The Fall of the Black Legion

• Characters: Cromwell, Dorian the Shadowseeker, Gallipolas, Karne, Krullix, Jebeddo, Pardonei, Vindicus, X-Requinn
• NPCs: Vall, Zedrick Neely
• Synopsis: The dawn of the third day breaks and war erupts south of the River Reddan. Across from Reddansyr the united armies converge on the Black Legion. Consisting of the Army of Nature’s Wrath, the Dark Lancers of Assam, the surviving elves of Laurel Leaf Woods, and the Purple Knights of Cormyr, the united front crushes the forces of the Black Legion, but not without a toll. Huge swaths of the armies are cut down. But victory is had as the battlefields are cleared of enemies and virtuous warriors are laid to rest. The final confrontation is dawning as Zedrick Neely presents his case to exterminate Mystenaculis. The evil lords of Westgate have consolidated their might to within the Ministry of Defense, an occupied castle within the walls of Westgate. Great magics protect them, but Zedrick’s strategy for victory involves using a small invading force to infiltrate the Ministry and destroy Mystenaculis. His group will attack while the Black Guard is attacked from a massive invading force. Control of the city will rely upon breaching the walls, killing the occupying forces, and finally destroying those within the Ministry of Defense. Despite his reservations Gallipolas forms the plan to use obscuring mist and gaseous forms to sneak into the fortified keep. Knowing the layout of the castle, Zedrick can guide the group to the interior and attack their enemies from within. Zedrick Neely accepts the plan and puts it into action. The infiltration is successful as the group disguises itself as a gaseous cloud and seeps through the Ministry of Defense. At one point the monk known as Vall is detected walking unimpeded within the confines of the keep. He has betrayed them. Or the reach of the dopplegangers is far. They are lead past a dwarf blacksmith who is furiously forging arms and armor and down a darkened stair. In a vast chamber they find worshiping acolytes receiving blessing from a cloaked figure reeking of evil. This is Mystenaculis. He has taken form on the Material Plane. Four iron golems stand as sentries atop a massive platform enveloped by the darkness from below. The dimensions of the room are unknown as the ceremony is almost concluded. Seven mirror gates stand at the back of the platform as the first acolyte leaves the ceremony and enters the first gate. The group seeps into position to surprise the enemy as the second acolyte leaves through the second gate. Dorian summons massive black tentacles through the ground that grab the remaining followers of Mystenaculis. Floating onto the platform the Defenders appear from within the mist and attack. The platform is immediately separated by a wall of thorns set aflame by a massive fireball. Jebeddo smiles as the plan unfolds. Pardonei summons bolts of lightening to blast both the acolytes and the golems. Unaffected by any of the spells, Mystenaculis casts a spell that forms a prismatic wall in front of him. Each of the minions is targeted as Cromwell, Karne and Krullix receive blessings from Mystra’s follower X-Requinn. The battle plan unfolds as the acolytes are killed and the first iron golem falls. Mystenaculis’ protection is obliterated from the series of spells cast by the Defenders, exposing the fallen Black Bard of Myth Drannor. This battle will be one for the history tomes.
• Encounters: four iron golems, seven acolytes of Mystenaculis, five Black Guards, Mystenaculis
• Achievements: infiltrated the Ministry of Defense within Westgate, and located and engaged Mystenaculis and his followers.
  

