Date | Location(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
1 | The party is born in Phandalin, days after an attack on Leilon. Smoke can be seen in the distance and rumors of a dragon circulate the countryside. The party met some of the locals including Toblen, Elmar, Halia, and more. Gael basically starts a party at the Stonehill Inn and the party rests in the armory. | |
2 | The party splits up in the morning to gather information and supplies. The party decides rescuing the local apothecary from Umbrage Hill is the best course of action. Brynaeris guides the party through the Phandalin Deadwood, they stealthily took out a small pack of orcs, and made there way to the hill. When arriving at the hill they ascend into the windmill through the top balcony where they meet Adabra Gwynn. While year they find a Nazuum, confirming that the rumors are true. After an attack by a group of orcs the party captures an orc, name it Beau, and guides Adabra back to Phandalin. | |
3 | The party arrives back in Phandalin and delivers the captured orc, Beau, to the front steps of the Townmaster's Hall and deliver a riveting speech to the townsfolk who have gathered around. Halia’s guard, Bone, throws a large jug of milk which crashes on the front door of the Townmaster's Hall. It gets no response. Halia scolds the party informing them that this has possibly endangered the town, but encourages them to seek more answers with Harbin Wester. After the crowd disperses the party makes there way into the Hall by matter of force after determining there was a magical energy coming from inside. A doppelganger who had taken up residence as Harbin is captured, and the real Harbin Wester is found dead a shallow hidden cellar in the bottom of a chest. Gael also found a Mysterious Letter. Halia is now convinced the town could be in graver danger than it was originally thought. The party decides to head back to Umbrage Hill, save Gael who stays to investigate. Gael learns that the Mysterious Letter may belong to an ancient Dragon Cult. It contains an apparent threat to Thok Hodros and a note about a meeting happening soon. | |
4 | Overnight, most of the party makes their way back to Umbrage Hill to gather the supplies left on the previous trip. This should be enough weapons for the makeshift guard and all of Adabra Gwynn’s supplies for making Potions of Healing. When they arrive they discover a band of orcs trying to tame a Hill Giant. Secret uses dissonant whispers to drive the giant mad, leading the orcs away with no combat. The party gathers the supplies and returns to Phandalin. After inquiring about the letter Gael takes watch with Hovynn Laudr and Dui. Around 3am there is a scream from the woods. Gael nearly dies rescuing a young boy, Borthio Din, for which his mother, Saeder, is very relieved. This morning the party gathers to discuss the previous nights proceedings when a mysterious monk Elf arrives from the Spine of the World. In pursuit of the wisdom of Marldurn, Ronan joins the party. The party spends their day gathering supplies, investigating the town, brewing potions, and keeping watch. Halia expresses increased concern about the apparent Orc and Giant threat and asks Badhron and the party to get to the bottom of the Mysterious Letter. Ronan searches for answers concerning how Marldurn was able to “tame” a dragon. It is clear the party must makes their way to Dragon's Burrow in time for the 20th of Leaffall. They assemble the necessary supplies and prepare to set off the following day. Gael mentions his intent to get Beau to guide them. | |
5 | The party gathers their supplies, leaves Halia in charge of Phandalin and its safety, and sets off for Dragon's Burrow. Hovynn joins the party at Badhron’s request, knowing that the road ahead is dangerous. While traveling through the Deadwood, Ronan notices the party is being followed by wild boar. They decide to ignore it. When leaving the Deadwood, the party stumbled upon a horse with elegant saddle bags that seemed to have gone mad. Within the saddle bags Brynaeris finds a silver ring (which the party did not investigate), two stones that each seem to have half of a face on them (which the party did not investigate), a cask of fine wine, and a heart shaped locket with a picture of a cat in it. The party marches on. A few miles into the Foothills the party sees a man running across a flat area about a half mile out. The man is promptly caught by a griffin, who bring hims into the air about 200 ft and drops him behind a hill out of view. At this point a second griffin attacks the first, and the two enter a battle to the death. They move increasingly closer to the party until the first is killed. In preparation for battle the party attempts to hide. Gael chooses not to hide, instead choosing to attempt to cast a spell. Askelaad chooses to stand with him, and both have a nearly dead griffin tossed directly at them. After a fierce battle Askelaad lands a near critical blow to the griffin’s left wing and it flees into the mountains as fast as it can. 12/6/20 To be safe, Ronan and Badhron move ahead to search the Satyr. While at first appearing dead, they found that he was just on the brink of death. The Satyr’s last words eeked out of him just in time:
The party searches the satyr who was killed by a griffin and finds plenty of goods:
