Bighten the Shadowlands 2008
Brighten the Shadowlands
D&D 4th edition adventure
Adventure 1: Winterhaven
The adventure begins with a group of travelers approaching Winterhaven from Fallcrest. The group is attacked along the King's Road heading to Winterhaven by a band of kobolds. The group quickly wades through the kobolds and enters the village of Winterhaven. The group investigates the town a bit but mainly hangs around the Inn.
Adventure 2: On the Way to the ForestCliff Lair
The party asks around town for information on Douven, Cults, and Kobolds. Lord Padriag informs the group about a reward for cleaning out the kobold den south west of Winterhaven. Dradus learns about another Kobold lair in the Kobold Hall. Eugora-mi learns that the Keep of the Shadowfell may contain goblins. Orsig gathers more info on the kobold reward and inspires the group to head to the lair.
Adventure 3: Massacre at the ForestCliff Lair
The party heads further south following the map given by Padrig and come upon a picturesque waterfall. The group quickly dispatches a band of kobolds outside the waterfall and shoot spells and arrows at some kobolds lurking behind the waterfall.
Khan finds a section of briars and brambles near the cliff but away from the waterfall. He diligently cuts through the briars to reveal another entrance to the lair.
Khan notices a bunch of kobolds and moments after he attacks one they notice him and advance aggressively at the invader. The kobolds yell for "Irontooth" and an axe wielding goblin comes out of the darkness.
Khan manages to escape the kobold mob and runs to the others. Khan releases a hoard of kobolds on the group examining the magic circle. Fidel is ready and targets some kobolds that leap from the waterfall but he is quickly surrounded.
The advancing kobolds take out the Paladin quickly but he keeps getting up before they choose to move on. After multiple rounds the Paladin dies.
Next the dragonscales move in to kill the Warlord while Irontooth advances on Dradus. A kobold skirmisher beats on Dradus and he runs to hide. A kobold minion charges Dradus and kills him.
Eugora and Fidel are split from the party by advancing kobolds while Ellewin is overrun by 2 skirmishers, Irontooth, and a dragonshield. Khan is attacked by the slyblade, but manages to break free. Ellewin is downed soon after Eugora is knocked unconscious.
Khan flees for the road running through the forest. Fidel trades attacks with a skirmisher and minion. Fidel eventually kills the minion, but the skirmisher kills Fidel. The badly bruised kobolds retreat to the lair as the party lay dying. Eugora manages to wake up and arrives back in town shortly after Khan.
Adventure 4: Return to ForestCliff Lair
Nicholas opens the door and the goblins fire crossbow bolts at the party. Hiram charges in and smacks a goblin just as a Hobgoblin takes too rods from a fire pit. One goblin runs and locks himself in a cage where he can get a few good shots at the party. Merric quickly disables the hobgoblin torturer while Khan blasts goblins everywhere. Hiram challenges the hobgoblin, but the torturer dies shortly after. Khan talks to a prisoner goblin Splug while the rest of the party spends time killing the last of the goblin snipers. Nicholas takes the bloodcut armor from the hobgoblin.
Khan frees the goblin Splug and demands information about the complex. Splug is enthusiastically helpful yet vague. The group accepts his agreement to go into the treasure room excavation site down the hall if Splug reveals the location of the Secret door to Balgron's sleeping quarters. Balgron is the goblin chieftain.
The group scurries down the hall to the excavation site and quickly kill 2 guard drakes and 3 goblin archers. Khan and Splug fall off a plank, Merric falls from a plank, and Hiram breaks a plank when he attempts to cross. The group finds a few pieces of coin and a holy symbol.
The group returns to the location of the secret entrance to Balgron's lair and Splug shows them the hidden doorway. A small stairs leads up to a wall. Marcus discovers a secret door but the group isn't too quiet about it. Balgon and his sergeant are waiting but Balgron quickly flees. The party is too quick and pulls Balgron back into the room. Khan gave Splug a dagger and Splug swings wildly at Balgron after Khan is pelted with crossbow bolts from a dozen goblins down a hallway leading to Balgron's room. Hiram defends the party and takes a beating as Merric blasts the goblins with flame and fear effects.
The battle is over quickly and Khan frees Splug from his shackles. The group finds a large cache of gold and gives Splug 60 gold. Splug tells them little about IronTooth but enough info about the caverns below to satisfy the party.
The group learns a little more from Splug and leaves to return to town for the night. Splug ventures away free from Balgron's tyranny.
The party returns to Winterhaven to find the gates sealed. Lord Padrig tells the group that something is happening in the cemetery. The tired group reluctantly ventures to the cemetery to check things out.
Adventure 9: Winterhaven Graveyard
The party ventures to the Winterhaven Graveyard and are attacked by multiple skeletons rising from the graves. The group quickly dispatches them and realizes Ninaran is firing arrows from a mausoleum. The group quickly kills her and removes some strange arcane symbols on the graveyard ground. The group finds a note from Kalarel.