The Beast Tamers’ Lost Last Door

• Characters: Hlinthi, Krullix, Pardonei, Trizoon, V.L.
• NPCs: Kirken Trumpetnose, Julbin Cometstrike, Wa’Oolum, Mintassin the Planeswalker
• Synopsis: Julbin’s brownie assistant Kirken Trumpetnose tracks down Pardonei, Hlinthi, and V.L., requesting their presence in Julbin Cometstrike’s hut. Before entering, a depressed Alyssic is exiting, providing the barest of greetings. Inside they are met with the clear-minded Julbin who escorts them down a flight of stairs to the tunnels below the town of Threshold. Swiftly navigating the serpentine corridors, Julbin uses the protective medallions to ward off the Underdark sentries of the tunnels. Ultimately the group finds themselves atop a free-floating bridge that rotates back and forth down the purple worm tunnel before resting at an unremarkable spot. Julbin magicks them an entrance to the newly refurbished guild hall of the Naturalists. Pardonei’s questions are partly answered, but the sage of Threshold asks for his daughter’s patience before the big reveal. In the guild hall control and conference room, they find the napping Trizoon who sparks to life seeing his friends arrive. Julbin rings a silent bell summoning Wa’Oolum the guild hall caretaker and the Westgate exile Mintassin the Planeswalker. As the group gathers around the diamond-shaped meeting table, Julbin recaps the one of the last missions of the guild before it was murdered from within. A guild member named Rordic was tasked with implanting a magic device in the region of the Eastern Shaar. This adamantine “seed” would mature and allow an invisible portal to be established by guild members to all them to travel to the location through the massive mirror portal in the hunting foyer. Rordic never returned, but before an expedition could be mounted the guild was destroyed. Now that the guild has been rebooted they are tying up a few loose ends. Julbin needs the seed recovered. Mintassin and Trizoon have been scouting the region and gathering information in the halfling city of Delzimmer and the pair believes it has found the right spot to begin looking. The disheveled Mintassin is more focused on another task as Julbin requests that the party departs immediately. The sage is working in tandem with Alyssic to achieve adjacent goals simultaneously. Agreeing to the task the party adopts the adventurer Krullix to their cause and leave for Delzimmer. Traveling through the portal, the group finds the quest more a vacation. Gone is the snow and ice. Delzimmer offers fresh fruit, vegetables and meat. The bustling city is so far removed from the war of the Dragon Coast that the adventurers are tempted to stay longer than needed. After their first taste of beef stew in months, Trizoon procures horses and they set out for their destination: a tower that has sunk into the land near the base of the Toadsquat Mountains. A swift ride finds them at the tower. Krullix trips a trap upon entering but Hlinthi is quick with the remedy to neutralize the poison. The upper floor of the leaning tower is home to a raging hag that is quickly killed. Traversing through the squatter’s home they find a poorly hidden ladder to a dungeon below. The first chamber encountered is a map room, but the smooth actions of the now beguiler Krullix draw out the guardians, two armor-laden constructs capable of engaging multiple aspects. One at a time, fire, armor and death is stacked upon the sentries as they call out in Undercommon to an unknown deity named Thoon. But the adventurers utilize the bottlenecked stairwell to their advantage and soon both guardians are destroyed. The map room contains miniature representations of the City of Delzimmer and another city Hlinthi recalls as Deepburrow, another halfling run city with direct access to the Underdark through a deep ravine that runs through the center of the city. Several buildings of the terra cotta are illuminated but no other details can be extracted. Moving on, the barred double doors are magicked open once again by Krullix, but two mind flayers stand in their path surprising the adventurers. Mind blasts rip through the room and all but Trizoon and V.L. are caught, stunned in the illithids’ psionic trap. V.L. fights off the tentacled attack, breaking away from one after the other while crashing his great sword through his enemies. Trizoon offers support with his rapier, hoping to hold out long enough for the others to regain control. The violence in V.L. is unleashed and before the others can blink the mind flayers are flayed. The two Underdark dwellers came from a shrine. Sitting atop an altar is a green-glowing cube, floating and rotating at a slow pace. Determined to destroy this “Thoon” Hlinthi smashes it to bits with his war hammer of shock and thunder. But the sundering is almost too much to bear as the gnome can feel his soul peal away from the Material Plane. But by Garl Glittergold’s good graces, Hlinthi stands tall and repels the psychic attack. Krullix discovers a hidden cache of treasure and more stairs leading further into the depths. After a quick sort, the rogue finds what they have been looking for, and what has been lost to the Beast Tamers for a tenyear: the portal seed. Enough with the dungeon, the party retreats to Delzimmer riding swiftly through the night and returning to the guild hall of the Naturalists with the much sought after prize.
• Encounters: trapped sunken tower, annis hag barbarian, 2 Thoon soldiers, 2 mind flayers of Thoon
• Achievements: witnessed the new guild hall of the Naturalists, traveled to the halfling city of Delzimmer, found the sunken tower, uncovered mock-ups of the cities Delzimmer and Deepburrow, recovered the Beast Tamers’ portal seed.

