Our heroes, having killed the malicious King Grol that enslaved the goblin tribe of Droop and Fleek, come up with a cunning plan.
As the dragonborn sorcerer, Lana, waves the head of the dead bugbear king in the hallway using Mage Hand, the arcane trickster drow rogue, Durial, uses his own Mage Hand spell to unlock the door holding in the owlbear.
In a flurry of motion, the massive form of a starving matron owlbear bursts through the tower doors, and follows the motion and scent of the head as it is unceremoniously tossed aside into the entry hall of the temple. The party hides, waiting for what they hope to be the sounds of battle.
A slithering sound, the roar of the monstrous feathered beast, then the sound of snapping and what sounds like a 5 foot long peeling of a banana? Apparently, a grick met it's fate at the paws of the hungry beast.
(Ouch.)
Rumbling and red firelight filled the halls, and a magically enhanced voice, booming and angry and speaking in goblin, commands the "foul creature" to leave. The haggard owlbear roars in surprise, and bursts through the opposite doorway from where it came in, smashing the stone archway and collapsing the entrance as it bounds into the night. Several more goblin voices can be heard in the distance, and the 'twang of bows as arrows fly in the night after the freed creature.
In the quiet that followed, the group of adventurers sneak into the tower that once held the owlbear. Little remains of the furniture, except a high shelf, with a small chest. Inside are a scroll of Silence, a rusted hilt of a broken sword, and an amulet depicting an elf with the name "Meralue Auglatha."
Around noon, the party departed Phandalin on the quest to save Gundren Rockseeker.
The goblins, unibrowed Fleek and his daughter Droop, intending to seek revenge for the loss of their village, rode ahead on their cow, Bessie. Droop guided the way, being the only one that knew where the castle was hidden.
Sildar, fulfilling his promise to assist, followed a short distance behind the goblins, glancing slightly distrustfully at them on occasion as they rode.
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The party of now 8 left the Triboar Trail to head North into the Neverwinter Wood. After only a few hours, as the sun was close to setting, they heard sounds up ahead, alerting them to possible danger. Sildar and the goblins stayed behind to protect the horses while the others scouted ahead.
"Well, you made a right paste of him, di'-nt ya," drawled a deep, loud voice. "Now what we gonna eat?"
Sneaking carefully to the edge of a clearing, they could see two large ogres, standing over the very flattened remains of something once humanoid in shape.
It was at this point that Eva discovered she was not as stealthy as she had hoped. Stepping on a twig, the ogres turned on her in an instant, roaring as they brought their clubs down upon her in a flash. As she fled, she was able to lead the ogres into an ambush, where the rest of the party were able to surround them. From a safer distance, Eva brought down a Moonbeam spell, burning the monsters with radiant energy. Though the ogres' fought ferociously, they were quelled quickly.
Searching the ogres returned little more than a random wagon wheel, which the group decided to strap to one of their horses and take along for some reason. The flattened victim, though unrecognizable as little more than humanoid in size, had one finger sticking up from the gore. Upon this finger, a ring of braided metal caught Durial's eye.
Without much thought the drow placed the ring upon his finger, and promptly grew a beard.
Taking off the ring did not remove the hair, though cutting the beard hair proved just a minor inconvenience at worst. With some experimentation, Durial and Sildar found that this ring produced differing results; Sildar was quite pleased with his new "mutton chops" side burns, though Durial kept the ring in a pocket, in case he found a later use for it.
Though they were able to take down this massive threat by what felt like a hair's breadth, but the accomplishment gave them confidence that they would be victorious when they reached the castle.
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They approached the castle at dusk, the wind howling against the broken towers. A quick scan of the building revealed a concealed entrance obscured by a curtain on the north side of the structure. Droop advised them that the King's bedroom was in the northeast corner.
Sneaking in through the secret entrance, the plan was to go straight for King Grol. With Durial and Fleek in front, Raven and Lemon flanking just behind, and Eva and Lana in the back for ranged support. Droop took up a a lookout position in the rear.
They entered a hallway, and found a door to the east and a curtain to the south. Listening at the door to the northeast, Durial could hear two voices, one gruff and one soft, arguing over something. With a burst, he slammed open the door, and he and Fleek released readied crossbow shots into a large bugbear; both rogues then rolled back, allowing Lemon and Raven to stand before them. With a roar, King Grol picked up a large greataxe and charged, coming down on Raven with a mighty blow.
