Lost Mine Of Phandelver Log

Episode 1 – First ​Imp​ressions Robert O’Shea, John Avery and Karlov Grimdrake awake in what appears to be a gaol cell. The only other occupant is a human male in his mid-fifties. The guards advise the group that they are in the city of Neverwinter and they were detained for the night, after being involved in a pub brawl with a group of halflings. After brief introductions the group are released and their belongings are returned to them. The older man’s name is Sildar WInterhall and he suggests that the men meet with his employer to discuss a business opportunity. Foregoing the allure of bang wagon, the group return to the Red Imp for breakfast and hair of the dog, while Sildar leaves to collect his employer. At the Red Imp a group of barflies are harassing a powerfully built female barbarian. A fight erupts between the barbarian and the ruffians. As the barbarian begins pummelling the men, Robert decides to assist her with a chair. Karlov and John feel no such need, preferring to enjoy the entertainment as they finish their bacon, eggs and ale. Sildar returns with a well-dressed male dwarf, and witnesses the female barbarian handily defeating the hooligans, crushing a scrotum in the process. The group ask the lady to join them and learn that her name is Garaci Calabra. Sildar introduces his employer as Gundran Rockseeker. Gundran offers to pay 10 gold pieces per person to escort a wagonload of ‘materials’ from Neverwinter to the town of Phandalin. Garaci breaks some more balls (this time figuratively) and negotiate a price of 15 gold pieces with Gundran. The first few days are uneventful as the group travel south on the High Road, then East along the Triboar Trail. About midmorning John’s keen eyes spot two dead horses on the trail ahead. The party is ambushed by goblins. After a short battle, three goblins are dead and one is cowering under the wagon. Karlov coaxed him out and after a short interrogation they learn that ‘Snorlax’ is a member of the Cragmore tribe lead by Klarg, who recently took two prisoners that fit the description of Gundran and Sildar. The group decide to track Snorlax back to the goblin hideout. They move the cart to the side of the trail and John attempts to hide it with brush, breaking one of wheels in the process. Robert passes out in the back of the wagon, while Garaci and Karlov follow John through the woods. John falls foul of a pit trap but then successfully steers the group clear of a crossbow rigged to deter unwanted guests. The group arrive at the entrance to a cave, from which flows a shallow stream. Garaci and John thwart a second goblin ambush but receive further injuries. The party decide to nurse their wounds before delving into the cave to rescue their employer from the clutches of Klarg and the Cragmore tribe.

Session 2 – Wet your Whistle The group enter the cave and discover a trio of wolves chained to stalagmite in the centre of a natural chamber. At Karlov’s suggestion Garaci nonchalantly butchers some goblins carcasses and feeds them to the wolves. The trio attempts to sneak past the wolves while they are distracted however the wolves attempt to attack Karlov but are hindered by their tethers. As the wolves strain to break the chains from their rusty moorings the group slaughter them. At the back of the room Garaci climbs a fissure and discovers a small opening to a large chamber inhabited by a bugbear, a wolf, and goblin that sits within arm’s reach of Garaci, a pouch hanging from its belt. Garaci returns to her companions and raises her hand to reveal the goblin’s pouch. “Me got the pouch,” she says with a large grin on her face. The Pouch contains a tin whistle and a note written in a language Garaci cannot read. John identifies the scrawl as goblin, and translates the note as a list of instructions for using the whistle to command the wolves. The group continue along the main tunnel that follows the underground stream, passing underneath a natural rock bridge. They hear a guttural cry from above before a javelin pierces Garaci’s arm. She responds by hurling a hand axe at the goblin attacker. The axe bursts clean through the goblin’s chest and clatters off the cave wall. Before being able to move further the adventurers hear the sound of rushing water moments before being confronted by a wall of water surging down the tunnel towards them. John and Garaci cling to the cave walls while Karlov is flushed down the tunnel to the entrance of the cave. Dripping wet and sporting a bruised ego, Karlov trudges back to his companions, using his magic to retrieve Garaci’s axe on the way. Continuing deeper into the caves a second flood of water flushes Garaci down the tunnel. Rather than waiting for a third, the adventurers throw caution to the wind and sprint up the tunnel emerging in a large cavern occupied by a number of goblins who have just broken two levees. After a brief battle the goblins are defeated but Karlov is knocked unconscious. With the Bugbear and Wolves in the next cavern, John and Garaci sneak around the perimeter of the room. Springing from the shadows, Garaci caves in one goblin’s skull, before using the whistle to command the wolf to turn on its bugbear master. John also engages in combat. The Bugbear Klarg draws a morning star and attacks Garaci, clubbing her to the ground. The wolf knocks the bugbear prone and begins chewing his face off. John meanwhile dispatches the remaining goblin in the room before turning his attention to Klarg. Klarg gets to his feet and snaps the wolf’s neck leaving, him squaring off against John in a battle to the death. With all the chips down, John tests his mettle against Klarg. He breaks one of his short swords, but when all appears lost, the metal of his second sword tests true in Klarg’s neck. With Garaci bleeding to death from her cumulative wounds, John discovers a key on the bugbear’s corpse and uses it to unlock a chest that he found in the corner of the room. Sifting through a sea of copper and silver coins, as well as a jade statuette with golden orbs for eyes, John uncovers two potions. The veteran soldier immediately recognises them as potions of healing and with one in each hand he rushes to Garaci’s aid. By the time John reaches his fallen companion her life blood has all but slipped away. He administers one healing potion with no apparent effect. Desperate, John pours the contents of the second phial down her throat. This time his efforts are rewarded

with a blood-splattered cough as Garaci returns to life. Karlov eventually comes to and the group can press on determined to discover the fate of their employers. Crossing the natural rock bridge the walking wounded enter another large cave with a group of goblins conversing around a fire, with a bound and gagged form lying prone on an elevation at the back of the chamber. Garaci begins hurling axes at the goblins while Karlov unleashes arcane forces in the form of black writhing tentacles. The group is triumphant, but once again Karlov is left having a dirt-nap. The captive is none-other than Sildar Winterhall, Gundran Rockseeker’s right-hand man. Sildar is released and advises the party that Gundrin is now the prisoner of ‘The Black Spider’. Due to multiple influences Karlov’s memory is hazy at this point and he struggles to bring a number of hastily written words into a cohesive whole, resulting in more questions than answers. Who or what is The Black Spider? Why was Snorlax not amongst the dead? Has King Groll been killed? Where is Wave Echo Cave? What was the Cataclysm that befell the mine? Who is Tharden Nundro? Why can’t Karlov read his own writing? What is the Lord’s Alliance going to do with 70 gold pieces? And who is Ilarno Albrik? Only time and sobriety will tell…

Session 3 - Arriving in Phandalin After resting outside the goblin’s cave, we discussed the situation with Sildar. He informed us that he overheard that Gundran Rockseeker had been taken to Cragmore Castle, home to the Cragmore Clan and King Groll, somewhere to the north east of the cave. We agreed it a safer decision to continue on to Phandalin where we may find the other Rockseeker brothers, Thardan and Nundro, or perhaps another ally of Sildar’s, Iarno Albrecht, a wizard. We had also found materials in the cave with the sigil of the Lion’s Shield Coster, a mercantile group with an operational presence in Phandalin and wished to return them in hope of reward. During the journey to Phandalin, Sildar told us of his role and shed some light on the history of the region. Sildar is a member of The Lords Alliance, a group committed to bringing peace, structure, and prosperity to this part of the Sword Coast. The Lords Alliance were working to help the Rockseeker Brothers to unearth an old cave near Phandallan. This old cave is called Wave Echo Cave, a place discovered some 500 years ago by dwarves and gnomes. The discoverers made an agreement called The Phandelver Pact to work together to mine the cave, and discovered wealth and magic inside. They also found a powerful relic called the Forge of Spells, which could be used to make magical items. Over time the mine had been lost, but now the Rockseeker brothers had unearthed it and the Lords Alliance wished to help. In Phandalin, we stayed overnight and visited a number of locations enquiring about Cragmore Castle and the whereabouts of Iarno and the Rockseekers.

