Storm King’s Thunder

Chapter One: A Great Upheaval

Session 1

The party arrives at the village of Nightstone. Upon arrival they receive the attention of a pair of Worgs, sentient malicious wolves, and a vicious fight ensues. During this fight the party's Druid, Thia, cast her Thunderwave spell which caused a loud echoing blast to be heard throughout the village. Upon slaying the Worgs the party realised they were surrounded by Goblins and quickly had to retreat to shelter to heal from the wounds they'd received from the battle.

During their recuperation the Goblins decided to escape with whatever loot they'd already plundered and make their getaway before the party were able to give chase. Once rested the party decided to look for supplies of food and drink from the looted Tavern. There they found a chest full of the owner's armour and a potion, but sadly no drink. They also found a goblin with a crossbow bolt in its chest and a survivor in the form of a woman in a brown cloak and a pet snake.

She described the siege of Nightstone, as rocks were dropped from a flying castle above them. During this siege the village was abandoned because access to the Keep had been cut off. The Goblins came the day after.

Session 2

Having concluded that the village has been picked clean of usable resources the party decide to make their way to only defensible location in the village, that seems to have been ignored or passed over by the Goblin invaders. On their way through the market square they notice a hole in the ground where a statue or cenotaph should have stood. After traversing the broken bridge the group finds a small but very damaged Keep, manned by four surviving guards. The Lady of the Keep and head of the Village died in the first onslaught of the attack, and now the Village is defenceless and disorganized. Without the forces to track down the Villagers, the remaining guards pay the party in a silk purse of gems to assist finding the villagers and bringing them home. They also tell the tale of giant figures descending from the clouds to take The Nightstone, a mysterious object the village was built around and named after, from the town Square.

Whilst leaving the Village seven armed riders gallop into town, and offer their assistance in defending what remains. The party is suspicious of the offer, and the tattoos on the leader, a brown skinned half elf, suggest they’re members of the Zhentarim, an organization of mercenaries and thugs. Kella, the woman the party found in the Tavern, vouches for the newcomer’s intentions and offers to stay as well.

Within a few hours of leaving to search for The Dripping Caves in The Ardeep Forest the group finds evidence of Goblins posted nearby. Due to forgetting about natural magics the party possessed and the noisy heavy armour of Brieth the party fails to sneak past the encampment. A fight ensues, in which a Goblin leader, Snig-bat, attempts to persuade the party to take out a rival, “King Hark”, for exchange of safe passage. The unnamed group of adventurers refuse his deal, and decide to fight on, but one goblin, Knick-nak, runs off to warn the cave of the impending attack. Yameeka gives chase, empowered by Brieth’s longstrider spell. Knick-nak however has a big head start and local knowledge of the forest, so is keeping his lead. Once done killing Snig-bat, and the rest of the guarding goblins, Thia gives chase in her bear form, with Brieth riding on her back.

Session 3

With August finally finishing tying his shoelaces, the party begins to chase down the last remaining Goblin, Knick-nak. After a multitude of obstacles; some natural, others intentional, the party finally hunts down and kills Knick-nak before he could alert the cave of the upcoming attack.

After a short recuperation the party decide to stealthily approach the unsuspecting cave, and send Yameeka ahead first to scout out the cave, and find the taken villagers. It doesn’t take long for her to do so, seeing them seemingly unguarded huddled in a cave. Upon an attempt to talk with them reveals the goblins natural alarm system, bats. Disturbed by the slightest of noise they swarm the cave, screeching, that alerts the rest of the cave, and their goblin guards to intruders.

A fight then ensues, the perched goblin archers vs the party huddled around a forest of stalactites in the middle of the cave floor. However the noise disturbs another of the cave’s residences, an ogre. Grumpy from being woken and intruders in her home, Thog strikes down the party from the middle of the cave whilst the archers surround them. As Thog falls down she cries out to her mate, Nob, another ogre to awaken and continue the fight. Eventually, after a few close calls, both ogres and all goblin guards lie dead.

Session 4

Continuing their exploration of the caves, the party moves on through a tunnel off the main cave. Not long afterwards they come across a room filled with giant rats mauling the body of a man. A fight breaks out, as the rats attempt to eat the intruders. Thia, being kin with animals, refused to partake in their slaughter, and supported from the rear. Relying on their healing magic to keep them alive through the onslaught of teeth and claws, the party realise they’ve discovered the throne room of the goblin leader, King Hark. With some quick thinking by Yameeka, she uses her illusory duplicate to distract Hark’s bodyguards long enough to give her team the edge.

