Players in Attendance: Chris Rocco (Pendrynn Hamut), Greg Sallee (Davros), Dustin Haugen (Barack Tenderfoot), Paul Brazelton (Poe)

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Recap: The Dragonslayer Cohort having been assigned civic duty on the streets of Blackfield are actively investigating the assault and subsequent death of the miner, Jaron Kerr. Following up on the clues from a cryptic poem, the group has been tracking a cabal of Erathite Separatists through the depths of the dig. They encountered a major setback as they strayed from the trail into a nest of lashing Kruthiks. Barely escaping with their team intact, the Dragonslayers fended off the bloodthirsty insects and pushed on. After solving a riddle of the gods and barely avoiding being crushed by a giant rolling boulder, the group has stopped for a much needed breather.

 The dark pit in the back of the small chamber they’re in still coughing up the distant fading booms of the boulder it recently swallowed. Kailithe slowly dragged his battered and crushed form out of the dark tunnel entrance, the blood dripping from his wounds magically wicking off his pristine white robes and dropping to the dusty ground. He’s had enough and has decided to head back to town, have his wounds tended to by the priests and share with the elders what the group has encountered thus far, Froimos and Kurock decided to escort the battered wizard back to the surface and promised they’d find Poe and send him back to reinforce the group.

Date: Near sunrise, Morsday, the 21st of Rouenne, 617 S.R. (It’s hard to tell as the party is currently underground)

The party is currently resting in an excavated cave, roughly 4o’ square, and dominated by a seemingly bottomless pit. The distant echoing sounds of the swallowed boulder continue to cough up from the hole in the ground. There are 2 exits. One leading to the long boulder tunnel and the other leading off into another tunnel. Footprints are visible in the thick dust on the floor leading from the boulder tunnel to the side exit.

• Davros pulled out his lantern and split a flask of oil between him and Pendrynn (3hrs each), Poe lit a torch
• Passive Perception: Barack 16, Davros 13, Poe 15, Pendrynn 13
• Passive Insight: Barack 10, Davros 16, Poe 20, Pendrynn 18
• Short rest, Barack spends a healing surge to heal.

He camped upon the glen before the last hill’s rise And drank deep droughts of bravery before pushing through the lies

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After a few minutes of walking, wispy strands of spider silk begin to become visible in cracks in the cavern walls. The walls of the tunnel begin to widen out (to around 50′ across) and the ceiling gradually slopes upward until being lost from sight (at around 30′). It almost looks like a darkened underground valley. The leafless limbs and trunks of scraggly night-trees come into sight and are scattered across the cavern, wispy strands of spider silk are gently wafting off their branches in the barely noticeable breeze.

• Shining a light source on the surface of the walls reveals thick ropey strands of spider silk covering many niches on the irregular rock walls. The slight breeze in the room seems to be coming from many of the niches, which on closer inspection look to be side tunnels. There are around 11 such niches.
• The valley/cave extends around 200′ long before the parallel cave walls wrap around to form the back of the cave.
• Near a small copse of Night-Trees in the center of the cavern there is a barely smoldering log in a campfire ring, a small stack of firewood, some blanket, a chest (containing some salted meat and fish) a small barrel and a bucket filled with a dark foul smelling liquid. Closer inspection of the barrel shows that it’s filled with the same foul liquid in the bucket.
  • PC’s must avoid an Attack vs. Willpower +5 or else they refuse to drink the toxic looking sludge.
  • PC’s must avoid an Attack vs. Fortitude +3 or else they can’t keep the potion down.
• Barack, after having plugged his nose and thought happy thoughts, successfully drank and keept the potion down, falling into a deep sleep which the party cannot wake him from. The group waited for an hour and he still stayed unconscious. Eventually, the rest of the group managed to drink the sludge and fall asleep. Poe being the last to do so couldn’t help but think that it wasn’t a good idea for the entire party to be unconcious and vulnerable to the environment. Bravely, he took the leap of faith in their interpretation of the poem, and crammed a scoop of the foul smelling goo into his mouth, the unconsciousness that followed was a welcome escape from the horrid aftertaste of sewage and ionized metal.
• The party all awaken to a hallucinatory/dreamlike experience of the room suffused in a dim blue light allowing them to see much better in the dark. The spider web covering one of the side tunnels is revealed to be an illusion. Hidden behind the illusion is a long, steeply sloped chimney with irregular, yet easily gripped handholds and steps. Faintly visible far up the chimney/chute can be seen a bright flickering light source.
• Due to the height of the steep chimney (and ease of handholds), the PC’s needed to roll an Athletics (Climb) Check DC 15 to see how efficiently they climb. If they failed by 5 or more, they don’t fall, but they are extremely tired by the time they make it to the top, and suffer -2 to their rolls for the next 10 mins.
  • Athletic Checks: Barack 14, Davros 19, Poe, 11, Pendrynn 6. They simply waited at the top of the chimney until they were rested up to avoid the tiring effects..