Stonehill Inn We stayed at Stonehill Inn for the night under the hospice of Toblin Stonehill and his wife. He advised us stay away from the Sleeping Giant inn down the road, as it was frequented by the Red Brand brigands and they were not welcoming to strangers. We also discovered that the Red Brands had been around the ruined manor house in Phandalin We also met Narth and Lenar, a miner, who reiterated Toblin’s advice and also told us of a number of other places to visit in Phandalin. Lion’s Head Coster At the Lion’s Head Coster, we returned the stolen wares we had found in the mine. The operator of the Coster, Linene , rewarded the group, but was unmoved by Karlov’s requests for more coin. There was also some fine magical chainmail for sale for 750GP Barthan’s Provisions Elmer Barthan offered the group equipment and provisions. Church of Tymora At the Church of Tymora, Sister Gorail told us of a Banshee named Agatha who had a spellbook about Beaugentle that the church greatly desired. She gave the group a silver comb that had belonged to Agatha and promised the travellers 3 healing potions if they were successful in obtaining the spellbook. She also sold healing potions for 50GP each, which Garaci and John bought one of together. Karlov attempted to swindle Sister Gorail out of some potions by appearing as someone he was not and claiming that the Red Brands had attacked Toblin. Garaci and John did not think this was a good idea and redirected Karlov and Sister Gorail. Eldernath’s Orchard At the orchard, we met Darran Eldernath, who asked us to look in on some prospectors at Old Owl Well to the North East. He also mentioned something about ‘netheral’. Alderleaf Farm At Alderleaf Farm, the halfling Qelline Alderleaf advised the group to see the druid Reidoth Thundertree to the west of Neverwinter Wood, who would know of Cragmore Castle. Qelline’s son also advised us that the Red Brand brigands had been seen in the thickets to the south of town. Town Masters Hall At the hall, we met Harbin Wester, the mayor of the town. Others had told us he was a fat, pompous fool. He asked us to deal with the orcs at Wyvern Tor, which was east on the Tribor Trail. Sleeping Giant Inn Karlov impersonated the miner Lenar and entered the Sleeping Giant inn, discussing some matters with Grister, the owner. He was not forthcoming with much relevant information.

Though the Red Brands are said to drink at the Sleeping Giant, there were 3 members outside guarding, and none inside. There were only a couple of customers inside the Inn John thinks this seems strange. Or he would if Karlov told him about it. Miner Exchange At the miner exchange, Harlia Thornton offered us 100GP to kill Glass Staff, the leader of the Red Brands. She did not seem to be telling us the full story. After deciding to go back to the inn for the night, we were accosted by three members of the Red Brands. We dealt with them easily and decided to pursue the rest of their group. Possible missions ● Cragmore Castle - where Gundran is supposedly being held ● Iarno Albrecht - whereabouts still unknown ● Prospecters at Old Owl Well - netheral? ● Banshee Agatha - retrieve the spellbook ● Red Brands and Glass Staff - in the thickets and ruined manor ● Orcs at Wyvern Tor - East on Tribor Trail ● Druid Reidoth Thundertree - West of Neverwinter Wood to the north

Session 4 – More like “Dead Brands” Covered in the blood of three slaughtered Red Brands, surrounded by gaping townsfolk, the group must act swiftly and decisively. Instead of doing this, they spend a great deal of time contemplating various convoluted schemes. Firstly, they enlist the help of local rube Peon Whiteflag, who bravely offers to deceive the Red Brands with a clever story of the heroes’ escape. Ruse in place, the trio drag the bodies to the Miners’ Exchange, to seek aid from the proprietor Halia Thornton. Halia offers to hide the bodies until sundown, after which it is not clear what she is going to do with them. Sick bitch. The trio concoct a new plan, for Karlov to employ his shapeshifting magic to deceive the Red Brands into leaving town. This is coincidentally the first and last time Karlov consults with his companions when shapeshifting and causing chaos. Agreeing to rendezvous at a ruined house within sight of the abandoned manor known to house the brigands, the trio comically drag the bodies back to their original location. From there, Karlov bravely takes the form of the least mangled corpse and sets to mischief. First heading to the Sleeping Giant Inn, Karlov deceives the three Red Brands into chasing the heroes from town. Buying the lie completely, the three head off on a wild goose chase. Will they return at an extremely inopportune time for our heroes? Stay tuned. The group meet at the agreed spot and decide it is time to approach Tressendor Manor. Karlov approaches first, scouting in Red Brand form. Finding the manor completely run down, there is no sign of anyone. Inside the walls, Karlov finds a trapdoor – ominously, a crest painted on a ruined wall reads “Family Tressendor lives forever”. Karlov recalls the story of Lord Karl Tressendor, a mighty warrior who wielded his magic sword Talon, who fell

at the battle of Cambridge Park. Summoning his companions, Karlov opens the trapdoor and enters the chamber below. Should have used his mage hand in case of traps but everything is simpler in hindsight. Downstairs, the group find a large, stone-walled room containing barrels and a water cistern. There are two closed doors, one to the top, and one to the right (west and north maybe?). Exploring the room, the trio find little of note. As John opens another barrel of pork and pickles, the top door slams open, with two Red Brands on the other side. John alerts his companions, only to receive smart arse remarks. John is just grateful this is one of the rare times Garaci is actually alive, so he lets it slide. John and Karlov make quick work of the first enemy, with deft swordplay and fearsome firebally stuff. The second delivers John a savage blow, leaving him on the brink of death. Karlov saves the day with a withering burst of dark magic, reducing the final Red Brand to a pile of dust. The sleeping quarters beyond the door contains barrels and beds, with precious little loot to be found. John uses his new found healing power to restore himself to a modicum of health, and the party press on. The next room consists of a long corridor with stout wooden double doors at the far end. Preceding through the corridor, the floor breaks away under Garaci as she leads the way. With astounding athleticism and grace, she is able to catch herself from falling into the pit below. She then easily leaps over the 10ft hole, casually throws a rope back for the others to use, and holds it in place to support them. You go girl. Opening the doors, the group enter a large chamber containing two caskets and a statue of a lady – she holds a branch in her right hand, her left hand outstretched and empty. Beside each casket stands a sword-wielding skeleton. Finding their form, the group brutally crush them into bone dust. The threat removed, Karlov recognises the status as Eldarth, the goddess of Peace. He recognises she would usually be holding a glass orb in her outstretched hand, disgusted that someone would remove it and then use it for gambling or some other ill pursuit. Finding little of note within the chamber, the group progress to the first of two doors exiting the room. The first presents them with a short corridor and a locked, stout door. Despite their best efforts, no one is able to open this door. Returning to the chamber, the trio proceed to the next door – this leads them to a cell room, with three humanoids locked in the cells. There are also 2 Red Brands, who probably wish they were in the cells as they are pummelled into mincemeat. Setting to free the prisoners, the group force the first cell open to release a woman Mirna Dendra and her daughter Nilsa. Mirna’s son Nars is trapped in the other cell, which the group are not able to open. Mirna tells the group her husband Thell was murdered by the Red Brands, and offers them a reward to save them. Karlov, to everyone’s surprise, treats the prisoners with great kindness, offering food and kind words. Unable to free the boy at this time, the group advise the prisoners to stay put while they clear out the dungeon. I mean cellar.

