Wardens of Heroes Gate

The Trolls of Evermoor

] You are currently traveling west on the Evermoor Way, skirting the northern edge of High Forest and the southern edge of the Evermoors. You are accompanying Addalisi Garvett, high priestess of Selune, on a mission to Conyberry to discover the whereabouts of a powerful artifact – the spellbook of Bowgentle – before the dark forces of the Red Wizards can. Addalisi is traveling on horseback and the two of you are riding your magical companions, Nalya and Aylan. The days Last Shadow is fast approaching. Several miles ago you passed a turn-off to the south with a sign marked Noanar’s Hold. Addalisi suggested pushing on to a waystop village named Calling Horns rather than seeking shelter in the hold.

] Addalisi “The White Hart Inn, I have heard, is a beautiful place and I would love to visit someday… but there have been too many rumors of troubles in that place and we must hurry our way. The Calling Horns is merely a stopover village with the most basic accomodations, but it is right on the Evermoor Way. We should reach it very shortly after nightfall.”

Leely] “Maybe someday when you visit White Hart, we can join you!”

] Addalisi “I would like that.”

Ileel] I look to my left… “High Forest has pulled away from the road quite a distance… otherwise we could have just found a safe tree for tonights shelter.”

] Addalisi “I think I would prefer a hot meal and then a warm bed with a nightcap –  if it be all the same.”

Leely] “What is a nightcap?” I ask

] Addalisi “I mean only a strong drink. It helps me sleep.”

Leely] “Oh… I see. It is like putting on a sleeping cap… only in your head instead of on it… right?”

] Addalisi smiles at you Leely… “I suppose that is as accurate an idea as any could provide. Yes… it is like a sleeping cap inside my head.”

Leely] “A warm meal sounds wonderful right now. Maybe some chunk bread with warmed butteroil and toasted clayfruit… yum-yummy. ” I cast Light Shroud to brighten the surrounding area as we travel.

] Your silk robes begin to glow with radiant light, brightening your immediate aura intensely and an area with dim 40 feet around you.

Ileel] “Ouch! That is brightful! Thanks for the warning Leely…” I push Nayla forward a little to escape the blinding presence of my sister.

Leely] “Oops! Sorry! I forget still what an assault that can be on others eyes. I have learned how to stretch the light further out than I used to…”

] Addalisi seems impressed by your white silk robes. “That is quite a garment Leely. I noticed earlier how it shaped itself tight around you but I didn’t suspect magic. Can your black robes do the same Ileel?”

Ileel] “Yes. But not exactly…” I cast Shadow Shroud.

] A dark aura hides you. If it were not for Leely’s light, you would be functionally invisible.

] Addalisi says “Wow – that is quite a trick. Where did you find these garments?

Leely] “We made them! Our circlets showed us how. Sort of… I mean, well… it is hard to describe really. But this is just normal silk from the forest. Lady Aeri told us to search out some Firesilk from silkworms that live deep within mountains that still flow with fire. If we can find enough Firesilk, who knows what we can make – Lady Aeri says it is magical to begin with… combined with our circlets it could be most powerful.”

] Addalisi says “So Aylan and Nalya… are they somehow connected to your circlets as well?”

Ileel] “We believe so, yes. We were born on the Day of Meilikki’s Wild Ride. The story we have been told is that she witnessed our births… and that she touched our foreheads as they emerged from our mothers… from her… er… belly. Anyhow these crowns appeared. Mine black and Leely’s white. Meilikki told our mother to wean us and then dedicate us to protect her temple in The High Forest, and until now, we have lived only there at the Wild Queens Forest Temple.”

Leely] “We are going to be protectors!” I say with all the giddy glee I can muster.

] “I might say you have already proven to be so…” Addalisi says. “I am glad your Lady Aeri reached out to me. I was going to hire some sellswords to protect this mission, but I have a feeling Meilikki herself had other ideas.”

Ileel] “I have a feeling you can take care of your self quite well Addalisi. You appear to be our age, yet no one, I suspect, becomes a high priestess in their twenties. You carry yourself like one of our revered elders – not our peers – so I assume there is more to your story. Not that I am being nosy… just observing really.”