Eventually, after a gruelling fight, the party beat Hark back into his private chambers, where he held a prisoner. A young sheltered woman was terrified of what was about to happen as Hark held a blade to her throat. Negotiations broke down, as Thia used her animal form to sneak behind him whilst Brieth kept him talking. Eventually the party decided to rush him, getting the lady’s throat cut, but succeeding in eliminating Hark. A quick application of healing magic helps save the young woman’s life.

Once the fight was over the party returned to the captured villagers, taking the unconscious woman with them, and taking a quick rest, before making sure the cave is cleared out of goblins and other surprises, and recovering the stolen weapons and supplies taken from Nightstone.

Session 5

Further exploration of the cave found a natural clean water spring, with a forest of poison mushrooms. Upon filling their waterskins they attempt to leave, when they are ambushed by black oozing tentacles sprouting from fissures in a stalagmite. A tough battle ensues, which quickly downs most of the party. Luckily Yameeka’s history of cave dwelling gave her an insight into the creature’s biology. Deciding on a fighting retreat they finally get the upper hand by luring it to an easier food source and chipping away at it until it collapses in a puddle of acid in the cave mouth.

Brieth continues alone in another sub-cave finding the living quarters of the goblin tribe. There she discovers the families of those slain in the fighting, and asks Yameeka to translate. They feel no remorse for what they have done but share the secrets to locate the haul from Nightstone. Giving mercy to the surviving Goblins, Yameeka and Brieth spare them as they go search for Hark’s treasure haul. The Goblin mother calling Yameeka “Ish-tat” (goblin who is not a goblin) as they depart.

Soon after Thia finds a rock being used a door to a small sub-cave, and with the help of August they dislodge it to find the stolen goods from Nightstone, as well as scavenged materials that make up Hark’s personal loot.

With no more threats present in the cave the party summon the villagers to the central cave to divide out the loot and prepare them all for the journey back to Nightstone. The Lady Daphne Featherstone has awoken by now, and learns of the death of Lady Nander. This means that she has inherited the responsibilities of rule and seems daunted by the prospect of command. The party share a tale with her about an ogre that ascends to kingship by marrying a cursed princess, and she seems encouraged, if not confused.

Session 6

During the journey back to Nightstone the villagers are ambushed and chased down by a hunting pack of orcs. Fighting off an initial wave of attackers the party gives the villagers enough time to make it back to the gates of Nightstone to find the drawbridge raised and the Zhentarim guards refusing to allow entry for anyone but Lady Daphne Featherstone. After a heated discussion the guards relent and allow safe passage for the entire village.

Inside the village walls the leader of the mercenary leader, a half-elf called Xolkin, calls upon Lady Featherstone to agree to an alliance between Nightstone and The Zhentarim, a well-known guild of assassins, soldiers and mages for hire. The new Lady of Nightstone was uncertain about making such an important decision; she took counsel from the party and Morak Ur’Gray, the dwarf proprietor of the Nightstone Inn. Together they decide a vote from the people of Nigthstone to decide.

A debate takes place between Xolkin and the party before the entire village on the fate of the defenseless Nightstone. The party hand back their reward for the rescue of the village, to prove they’re not motivated by greed; they swear to defend Nightstone, much more effectively than what The Zhentarim can; and they use the good will earned by their good deeds to win over the villagers. The Zhentarim promise an army to defend Nightstone, plus a lucrative trade deal. Yameeka uses her magic to force the truth from Xolkin, which is self incriminating and ends with the party winning the debate with a vast majority.

The band of mercenaries leaves, but not before sabotaging the drawbridge mechanism and leaving the village open and exposed. The orcs that had chased the villagers down from the Dripping caves were waiting for such a perfect opportunity to attack, and waste no time. A defence is quickly organised and an attempt to raise the drawbridge fails. A scattered battle takes place at the base of each guard tower that flank the drawbridge, and things soon look dire. During the final stages of the battle the Orc War Chief discovers Yameeka fighting for the human village and also calls her “Isk-tak”. Yameek recognises this Orc War Chief, and seems to have a history with him.

As the fall of the Village seems certain, and Yameeka escapes through an arrow slit and slides down the drawbridge chain to find, a band of Wood Elves appear from the forest on a mission to clear out the Orc War band which had attacked them a few days earlier. Without much pleasantry they slay and drive off the orc invaders, and even spare the life of Yameeka before departing.

Session 7

The Party decides to sleep in the temple of Lathander and Mielikki, and Yameeka and August both experience bad dreams. Yameeka receives a message from her God, Malyubiyet, that he is disappointed in her actions against Goblins and warns her against further onslaughts, or else she will find her powers diminished. August overhears a conversation discussing him, and his current location.