For the next 30 minutes resemble a scene from the Benny Hill Show – the group run back and forth through the dungeon, putting frogs on statues, pushing over caskets, falling in the pit, and jumping in the water only to be stung by electric eel type creatures. After much back and forth, Karlov finds a hidden door in the very first room – this leads to a large chamber with a pit in the centre, crossed by rickety looking bridges. Deciding to return to inform the rest of the group, Karlov takes the most sensible option available – take the form of Klaag the bugbear and scare the ever-loving shit out of them. As the others see the bugbear charging at them, Garaci takes an almighty swing with her axe. The goddess of Peace takes a shine to the party, and the strike misses. Karlov resumes his normal form – the others take this with remarkable composure, as if controlled by forces up past their bed time. Entering the new chamber, Karlov hears a voice in his head, warning him he shouldn’t be there. Brushing off the warning, Karlov proceeds across the first bridge, which duly collapses underneath him. Shaken but not stirred, he climbs up to the far side, where he is confronted by a freakish humanoid monster – a monstrous, gnarled creature with sharp claws and a single dish shaped giant eye. The party engage the beast, and a brutal battle ensues. The nothi- ah creature, attacks with its claws, before fixing John with its eye and delivering a withering blast of black death magic, once more bringing him to the very brink of death. John, never one to employ a new strategy, continues swinging at the creature. Together the party manage to deal enough damage to take the creature to its grave, but they are sorely wounded. After a long evening of many battles, the party take a much needed rest. Once recuperated, the party find another secret door from the pit chamber back to the chamber containing the statue of Eldarth. Good to know. Returning to the pit chamber, the party open a door to the left (south?) – here they find a short corridor leading to another door. Stupidly, the party open the door. Wishing for a room filled with puppies, instead there ain’t nothing but a goblin being taunted by two mean ass bugbears. As the heroes open the door, the goblin bravely faints and cacks his dacks. The bugbears, instead of fainting, pull out giant clubs and It. Is. On. Blocked by the doorway, only one bugbear can engage the party at a time. The lead bugbear sports a jewelled eye patch in an ominous sign for the group. Taking the van, Garaci engages in a savage battle with Eye-patch, with John and Karlov dishing out damage from safer locations. A whirling ball of rage and violence, Garaci takes no regard for her own safety and attacks Eye-patch all out. With a snarl, the creature delivers a savage blow to the barbarian, knocking her to the ground. Desperate, John revives Garaci with his healing power. As she regains her consciousness, Garaci has time to make out a bugbear club as it crashes once more into her head, knocking her to the ground again. John and Karlov desperately trade blows with Eye-patch, who finally succumbs after absorbing an astounding amount of damage. The second bugbear is now free to attack – somehow the wounded party prevail. Karlov revives Garaci once more with the healing potion she and John purchased. The group question the goblin Droop – he tells them Glassstaff is present, and reveals he is from Cragmore Keep. Garaci, reeling from severe head trauma, sees him attempting to leave and brutally rends him into goblin chunks. He takes his knowledge of Cragmore Keep to the depths of goblin hell.

Pressing on, the party enter a large chamber filled with yet more Red Brands. Four of the men are gambling at a round table. Proving you should never bet on red, the party engage in another brutal battle, with the bandits finally succumbing after inflicting more wounds on the brave party. Looting the room, the party find the missing glass orb from Eldarth’s statue. Deciding they are not quite close enough to death, they return to the statue and replace the orb. As a reward, the party are confronted with a new skeleton, stronger in appearance than the last ones. It carries a gleaming longsword. Wounded, weary, the party somehow prevails against this new foe. Seriously, how? After a night of delivering death, and absorbing enough damage to kill a small village, the party pause for breath. Knowing the mysterious Glass Staff still awaits them, let us pray they are not taking a short rest off a long pier.

Session 5: Glass ‘aff-empty Peon Whiteflag slammed his half-empty glass-mug on the counter. Some ale sloshed over the rim and ran down the side onto the worn wooden bar of Stonehill Inn. “I told ye’ those strangers was good folk. They’ve gone ‘an broken the back of them Red brand bastards! And it was me what helped ‘em, while the rest of the town was cowering.” “You didn’t do nothing Peon”, retorted Qelline Alderleaf. “You was just the only one who was foolish enough to speak up and…” “Go back to ye apples Qelline, you half-witted…” “Halfwit?! Is that some kind of joke, you cheese-eating…“ Toblin Stonehill wiped up the spilt ale and flicked the dirty rag over his shoulder, “Gentleman… Gentlemen, that’s enough. I think we all agree that those newcomers have done this town a great service, what with getting rid of those Red Brand scum. And in twenty-four hours no less, it’s more than Harbin Wester’s been able to do in twenty-four weeks! But they still didn’t get their man did they. They didn’t get that Glass-Staff mongrel. Nah he got away and who knows what trouble he’s going to cause. Might come back for revenge”. “I heard that Glass-Staff was the very one and same as that fancy wizard what visited some months back”. Toblin looked shocked at this news. “Yep,” Peon said as he used the back of his hand to wipe the ale froth from his mouth, “Heard one of ‘em adventurers say that he went all invisible-like an’ escaped through a secret tunnel. ‘Parently he’d been mixing up potions wiv’ quicksilver and dragon’s bile and the like”. “Bah” Qelline scoffed. “Sounds like a load of pig shit to me. I ain’t never seen anyone invisible!” “That’s the whole point Qelline, you daft idiot! If ye’ used more ‘an half ya’ brain…” “Hey, I told ya to stop with the halfling jokes.”

“Anyways...” Peon continued, “Apparently they’s thinks they know where he’s fled to, some castle up northeast way. Reckon it’s some lair of some big spider type. That ranger one can probably track him down. ‘Eard he used to be a bounty ‘unter”. Toblin leaned down closer to his patrons, placing his elbows on the counter. “I saw Merna Dendrar this morning. She was singing the praises of them folk. Said the half-elf one freed her and her children, and then escorted her to pay proper respects to her husband. What’s more they said they’d recover her family heirloom from Thundertree Ruins. Some amulet used to belong to an alchemist.” Peon, slowly shook his head as he considered this new information. “I was told they had to use a pick ax to free the family. They ‘ad to buy it from that miner exchange woman, Halia in the middle o’ the night. And the cold-hearted bitch done charged ‘em two gold pieces! Two gold pieces for a pick ax! Then she told ‘em all to fuck off! Next thing, when they was done, they returned it to her. It ain’t right how she treated ‘em. It ain’t right by half.” At this time the door to the Stonehill Inn opened and Elmer Barthen walked in. He strolled over and joined the conversation at the bar. “Gentlemen. Ale thanks Toblin. And I’ll pay off some of my tab too”. He pulled out a half-full purse and placed a gold piece on the counter. The others stared at the coin. Elmer eyed his friends. “Those newcomers been dropping coin all over town”. Toblin put down the glass mug he was polishing and started drawing an ale from the tap. When he was done he scrapped the top of the head and slid it across to Elmer. Leaning back down on the counter, he collecting the gold piece, “Aye this’ll pay off half”. “Came to my store they did, just this morning,” continued Elmer. The half-elf one plonked his wet sack on my counter, then pulled out a couple of agates. Big red ones! Also had some malachite and peridots, not to mention gold and silver pieces aplenty”. “They’re called carnelians” piped up Narth. The miner had been quietly sipping his ale the whole time, only now contributing to the conversation. “Carn… what?!’” exclaimed Peon. “Carnelians, they’re a type of red agat”, replied Narth. “How’d you know so much about rocks? You half-dwarf or somethin’?” “Nah I aint half dwarf… But I is a miner. I reckon they found ‘em in the Red brands hideout,” Narth said as he took another sip of his ale. “So they looted them red agats, off them dead fa…” “Alright, alright, that’s enough Peon,” interjected Toblin. “No need to go cursing the dead, even if they did do half the town wrong”. “Speakin’ o’ dwarves though,” Peon continued, un-phased by Toblin’s interruption. “Saw ol’ Grista cross the road this mornin’ when he saw that big barbarian lady comin’. Reckon he