His journey neared its end as he saw a shaft of light Ascending the flight to freedom, his future looking bright The chimney begins to angle down to a gentle slope for the last 75′ feet. The  flickering light of torches is easily visible from this distance.

• PC’s passing a passive Perception Check DC 10 can hear the voices of people talking in the room ahead. If an active perception check is attempted, PC’s whose Perception Check beats a DC 15 can pick out the rough number of people in the room ahead (10+) and the fact that they’re speaking common.

The chimney exit opens into a large chamber packed to the gills with a large number of sacks, barrels, chests, stacks of rope, racks of weapons and other gear. Torch sconces illuminate the room with a dim flickering light. Within this room are a number of civilians from the town of blackfield. On the far side of the room, there is a wooden ladder extending into a hole drilled into the ceiling. You can see a barrel currently being hauled out of the hole from above, via a rope sling.

• Barack sneaks into the room and hides, listening to the group, figuring out that some of them are members of town, and on the list of miners on Finst’s dig team.
• Pendrynn recognizes one of them, a half-elf woman wearing a suit of platemail as Mir, paladin of Erathis. Mir sees the party. “Pendrynn, I didn’t know that you were a member of the Ambassadors of Erathis? What with all that mucking about with the pointless chivalry championed by Bahamut. *she spits* What point is bravery without the freedom to exercise it eh?” She looks around at the rest of the group warily, “So, are your friends coming with us then?”
• Pendrynn used diplomacy to convince her that he’s a part of the AoE, eventually succeeding.
• Barack searched around for high-value small items and ended up pocketing a small box covered in runes from in front of the reclining wizard.
• Mir continued the conversation with Pendrynn, ”I knew you’d be against citizens exercising their rights to freely leave the walls that hold them back. You too must be tired of watching your fellow Blackfielders endlessly toiling away in the dark corridors of the Dig until they die of lungdust at a young age; many of them never having set foot outside of the walls except through their brief and dangerous service in the militia. Are coal and violence all that Blackfield is to export? I’m glad you’re coming with us, let us spread the lessons learned within our walls to the fearless seafarers of the east, ride with the barbarian desert folk to the north, learn the mystical secrets of the elves to the east, and earn martial knowledge from the indomitable Budo warriors to the south. These are experiences that many of the town elders seek to suppress from the citizens of Blackfield, in order to keep them passive, productive and unquestioning. Giving up freedom for safety is a fools bargain, I’m glad you do not seek to perpetuate that ideal!”

The tunnel exit is located about a half-mile due south of town, behind the tailing pile and at the foot of a large hill in the bracken hills, blocking the exit from view of Blackfield’s walls. It is currently covered by a camouflaged mat of woven grass. A collapsible rope pulley is hidden here under a woven camouflage net, along with a stack of supplies already extracted from the staging area. Three families are stopped here, ready to depart once their escort is ready.  Dark storm clouds are starting to assemble overhead, snuffing out most of the dim morning sunlight.