In the morning they wake up with a visit from Lady Featherstone and Morak the Innkeeper. She informs them that she has appointed Morak as an advisor and that tomorrow there will be a mass funeral for all those who have passed away and she requests help in the form of a Celebrant. Brieth quickly volunteers, before Yameeka can. She also requests that the Party contact a man known as Jalester in the city of Waterdeep about an alliance with The Lord’s Alliance. He can be found in a tavern called The Yawning Portal. She then leaves so that Morak may discuss further jobs that the village needs completing.

Morak requests the families of three of the villager’s be contacted to inform them of their relative’s passing. Families in Goldenfields, Triboar, and Bryn Shander need contacting and the party agrees to travel to these locations to pass on the bad news in person. Morak mentions the Xelbrin’s pet Treesym hasn’t been seen since the Giant attack, and would think the safe return of ‘Rillix’ would soften the blow to Miros (the deceased couple’s son).

The party studies a map of The Sword Coast and The Savage Frontier to find the locations of each city and work out an efficient route to each location. They then “purchase” supplies from the deceased proprietor of The Lion Shield Coster, and from the farms of the village, and begin baking bread in the kitchen of the dead Xelbrin’s. There they also consider many ways they could potentially search for the Tressym, including having the local birds search the village for it. Without much luck they give up and consider the Tressym either dead or run too far away. During the day the villager’s have repaired the bridge between the village and the keep, and have collected the bodies of their beloveds and have collected them in the temple.

The next day Lady Narder is carried from the castle by her personal guard, wrapped in black silk. She is entombed in a mausoleum in the graveyard near the temple, beside her late husband. The other villagers are placed in graves and buried. Brieth gives a speech to alleviate the sadness felt by the village, and to honour their recently dead. August also assists in speaking with mourners, and making them feel better.

Upon the end of the funeral a large cloud is seen moving against the wind, and riding upon it a giant castle sized tower wearing a wizard’s hat like a roof. As all panic lets loose in Nightstone; villagers screaming, running for the Keep, guards preparing weapons, a single grey skinned white haired figure addresses the village. He is looking for August. After August announces himself the cloud giant tower grows a cloud staircase from it’s base, and invites the party inside.

After ascending the stairs the party meets with him in a giant proportioned office/study. There he shares his reasons for seeking August out was that a being from the Astral Plane suggested that he would be able to assist in the Giant’s conundrum of fixing the shattered Ordening. August, however, has momentary amnesia and forgets his own life and that he has a patron on the Astral Plane that bestows his magical gifts to him. Once his confusion subsides, with Brieth’s help, they discuss a cooperation where the giant provides transport across the Sword Coast and the Party will help figure out a solution to a shattered Ordening. They have the tower move to Waterdeep, where their presence causes some alarm and a wing of Griffon Riders escort them, and they descend outside the metropolitan’s north gate. Upon their departure from the castle, and after a 6 hour flight, they finally ask the Giant his name, Zephyros.

Chapter Two: Rumblings

Session 8 - Mirtul 19

The arrival of the party in Waterdeep was met with a panicked and uncertain greeting by the guard. A Cloud Giant castle floating above the city had caused quite the alarm in the ranks of the city guard, and they demanded that the party meet with Savra Belabranta. After some discussion the party agree to do so, and are escorted to The Halls of Justice where Savra Belabrante meets with them. She tells them that a Cloud Giant castle cannot be permitted to stay over Waterdeep and asks them to make the castle leave. Thia sends a pigeon, under the enchantment of Animal Messenger, to Zephyros asking him to move away.

Once free to go they ask for where they might find Jalester, or any agent of The Lord’s Alliance. A guard tells them to visit the Yawning Portal, Waterdeep’s most famous tavern and an excellent place to learn rumours and hire adventurers. Not wanting to traverse half the city they asked for a recommendation a little closer, and was told about a place in Trollskull Alley called The Lifted Spirits. Deciding to try there first they make their way to Trollskull alley, and pass a tavern called Froon’s Brews, and are accosted outside by an overeager man trying to get customers in his tavern. After failing to get the interest of the party he warns them away from the other place around the corner, because they “have rats in their kitchen” and “all their drinks are overpriced”.