mays of had a run in wiv’ her. She’s got a nice new shiny longsword too. Might be that Talon sword, like in the old stories o’ the Trevinder family.” “Pig shit!” exclaimed Qelline. “Pig shit nothing!” replied Peon. “Anyways…” continued Elmer, “She didn’t want to sell me a jewel-encrusted eye patch she found. Said she wanted to keep it. Don’t know why, seems to me she can see well enough out of both eyes. That half-elf one didn’t want to part with his scrolls either”. “It’s that silent woodsman type-one that scares me,” Peon added. “He looks like he’d be willing to do whatever it takes. Yeah... I reckon he’s the one you can rely on when the chips are down. I seen him just this morning too. Got himself a nice new club he has, from that Lion’s Head Coster woman. ‘Parently she hadn’t had it not more ‘an half a day”. Elmer took a long, slow pull of his drink. “Word is they’ve been buying potions and the like from Sister Gorail. Said they were heading over to Thundertree. Apparently they’re looking for that Druid, Reidoth.” Toblin stood back up, “Well, they’re going to need all the healings they can get, as well as Tymore’s luck itself to come out of there alive.” Peon chimed in again, “They’s ain’t gonna need luck, you seen the size of that barbarian they’s got?” Toblin had returned to polishing glasses. “I still can’t believe that Glass-Staff was Iarno Albrich the whole time. It seems kind of obvious now when you think about it, what with him disappearing right when the red brands arrived in town, and with that glass staff he used to carry round… Anyway that’s what we need these adventuring types for isn’t it”. “Yep it’s certainly good for business this adventuring caper,” added Elmer. “It certainly is, agreed Toblin. “Do you want another one Qelline? Your glass is half empty”. “Nah it’s not, it’s half-full! And would ya stop it with the halfling jokes already!”

Session 6: To Thundertree Ruins We set off for Thundertree Ruins, hoping to find that old druid Reidoth to help us find Cragmore Castle and our missing dwarf. We ate what food I foraged along the way, which was consistent nondescript fare, though I trust there will be some more variation in the future. Having spent almost a week together now, I opened up to Karlov after he asked my of my story, so I told him of my broken heart as a result of Marcon’s evil ways and my retribution upon his family. Maybe Karlov is deeper than he first appeared, it certainly felt easier to protect him when I hacked a bloodsucking sturge from his chest the next day.

John is a bit of a broken man, lost from his time in the army and disillusioned as a bounty hunter, he now just wants gold to find a piece of peace for himself, but I think unless he looks inward more he might find himself disappointed. That night on the trail, Karlov shared his challenging relationship with his father, Vilresh, who he found to be a bit stuffy. Karlov enjoys a bit more risk and doesn’t want to live in his father’s shadow, but it sounds to me like he doesn’t appreciate just how good he had it. He had lessons, and probably servants, he wouldn’t have worked a day in his life. I’m thinking he is a bit of a shallow playboy, but you never know. We finally arrived at the ruins, an assortment of various dilapidated buildings and a tower on a small hill. A sign warned us: “DANGER Plant monsters and zombies, turn back now”. Those two things didn’t sound very challenging to us anymore after goblins and Red Brands, so we boldly sauntered in. Looking through the window of the first building, Karlov spied four bodies slumped around what must’ve once been a tavern. Maybe it was once “The Drunken Nag”, “The Pickled Pony”, “The Munted Mare”, “The Hammered Horse”, or “The Sozzled Stallion”, but there was no more horseplay going on anymore. Wary of zombies, “Mr Tickle” pokes a slumped body in the eye, resulting in the four cadavers lumbering toward the door. While John and I engaged them, Karlov slinked in through the back door. Hacking through the exploding dust bombs, coughing with the ash and viscera, John struck true each time with his club and short sword destroying the four animated corpses in quick succession. The last dead man continued to rise each time we struck him down, only ceasing when I drew my battle axe, ending its life for the fourth, fifth, or god knows how many times. Arriving for the spoils, Karlov found a spiced rum behind the bar. It was no Captain Morgan, was the finest Kraken Rum, worth all of the treasures of the deep (5 silver). John and I joined Karlov for a quick drink at the bar, the rum clearing out the remaining zombie dust from our throats. The next ruin we came to was overgrown with weeds and branches, which reminded us of the warning sign of plant monsters. Climbing a nearby tree, Karlov uses his fairy fingers to pull on a weed growing from the ruin. A brown, wooden limb emerged from the brush and swung at the glowing hand, showing us it was not all weeds.. Thinking quickly, the elf ineptly fashioned an oil based Karlov Cocktail which he tossed into the greenery, destroying whatever may have lived there. We were then surprised to meet the very man we were looking for, the Druid Reidoth. He didn’t seem too disturbed that we had just burnt down some of the local flora. He appeared a little wary of us at first, but then discovered that I was a member of the Emerald Enclave. Reidoth turned out to be a Bearmaster of the very same order and welcomed us to his home.

He sought our help in dealing with the issues facing Thundertree, including animated plants called ’Twigblights’, zombies, humans in black masks, and some giant spiders. He also shocokingly

I said that right, a Green Dragon, in the tower. Twigblights, dangerous in large numbers Animated corpses Humans in masks Would take us to Wave Echo Cave if we deal with the Green Dragon Decide to help Finding a group of Twigblights which Karlov shows confidence in dealing with. Rushing into the group, he raises his sword and invokes dark magic, engulfing five of the Twigblights with black tendrils, tearing them to shreds. John and Garaci rush in and finish the remaining Twigblights. Smithy - destroy two zombies Giant spiders Loot 23 gold 35 silver