The Lighthouse Sting

• Characters: Flannigan, Janora, Marlet, Sentalial, Vexander, X-Requinn
• NPCs: Krullix, Carn
• Synopsis: The crew of the Sea Serpent sails the vessel to Ice Flow, meeting Captain D’Ja Mode and his crew. They find Krullix who was dispatched to follow the group’s tracks. There has been a recall of guild members to Threshold. They Call Him Carn will rendezvous with the group back at the town, himself expediting his own travels via his centipede tattoo gifting him with the shadow walk. The rest ponder their options and decide to hire a skiff operator to take them to the shores of the Dragon Coast. Bracing against the frozen winds of the Dragonmere, the craft sails atop the ice-covered sea on massive metal arms, carrying the group quickly to their destination. After a long day’s travels they reach the shore line, only to find it obscured by magical mists. A lone lighthouse serves as a beacon for the travelers, but a ruse is quickly discovered. It isn’t the lighthouse they anticipated. The skiff runner has over-shot their goal by an unknown amount, and another lighthouse beckons. The illuminated shoreline is from a bonfire cobbled together by ten goblins, celebrating some ritual in dance and chant. Unconvinced the party ambushes the revelers and soundly defeats them before moving on to the lighthouse. One goblin survivor spills his guts and points to a green witch that commands his clan. The ruse has been in effect for quick some time, tricking vessels by having them run aground only to be smashed and looted. Surmising that more harm may come from the wicked trick, the group makes for the lighthouse to end the deception. Atop the lighthouse, more goblins ready their actions, spying the advancing group. Marlet rides atop her griffon summonded by the bronze statue, and begins plucking goblins from the parapet and hurling them towards the shoreline below. The rest enter the lighthouse and encounter three snake-like humanoids guarding the first floor, easily dispatching the threat.
• Encounters: ten goblins, three gricks
• Achievements: returned to the Dragon Coast and infiltrated the lighthouse