Around the corner they see an impressive looking three-storey old building with a new sign outside “The Lifted Spirits”. Inside they see a dwarf behind the bar, and a half orc in the kitchen. Amongst the patrons of the bar a table has a halfling, a tiefling, and a man dressed as a plague doctor. After ordering drinks it is revealed that the three misfits are the owners of the tavern, along with the half-orc chef, and that their names are Ash, the Plague Doctor, Raven the halfling, Lucius the tiefling and the half-orc chef is Madeliene. They sit together to eat and drink, as they enquire as to where they may find the Lord’s Alliance. They politely disappoint them, as none of them are members of The Lords Alliance, but are aligned with The Emerald Enclave, The Harpers, and The Order of the Gauntlet. During conversation the party are reminded that their armour is damaged from a fight with A Black Pudding, and Ash takes out a preserved abhorrent eye-ball monster from his bag. After they finish their food and drink they ask for a ride to The Yawning Portal, and Madeleine offers them a ride in his donkey and cart, Thia becoming a pony for the journey.

At The Yawning Portal they order another round of drinks from a non-talkative human male with an impressive handlebar moustache. He explains that the large well in the middle of the tavern is the yawning portal, from which the tavern takes its name, and is actually a tunnel into the dungeon of the mad mage, Halaster Blackcloak. He warns against journeying down there, unless you’re prepared to die a horrible death, but the rewards are more than what most people can dream.

Deciding they’ve heard enough, they enquire as to where they can find an agent of the Lord’s Alliance, to which the barkeep points them to Jalaester, looking very miserable in a booth to himself. After introducing themselves Jalester takes their letter from Lady Featherstone who reads it intently, and agrees to consider Nightstone’s membership into the Lord’s Alliance. However with nothing to offer the Lord’s Alliance in exchange for the help required to rebuild Jalester gives them a job to help out a local problem with Dungsweepers going missing in the SeaWard. With nothing else to offer, they accept.

Spending the rest of the day sightseeing, visiting temples, and having their armour repaired, they retire to The Lifted Spirits and hire out a room formerly used by a street urchin that had been killed a few months prior. Upon spending more coin, and eating and drinking they retire for the night.

In the morning Ash suggests they visit Fala next door at Corello’s Crown for some fragranced flowers to help with their task. The party split in two and escort the dung sweepers on their route through the city, sweeping and shovelling animal droppings and depositing it in the sewers. A few hours into the job and a dung sweeper goes missing. Thia, using her animal senses as a giant rat, follows his scent into the sewers. After gathering the party together, and tracing the last tracks of the dung sweeper the party investigates where his tracks end, and soon attacked by an unspeakable creature from under the sewage.

Session 9 - Mirtul 20

In the first onslaught of the creature’s attack Thia is grabbed and restrained by the foul creature’s spiked tentacle, and is dangled in the air. A combination of Brieth’s divine spiritual weapon, August’s other worldly magic, and Yameeka’s skilled crossbow shots the creature is soon taken down and sinks back beneath the surface of the sludge. However Thia was still wrapped up in its tendrils, and was pulled under with it. In a quick scramble Yameeka ties a rope around herself and dives in after her. Brieth removes her heavy armour, and dives in after them both to assist in the search. Soon, further downstream, Yameeka swims into the bulk of the dead monster and swims around it to get the rope to anchor it in place. Together she and August pull the creature out of the waste, Brieth lifting Thia out with behind them.

Once everyone is safe Brieth takes a few moments to cut off one of the creature’s spiked tentacles, and yank one of its many sharp teeth, before casting a healing spell on the party. Thia throws up, somehow making sewage water even more disgusting, and Yameeka and August are there.

Upon returning to the surface of Waterdeep they inform the Dungsweeper’s Guild that the monster in the sewer has been dealt with, before informing Jalester at The Yawning Portal and collecting a hurried payment and a promise that Nightstone will receive support and supplies from The Lords Alliance. From there they immediately head to the nearest bathhouse to clean.

From there they return to The Lifted Spirit’s for Maddie’s venison pie and then Brieth gifts the tooth and tentacle to Ash, the tavern’s Plague Doctor co-owner. He seems very grateful for such bizarre and foul gifts, and thanks her by offering the spare room to them again for another night, rent-free. They spend the rest of the day exploring the streets of Waterdeep, spending coppers on a variety of street entertainers before returning to the tavern to drink and rest for the night.

Mirtul - 21

In the morning every member of the party but August wakes up feeling as though they had not slept at all. A search for Zephyros’ cloud tower comes up short, and the party realise they may be stuck in Waterdeep, and will need to complete their journey to Goldenfields on foot. They spend the morning readying supplies for the journey, where a well meaning store tender queries the party’s pale complexions and sickly appearances.

Session 10 - Mirtul 21

Once August remembers that his divine patron bestows him the power to cure diseases in others he restores the vitality of two of his friends, Breith restoring herself.

