Chapter One

Campaign: Shadows Over Ealdwood

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<div><ul class="thumbs">
<div><ul class="thumbs">
<li>[[File:Albrecht.jpg|200px|thumb|none|Albrecht, Human (Karelian) Rogue]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Alice_(Renee_OConnor).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Alice, Human (Karelian) Bard]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Alice_(Renee_OConnor).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Alice, Human (Karelian) Bard]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Albrecht.jpg|200px|thumb|none|Albrecht, Human (Karelian) Rogue]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Bohdan.jpg|200px|thumb|none|Bohdan, Sea Dwarf Fighter]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Bohdan.jpg|200px|thumb|none|Bohdan, Sea Dwarf Fighter]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Diezalau.jpg|200px|thumb|none|Diezalau, Human (Karelian) Sorcerer]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Diezalau.jpg|200px|thumb|none|Diezalau, Human (Karelian) Sorcerer]]&nbsp;</li>
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Vodni Brana, mid morning...
Vodni Brana, mid morning...
Albrecht and Diezalau are apprentices to Zsbysek The Resplendent, the most well-known wizard in Vodni Brana. A letter arrives, informing Zsbysek that a brewery he owns, Wizard's Tower Brewery, has been overrun with giant rats. Zsbysek gives Albrecht and Diezalau a bag of 175 silver and tells them to go deal with it.
Albrecht and Diezalau gather up a group of acquaintances and sell-swords, and head west to the brewery. They are greeted at the brewery by Glowkindle, the gnome brewmaster. Glowkindle explains that they had been digging in the cellar to expand the storage area, when they broke through to an old section of the wizard tower. Giant rats swarmed out, attacking the gnomes and killing Glowkindle's nephew.
The gang heads down into the cellar and manages to kill all of the giant rats. They proceed into the old section of the wizard tower...


<div><ul class="thumbs">
<div><ul class="thumbs">
<li>[[File:Zbysek_(John_Carradine).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Zbysek The Resplendent, Human (Karelian) Wizard]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Zsbysek_(John_Carradine).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Zsbysek The Resplendent, Human (Karelian) Wizard]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Glowkindle.jpg|200px|thumb|none|Glowkindle, Gnome Brewmaster]]&nbsp;</li>
</ul></div>
</ul></div>