Session 7: To Dragon Or Not To Dragon John leaned back on his arms, sitting cross legged in front of the camp fire. The night was cool, the sky clear overhead and a full moon shining down. His companions slept, bedded down by the fire. Garaci’s snores were almost comically loud in the still night. John stared into the fire, thoughts of the day spinning in his head. A dragon. ​They’d killed a dragon​. After the fight with the giant spiders, John was exhilarated. After a few minutes of calm, he realised also just how drained he was. The others looked the same - that had been a close one and they all knew it. They took rest knowing there were more dangers awaiting them in the ruins of Thundertree. Emerging refreshed, they continued on exploring the village. John felt strong - he was eager for monsters to fight. His new club, a 2-inch thick cylinder, 2 foot long and with a strange handle jutting out, felt natural in his hand. It was black, a black so thick it seemed to darken

the space around it. He hefted it easily, the weighting perfect. It felt right in his hand. ​Bring it on, ​John thought. The group agreed to investigate the houses at the village entrance they had passed previously. The first house was a ruin. Four stone walls were all that remained, the earth slowly reclaiming even these as vines overtook them. Karlov peered over the wall. “Twigblights” he said, “Let’s do this”. The trio confidently entered the ruin, eager to put their weapons to work. Inside the walls, the scrub was dense, making movement difficult. They counted 6 twigblights, and went to work. The battle was swift, John’s club and sword felling them like a harvest scythe. Garaci did not fare so well - the branches seeming to snatch at her sword as she swung. She cursed as it was torn from her grasp. Swiftly pulling a hand-axe, the branches again snarled around her weapon and it too was ripped from her grasp. As she bellowed in rage, Karlov finished the final twigblight with a burst of dark flame. “No worries Garaci, we’ve finished them off” he said with a wry grin. A hand appeared from thin air, and retrieved her sword. Snatching it from the hand, Garaci stalked off without another word. John suppressed a grin and followed after. Entering another ruined house, John saw Garaci standing over a wooden chest. “Locked” she said. Pulling a crowbar from her pack, she made swift work, the chest opening with a scream of rusted hinges. A grin split Garaci’s face, as she pulled a handful of coins from the chest, letting them fall through her fingers. “Dat be more like it” she said with a smile. As they progressed through the village, they found an abandoned shop, shelves lined with tools long given over to rust. Garaci walked behind the counter, inspecting the old drawers. “What have we here?” she said, lifting a large gold necklace studded with brilliant emeralds. “Dis be Mirna’s for sure”. “Good find”, Karlov said nonchalantly, turned on his heel and walked straight out the door. His voice drifted back to them. “Let’s check out that farm house on the other side of the village”. John and Garaci followed the elf back to the large farmhouse they had seen from the spider-den. The house was larger than most of the buildings in town, and in far better condition. It’s thatched roof was intact, the windows shuttered. A stout wooden door filled the entryway. Karlov looked at the other two. “I’ll be back in a minute”, he said, and disappeared around the side of the building. John and Garaci shared a look - the elf was unpredictable, but he could handle himself. Returning a few minutes later, he reported on a rear entrance. “It wouldn’t budge”, he said with a shake of his head. “There must be something in there, this is the only half-decent building in this dump”. “Let’s just knock de door down” Garaci said, and strode up to the front entrance. Pushing on the door yielded no result. Fetching her crowbar, Garaci forced the door with an almighty heave. A voice from within sounded “Stay back! Leave now!”.

“Why don’t ya come out here and parlay wid us?” Garaci said. She stood by the door, sword at the ready. “Leave us alone. Get out of here!” the voice replied. The door slammed shut. The three gathered. “Bloody unfriendly of them” Karlov said. “I daresay a chimney full of zombies will make them see our side of things”. John snorted a laugh. Karlov generally found a reason to cut up their foes after felling them. John and Garaci sat back and watched as Karlov went to work, first retrieving and then dismembering a zombie into chimney shaped chunks. The man was determined, you had to give him that. Climbing on to the roof, he calmly stuffed the chimney full of zombie chunks. Karlov had a satisfied grin on his face. “”Shut the door on me will you” he said. “We’ll just bloody see about that”. After a few minutes, cries could be heard within the house. Soon, the door was pulled open, and 6 men ran from the building, a column of thick smoke following them. John calmly observed the men. They wore black masks over their faces, large black capes billowing behind them as they ran. Each had weapons drawn, and they formed up between the house and John and Garaci’s position. With a cry, Garaci fell on the group, her axe crashing down on the closest man with a devastating crunch. He fell to the ground stone dead. John entered the fray - the black figures looked rattled by the gruesome end of their comrade. Seizing his opportunity, John swung his weapons hard at a black clad figure, catching him in the ribs and head with savage strength. The figure crumpled to the ground. The 4 remaining figures stood side by side, and delivered their counter-attack. 2 men swung at John wildly, their curved blades whizzing through the air. John jumped back and the blades took only air, the men wild eyed as they overbalanced. They looked like frightened youths, not arcane cultists as Redoth had warned them. The other two concentrated on Garaci. In her rage, she barely seemed to notice as the men swung their weapons at her. The first still managed to miss, such was the wild nature of his swing. The second managed to retain his senses enough to deliver a glancing blow to Garaci. She never so much as flinched, but stared balefully at her attacker. The man stared back at her, terror in his eyes. A moment later, those eyes rolled upwards, as Karlov’s rapier pierced the man’s skull, the elf plunging from the roof above. Karlov landed on the man’s shoulders, knocking him to the ground. With half their number dead, the three remaining cultists resolve shattered. Before they could flee, John felled another man with another brutal blow from his club. The two others sprinted away from the building, screaming in terror. Garaci, pulling a handaxe from her belt, bellowed with rage and sent the weapon flying. It lodged in the back of one man’s skull, dropping him in full flight.

Drawing his longbow, John shouted to the last fleeing figure. “Stop running and we’ll let you live!”. The man slowed, then fell to his knees, hands clasped behind his head. Keeping his bow drawn, John approached the man. Kneeling before him was a terrified youth, shaking in fear. “What’s your name boy?” John asked. “B-Bule” the youth said. “Please. I don’t know anything. It was Favrick’s idea. You killed him!”. Interrogating the boy revealed little - a group of boys with adventure in their head had been taken in by this Favrick, and left their village to seek out the dragon. Favrick, able to speak draconic, had dealt with the creature and used the boys to seek treasure for the beast. The party took the boy to Redoth for safekeeping, while they investigated the rest of the town. There wasn’t much left to see. The handful of buildings in the northern section of the town were in ruin. All save one, a stone outbuilding with an open portcullis. “20 silvers says it’s zombies” Karlov said, “Any takers?”. As if on cue, the familiar growl of an ash zombie could be heard from within the structure. Figures began shuffling from within. Thinking quickly, Karlov summoned his mage hand. It flew up through the portcullis, finding home on a lever behind. With a heave, the hand shoved the lever down. The portcullis fell with a crash, smashing into a zombie directly below it. 4 zombies could be seen shuffling towards the portcullis and the trapped zombie. One lone zombie, the first to emerge from the building, kept coming towards the group. Garaci leaped immediately to attack the zombie, her axe smashing into it’s side, sending ash flying in all directions. John doubled over as the cloud washed over him, choking on the thick black ash. The trapped zombies had reached the portcullis, and here attempting to lift it from the injured zombie pinned underneath. With a scream of rusted iron, the portcullis lifted free. Concentrating on the lead zombie, John, Karlov and Garaci cut the creature down with a barrage of blows. The creature slumped to the ground, dead. Garaci immediately charged into the group of 5 zombies, axe whirling around her in a blur, biting deep into the closest foe. Close behind, John delivered a killing blow to the monster reeling from Garaci’s hit. John struggled to remember the rest of the fight. The air filled with ash as the group delivered blow after blow to the zombies. The creatures could only be felled by repeated, brutal attacks. John was lost in the frenzy of battle, swinging as hard as he could at any zombie within reach. His sword bit deep into zombie limbs; his club smashed into heads and torsos. Turning to one zombie, John smashed his club into the chin of the zombie, stunning it. He then swung his sword into the exposed neck, slicing straight through to decapitate the creature. Spinning round, John was faced with a zombie directly behind him. The creature held a sword high over it’s head. With a bellow, the zombie’s eyes opened wide and black flame exploded around it. The sword falling from its grip, the zombie doubled over and fell to the

