Our campaign started with the retelling of the summary of Talingarde and how the characters were easily captured by the inquisitors, tried, and convicted by the Mitran Priests to Branderscar for death.
Once at Branderscar, the characters were manhandled roughly and branded on their face (Cheek) by Sergeant Tomas Blackerly. Opal was singled out for extra torture due to her brutally lashing out and injuring several of the guards. After the brutality inflicted upon Opal to set a clear message to the other prisoners was made, a mysterious stranger (Woman) arrived and spoke with Rolf, gifting him a veil of items with the promise that should they escape their benefactor would like to meet them. With that, Rolf returned and immediately shared the information and items. Aenil freed the group from their chains, and working with another prisoner (An ogre named Grumblejack) they managed to overcome the two guards assigned to watch them. A careful exploration allowed them to recover their personal gear, plus an unusual dagger (Chained to a board). Exploring further, they found sleeping guards (who were killed swiftly) and kitchen servants (who they allowed to live). They found evidence the sergeant was corrupt and running an illegal gambling ring, along with skimming money from the prison itself. They likewise located the magical key to remove the collars that impaired their magical powers and spell casting. They swiftly killed two more guards before using the resources and information gained to escape Branderscar.
Upon arrival at the Moor Manor of their benefactor, they were met by a half-goblin butler/accountant named Jarvis and the strange woman (Tiadora) who had them cleaned up and made presentable for the master of the manor, a man known as Adrastus Thorne, a cardinal of Asmodeus. He proposed they join his holy crusade to reclaim Talingarde and become the new rulers of the island. Realizing the futility of striking out on their own, each character present signed the pact and became bound in more ways than one to the Cardinal. They also learned the Cardinal is also branded, but was believed to have died and thus uniquely is a sole survivor of the Asmodean purges...
(Each character is benefiting from being Thorne's follower +1 Positive level + Mystic Link w/ Communication to Darkness, an Infernal Minidrake Familiar; they were also gifted with customized Asmodeus Holy Symbols - constant disguise self effect)
Opal met with another group likewise hosted by the cardinal, a group known as the White Ravens, led by a woman known as Elise (Human Female), her bodyguard Dostan (Half-Elf Male), and twins Tallus and Titus (Human Male). Through conversation, it is clear Tallus has an unrequited love for Elise (Or a very unhealthy obsession over her) and this band is not Forsaken (After all, escaping Branderscar is a unique and first-time event, so encountering another branded should be rare...) but instead were recruited from the mainland near Neverwinter (North of Waterdeep, Sword Coast)
Side Story RP: During the downtime, Aenil and Opal had a playful interaction and then visited Bartholomew to discover more about the dagger taken from Branderscar Prison. They woke up the magical dagger and after some interaction decided to call it Adara. The group gathered at Rolf's request and introduce Adara to those present (Amunet and Penny are unknowns)
Rolf cooked a meal (And through interaction brought the servant/slave female #5 named Paula out of her mind-fog state) and then invited everyone to join via Darkness (Minidrake hub for communications). Since Penny is a shadow and exploring, I decided she can be present in the shadows and hear what Aenil said at Rolf's meal. (He started in the generic, and then we jumped to the Group Gatherings side interactions thread.)
Aenil wanted to interact with Grumblejack, mainly heal him and gain him as a follower/cohort for either herself or the group.
After a 3-month training in teamwork and building up the capabilities of the group, Cardinal Adrastus Thorne declared the formation of the Nessian Knot (Party Template granted) and bade them bring the war to Talingarde. He then laid out his immediate plans:
The Knot would accompany mercenary ship captain Odenkirk along with munition supplies to a bugbear warlord named Sakkrot Fire-Axe, then eliminate Odenkirk after being deposited at Aldencross where they would kill the commander of Watch Wall Keep Balentyne (and any other impediments to the Bugbear invasion).
Once those two tasks were completed, they'd break a magic item that would notify Adrastus.
Last edited by drew0500, June 08 2023 23:43:04. Secured game article. You most log in to contribute.