===2021-11-21===
===2021-11-21===
The gang explores the rest of the old wizard tower, killing a few giant centipedes and a giant spider that spins flaming webs. They spend the night at a pub in the nearby village of Tashalar, happy to have accomplished their mission.
In the morning, they discover that their valuables have been stolen (other than a healing potion). They find a calling card with a note on the back:
<blockquote>Wisp Shadowfoot, Gentleman Thief<br />
(back) Johan's warehouse, midnight</blockquote>
With a mixture of anger and curiosity, the gang heads to Vodni Brana. They find Johan's warehouse, which is an abandoned waterfront warehouse. They look around, but do not find anything interesting or threatening. Albrecht and Diezalau check in with Zsbysek, letting him know that they accomplished the task he set them. He grudgingly acknowledges their success, and get back to working on his memoirs.
The gang waits for midnight...
===2021-11-28===
Midnight arrives, and the gang waits in the empty warehouse for Wisp Shadowfoot to arrive.
And he does, although no one sees him. A voice in the darkness tells them that he will return their belongings and owe them a favour, if they get rid of the Way Hill Slashers.
Wisp explains that the Way Hill Slashers prey on the same wealth residents of Vodni Brana as he does, but unlike him, they kill everyone. This has resulted in people increasing their security, and making their traps more lethal. The gang probably does not care about that, but surely such brave and heroic individuals would want to remove a gang of ruthless murderers...?
Wisp tells them that the Way Hill Slashers have been recruited from among the worst of the worst of Vodni Brana's criminal underclass. Even the notorious Copper Blades have lost members to the Way Hill Slashers.
Wisp knows little of the Slashers' leader, other than their name -- Vex'Tiel -- and that they're an ice elf. However, he does know that the Way Hill Slashers are planning a job this very night. In fact, they are probably on the way to their prey now.
Wisp doesn't know who they are targeting, but he does know that they always leave a few of their crew at the Eagle's Feather, a former tavern on the north side of the inner city.
With that, Wisp drops a card, which Ogilvy identifies as having a ''sending'' spell on it, which the gang can use to contact Wisp later, to collect on the favour.
The gang heads to the long-disused Eagle's Feather, and makes quick work of the half-dozen Way Hill Slashers cooling their heels there. They leave one alive, briefly -- just long enough to find out where the rest of the gang has gone.
The gang arrives at Wildstone House, the home of a wealthy Havlin merchant and his family. The Way Hill Slashers are already there, but have not yet completed their plan to rob and murder everyone.
The battle begins...
===2021-12-05===
The gang rescues the Wildstone family, killing the Way Hill Slashers and cornering their leader, Vex'Tiel. Vex'Tiel slips away, but not before telling the gang that her actions have been for a greater purpose. She is finding and killing members of the Cult Of Corruption, who seek to end the world in rot and ruin. The gang is skeptical.
The gang spends time talking to the city guard, explaining what has happened and why. The people of Havlin Town express their gratitude. Eventually, the gang returns to the Eagle's Feather, where they discover that someone has been here recently, taking most of the maps and documents that the gang had previously found.
Whoever it was left behind two chests. Bohdan opens a chest, which tugs a spider thread, which tugs other spider webs... and hundreds of spiders boil out of the webs in the corners of the basement.
===2021-12-12===
The gang defeats the swarms of spiders and gathers the loot left behind by Vex'Tiel, then returns to the mansion of Zsbysek with Murdan, a dwarf who had been held captive by Vex'Tiel.
While questioning Murdan and debating their next plans, they realize that they are being spied upon by someone invisible. A game of hide-and-seek ends with the capture of the invisible spy -- a Havlin wearing a magic cloak of invisibility.
The gang takes the Havlin back to the basement of the Eagle's Feather. They create an illusion of Vex'Tiel, and question the Havlin spy, pretending to be in the employ of Vex'Tiel. The Havlin appears convinced, and they prepare to send him to spy on Anton, Lord Dvorak (whose name the Havlin spy had overheard, and whom he believes to be the next target of the Way Hill Slashers)...
===2022-01-02===
<div><ul class="thumbs">
<li>[[File:Pavel_(Bruce_Campbell).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Sergeant Pavel of the city guard, Human (Karelian) Fighter]]&nbsp;</li>
</ul></div>
The gang interrogates the havlin, and are about to turn him over to the city guard when he cleverly distracts them and makes a break for it. Unfortunately for him, Alice and Diezalau are not taken in by his ruse, and they cast spells at him (Hold Person and Magic Missile). Jakob gags and binds the havlin, and they take him to the central guard station.
Unfortunately, the havlin died from his wounds, which puts the gang in an awkward position. The guards decide that the havlin probably had it coming, and they are late for lunch, so they don't arrest the gang, for now.
The gang decides to check in with Mr. and Mrs. Wildstone, the havlins they rescued the previous evening. They are recovering while they oversee the repairs to their home, and they are happy to answer questions and help the people who rescued them. The two pieces of information that seem most relevant are the upcoming Autumn Festival party being given by Lord Anton of House Dvorak, and the possible connection to the temple of Cymothoa.
The Wildstones are happy to give the gang their party invitation, along with a letter naming the gang as the Wildstones' guests.
Back at Zsbysek's manor, Zsbysek the Resplendent tells his apprentices Albrecht and Diezalau that he has been invited to a party this weekend: an Autumn Festival party being given by Lord Anton of House Dvorak. Zsbysek does not intend to go, but they are welcome to attend in his place if they like.
Meanwhile, Albrecht, Jakob, Ogilvy, and Reznik go to the temple quarter to talk with a priest of Cymothoa. The priest does not seem suspicious or sinister, and describes the work of Cymothoa (decay and decomposition) as simply a part of the natural order.
However, on the way back to Zsbysek's manor, Albrecht and the others are ambushed by a half-dozen priests carrying holy symbols of Cymothoa! It is a close fight, but the gang prevails. The city guard take these deaths more seriously, and question the gang thoroughly before releasing them.
Dressed in their new formal attire, the gang gets ready to go to the mansion of Lord Anton of House Dvorak.
===2022-01-16===
<div><ul class="thumbs">
<li>[[File:Anton_(Jeremy_Irons).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Lord Anton of House Dvorak, Human (Karelian)]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Stefan_(Russell_Brand).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Stefan of House Dvorak, Human (Karelian)]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Izabel_(Ursula_Corbero).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Izabel of House Svoboda, Human (Karelian)]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:VexTiel_(Fanfoxy).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Vex'Tiel, Ice Elf]]&nbsp;</li>
</ul></div>
It's the Autumn Festival Party at Dvorak Manor. The gang schmooze and explore, some of them more invasively than others. Reznik sneaks away and uses a ruse to avoid suspicion. He doesn't find the violin-shaped bottle he is looking for, but he does find a ledger (one of many) devoted to Lord Anton's business dealings in Voscau, Reznik's hometown.
Everyone else makes small talk and listens for anything interesting. Anton is a pleasant host, and makes the rounds to talk to each of his guests. The two guests who stand out, other than the gang themselves, are Anton's son Stefan and a young woman named Izabel. Stefan would prefer to be elsewhere, although he is agreeable when spoken to. Izabel is fascinated by the gang's stories, and asks for more.