The group searches the other mausoleums and when they exit they encounter a hoard of zombies, but again they dispatch them quickly and their zombie master.
The group returns to town to be rewarded by Lord Padrig.
The group visits the Shadowfell Keep the next day and clears out a section of caves that Splug identified for them. The group fights some rats and ochre jelly as well as a blue slime in a pool in a room off the side of the caverns. The group works well together as they elmiminate the slime. The group recovers some letters about Kalarel and the blood reavers.
Adventure 10: Return to Shadowfell Keep
The party rested then returned to the shadowfell. They cleared out a Kruthik den and proceeded to the dark area to wipe out some zombies.
The group then found a crypt with multiple sarcophagus . When they started to investigate multiple skeleton warriors spewed fourth to fight them. The group was split up and the skeletons fought valiantly but were no match for the party.
Eventually the group made it to a room with 2 altars to Bahamut. Merric cast a ritual to determine what the draconic inscriptions were.
Even though they believed they were at the doorway to Sir Keegans tomb they decided to sleep the night.
Adventure 11: Sir Keegan the Insane
The group meets Sir Keegan and negotiates with the tormented spirit. Hirma is granted the use of Aecris, Sir Keegan's magical sword.
The group leaves Sir Keegan and sets off a few more screaming ruins but eventually manage to make it past them. Marcus spots a secret passage and the group move through to kill a few zombies. The group answers a riddle and receives some black iron armor.
The group ventures further and finds a stairway down. The group goes down and meets two hobgoblin guards. They present a challenge word and Marcus answers with an old password the group found on Ninaran. The hobgoblins attack. The group fights the hobgoblins as a new ally appears from a nearby cell to help them. The ally warns them of more hobgoblins.
The group wanders through a few more corridors and get separated by a Gelatinous cube. Four members of the group get trapped in this invisible cube but eventually the new ranger and warlock break them out.
The group takes a break outside the door marked "Closed"
Adventure 12: Who did we pass up?
The group cleaned out a few zombies from the crypt and found a chest with some valuables. The group exited a doorway to the large hall and were surprised to find a band of hobgoblins. The warcaster hit the group with a force pulse and ordered anothe hobgoblin to go get reinforcements. The group cut through the firstwave of hobgoblins but 2 more waves came to reinforce.
Some of the group was separated by a closed door and the wizard and paladin fell to multiple attacks. The warlock got caught in a predicament and could not escape the onslaught. The Tiefling then found himself knocked unconscious. The door was shut and the ranger and cleric waited. Then the cleric decided to unlock the door with the ranger ready to fire. No one was around. The hobgoblins remaining carted off the 4 party members ... it became apparent they were somehow related to the Blood Reavers. The Cleric and Ranger sought the rest of the group, but soon gave up and fled to Winterhaven to form a rescue party.
Adventure 13: A Daring Rescue
Marcus and Lucan return to Winterhaven to gather help, Vondal, Cyan and George, to help rescue the others from the blood reavers. They find 3 ready adventurers that choose to help for some pay. The flower girl informs them that she saw their friends being transported to a cave north of Winterhaven but east of the Shadowfell Keep.
The group takes her word and head to the caves.
At the caves, the group eliminates a dozen hobgoblins and rescue the party. The party returns to winterhaven but waste no time and return to the Keep to get their equipment and treasure.
The three other party members take their leave along with their share of the hobgoblin loot.
The group returns to the hobgoblin rooms and eliminate the war chief, subcommander, and his archers. The group finds their equipment and a magic sword, but no gold.
The group moves further south through the 2nd level and find a titan statue and some other statues. The statues turn out to be traps and half the group is caught in a whirlpool between the statues. The members manage to disable the traps except the dragons and rest near the next doorway.
Adventure 14: Lower Levels
The group enters a room of zombies and rips through the bodies. The group then uncovers a hidden passage that contains the bodies of children and women that were probably killed by Keegan and they kill those zombies as well.
The group then engages a subpriest of Orcus and some vampire spawn. The group cust through the vampires minions and berserker guards. The subpriest yells to Kalarel and jumps into a pit, but he lands in a pool of blood. The group rests for the upcoming battle with Kalarel.
Adventure 15: Defeated by Kalarel
The group prepares to fight and starts targeting enemies from the pit ledge. Some of the wights below return fire with attacks that immobolize. Eventually Nicholas decides to climb down the chains and Hiram decides to go as well. Hiram slips first on the bloody chains and is bloodied once he hits the pool of blood below. Nicholas makes better progress and eventually Lucan and Marcus slide down. Merric and Khan remain up top blasting away at Kalarel and his fanatics. The battle goes well until Hiram, Marcus, and Khan are severely injured and almost out of healing. Lucan tries to toss the mirror into the portal that has a dark claw swatting at the party members as it protects Kalarel. The group manages to kill the underpriest but Kalarel heals as he attacks and soon smites Hiram and Lucan. Shortly after that Nicholas and Marcus fall as well.
Khan runs away but Merric stays and continues to cast, but Kalarel's wights soon kill Merric.
