Synopsis
Part 1: Targos
Afield 14th of Uktar
Mallory, Rhydd, and Farwalker accompanied a merchant caravan transporting grain to the Ten Towns. While originally bound for Bryn Shander, the official guide led the caravan astray when a blizzard struck. After fending off an assault by hungry wolves, they eventually arrived . . . at Targos, a good three miles off their intended mark.
After finding the gates left unguarded and a crowd gathering at the town square, Mallory and Farwalker intervened in the source of both — the public hanging of a man picked for ritualistic sacrifice to appease Auril. Naerth, the Town Speaker, listened to the commotion, exited The Luskan Arms, the nearby inn, and ordered the man spared and cut down. He then invited Mallory, Farwalker, and any of their companions into the warmth of the inn for a justification of these apparently gruesome and extreme measures. Though they ended up not seeing eye to eye, Naerth, recognizing the skills these individuals possessed, offered to hire them for another problem that had plagued him. Over the course of the last Tenday, a number of fishermen had disappeared while out on the lake, with no trace of where they'd gone. Rumors of a monster had begun to surface, and Naerth wanted this mystery solved before it got out of hand. After all, every day without trawling was a day without profit. The same offer was extended to Arkemos, a mysterious, hooded cultist who occupied a room in The Luskan Arms and had joined them at the table.
The Brawl
Wishing to waste no time on the investigation, Farwalker ushered the others along to Three Flags Sailing, the tavern the fishermen frequented. There, they happened upon the finale of an outbreak of fisticuffs between Moyrah, the Half-Orc nicknamed "The Mutt" by the townsfolk, and Thorben, "The Barge". The Barge, who was as big as a Yeti and equally as powerful, had never previously been bested in a brawl. Until then. For after exchanging blows, Moyrah had knocked him down, and he was dragged back into the tavern battered and bruised by those who had egged him on.
Farwalker, Rhydd, Mallory, and Arkemos struck up conversation with the victor, and learned that the concerns of a lake monster were far from unfounded. A boat had been chewed on, and the crippled fisherman who lived by the docks allegedly claimed to have seen it firsthand. Astre, Mallory's familiar, and Xhar, Arkemos's Raven, followed a man who changed faces out of the tavern, but before Astre could catch up with him, Xhar gave them both away as he stopped in the air to shriek, annoyed Astre had been faster than him.
The Lake Monster 15th of Uktar
Arkemos was gone, having left behind a letter to promptly be pocketed by Rhydd. They then went and spoke with the fisherman who had reported the sighting, who described a talking Plesiosaurus, and Mallory had him confirm on a conjured visual of the animal.
Naerth had boats prepared, and men — Thorben, blue and swollen, among them — to drag them across the ice and out to open waters. Unbeknownst to Naerth, Torgrim, a Half-Elf troubled by ghosts, joined them. After an hour of labor, they embarked, just in time to signal two fishermen casting their net into the rolling waves to head for shore. The Plesiosaurus soon showed itself, and, after serving the fishermen a near fatal topple, surfaced and began conversing with Mallory in Common. She coerced it into revealing it had been recently bestowed intelligence by a Druid called Ravisin. And, through illusions, Mallory tricked it into believing she had safeguarded its intelligence so that it was no longer at risk of having it stripped if it failed to obey the Druid's will. The Plesiosaurus, who had named itself Terrorfin, only to immediately renege on the name in favor of the name Streamseeker, promised to leave the fishermen alone and departed with a new missions — to seek an underwater current that lead to the ocean.
Meanwhile, Astre had more detective work to do back in town, and was stalking Naerth to the scene of the murder of the man they had saved from a hanging yesterday. The culprit, suspected to be the faceshifting individual from the night prior, had utilized ice magic and was, by now, long gone. Furthermore, the killer was seemingly an acquaintance of both Naerth and Skath, the Tiefling Captain of the City Watch. Unaware of the eavesdropper, they decided to stay silent about the murder for the time being.
Wide Open
Back in Targos, the party got a brief chance to recoup before news of Trolls breaching the gate reached The Luskan Arms and they set out again. While Farwalker's efforts to dissuade them from their rampage and have them turn back appeared to be fruitful, Skath, joined by a battalion of bow-wielding guards, loosed a bolt into one of the Trolls' chest. The Trolls angered, and now only death could stop them. With the help of Hlin, a retired Battlemaiden, they slew the beasts with zero casualties.
Schemes Aplenty
Skath chastised the party for taking it upon themselves to guard the city, but was shut up when Mallory revealed she knew about the murders that occurred last night. Reluctantly, Skath agreed to bring the party to Naerth's office. There, the Town Speaker offered them a large sum of gold if they were to track and report on the whereabouts of the murderer, Sephek Kaltro.