ground dead. Karlov stood 10 paces behind the creature, and gave John a wink. John nodded his head in thanks. The ash cleared to reveal the corpses of 6 zombies, with various appendages strewn about the battlefield. To Do: Something about a dragon maybe? Session 8: Making Friends Karlov looked down at the gore on his hands. He preferred others to do his dirty work, but he was not going to leave this to the Barbarian or the Wildman. He wiped his hands on the black cloak of a deceased cultist. Bueller... or some such, Karlov mused. Anyway him and the rest of the dragon cult crazies were dead now, as was the dragon itself. Karlov threw the cloak on the floor and walked back to where he was working. A bottle of bile, a vial of blood, three teeth - each the size of a dagger, and a good number of scales. Karlov didn’t know what he would do with them but he hated to see an opportunity go to waste. He sheathed Vilesmaw, then whistled to get the attention of his companions, tossing a tooth to each of them. Then they left the lair, Job done. Back at Redoth’s dwelling, the druid marked the location of Cragmore Castle and the Lost mine of Phandelver on the group’s map. While the mine’s location and proximity to the town of Phandalin was being discussed, Karlov retrieved the bottle of Kraken Rum from his pack. He poured a glass for each of ​his friends,​ the druid however refused. Whatever, his loss. Karlov could not fathom it, if you denied yourself the pleasures of life what was left? Karlov held up his glass and downed the fiery liquid in one motion. ​His friends​… The thought circled around his mind. Were they his friends? He wasn’t sure. He had not had a friend for nearly a century. Peers…? Yes. Acquaintances…? Certainly. Contacts and associates? Of course. And then there was Karlov... But friends…? Not since he was a child. Karlov was dragged back to reality by a slap on the shoulder from Jon. “Tis a good drop that Kraken”. “Aye it is,” Karlov replied. Covered in the residue of battle and the trials of the wilderness, Jon looked in his element. Garaci and the druid were conversing over bears, spring and other tree-hugging mumbo-jumbo. ​Friends… ​ Two of them. And each as humourless and un-finessed as the other.

Karlov returned the Kraken to his pack, he was sure it would be released again soon. As he did, he noticed the book he had taken from the study of Iarno. “Redoth”, Karlov interrupted as he often did. “Are you able to read Dwarven? Would you mind having a look at this?”. Karlov tossed him the book. After some time Redoth advised the party that the book was the journal of a man named Ermon and related the history of the mine of Phandelver and the Altar of Spells, as well as ‘Lightbringer’ a mace dedicated to Lathander, deity of Dawn.

The next morning the party set out... at dawn. Karlov tried hard not to acknowledge the timing of their departure, he did not want to link it with the subject of Ermon’s journal. Karlov had no fondness for the gods. He was in charge of his life, not some invisible divine force. The first two day passed uneventfully as the adventurers trudged towards their destination, guided by Redoth. The second night proved more eventful however when a band of orcs lead an early morning assault on the camp. Redoth alerted his sleeping companions and Karlov reacted quickly, rushing forwards and unleashing a mass of necrotic black tendrils which feed on the life energy of three orcs. when the dark energies dissipated Jon fell upon the enemy delivering death with his characteristic nonchalance. His club collapsed the head of one orc, and his short sword severed the head of another. Before the lifeless bodies could collapse to the ground Garaci let out an exuberant howl as joined her pack felling one of the foul beasts with Talon. Karlov was momentarily lost in thought as he stared at the barbarian. The campfire-light reflected in her impossibly golden-amber eyes, and he swore her incisors were elongated…. Before he could consider it further Karlov was brought back to reality by simultaneous blows from two orc great axes. One bore the full fury of the orc, cutting a deep gouge from Karlov’s midriff to his shoulder and dropped him to his knees. Karlov likened it to being crushed in the maw of a green dragon, a comparison he was qualified to make. A flurry of attacks from sword, club, rapier, tooth and claw, saw the end to the remaining orcs. As Karlov wiped the thick black ichor from Vilesmaw, he could feel the waves of rancour radiating from the blade. After feasting on the soul of a dragon, Kalakus Vile seethed at the acrid taste of orc. In the early afternoon of the following day as they neared their destination, the party spotted four goblins on the trail ahead. Acting instinctively after many years of military service, Jon, in one fluid motion he drew his longbow, nocked an arrow and invoked the power of the wilds. The arrow head starting to glow a brilliant emerald green. Sprinting forwards he started closing the distance to the enemy, dropping to one knee momentarily to loosen salvos at the foe. As an second arrow embedded in the chest of a goblin, the emerald light pulsed, once… twice... and on third... an explosion of thorn laden vines burst from the goblin. Growing at an unnatural speed the brambles whipped around violently, shredding a second goblin who was unfortunate enough to be standing nearby. Karlov looked on and felt more than a twinge of envy at the display of arcane power. As the group bore down on the goblins (a process that was hampered by Redoth’s refusal to transform into a horse and carry Karlov into battle), they were once again struck by a thorny fusillade, leaving the lone survivor fleeing into the woods, leaving a bloody trail in his wake. It was no challenge for Jon to follow the trail as he relentlessly hunted down his hated foe. As Garaci scruffed the goblin to the ground and threatened to end its miserable life, Karlov arrived at the scene and intervened, coming to the goblin’s defence. Karlov did not share in his companions’ hatred

for goblins and it could prove itself more valuable alive than dead. Calling on his magic Karlov befriended the goblin and brokered a deal with this… Gronk. In exchange for information on Cragmore Castle, Karlov agreed to help Gronk supplant Groll as King of Cragmore Castle. Karlov was noncommittal on how many subjects would be left for Gronk to rule, and as he glanced at his friends he guessed not many if any. Moments later Karlov barely suppressing a grimace as Gronk, tongue sticking out and hands smudged with ink, used a fine quill to draw a crude map of Cragmore Castle. Gronk proceeded to use a sprinkle of gold dust and royal wax from Karlov’s forgery kit to finish off his masterpiece. Quill behind his ear and light sparkling off his glittery-gold face, Gronk proudly displayed the artwork to his new​ best friend.​ Karlov shuddered and mentally wrote off the 15 gold piece payment he was expecting from Gundrin.

As dusk approached the group reached their destination, Cragmore Castle. After some discussion on the best way forward, it was agreed that Jon and Karlov would double team to scout the castle and validate the accuracy of Gronk’s ‘Intel’. With Gronk free of Karlov’s charm, Garaci agreed to keep watch on the goblin and promised he would be alive when they returned. Karlov had witnessed what Garaci was capable of when she opened what he termed the ‘rage cage’. He was unconvinced she could keep her word. Jon and Karlov stationed themselves on the perimeter of the clearing. As Jon settled in to survey the castle’s defences, Karlov stated that he would be back soon and promptly vanished. With the boldness of an invisible man, Karlov strode up to the castle perimeter and circled round to the east where he was surprised to discover an iron gate as indicated on the goblin’s map. Karlov was not surprised however to discover the gate was rusty and locked. Karlov was also not surprised at the odour emanating from within the castle. As he worked on the lock with two picks, Karlov cursed his lack of oil and perfume and incense. With dusk deepening, Jon’s instincts, honed through years in the military and the wilderness, told him he was being watched. The feeling grew and Jon placed his hands on the hilts of his weapons, his muscles tensed, he was ready to react. A slap on the shoulder and Jon spun around to face his stalker… only to be confronted with Karlov’s mage hand displaying a gesture that Jon recognised from his years in the military. “Goblin’s story checks out. Let’s find Garaci.” Returning to the others, Jon and Karlov relayed their finding. The party agreed to sneak through the side-hatch, after resting. Karlov unpacked his roundish bedroll. In the early hours of the morning Jon Garaci and Karlov began their infiltration of the keep. Redoth, true to his word would not accompany them, but he did agree to keep watch over the heir to Cragmore Castle.