The Icy Plunge

• Characters: Nobanion, Vall, Jebeddo, Krullix
• NPCs: Gribbold, Los Calzo, Aldila, Hoinnia (Tiefling), Puennoki (Green Hag), Chirkka (Annis)
• Synopsis: Nobanion, Vall, and Jebeddo arrive at Gribbold’s shop to purchase much needed supplies. The recent winter storms have slowed down shipments along the trade route through Threshold, but some items are available. While negotiating “friend prices”, Krullix arrives in a bit of a huff. He said he went to Los Calzo to see if Dak’s mithral shirt is complete. He informs the trio that Aldila, Los Calzo’s friend and caretaker, is worried something terrible has befallen him. The four adventurers decide to pay a visit to the town tinker. The townsfolk are aware of the tinkering that goes on in Los Calzo’s workshop beneath his home, so it is not unusual for him to busy himself for a tenday without so much as an appearance in town. Aldila looks after him during these times. Upon arrival, Aldila greets them and informs them that she has not seen him in almost two tendays. Aldila leads them to the stairway that descends to the workshop. Recent rumors around town tell of the strange locks appearing on door. Nobanion encourages Krullix to open the door before he breaks it down. Krullix is able to determine the best approach to open each of the three locks. Jebeddo seems nervous at the sight of the Blade Golem guarding the only path to the workshop, but they are able to pass without any trouble. Continuing down the hallway to the workshop, they spy an ominous red-orange glow coming from beneath the door. Vall listens at the door but upon hearing nothing, opens it to discover an activated portal. Vall searches the room for clues to Los Calzo’s whereabouts, finding a journal with scribbles regarding birds. But the name Peunnoki is scribbled in the margin. Nobanion questions Aldila who informs them that Puennoki is a bird collector who resides in a tower near the Thunder Peaks mountain range. Jebeddo examines the scene within the portal, surmising that it is indeed near the Thunder Peaks. Taking the lead, Jebeddo passes through the portal, followed by Vall and Nobanion, with Krullix taking up the flank. From their vantage point they see what appears to be a medium structure shooting up from a frozen lake, 100 yards from the shoreline. They carefully traverse the ice, but encounter a fair size moat surrounding the tower. It appears the rest of the tower lies beneath the frozen lake, with only the top portion at water level. A female humanoid in a hooded cloak greets them, announcing herself as Hoinnia, and allows them entrance via a rope ladder. Inquiries regarding Los Calzo confirm that he is visiting with Puennoki in the lower level of the tower. The party is able to see through Hoinnia’s ruse and advise her to bring Los Calzo to verify his well-being. She leaves and closes the door behind her. Vall makes his way to the door and picks up the sound of heavy footsteps and battle cries. The party prepares itself for what is behind the door. Hoinnia and two ettins appear in the doorway, brandishing their morning stars. Vall’s fists are a blur as they strike the closest enemy causing it to howl in pain. Jebeddo unleashes magic missiles into the other ettin and Krullix fires his crossbow with reckless abandon. An enraged Nobanion beheads the lead ettin, with the second ettin falling soon after. Darkness falls upon the party as they engage their final enemy. With a stroke of luck, the flat of Nobanion’s blade strikes Hoinnia and causes the dark veil to fall. Vall begins to hogtie the tiefling and secures her to a fallen ettin. Upon questioning Hoinnia, the party learns the other tower’s residents are now on the alert. The foursome drinks recently acquired water breathing and protection from cold potions before descending into the frigid waters. At the bottom of the stairs a swollen, wooden door blocks their progress. A cooperative effort proves no match for this simple door. A foyer leads to a set of double doors that easily surrender to Nobanion’s brute strength. The room is filled with blocks of ice, each with varying sizes of birds and each tethered to the floor. A green hag is admiring her collection, but her ogre companion appears perplexed at the intruders. Equipped with a long spear, the ogre begins tapping his weapon on the stone floor. Krullix fires his crossbow at the merrow, but the water inhibits the bolt from finding its target. Vall manages to wrestle the long spear from the merrow. Jepeddo unleashes a scorching ray, which instantly produces a turbulent arc of bubbling, superheated water on the way to its targets. Unable to discern words underwater, the party turns to hand signals to surround their opponents. Grabbing the long spear from Vall, Nobanion plunges it into the merrow sending it roaring in pain. Vall is able to understand the words spoken by the green hag, Puennoki and warns of a spell being cast. Just as before, the lights go down. Even with all participants blinded, an all out slugfest ensues. Vall’s fists pummel into the hag. Jepeddo’s flame blast produces an arc of superheated of water. Nobanion continues to poke at the darkness to find his target. Vall is able to pick up a final cry from the hag as she yells out “Chirkka”, a name perhaps, and the dark veil lifts yet again. The party is astonished they were able to defeat such a powerful spell caster. Not knowing what else awaits them below, they retrieve the tiefling and entice her to tell them how to get to the fifth and bottom level of the tower. Hoinnia advises them to gather stones before starting down the staircase that leads to the bottom level. On reaching the third level, stones are put at the door leading into the stairwell to prevent access to the stairs. On the fourth level, the stairway door is easily opened. A small foyer has a door directly ahead and one on either side. Hoinnia suggests to place stones on the side doors as she opens the remaining door. An odd-looking dome of oiled leather fills most of this chamber. Engulfed by a big net lashed to some rings in the floor, the mass seems to be held in place. But the whole dome strains upward against its binds. With a little more investigation the group discovers the dome holds some sort of air pocket on this floor. As a light shines from beneath the dome the air bubble’s oily surface forms a stable air-water interface, allowing one to enter or exit the bubble without disturbing the arrangement. Nobanion goes berserk, jumps through bubble, and lands with a ground-shaking thump. The others follow suit, finding themselves on dry land once again. The room is occupied by two more ettins carrying what appears to be a wooden box. Caught off guard, their package drops to the floor, splintering into many pieces. The contents are revealed; inside is a small creature completely encased in ice. The other occupant of the room introduces herself as Chirkka who states that this is her tower, and that all who enter shall be encased in ice for eternity. Recognizing their primary objective lying on the floor, the group swings into action. Vall unleashes his fury on an ettin knocking it senseless. Attempting to draw their morning stars, three ettins succumb to Jebeddo’s grease spell, falling to the hard, stone floor. Unable to obtain a sure footing, the party continuously strikes them down. Still enraged, Nobanian deals a deathblow to an ettin as Vall and Jebeddo search the remaining intact bodies to collect the spoils. Jebeddo uses a flame spell to accelerate the thawing of the small creature, who indeed turns out to be Los Calzo. He is in a daze and semiconscious, but alive. The party escorts Los Calzo and Hoinnia out of the tower and back to the portal, with a final warning to Hoinnia. She must leave this plane and never return, or face the most severe of consequences. They provide her with basic supplies, and release her. The five enter the portal back to Threshold as the patient Aldila is there to welcome them home, and Los Calzo pushes a hidden stone button that closes the portal. The unfrozen gnome heeds their advice not to travel to strange places without proper security. Los Calzo has witnessed their aid first hand yet again and promises to recruit them in the future. Ever thankful, Aldila sees the party out praising their actions. The four wary adventurers head over to The Verse to unwind and speak privately. With a new way to travel to the Thunder Peaks, what other adventures await?
• Encounters: Merrow Warrior (Aquatic Ogre) (1), Ettins (4), Deep waters of a frozen lake
• Achievements: rescued Los Calzo from the tower, and utilized the portal in Los Calzo’s workshop
  