Moyrah left the meeting early, only to find her hut being torched by a group of intoxicated fishermen frustrated at the outcome of yesterday's brawl. Gam, the lead culprit, was apprehended by the party and extradited to Skath before he could complete his arson.
Later that night, Mallory and Naerth talked privately about business and family affairs, while Astre was led on yet another romp through town by Xhar. Xhar turned out to not be a Raven at all, but an Imp, and Astre tailed him into an abandoned building where he scouted the cultist himself, alongside a Halfling named Triglio. Triglio opened a door that lead to Sigil, The City of Doors, which Arkemos — revealed to be a cultist on the run — disappeared into, citing concerns for his own safety.
Back at the inn, while being fed this information from Astre, Mallory and Naerth came to an agreement. As long as Mallory scratched his back, Naerth, along with his network, would scratch hers.
Part 1.5: Buried in Snow
Into the Tundra 16th of Uktar
The ensuing morning, Mallory, with the help of Rhydd, spent a few hours dissecting one of the Trolls they'd bartered the rights to while Triglio dissected the other. With casks of blood, jars of viscera, and bagfulls of mottled fur, they went to the stables only to find out the caravan they had arrived with had departed without them, despite agreeing to stand by until the business with the Trolls had been finished. After purchasing an Axe Beak, the party then collectively ventured for Bryn Shander.
Along the road, they found the caravan that traveled ahead of them had swerved in lieu of strange tracks. Farwalker, unable to leave the matters be, dragged the others along on a lengthy investigation. Eventually, after following the tracks north, they reached Maer Dualdon and came upon a Werebear's belongings out on the ice. The owner showed themselves soon thereafter, and accused the party of petty theft — which Astre was undeniably guilty of. Though the Werebear acted aggressively, not everything was as it appeared to be. While they were interested in a tussle with Farwalker, their intent was more friendly than hostile. While in a deadlock, an Ancient White Dragon swooped in, and all alarms were raised. Mallory, Rhydd, and Torgrim retreated into a pocket dimension of Mallory's conjuring, while Farwalker and the Werebear ran for the waters in a desperate attempt to seek cover. To their misfortune, the Dragon dove in along with them and made for the Werebear, who was eventually caught and flown off, not to be seen again.
After the threat was gone, Torgrim went to check up on Farwalker, while Mallory and Rhydd followed a Chwinga who decided to pay them a visit right as they hid in the extradimensional space. It lead them to its friends, and they all enjoyed a brief tea party before goodbyes were exchanged. The Chwinga that had first befriended them agreed to be brought along to Bryn Shander so that Dannika, a Half-Elven scholar who had been part of the original caravan, could study it.
Part 2: Bryn Shander
The Destination at Last
Mallory, Rhydd, Farwalker, and Torgrim cut across the tundra en route to Bryn Shander, and arrived at the Ten Town's metropolis by the Northwest Gate. There, a guard named Signy let them in and, after the topic was brought up, inquired about both the murderer on the loose and their encounter with Arveiaturace. The other guard alongside her left to inform the Sheriff of what they'd just been told.
After purchasing blankets and handing out coin to the homeless, who sat near the market square freezing, Mallory joined the rest of the party for some eager warmth in Kelvin's Comfort. From them, she learned among other things that they had been cast out from their previous refuge in the town's temple, and now had to rely upon the generosity and Town Hall of the Speaker. Meanwhile, Farwalker visited the town's small shrine to Sune to pay her respects to the deity, and passed the House of the Triad on the way. The monuments of The Triad — Tyr, Torm, and Ilmater — all bore carvings of a snowflake above their heads.
Torgrim took innocuous stock of the town board, seeing what statements had been issued and what the needs of the citizens might be. Among other things, he learned a Red Wizard from Thay had been captured and was awaiting their just punishment. A mysterious, hooded figure attempted to draw his attention from the shadows, and after approaching them, Torgrim learned of furriers and trappers from Bryn Shander who had been taken captive and were being eaten one by one by a barbaric tribe. The figure hurried off soon after they had imparted Torgrim with the message.
The Blue Paladin and the Red Wizard
A Paladin came crashing down the roof of Kelvin's Comfort just as Rhydd, Mallory, and Torgrim were getting situated, followed immediately by Wight. Through some shrew Magic from Mallory, a well aimed dagger from Torgrim, and expert swordsmanship, the Wight was made quick work of and decapitated. The Paladin introduced herself as Khulekani Kumalo, a Squire of The Radiant Heart Auxiliary who now found herself in Bryn Shander after having caught the Red Wizard Torgrim saw mentioned on the town board. Concluding the Wight had likely come to free their master from captivity, Mallory and Rhydd, with the Wight in tow, set out alongside Ogden, the tavern's proprietor, to meet the Sheriff in the jail while Farwalker, Torgrim, Dannika, and Khulekani patched up both themselves and the destruction caused by the Wight.