Under the cover of darkness Karlov lead the party towards the secret entrance. As they neared the side-hatch, Karlov heard the snapping of a twig behind him. In the dead of night the sound seemed to echo of the castle walls. “Fucking amateurs” Karlov thought as he simultaneously quickened his pace and held his breath…. Whoooop… Whoooop... Thunk…Thunk, thunk . Karlov counted in his head, “One.. two... three…” then exhaled. The silence told Karlov that none of his companions were hit. Reaching the entrance the trio quickly ducked inside. They had made it in, but with the castle on high alert, how many of them would make it out? The side-hatch opened into a large room, the back of it lost in darkness. With no indication of where to start their search, Garaci burst through the door on her left revealing a mess hall filled with goblins. As fierce battle erupted. Jon clubbed greenskins to the ground, Karlov unleashed tendrils of life-sucking energy and Garaci systematically disarmed herself, first dropping Talon then her newly acquired battle axe ‘Hew-Mongous’. When the melee ended, Karlov believed the room earned its name, with eight goblin lying dead amidst overturned tables and splintered chairs, and three friends wondered where to go next....

Session 9: The Siege of Cragmore 3 copper 405 silver 140 gold 3 gold trinkets - knife, chalice, censer (20gp each) 1 x Potion, 2 x scrolls

Session 10ish - Marcon will be killed

Marcon Industries  Trespassers will be  killed  The simple wooden sign was posted on the boundary of Marcon Industries. A rye grin spread across Karlov’s face as he pushed Garaci over the line. She was much stronger than he, but with the right timing and the element of surprise... He considered himself proficient at reading others, but Garaci... so far she had eluded him. He couldn’t tell if she enjoyed these little skirmishes. She must he thought, otherwise she wouldn’t engage. And she gave as good as she got. Either way, ​Karlov​ enjoyed them. As the barbarian stumbled forwards the ground beneath her feet fell away and she disappeared from view. The smile

was wiped clean off of Karlov’s face with the realisation that he may have caused the death of a good friend, again… _________________________________________________________________________

“Move aside. This is none of your business. These men are the property of Marcon Industries”. The guards were escorting a horse drawn wagon. Mounted on the back back was a large metal cage, filled with twenty odd weathered men. When they spotted the convoy approaching, Garaci had warned her friends that the men were under the employ of Marcon, her former lover and now nemesis. “Well... we’re about to make it our business. My friend here says that ‘you be bad men’. Let’s see just how bad you really are”. Karlov sprang forwards, running towards the group of armed guards. As he did a hail of bolts tore up the road at his feet, one of them scoring a glancing hit on his leg. Reaching their line he gripped Vilesmaw in both hands and inky

black tentacles erupted from it, each covered in skeletal mouths filled with gnashing teeth. Two of the enemy were caught in the assault. Looking over his shoulder Karlov could see his allies engaging the others. With a howl Garaci was by Karlov’s side, Talon in hand raining down blows on the guard who appeared to be their leader. Once he was dealt with, Karlov used his arcane powers to pin the man driver of the cart… (boy, he was merely a boy) in place, “Stay there”. Retrieving rope from her pack, Garaci climbed up and bound the boy’s hands and feet behind his back. She followed this with a blow to his abdomen, then, as he doubled over to catch his breath, she kicked the boy off the cart onto the ground. He landed next to the other surviving guard, who was unconscious at John’s feet. “They don’t look like ‘bad men’ to me Garaci”. “No Karlov, they look like babies eh”. _________________________________________________________________________ The air was filled with death as adventures, Morcon Industry guards and freelancers exchanged volleys of bolts, arrows and blasts of dark energy. Indifferent to the danger, Garaci emerged from the pit a woman possessed. In a frenzy of bloodlust she hurled an axe at the boy on the cart. It cleft the upper half of his head in two. For the second and last time he fell off the wagon. Without stopping Garaci ran to where the Red Baron lay face down, a bolt in his back. In one swift motion she scooped up his crossbow and fired at one of the guards who had ambushed them. John and Karlov ran into the long grass to circled around the pit trap and flank the enemy. _________________________________________________________________________

With a barely audible grunt John pulled a bolt from his chest. One of the guards was a keen eye with the crossbow, hitting the ranger with a shot that would have killed a lesser man. John dubbed this one ‘The Red Baron’, after a famous dragon-rider. _________________________________________________________________________

John squinted as he watched the men of Candor begin their trudge back West, the dawn sun on their backs. The journey would take them many days. When they were out of sight John turned his gaze to the North, for that was the way their path lead, the path to the silver mines of Morcon Industries. John was dressed in the clothes of a Marcon Industry guard. Karlov sat adjacent to the boy driving the cart. John watched as Karlov closed his eyes. When he opened them again, the half-elf’s face had melded into that of the commanding guard, and the empty cage now seemed filled with men destined to labour in the mines. “Hey John. Shouldn’t you be driving?” Karlov yelled as they started rolling towards the silver mine. “You did such a sterling job with Gundrin’s wagon”. Shaking his head, John

saw an unmistakable flash of white from under the wagon. “You liked that one did you Garaci?” he muttered under his breath. Gundrin turned to John, “What happened to my wagon?” _________________________________________________________________________

After traversing the clearing the wagon pulled up at the large front gates of the silver mine. While nonchalant during the approach, the garrison in the watch tower had now trained a ballista on them. “We’ve got Marcon’s new… ‘employees’. You know, the ones from… eh…” ​Fuck​…

Turning his head towards Karlov, John covered his mouth and coughed “​Crandor​”. “Crandor. We’ve come from Crandor. Just open the gates”.

The silence grew longer and was eventually broken by the snap of the ballista firing. The bolt struck John with such force that the barbed head, and a full foot of shaft, penetrated through his back. _________________________________________________________________________

John brought the Red Baron back to consciousness, while Garaci threatened to start tearing limbs off. The guards eventually revealed that the men in the cage were not prisoners, but employees. They had signed a contract, agreeing to work in Marcon’s silver mine for one year. In exchange Marcon would restore their town’s wells which had mysteriously dried up. “Dis be true? Did you boys be signing some fancy paperwork?” “Aye,” Replied one of the ‘prisoners’, his voiced laced with regret, “We signed the contract but Marcon still hasn’t fixed our wells!" Garaci turned to the captive guards, “How much Marcon be paying you? How ‘bout you be working for me now? I be paying you boys 10 gold pieces each if you help me kill Marcon. What you say eh? It’s a lot more than Marcon be paying you”. _________________________________________________________________________

Karlov was reclining on top of the wagon, legs crossed over the buckboard. From his pack, He retrieved a leather satchel and unbuckled it, revealing parchment, quills and an inkwell. “Now, how about we write up a new contract….” Karlov began. “The encumbered - That’s the two of you...” he pointed at the men lying bloodied and bound on the ground, “...Hereby enter into this agreement willingly and of sound mind. We agree, to the best of their ability, to provide services to one Garaci Calabra in the killing of one Marcon… very bad man. In exchange Garaci Calabra will pay the encumbered the sum of 10 gold pieces each, and will spare your miserable lives”. Karlov thrust the document in front of the still bound guards. “Just sign here please”.