Ogilvy seems to catch Anton's eye at one point, and he offers her a tour. He shows her the paintings of his wives (now all deceased -- alas, taken too soon), and he is proud to show Ogilvy his wine cellar. One bottle he doesn't tell her the history of is a half-size wine bottle shaped like a violin, and filled with a glowing blue liquid.
Diezalau sneaks away and turns invisible so that she can search the building.
Albrecht sees through Ziggy's eyes as the owl circles the building. Ziggy spots someone in one of the rooms: Vex'Tiel, who appears to be waiting. A few minutes later, a man enters the room: it's Stefan. He warns Vex'Tiel that the people who killed her gang are downstairs, and that she should leave. Not looking worried, she does as asked, followed a few steps behind by Stefan.
Reznik follows Stefan, but loses sight of Vex'Tiel.
While the rest of the gang share some of the information they'd gathered, Reznik finally finds the object of his search: the violin-shaped bottle. He takes a bottle of some dwarven whisky as well.
Reznik joins the gang just as they give chase to Vex'Tiel, who is blocks away by this time. Albrecht uses his magic cloak to Dimension Door in front of Vex'Tiel... and then she stabs him, repeatedly.
Reznik arrives at Albrecht's bleeding and unconscious body just in time to see Vex'Tiel slip around a corner where the alley meets a main road. He chooses to stay with Albrecht and save his life (which he does). The rest of the gang catch up just in time to hear how surprised Albrecht is that Vex'Tiel would attack him, when he just wanted to talk to her.
Vex'Tiel being long gone by this time, the gang decides to head back to Dvorak Manor. When they arrive, they find the building dark, and the front gate locked.
===2022-01-23===
<div><ul class="thumbs">
<li>[[File:Jarmila_(Jenna_Dewan).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Captain Jarmila, Vodni Brana City Guard, Human (Karelian)]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Josef_(Daniel_Kaluuya).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Josef, Shadow Daggers assassin, Human (Karelian)]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Professor_Winsome_Landy.jpg|200px|thumb|none|Professor Winsome Landy, Havlin Scholar]]&nbsp;</li>
</ul></div>
As the snow begins to fall on the gang, they decide to head back to Zsbysek's mansion, but Reznik wants to make a stop first: the Red Frog pub, on the riverfront.
Reznik goes in alone, and meets with Josef, an assassin with the Shadow Daggers. Apparently, the assignment to steal the violin-shaped bottle from Lord Anton was just a test -- and he passed. He gets to keep the bottle (a Potion of True Resurrection), and now he is a member of the Shadow Daggers. The rest of the gang arrives shortly thereafter, and they have a few drinks before heading back to Zsbysek's.
The next morning, they have a visitor. Professor Winsome Landy, a havlin scholar, seeks assistance escorting an archeological find from the Ealdwood back to Vodni Brana. She is willing to pay Diezalau and Albrecht 500 silver pieces for the job.
Diezalau and Albrecht debate whether to take the job, and whether to loop in the rest of the gang. They bring the job offer to the gang, and then they debate whether to take the job. Eventually, they do, although there is a brief misunderstanding about the payment.
The gang heads out of the city, into the Ealdwood, and arrives at the inn a few days later. The nameless inn is long abandoned, and was appropriated by Professor Landy and her colleagues to serve as a base for their archeological explorations. They find carnage, and goblins. After killing or driving away the goblins, the gang realizes that the bodies (some partially eaten) have been here for days.
Professor Landy leads them to the archeological site, an hour or so through densely wooden hills, until they see a stone archway in a hillside. The archway had been buried, but has recently been excavated. The gang investigates, and are attacked by several ghouls -- ghouls who were once Professor Landy's colleagues!
===2022-01-30===
The gang defeats and destroys the ghouls -- former colleagues of Professor Landy -- and finds Professor Calador, the elf, in a hidden area beneath the ancient temple of Cymothoa. According to Calador, the rest of the archeological team was possessed by the artifact they fond in the temple, and he was forced to kill several of them before he locked himself in the hidden shrine.
Alas, Calador is the one who has been possessed by the temple, and he turns violent once the gang is close to the shrine to Cymothoa. The gang destroys what is left of Calador, and they make sure that the rest of the ghouls are destroyed, as well.
The gang takes the artifact, a magical flanged mace, and heads back to Vodni Brana.
A day or so later, while still within the Ealdwood, they hear the sound of someone in trouble -- but it's a trap! It's a hag, who attacks the gang along with her monstrous enchanted plants. But the gang prevails, and they eventually arrive safely in Vodni Brana.
===2022-02-06===
The gang heads back to the city mansion of Lord Anton of Dvorak, which is all dark and  closed up. They knock, and meet an old lady who has been left as the caretaker while Lord Anton and his family have returned to their country estates.
Back at Zsbysek's manor, they discuss their options and enjoy a meal. Later, they notice they are being watched! A crossbow bolt is sufficient to drive the spy away.
The gang splits up, with some visiting the Shrine of Cymothoa in the Temple Of Temples, and some visiting the [[Media:Temple_of_Thehlal.jpg|Dark Library of Thehlal]].
An invitation arrives for Ogilvy, to visit the Dvorak estate, a few miles south of the town of Breechhill.
===2022-02-13===
<div><ul class="thumbs">
<li>[[File:Smails_butler.jpg|200px|thumb|none|Smails, the butler for House Dvorak]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Anton_(Jeremy_Irons).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Lord Anton of House Dvorak, Human (Karelian)]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Stefan_(Russell_Brand).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Stefan of House Dvorak, Human (Karelian)]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:VexTiel_(Fanfoxy).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Vex'Tiel, Ice Elf]]&nbsp;</li>
</ul></div>
The gang heads south to Breechhill, and then east to the [[Media:Dvorak_fortress_(Khotyn_fortress).jpg|Dvorak estate]]. They see that the fortress-like building has been attacked recently. Lord Anton explains that a devil has been attacking them each night at dusk, demanding that they hand over Lord Anton's infant grandson, Harry. Anton offers them 100 gold each if they will help defend his family.
Reznik takes the opportunity to goad Lord Anton, and see how he responds to accusations that he killed Reznik's parents (or had them killed).
As night falls, a [[Media:Scarecrow_(Mike_Moser).jpg|burning scarecrow]] and several hounds made of mist attack. The gang fights them off, with the assistance of Lord Anton and Vex'Tiel. However, they discover that the baby Harry was abducted during the fray!
Fade out as Ogilvy wakes up Stefan, Lord Anton offers Bohdan and Diezalau 500 gold each to go get his grandson, and Diezalau and Albrecht are starting to put together the fact that what Lord Anton has done, what he's said about what he has done, and what he seems to actually believe, do not quite match up.
And outside on the front steps, the scarecrow's magic axe and magic sickle lay in the mist...
===2022-02-20===
<div><ul class="thumbs">
<li>[[File:Anton_(Jeremy_Irons).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Lord Anton of House Dvorak, Human (Karelian)]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Yeth_Devil_(James_Wolf_Strehle)_cropped.jpg|200px|thumb|none|Yeth, devil who makes bargains]]&nbsp;<br />[[Media:Yeth_Devil_(James_Wolf_Strehle).jpg|Yeth, full version]]</li>