] Addalisi “You are perceptive Ileel. I was born nearly 70 years ago… in Hillsfar, on the on the southern coast of the Moonsea. Half of my life I spent in… well let me just say I spent it somewhere else. Here in the Realms, I am truly about 30 years old give or take some.”

Leely] “As High Priestess you must know Selune personally right? I mean… is that how it works? What is she like? I mean… is she nice to talk to? like you? ”

] Addalisi “I do have some stories I can tell, but perhaps at another time. Look – I think those lights are coming from our waystop.”

] Still a few miles ahead, you see a small grouping of buildings backlit with torches.  As you get closer, just within a mile of the small settlement, you begin to hear screams accompanied by the sounds of a desperate battle.

Leely] “Trouble!” I speed up Aylan

Ileel] “Wait! Leely! Keep your head!” I chase after her on Nalya.

] Addalisi speeds up her mount and follows. Ahead on the road you see a small group of people running away from The Calling Horns. In the town light you can make about about 5 people scrambling your way. You see then a very large creature exit the town behind them. With surprising speed it catches up to the fleeing villagers and  cuts them down. Then it begins to run east on the roadway towards you. Within seconds you can see a large troll, over 9 foot tall, enter into the light being spread by Leely’s garment.

] You hear Addalisi evoking a spell and in-between you and the troll, you see a large spectral-silver chain appear, floating in the air. It lashes out at the charging troll. [()] The massive chain whips at the charging troll and the force impact halts it. The chain then wraps around the troll, restraining it.

Ileel] As soon as I am within range, I release an attack against the troll

() 2d20a Attack 11 +7 = 18 [Hit] Dmg 2 +5 = 7

] Your arrow flies true and plants itself into the chained-up troll.

Ileel] I look around for a blind within range

] There are no trees within your combat range. There is, along the left side of the roadway, a grouping of boulders jutting from the ground – the largest rock reaches about 7 feet high and is 25 feet away from the troll currently.

Ileel] I use the rest of my movement to position myself, with Nalya’s help, on the boulder blind.

] You successfully position yourself. The 9 foot troll struggles against the massive spectral chain restraining its movement [()] but does not manage to break free.

Leely] I draw my Serpier blade and attempt to run the thing through

() 2d20a Attack 6 +7 = 13 [Miss]

() 2d20a Attack (Kick) 13 +6 = 19 [Hit] Dmg 2 +4 = 6

] Addalisi holds the spiritial weapon in place and casts Bless on the both of you.

Ileel] I loose another arrow, this time with some necrotic taint added

() 2d20a Attack 12 +7 = 19 [hit] Dmg 5 +5 = 10 +7 (necrotic 1/3) = 17

] The troll, arms and legs wrapped in a ghostly chain, tries to bite at Leely who is now within range [()] and is successful (11 hp dmg). It remains restrained.

Leely] “Kak! That hurt! You dretchbag!” I attempt another stabby-stabb with a kick and then circle around and out of the range of it teeth

() 2d20a Attack 15 +7 = 22 [Hit] Dmg 4 +5 = 9

() 2d20a Attack (kick) 18 +6 = 24 [Hit] Dmg 1 + 4 = 5

] Your flexible blades snakes its way into the flesh of the troll and as you withdraw it, you spin back and land a heel kick near the entry wound. You successfully escape the range of its bite.

] From her right hand, Addalisi conjures a short sword made of moon light and attacks the troll. [()]  The blade slashes through the rubbery troll flesh, spilling green guts and angering the giant. “Fire! We will need fire to defeat it!” She yells at both of you as she pulls back out of range of the monster.

Ileel] I fire another arrow

() 2d20a Attack 17 + 7 = 24 [hit] Dmg 5 +5 = 10 +5 (necrotic 2/3) = 15

] The raging troll does not seem to notice the additional arrow plunge into its body. It thrashes about trying to break free [()] but cannot get its arms or legs out from the magical chain.

Leely] “I will get fire!” I yell as I pull a torch from my pack and attempt to light it.