They then set out for Goldenfields on foot, walking along a country trail known as The Northfurrows, passing traders and food suppliers from Goldenfields along the way. They’re lucky enough to find a Waggon heading in their direction, who’s driver offers them a job escorting him back to Goldenfields.

During the night the party is disturbed by a group of Orcs attempting to steal supplies from the people of The Northfurrows. The fight ends with an easy victory for the party, who take the Orc’s greataxes as trophies and pile up the bodies of the slain. During this time Yameeka sees a familiar Red Handprint of the Orc Tribe that conquered her Goblin Tribe.

Mirtul - 22

The Waggon driver thanks the party for their protection of his wears and gives the party 2 gold each for their trouble. The rest of the journey is uneventful and at nightfall they arrive at the gates of Goldenfields, the high-walled farming city. Once inside they learn that The Northfurrow’s End Inn is the best place to find someone you’re looking for. At the inn they find a man working the bar covered in white hair all over his body and face. Approaching him they ask for Miros Xelbrin, because they have tragic news to give him regarding his parents. The yeti-like man behind the bar reveals he is Miros, and demands to know the news. In nerves and a lack of social tact Yameeka decides to reveal the news of his parent’s death in song. Brieth attempts to wrestle her into silence, but Yameeka proves to be too nimble to be pinned down. Once her song is over she allows Brieth to drag her outside, where Brieth berates her and gives her pointers on giving bad news to people. Soon after a halfling with a lute comes out and wishes to discuss music with Yameeka, impressed by her provocative style. After drinks the party gets rooms and rests for the night.

Session 11 - Mirtul 23

In the morning the party decides to explore the town of Goldenfields, starting with Yameeka who wanted to scope out the local abbey for valuables. August and Brieth spend some time at a local baker learning the basics of bread baking, just so they don’t burn their next batch. Thia decides to follow Yameeka to the Abbey, looking for birds to befriend.

Yameeka manages to sneak into the abbey with a congregation of worshippers, and quickly swipes one of the old prayer cushions before sneaking some food from a shrine to Cheauntea which has a statue of a bear either side of her.

Outside, Thia finds herself so distracted with bird watching she ends up walking straight into a pair of very placid black bears, who seem to take no mind to her intrusion allowing her to sit with them as they eat, until something disturbs them and they make their way inside the abbey main hall.

Once Brieth and August finish their baking lesson they purchase some bread and head over to the abbey to do some sightseeing. They arrive to find Yameeka being smothered by a black bear in the middle of the central aisle, another black bear waiting patiently for food. Thia is watching curiously, as a cat for some reason. Once the bears rip open Yameeka’s backpack they take back their food and begin feasting, Yameeka somehow lands a strange lie that a halfling put food in her pack while she wasn’t looking, and this begins a public debate about the lack of security in Goldenfields. Apparently there was a giant attack at the walls two tenday ago and Strog, the head of the guard, has done little to nothing to improve defenses since then, since the tall thick walls of Goldenfields repelled the attack with little difficulty.

The party attempts to talk to Strog, but he doesn’t get up so soon after noon, so the party takes lunch in the town and decides to leave the cooking up to Yameeka, who serves up a questionably cooked Goblin-style Squirrel. There they see a woman apparently talking to herself in the nearby orchard. Upon investigation it’s revealed she’s talking to Lifferlas, a sentient tree, who was once a regular tree who was given sentience by a druid decades ago. The woman is Naxene Drathkala, a mage from Waterdeep who’s stationed in Goldenfields to offer magic support where needed. She’s not happy with the lack of magical defences. She needs to find a way to convince Strog a few spell slingers will be good for Goldenfield’s defence. Yameeka challenges Lifferlas’ claim he exists to defend Goldenfield, claiming he seems kinda useless. Lifferlas responds by grabbing her and suspending her several feet in the air.

After lunch they meet Strog as he makes his “patrol” between his tower and the local taverns. Brieth introduces herself, by casting a healing spell to cure his hangover. Instantly ingratiating herself on him. From there they quickly get him to approve of adding more spellcasters into the ranks of Goldenfield’s guards. He also agrees to give them a letter for Waterdeep for the request of more security against an increased giant threat, before heading to the Northfurrow’s End for “a meeting”.

After the party retires for the night they are disturbed by commotion outside. Oren, the halfling bard, is yelling about Goblins and Ogres in the fields. The party begrudgingly rouse themselves from sleep and rally to Goldenfield’s defence.