“I… I never learnt to write”. Karlov sighed, “No matter. I find it much harder to renege on a contract signed in blood”. Karlov deftly sliced the palms of the bound men, allowing the blood to pool, before pressing their thumbs onto the parchment. As Karlov released the Red Baron’s hand, he stared at the bloody thumb print. Yes… he knew all too well how trapped you could feel after signing a contract in blood. _________________________________________________________________________

“Help me out of this thing and we’ll call it even, eh Garaci?” Karlov tried to suppress his grimace of pain as he indicated to the metal bear-trap biting into his right leg. Garaci strode up to the half-elf and glowered down at him, eyes aflame. Her nostrils flared and her chest heaved as the rage boiled inside her. There was an audible crack as she clenched her fists. Karlov’s head reeled and his vision narrowed, the blackness threatening to engulf it entirely. As the darkness receded, he felt a second teeth rattling blow across his jaw. Karlov could taste the blood pooling in his mouth. Garaci punched him a third time, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. “Now we be even Karlov. Now we be even”. _________________________________________________________________________

Karlov felt rather than heard a satisfying click. The bear-trap released its grip on John who had also fallen foul of Marcon Industries’ security systems. With them both free, Karlov returned his thieves tools to their pocket in his duster.

As John threw the trap aside, Garaci slumped the lifeless body of the red Baron down in front of him. Half a dozen bear-traps were hanging from it, steel teeth biting into arms, legs and torso. Garaci seemed oblivious to the grizzly nature of her problem solving skills. “The path be clear now. Get back on de Wagon John”. _________________________________________________________________________

With the ropes secured to the wooden palisade, the trio began their assault on the mine’s fortifications. John and Garaci secured the breach-point, while Karlov, vaulted off the ramparts and sprinted towards the gnome who was intent on killing them with alchemical fire. On the rampants John dealt blow after sickening blow with his club and sword, cutting his way to the ballista. Not to be outdone, Garaci lifted a guard off the ground and hurled him from the battlements. _________________________________________________________________________

Karlov walked over to Garaci and handed her the contract. “They’ll turn on you Garaci”. “No me don’t be thinking they will Karlov, Dey’s want me gold too much”. “That’s precisely what I’m worried about. Watch your back Garaci... just, watch your back. Garaci face lit up with a humongous grin that displayed her white teeth. “I don’t need to be watching me back, not when you be around eh Karlov....” _________________________________________________________________________

John trained the ballista on the guard scaling the wall. Thunk. The huge bolt from the ballista repelled the guard away from the wall. As he swung back in he hit the wooden palisade with a thud, then resumed his climb. “He must have troll blood coursing through his veins,” John yelled. As the guard swung his first leg over the wall, he was seized by Garaci. Lifting him over her head, Garaci stared him deadpan in the eye. Terror looked back at Garaci. With all her strength Garaci impaled the guard on a sharpened log of the palisade. Never so much as blinking even as her face was splattered with blood. Garaci slowly licked her lips, “No John, it be normal blood”. _________________________________________________________________________ Karlov stared down into the face of the Red Baron. He held the point of Vilesmaw to the man’s throat. Karlov felt the urge to kill him. He should kill them both. But something stayed his hand. The men were bound to betray Garaci, likely at the most inopportune time. For all her confidence, Garaci could be naive. Or, perhaps I should be more trusting. This will be a lesson for one of us Karlov thought as he sheathed his blade. _________________________________________________________________________

As the Gnome rained down blows on Karlov, he could feel his life essence draining away. He needed to kill, to take life, and sustain his own. Parrying another blow with his dagger, Karlov spotted a guard in his peripheral vision, crossbow leveled at his chest. Karlov braced himself, “This is it”. As his finger started squeezing the trigger, the guard was thrown against the stonewall of the mine’s entrance. A spear-sized bolt puncturing his head. Karlov turned towards the guard tower to see John lowering the ballista and giving him a confirmatory nod. Turning his attention back to the gnome, Karlov was relieved to see Garaci bringing Talon down on the diminutive villian’’s head. Seeing an opening Karlov embedded Vilesmaw in the last guard’s chest. He immediately felt his body refilling with vitality. _________________________________________________________________________

Karlov could sense Kalakus Vile laughing at him. The irony was not lost on the Spellblade, but this was one joke he did not find funny. He tried to suppress the feeling as he walked away from the sign marking the boundary of Marcon’s territory. A single flick of blood from Vilesmaw articulating Karlov’s resolve to be a better person….

Short rest in tower Brigand opens the door, ballisted after Karlov impersonates ‘Oscar’ Attempts to open the door using a horse, rope, and the end or a ballista bolt G finds a pressure plate trap, activating it with a rolling barrel, 4 spikes spring from the wall In a gigantic mining hall, Marcon pleads for Garaci to come back to him After engaging the brigands, Karlov turns himself invisible and sneaks into the room. Garaci engages, but after taking a bolt and a few hits, runs with John back to safety outside the mine. After a few minutes, a brigand peeks out of the door and sees John and Garaci with bow and bolt levelled at the opening. The brigands block and lock the door and Marcon sends The Enforcer out the back passage to sneak around. John and Garaci wait outside, while Karlov snips the fuse and uses some hologram spells to create a barrier and try and remove the boulders. Shhing the slaves. After a few minutes of waiting, and searching, Garaci starts to hew at the door trying to get back in, fearing Karlov may be in danger or maybe he has dealt with the threat. After hacking, The Enforcer and his fellows appear behind John in the passageway. While Garaci keeps hacking, John brutally enforces The Enforcer. Karlov and Garaci attack Marcon and his guards, who flees. He throws a barrel at Garaci then escapes out of a grate. She follows him. Jumps on a horse, Crossbow bolt misses. Karlov appears and freezes him. Garaci mounts the horse and stands over him. Marcon makes one last attempt to wrest Garaci from the horse, feebly failing.

Karlov ties up Marcon Frees the slaves Ties Marcon to the front door. Persuades the slave leader Generi to use the ballista to wreak vengeance upon Marcon. Three bolts miss, one into his shoulder, then one directly into his head. Garaci tells Karlov to take the spoils from the chest. Generi is given 100gp worth of silver and the cart to go and hire an engineer to fix the water woes of his village.

Return to Phandallan 8 sturges Hail of Thorns from John kills 3 4 orcs at range Sell items at Phandallan Go to ruins and meet Agatha Swap her comb for a question: “What would put you at peace?” My comb Takes her comb and disappears Sister Gorail asks what happened to the book of Beaugentle Karlov lies to her but Garaci corrects her Destroy orcs at Wyvern Tor More orcs annihilated on the way back

To Old Owl Well Encounter 11 goblins Arms of Hadar kills 3, the rest run On to old tower in a state of disrepair with a red tent out the front. In the tent there is a cot, desk, and a trunk. Karlov and John unsuccessfully jimmy the trunk.

Returning to Phandallan 5 wolves are skulking down the path Karlov sprints forward and readies Arms of Hadar Owl Bear encounter - Killed Garaci - Karlov Healing potion on her - level up 7 Goblins Slept at The Sleeping Giant Inn in Phandallan. Saw Sister Gorail and spoke of the Necromancer of Tarth that was dispatched at Old Owl Well.

In Wave Echo Cave Proceeds from Wave Echo Cave: 10% of proceeds 10% of proceeds from Altar of Spells

1100 CP 160 SP 50 GP

3 Diamonds (100gp each) Wooden pipe adorned with platinum filigree