] You manage to successfully light the torch. You can see the open flesh of the troll heal together as it struggles in the binding chain [()]

] Addalisi strikes again with her silver blade of light, hoping to keep the wound open or create a new one [()] and she does critical damage to the troll. She ducks and swings around the troll to step near Leely. “Set its guts on fire Leely! It will never die otherwise!”

Ileel] I aim another arrow, seeking an open would to target.

() 2d20a Attack 11 +7 = 18 [Hit] Dmg 7 +5 = 12

] Your attack found a vulnerable spot was successful enough to drop it to the ground.

] Addalii says to Leely “Quick, while it is down! Burn it! Burn it now!”

Leely] I charge in with the lit torch and attempt to burn the troll at it gaping rubbery wounds

[()]

] You successfully set the guts of the troll aflame. You watch as it begins to burn from the inside out. As you are all about to breathe a sigh of relief, you suddenly recognize that there have been continued screams coming  from the small village.

] Addalisi “There must be other trolls still in town!”

Leely] “Others! I barely survived one troll.”

] Addalisi “Right! We were lucky as it was. I can only use that chain against one… an unrestrained troll just might enjoy us for dinner.”

Ileel] “Let me scout ahead first! With some idea of what we are up against, we may be able to help them still.” I call Nalya and leap from my rocky perch to her back. Then we race towards town stealthily.  [Stealth Check]

Ileel]

() 1d20 Stealth Check 12 +8 = 20

] You ride up around the northern side of Calling Horns, away from the main entrance. Peering over the rudimentary stone wall that surrounds the small village, you see one troll searching for more villagers to kill. It seems to be searching with its nose, shiffing into buildings and alley ways. There are bodies all around the village center. You hear just a few more screams from the other side of town, and from the sounds, you assume other villagers were found by another troll.

Ileel] I race back to Leely and Addalisi and report what I saw. “If there are any villagers left to save there is very little time for them. Not sure we would have a chance against two at the same time.”

Leely] “Maybe I could draw one of the trolls away while you two take down the other?”

] Addalisi “Risky… and pointless if there is no one left alive in the village. Perhaps they will just move on soon. Lets get closer and watch their movements.”

Ileel] “We must stay downwind… they seemed to be searching with their smellers. And douse your light Leely. ”

Leely] I douse Light Mantle and follow the others closer to the village.

Ileel] “This way, around to the north end.”

] This time you see two trolls. They seem to be circling around the well in the center of the small village – hunting someone or something by smell – almost frenzied in their search. The place is littered with corpses and pieces of corpses. You judge at least 40 people have died here, maybe more. Among the corpses, you see one very large corpse. It appears to be smoking as if embers burned inside of it.

] Addalisi whispers “Look, another troll lies dead. The villagers put up a fight it seems, but we are too late to save any.”

Leely] “Now what?” I whisper

Ileel] “They are still searching for something. Could someone be hiding in the well? Look how they circle it.”

Leely] “If there is, we should do something!”

] Addalisi “An attack would be unwise. We would only join the dead.”

] As Addalisi is still whispering, you feel a short surge of wind on your faces. It reeks of blood and shit and something else you cannot describe, something pungent and foul… your eyes begin to sting.

] Addalisi “Ahg! Do you smell that?  What it is?”

Leely] “Its awful whatever it is.”

]] Ileel] The foreign stench mingled with blood triggers a memory. I was out gathering springberries with Eldera Alnineen. She was teaching me how to forage in the forest… what to look for and what to avoid. I was still very young and had rarely stepped outside the boundary of the forest temple. I heard a sound like thick cloth ripping, as I recall, and I darted towards it to explore. Before Eldera Alnineen could call me back I found myself slipping into a small pool of red mud. In the branches a above, a Hunting Griffon was tearing at some large prey it had just killed. Blood dripped down into my face as I looked up into the tree, trying to understand what I was seeing. The Hunting Griffon surely noticed me but was content with the meal in its claws. Eldear Alnineen was only seconds behind me. I remember hearing her sword pull from its shealth as she came into the scene. She pulled me up and backed us slowly and silently away from the forest predator. Once a safe distance back, she asked if I was ok. I wiped blood from my face … “What is this red juice?” I asked. Eldera Alnineen spent the afternoon teaching me about death. It seemed unreal to me, as I recall. To be a living being and then to just not be… to be dead… it just seemed unreal.