Khan flees back through the upper levels and retreats back to Winterhaven.
Khan returned to Winterhaven with bad news but found out more about the blood reavers under Thunderspire Mountain. A group of other adventureres including Vondal and Cyan decided to go to Thunderspire Mountain as well. The group found news of Thunderspire and ventured forth through a Vale to the Minoutars Gate.
Through the gate and down a long corridor the group encountered a pack of wild hyenas lead by a demonic hyena.
Next the group encountered a dwarf thane and his men. The group was polite and were allowed passage.
Next the group saw a light and Lordarin heard voices down a passage and through a door. Cyan burst in and was attacked by hobgoblin Blood Reavers. The group quickly dispatched the hobgoblins and found a halfling imprisoned.
Adventure 17: The Seven Pillard Hall
The group rescues Rendil and joins him to the HalfMoon Inn inside the Seven Pillard Hall.
The group met Bruug in the Inn but weren't too pleased.
The group delivered the dagger to Gendar and got another job to find a scepter.
The group learned about the Chamber of Eyes where the Blood Reavers may harbor prisoners.
The group wandered the Shining Road to the Avenue of Glory and encountered some fire bats. The group quickly took them out.
The group put out a fire of lumber owned by a dwarf miner.
The group wandered around more and finally discovered the Chamber of Eyes.
Adventure 18: The Chamber of Eyes
The group raided the Chamber of Eyes and encountered a few goblins and bugbears at first that put up little resistance. Lordarin stood guard near the labyrinth passage.
Venturing in further the group encountered a bunch of goblin archers, a few hobgoblin archers, and A Dire wolf. Khan ran up some nearby stairs and alerted 2 Duergar of the groups intrusion. The Duergar quickly responded and beat their way down the stairs.
The group backed off and the archers were only able to target the Soveliss and dropped him quickly. The Wolf was handled by the Vondal and Khan. Mavis and Cyan beat down the Duergar. It looked good at first, but the Hobgoblin leader and some warriors were notified. A warcaster snuck around and surprised Mavis and Cyan. Eventually Vondal was able to kill the Warcaster, but not before a warrior and Krand the Chief knocked him unconscious. Mavis fled and grabbed Soveliss as a warrior chased after him.
Cyan was able to kill Krand before he fell.
Khan was separated and the archers shot him down. Cyan was knocked unconscious as he fled.
The Bloodreavers stabilized the group of future slaves and allowed Mavis to escape.
Mavis and Soveliss rested for the night waiting for Lordarin to return.
Adventure 19: Murder in the Chamber of Eyes
Mavis, Soveliss, and Lordarin returned to rescue the rest of the group from the Blood Reavers. They ventured through a hidden door found on a balcony during their last raid. The group fought multiple goblins and hobgoblins and overpowered them. Two humans helped the hobgoblins and one escaped into the Labyrinth. The group defeated the hobgoblins, rescued 2 other slaves, and looted the entire Chamber of Eyes. The group found a map and a letter written by a Duergar who purchased slaves from the Blood Reavers. The group interrogated a goblin then killed him.
The group returned to the Seven Pillard Hall to rest and told Brugg about the letter and their victory against the Blood Reavers. The group rested after being rewarded by the prisoners with ale, and by the dwarf miner Ulthand for saving some mining equipment from being burned by firebats.
The group learned more about the Duergar and headed down the Shadow Road towards some Duergar fortress. On the way to the fortress the group encountered a few troglodytes and an angel of Torog. The group dispatched 2 Trogs and the Angel, but 2 Trogs escaped.
The group was so badly beaten that they returned to the Seven Pillard Hall to rest.
Adventure 20: Detour on the way to the Duergar Stronghold
The group headed towards the Duergar stronghold in pursuit of the slaves, but somehow got detoured. The group encountered a deathlock wight who offered them a key to the Court of Bones. The group took the key and then killed the wight. The group headed to the Cisterns where the Court of Bones is rumored to be.
The group had to traverse an underwater cavern and came up in a small chamber filled wth Trogs and Gricks.
Cyan had to take the brunt of the attacks while the rest of the group swam forward in the cavern passage.
Eventually the group was able to overcome the Trog shaman who had so severely hurt them on the Shadow Road the day before. The group decided it best to rest for the night in the stenched chamber.
Adventure 21: Chamber of Bones
The group interrogated the Trog Shaman and allowed him to live after he gave the group info on finding the Bone Chamber.
The group found the Chamber and defeated quite a few undead including some Minotaur Skeletons.
The group left the Cisterns to find the path south leading to the Duergar. Along the way the group met the Thane of Cardanas again and Lordarin decided to join his rag tag group of followers.
The group ventured to the Duergar Stronghold and were met at the gate by Orcs shooting crossbows. Eventually the mages were able to eliminate the threats and one Orc scurried off. Soveliss opened the gate from the inside.
The group fought a few more Orcs and some Duergar and an Smithy dwarf who had quite a few tricks up his sleeves. The group finally defeated the smiths and barred the 2 doors leading into the Bastion.