Session 12 - Sabbatical

Along the southern wall of Goldenfields a drunk captain of the guard, Strog, has gathered his soldiers to defend the city’s wall from an onslaught of goblin and ogre attackers. A line of goblin archers fire arrows at the guards along the wall, whilst Goblin soldiers load siege weapons on the backs of ogres.

The ogre mounted trebuchets fire Goblin parachutists over the wall to fight the guards head-on, while goblin archers pick away at the defenders.

Soon the sole mage in the ranks of the guard managed to kill the goblins loading the siege weapons, which allowed their unmanaged ogre mounts to charge at the wall and attack it directly with their clubs.

Eventually the wall begins to crumble under the constant onslaught of the attacks, and one guard even jumps onto the head of an ogre to stab it, but is deflected off and falls down to the ground dead.

The Mage casts powerful magic to freeze some ogres in place, and the guards use these icy statues as ladders to take the fight to the goblins. Once the Goblins begin to retreat, beaten down to their last remaining soldier, one last threat emerges from the treeline. A Hill Giant.

Charging for the wall he swings his great club around, killing soldiers outright with a single strike. He’s quickly cornered, and although he kills a few guards he’s taken down by the onslaught of so many spears.

In the end 6 guards lie dead, Zi Lang remains critically wounded, and so many more goblins, ogres and a giant lie defeated.

Session 13 - Mirtul 24

In the centre of town the fight between the party and the invaders continues. Thia is feeling the ill effects of Yameeka’s roast squirrel, and is keeping herself distant from the fight. Yameeka gets a vision of her god, Maglubiyet, after she fires a crossbow bolt at a Bugbear, reminding her of her sacred promise to him to not kill any goblinoids. August finds himself at the frontlines of the fight, facing down an Ogre and two Goblin strikers on his own. Brieth teams up Oren and Naxene to take on another Ogre and a group of Goblins. Miros decides to take on a single Bugbear on his own, but soon finds himself overwhelmed. Oren falls many times, but is kept alive by Yameeka’s and Brieth’s healing magic. Lifferlas, the living tree, dashes and sprints as fast as he can from the orchard to the town square to join the fight.

As the fight goes on Miros and August fall, but are restored by the divine favour of Brieth’s gods. Miros goes on to wrestle an Ogre’s arm behind his back, and gives August the opportunity to slay it. Yameeka distracts a Bugbear to give Brieth an opportunity to rot and kill it with her divine magic, and both of them summon spiritual weapons of their respective gods to beat down their opponents. Thia summons a mass of thick vines to prevent Goblin’s from retreating from Lifferlas’ charge, and allows him to catch up with them and bring the full force of his massive branches upon them.

Then, amidst the close quarters fighting, a bugbear’s large heavy morningstar made contact with Oren’s head, collapsing his skull and killing him instantly. Naxene brings a quick end to the fight, by sending the lightning bolt through the rest of the goblins. The last surviving Goblin runs and hides, begging for mercy and offering a surrender. Naxene responds by blasting it with a Magic Missile, killing it instantly.

Before the party can rest however there lies the task of making sure they were the only intruders, and head to the wall to check on the city’s defences. There they find the wall partially demolished, and the city’s guards recovering from a hard fought battle. Strog, the half orc head guard, informs the party that a pair of giants and a troop of goblins managed to climb the wall before a defence was mounted, and they travelled into the town.

Session 14 - Mirtul 24

The party begins by searching for tracks of the final group of invaders. It doesn’t take long to find a trail of flattened crops through the main field, heading back to the centre of Goldenfields. Following the obvious trail through the fields they arrive at the Harvesthome Abbey. A crowd has gathered around the walls, drawn by the sound of a fight inside.

After scaling the wall a goblin appears on the bell tower, a blade to the abbott’s throat. He demands food in exchange for the life of the hostages inside. A giant’s sack is left open on the ground outside the abbey, to be filled with food by morning.

The party decide to head back to the wall to fetch help, but as they are about to leave a folded paper bird hits Brieth in the face. Unfolding it reveals a letter from Ash, the plague doctor they met in Waterdeep, catching up with them and signed off “Dr A Dei Corvei”. Deciding this wasn’t the time to catch up on correspondence, she puts the letter away.

Arriving at the wall they conscript Strog, plus a handful of battle-ready guards to help end the hostage situation in the abbey. On arrival back at the abbey they agree to a plan where the party sneaks into the abbey, free the hostages, then signal it’s safe for the guards to storm in.

