META [Mechanic adjustment/clarificationt: from now on if two people are in front, I'll let one assist the other to get advantage on perception checks but not the two people behind b/c that doesn't make sense to me in retrospect. Also, for that spell you all should have rolled Int (Investigation) but based on your rolls you would have made it anyways.] Scene 1: Loot! The party started healing, feeling much better than before. To the south, Urd and Rurrick uncovered a secret passageway to the south, and Rurrick (in spider form) noticed several traps. To the south they found a goblin camp, and another camp. In a makeshift camp in
the sewers, it looks like it has had other purposes for some time. Faces are
carved into the stone here, much more clearly than in other places. In the
small room is a make-shift campfire. Next to it is a body of what seems to be a
human, his entrails have been spilled across the ground. Some of them have been
eaten. Around the camp they find bodies of the goblins. In the corner are 2 chests. The chests are
layered with cloth-padded trays, each with the imprint of a talisman. Each
talisman is roughly the diameter of a grapefruit. Each chest could hold 12
talismans. The chests have inlays at the bottom, they are of a strange make not
native to Shrave. On the body and the goblins, they found: Brooch of Shielding*, Fine Fur Masking with Ornate Fine Stitching (75g), Feathered Shortsword Scabbard (75g), Carved Wooden Idol of a Dark Goddess- Shar (250g), Platinum Cloth Ribbon (75g), Small Bag of Incense (75g), Ornate Shortsword w/ Jewel Studded Hilt (150g), Gold Pouch (787g), 2 potions of healing (2d4+2), 3 scrolls, Spellbook, Scimitar*, 78.215 gold on the goblins. Scroll #1 Read: Written in Abyssal: It’s a contract between “Sameer Ravi” and a being named “Nabunuhr Habuzihr Xae Sluozal Ouqeu Ruzadon the 3rd”. It details an arrangement where Shaksham shall deliver 24 talismans to the city in exchange for… something. Scroll #2 is sealed with an arcane rune (which is magical). Scroll #3 is written in elvish symbols, but it's not elvish, and is annotated by someone with really horrible handwriting in dwarvish symbols, but not written in dwarvish. Scene 2: The Dragon Lardy Norlanth Towards the end of thier rest, Swell heard some creatures coming through the tunnels. Him and Urd snuck to the area by the metal bars where the goblins had ambushed them from, and hid in the darkness. While
they are resting a contingent of Raffolks’ troops come through. They take the
loot from the party. They are saying “If you find anyone who looks suspicious,
kill them. Any elves or orcs should die, that includes hybrids.” Then the
dragon shows up, swimming underneath the great and appearing before them in the sewer water. She asks them in Draconic “Are you loyal to Prince Raffolk?”
The all respond, “OF COURSE WE ARE!” She exhales gas and they all drop to the ground. When the bodies finish falling a wounded Dragon comes into
view. She is being escorted by 4 roguish looking dwarves. They are covered in
tattoos and scars, Urd recognizes them as “Nards”. After Kiernard fell, dwarves
lost their homes in their old kingdom. Some fled to the underdark, others fled
to Gravelback. While allowed through Thrinegrove, the place most were allowed
was Dravens. Many dwarf women and children took up in Dravensport, but most in
North Dravensport and Guildstown. In the last 50 years the Dwarven gangs have
increased in strength. It makes sense that they would know the sewers well.
