Players and Characters
Chris
Anders Blackwood (2nd level Half-elf Rogue)Eben Mourningfire (1st level Tiefling Sorcerer)
Brian
Frocensin Verth (1st level Dragonborn Fighter)Vrocesin Verth (1st level Dragonborn Cleric - Life Domain)
With only two players and half of the available PCs still being first level it was decided to venture to the Temple of the Moon.
What Happened
Notes:Text in italics is out of character comment.
During a downtime of 10 days, Anders trained to be 2nd level. Eben and Vroc used their skills to earn some extra coins.
Previously the party had discovered a map inside the Mount of the Red Doors.
Unfortunately they had no idea where Gloris was located. They asked the bartender - Mitcherlitz - of the inn where they were staying in Karlsburg. He informed them that Gloris was a name he had not heard in some time. It's now called Orlane and is a day's journey to the east. He also said the villagers had a reputation was be a very unfriendly. Overhearing this conversation was a farmer by the name of Blentz. Blentz told them that the people in Orlane were being altered and the "changelings" could be recognized by fang marks on their throats. He also said a resident of Karlsburg, Old Man Skeeter had a brother that lived in Orlane.
Old Man Skeeter stated he last heard from his brother Rolo in a letter two months ago. The party asked if Skeeter would like for them to deliver a message. Which he did and told them thanks.
The party reached Orlane near dusk. On a hill in the northeast part Orlane is a 20 foot high stone wall in the shape of a square measuring 200 by 200 feet. They decided to hide on the outskirts of town and watch during the night for any unusual activities. As chance would have it. While being to far and too dark to make out much detail, shortly after midnight they saw a small group of humanoid shape beings talk towards the stone wall gates. The group stopped at the gate waiting a minute or two before the gate opened and they proceeded to enter. Around four in the mourning the gate reopened and a group about half the size of the original exited. Later that morning they entered town.
They come across the local carpenter's shop. There is several example of finely crafted items. However, the table the man was currently working on was of rather shoddy workmanship. They asked about Rolo. The carpenter seemed to be almost dazed. Often staring into the distance. He does tell them that Rolo used to live across the street. Has no idea want happened to Rolo. The carpenter has obviously been sniffing his wood stain.
Sneaking into Rolo's place they discovered it to be abandoned with evidence that the residence left suddenly and signs of a struggle in the bedroom. They also rediscovered under the back porch a sack of coins and a jade statue of the goddess Desornia (agriculture).
Next they come across the boarded up and abandoned Foaming Mug Inn.
They encounter a few rude and/or unfriendly villagers that firmly instruct the party to continue on their way. None had any idea want happened to Rolo.
They find the village store whose proprietor was the first fully "aware" and friendly person they met. He offered the party some wine, which Froc accepted but never drank. The players notice it's well stocked. Has no idea want happened to Rolo.
They eventually meet Killian Gade, who warns them about the Golden Grain Inn and the 2 strangers living across the street. Also tells them the a couple months ago, shopkeeper and his family up and disappeared, gone for a fortnight, then they came back. Didn't even leave anyone to mind the store. Has no idea want happened to Rolo.
They enter the Golden Grain Inn, they find a subdued clientele. The barkeep seemed friendly enough. Informed them he moved outside of Adamas.
Party goes to Inn of the Slumbering Serpent where they met Belba Cralloon and her husband Ollwin both very friendly and expressed concern about Rollo. Ollwin tells them if they wish get to the bottom of what's going on in town, they should talk to the hermit Ramne. The party rents some rooms at the Inn then visits Ramne.
With a good word from Ollwin, they convince Ramne that they have the village's best interest at heart and are willing to discover what is going on. He tells them he believes some sort of cult his behind the strange changes to the village. He believes people are kidnapped and taken to the Temple of Desornia, some return some don't. Those that return behave differently. He tells them to avoid the Golden Grain Inn, blacksmith, village store, carpenter. Party tells them about what they saw last night. Ramne believes it was another victim of the cult and if the person returns it will probably be today. This convinces the party to attempt a rescue today.
He is too frail to go with them but he does grant three things: He allows his pet weasel, Wiskers to go with the party - he is a very good tracker, a wand of dispel magic, and a wand of globe of invulnerability. Ramne states each wand only has one charge remaining so be sure to use wisely.
They enter the temple. They meet the priestess Misha Devi. They're convinced she's not what she appears to be. Later they enter where she entered. After an epic battle where Misha used Inflict wounds to take out Froc - who was shortly revived by Vroc. Misha then took out Vroc with Inflict Wounds - this was to be a critical factor in the future combat.
Soon more cult members from the temple arrived. And eventually the party had locked themselves inside Misha's room that had two doors and trap door under her bed. From one of the doors Grover Ruskadal, constable, informed the party them were surrounded and should give themselves up. They refused. People started to batter down each of the three doors. The party hoped to hold off long enough (1 hour for a short rest) for Vroc to revive. Grover and 2 other men were able to break through their door. Unfortunately, from the time Vroc went unconscious it had been 54 minutes.
Meanwhile outside the temple, more cult members from the village started towards to temple. However, Whiskers was a familiar of Ramne and was able to communicate the desperate situation in temple. Ramne was able to send a group non-cult members, which included the mayor, his body guard and two of his former adventuring partners, towards the temple. The two groups met outside the temple.
I had the players control the mayor's group during the battle.
At first it did not look good for the mayor's group, they were outnumbered. Fortunately many of cult members were only commoners and were quickly taken out and victory looked like a good possibility. But alas the tide of the battle of changed yet again. By the end two cult members remained standing and the good people of Orlane were gone, along with the party's hope of rescue.
Meanwhile back in the temple.
The party was able to take out Grover and his two compatriots. Unfortunately, the other 2 doors were soon battered down. From the trap door came a couple cultists and some bi-pedal lizard like creatures with a reeking order. And from the other door came four cultists and two wolves. Despite a valiant effort from Eben using Burning Hands to eliminate two of the four cultists and the two wolves, and using Shocking Grasp to keep the lizards at a distance the sheer number of opponents were able to take out the party.
Unfortunately on that day both Anders, Karl, and another hireling lost their lives. The rest of the party was captured - whose fate is yet to be announced.
No comments:
Post a Comment