The Foreigners

Awoke after a night of celebration bound to pillars. A dwarf captive was killed by two goblins and thrown off the edge to four worgs waiting below. We broke free and overpowered the goblins looting a dagger and a club. We fed the corpses to the worgs. We surprised the door guards, and again fed the worgs. Found a blade trap in the hallway. Lured another goblin into the hallway and one-shoted him, snuck into the room and killed two goblins. Found numerous bedrolls and a set of rail tracks leading through the room.

Followed old goblin tracks south. Prepared the dwarf corpse for burial then rested for the night. Continued following tracks south the following day. Found a drag path leading towards a cave with a stone door guarded by two goblins. Circled behind to ambush the goblin guards. The door inscription read, “Here lies the greatest knights of the realm.” Overheard goblins complaining about having to pay boss with gear. We believed the tomb was being robbed and successfully ambushed the guards.

We make the Duke’s Road, and while travelling we came upon a corpse and a dead horse riddled with arrows lying in the road. Some distance away is an overturned cart with a goblin underneath. After some struggle, we flipped the cart revealing a hidey-hole underneath. Zera guarded up top, while the rest descended to kill off remaining goblins.

Dearest Brother Sorren,

The following morning Jorsda gives us baked goods; including a chocolate cake named ‘Barrelbands.’ Jaffrey stabled the mule, and we purchased rations and traveller’s cloaks for the cold weather from Nathaniel.

We stayed the night at the tower. The following day Sildar decides to travel with us over the mountain pass to Phandalin where we will meet Degas and his men, who will travel back through Me’uidre, in a few days.

Spend the night in the inn, while maintaining watch. Have breakfast in a hurry with Sildar then head to Barthin’s Provisions. We hear from Barthin that Quenell Alderleaf’s son Carp has seen Redbrands near a cave in the woods outside their farm. A little bit north is a mining camp with Gundrand’s brothers. We hear that the Miner’s Exchange isn’t getting any trouble from the Redbrands. The Sleeping Giant Taphouse near the ruined manor is crawling with Redbrands. There is also a band of orcs harassing people off the Triboar Trail.

We awake in our defensive position, and find Sildar out in the hall. He says a large contingent of soldiers arrived last night looking for us. Our reinforcements arrived! Sildar wants us to find Cragmaw Castle, goblins there have ties to the hobgoblins downstairs. Need to ask them questions, still need to find Black Spider.

In the morning, we meet Cpt. Degas downstairs in the inn. We tell him about Azarr’kul and the orcs in the south. Sildar shows up and tells us he captured Redbrands at the Miner’s Exchange and that a missive has been sent to the guild to hopefully find a replacement for Holia and that a response will allow him to arrest her. Inform Sildar about the orcs at Wyvern Tor, he says we need to go to the Townmaster’s Hall. He then introduces Morrin, his new apprentice. Sildar then asks that we return his effects (a sword with a flying eagle) if they turn up. We try to interrogate the goblin, but he doesn’t answer.

We part ways with the orcs in the morning. They head northwest off the trail, and we head southwest in an attempt to take a shortcut. We get lost in the woods for most of the day. Late in the evening we run into a pack of wolves. We killed them all, but then we discover a puppy, Ethor, who Grin adopts after a short animal-speaking conversation.

We awake, and after some compelling begin our questioning of our prisoner within a Zone of Truth (a successful save will be italicized):

After a night at the manor and a couple days on the road we arrive at Me’uiedra in the late afternoon. We purchase provisions and then spend the evening at the tavern. Thanye meets a few of the Realm’s guard: Brice, a forest elf; Breann, a human; and Angus, a human, where he instigates a friendly brawl between Angus and Grin.

After a night at the inn, Jorsola arrives delivering an order of ‘Barrelbands’. She says she’s upset that we didn’t tell her we were in town. We head north, camping on the trail through an uneventful evening. The next day we are ambushed by seven Cragmaw goblins while on the trail to Phandalin.