Called “Nards” as a racial/cultural slur, they have been organized into several
gangs over the last couple of decades. Rumors are that they are a cross between
a thief’s gang and some rumor cultists. People say they worship ancient forces
of the deep, long since gone. While not impervious to attack, they have a
fearsome reputation even among the orc. Many worship Vergedain, Dwarf God of
Luck and Wealth, hoping that their families’ luck is restored, others are said
to worship Shar, evil goddess of loss and pain. Even others say some of the
newer generations are either Duergar or ½ Duergar, or have somehow begun
learning their magics. They are both pitied but also treated with mistrust by
other dwarves. While discussing what they should do the dragon came over to the bars and said "Elf, what are you doing?" Her and Swell had a brief conversation where she let them know they were allied with elves and headed to the castle to meet Oron. She invited the party to come with her (although Swell never told them other were with him). One of her dwarf companions went to the bars and healed swell for some damage. She left, the party started debating when they heard a sound yelling "RURRICK" from the south. An elf he knew from Thrinegrove named Merellian showed up along with some backup troops. After agreeing to escort the orphans and refugees to the castle, they all went behind the green dragon and her dwarf crew. Scene 3: The Reunion When they get closer to
the castle, they meet up with Oron. He is with Elbricht and Tolande and some
elves, they have been fighting undead in the streets. They fled to the
underground. They, as well as the Greenbottle Brothers (Lindal and Eldon) look
like they have been through a fight. Several peasants are with them along with the orphans, refugees, Anna, and Brescka. Lindal greets Roach
and Rurrick, Elbricht simply nods at Swell and Urd.
Lindal says, “Dwarven
brother and noble cleric, it is good to see you here. I see that you are doing fair
in these dark times. You remember Gurgle? He is here." Ailekk and Swell talked with Anna, while several others had side conversations. After some questions, the party agreed to escort Oron and Breschka to the castle. As you approach the
castle, the faces in the walls grow more and more pronounced. Rurric DC Check
to realize the faces are all the same age, but they weren’t naturally carved
like this. It’s as though the faces are being pulled from the stone. Ailekk
Recognizes horns on one of the faces, it is the face of a gargoyle.
You arrive in the
castle jail through old stone steps. There is an old doorway, with bars which
have been pried away leading into the jail. Inside are elves, orcs, and others.
They are all talking in quiet tones. Over in a cell to the left you can see the
dead bodies of some of Rurrick’s Castle Guardsmen. In the room were Oron and Brescka, along with Captain Keth and the two diplomats from Corrive. After Keth and Urd talk for a few minutes Keth had a talk with Swell while Urd went to talk with his brother Behyla. Soon the group moved out into the castle courtyard to meet Raffolk. Scene 4: The Fight [Roughly here's what happened] Oron, Breschka, and their orc/elf army surge out of the
dungeon. Outside Prince Raffolk has summoned city guards and is addressing a
crowd of people who have taken refuge in the castle. At his side is a royal
priest, Father Mendel is busy assuring them everything will be okay. As Oron
& Brescka lead their troops with the party out into the courtyard, Prince
Raffolk backs up towards the entrance. The town guard turn to face this new
menace but Brescka is out front telling everyone to “Calm down” and not fight.
The captain of the city guard is doing the same.
Prince Raffolk (PR) says “What the bloody hell is this?”
Brescka responds, “Tyrant Prince, your time destroying your
homeland is at an end. You may carry the blood of Dravens in your veins, but
certainly not the heart or honor. That is why, my brother Oron and I intend to take
your place.”
PR: Strides closer to them, “You think you have the people?
Just because you convinced some cowardly elves and dull orcs to your side you
haven’t the strength to take me.”
Off to the side, the city guard captain whistles an order,
and all of the city guard move their weapons from pointing at the rebels to
pointing at Prince Raffolk.
PR: Now laughing “What, and you think the dragons will stand
for this nonsense?”
Oron takes a horn from his side and blows. Three shapes
emerge from the dark night one on each side of Raffolk. A green dragon, Lady
Norlanth, speaks in Draconic, “Your bastard children Brescka Karami and Oron
Goleborn entreated me years ago to hear their tales. My brothers, sisters and I
have backed their claim to the throne in the official courts. Papers were filed
and processed after you left the throne, but before Queen Lightcrown was
officially coronated. Our father Shrave himself recognizes their claim on your
throne.”
PR: Now looking a bit paler than before, still keeps his dignity.
A brief moment of fear gives to anger, “Under what grounds? I have done nothing
wrong.”
Breschka: Stepping even further forward, “Exactly. You have
done nothing. As King you have allowed your own province to fall into
disrepair. Such disrepair, that the only two people who have sought to help it
have been your bastard-daughter raised in Thrinegrove, and your bastard-son
raised in Bonehammer. We have done more for this land in the past few years
than you have in the last fifty.”