Mettik’s Journal

• Characters: Forkbeard, Janora, Krullix, Marlet & Unger, Trizoon, X-Requinn
• NPCs: Caravan Master Adoward Moonshadow, Nerius Bootlum, Mettik
• Synopsis: Krullix staggers into the guild hall from the wintered streets, worn from forced march. In a dire voice he ekes out that he a Janora were escorting a caravan west towards Ilipur when it was attacked. Krullix is the only one to make it back; Janora was taken along with everyone else. Trizoon gathers a rescue team including X-Requinn, Marlet and Forkbeard. Using Krullix as a guide the group prepares to depart put does some investigation regarding the caravan’s origin. Krullix says that Nerius Bootlum was using the caravan to deliver an item west, so the group goes to gather more information. Nerius says the item is an enchanted coffin to be delivered to Therhana Waveharp in Ilipur. The magical crafter says that the caravan was guided under Master Adoward Moonshadow, one known for his reputable services. The group wastes no more time and retraces Krullix’s steps back to the ambush. They follow humanoid tracks back into the hills leading to a cavern entrance, where they are attacked by guardian bugbears. The cavern entrance yields a large underground complex that uses varying platforms and rope ladders to delver further into the earth. After destroying two giant spiders, the party finds Janora hanging in the webbing and barely alive. She is healed and moves with the group to find someone who can only be the mastermind. A lone elf is hunched over a desk in a sparsely decorated chamber. With too many evil creatures already slain, the group doesn’t allow the elf to react as they launch to attack. In only seconds the scholar is killed, leaving only his journal indicating that his name was Mettik. The group expedites their withdrawal from the complex and makes for Threshold, content that one of their own has been saved from a disasterous end.
• Encounters: three bugbears, humanoid spider creature, two giant spiders, Mettik the elven scholar
• Achievements: destroyed the caravan attackers, killed Mettik, and saved Janora.

The Wizards of Tendale and the Druids of Cedarspoke Summit

• Characters: Aramir, Dorian, Forkbeard, Gallipolas, Krullix, Lazbin, Rathgillian
• NPCs: Jebeddo, Karne, Wizards of Tendale
• Synopsis: The adventurers consult with a revitalized Julbin Cometstrike, sage of Threshold. His hut is organized and reflects the new direction the master arcanist has taken. Interrupting his research, Rathgillian seeks assistance in restoring Lazbin’s mind. Julbin can only offer to open a portal to the inn where the Wizards of Tendale hold their summits and trade negotiations. It would seem that the Guild of Naturalists at some time in their past had interests inline with Tendale. Julbin opens the portal only after suggesting that Lazbin and Rathgillian would be a major asset should they decide to return and help the sage in a new quest. Perhaps in the future. The two move through the portal, appearing in the frozen mountains of separating the Dragon Coast from the Vilhoun Reach. Up ahead Rathgillian guides the feeble-minded wizard to the inn where the eldritch spellsword knight determines true north and very quickly leaves to find the only one he knows to cure Lazbin’s affliction, Gallipolas. An hour’s journey finds his comrades standing amidst the ruins of a heard of might stags. The group had been attacked but easily outmatched the group of outsider beasts. Deciding to camp for the night, the Defenders break out and discuss their options. In the morning the group moves north to the Wizards’ inn and stake out the location. Gallipolas and Aramir infiltrate the two-story establishment, finding only wizards, stable boys and chefs. The ninja halfling ghost-steps through the rooms killing two unsuspecting wizards before meeting up with the elf druid. The two agree to bring the others in through a back door and assault the unsuspecting wizards. With disguises, subterfuge, and pre-equipped spells the melee begins after Gallipolas poses as Lady Nerisis and is caught when one of the wizards realizes he is an imposter; he had only just left the Lady of Tendale in the other room. Their cover is blown so the invisible attackers strike, quickly decimating the unprepared denizens of the inn. Blasting their way into the guarded portion, Gallipolas’ spells bring down the guardians and the house. The once-protected lounge is now empty accept for abandoned writings of the Historian. The draconic script implicates the Defenders, but also stops abruptly as it seems his was taken in the midst of scribing. The last line simply states that the Defenders discover they must travel to Cedarspoke to retrieve the Firehill Runestones. The burning establishment is vacant of any trace of the wizards, save for the victims of the invasion, dead beneath the collapsed flooring. The Historian is gone.
• Encounters: a herd of Rejkars, an enclave of wizards, sorcerers, and mercenary rangers
• Achievements: regained Lazbin’s mental prowess, infiltrated the Wizards of Tendale resort in the Orsraun Mountains, lost an opportunity to procure the Historian, acquired the Historian’s writings for the day uncovering a clue to the Shadow Lord’s puzzle.