We continue to the rooms behind the chamber with Black Spider and find Nundro. He tells us that Black Spider killed his brother. Black Spider went room to room trying to get more information. We escort Nundro back to the entrance, and the brothers are happy to see each other. We convince the brothers to camouflage the cave entrance.

Looted from the chambers of Moremusk and transfered to the library of Tresendor Manor.

We finish our exploration of Wave Echo Cave, the cavern ocean remains to be explored.

Before we set out we get the descriptions of the riders. The first rider, Corey, is a young blond. The second rider, Bruwin, is a dwarf. Both should be on horseback. We then find Christof’s Curiosities and purchase a ‘hearing’ horn in the hopes of using it for ‘Clairvoyance’ of the Golden Grain Inn.

The next morning we carefully approached to outskirts of town. As we enter Orlane, we circle around to the east to the temple. Within, we see a door with a bloody hand print. Inside we find an injured woman in chainmail, named Misha. She said, “They killed them all”, that half the town killed the other half and left. She tells us that the changing started about a year ago, but the attack was five to ten days ago. She says that Rector Abramo was one of the leaders and that she didn’t see it until it was too late, and that he left with the assailants. She says her holy emblem was stolen by looters. Finally, she informs us that the Golden Grain is the third building on the right from the town square.

At the farmhouse, Zera discovers a few traps which Grin triggers. Inside we find a carved bone statue, a copper chalice, golden locket with portrait, two silk handkerchiefs, and a golden bracelet worth 25g apiece. We also find a scroll of earthen grasp, a potion of greater healing, and a quiver of superior arrows. We then head back to the temple to rest. Checking Misha’s wound, it appears to be caused by a weapon coating. I cast lesser restoration to remove any disease or poison.

We made camp on the trail a day out from Keys. Grin was attacked by the forest on his watch. Zera was knocked unconscious, and was stabilized by Ethor. Misha joined the fight with ‘spirit guardians’. Afterwards, Zera was slightly upset with Grin, and Atticus hid ‘Hew’ in the woods.

Arriving in Kuldera, Zera heads to the White Dove Inn to take a proper bath. Meanwhile, Grin lead us to Ralph’s Music Shop to purchase a lute. We get a recommendation to visit Cary the metalsmith; her shop has a crossed hammer sign. She had a nice set of dwarven plate armor that she would fit over night. Atticus lead us to Isabelle’s to find chain jewlery, to wear a signet ring. Leaving the shop, Ethor was gnawing on a blue/gold javelin. We then head the the tailor Aman, a flamboyant dragonborn, to get Atticus a new traveler’s cloak. In the window was ‘Blue Rider’, a special order from royalty to reward someone for “saving a Duke’s son” (not sure of story), which I closely inspected.

Leaving Kuldera to the southwest, we entered a drier region that should be in full growing season, but the plants were dry. Heard of rumors that beasts travel the road. First two nights we stayed in inns. Zera tells us that his brother Lucien is the one mentioned by the rogue. Following two nights we made camp, then one more inn. We land in Brindol at the end of the sixth day, staying in the “Tired Giant” inn. Town has a population of about 8000, located next to a river, and surrounded by a wall.

We traveled for a few days (how many??), the air got drier and drier and the towns got smaller and smaller. We passed many abandoned farms, and just outside of Drellin’s Ferry near an abandoned farm we were ambushed by orcs about mid-day. Ethor was killed in the ensuing fight. The big beefy orc had an insignia of a big red hand on his chest. In the corner of the house, we find 70g, 900s, 2200c, 3 chaldony (50g ea.), and the Shield of the Black Eye.

We proceeded down the trail and came across a pile of leaves beside the road that attack us. Eventually, we made the road and reached the keep by mid-day. We held back some distance to observe: there was a moss covered footpath leading to the keep with a broken tower; evidence of humanoids and large boar. We climbed the hillside and spiderclimbed the tower where I was spotted by a minotaur. I grabbed its horns through the window and jumped to the ground to fight. We were spotted and I climbed back up. Inside a glowing room a human was lashed to a frame. Wyrmlord Koth called up the stairs for us to give up. There were several undead creatures, and we learned that to the south there is a Lich that resurrects creatures. Zera sneaked down the outside of the wall and fireballed the lower room. The fight continued to the courtyard where we captured Koth. We looted 9 jade (100g ea.), 8p 216g 251s, gold necklace 250g, silk cloak with silver and gold 250g, and a piece of paper…battle plans.