The other occupant of the room, a female drow in a slender dress, dashed out of sight into the north corner of the room.
The exchange between the King and the intruders went back and forth for a few seconds, when from dark shadows of the hallways, two hobgoblins seemed to appear out of thin air. Their fists and feet flurried in all directions, pelting Lemon and Raven as they fought in melee combat with the King.
Lana blinded one of the hobgoblins, while Eva, Durial, and Fleek brought down the other.
Slashing recklessly, King Grol's greataxe found purchase and knocked Raven to the floor, unconscious. Seizing the opening, Lemon brought her greatsword down upon the mighty bugbear, cleanly beheading him.
Eva magically healed Raven, who leapt to her feet, readying her maul to finish the final foe.
Sensing she was alone and in a bad situation, the final hobgoblin attempted to vanish into the shadows. [DM note: as she was blind and in a panic, rolled a d6 for direction, d4 x 5ft for distance.] As suddenly as she disappeared into the shadow, she reappeared falling 20 feet from the sky above.
Droop was unable to move past Lana, who purposefully blocked the doorway into the hall to protect the small goblin. In frustration, Droop dashed around to the south, coming up behind from the curtain covering the southern entrance to the hall. She was just in time to see the falling hobgoblin hit the ground at her feet, who having survived the fall, did not survive Droop's maul to her head.
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As the party entered the bedchamber, they could see no sign of the drow woman from earlier. A door to a closet on the north end of the room was partially ajar, and as Durial took a step towards it, out came Gundren Rockseeker. Then, another Gundren Rockseeker.
Both were stumbling and wavering, their eyes half shut, holding their hands to each other's shoulders.
Thinking quickly on her feet, Raven cast Detect Evil and Good.
[DM note: rule of cool, just roll with it.]
With a commanding "imposter," the false Gundren knew the ruse had failed. Quickly, it shifted in form. The "dwarf," clothes and all, melded into a blue skinned form and back into her "drow" form in an instant.
The female "drow" pulled a potion from a side pouch that it wore, and with a swig, she became translucent and floated upwards towards a hole in the ceiling, as if she were made of steam. [Gaseous Form, grants fly speed 10 feet.]
Durial reacted by casting Ray of Frost, hitting the cloud of "drow" [reducing her speed to 0].
Calling down a Moonbeam through the broken castle roof, Eva caught the dispersed "drow" mid-air.
The radiant light revealed her true form. Though she was translucent as mist due to the potion, they could see the doppelganger for what it was. Blue skin, faceless, and with a fresh wound from a rapier that had just begun to heal from the night before.
An inhuman scream could be heard, but just barely audible, as the moonbeam dispersed the doppelganger evenly upon the floor and walls in a blue spray of steaming inhuman blood.
Linene's cousin Robert was avenged.
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Gundren was now stable, sleeping heavily on Grol's bed mat; Sildar volunteered to stay by his side.
The enemies defeated, they began a search of the castle. Starting with the eastern side, they checked a double-door to the south of the hall. Noting the doors were bolted from the outside, they approached with caution.
Listening at the door, they could hear something trying to get out:
After a mostly restless night, the heroes awake feeling renewed energy and capabilities despite their weariness.
***Level 3***
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Stepping out into the morning air, they noticed Harbin Wester on the back of a heavily burdened donkey trotting through the town square.
"This is all too much for me. I'm going back to Neverwinter to work for the bank!"
As the jackasses left, they passed by a cart being hauled by several miners, a sheet covering the body of the real Robert in the back.
Linene Graywind approached the party, followed closely by Halia Thornton. Noting the fleeing Townmaster, the two women thank the group and promised that they would pay the rewards promised by Harbin and Sildar. They went on to note that a town council was being formed by the local business owners, and would wait for the chaos in town to settle before electing a new Townmaster.
The party showed Halia the love letter Iarno had written, to which she replied, aghast and embarrassed, "I had barely heard 2 sentences from him before he disappeared months ago! I have no idea what this is about!"