Brescka turns around to address the crowd and everyone:
“Does no one have the nerve to kill this prince turned traitor through the
simple crime of neglect for his own people?”
Oron takes a step towards the shadows, Brescka says “No
brother. I will not depose this man if his own people do not will it.”
There is a silence. Behind him, Father Mendel produces a
dagger and lunges at the Prince. In seconds, the prince unsheaths his longsword
and shortsword, plunging both directly into Mendels chest. He roars “If it’s
battle you want…” and then he flees to inside the castle. Brescka followed close behind, engaging Raffolk's guards. Oron turned to the party and said, "Follow me" leaving back the way they came. Everyone eagerly followed. He opened up a secret passage in the jail and said, "This is to his study, meet him there." He made it clear he wanted his father dead, Rurrick agreed after a spitty handshake to see the job done. While Rurrick was bartering, the rest of the party had run down the corridor. After finding glyphs of warding and setting them off, they blew up the bookcase leading into the study (really just knocked it over). After entering the study, Prince Raffolk entered with the study door locking behind him. Winning initiative he moved to where the party was in a straight line and let lightning from his fingertips, downing Roach and almost downing Rurrick while doing major damage to Swell and Urd. After that the fight was a bit one-sided [I should have given him some heroic actions, but oh well.] The party beat him down pretty well while Urd realized his new magic scimitar had a mind of its own. Cassius was 1 point shy of doing the finishing blow, with Rurrick the bear gutting Raffolk with a natural 20. Pieces of Raffolk's throat went everywhere. Soon after Brescka was banging at the door. Rurrick let her in and Oron walked out of the shadows in the corner of the room. Clapping. Brescka knelt down next to her dead father and began praying in elvish. Oron walked over to make sure he was dead. After declaring himself and Brescka rightful owners of all of his father's estate. Oron declared the contents of Raffolk's study to belong to the players as payment for their service. In the loot the party found: Copper (61g), Silver (984g), Gold 3891, Platinum (1256g). Crystal Idol of Tiamatt (250g), Glass Eye (250g), Rosewood Jar (250g), Gold Amulet (450g), 2 potions of greater healing, longsword+1*, 4 potions of healing, javelin of lightning +1*, ring of swimming*, Single sending stone (out of a pair)*, 20 x crossbow bolts +1*, light crossbow, Raffolk's Spellbook. Aftermath Brescka summons them to the den.
It is revealed that because the brother/sister have taken
the thrown, they must be shown to the Dragon Lord’s staff and evaluated. Based
upon that, one (or both) will be introduced to the Shrave and a revised
monarchy term will be created. It is possible, although unlikely, that Shrave
could even have Queen Lightcrown step down in favor of Breschka and/or Oron. No
one is entirely sure.
Breschka, the half-orc and her brother Oron, both tried to
start a brother/sister guild a couple of years ago not far from the capital.
The original goal was to encourage racial collaboration, but also create
stability. Each being leaders from their own races, they had a building
constructed at the base of the mountains, but due to inactivity had it shut
down and boarded up. They want the party members to help revive it as their
first act as sovereigns of the region. They need to rescue, find, and recruit talented
adventurers.
In order to begin, they need to find talented adventures
like themselves. As a sign on bonus, they will each get a magical item chosen
from a list of items raided from the prince’s personal stash. As they find
adventurers, they should escort them back to the castle where brother/sister
will be busy preparing the necessary infrastructure for the endeavor. They
intend on making this their first official act as sovereigns, and will require
the party to make some appearances to please the crowds.
In addition to the part above, Breschka’s order will be to: Recruit Adventurers, ask them to come to Castle Raffolk and
ask for her and give the parties’ names. The adventurers are welcome to escort
them back if needed. The party is asked to keep a log where they ask each
adventurer on their thoughts about what happened at the castle and who might be
behind the attack. She will also ask them the same questions when she meets
them and intend to compare the answer.