The party comes upon three gnolls who overhear Brynaeris and Askelaad talking. As everyone scrambles to hide, Gael trips as his robes begin to glow bright as day (wild magic). The rest of the party surprise attacks them and cuts them down with success. After the attack, the party arrives as Silvanus' Rest and takes a long rest. The night is uneventful. | |
6 | The party leaves at dawn for the entrance to the mountain pass. Brynaeris leads the party without any issue with a nat20. When arriving at the base of the mountain in the late afternoon, the party splits up to search for the pass. Secret finds a small crag in the mountains that could be an entrance. The crag has a thick fog pouring out of it that none are able to see through. Hovynn says she has to imagine it is the entrance, but that she can’t be sure. Gael suggest Askelaad wear his glowing robes and storm into the fog, and Askelaad ties the robes around his shield instead. The party lines up with with Askelaad in front and Ronin in back, and the party storms in. 12/15/20 As the party makes their way through the fog, many begin to feel extremely faint. About 60ft into the journey, Askelaad falls unconscious. Gael and Badhron rush to pick him up and run back to the exit of the cave. After running for quite some time and taking on continued exhaustion, everyone but Askelaad and Badhron make it out. Gael goes back in to return to them and helps them escape before it's too late. The party lands in an opening outside of the crag and decides to rest for the night to gather their strength after realizing that they can’t find Ronan. On watch overnight Brynaeris thinks she sees movement and Badhron sees a small yellowish white orb up in the mountains. Nothing else comes of it. At dawn the party decides to leave 2 rations and a torch for Ronan. They set off down a winding path in the mountain trail after exiting the crag, eventually coming to a fork in the road. Badhron decides to take a right, leading the party successfully down a path that leads to a sheer vertical incline of about 40 ft. The incline has a rope hanging down, which Askelaad scales only to find a bloddied and tattered Lionshield Coster Cloak. Badhron confirms that this must be from Thok’s scouting party and that they are on the right trail. After continuing down the path for awhile the party comes to a cave opening and decides to enter as its the only path forward. After descending into the caverns, the party notices the walls begin to glow green with gem stones. They eventually come upon a shallow underground lake being fed by a waterfall in the distance, with the continuation of the path on the other side of the water. Badhron floats over as far as he’s able and the rest of the party joins him, when a Nothic jumps out onto him. The Nothic begins to freeze parts of the lake where the players are and attempt to do necrotic damage with its piercing gaze. Another Nothic joins the fight, but both are taken down. The party makes their way out of the cavern, just seeing blue skies at the top of the stones leading out. 12/20/20 The party exits the caverns onto a war-torn battlefield. There were a few ruins, and dozens of dead bodies buried in the snow. Many of the bones looked very old, though some of them were newer—there are orcs are littered throughout the area. Multiple dead soldiers wearing iron armor and cloaks with the Lionshield Coster symbol on it. This battle couldn’t have been more than a ten-day ago. There Ronan was, fighting nearly a dozen orcs alongside a more primal looking Satyr. Brynaeris recognizes this to be a Fey, or nature spirit. The party jumps in and takes out the better part of the orc troop, but Gael hesitates to kill the orcs leader and insists that it could hold valuable information. The Satyr, who introduces himself as Godwim, shares a vision of the terrible atrocities the brute had committed and the party swiftly finishes the job. Ronan assures the party that Godwim helped him out of the fog and had restored his fatigue. Godwim speaks up, explaining that Ronan told him of the parties quest. He will help you, on the condition that you return the mountain to balance. Godwim then inquires about Kaax, an apprentice that he had sent to alert the Emerald Enclave. You realize this is the satyr that you found on the road to the mountains. Disappointed, he then insists that you all move on into the mountain passes where you could find shelter from the coming storm and talk more. That night, Godwim says that he can feel a great darkness growing in the heart of the mountain. It has been brewing for so long that he had not noticed at first. Slowly, life on the mountain began to dwindle. Creatures from the depths beneath the earth, long kept at bay, began to leave the mountain. With this migration, environments surrounding the mountain were disrupted and the natural balance had fallen out of sync. He dared not enter into the heart of the mountain before, but he fears an ancient evil has awoken: the forges burn in The Sunless Citadel. Badhron asks about the young white dragon, and Godwim explains that he appeared soon after Venomfang disappeared, assumedly roosting where Venomfang had. The party rests, uneventfully. | |
7 | Godwim guides the party through the mountain, explaining you’ll need to make it to across the Mountain's Bind after a few days journey. He makes a copy of a map for the party, which they can use to find their way to Dragon's Burrow. The party treks on, uninterrupted. | |