<li>[[File:Female_elf_priest_(George_Panfilov).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Ghilanna, priestess of Laat]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Female_human_paladin_(Eksrey)_cropped.jpg|200px|thumb|none|Araleth, paladin of Uzzah (deceased)]]&nbsp;<br />[[Media:Female_human_paladin_(Eksrey).jpg|Araleth, full version]]</li>
</ul></div>
The gang tracks Bertie, the Havlin maid, to the Dvorak tomb. Inside, they find that Bertie is actually Yeth, the demon that made a pact with the Dvorak family hundreds of years ago. Yeth shows them the contract, and explains that there is nothing amiss here: simply the performance of a legal contract. The gang defeats Yeth, casting her out of our plane -- but she says she will be back at the next sunset.
Examining the contract that Yeth left behind, the gang thinks that if they destroy the Dvorak fortress, the contract will be terminated. On explaining the plan to Lord Anton, he agrees. Reznik suggests that because the contract prohibits Lord Anton from removing his household from the fortress, Lord Anton should instead sell the property and possessions currently in the building to Reznik... for a single gold coin. Lord Anton agrees, and states that he will buy his property back if they all live to see the next dawn.
Bohdan sabotages the sub-basement supports, and the gang sets fire to the place. Yeth appears just as the sun sets and the building collapses, and confirms that this has broken the contract. The gang packs up the more precious of Lord Anton's property, including many deeds and files, and a few magic items.
As darkness falls, the gang heads into the small nearby town, Breechhill. They interrupt a mob which seems intent on breaking into a tavern and lynching a boy. The boy is a human orphan being raised by a surly dwarf.
The gang helps a priestess of Laat to disperse the crowd, but the crowd's leader, a smith named Hutch , says that this is not over.
The next morning, Hutch is found dead -- torn apart, like all the others. Lord Anton and his family, however, are still nowhere to be found. A villager says that he saw them pass by on the road, the night before. He thinks they were headed to Vodni Brana.
The gang begins their investigation in the nearby cemetery. They find and destroy a massive corpse flower and several zombies. The death of the corpse flower frees the spirit of Araleth, a paladin of Uzzah, who died while fighting a necromancer named Mahonin. In gratitude, Araleth posthumously leaves the gang her armor and weapon (bronze plate armor +1, and a Pike Of Warning +1).
But the corpse flower did not kill Hutch and the others...
===2022-02-27===
<div><ul class="thumbs">
<li>[[File:Female_elf_priest_(George_Panfilov).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Ghilanna, priestess of Laat]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Akrim_Firebraids_cropped.jpg|200px|thumb|none|Akrim Firebraids, Mountain Dwarf, former
mercenary, innkeeper of the Log and Hatchet, guardian of Damon]]&nbsp;<br />[[Media:Akrim_Firebraids.jpg|Akrim Firebraids, full version]]</li>
<li>[[File:Male_human_boy.jpg|200px|thumb|none|Damon, Human (Karelian) child]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Yeth_Devil_(James_Wolf_Strehle)_cropped.jpg|200px|thumb|none|Yeth, devil who makes bargains]]&nbsp;<br />[[Media:Yeth_Devil_(James_Wolf_Strehle).jpg|Yeth, full version]]</li>
</ul></div>
The gang finds an undead creature called a boneclaw in the crawlspace of Akrim's attic. After a serious battle in which Jakob and Reznk are nearly killed, the boneclaw is destroyed, but Diezalau and Reznik know that it will re-form at dusk. They need to find the person with a "bitter heart" to whom the boneclaw has attached itself.
They track Akrim to the hills, and Reznik falls into a hastily-dug pit trap. The boneclaw re-appears, and the gang fights it while Reznik urges Akrim to put his bitterness behind him. Reznik is successful, Akrim lays down his axe, and the boneclaw is destroyed.
Saying goodbye to Ghilanna the priestess of Laat, the gang heads back toward Vodni Brana with Akrim and Damon.
Late night, on watch, Albrecht is approached by Yeth. Yeth warns Albrecht that the reception being prepared for them in Vodni Brana may not be what they hope for. There is a chance that Lord Anton will claim that the gang has burned down his manor and robbed him. Yeth is persuasive, but the gang uses Sending magic to contact Zsbysek and the butler Giles. They learn that their arrival is anticipated, but as far as Zsbysek and Giles know, they are to be received as heroes.
Yeth is disappointed.
===2022-03-06===
<div><ul class="thumbs">
<li>[[File:Anton_(Jeremy_Irons).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Lord Anton of House Dvorak, Human (Karelian)]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Akrim_Firebraids_cropped.jpg|200px|thumb|none|Akrim Firebraids, Mountain Dwarf, former
mercenary, innkeeper of the Log and Hatchet, guardian of Damon]]&nbsp;<br />[[Media:Akrim_Firebraids.jpg|Akrim Firebraids, full version]]</li>
<li>[[File:Male_human_boy.jpg|200px|thumb|none|Damon, Human (Karelian) child]]&nbsp;</li>
<li>[[File:Lord_Mayor_Fulko_(John_Michael_Higgins).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Lord Mayor Fulko of Vodni Brana]]&nbsp;</li>
</ul></div>
Reznik sneaks into Vodni Brana, hoping to find out how the gang will be greeted. From what he can tell, they are to be brought to City Hall and greeted as heroes. He heads back to the rest of his colleagues, and they enter the city. Akrim and Damon bid them farewell, as they plan to continue north to Steinvalt. Jakob, meanwhile, heads to the temple of Uzzah, to see if he might be of use to them.
The rest of them are escorted to City Hall and greeted as heroes. Lord Anton speaks eloquently of the gang's bravery and resolve against evil, heaping praise on them and encouraging everyone present -- nearly everyone who matters in Vodni Brana -- to do the same. The gang stands and listens for a few hours while they do.
The mayor declares that today will be dedicated to "Alice's Rangers", and that the city will pay for their food and drink for the next 24 hours. Huzzah! The gang finds the most posh places they can, and enjoy themselves.
Among their recent collections is the axe given to them by Akrim Firebraids. The runes on it read, in Dwarven,
''WARNING: This is not a shovel, a pry bar, or an ice pick. Any use for  any such purpose voids the warranty and may cause death or serious harm.''
Later, they visit Lord Anton. Reznik shares his belief that Anton, or someone working for him, had Reznik's family killed. Anton is concerned, and he offers any help he can to find out who was responsible. Reznik will return, and one of Anton's accountants will be made available to help Reznik personally. They will get to the bottom of this.
The gang heads to Zsbysek's. Someone is waiting for them: Elliot, the young priest of Cymothoa whom they had previously met. He is badly injured, and has been waiting for them for over a day.
According to Elliot the priest, the small shrine to Cymothoa in he Temple of Temples is a sham. He was taken to the real temple, which is under an unassuming building in the city. He was brought there with the other two shrine priests to be initiated into the inner circle of the priesthood. He does not know what happened to the other two priests, but he did not want it to happen to him. They were ... changed.
He can show them where the building is...
===2022-03-13===
<div><ul class="thumbs">
<li>[[File:Lord_Mayor_Fulko_(John_Michael_Higgins).jpg|200px|thumb|none|Lord Mayor Fulko of Vodni Brana]]&nbsp;</li>
</ul></div>
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==='''Shadows Over Ealdwood''' continues in '''[[Shadows Over Ealdwood:Chapter_Two|The Keep]]'''===
==='''Shadows Over Ealdwood''' continues in '''[[Shadows Over Ealdwood:Chapter_Two|The Keep]]'''===
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[[Category:Shadows Over Ealdwood]]
[[Category:Shadows Over Ealdwood]]
[[Category:Fantasy]]
[[Category:Fantasy]]