The Intercept of the Divine Hammer

• Characters: Aramir, Dorian, Forkbeard, Gallipolas, Jebeddo, Karne, Krullix
• NPCs: Mikailis, the Divine Hammer
• Synopsis: At the rendezvous point, the group surprises two trolls investigating the decaying husk of the nine-headed hydra and quickly deals with the minor obstruction. Teleporting back to Reddansyr after the failed negotiations with the Wizards of Tendale, Dorian brings his companions to face Mikailis. The former apprentice is curt and reluctantly informs his old master of their progress, or more accurately their regress. Words are not lost between the two as Dorian lets the leader of the League of Wizards know that the elf intends to see this through. Mikailis can only offer a suggestion. The master wizard is aware of safe house used by the Wizards of Tendale on occasion. If the exchange is to occur, it is likely at this location. He then locates a trail out of Gulthmere Forest, a path to the safe house. Dorian gathers the others and exhausts his teleportation to bring them to Kelvin. It is a two-day march to the trail and another half-day of forced march to reach the safe house. Well after sundown, the group encounters a magical sphere. Aramir scouts ahead only to be spotted by a shape changer. As a polar bear, the beast throttles the halfling before reinforcements have a chance to act. Melee erupts as the polar bear is flanked by three others emerging from the protective bubble. Forkbeard charges into combat but the other three become entangled in Dorian’s summoned tentacles. The polar bear is the first to fall and Aramir is quickly brought back from the brink of death. Cries from the group leader reveal two names: Mahguvial and Otiluke. But no remorse is offered for the other three as their role in the ambush yields retribution. Inspecting the cart escorted by the Divine Hammer, they find only a large chest with too many gold coins to count. The small fortune in gold pieces reveals that it was only payment involved for the trade as this was no doubt the envoy of the Army of Nature’s Wrath. Standing in blood-stained snow, the group wonders what they have resorted to and is there a line between justice and revenge being crossed. Is the long arm of the Shadow Lord manipulating them too?
• Encounters: two hill trolls, the Divine Hammer
• Achievements: Intercepted the Army of Nature’s Wrath’s payment for the exchange of the Historian, annihilated the Divine Hammer