8 | The party treks on, uninterrupted. | |
9 | The party treks on, uninterrupted. | |
10 | The party treks on, uninterrupted. That evening, Godwim warns the party again of the dangerous road ahead. In the same breath, he thanks the party for their dedication to rooting out the evils that have gripped the Sword Mountains. As the party is setting up camp he teaches Gael to Create Bonfire, a spell that should serve him well on the road ahead. To Brynaeris he teaches Mending, if she should need it. | |
11 | The following morning, the party finally reaches the Mountain's Bind. A long chain stretches across a chasm, leading hundreds of feet down to cliffsides and rubble below. Godwim speaks enchantments under his breath, pressing forward. The party follows. About halfway across the Bind, atop a central pillar along the chain, the party is halted by a terrible roar which shakes the mountains. Godwim turns towards the peak of the mountain, looking defeated. “Run!” he howled, and he planted his feet into the center pillar. The party takes off. As the party ran, they caught sight of him: Nazuum, a glistening white dragon barrels through the sky towards the party shaking the metal beneath their feet. The party continues running, as Nazuum comes around for second pass. Godwim is now yelling enchantments in an ancient language, his voice echoing throughout the mountains. As Nazuum approaches, Godwim lets out a magical blast which hits Nazuum directly. He tumbles out of the sky, as the mountains around the bind begin to shake—an avalanche. The party watched Nazuum land in the mountains above as they made their way across the chain. Snow and ice crash into the central pillar, and when it has finally settled Godwim is nowhere to be seen. The party laments the loss of their new friend, saying a quick prayer for the Shepard of the Mountain. The party treks on, uninterrupted. | |
12 | The party treks on, uninterrupted. | |
13 | The party treks on, uninterrupted. | |
14 | The party treks on, uninterrupted. | |
15 | The party treks on, uninterrupted. | |
16 | As the party has made their way into the mountains, terrible blizzards and freezing winds fail to slow them down. The party is now on an ancient path, walking along stone staircases and ancient wooden bridges. While making their way along the mountain, they notice that torches are lit along the paths as they gain altitude. As the party winds a final corner, they note on their map that they have entered the Serpent's Spine. Many torches are lit along the path, and across a small gap there stands a pure black humanoid figure, motionless. Brynaeris cautiously makes her way across the pass ahead of the party, trying to let the being know the party intended to pass while trying to learn more about the creature. Using a long spear it is holding, it blasts her back across the pass at the party. And this point Gael steps forward, recognizing that the being resembles the one that attacked Leilon. Gael’s scar begins to burn, as he gains insight into the beings nature. This is a lesser demon, and servant of the one who destroyed his home: The Cudgel of Xal'Ranik. After a near deadly fight filled with lightning attacks, explosive force, and a final devastating blow from Gael, the Cudgel explodes, forcing the party backwards. Though it’s spear was lost to the mountain, the party was grateful to escape with their lives. | |
17 | The party treks on, uninterrupted. | |
18 | The party treks on, uninterrupted. | |
19 | The party treks on, uninterrupted. At high noon, the party arrives at Dragon's Burrow. The wind howled over the mountains as the party approached the massive opening to the Burrow. To investigate the Burrow for enemies or traps, Brynaeris reveals she can wild shape and transforms into a spider no larger than a gold piece. She makes her way up the stairs, confirming will all eight eyes that she sees nothing. The party cautiously climbs the first steps of the Burrow, making their way into a massive chamber with six large dragon statues, each representing one of the chromatic dragons. Ronan, keeping to the shadows, investigates the long rooms with insets in the floor of a few inches about the size of cots. Determining these must be bunks, he continues but finds nothing but old trinkets and utensils. Badhron attempts to read the inscriptions carved into the pedestals of the massive statues but cannot make out the ancient language: it’s written in draconic. Hovynn wanders about the statues, in awe of the room. Badhron makes his way to the back of the halls, finding another small staircase that leads into a circular room with an exposed ceiling. In the center is Marldurn's Crypt. The entrance is sealed with only a curtain, and Badhron makes his way in. Meanwhile, Askelaad begins to search Dragon's Burrow for anything odd or out of place. He finds a sconce on a pillar beside the blue dragon statue that seems tilted to side and adjusts it, revealing a staircase to a second level of the Burrow hanging above the main room on the pillars. After an emotional moment grieving his former master, he invites the rest of the party in. Knowing that they may not have the tools they need to complete their journey, the party finds an array of items, seemingly magical, and splits it amongst themselves.