• In order to disable the system, Barack poured acid on the shaft trip wire and hacked through the remainder. He’s noticed by Mir, who shouted a cry of alarm and pulled out her Morningstar.

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• The fight with the AoE went quickly with the Paladin Mir being smashed down fast.
• She organizes the surrender fo the rest of her group. Mir will offered the group a straight up payment of 100o gold if they’ll be allowed to depart in peace with a another 500 a month from now, if they’re not reported the exit is kept secret. If the PC’s take them up on this, and they’re found out, they’ll face the elders in judgment.

• The group has a very frenetic active conversation, trying to figure their future course of action
  • 1. Release everyone but one to stand for the crime (Pendrynn supports this theory)
  • 2. Release them all, and cover up the escape (thus saving the families) and getting paid 1000 gold.
  • 3. Leave with them!  Go out and see the world?!
• Poe stepped up and said “The tunnel is being collapsed, your people are free to go, we don’t need your money but want to be able to contact you.” Mir indicated that all they need to do is to go to the temple of Erathis in Blackfield and say the words “Rou-Mors Seeks Freedom”.  Mir then collects her money and gear with her fellow guards and set off to track down the fleeing families.

When the sun shined upon his face Rou-Mors embraced his task To spread the civil word and in newfound glory bask

• The Dragonslayers loot the rest of the gear they wanted, then they tied 100 feet of rope to the cable and detonated the explosive pitons. The largest column of fire that they had ever seen lanced high into the sky, burning away the low cloud cover, while the earth at their feet rippled under the force of the blast. the massively loud explosion reduced the Dragonslayers’ hearing to exclusively that of a loud ringing.
• The group was met on the return to town by Charger cohort, they gave the group several horses and told them to report directly to the elder council.
• Heading back through the gates, they passed Talon cohort manning the gates (the Desand the rogue and Durgan the fighter, hastily donning armor and looking astonished to see the Dragonslayers coming into the gates from the direction of the explosion.)
• The group headed for town hall, to report to the elders. Seeing citizens panicking in the streets due to the pillar of fire popping up so close to town. Approaching the town hall the group can see the heavily armed members of Aegis Cohort guarding every entrance in their shining custom fitted platemail.
• The party was allowed in to speak to the Elders, where they told a story (lied) that the AoE had already left the area, and that they destroyed the tunnel exit. MORE DETAIL INCOMING
• Solving the mystery of the ambassadors of Erathis – 400 XP (This includes those members of the group that were present during parts 1, 2, or 3)
• Combat with the Ambassadors of Erathis - 150 XP (Applicable to Pendrynn, Poe, Davros and Barack)
• Saving the lives of 12 citizens of Blackfield – 300 (Applicable to Pendrynn, Poe, Davros and Barack)

A continuous peal of thunder preceded a massive lightning strike in town landing squarely on the magic shop “Findings”, the group springs into action! MORE

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• The group arrives on the street outside Findings, seeing the pillar of green lightning coursing into the building and throwing off waves of arcing electricity. They also see several insubstantial forms of wispy tentacles almost jellyfish-like floating in the area of the shop.

• Pendrynn rushed into the shop, Barack followed

• They’re attacked by floating semi-translucent blobs of tentacles and teeth, lashing and blasting at the party.

• Davros finally cannot resist the urge to release his pent up power. In a crack of smoke, fire and sulfurous smells,  an Imp appears next to him and says “Yessss… Master, what isss your ordersss?”  Davros ordered the imp to attack the fell taints, and it giggled with malevolent glee before leaping in and stabbing at the ghostly forms with its barbed and poisonous tail.
• One of the wounded fell taints floated over to a citizen peeking out of a window of the neighboring building, lashing out at him, then descending on him and feeding.

