Wardens of Heroes Gate

Leely and Ileel in Phandalin

] The two of you, along with Adalissi, have traveled through two nights since leaving Conyberry, stopping only for brief rests. As First Shadow arrived, you turned off of the Triboar Trail and onto thin wagon trail leading to Phandalin. You have just exited a forest that felt sickly to you…. Dark and cold and set up upon a wide hill. As you exit you see the town of Phandalin below in a small green valley. As you step out from the treeline, the ill feeling you had in the forest is gone, as if crossing from one world into another. You see farms and an orchard surround the village of Phandalin and notice that the town appears to be built in the center and on top of the ruins of much larger town. Stone foundations long abandoned homes dot the valley.

Leely] “Ugh, am I ever cheered to be on the other side of that! What a Darkwood!”

Ileel] “I feel the same. I just want to dive into a lake and wash that feeling off of my skin.”

] Adalissi “I too am relieved to be out from it… but I get the feeling the two of you are far more sensitive to it than most. Do you feel your forest at home in a good way?”

Leely] “Oh yes! And now that you say it… I feel a thirst for it.”

Ileel] “I thought being out of High Forest felt hard simply because everything was so different… but you are right Leely – I sense a thirst, or a hunger of some sort… for our home. That place… that ‘Darkwood’ as you called it… it is such a contrast of sensation to our own experience of forested lands.”

] You continue down the hill towards the entrance of the town. On your left you see a trading post with a sign that read Barthens Provisioning. On top of the sign you notice a large Falcon with deep red feathers watching you. Suddenly it makes a sound like squeeky chant.. ‘ee-chup… ee-chup… ee-chup…’ followed a short wail. A male human, sitting on a long bench in front of the trading post, leaps up as if out of sleep at the sound of the bird over head. “What it is Rosefire?” He then turns and sees you and hurries to greet you.

] Human “Good waking friends. Which one… I mean… who… that is..” He looks at each of you and then behind you up the hill. “Any chance you are attending a High Priestess of Selune?”

] Adalissi “What business would you have with a High Priestess ser?”

] Human “A message.. That is… I have an important message I must deliver to the High Priestess of Selune when she arrives – and not a second later. I am… I mean to say… my name is Syrinx. I keep the messenger birds of this valley.”

] Adalissi “Good waking to you Syrinx. I am Adalissi, High Priestess of the temple to Selune in Silverymoon. What is this message you bear?”

] Syrinx fishes into a pocket and pulls out a very small narrow slip of paper “I don’t exactly know… here… I hope you can understand it.”

] She reads the tiny slip and her face is suddenly drowned with fear and worry. “Thank you Syrinx. You have finished your very important task for me. Leely, might you reward him with some coin?”

Leely] “Glad to!” I pull out the large bag of gems and start digging through. “This one is nice… no wait.. This one… or maybe this red one. It looks a bit like the color of your beautiful falcon. Yes!” I hand a large red gem to Syrinx “Your reward good ser.”

] The gem was a large redspinel worth approx 200pg. Syrinx does not appear to know how extravagent the reward was, he simply accepts it and offers thanks. “Come on Rosefire! Lets get you a meal.” and he walks towards the center of town.

] Adalissi “I am sorry friends… as important as our mission is, one far more important has just been delivered to me. I must return back to Triboar at once. You must find Sister Garaelle and take this to Agatha with her. ” She hands you a small black pouch with a single pearl inside. “You must succeed! As I must also succeed… thousands of lives may be lost if either of us fail.”

Leely] “You are going back? Alone? Can we not spare the time to at least hire a guard?”

Adalissi] “I will not be taking the trail. I must go now – and I will be in Triboar a moment after I am gone. I will return here as soon as possible.” She opens the slip of paper again with one hand and places the other hand up under her tunic. She looks to you both and offers you a difficult smile “The Lady shine upon you.” You then here her say several words, or sounds really… from deep down below her throat the words come. A strand of silver light spins around her head and begins spiraling down her body, then another and another, engulfing her. The light fades and Adalissi is gone.

Ileel] “That was… unexpected…”

Leely] “Wow! Adalissi has great power! More than she told.”

Ileel] “And she has entrusted us. We dare not fail her.”

Leely] “We dare not! Let’s go find Sister Garelle and get back to Agatha.”

] As you turn towards town, you notice that Syrinx was watching Adalissi magically depart.

Leely] “Hey! Syrinx!” I run up to him. “We need to find Sister Garaelle. Can you point us the direction?”

] Syrinx “I don’t think she is back yet… but she lives just there, to the right of the center well shrine. Lets go knock.”

] You stand outside the house of Garaelle but there is no answer.

Ileel] “Do you know where she went? When did you last see her?”

] Syrinx “Something about a Temple errand she said. It was a few days ago, maybe more, she headed out of town with just a few days supply. Dayni was looking for her too.. Wait here a moment, I will go ask Dayni if she ever found her.” and he runs behind Sister Garelles house.

] While you are waiting, a group of 7 young men dressed in tattered red cloaks approach you from the East. They start whistling and making lewd remarks at you. Seconds later they have formed a circle around you.

Leely] “Leave us alone! We have no time for your games.”

] One of them tries to lift you robes Leely “What’s under here I wonder?”

Leely] I react with a kick

(1d20) Attack 2 +6 = 8 [Miss]

] “Oh ho! The elfy-girl’s got some spunk!”