Adventure 22: Duergar Stronghold
The group fought some more Duergar and a Duergar champion. Next they bravely crossed a chasm using tables as shields. The group faced 2 arbertors and a Duergar therge. The group defeated the next wave of Duergar after breaking through the doors to the next building.
Adventure 23: Duergar Slave pits
The group barely got time to rest when some Orcs and an Ogre came busting into the area. The Ogre was dealt with by the defenders and the strikers took out the orcs in the rear.
The group proceeded to the chapel and were accosted by multiple wights. The group got drained of much needed health, but continued on. The group found a few locked doors and a minotaur burial chamber.
Finally the group burst through a concealed door and found some slave pits. The group found most of the prisoners from Riverdown. The group beat down 2 spined devils and 3 Duergar, but not before one of the Duergar ran for a door, opened the door and yelled for help. The group would barely have time to rest before Murkelmor would arrive.
Adventure 24: Grimmerzuhl leader
The group waited for the attack in the slave pit area. Vondal managed to rescue a dwarf who then proceeded to rescue the other prisoners and they were led to the secret door exit.
Mavis barred the door but multiple Duergar were attacking from the other side. Soveliss prepared but was surprised to see the Duegar Murkelmur slip through a secret passage and attack Mavis.
Soveliss attacked with a firery burst but it didn't seem to phase the Duergar. The door came crashing down on Cyan and 2 Duergar beat on Cyan. Another Duergar rushed in to attack as well. A 5th Duergar appeared at the entrance to the secret door and started casting spells.
Khan and Soveliss fired volleys of spells. While Vondal, Mavis, and Cyan absorbed the brunt of the Duergar attacks. The party managed to kill 3 enlarged Duergar, but Murkelmur barely looked hurt and the tricky Kenny Duergar kept opening and closing the door to maintain full concealment.
Eventually after Mavis fell, Cyan called for retreat and dragged Mavis' body to the secret exit. Vondal was struck down moments later. Soveliss led the way but kept turning back to cast some more at the following Duergar leader. Vondal was stabilized by Kenny and Murkelmur managed to chase down Khan and capture him. Soveliss and Cyan managed to retreat to the 1st tower with Mavis in tow. The rescued prisoners were busy cooking, but after hearing that the Duergar had not been defeated they fled to the Seven Pillard Hall. The prisoners did tell the group that the remaining 6 prisoners were from Riverdown, but two were taken by gnolls.
Adventure 25: How hard can 2 Duergar be?
The group plots to return to destroy the Duergar leader. A Dragonborn, human, and Eladrin against two Duergar seems fair enough.
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Manny's campaign starts in June 2008
D&D 4th edition adventure
Characters of the Shadowfell Region
- DM
- The "Evil" Manny
-
Party members
- Khan is a half-elf Warlock played by Kevin
- Mavis is a human fighter played by Chris
- Soveliss is an eladrin wizard played by Gamble
- Cyan is a dragonborn cleric played by Mark
- Vondal is a dwarf warlord played by David
- Temporary Party members
- George the dwarf fighter played by Kevin
- <CharacterName> is a <Race> <Class> played by <PlayerName>
- Left the Party
- Eugora-mi is a halfling rogue played by Sherry
- Lordarin is an eladrin ranger played by Ryan A.
- Missing
- Anias is a dwarf fighter played by Scott
-
Deceased
- Cran was an eladrin rogue played by Chris
- Orsik Fellgloom was a dwarf Warlord played by David
- Trask was a dragonborn paladin played by Scott
- Ellewin was a elf ranger played by Mark
- Dradus was a human wizard played by Ryan
- Fidel was a dwarf cleric played by Chris
- Merrick is a halfling wizard played by David
- Marcus is a human cleric played by Ryan
- Nicholas is a tiefling warlord played by Chris
- Hiram is a half-elf paladin played by Mark
- Lucan is an elf ranger played by Gamble
Adventure 1: Winterhaven
The adventure begins with a group of travelers approaching Winterhaven from Fallcrest. The group is attacked along the King's Road heading to Winterhaven by a band of kobolds. The group quickly wades through the kobolds and enters the village of Winterhaven. The group investigates the town a bit but mainly hangs around the Inn.
Adventure 2: On the Way to the ForestCliff Lair
The party asks around town for information on Douven, Cults, and Kobolds. Lord Padriag informs the group about a reward for cleaning out the kobold den south west of Winterhaven. Dradus learns about another Kobold lair in the Kobold Hall. Eugora-mi learns that the Keep of the Shadowfell may contain goblins. Orsig gathers more info on the kobold reward and inspires the group to head to the lair.
Adventure 3: Massacre at the ForestCliff Lair
The party heads further south following the map given by Padrig and come upon a picturesque waterfall. The group quickly dispatches a band of kobolds outside the waterfall and shoot spells and arrows at some kobolds lurking behind the waterfall.
Khan finds a section of briars and brambles near the cliff but away from the waterfall. He diligently cuts through the briars to reveal another entrance to the lair.