Hovynn recognizes a plain bag on the ground as a bag of holding, and confirms with Badhron that she will collect as much information she can find. Bryn helps her, and finds a journal marked with the symbol on Gael’s hand and a stack of journals that seem to belong to Marldurn. Askeladd informs the party of his discovery, and the party continues exploring. After deciding to set up camp in the lofted area overnight and wait for the enemies arrival, they discuss what they have learned:
The night was uneventful. | |
20 |
Early Morning on the 20th of Marpenoth Just after dawn, the party begins to hear drums coming from outside the Burrow. As they get louder, ranks of orcs and goblins began to spill in. A taller orc with black feathers on his helmet screams: “Prepare for the ritual! Xal'Ranik will be here soon with the half-breed.” The orcs and goblins begin running around, collecting all the old wooden furniture they can find and building a large fire. As the fire is built, the orcs and goblins seem to try to build a sort of camp. There are many sharpening their weapons, others fighting, and many eating meat they had tucked away. The party stays as stealthy as possible. After a few hours, there is a small shout from the entry to the Burrow. “He’s here!” Twelve humanoids wearing large blood red cloaks enter in two rows, walking rhythmically with their heads down. After they’ve come up the stairs, the lines separate and turn inward, as if to greet a figure that has appeared behind them. Immediately you hear the low, rhythmic pounding of drums and low horns coming from the halls beneath you as the orcs form ranks. A tall, slender looking creature whos skin looks like a black hole, similar to the demon you bested on the Serpent's Spine, begins to walk forward. As he passes nearly all of the hooded figures, one of them on the end breaks off and begins to walk with the creature. The cloaked figure removes hood, revealing a half orc wearing leather armor bearing the Lionshield Coster logo. It’s Thok. X: “Thok, you’re looking well. When my scouts told me you could join us I was so pleased.” T: “I wouldn’t miss it master.” X: “Where is our Harbin?” T: “When we received your letter, your agent sent me from Phandalin at once. We left under pretense of searching for Venomfang. Not even Halia questioned it. Your orcs were right on time below, just as planned. The petty guards didn’t stand a chance, and may not have even realized I’d turned on them before we cut them down. If “Harbin” hasn’t arrived yet I’m sure he will soon.” X: “Good… But we cannot delay.” From behind this creature, another rank of orcs and cloaked figures are pulling a massive creature up the stairs. You see white leathery scales bound in chain: it’s Nazuum. X: “What a fine creature this is.” Nazuum lets out a ferocious roar, icy winds blasting out of his nostrils. He tries to break the chains, unsuccessfully. X: [Addressing orcs and goblins] “You have all done well. In time, the world of men will fall in ruin and it will be by YOUR blood-stained hands!” The goblins and orcs all let out terrible war cries, screeching and pounding their weapons and shields. X: “You have come here today to witness the old gods greatest creation join the fight alongside you. This is one of many drakes to swear its allegiance and take back your rightful lands. Witness now, as none can resist Xal'Ranik!” Xal'Ranik places his bare hand upon Nazuum snout, his eyes beginning to glow a fiery red, into blue, into purple flames. Nazuum shrieks, letting out a terrible cry and you can see his skin begin to crack. Beneath it, pitch black scales begin to emerge while his eyes also begin to glow. The shrieking begins to subside and the last of his white scales disappear, and his eyes are two burning embers. Nazuum lets out a bellowing roar, breathing out a soot colored ice high into the temple which covers the ceiling in a thick layer of ice. Thok steps in front of Nazuum, tentatively. “Master, I am ready.” X: “Yes… It seems you are. Swear your loyalty to me.” The creature summons a black dagger, and floats it through the air to Thok. Thok takes the dagger, and makes a long cut along his palm. He then drops the dagger, and begins to scream. His skin slowly melts away, and he writhes on the ground in agony. T: “This isn’t what you promised Xal'Ranik, this wasn’t our deal!” X: “The terms have changed, boy. And so have you.” Thok writhes on the ground, thrashing, until his entire body has turned entirely to the jet black color of the Cudgel’s. The being slowly stands, emotionless, faceless, and turns his head to Xal'Ranik. Xal'Ranik hands him the dagger he’d used to cut his hand, which elongates into a large sword as Thok’s husk grabs it. The orcs and goblins erupt into whoops and hollers, with bound and chanting continuing. Just then, a small boar runs into the temple up to Xal'Ranik. As he does, he transforms into an orc with long black hair and whispers... X: “FIND THEM” The orcs and goblins begin to run around like mad, gathering up any meager belongings they had and sprint out of the Burrow confused and not knowing fully who or what they are looking for. Xal'Ranik summons a portal, which he and the husk enter through. As he leaves, he instructs the remaining hooded figures burn this place to the ground. 