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– Fell Feeding (Scream – Male)

Tags: Ambassadors of Erathis, AoE, Civic Duty, Fell Taints, Findings, Mir

Players in Attendance - Jason Jurisch (Froimos), Chris Rocco (Pendrynn Hamut), Erik Rehpohl (Kailithe Solace Guard), Greg Sallee (Davros), Dustin Haugen (Barack Tenderfoot), Paul Brazelton (Poe)

DM Notes:

• Everyone can identify a specific knowledge skill that their character is proficient in that is not currently covered in the rules. (Personal history..)
• Clarification of prices on last adventure: Barack and Davros paid Nim to craft a dagger for them of their Dragon’s tooth incisors, they still owe 2 gold, paid on completion in a weeks time. Pendrynn already paid Nim 75 gold for a custom crafted suit of plate armor, completion expected in a month’s time (The 16th of Tyden).

Date: Bahmsday Morning, the 19th of Rouenne, 617 S.R.

Location: The party on the last day of their 3 day leave located in their barracks at Blackfield

———————————-

During their time off:

• Barack donated 27 gold, to his young allies on the street, increasing their awe of him exponentially.
• The cohort spent their last night of their leave out at Sooties (tavern/inn) drinking, listening to bar songs and playing Bar Games, specifically, “Sabotage the Dig”

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• Everyone earned 20 XP for learning a new game, Davros received a bonus of 10 XP for winning the game.
• (Davros won 3gp in the game of Sabotage the Dig, Froimos won 1 gold, and Barack and Kailithe split a gold each.)
• Barack played a prank on Talon cohort by sneaking into their barracks late at night, barely avoiding being discovered and successfully replaced Talon’s Cohort Banner with a new banner emblazoned ”The Ratslayers”. After returning to the barracks, he handed the banner off to Pendrynn, who ducked out to drape it across the roof of the well in Town Square.

The next morning, (19th of Rouenne) the team woke early and prepared themselves for their mission briefing in the muster room. Several members of Talon cohort gave the Dragonslayers the stink eye as they entered the room, it seems they have a good idea as to who pranked them the night prior. Sharp eyes could see that that Talon’s resident scout Desand was noticeably absent.

While Dragonslayers were in the mission briefing, it’s highly probably that Desand snuck out, tossed the cohorts barracks and filled Barack’s bed with horse manure.

After the briefing, Barack returned to the Talon barracks with his stinky bedding and found Durgan (The dwarven fighter) sitting outside with his ankle wrapped up and peeling vegetables. Barack was hoping to steal some clean sheets, but was engaged in an exchange of missiles comprised of potatoes and souled linens. (There were no victims..)

Pendrynn Suggested to the group that they take up collection amongst themselves to help out the bereaved family of Breann Finst (her Husband and two children aged 9 and 4). The cohort and gathered 25 gold, which Pendrynn planned to drop off at the Finst household later in the day.

Be midday, the Dragonslayers began their patrol and checked in at the towns three gates. They were told that there were no recorded visitors, aside from the Hylean Trade Ambassador Aaaden Wisdorf, (Elf) and his 2 aides/guards.

Pendrynn went to talk to his father for advice, who was embroiled in a card game with his veteran buddies, and ;eft feeling a tad disappointed. His father wasn’t exactly forthcoming on suggestions on how to do his job. (It seems he’s going out of his way to not show his new recruit son special favors.)

Froimos, Davros and Kailithe patrolled the city multiple times, on one pass, they managed to startle a boy (Tim) who was staring in a house’s window from the back yard, potentially contemplating breaking in. (The Pie cooling on the table inside being a potential target..) Froimos’ imposing presence and the diplomatic words of Kailitie managed to route Tim’s energies into more meaningful work. The Wizard paid the boy 2 coppers to track down Barack and relay a message to him,

Pendrynn showed up at the Finst household, he offered up the 25 gold to Stafan Finst along with his condolences. He also distracted the saddened children a bit by giving them several dragon’s teeth from his necklace and relaying the epic story of how they slew the foul beast.