Khan notices a bunch of kobolds and moments after he attacks one they notice him and advance aggressively at the invader. The kobolds yell for "Irontooth" and an axe wielding goblin comes out of the darkness.
Khan manages to escape the kobold mob and runs to the others. Khan releases a hoard of kobolds on the group examining the magic circle. Fidel is ready and targets some kobolds that leap from the waterfall but he is quickly surrounded.
The advancing kobolds take out the Paladin quickly but he keeps getting up before they choose to move on. After multiple rounds the Paladin dies.
Next the dragonscales move in to kill the Warlord while Irontooth advances on Dradus. A kobold skirmisher beats on Dradus and he runs to hide. A kobold minion charges Dradus and kills him.
Eugora and Fidel are split from the party by advancing kobolds while Ellewin is overrun by 2 skirmishers, Irontooth, and a dragonshield. Khan is attacked by the slyblade, but manages to break free. Ellewin is downed soon after Eugora is knocked unconscious.
Khan flees for the road running through the forest. Fidel trades attacks with a skirmisher and minion. Fidel eventually kills the minion, but the skirmisher kills Fidel. The badly bruised kobolds retreat to the lair as the party lay dying. Eugora manages to wake up and arrives back in town shortly after Khan.
Adventure 4: Return to ForestCliff Lair
The new group ventured to the Lair lead by Khan.
On the road they were attacked by a kobold ambush near a wagon.
The group met little resistance outside the lair and rested after.
The group approached the waterfall and was met with heavy resistance. The paladin Hiram and fighter Anias took point and managed to kill many kobolds but IronTooth eventually appeared and cut them down. The group cut through many more kobolds and finally Marcus, Khan, Merrick, and Rogue were left standing. The group was left with fight Irontooth and possibly die or leave the area with the Paladin and Fighter unconscious left to Irontooths mercy.
The group returned to the den to find that Anias and Hiram had been dragged north. The group entered the lair to find multiple women and children kobold. The group slaughtered them all. The group found a note and a large cache of gold.
The group would return to Winterhaven to seek a tracker.
Adventure 5: Search for HiramThe group returned to Winterhaven and searched for a tracker. Ninaram offered her services for a fee. She went with the group to the Forest Cliff Lair and tracked Merrick and Anias to some swamps.
The group spied a large group of hobgoblins in what appeared to be a slave camp. The group waited for the caravan of slaves to leave. The party attacked the remaining guards and their leader. While Hiram attempted to climb from the pit he was held captive in.
The group headed north to Fallcrest and found an Inn to stay at and a temple. At the temple they were informed of missing children presumed to be at a Mausoleum. The next morning the group set out for the mausoleum.
At the Mausoleum the group was met by a Shadow like figure who gave them a riddle. They discovered a burial chamber below the Obilisk and entered it. The hobgoblins waited and set a fire trap. The group defeated the hobgoblins.
Adventure 6: Rescue at the Shadowhaunt
The group manages to find Helvic and the 2 children and after defeating many skeletons, Cran is killed by an animated statue. The group cleans up the statues and kills Helvic.
The group barely rescues the children as the group runs from a cave-in and barely escapes to the upper chambers.
The group returns to Fallcrest and gets the rewards of silvered weapons from the boys father Stasi.
Adventure 7: Douven and the Shadowfell Keep
The group gathers information around the town. They hear about the Kobold Hall, the tower with a White Dragon who attacks the northern trade routes. They hear about a dangerous pass in the mountains east of Hammerfist. The group debates looking for Douven or Anais as well.
The group agrees to pursue the whereabouts of Douven and returns to Winterhaven. Douven is found and the group rescues him at the Dragon burial site. Douven was held captive by an evil gnome and halfling. The group finds an ancient mirror rumored to be a part of the seal to the Rift beneath the Shadowfell. The group is assisted by Nicholas the tiefling who helps them defeat the drakes and human rabble.
The group returns to Winterhaven to find that the town is somewhat cold and nervous. The group decides to immediately embark to the Keep of the Shadowfell after speaking with the local sage V.
The group arrives at the Shadowfell Keep ruins just before nightfall and find obvious stairs descending into the earth. The group is ambushed by some goblins and Hiram falls in a pit of rats. Hiram escapes with the aid of Marcus who tosses him a rope to escape the pit. The group dispatches the rats and Merric burns some goblins. The goblins screamed "intruders!" but no reinforcements arrived. The group went back to the surface for a short rest.
Adventure 8: Exploring the Shadowfell Keep
The group returns to the Keep after a short rest and explores the area around the goblin encounter. They find some crates and beds and 3 separate passages leading away from the entrance.
The group finds a doorway leading to some stairs leading down into darkness and they decide not to go down just yet. The group then ventures west to a chamber and Khan hears some goblins talking about invaders coming along.