In the jail, Mallory and Rhydd met with Sheriff Markham Southwell, who, after some convincing, allowed them access to the Red Wizard's cell. Mallory performed a thorough inspection of any magic that might affect the captive and discovered he was not the Red Wizard after all, but a Simulacrum. Unsure of where to go from there, Markham led Mallory and Rhydd back into his office — but not after Mallory had properly ensured the Wight was neutralized — to perform a similar inspection of the Simulacrum's few belongings. None turned up magical.
The Arcane Brotherhood's Schemes and Some Breathing Room 17th of Uktar
The Simulacrum was interrogated. Twice. The second time, through use of Detect Thoughts, Mallory was unable to uncover the location of a Netherese spire and identity of three adventurer's the Simulacrum had sent to their doom.
Later that evening, Torgrim took his quiet leave from the inn they stayed at.
Part 3: The Tundra and Beyond
Onward to the Spire! But First, Hopswood 18th of Uktar
The party leaves for the spire, but decides to investigate the tracks of the missing furriers and trappers. They venture into Hopswood, where they scout an encampment of Reghedmen riddled with Lycanthropes. One trapper was left alive; a Halfling they had enslaved. While a group with the Halfling in tow were out to set traps to catch small game, the party confronted their overseers and persuaded them to let him go, only then to be set upon by their Lycanthropic kinsfolk. Both Lycanthropic and non-Lycanthropic (after declining a chance to surrender) were dispatched and the Halfling Trapper without much loss to the party. The forest had to be fled in a hurry, and on the way back to Bryn Shander the Halfling, named Fingin Thorntopple, told the tragic tale of his hunting party. They had ventured into the forest to hunt for game, but were immediately set upon by the Reghedmen and captured. The rest of his companions, along with the dog, were eaten in turn by the starving barbarians.
Back in Bryn Shander, Rhydd was given a +1 Longbow which belonged to the Old Trapper in the cabin, an associate of Fingin.
Caer-Dineval 19th of Uktar
Starting early from Bryn Shander, the party arrived at Caer Dineval by evening. They sought stay at the local inn, but was denied by the innkeeper and instead spent the night in the abandoned tavern further down town. Information from the innkeeper, and a friendly merchant running a small, crammed shop, indicated cultists have seized control of both keep and town in the Town Speaker's stead.
Caer-Konig 20th of Uktar
The party arrived early at Caer Konig after a comparatively short trek, a much friendlier place than its sister town. They encountered a Silver Dragonborn named Trovus who had fallen asleep in the snow, and led him to the local tavern, the Northern Lights, for warmth. There they became acquainted with Vellynne Harpell, another member of the Arcane Brotherhood, and Idrianthe Mar, a High-Elf arcanist of the Witch Kngihts who had arrived in town a Tenday earlier and helped rid it of its Duergar pests alongside Trovus and some of the town's 'militia'. Both Vellynne and Idrianthe shared the party's interest in the Spire, though for independent reasons. Vellynne was happy to offer information she had collected to the benefit of the party, though had never braved the Spire herself, nor did she wish to.
The rest of the day was spent in preparation of tomorrow's expedition.
The Lost Spire of Netheril 21st of Uktar
With a map gifted by Vellynne, the party, accompanied by Idrianthe, traveled about four hours eastward into unsettled tundra before happening upon the butt end of the Spire jutting out from the snow. Taking care, the temporary residents, a trio of Bugbears, agreed to a truce as they let the party in – while the party could claim any treasure below the first floor as theirs, the first floor, and most notably a locked chest, belonged to the Bugbears. After receiving help opening it to reveal a pair of potions, the loot was split between the two parties. The Bugbears revealed they had confronted two of the adventurers the party was in search of and captured one, while another, the Reghedman Hadden, had escaped the Spire. Later, the Halfling, Apple, they had captured would also escape.
The entire Spire was infused with a sort of fractal, spiraling pattern, which had spread to every surface in the vicinity, including the ice the structure was encased in.
Further down, the group encountered the skeletal remains of a Netherese scholar, the carapace of a long-dead Thri'Kreen, and some ancient tomes ripe for collection. Even further down, in an ice chamber that had split the Spire in twain, the party battled an Abberrant Bulette. After it was defeated and its stomach cut open, the fate of one of the missing adventurer's, namely the Dwarf Firanna, was revealed.
The lower half of the spire, comprising a shrine to Mystryl and a conference room, was riddled with strange and hostile Black Oozes, though they were easily outwitted and dispatched. Further in, the party warily traversed a window of Super Heavy Magic, exiting in a pocket dimension that served as bedchamber. Within they found the corpse of Apple clutching a cursed pearl with relations to Hadar. An hour was spent Identifying what they had come across thus far, before Idrianthe retrieved the Dwarf's remains to stow in the bedchamber alongside Apple.