Latest revision as of 10:11, 13 March 2022

Chapter Two →

The Wizard's Apprentices

Characters

  • Albrecht, Human (Karelian) Rogue
     
  • Alice, Human (Karelian) Bard
     
  • Bohdan, Sea Dwarf Fighter
     
  • Diezalau, Human (Karelian) Sorcerer
     
  • Jakob, Human (Vaerinjar) Fighter
     
  • Ogilvy Prettyheart, Havlin Warlock
     
  • Reznik, Human (Karelian) Cleric
     

Game Sessions

2021-11-14

Vodni Brana.jpg

Vodni Brana, mid morning...

Albrecht and Diezalau are apprentices to Zsbysek The Resplendent, the most well-known wizard in Vodni Brana. A letter arrives, informing Zsbysek that a brewery he owns, Wizard's Tower Brewery, has been overrun with giant rats. Zsbysek gives Albrecht and Diezalau a bag of 175 silver and tells them to go deal with it.

Albrecht and Diezalau gather up a group of acquaintances and sell-swords, and head west to the brewery. They are greeted at the brewery by Glowkindle, the gnome brewmaster. Glowkindle explains that they had been digging in the cellar to expand the storage area, when they broke through to an old section of the wizard tower. Giant rats swarmed out, attacking the gnomes and killing Glowkindle's nephew.

The gang heads down into the cellar and manages to kill all of the giant rats. They proceed into the old section of the wizard tower...

  • Zsbysek The Resplendent, Human (Karelian) Wizard
     
  • Glowkindle, Gnome Brewmaster
     

2021-11-21

The gang explores the rest of the old wizard tower, killing a few giant centipedes and a giant spider that spins flaming webs. They spend the night at a pub in the nearby village of Tashalar, happy to have accomplished their mission.

In the morning, they discover that their valuables have been stolen (other than a healing potion). They find a calling card with a note on the back:

Wisp Shadowfoot, Gentleman Thief
(back) Johan's warehouse, midnight


With a mixture of anger and curiosity, the gang heads to Vodni Brana. They find Johan's warehouse, which is an abandoned waterfront warehouse. They look around, but do not find anything interesting or threatening. Albrecht and Diezalau check in with Zsbysek, letting him know that they accomplished the task he set them. He grudgingly acknowledges their success, and get back to working on his memoirs.

The gang waits for midnight...

2021-11-28

Midnight arrives, and the gang waits in the empty warehouse for Wisp Shadowfoot to arrive.

And he does, although no one sees him. A voice in the darkness tells them that he will return their belongings and owe them a favour, if they get rid of the Way Hill Slashers.

Wisp explains that the Way Hill Slashers prey on the same wealth residents of Vodni Brana as he does, but unlike him, they kill everyone. This has resulted in people increasing their security, and making their traps more lethal. The gang probably does not care about that, but surely such brave and heroic individuals would want to remove a gang of ruthless murderers...?

Wisp tells them that the Way Hill Slashers have been recruited from among the worst of the worst of Vodni Brana's criminal underclass. Even the notorious Copper Blades have lost members to the Way Hill Slashers.

Wisp knows little of the Slashers' leader, other than their name -- Vex'Tiel -- and that they're an ice elf. However, he does know that the Way Hill Slashers are planning a job this very night. In fact, they are probably on the way to their prey now.

Wisp doesn't know who they are targeting, but he does know that they always leave a few of their crew at the Eagle's Feather, a former tavern on the north side of the inner city.