The old cart and oxen, led by Toblen Stonehill, Elmar Barthen and Daran Edermath, made its way down from Barthen's Provisions toward the Townmaster's Hall. Sildar emerged, leading the Redbrand Captain and Iarno Albrek, the latter bound and gagged. Loading the prisoners into the cart, the Neverwinter-bound crew trotted across the square towards the Triboar Trail.
Halia and Iarno locked eyes as he was carted away. She blushed and turned her back to him, a tear rolling down his cheek.
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Indicating that they each wanted to speak to the party privately, Linene and Halia gave each other slightly distrustful glares, and went back to their respectful businesses.
At the Miner's Exchange, the party spoke to Halia regarding the note from the Black Spider that they found in the Manor. She was quite pleased with them, and gladly paid them the 100 gold as promised. She then extended the offer, paying an additional 100 gold for any more information they could obtain about this Black Spider.
They gave her the figurine bust they found in the Tresendar tomb, as it seemed to be nearly identical to her likeness. Holding the carving, Halia revealed that she was a descendant to the Tresendars, and that she wanted to bring back the town to what it once was, to rebuild her ancestor's legacy.
As a form of gratitude for their respect to her ancestors, and the return of the statuette, she offered to purchase any ore or metals they wished to sell at a 90% rate (as opposed to the standard 50% buy rate).
During the exchange, she was able to communicate with Durial using Thieves' Cant, giving him the message that she was not sure she could trust him earlier, but was now willing to work with him.
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Now mid-morning, Sildar met up with the party, following them to meet with Linene. She sat somber, head in hand as they entered the building. She explained that Robert was her cousin, and that he had only arrived in town 2 weeks ago, seeking his fortune in the local mines.
She asked where they were going next, and if they planned to find Robert's killer. Assuring her that they were, and that they would bring the villains to justice, she offered Robert's horse to aid in the effort.
[DM note: I made cards for 12 customized horses, setting slight price variance for each.]
Redsaddle was a maroon horse formerly owned by a former sea-raider, Linene's cousin Robert. She swims really well and can hold her breath for an unnatural length of time. Raven chose this horse, feeling a connection almost immediately. [DM note: swim speed 60 ft.]
The party, seeing the value in having a faster means of travel, persuaded Linene to extend her assistance further. She granted them a 75% buyback on any weapons or armor they brought her, and gave a 25% discount on the sale of any horses they bought.
Lemon chose to purchase Wickywalter. Light brown, branded with the seal of justice as a former bounty-hunter’s horse, he neighs loudly if a lie is told in his presence. (Lemon glanced at Durial as she paid for the horse...) [DM note: range 15 ft, Insight vs Deception, DC11.]
Lana, the silver dragonborn wizard, felt drawn to Icehorse. Rare breeding stock, raised in arctic conditions and high altitude to improve strength. Total badass of a white horse that will stand up to any punishment. Cries a little as it sleeps. [DM note: cold resistance.]
The next horse, Bjors, is said to have distant bear ancestry. Can talk with bears as one of their own, and needs a little meat in his diet to stay happy. Curiously intrigued by this strange beast, the druid Eva chose him as her mount. [DM note: Bi-lingual carnivore horse? Why not...]
For their goblin companions, the party purchased Bessie, cow that for some reason loves to run. She can keep up with most race horses, and enjoys the company of a rider. Provides 1 gallon of fresh milk every day, though will get ill if not milked for 48 hours. [DM note: stats as riding horse, milk serves as 1 ration per day.]
The rogue Durial chose to walk, though with his light frame, he could take breaks and saddle behind another party member if need be.
[DM note: CON saves for long distance marching or face exhaustion.]
Sildar chose to purchase Oxkicker. A dark grey raid-horse trained to kick in doors with alarming power. [DM note: Warhose with 20 STR, +7 to kick, 2d6+5 damage.]
The tirumphant adventurers left the ruined manor, escorting the rescued Dendrar family and dragging the Redbrand leaders, the Captain and Glassstaff, behind them. Leading the captives, both former and newly acquired, down from the hill, they came upon a gathering of several dozen townsfolk in the center of the town.
"What have you done?!" demanded Harbin, visibly afraid.
Murmuring and whispers waved across the gathering, as torches lit the midnight air. Out of the crowd, a lone voice called "Hang them!"