We stopped by Sterrel’s Provisions before the council meeting, we got four horses for each of us along with riding saddles with bit and bridle, saddlebags with 3 days of feed. Then we made a quick stop by Seterin the Wise to purchase some anti-toxin.

We headed a ways up the trail towards Cinder Hill. We ambushed five orcs riding boars, taking Sgt. Ugis prisoner. He told us he’s under command of Scather who’s under Wyrmlord Stormcaller. He also told us that the army consists of 3400 orc, 150 monsters, 50 undead along with various commanders and officers. He said they were on their way to relieve the bridge. When we told him of its destruction, he said we’ve only delayed them by two days. He asked, “do you have wyvern riders too?”. He told us that the army will arrive tomorrow, and that a day east of the bridge is a shallow crossing to bypass the bridge. I sent a message to an emissary of General Felix telling him of the size of the army and that we’ve sent giants to aid Brindol.

Traveling during the day, we fought four giant crocodiles at a stream crossing, pushing an extra hour of travel. During the night’s watch, Grin heard a pop and sizzle. Investigating he found a scorpion with riding gear dissolving on a hill and a draconic shape. After fighting the razorfiend, the group of scorpion riders from earlier approached. A dragonborn gutted the razorfiend and found a ring they recognized from one of their party. They requested that we accompany them to their camp. We ride on their scorpions north/northeast through the night. We awoke in the swamplands, kept going to Bohol Hill (the closest they get to civilization), and arrived late that day. After careful observation, I learned to ride and handle the scorpions.

The next day we boarded two boats and headed east. We approached Rhestilor stealthily between the lizardfolk huts. Observing the area: there is a bell tower, a town hall with one story and a rooftop above the water and a small outbuilding; there are walkways around the buildings; the entire area is surrounded by camps of lizardfolk on the shore. We cast waterwalk and invisibility and stealthily attacked the bell tower using silence on the bell. The armorer had a key around his neck; the cleric had an amulet of Tiamat, and there was 25c on the table. In the chest under the bed there were four bags of 25g each, and two potions of flying (Grin and I take one).

During the night, we were attacked by seven harpies. Early before dawn, we attacked the camp. Though they were easily dispatched with the help of a well-placed fireball, they had sounded the alarm as we approached. Next, we charged the fort through the dim light, but as soon as one of the guards fell the rest fled.

The note from the Academy says that they haven’t heard from Primo, and will forward any news. They are concerned, and this is a bad development.

The reinforcements catch up with Atticus and Zera. Grin exchanged our coins. Our group heads back south and is attacked by bushes. We return to the to the fort and notice new orc faces. We contact Bruglor to find their location. They are north of Durac between farming villages. Headed to mountains, its one to two weeks until they reach familiar territory to find a safe spot. The Blue Rider will attempt to scry their location.

We see three mantacores chasing us. We over compensated, as they were as easy fight. We arrive at Witchcross where few people remain. There were five men in leather armor leaving an abandoned tavern who say “Move on chumps, we’re working this side of town.” Another one blurts out, “Hold on that’s them, then that’s him…” referring to Zera. We try to pacify them, but end up fighting. They put up a good fight, then one attempts to ride away on a scorpion, which I banish from under him.

We make Brindol in the late afternoon the next day. They soldiers are building defenses and many businesses are boarded up. Bilfor, had run Bilfor’s Barrels and Baubles. Atticus asks Bilfor for payment for guarding his caravan, he gives us two platinum. We’re approached by a captain who asks us who we are and trys to get us to leave with the evacuation. Zera trys to uses his noblility to gain an audience, but the two nobles hate each other and it doesn’t work. We’re told the general won’t see us. We then ask for the Captain Olverth, who we met previously, and are told he’s the Night Marshal now.