Nicholas opens the door and the goblins fire crossbow bolts at the party. Hiram charges in and smacks a goblin just as a Hobgoblin takes too rods from a fire pit. One goblin runs and locks himself in a cage where he can get a few good shots at the party. Merric quickly disables the hobgoblin torturer while Khan blasts goblins everywhere. Hiram challenges the hobgoblin, but the torturer dies shortly after. Khan talks to a prisoner goblin Splug while the rest of the party spends time killing the last of the goblin snipers. Nicholas takes the bloodcut armor from the hobgoblin.
Khan frees the goblin Splug and demands information about the complex. Splug is enthusiastically helpful yet vague. The group accepts his agreement to go into the treasure room excavation site down the hall if Splug reveals the location of the Secret door to Balgron's sleeping quarters. Balgron is the goblin chieftain.
The group scurries down the hall to the excavation site and quickly kill 2 guard drakes and 3 goblin archers. Khan and Splug fall off a plank, Merric falls from a plank, and Hiram breaks a plank when he attempts to cross. The group finds a few pieces of coin and a holy symbol.
The group returns to the location of the secret entrance to Balgron's lair and Splug shows them the hidden doorway. A small stairs leads up to a wall. Marcus discovers a secret door but the group isn't too quiet about it. Balgon and his sergeant are waiting but Balgron quickly flees. The party is too quick and pulls Balgron back into the room. Khan gave Splug a dagger and Splug swings wildly at Balgron after Khan is pelted with crossbow bolts from a dozen goblins down a hallway leading to Balgron's room. Hiram defends the party and takes a beating as Merric blasts the goblins with flame and fear effects.
The battle is over quickly and Khan frees Splug from his shackles. The group finds a large cache of gold and gives Splug 60 gold. Splug tells them little about IronTooth but enough info about the caverns below to satisfy the party.
The group learns a little more from Splug and leaves to return to town for the night. Splug ventures away free from Balgron's tyranny.
The party returns to Winterhaven to find the gates sealed. Lord Padrig tells the group that something is happening in the cemetery. The tired group reluctantly ventures to the cemetery to check things out.
Adventure 9: Winterhaven Graveyard
The party ventures to the Winterhaven Graveyard and are attacked by multiple skeletons rising from the graves. The group quickly dispatches them and realizes Ninaran is firing arrows from a mausoleum. The group quickly kills her and removes some strange arcane symbols on the graveyard ground. The group finds a note from Kalarel.
The group searches the other mausoleums and when they exit they encounter a hoard of zombies, but again they dispatch them quickly and their zombie master.
The group returns to town to be rewarded by Lord Padrig.
The group visits the Shadowfell Keep the next day and clears out a section of caves that Splug identified for them. The group fights some rats and ochre jelly as well as a blue slime in a pool in a room off the side of the caverns. The group works well together as they elmiminate the slime. The group recovers some letters about Kalarel and the blood reavers.
Adventure 10: Return to Shadowfell Keep
The party rested then returned to the shadowfell. They cleared out a Kruthik den and proceeded to the dark area to wipe out some zombies.
The group then found a crypt with multiple sarcophagus . When they started to investigate multiple skeleton warriors spewed fourth to fight them. The group was split up and the skeletons fought valiantly but were no match for the party.
Eventually the group made it to a room with 2 altars to Bahamut. Merric cast a ritual to determine what the draconic inscriptions were.
Even though they believed they were at the doorway to Sir Keegans tomb they decided to sleep the night.
Adventure 11: Sir Keegan the Insane
The group meets Sir Keegan and negotiates with the tormented spirit. Hirma is granted the use of Aecris, Sir Keegan's magical sword.
The group leaves Sir Keegan and sets off a few more screaming ruins but eventually manage to make it past them. Marcus spots a secret passage and the group move through to kill a few zombies. The group answers a riddle and receives some black iron armor.
The group ventures further and finds a stairway down. The group goes down and meets two hobgoblin guards. They present a challenge word and Marcus answers with an old password the group found on Ninaran. The hobgoblins attack. The group fights the hobgoblins as a new ally appears from a nearby cell to help them. The ally warns them of more hobgoblins.
The group wanders through a few more corridors and get separated by a Gelatinous cube. Four members of the group get trapped in this invisible cube but eventually the new ranger and warlock break them out.
The group takes a break outside the door marked "Closed"
Adventure 12: Who did we pass up?
The group cleaned out a few zombies from the crypt and found a chest with some valuables. The group exited a doorway to the large hall and were surprised to find a band of hobgoblins. The warcaster hit the group with a force pulse and ordered anothe hobgoblin to go get reinforcements. The group cut through the firstwave of hobgoblins but 2 more waves came to reinforce.
Some of the group was separated by a closed door and the wizard and paladin fell to multiple attacks. The warlock got caught in a predicament and could not escape the onslaught. The Tiefling then found himself knocked unconscious. The door was shut and the ranger and cleric waited. Then the cleric decided to unlock the door with the ranger ready to fire. No one was around. The hobgoblins remaining carted off the 4 party members ... it became apparent they were somehow related to the Blood Reavers. The Cleric and Ranger sought the rest of the group, but soon gave up and fled to Winterhaven to form a rescue party.