With that, Wisp drops a card, which Ogilvy identifies as having a sending spell on it, which the gang can use to contact Wisp later, to collect on the favour.

The gang heads to the long-disused Eagle's Feather, and makes quick work of the half-dozen Way Hill Slashers cooling their heels there. They leave one alive, briefly -- just long enough to find out where the rest of the gang has gone.

The gang arrives at Wildstone House, the home of a wealthy Havlin merchant and his family. The Way Hill Slashers are already there, but have not yet completed their plan to rob and murder everyone.

The battle begins...

2021-12-05

The gang rescues the Wildstone family, killing the Way Hill Slashers and cornering their leader, Vex'Tiel. Vex'Tiel slips away, but not before telling the gang that her actions have been for a greater purpose. She is finding and killing members of the Cult Of Corruption, who seek to end the world in rot and ruin. The gang is skeptical.

The gang spends time talking to the city guard, explaining what has happened and why. The people of Havlin Town express their gratitude. Eventually, the gang returns to the Eagle's Feather, where they discover that someone has been here recently, taking most of the maps and documents that the gang had previously found.

Whoever it was left behind two chests. Bohdan opens a chest, which tugs a spider thread, which tugs other spider webs... and hundreds of spiders boil out of the webs in the corners of the basement.

2021-12-12

The gang defeats the swarms of spiders and gathers the loot left behind by Vex'Tiel, then returns to the mansion of Zsbysek with Murdan, a dwarf who had been held captive by Vex'Tiel.

While questioning Murdan and debating their next plans, they realize that they are being spied upon by someone invisible. A game of hide-and-seek ends with the capture of the invisible spy -- a Havlin wearing a magic cloak of invisibility.

The gang takes the Havlin back to the basement of the Eagle's Feather. They create an illusion of Vex'Tiel, and question the Havlin spy, pretending to be in the employ of Vex'Tiel. The Havlin appears convinced, and they prepare to send him to spy on Anton, Lord Dvorak (whose name the Havlin spy had overheard, and whom he believes to be the next target of the Way Hill Slashers)...

2022-01-02

  • Sergeant Pavel of the city guard, Human (Karelian) Fighter
     

The gang interrogates the havlin, and are about to turn him over to the city guard when he cleverly distracts them and makes a break for it. Unfortunately for him, Alice and Diezalau are not taken in by his ruse, and they cast spells at him (Hold Person and Magic Missile). Jakob gags and binds the havlin, and they take him to the central guard station.

Unfortunately, the havlin died from his wounds, which puts the gang in an awkward position. The guards decide that the havlin probably had it coming, and they are late for lunch, so they don't arrest the gang, for now.

The gang decides to check in with Mr. and Mrs. Wildstone, the havlins they rescued the previous evening. They are recovering while they oversee the repairs to their home, and they are happy to answer questions and help the people who rescued them. The two pieces of information that seem most relevant are the upcoming Autumn Festival party being given by Lord Anton of House Dvorak, and the possible connection to the temple of Cymothoa.

The Wildstones are happy to give the gang their party invitation, along with a letter naming the gang as the Wildstones' guests.

Back at Zsbysek's manor, Zsbysek the Resplendent tells his apprentices Albrecht and Diezalau that he has been invited to a party this weekend: an Autumn Festival party being given by Lord Anton of House Dvorak. Zsbysek does not intend to go, but they are welcome to attend in his place if they like.

Meanwhile, Albrecht, Jakob, Ogilvy, and Reznik go to the temple quarter to talk with a priest of Cymothoa. The priest does not seem suspicious or sinister, and describes the work of Cymothoa (decay and decomposition) as simply a part of the natural order.

However, on the way back to Zsbysek's manor, Albrecht and the others are ambushed by a half-dozen priests carrying holy symbols of Cymothoa! It is a close fight, but the gang prevails. The city guard take these deaths more seriously, and question the gang thoroughly before releasing them.

Dressed in their new formal attire, the gang gets ready to go to the mansion of Lord Anton of House Dvorak.

2022-01-16

  • Lord Anton of House Dvorak, Human (Karelian)
     
  • Stefan of House Dvorak, Human (Karelian)
     
  • Izabel of House Svoboda, Human (Karelian)
     
  • Vex'Tiel, Ice Elf
     

It's the Autumn Festival Party at Dvorak Manor. The gang schmooze and explore, some of them more invasively than others. Reznik sneaks away and uses a ruse to avoid suspicion. He doesn't find the violin-shaped bottle he is looking for, but he does find a ledger (one of many) devoted to Lord Anton's business dealings in Voscau, Reznik's hometown.

Everyone else makes small talk and listens for anything interesting. Anton is a pleasant host, and makes the rounds to talk to each of his guests. The two guests who stand out, other than the gang themselves, are Anton's son Stefan and a young woman named Izabel. Stefan would prefer to be elsewhere, although he is agreeable when spoken to. Izabel is fascinated by the gang's stories, and asks for more.

Ogilvy seems to catch Anton's eye at one point, and he offers her a tour. He shows her the paintings of his wives (now all deceased -- alas, taken too soon), and he is proud to show Ogilvy his wine cellar. One bottle he doesn't tell her the history of is a half-size wine bottle shaped like a violin, and filled with a glowing blue liquid.

Diezalau sneaks away and turns invisible so that she can search the building.

Albrecht sees through Ziggy's eyes as the owl circles the building. Ziggy spots someone in one of the rooms: Vex'Tiel, who appears to be waiting. A few minutes later, a man enters the room: it's Stefan. He warns Vex'Tiel that the people who killed her gang are downstairs, and that she should leave. Not looking worried, she does as asked, followed a few steps behind by Stefan.