More calls sprang forward, "Kill the Redbrands!" "They killed Thel Dendrar!" "Justice!" "Hang them! Hang them!"
The young Dendrar children hid themselves under their mother's arms as Mirna, with glistening eyes reflecting the flames of the torches, stared with fury at the unconscious wizard on the ground before her.
Sister Garaele stepped forward and turned to face the crowd. “Oh! Now, now! Can’t we be reasonable here?”
Qelline subtly turned and walked away. “Come along, Carp. You don’t need to see this.”
"But, mooom!..." Carps voice trailed as the Alderleafs walked away.
"L-let’s not be hasty," Harbin stuttered.
Mirna suddenly burst, shouting him down. "Shut up, you doddering fool! These men are evil, and justice will be served!"
Daran Edermath put his hand up and calmly replied, "they should be brought to the city."
Linene quietly said to the party, “I’m good either way, so long as justice is served.”
Halia approached, “I think there’s a bigger picture here.” Her words were drowned by the building crowd.
Elmar, just entering the crowd, yelled out, “Yes! What have you done with the Rockseeker brothers?!”
The crowd seemed somewhat confused by this, but nonetheless enthused to see justice.
Sildar stepped up to the prisoners, and with a commanding voice said, “we will bring them to Neverwinter. Nobody else needs to die today.”
The adventurers stood beside Sildar, silent but standing firm in their support for his words. The townsfolk slowly calmed, persuaded to let formal justice take precedence.
"Everyone, just go home. We will jail them for the night, then transport them tomorrow to face the Lord's justice in Neverwinter."
Toblen piped up, "I’ll go."
"Me too," Daran added
"Count me in as well," Barthen said. "We can use the wagon and oxen you delivered yesterday."
"We need to post guards tonight," Sildar advised
Durial and Lemon volunteered to guard the prisoners, as well as a local miner named Robert.
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In the basement of the Townmaster's Hall, within two crudely constructed jail cells, were several short-term residents: the redbrand from the taphouse ("aren't you cute") and the Redbrand Captain in one cell, and Iarno "Glassstaff" Albrek in the other, bound and gagged.
Lemon, Durial, and Robert sat quietly, taking shifts to watch the prisoners. Sometime around 2 am, Robert stepped out for a restroom break. Less than 5 minutes later, he came back, and silently took his seat once more.
Robert, looking over Durial and Lemon, glared into Durial's eyes and takes a swig from his flask. Suddenly, Robert vanished.
The barred door to Iarno's cage opened, and his bindings loosened. Pulled to his feet, Iarno cast Blur on himself, his form seeming to vibrate violently in the air.
[DM note: I ruled Iarno had a short rest, and thus only had 8 HP.]
Lemon slashed at the wizard with her greatsword, and just as mere hours before in the Redbrand hideout, opened his freshly closed wounds she had inflicted, dropping the wizard once more. She then went to work stopping the bleeding and closing the wound she re-inflicted.
Durial pulled the invisibility potion he found earlier in the manor, and drinking it quickly, ran to face the unseen threat.
Unable to determine Durial's location, "Robert" toppled a nearby oil lantern onto the floor of the cell containing the other two Redbrands, spilling oil and setting fire to them both. The Captain, waking to being engulfed in flame, disrobed and began beating out the flames with a blanket. His efforts were not fast enough, and though he was able to save himself, the other Redbrand (who had accidentally cat-called Durial from the porch of the Sleeping Giant Tap House) perished in the flames.
Suspecting "Robert" would go for the door, Durial waited and struck out with his rapier as the door started to open. Blue-tinted blood coated his blade, and Durial's invisibility was dispelled.
However, the still-invisible intruder continued out the door and escaped into the night.
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Running out the door in pursuit, Durial noticed Robert's body just outside behind a bush, his throat slit.
Yelling into the newly acquired Sending Stones, he awoke Eva, who yelled for the others and ran outside. Noticing the smell of smoke in the night air, they ran down the street to see the porch of the Sleeping Giant Tap House set aflame.
Lana quickly quenched the fire with her icy dragon's breath, and the party scoured the area for evidence of the intruder's whereabouts, but to no avail.