Backfired Negotiations with the Wizards of Tendale

• Characters: Aramir, Dorian, Forkbeard, Gallipolas, Krullix, Softfoot
• NPCs: tavern owner of the Old Dung Cow Rick Meros, leader of the Wizards of Tendale Lady Nerisis, pick-pocket Frootilin, Leord Falconflight, wizard apprentice Ylathera Hollisharp
• Synopsis: Dorian teleports back to Threshold to ensure that the spell is now accurate. After losing precious time to the teleportation snare, the group arrives in Geron behind schedule including those more inclined for stealth and/or negotiation. Three days of travel result in the comrades arriving outside of the city, but also a potential meal for a multi-headed hydra. The creature is immediately destroyed but offers a savory meal for Forkbeard who enjoys the flash-fried hydra meet. The neutral city of Tendale is in fact intact and prospering from wartime trade. A street urchin unfortunately selects the group as a thieving target and is quickly brought down after a brief chase. Dorian magicks him to be their guide and the party ends up at the sage Leord Falconflight’s small store Books & More. The elder sage puffs his pipe and offers his contacts with the wizards’ council of Tendale. Well met and invited, the wizard of the highest order Lady Nerisis speaks softly and kindly to the party. Talks include mention of the Historian and the female wizard offers greater insight to the trade deal. The druids of Cedarspoke have countered with exclusive trade rights as well as a dowry for the exchange of the Historian. A deal was already struck with the Council of the Divine and the exchange is to occur in three days. The Divine Hammer, a militant group representing the Council, is already enroute for the drop. Acting as the spokesman for the group Dorian attempts to intercept the deal with trade rights with Teziir as well as matching the offer. Lady Nerisis is reluctant and excuses herself to discuss the offer with the other members of the council. Dorian’s interpretation is that the offer is being rejected outright and the elf decides that magic may help sway Lady Nerisis’ opinion. The spell fails and the female vacates the room sounding the alarm. With only seconds to react the group makes an escape route disintegrating the room’s wall to the outside. Repositioning themselves for the inevitable attack, they turn their attention to the gathering of forces outside of the chamber. Dorian’s delayed blast fireball spell goes horribly wrong when a massive fire elemental returns it to the elf, igniting the whole room in a bath of fire. Their boy guide Frootilin is incinerated in the blast. A small force of elementals follows suit and a massive battle breaks out. Fighting through to their last options, the group finally destroys the elementals but another platoon of soldiers under the protection of spells advances. Out of time and out of luck, the group retreats to the identified rendezvous point, the carcass of the hydra.
• Encounters: 9-headed hydra, large air, fire, and earth elementals, medium earth and fire elementals.
• Achievements: ruined negotiations with the Wizards of Tendale for the exchange of the Historian, accidental death of an innocent child, eliminated any good will that may have come with the potential allies, learned of the deal for the exchange of the Historian with the Council of the Divine of the Army of Nature’s Wrath.

The Hunt for the Black Legion War Champion Venduul

• Characters: Cromwell, Dorian, Gallipolas, Hadith, Ilora, Karne, Krullix, Roywyn, Vindicus
• NPCs: Circle of Holundi leaders, Floosk/Loothum, Vendul, Zedrick Neely
• Synopsis: As the Circle of Holundi settles in the small village of Threshold, the Adventurers Guild of Threshold is assimilated into the resistence. Numerous adventurers that have already crossed paths with each other facilitate the integration. Moving into the abandoned farmstead of the slain family, the Disdens, the rebellion leaders are joined by the gnome illusionist Loothum, long thought deceased. Loothum is also the half-elf Floosk and the ogre warrior Bronx. His immortal curse transfers his soul to another humanoid creature if he is killed, but the transfers have caused him to lose portions of his memory. He has reconstructed the timeline of events and now can control his form at-will. Zedrick Neely confirms rumors that Roywyn has heard that vocal dissenters in Westgate have been rounded up and thrown into the prisons. The sage Mintassan is among the detained and even Zedrick cannot free the planeswalker. The Circle of Holundi has also further refined their battle plans to defeat the Black Legion and Mystenaculis. This includes attacking the rear forces of the Black Legion, reforming the League of Wizards (including the initiation of Dunrick the Daring), and commandeering the forces of Tendale, the Dark Lancers. Floosk has returned from infiltrating the Black Legion forces south of Reddansyr. These forces are being led by their warrior champion, the mountain troll Venduul, but he was unable to discern who the strategy mastermind is, as Venduul is only the leader of the Black Legion’s reserves. The leaders of the reserves have assumed control of the abandoned war mage college of the Order of the Fire Hawk. Loothum surmises that killing the mountain troll may shatter morale beyond reconstruction. Not being a member of the upper echelon of the Black Legion, Loothum was not given access to the compound, but he has the location of the plateau and the layout of the compound.
• Encounters: pack of worgs, orc berserkers and war howlers regiment, orc battle priests, ice devil, Venduul the mountain troll, and ogre skullcrusher warriors
• Achievements: The group infiltrates the compound, discovers the location of their enemies and develops a plan of attack. During the battle the ice devil flees, Venduul is slain, and the elite orc warriors are annihilated along with their ogre counterparts. The treasure horde of the ice devil is looted and the group returns to Threshold.