Reznik follows Stefan, but loses sight of Vex'Tiel.

While the rest of the gang share some of the information they'd gathered, Reznik finally finds the object of his search: the violin-shaped bottle. He takes a bottle of some dwarven whisky as well.

Reznik joins the gang just as they give chase to Vex'Tiel, who is blocks away by this time. Albrecht uses his magic cloak to Dimension Door in front of Vex'Tiel... and then she stabs him, repeatedly.

Reznik arrives at Albrecht's bleeding and unconscious body just in time to see Vex'Tiel slip around a corner where the alley meets a main road. He chooses to stay with Albrecht and save his life (which he does). The rest of the gang catch up just in time to hear how surprised Albrecht is that Vex'Tiel would attack him, when he just wanted to talk to her.

Vex'Tiel being long gone by this time, the gang decides to head back to Dvorak Manor. When they arrive, they find the building dark, and the front gate locked.

2022-01-23

  • Captain Jarmila, Vodni Brana City Guard, Human (Karelian)
     
  • Josef, Shadow Daggers assassin, Human (Karelian)
     
  • Professor Winsome Landy, Havlin Scholar
     

As the snow begins to fall on the gang, they decide to head back to Zsbysek's mansion, but Reznik wants to make a stop first: the Red Frog pub, on the riverfront.

Reznik goes in alone, and meets with Josef, an assassin with the Shadow Daggers. Apparently, the assignment to steal the violin-shaped bottle from Lord Anton was just a test -- and he passed. He gets to keep the bottle (a Potion of True Resurrection), and now he is a member of the Shadow Daggers. The rest of the gang arrives shortly thereafter, and they have a few drinks before heading back to Zsbysek's.

The next morning, they have a visitor. Professor Winsome Landy, a havlin scholar, seeks assistance escorting an archeological find from the Ealdwood back to Vodni Brana. She is willing to pay Diezalau and Albrecht 500 silver pieces for the job.

Diezalau and Albrecht debate whether to take the job, and whether to loop in the rest of the gang. They bring the job offer to the gang, and then they debate whether to take the job. Eventually, they do, although there is a brief misunderstanding about the payment.

The gang heads out of the city, into the Ealdwood, and arrives at the inn a few days later. The nameless inn is long abandoned, and was appropriated by Professor Landy and her colleagues to serve as a base for their archeological explorations. They find carnage, and goblins. After killing or driving away the goblins, the gang realizes that the bodies (some partially eaten) have been here for days.

Professor Landy leads them to the archeological site, an hour or so through densely wooden hills, until they see a stone archway in a hillside. The archway had been buried, but has recently been excavated. The gang investigates, and are attacked by several ghouls -- ghouls who were once Professor Landy's colleagues!

2022-01-30

The gang defeats and destroys the ghouls -- former colleagues of Professor Landy -- and finds Professor Calador, the elf, in a hidden area beneath the ancient temple of Cymothoa. According to Calador, the rest of the archeological team was possessed by the artifact they fond in the temple, and he was forced to kill several of them before he locked himself in the hidden shrine.

Alas, Calador is the one who has been possessed by the temple, and he turns violent once the gang is close to the shrine to Cymothoa. The gang destroys what is left of Calador, and they make sure that the rest of the ghouls are destroyed, as well.

The gang takes the artifact, a magical flanged mace, and heads back to Vodni Brana.

A day or so later, while still within the Ealdwood, they hear the sound of someone in trouble -- but it's a trap! It's a hag, who attacks the gang along with her monstrous enchanted plants. But the gang prevails, and they eventually arrive safely in Vodni Brana.

2022-02-06

The gang heads back to the city mansion of Lord Anton of Dvorak, which is all dark and closed up. They knock, and meet an old lady who has been left as the caretaker while Lord Anton and his family have returned to their country estates.

Back at Zsbysek's manor, they discuss their options and enjoy a meal. Later, they notice they are being watched! A crossbow bolt is sufficient to drive the spy away.

The gang splits up, with some visiting the Shrine of Cymothoa in the Temple Of Temples, and some visiting the Dark Library of Thehlal.

An invitation arrives for Ogilvy, to visit the Dvorak estate, a few miles south of the town of Breechhill.

2022-02-13

  • Smails, the butler for House Dvorak
     
  • Lord Anton of House Dvorak, Human (Karelian)
     
  • Stefan of House Dvorak, Human (Karelian)
     
  • Vex'Tiel, Ice Elf
     

The gang heads south to Breechhill, and then east to the Dvorak estate. They see that the fortress-like building has been attacked recently. Lord Anton explains that a devil has been attacking them each night at dusk, demanding that they hand over Lord Anton's infant grandson, Harry. Anton offers them 100 gold each if they will help defend his family.

Reznik takes the opportunity to goad Lord Anton, and see how he responds to accusations that he killed Reznik's parents (or had them killed).

As night falls, a burning scarecrow and several hounds made of mist attack. The gang fights them off, with the assistance of Lord Anton and Vex'Tiel. However, they discover that the baby Harry was abducted during the fray!

Fade out as Ogilvy wakes up Stefan, Lord Anton offers Bohdan and Diezalau 500 gold each to go get his grandson, and Diezalau and Albrecht are starting to put together the fact that what Lord Anton has done, what he's said about what he has done, and what he seems to actually believe, do not quite match up.

And outside on the front steps, the scarecrow's magic axe and magic sickle lay in the mist...