Barack spent his day tracking the Hylean trade ambassador, who spent the majority of his day in the Town Hall, before heading directly to the Wayhouse. Barack spoke to the desk clerk at the Wayhouse to see if there was anything suspicious about the ambassador’s visit and found that Aaden was a regular customer who returned to the Wayhouse about 4 times a year.

The members of the Dragonslayer cohort regrouped slightly before sundown in order to prepare their plans for keeping the town secure in the evening. The second shift at The Dig was about to end, and Finst’s wake at Sooties was about to begin. The group planned to fan out across the town, covering the ground between the mine entrance, Sooties and “The Tailings” (the poorest part of town, home to many of the miners). Pendrynn and Kailithe planted themselves outside Sooties, observing the flow of traffic. Several uneventful hours passed.

The sound of smashing dishes alerted the Paladin and Wizard to the beginnings of a bar fight, and as they pushed their way into Sooties, they overheard several dirty miners shouting at an injured co-worker, “It’s your fault she died! You knew you shouldn’t have been working in that tunnel!”, followed by a the launching of a mug at the victim, Jaron Wisdorf’s head where it smashed open a bloody wound. A loud bellow from the paladin of, “Fight’s over, step back!” and the fight was promptly broken up. Kailithe and Pendrynn gave the the drunken fighters the bums rush out the door. Penndrynn checked on Jaron’s status, laid his hands on the miner and prayed for his wounds to be healed. He then walked the inebriated victim back to his house to be sure he made it home safely.

After the bar settled back down and the music started up again, Barack settled into a dark corner of the bar keeping an equally sharp eye on the wake goers and his pint of ale. It was getting very dark outside, candles and lamps were lit and the sorrowful miners continued with the wake for Finst. A loud thud and sounds of a thumping struggle  from upstairs launched Barack into action as he literally launched himself out of his stool in the corner, rebounded off the side wall and vaulted over the stair railing in an instant.

There he witnessed an assailant hunched over the bloody form of the drunk who was ejected from Sooties earlier that evening. The attacker was a dark hunched humanoid form with red/green eyes. Barack, without hesitation, whipped out a well worn throwing star and hurled it at the assassin. A meaty thunk and a muffled cough let Barack know that his weapon had found it’s mark. Surprised by the ferocity and speed f the response, the dark form bolted into a nearby room, slamming the door shut behind him. Davros scuttled up the front of the building and in the window at the end of the hall, just in time to see the assassin duck into the room, . Barack kicked in the door, and was greeted by an explosion, followed by billowing clouds of obscuring smoke. During the confusion, Pendrynn rushed up and laid hands on Jaron to heal him. The fact that he wasn’t getting up and looking worse gave him the idea that he was poisoned and he used divine mettle and laid hands on him while praying loudly to Erathis to stabilize him. Meanwhile, Davros climbed back down the side of the tavern to land out in front of the bar. Seeing Kailithe walking slowly around the corner (who was previously guarding the back door) Davros shouted at the wizard to be on watch for a shady assassin. At that very moment, a second story window shattered outward in a sparkle of glass and the dark assassin leapt onto the window frame, gripped the top of the window frame and began to flip himself around onto the rooftop. Kailithe, uttered a quick word of power and launched a bolt of buzzing dark energy at the form, and blasted him with a sleep spell. The assassin continued his slow rotation in the air and went crashing onto the ceramic tiles of the roof.

Final DM Notes: More cleanup to the story is coming, also, if you want to ask questions feel free to do so in the comments below.

• I need to hand out and have everyone pay for the whistles that you purchased. I’ll have them pulled aside for the next adventure.

Tags: Assassin, Civic Duty, Jaron Kerr, Sabotage, Sooties, Stafan Finst, The Dig, Tim