Adventure 13: A Daring Rescue
Marcus and Lucan return to Winterhaven to gather help, Vondal, Cyan and George, to help rescue the others from the blood reavers. They find 3 ready adventurers that choose to help for some pay. The flower girl informs them that she saw their friends being transported to a cave north of Winterhaven but east of the Shadowfell Keep.
The group takes her word and head to the caves.
At the caves, the group eliminates a dozen hobgoblins and rescue the party. The party returns to winterhaven but waste no time and return to the Keep to get their equipment and treasure.
The three other party members take their leave along with their share of the hobgoblin loot.
The group returns to the hobgoblin rooms and eliminate the war chief, subcommander, and his archers. The group finds their equipment and a magic sword, but no gold.
The group moves further south through the 2nd level and find a titan statue and some other statues. The statues turn out to be traps and half the group is caught in a whirlpool between the statues. The members manage to disable the traps except the dragons and rest near the next doorway.
Adventure 14: Lower Levels
The group enters a room of zombies and rips through the bodies. The group then uncovers a hidden passage that contains the bodies of children and women that were probably killed by Keegan and they kill those zombies as well.
The group then engages a subpriest of Orcus and some vampire spawn. The group cust through the vampires minions and berserker guards. The subpriest yells to Kalarel and jumps into a pit, but he lands in a pool of blood. The group rests for the upcoming battle with Kalarel.
Adventure 15: Defeated by Kalarel
The group prepares to fight and starts targeting enemies from the pit ledge. Some of the wights below return fire with attacks that immobolize. Eventually Nicholas decides to climb down the chains and Hiram decides to go as well. Hiram slips first on the bloody chains and is bloodied once he hits the pool of blood below. Nicholas makes better progress and eventually Lucan and Marcus slide down. Merric and Khan remain up top blasting away at Kalarel and his fanatics. The battle goes well until Hiram, Marcus, and Khan are severely injured and almost out of healing. Lucan tries to toss the mirror into the portal that has a dark claw swatting at the party members as it protects Kalarel. The group manages to kill the underpriest but Kalarel heals as he attacks and soon smites Hiram and Lucan. Shortly after that Nicholas and Marcus fall as well.
Khan runs away but Merric stays and continues to cast, but Kalarel's wights soon kill Merric.
Khan flees back through the upper levels and retreats back to Winterhaven.
Module H2: Thunderspire Laybyrinth
Adventure 16: Journey to the Seven Pillard HallKhan returned to Winterhaven with bad news but found out more about the blood reavers under Thunderspire Mountain. A group of other adventureres including Vondal and Cyan decided to go to Thunderspire Mountain as well. The group found news of Thunderspire and ventured forth through a Vale to the Minoutars Gate.
Through the gate and down a long corridor the group encountered a pack of wild hyenas lead by a demonic hyena.
Next the group encountered a dwarf thane and his men. The group was polite and were allowed passage.
Next the group saw a light and Lordarin heard voices down a passage and through a door. Cyan burst in and was attacked by hobgoblin Blood Reavers. The group quickly dispatched the hobgoblins and found a halfling imprisoned.
Adventure 17: The Seven Pillard Hall
The group rescues Rendil and joins him to the HalfMoon Inn inside the Seven Pillard Hall.
The group met Bruug in the Inn but weren't too pleased.
The group delivered the dagger to Gendar and got another job to find a scepter.
The group learned about the Chamber of Eyes where the Blood Reavers may harbor prisoners.
The group wandered the Shining Road to the Avenue of Glory and encountered some fire bats. The group quickly took them out.
The group put out a fire of lumber owned by a dwarf miner.
The group wandered around more and finally discovered the Chamber of Eyes.
Adventure 18: The Chamber of Eyes
The group raided the Chamber of Eyes and encountered a few goblins and bugbears at first that put up little resistance. Lordarin stood guard near the labyrinth passage.
Venturing in further the group encountered a bunch of goblin archers, a few hobgoblin archers, and A Dire wolf. Khan ran up some nearby stairs and alerted 2 Duergar of the groups intrusion. The Duergar quickly responded and beat their way down the stairs.
The group backed off and the archers were only able to target the Soveliss and dropped him quickly. The Wolf was handled by the Vondal and Khan. Mavis and Cyan beat down the Duergar. It looked good at first, but the Hobgoblin leader and some warriors were notified. A warcaster snuck around and surprised Mavis and Cyan. Eventually Vondal was able to kill the Warcaster, but not before a warrior and Krand the Chief knocked him unconscious. Mavis fled and grabbed Soveliss as a warrior chased after him.
Cyan was able to kill Krand before he fell.
Khan was separated and the archers shot him down. Cyan was knocked unconscious as he fled.
The Bloodreavers stabilized the group of future slaves and allowed Mavis to escape.
Mavis and Soveliss rested for the night waiting for Lordarin to return.