] As you watch two Trolls continue to search for… you assume more victims, there is movement that catches your eye to the left of the Calling Horns Lodge. Another Troll lumbers into the village followed by four people. No, five, another crawls behind them. Their movements are slow and uncoordinated, unnatural. As they pass through the light of a fire, you can tell some are missing arms.

Ileel] “Necromancy…” I whisper amazed

] Adalissi “It is the Troll we just put down, but you are right… it is not simply regenerated… it is dead and not dead. Moon Mistress shelter us.”

Leely] “What do we do?…” I reach to unsheath my blade and lean forward. “We must destroy them right?”

] Adalissi “Let us be patient Leely. Let us be hidden and watch. One Troll alone is a fair match – we would certainly not survive a charge into that fight.”

] The incoming Troll jerks into an attacking run towards the other two Trolls, as if someone had yanked on its leash. The humanoids follow.  Within seconds the other two Trolls are under attack. As you watch, there is more movement near the lodge. Several of the villager corpses lift themselves and stumble with speed towards the combat. Ten seconds later another small group of corpses exit the lodge and join the others. Soon the two living Trolls are deluged with clawing corpses.

Ileel] “That can only mean a Necromancer is here… Right?”

] Adalissi “It can only mean that. We are not safe even hidden here. We must away ourselves.” She begins to move back away.

Leely] “Even I know there is a line between brave and stupid.” and I slowly pull back away from my perch.

Ileel] “Single file. Keep me between yourselves and the village so my Dark Mantle hides you.”

] Before you get too many steps away, you hear a loud voice from the village. “Rise me grubs… rise fer Moogwa, dhy soon queen. Lift dey dead corpseys in wershap fer Moogwa de Bog Witch.” The accent is foreign, nearly obscure. Taking a quick glance back, you see five more figures walking into the center of the village. Four large creatures of bone – the size of trolls, but with hardly any flesh. Between them is a Bullywug wearing a sheer cloth around her waist. She carries a tall scepter with a spiked circle affixed atop. You hear her frogish cackle as she motions more corpses to rise from the ground.

Leely] “The Necromancer!” I exclaim a little to loudly

Ileel] I quickly shush my sister. “Hurry! But carefully!”

[()]

] There is no indication that anyone in the village heard you. You successfully sneak away from Calling Horns, back to where Adalissi secured her horse in the outskirts. “Remain in whispers. Voices may carry with the breeze and we dare not be discovered now.”

Leely] “Well, so much for wearing nightcaps inside our heads tonight.”

Ileel] “We are retreating from a Bullywug with a small army of undead… and you are worried about missing out on drinks?”

Leely] “Not really sister… not really. My head swims with shock and fear actually.”

] Adalissi whispers “As does mine friend. We are still far from safety.”

Ileel] “What do we do? If this Moogwa and her undead remain in Calling Horns, we dare not travel any further East. Perhaps we retrace our steps back? Perhaps this White Hart Inn?”

Leely] “Shouldn’t we warn them about what we saw?”

] Adalissi “We should continue to watch for a time and see what we might see. You are correct, if they stay in the village, we will have to retreat, or find a long way round. If they move on – I would like to observe their direction at least, so let us find a high spot to watch from.”

Ileel] I look around in the dark for some high ground.

] Just to the North, deeper towards the Evermoors, you see a shadow of large boulders that might provide some vantage.

Ileel] “There. Those rocks. It may not be much but those rocks may be the highest ground around.” I lead the way there.

] As you crawl up to the tops of the rocks, you can see but the still burning fires, just hints of movement inside the village. Adalissi casts Owl’s Wisdom on the both of you to enhance your ability to perceive what is happening. Suddenly you can sense movement within the dark landscape directly to the North of Calling Horns.