8 of them leave pull out small items of some sort, casting small flames beneath them which opens portals for each. 4 of them stay behind, with about 10 goblins. The remaining cultists and goblins begin to make their way to the back of the room, towards Marldurn’s crypt. | |
21 | The party sneakily descends upon the cultists and goblins as they turn towards the back of the room. While Ronin, Badhron, and Askelaad sneakily take out the cultists and goblin to the left of the stairs, Brynaeris cast an illusion which caused two of the cultists to begin bowing in worship to her radiantly glowing spell. Gael magically encourages one of the cultists to attack their counterparts, and the remaining cultists and goblins are taken out by Secret’s giant, white chromatic orb. Per Gael’s advice, a single cultist is kept as a prisoner. The cultist, Dale, easily falls prey to another of Gael’s sorcerous tricks and agrees to help the party as best he can. It becomes clear that Dale is not the brightest cultist the party has ever met. The party rests and heals after their battle, and determines it’s best to rest for the remainder of the evening. Gael suddenly realizes that Dale has gone missing, and he’s spotted crawling his way out of Dragon's Burrow. The party catches up with him and tries to restrain him, while he lashes out and screams about having killed his companions against his will. Restrained by Askelaad and Badhron, Gael unsuccesfully tries to calm him down with another spell. Dale switches reached for Gael’s dagger, and plunges it into his own heart. He falls limp and the party laments the situation. Askelaad, Ronan, and Badhron burn the body while Hovynn takes first watch. The night continues uneventfully. | |
22 | Early the following day, Badhron wakes early to join Brynaeris for the remainder of her watch. The two note that while there are plenty of tracks outside, the orc and goblin hoard seems to have made their way back Southwest down the mountain. The remaining party members refit themselves in their armor, pack their things, and meet the two at the mouth of Dragon's Burrow. The party discusses the alternative options for moving forward. They’ll never make it back to Phandalin in time to warn Halia and the others of the war party coming their way. They determine they must find a way to send a message, and Brynaeris determines she’ll put out a druidic call for any friendly creatures to heed her voice and come near. Within an hour, the party has attracted a variety of birds, a few mountain mice, and an arctic fox. After some coarsing, they seem to understand that they’re to take a message down to Phandalin, or at least down the mountain. Hovynn copies down 10 versions of the note she cobbles together amongst the discussion:
The birds and animals are sent on their way, leaving the party hoping that the message will land in the right hands—and definitely not the wrong ones. Brynaeris, with magical support from the rest of the party, writes a large hidden message on the side of the mountain with the symbol of the Emerald Enclave. She hopes it will reach the order before it’s too late. The party then sets off towards Icespire Peak and travels uneventfully. | |
23 | The party travels uneventfully. For rest at night the party has created small snow forts to keep the wind at bay and to stay hidden. The journey is a very difficult one, as the cold and lack of oxygen begin to fatigue our heroes. | |
24 | The party travels uneventfully. | |
25 | The party travels uneventfully. | |
26 | The party travels uneventfully. | |
27 | The party travels uneventfully. | |
28 | The party can make out the cultists camp miles beneath them in the mountains. Ronan suggest sneaking down to learn more about their adversaries using the cloaks he took from one of the cultists that didn’t make it. the party agrees it is best to keep a low profile, and continues their journey. | |
29 | The party travels uneventfully. | |
30 | The party travels uneventfully. |