2022-02-20

The gang tracks Bertie, the Havlin maid, to the Dvorak tomb. Inside, they find that Bertie is actually Yeth, the demon that made a pact with the Dvorak family hundreds of years ago. Yeth shows them the contract, and explains that there is nothing amiss here: simply the performance of a legal contract. The gang defeats Yeth, casting her out of our plane -- but she says she will be back at the next sunset.

Examining the contract that Yeth left behind, the gang thinks that if they destroy the Dvorak fortress, the contract will be terminated. On explaining the plan to Lord Anton, he agrees. Reznik suggests that because the contract prohibits Lord Anton from removing his household from the fortress, Lord Anton should instead sell the property and possessions currently in the building to Reznik... for a single gold coin. Lord Anton agrees, and states that he will buy his property back if they all live to see the next dawn.

Bohdan sabotages the sub-basement supports, and the gang sets fire to the place. Yeth appears just as the sun sets and the building collapses, and confirms that this has broken the contract. The gang packs up the more precious of Lord Anton's property, including many deeds and files, and a few magic items.

As darkness falls, the gang heads into the small nearby town, Breechhill. They interrupt a mob which seems intent on breaking into a tavern and lynching a boy. The boy is a human orphan being raised by a surly dwarf.

The gang helps a priestess of Laat to disperse the crowd, but the crowd's leader, a smith named Hutch , says that this is not over.

The next morning, Hutch is found dead -- torn apart, like all the others. Lord Anton and his family, however, are still nowhere to be found. A villager says that he saw them pass by on the road, the night before. He thinks they were headed to Vodni Brana.

The gang begins their investigation in the nearby cemetery. They find and destroy a massive corpse flower and several zombies. The death of the corpse flower frees the spirit of Araleth, a paladin of Uzzah, who died while fighting a necromancer named Mahonin. In gratitude, Araleth posthumously leaves the gang her armor and weapon (bronze plate armor +1, and a Pike Of Warning +1).

But the corpse flower did not kill Hutch and the others...

2022-02-27

  • Ghilanna, priestess of Laat
     
  • Akrim Firebraids, Mountain Dwarf, former mercenary, innkeeper of the Log and Hatchet, guardian of Damon
     
    Akrim Firebraids, full version
  • Damon, Human (Karelian) child
     
  • Yeth, devil who makes bargains
     
    Yeth, full version

The gang finds an undead creature called a boneclaw in the crawlspace of Akrim's attic. After a serious battle in which Jakob and Reznk are nearly killed, the boneclaw is destroyed, but Diezalau and Reznik know that it will re-form at dusk. They need to find the person with a "bitter heart" to whom the boneclaw has attached itself.

They track Akrim to the hills, and Reznik falls into a hastily-dug pit trap. The boneclaw re-appears, and the gang fights it while Reznik urges Akrim to put his bitterness behind him. Reznik is successful, Akrim lays down his axe, and the boneclaw is destroyed.

Saying goodbye to Ghilanna the priestess of Laat, the gang heads back toward Vodni Brana with Akrim and Damon.

Late night, on watch, Albrecht is approached by Yeth. Yeth warns Albrecht that the reception being prepared for them in Vodni Brana may not be what they hope for. There is a chance that Lord Anton will claim that the gang has burned down his manor and robbed him. Yeth is persuasive, but the gang uses Sending magic to contact Zsbysek and the butler Giles. They learn that their arrival is anticipated, but as far as Zsbysek and Giles know, they are to be received as heroes.

Yeth is disappointed.

2022-03-06

  • Lord Anton of House Dvorak, Human (Karelian)
     
  • Akrim Firebraids, Mountain Dwarf, former mercenary, innkeeper of the Log and Hatchet, guardian of Damon
     
    Akrim Firebraids, full version
  • Damon, Human (Karelian) child
     
  • Lord Mayor Fulko of Vodni Brana
     

Reznik sneaks into Vodni Brana, hoping to find out how the gang will be greeted. From what he can tell, they are to be brought to City Hall and greeted as heroes. He heads back to the rest of his colleagues, and they enter the city. Akrim and Damon bid them farewell, as they plan to continue north to Steinvalt. Jakob, meanwhile, heads to the temple of Uzzah, to see if he might be of use to them.

The rest of them are escorted to City Hall and greeted as heroes. Lord Anton speaks eloquently of the gang's bravery and resolve against evil, heaping praise on them and encouraging everyone present -- nearly everyone who matters in Vodni Brana -- to do the same. The gang stands and listens for a few hours while they do.

The mayor declares that today will be dedicated to "Alice's Rangers", and that the city will pay for their food and drink for the next 24 hours. Huzzah! The gang finds the most posh places they can, and enjoy themselves.

Among their recent collections is the axe given to them by Akrim Firebraids. The runes on it read, in Dwarven,

WARNING: This is not a shovel, a pry bar, or an ice pick. Any use for any such purpose voids the warranty and may cause death or serious harm.

Later, they visit Lord Anton. Reznik shares his belief that Anton, or someone working for him, had Reznik's family killed. Anton is concerned, and he offers any help he can to find out who was responsible. Reznik will return, and one of Anton's accountants will be made available to help Reznik personally. They will get to the bottom of this.

The gang heads to Zsbysek's. Someone is waiting for them: Elliot, the young priest of Cymothoa whom they had previously met. He is badly injured, and has been waiting for them for over a day.

According to Elliot the priest, the small shrine to Cymothoa in he Temple of Temples is a sham. He was taken to the real temple, which is under an unassuming building in the city. He was brought there with the other two shrine priests to be initiated into the inner circle of the priesthood. He does not know what happened to the other two priests, but he did not want it to happen to him. They were ... changed.

He can show them where the building is...

2022-03-13

  • Lord Mayor Fulko of Vodni Brana
     
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