Eladrin
Jason	Reef	Striker	Rogue	“Human”
Sabin	Xaelin	Striker	Sorcerer	Dragonborn
Pete	Orin	Tank	Fighter	Mul (half-dwarf)
Michael	Kriv	Tank	Paladin	Dragonborn
Katey	Jasmine	Controller	Druid	Human
Perrin	Alphazar	Leader/Striker	Hybrid Druid/Shaman	Wilding

After meeting with the Elven leader Eriyel, the party headed west to the wizard’s hideaway.  After a brief run-in with some sleeping goblins, and after eventually figuring out how to get into Dal Nystiere, they squared off against Snilvor and his goblin fellows in the wizard’s antechamber.  There they found some maps to the several Elven burial grounds, one of which was marked with a big red X.  It would seem the Daggerburg goblins, of whom Snilvor and his fellows must be, were in league with the evil wizard and were determined to desecrate these “lost crypts” for their own nefarious purposes.  This was surely something the elves would want to know about.

Battling Yisarn, his skeleton guards and huge Glimmerweb Spider turned out to be a little more challenging as Yisarn had a few tricks up his sleeve.  Nevertheless, the party prevailed and poor Yisarn is no-longer an undead wizard, he is just dead.  It turns out the old boy was loaded, as several crates, boxes and other containers on his bookshelves yielded up their treasure to the prying eyes of the party.

After finding a long winding tunnel that led to the surface, Kriv and Xaelin went back to retrieve the drakes, who, with a little bit of intimidation from the guys, were wrangled to the surface and harnessed to the cart.

Upon returning to Eriyel, she bestowed upon them her thanks and blessings, and explained that some 50 elven archers would meet them in Albridge two days hence in preparation for the upcoming battle.

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Treasure:

Wagon full of furs

2 Bloodseeker Drakes (semi-tamed, can be used as work animals)

4 scrolls depicting locations of Elven crypts to be desecrated (or have already been)

9 small agates (100gp each)

3 large agates (200 gp each)

Platinum eladrin ring (350gp)

422gp

1 Potion of Healing

Skull-topped Rod (necrotic, weapon) Attack:  Melee 1.  Hit:  2d6 necrotic damage.  (Note:  There was some confusion about what this Rod could do, the Rod of Command power was Snilvor’s, not the Rod’s.)

Experience:

496 XP

Player	Character	Role	Class	Race
Lofton	Lorian	Controller	Wizard	Eladrin
Jason	Reef	Striker	Rogue	“Human”
Sabin	Xaelin	Striker	Sorcerer	Dragonborn
Pete	Orin	Tank	Fighter	Mul (half-dwarf)
Michael	Kriv	Tank	Paladin	Dragonborn
Katey	Jasmine	Controller	Druid	Human
Perrin	Alphazar	Leader/Striker	Hybrid Druid/Shaman	Wilding

After waylaying the wagon heading for Easthill, the party took it back to Dar Gremath in Albridge.  He encouraged the party to visit with the Druid Reithann.  Several party members proposed sneaking into the castle.  Gremath insisted that they should visit the Druid before such folly as they would surely be killed.  After much arguing back and forth, they decided to go see the Druid.

Once there, he explained how the citizens of Tor’s Hold would be a great support in the rebellion but that they were being harassed by the Bullywugs in the Toadwallow Caverns.  The party headed west to the caverns and dispatched the Bullywugs therein.  Then they met with Bran Torsson at Tor’s Hold.  He was most appreciate of the adventurers for dealing with the nasty Bullywugs and pledged his support.  He also suggested that the party go and see Adalbar the Hunter in Marl.  Orin took the dead halfling boy to his family, who were appreciative of the news and the return of their son’s remains.

Adalbar explained that the Woodsinger Elves would be a powerful ally against the Iron Circle.  The trick would be getting them to take an interest in the rebellion at all.  After getting some tips, the party header south to the Harken Forest.  Shortly after entering the forest on the trail suggested by Adalbar, the adventurers  were found by the very elves they were looking for.  They were escorted back to the Elven camp where they met with the camp elder, Eriyel.  She explained about the undead wizard in the ruins of Dal Nystiere.  Alphazar was very excited to have such a strong group of adventurers to aid him in dealing with the “Evil in the North” that his Wilden elders had charged him to deal with.  He was going to fulfill his mission.

Eriyel gave the party a vial of green dragon’s blood as a show of good faith, and because it was needed to activate the portal in Dal Nystiere.  The party then struck out through the forest to the west to Dal Nystiere to confront the undead wizard.

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Treasure:

30gp and 100sp

2 Potion of Healing

Sapphire – 100gp

670gp

15gp, 60sp

Flawed Emerald – 100gp

3 Bloodcap Mushroom ( +1 bonus to attack rolls until the end of the encounter)

2 Milkcap Mushrooms ( +5 temp hit points until the end of the encounter)

Experience:

505xp each

Player	Character	Role	Class	Race
Lofton	Lorian	Controller	Wizard	Eladrin
Jason	Reef	Striker	Rogue	“Human”
Sabin	Xaelin	Striker	Sorcerer	Dragonborn
Pete	Orin	Tank	Fighter	Mul (half-dwarf)
Michael	Kriv	Tank	Paladin	Dragonborn
Katey	Jasmine	Controller	Druid	Human
Perrin	Alphazar	Leader/Striker	Hybrid Druid/Shaman	Wilding

 

After visiting the White River Mercantile, Lorian and Xaelin went to find a Magus while the rest of the party went to the Mallard Inn.  Even as they entered, trouble was brewing.  Iron Circle Brigands challenged them and ended up tasting Orin’s steel, followed by everyone else except Reef, who went around the side of the Inn to see if he could come in through a window.  The battle in the Inn was a short lived affair, but for poor Reef, who was ambushed by 2 Cutthroats and very nearly killed.

After the dust settled, the Innkeeper sent for Dar Gremath who spoke with the adventurers about the Iron Circle’s takeover of the Harkenwold and their plans to rule the entire Nentir Vale.  He explained that in all the towns there was an underground rebellion starting that needed some heroes and a large force to take battle to the Iron Circle and free Baron Stockmer.  Orin is quite certain he could accomplish this single handed, but Jasmine urged him to speak with the Druid Reithann first.  Gremath also challenged the party to hijack the supply wagon heading for Easthill on the morrow.

At dawn, the party left to intercept the supply wagon, staging an ambush near the Standing Stones.

It was a bloody battle, but the Crossbow-that-never-hits was in rare form as the party quickly overcame the Adept and the Guardians, finishing the rest of the Brigand’s in short order.  The wagon was loaded with arms and armament, magic armor, a crate of healing potions and a strongbox full of gold and jewels.

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Treasure:

375 Gold

14 x 100 gp Gemstones

5 Healing Potions

1 each of the following magic items:

 Experience:

All: 390 each

Here is the spreadsheet showing the Cash Out value for the collected stuff that the party sold at the White River Mercantile.

If the money is evenly divided, each character will receive 636.75 gold pieces.  Otherwise, the party can divvy the loot however they see fit.