Standing at the Gates of Hell

• Characters: Alyssic, Cromwell, Dorian, Gallipolas, Krullix, Lazbin, Rathgillian
• NPCs: Circle of Holundi leaders, Gull the Grim, Lord Topaz, Zedrick Neely
• Synopsis: The leaders of the Circle of Holundi have developed a plan of attack to defeat the forces of Mystenaculis. Multiple tasks are before them and include infiltrating Westgate, destroying the reserve forces of the Black Legion and thus its supply line, and a secret task assigned by Mikailis. The master wizard states that the Icon of Kelvin is the phylactery of Mystenaculis and it must be destroyed, otherwise the war to defeat their enemy will never end. The Icon can be destroyed several ways, but the most likely to succedd method involves shattering it against the gates of hell. The Circle of Holundi is preparing multiple strike teams for the secret task and the Defenders accept, becoming the initial attempt. They are warned that the guardians of the gate are pit fiends, massive devils saturated in fire and fierce combatants. In preparation for the assault the Defenders are rewarded with magical enchantments crafted by Zedrick Neely. The former leader of the Night Masks of Westgate is given custody of the soul gem the binds Forkbeard with the instruction to seek out Mintassan the Planeswalker, Sage of Westgate. Zedrick will return to Westgate and retrieve Forkbeard’s soul. Mikailis opens a portal to Hell and the Defenders quickly move to the gate.
• Encounters: two pit fiends
• Achievements: After defeating the first pit fiend, the Icon of Kelvin is destroyed and Mystenaculis’ life essence is sucked under the gates of Hell. The group defeats the second pit fiend blocking their retreat and esacpes through the portal being chased by a legion of devils. Emerging on the other side they find that the Circle of Holundi has abandoned the illusionary camp and relocated it to a small village near the coast line of the Dragonmere. The village is called Threshold.
  

The Tomb of Gygax

• Characters: Alyssic, Dorian, Forkbeard, Gallipolas, Krullix, Lazbin, Marlett, Rathgillian, Roywyn, Softfoot, V.L.
• NPCs: Ninove, Circle of Holundi leaders
• Synopsis: The aging gnome illusionist Ninove approaches the group under the guise of the floating horseman, a creature that has plagued the Defenders for many months. She reveals her undercover status within the forces of Mystenaculis, particularly her affiliation with master scryer Saluth. Loyal to the Circle of Holundi she left Tendale with direction from Loothum, another gnome master illusionist, to penetrate the inner circle of those that would do the city harm. After both Holundi and Loothum were killed, she was without a contact and remained with Saluth, perpetrating his evil desires. It was only until after the Defenders were identified as the heroes of the Dragon Coast that were destined to defeat Mystenaculis was Ninove able to aid their efforts. Using the undead floating horseman she alerted them to surprise attacks by enemies time and time again. Now under illusion she comes to the Defenders to alert them that Councilman Dimlock has hired bard assassins to kill those that infiltrated his inner sanctum and stand between Mystenaculis and his return. The list includes: Forkbeard, Gallipolas, Roywyn, Marlet, Dorian, Alyssic, Softfoot, Lazbin, Rathgillian, Cromwell and Sir Vesten Roh-jar. She has been tasked with freeing Saluth from captivity. She reveals that Saluth is a master scryer and the coalition ruling the Dragon Coast has been unable to find the Defenders since his disappearance. Knowing that they do not trust her, she instructs them to retrieve Mikailis’ amulets of non-detection. They are hidden in the Tomb of Gygax which was once protected by the crazed blue dragon Brelefur in the pass of the Orsraun Mountains. After they retrieve the amulets she will contact them again to take Saluth into possession. Ninove will continue to feed information to the Circle of Holundi while providing bad intelligence to the Dragon Coast Coalition. The Defenders teleport to the tomb and work their way through a series of traps, deadly enemies and hidden corridors to find the horde of the ancient lich Acererak. But it is defended by a demilich construct that sucks Forkbeard’s soul from his body before being defeated.
• Encounters: four-armed gargoyle, multiple portals containing eerie multi-colored mists, trapped electrified altar, a fearful mist, an oozing corrupture hidden behind a tapestry, warrior ghost, and a demilich construct
• Achievements: At the cost of Forkbeard’s soul, the Defenders retrive the treasure horde of Acererak and Mikailis’ amulets of nondetection. The group returns to the illusion-protected encampment of the Circle of Holundi at the base of the Orsraun Mountains