The final floor was one containing a pool of dead, black Ooze, a silver disc of Super Heavy Magic, and an elaborate chant of glyphs that presumably was intended to transmute illusions into reality. Likely, it either produced black Ooze instead, or perhaps as a byproduct of the process. The disc was collected and the chant was copied (to the extent possible) before the party reversed course and climbed back up.
A pair of Gnome Ceremorphs had unknowingly entered the upper area, killed one of the Bugbears, and polymorphed the two others. Astre, having turned invisible through Mallory's magic, managed to unveil an ambush for the party. The two intruders were instead unexpectedly set upon themselves and swiftly dispatched. The last Ceremorph Plane Shifted away, having claimed 'everything was lost, even the Squidlings'.
Up ahead, outside of the Spire, Astre spied another threat; the Frostmaiden herself, laying waste to the Illithids' Nautiloid. Astre was easily spotted and shot out of the sky. Wishing nothing to do with her, the party hid in Mallory's Rope Trick praying she would just go away. When she did, they emerged, finding three dead Kobolds in her wake before making the journey back to Caer-Konig.
Branched Purpose 22nd of Uktar
In Caer-Konig the party rested and caught Vellynne up on their findings. Another Goliath called Stormheart, who had been in pursue of the party the previous few days, met with them and invited them to join in an expedition to Kelvin's Cairn in an effort to help the local wildlife. Apparently, a Snowy Owlbear was refusing to rouse from hibernation. Mallory and Idrianthe, meanwhile, was invited to accompany Vellynne back to the Host Tower of the Arcane to further study their findings with the aid of a colleague.
The Icewind Dale party set out, visiting the local general shop and old friend of Rhydd for supplies and information. They then headed to the Dwarven Valley, encountering the aftermath of a trip of goats slaughtered by Perytons. The Dwarves in the Dwarven Valley were hesitant to allow guests, doing so only when Khulekani revealed herself as a Squire of the Radiant Heart Auxiliary. They ate alongside miners in the nearby inn and spent the night comfortable.
Mallory and Idrianthe arrived in the Host Tower of the Arcane, accessing it through Vellynne's casting of Teleportation Circle. There they met with Harai, a Saru wizard-shaman studying Wild Magic. By means of a spell, he allowed them to speak with and interrogate Apple and the skulls of the apprentice scholar and aberrant master of the Spire. Mallory provided translations to Vellynne's appreciation. They learned more of Ythryn and Iriolarthas, the Lich who ruled it for millennia. The rest of the evening was spent in leisure as guests of the Arcane Brotherhood, and Mallory had dinner with Harai in an establishment in Luskan.
The Owlbear, Peryton, and Frost Salamander / Errands in Luskan 23rd of Uktar
Early morning, the Icewind Dale headed out, committed to using the calm weather as long as it lasted. It wasn't far to the Owlbear's cave. Once there, Rhydd did the initial scouting, finding the emancipated Owlbear fast asleep in a large ice chamber near the back of the cave. Closer to the entrance they encountered a dead mountaineer alongside two series of humanoid footprints. Additionally, the cave showed signs of Frost Salamander activity. They awoke the Owlbear, and Stormheart conversed with him in an attempt to convince him to hunt. After Khulekani noticed the Frost Salamander eggs on a shelf in the cave, the plan changed to convincing the Owlbear to abandon his abode. Despite the difficulty of such a task, Stormheart was successful, and they led him out of the cave. Farwalker, having stood watch, had put the Peryton pursuing them since yesterday to sleep, and they decided to kill it before finding the Owlbear a new cave further down the mountain.
In Luskan, Mallory and Idrianthe visited the Winter Palace, a temple to Auril. Mallory conversed with Father Mathur, a Chillbringer, to learn more of Auril and perhaps better understand why she had decided to plunge Icewind Dale into perpetual darkness. Unlike many other Chillbringers, Father Mathur was a kind soul and happy to share his wisdom with her. After the priest wished her and her family luck in the Frozenfar, Mallory headed to the markets of Luskan to do some purchases, and to visit the Red Dragon Trading Post for some Electrum and gold dust. Her errands eventually led her to Colmarr, a Gnomish inventor who owned a unique shop, and the two conversed and established a connection for further business ventures. As they left the Gnome's shop, the guard escorting them on behalf of the Brotherhood led them into a planned ambush, of which Astre had made Mallory aware. The guard was 'knocked unconscious' before Mallory turned herself and Idrianthe invisible much to the dismay of the muggers.
The rest of the day was spent tying up loose ends in the Host Tower, with Mallory utilizing their resources to copy spells from their archives and Idrianthe's help to craft magic items.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:56, Mon 25 Mar.