They begin by scaling the wall, taking cover behind flower beds, and sneaking towards a small entrance at the back of the abbey. On the way they pass a big oak tree surrounded by four statues of Chauntae. Hanging from a branch is a large sack, which they quickly realise contains the two black bears that wander freely around the abbey grounds. Thia uses Yameeka’s dagger to create faux bear claws in the sack, and cut them loose. Worried the bears will rampage and ruin the element of surprise they quickly subdue and quiet them, and in return the bears seem to obediently follow the party on their mission.

Approaching the entrance to the Abbot’s entrance of the Abbey they realise the door is locked, and Yameeka uses a very improvised lockpicking set to force the lock open, just as a group of patrolling Goblins turn the corner.

Once inside the party split up to look for the way inside the main part of the Abbey, and stumble upon the Abbot’s bedroom, where Yameeka and one of the bears settles down for a rest. The party moves on through the living quarters of the Abbot and his clergy, passing by their library, common room, kitchen, pantry, dining hall, and finally changing room and entrance to the Abbey proper. During this time, Yameeka rummages through the Abbot’s things and snatches a very fancy looking vestment, before catching up with the rest of her party.

Soon they find the entrance leading to the abbey’s main hall, only to find it barricaded by wooden pews. Yameeka sneaks past to knock out the closest guard and to drag him back into the kitchen, before they devise a plan to distract the rest of the guards to scurry away the hostages. It wasn’t not long, however, before the guard was noticed missing, and an attempt to fool a goblin leader with voices backfires into an execution of hostages.

This execution forces the party to come up with a new plan quickly, and their final idea is to have Thia pretend to be one of the bears and carry Yameeka in her mouth. The plan doesn’t last long however, as Thia takes a full barrage of arrows and drops her form. The hostages don’t immediately trust Yameeka and run from her.

A fight then breaks out as a panic spreads throughout the hostages and the goblin guards, and the latter begins a slaughter for the former. The rest of the party storm in and Yameeka signals for the assault at the front of the Abbey to begin.

Session 15 - Mirtul 24

The people of Goldenfields storm the gates of the abbey, and begin slaughtering the goblins at the front. Inside, the fight continues as August and Brieth follow charge into the hall and begin taking out the Goblin archers.

During the commotion Yameeka recognises a Goblin archer upstairs on the balcony, her sister Fizgit. Unfortunately she loses sight of her as Fizgit hides to find a more advantageous vantage point. An Eldritch Blast from August is followed by a female scream from Fizgit’s location.

Thia calls out for the bears to come to their aid, before helping Yameeka smash a window to join the fight outside, rather than tackle the barricades at the end of the hall. As they leave the bears arrive in the hall, and help charge the barricades with Brieth and August.

At the front Lifferlas sends one unlucky goblin flying through an upstairs window of the abbey before struggling to fend off two Hill Giants at once. However, she keeps them both distracted while Naxene positions herself for a well aimed spell, doing severe damage to one of the hill giants. Strog, Yameeka, and Thia make quick work of Goblins outside the Abbey’s front, and can finally turn everyone’s attention on the Hill Giants, who are now on the backfoot.

Inside; the bears slaughter each and every goblin they come across, clearing the way for Brieth and August to break through the barricades at the hallway entrance, and make their way up the stairs and head towards the abbey balconies, passing a dead goblin that Lifferlas had propelled through a second storey window. Unfortunately, before Brieth and August arrive, the Goblins have climbed down to the ground floor of the main hall, and have made their escape out the rear exit through the living quarters. They decide to join the fight outside, rather than giving chase.

As Brieth and August arrive outside the fight comes to an end. The two hill giants have no fight in them, but the townsfolk have no mercy either, slaughtering both as they fall to the ground, surrendering.

With the giants dead the last of the major threats are dealt with. Remaining goblins either lose their nerve and retreat or, in the case of one goblin, surrender. Yameeka wishes to take a trophy from a fallen giant, not satisfied with the balding scalp she decides he wants his ballsack too. Recovering from the onslaught, Abbot Darovik sees the devastation Strog’s delayed action, in preparing Goldenfields defences, has caused and decides to immediately cast him out.

The party decides it’s best to rest, and late in the morning they awaken to expect the damage of the previous night. There are many injured, and a few dead, but this could have easily been much worse. Not wishing to stay to assist in any rebuilding (they still have tasks for Nightstone to complete after all) nor stay for a memorial ceremony, they prepare to leave. However before they headout they convince a guard to allow them to interrogate the captured Goblin. With the help of Brieth’s Zone of Truth Yameeka learns that her family are still together in the orc hoard, and they’ve travelled north toward The Dessarin Valley to join yet more orcs, goblins and giants to merge into one vast hoard.

