Adventure Notes – The Adventurers 11

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Apostrophe tells his companions about the War in Heaven; and that he now sees the world differently and there’s urgent business in regards to the Church he must attend to, and quickly departs without explaining further.

Tarn Bladesinger, the weapon smith who had forged the magical blade, Demon Bane, was too old to adventure – and gifted the magical blade to Adrian Silverstrength after seeing how the young paladin handled himself in the face of the demonic invasion of Spire’s Edge.

The rest of the party spends the next few days helping the town recover from the demon attacks; helping rebuild various buildings, walls, escorting the miners to the mines and back, and once everything seems on track, Adrian meets Sephrenia who had been urged through dreams by her goddess, Nifika (Goddess of Magic and Elves) to come to Spire’s Edge

Sephrenia helped where she could in Spire’s Edge. After the recent attack by the demons, she knew she had to do more. That’s when she met Adrian and he explained that they had come here to help as well. Forming a quick friendship, she was introduced to Morsus as they searched for their companions Rex and Dick. Sephrenia explains that she saw them leave after one of the waves of demon attacks; but did not know where they were headed.

Ragnaroc, an Aasimar Warlock introduces himself to the party, commenting on their fighting ability against the wave of demons, and explains he’d been helping from the back, with the guards and farmers, using his magic when he could to hex the demons. He explains that it isn’t coincidence that he was there when everything happened; and if what he overheard from their companion (Apostrophe) that there was some kind of “War In Heaven” that he’s interesting in joining them to see what else they uncover.

The party is approached by Thoris Blackoak, who runs one of the few fully standing and functional buildings in Spire’s Edge – The Stone’s Throw Tavern & Inn – who tells the party that he’s in need of their help, especially after what he saw with their fighting. He’s heard news that his family, which lives a day and half away to the southwest in Blue Ridge Mountain that something is going on with their water supply; and that he doesn’t have much more information than that. He also explains that unfortunately, he can’t pay them for the job, because all of his money is being donated into helping rebuild Spire’s Edge, but his Dwarven Clan members may be able to pay them if they’re able to help.

Adrian explains that he needs to collect his reward from Mayor Barus Gravestone. They approach the manor and there are two guards outside the manor; and when they ask to speak to the Mayor the guards explain he’s not available. The party notices that they’re behaving unusual and Adrian notices that the guards are wearing “the village” armor over their own armor and that they don’t fit. When questioned the guards explain that they took the armor off some other deceased guards and that they’ve been the guards for the Mayor for months, but never had the proper armor. The party suspects something unusual and pushes it further; and the guards finally knock on the door. After about fifteen minutes a horn inside rings and the guards finally open the door; but then ambush the party from behind revealing themselves to be brigands. The party quickly dispatches the Brigands and beneath the armor, Sephrenia recognizes the symbol they wear; the symbol of The Broken Hand – a band of orcs, not known to be on this continent yet – but extremely well known for their reputation on the mainland. This is clearly an ill omen if the Broken Hand has arrived on this new continent and already recruiting agents. The party moves inside and searches, and gets to the kitchen and Morsus finds several dead bodies; and notices small footprints that lead to a wall. He’s not able to find the secret handle so he hammers away and creates a hole and sees a latch and tries to stick his arm inside to open it and gets stabbed for it in the arm. Adrian then cuts away at the hole and hears small footsteps running up the stairs. The party begins to move inside, the passage being small, lines up as Adrian in the front, next is Ragnaroc, then Sephrenia with Morsus taking up the rear. They reach the top and it’s completely dark, so Morsus casts light on Adrian’s shield and lights up the secret chamber to see fourteen kobolds waiting for them – daggers drawn!

The Kobolds put up a dramatic fight, and do significant damage to Adrian who suffers at their pack tactics; but they’re able to defeat them all, leaving one alive. Only Sephrenia is able to speak Draconic and speaks with the kobold; and learns that “Big Man” who is “part man, part ogre” is the leader and that he’s in the house. The party knocks out the kobold and opens the door, only to be surprised by six assassins armed with scimitars and bows launch an assault on them; keeping the party pinned in the secret room, except for Morsus who does manage to run out of the room; and while the fighting takes place, another horn sounds and the assassins drop a smoke screen and quickly make their escape out the window. The party hesitates until the smoke clears before rushing into the hall and seeing an open window, where they witness a caravan with a Half-Ogre in the front and the assassins in the back of it, making their escape… with the Mayor!