Adventure 19: Murder in the Chamber of Eyes
Mavis, Soveliss, and Lordarin returned to rescue the rest of the group from the Blood Reavers. They ventured through a hidden door found on a balcony during their last raid. The group fought multiple goblins and hobgoblins and overpowered them. Two humans helped the hobgoblins and one escaped into the Labyrinth. The group defeated the hobgoblins, rescued 2 other slaves, and looted the entire Chamber of Eyes. The group found a map and a letter written by a Duergar who purchased slaves from the Blood Reavers. The group interrogated a goblin then killed him.
The group returned to the Seven Pillard Hall to rest and told Brugg about the letter and their victory against the Blood Reavers. The group rested after being rewarded by the prisoners with ale, and by the dwarf miner Ulthand for saving some mining equipment from being burned by firebats.
The group learned more about the Duergar and headed down the Shadow Road towards some Duergar fortress. On the way to the fortress the group encountered a few troglodytes and an angel of Torog. The group dispatched 2 Trogs and the Angel, but 2 Trogs escaped.
The group was so badly beaten that they returned to the Seven Pillard Hall to rest.
Adventure 20: Detour on the way to the Duergar Stronghold
The group headed towards the Duergar stronghold in pursuit of the slaves, but somehow got detoured. The group encountered a deathlock wight who offered them a key to the Court of Bones. The group took the key and then killed the wight. The group headed to the Cisterns where the Court of Bones is rumored to be.
The group had to traverse an underwater cavern and came up in a small chamber filled wth Trogs and Gricks.
Cyan had to take the brunt of the attacks while the rest of the group swam forward in the cavern passage.
Eventually the group was able to overcome the Trog shaman who had so severely hurt them on the Shadow Road the day before. The group decided it best to rest for the night in the stenched chamber.
Adventure 21: Chamber of Bones
The group interrogated the Trog Shaman and allowed him to live after he gave the group info on finding the Bone Chamber.
The group found the Chamber and defeated quite a few undead including some Minotaur Skeletons.
The group left the Cisterns to find the path south leading to the Duergar. Along the way the group met the Thane of Cardanas again and Lordarin decided to join his rag tag group of followers.
The group ventured to the Duergar Stronghold and were met at the gate by Orcs shooting crossbows. Eventually the mages were able to eliminate the threats and one Orc scurried off. Soveliss opened the gate from the inside.
The group fought a few more Orcs and some Duergar and an Smithy dwarf who had quite a few tricks up his sleeves. The group finally defeated the smiths and barred the 2 doors leading into the Bastion.
Adventure 22: Duergar Stronghold
The group fought some more Duergar and a Duergar champion. Next they bravely crossed a chasm using tables as shields. The group faced 2 arbertors and a Duergar therge. The group defeated the next wave of Duergar after breaking through the doors to the next building.
Adventure 23: Duergar Slave pits
The group barely got time to rest when some Orcs and an Ogre came busting into the area. The Ogre was dealt with by the defenders and the strikers took out the orcs in the rear.
The group proceeded to the chapel and were accosted by multiple wights. The group got drained of much needed health, but continued on. The group found a few locked doors and a minotaur burial chamber.
Finally the group burst through a concealed door and found some slave pits. The group found most of the prisoners from Riverdown. The group beat down 2 spined devils and 3 Duergar, but not before one of the Duergar ran for a door, opened the door and yelled for help. The group would barely have time to rest before Murkelmor would arrive.
Adventure 24: Grimmerzuhl leader
The group waited for the attack in the slave pit area. Vondal managed to rescue a dwarf who then proceeded to rescue the other prisoners and they were led to the secret door exit.
Mavis barred the door but multiple Duergar were attacking from the other side. Soveliss prepared but was surprised to see the Duegar Murkelmur slip through a secret passage and attack Mavis.
Soveliss attacked with a firery burst but it didn't seem to phase the Duergar. The door came crashing down on Cyan and 2 Duergar beat on Cyan. Another Duergar rushed in to attack as well. A 5th Duergar appeared at the entrance to the secret door and started casting spells.
Khan and Soveliss fired volleys of spells. While Vondal, Mavis, and Cyan absorbed the brunt of the Duergar attacks. The party managed to kill 3 enlarged Duergar, but Murkelmur barely looked hurt and the tricky Kenny Duergar kept opening and closing the door to maintain full concealment.
Eventually after Mavis fell, Cyan called for retreat and dragged Mavis' body to the secret exit. Vondal was struck down moments later. Soveliss led the way but kept turning back to cast some more at the following Duergar leader. Vondal was stabilized by Kenny and Murkelmur managed to chase down Khan and capture him. Soveliss and Cyan managed to retreat to the 1st tower with Mavis in tow. The rescued prisoners were busy cooking, but after hearing that the Duergar had not been defeated they fled to the Seven Pillard Hall. The prisoners did tell the group that the remaining 6 prisoners were from Riverdown, but two were taken by gnolls.
Adventure 25: How hard can 2 Duergar be?
The group plots to return to destroy the Duergar leader. A Dragonborn, human, and Eladrin against two Duergar seems fair enough.
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