As the party leaves Goldenfields they see Strog also preparing to leave, conversing with a shepherd on his way out. Taking pity on him they invite him to travel with them on their way to Waterdeep, and find him a place to stay with friends until he finds a place of his own.

Two days later they arrive back at Waterdeep, and head straight to their friend's tavern in the North ward, The Lifted Spirits. Madeline greets them from behind the bar and informs Brieth that someone was looking for her. Brieth knows who he means and is glad to have missed them. He then welcomes them upstairs, where Ash is hosting another guest. Upstairs Ash welcomes them in and introduces them to a lady who’s the widow of one of the lost dung sweepers. Ash is returning a locket found in the Otyugh stomach to her. Once the lady leaves, Ash and Brieth discuss paper birds before Yameeka interrupts by showing off her Scrotum hat. Ash is honoured when Yameeka asks if it can be preserved, or turned into a hat. For 20gp and two days Ash can make it a fabulous and unique headdress.

Chapter 3: The Savage Frontier

Session 16 - Mirtul 26

With feverish glee, Ash shows off the contents of the Otyugh guts to Brieth and the party whilst giving a lesson in their eating habits and digestion.

Apparently their stomachs are usually a gross treasure trove of knick-knacks and precious metal.

Stumples escapes Thia’s grasp and chases Ash’s pet rat Quincy around her laboratory/bedroom. After a quick cat and rat chase, and a threat of an Eldritch blast, Stumples is recaptured and is taken downstairs by Thia, for both his and Quincy’s safety. Downstairs a stray cat approaches Thia and speaks a message from the Emerald Enclave. A male voice invites them to the Phaulkomere, a manor house in The South Ward to talk about joining the Faction.

Meanwhile Ash and Brieth talk about the magical paper Ash used to contact Brieth while she was in Goldenfields, and Ash learns about the existence of paper Birds, how much they cost, and where to purchase them from.

Once the party is reunited in the Tavern Thia shares her invitation to Phaulkomere with the rest of the group, and they depart for the South Ward. On the way the party encounter a Town crier repeating events: of Nightstone and Goldenfields, as well as reports of Orcs and Goblins moving north towards the Dessarin Valley, reports of monsters in farmland by Waterdeep, and reports of unnatural storms in the deep seas. After listening to the local news from the crier they bump into a Solicitor; a female gnome approaches the party, offering legal representation whilst in Waterdeep.

Davi Coppafel busking as a street performer, in disguise.

Job Notice Board Wanted Posters, Missing Shipment: Owlbear hunt: White Dragon: Phandalin

Met Lif

Session 17 - Mirtul 27

Pigeon post Pet Woodlouse Consider forms of transport Fence stolen robes To the Lone Wolf Rude stranger Barnabus dies To Cabinwood Acres Met Samurel Return to Lone Wolf Drinks Missing son Thia mets Paelias Chess game Paelias meets everyone Returns to Cabinwood

Session 18 - Mirtul 28

Scarecrow Fight Tavern Waterdeep

Session 19 - Mirtul 28

Stay in tavern Vincent Trench Ghost Dad Party arrives, devil fight. Scrotum Hat.

Session 20 - Mirtul 28

Horse shopping Coach service Visit Cirafet Manor, get info about Stone Giant pillar Accept job.

Mirtul 29

Begin journey to Rassalanter Meet dwarf pair Try to get dwarfs kicked off the coach. Eat shit. Arrive at Rassalanter Dwarf pair talk to halflings

Session 21 - Mirtul 29

Wake up and have breakfast Investigate which farm had most problems Small World Pastures Meet the Dwarf pair again, as they’re closing the deal. The party forces a renegotiation, and makes it a competition. Monster slayed, Bulette August dream, Yameeka meets dead sister.

Session 22 - Mirtul 30

Leaver Rassalanter. Travel back to Waterdeep Mirtul 30 & Kythorn 1 Kythorn 2 Yameeka has a warrant out for her arrest. Is arrested. Party begins investigation into alleged crimes. Evidence is found in favour of Yameeka. Guard visits Yameeka. August dream, Brieth chased. Brieth wakes up August, they share dream experiences. Kythorn 2 Find Solicitor, gnome woman Menny Pikwikken

Session 23 - Kythorn 3

Hire Solicitor, Menny Pikwikken. 50gp. “Bird-man” following and watching. Evidence gathered. Menny beaten. Menny escorted home. Kythorn 4 Menny is escorted as she re-gathers evidence. Evidence is submitted to Court House Evidence stolen. Party returns to coach house. Bird man runs.

Session 24 - Kythorn 4