Leely] “They are walking straight into the Evermoors, there. Their movement is Northward. Adalissi, would you know if there are any other towns or villages North of Calling Horns”

] Adalissi “I do not. In our maps, there is nothing known North of here until you pass the Evermoors… Nesme is on the Northern edge of the Evermoors, along the River Subrin. It is far off I believe… and Orcs have control there last I heard.”

Ileel] “Wild Queen help us all if this Moogwa adds an army of Orcs to her rot-gang.”

] Adalissi “When we reach Yartar, I will get a message out warning others of what we have seen here tonight.”

] The entire number of undead villagers disappears further into the moors beyond your enhanced perception. The light from the fires within Calling Horns is also dying down.

Leely] “I say we wait a little while longer then go in to explore the town, see what we can learn.”

Ileel] “I will scout ahead once again – just to ensure no danger remains.” I ride off on Nalya to circle the town.

] With the exception of a few dancing flames, Calling Horns is still and silent. You do not see any corpses whatsoever – all have walked or crawled away under the mighty necromancy of Moogwa the Bog Witch. Adalissi and Leely soon join you just outside the lodge of Calling Horns

] Adalissi says “Someone will come along sooner or later and loot any valuables left behind here. It might as well be us. There may not be much to find, but let us look around.”

Leely] “I’m going to look around inside the lodge. See if I can find anything… maybe a clue to what happened here.” I enter cautiously, sword drawn.

Ileel] I investigate what I can in this village

] Investigation Roll Table

Ileel]

2d20a Investigation 20 +5 = 25

] None of the weapons on the ground are worth anything – mostly improvised from tools. You do not see any shields or weapons which might have belonged to guards… Perhaps Calling Horns did not have a hired guard? Inside some of the structures you find seven common looking rings and jewelery and a few coin pouches with close to 50 gp in various coins. Behind the provisioner shop, you find a covered wagon full of common supplies – still unloaded.

Ileel] “Do you notice? There are many weapons left behind but none of any significance… It is as if Calling Horns did not have any guard in place.”

] Adalissi “Coud it be that these weapons remain with the bodies of the undead?”

Ileel] “Possible… My suspicion may mean nothing whatsoever.”

] Leely enters the Inn at Calling Horns, which is the largest building in the village. The main room of the bottom floor is like a rustic lodge with multiple fire pits and cushioned seating all around. There is a bar on the North side of the room. The place is empty and mostly in order – it appears little violence entered here.

Leely] I look for papers or books or any such thing to discover what I can.

] You discover from records that someone named Lady Tamalin is the owner of the Inn at Calling Horns. You also find a small rolled note informing Lady Tamalin that the accommodations in Yartar for her and her guard of 11 men has been secured. Behind the bar you find an unlocked coin box with 80 gold. There is also a cudgel next to the coin box. It appears to be wood with intricate carvings. (Chinpits Cudgel)

Leely] I pick up the cudgel and take a closer look.

] The surface is designed as if it were wood, but you can feel it is actually metal. There are no blemishes or marring on the weapon, as if it were brand new or never actually used as a weapon, but you sense the object has a deep history beyond discovery. The short club is heavy in your hand and feels well-balanced. There is a leather strap at the handle.

Leely] “Curious thing… I like the feel of it.” I say to the empty room. Then I go outside and tell the others what I found.

] As you rejoin the others you overhear talk between Ileel and Adalissi about the town guard.

Leely] “Oh there is a guard. They are in Yartar with Lady Tamalin – the proprietor of the lodge – probably runs the whole town I might guess. If this note I found means anything, she left the village unprotected for some reason. I also found a coin box – not a very heavy one… but look! Isn’t this just interesting! Where do you think these designs come from?”

] Adalissi takes a glance at your new cudgel. “Dwarven, most likely. My first guess is Shield Dwarves, maybe from Mirabar or Mithral Hall. It is fine craftsmanship. It might even be enchanted. Keep a hold of that and we will try to get it identified further.”

Leely] “There are plenty of clean empty beds in the lodge… dare we sleep in the site of such a massacre while the blood still seeps?”

Ileel] “What other choice do we have. I will take first watch.”

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