Leely] I answer with a fist (Redbrand07)

(1d20) Attack 20 +6 = 26 [Crit] Dmg 3 +4 +4 = 11

] You drive your knuckles into the mouth of the punk, knocking teeth back into his throat – he starts to choke. The others in the circle all act alarmed and draw swords on you. [Roll for Initiative]

] You are suddenly overwhelmed with attackers [()] A blade comes at each you, one as a thrust of a short sword and the other slashing from overhead. Ileel turns slightly, grabbing an arrow while the attacker bites air. Leely steps inside the overhead attack, making it feeble. [Radiant Reaction available]

Leely] I use my reaction to attempt to blind the attacking punk

(1d8) Radiant 6

([])

] Your  Reaction attack does Radiant damage directly to the eyes of the Redbrand (03) mercenary, blinding him for 6 min

Ileel] I turn and release an arrow one of the attackers behind me (Redbrand06)

(1d20) Attack 1 [Crit fail]

] Your arrow is ducked by the Redbrand. It continues and embeds into the front door of Sister Garaelles home, nearly hitting Syrinx who has returned running with another – a female half elf with long blond hair and black leather armor.

Ileel] Seeing Leely to her blinding thing, I decide to take advantage of the easy target (Redbrand03) and maybe intimidate the others a bit…. Unlikely, I know, seeing how I just shot a house…

(2d20a) Flurry Attack 15 +6 = 21 [Hit] Dmg 2 +4 = 6

(2d20a) Flurry Attack 17 +6 = 23 [Hit] Dmg 4 +4 +6 = 14 Total

] You perform a set of spinning kicks against the blinded Redbrand. He staggers backward with the blows.

Leely] I circle as well, to try to keep from being completely flanked and attack the nearest fool (Redbrand02)

(1d20) Attack 14 +7 = 21 [Hit] Dmg 5 +5 = 10

(1d20) Attack Kick 20 [Crit] Dmg 4 +3 +4 = 11 +10 = 21 [Massive Damage Roll= 2]

] You snake your blade beneath the shitty leather armor being worn by the Redbrand and as you yank it out, you step and turn and leap to deliver a roundhouse kick the skull of the ruffian. He nearly cartwheels to the ground and falls still. You see from the East, two others running towards the scene of your combat. One is a sturdy built half elf with brown skin wearing cloth leggings and an open vest. The other is a stout Dwarf with black hair – so black it almost shimmers blue like a Raven in the sun. He carries a black quarterstaff. As he runs towards the fray, you notice he has stripped his clothing and dropped them in the cartway. His long black hair extends over his entire body, like a wolly bull.

] A Redbrand (01)  flanks Leely [()] and lands a critical blow to your left shoulder blade. (Dmg 11). The female Half Elf with bright blonde hair and olive skin has slipped quietly in behind the Redbrand (02)  and with a dagger in each hand [()] draws blood as recompense. Redbrand (07) targets Leely as the most injured [()] but his slashing sword falls short of contact.

Deynn] I run into the fray and start with a leaping kick to the spine of an unaware bandit (Redbrand05)

(2d20a) Attack 19 + 7 = 26 [Hit] Dmg 2 +8 = 10

Deynn] I try to grapple him and then turn him so Roonoo can take an easy hit on him

(2d20a) Grapple 18 +2 = 20 vs 3 +1 = 4

] You successfully restrain Redbrand05. He struggles to free himself from your lock

(2d20a) Grapple Hold 20 +2 = 22 vs 15 +1 = 16  [Redbrand05 Fails]

] Redbrand (06) realizes that the town has suddenly decided to stand up to them and he runs towards the Sleeping Giant to gather reinforcements.

Roonoo] I see that Deynn has lined up a great shot for me.

(2d20a) Attack 16 +7 = 23 [Hit] Dmg 8 +7 = 15

Roonoo] Then I step closer into the other attackers and use Knuckle Buster to attack a sword hand of one of the Redbrands (04)

[()]

] The opponent drops his sword as your Blackthorn crunches the back of his hand. He fumbles ti pick the sword back up with his off-hand [()] and succeeds. The blinded Redbrand (03) begins to run [()] but trips and falls over the unconscious body of his mate. His sword clatters across the ground. Redbrand04 attacks Roonoo with is off-handed sword [()] but is far to awkward to even get close.

Roonoo] “You couldn’t hit a sleeping cow… ballbreath!”

Ileel] I draw another arrow and target the coward who just sliced open my sisters back. (Redbrand01) I taint the arrow with necrotic magic.

(1d20) Attack 10 +7 = 17 [Hit] Dmg 7 +5 = 12 +8 (Necro) = 20

Ileel] I follow up with a front kick, aiming for the would I just opened up in his chest

(1d20) Attack 20 [Crit] Dmg 1 +4 +4 = 9

] You successfully kick the arrow, jamming it through his body. A spurt of blood flies from his back and he falls dead.

Ileel] “I hope your ancestors shame you for eternity Swinesack!”

Leely] “Thank you all for the help!” I yell to those who have just joined the fight against the red-clad bandits. I look for an advantage (Redbrand05) and attack.

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

] You pierce the ribcage of the red punk being grappled

Leely] I circle and deliver a foot between his legs, careful not to also hit the handsome Half Elf who raced in to our rescue

(2d20a) Attack 19 +6 = 25 [Hit] 1 +4 = 5

Leely] I look to the grappler after delivering my kick – “Hiya my fine new friend!”

Deynn] I smile back at the little girl in white. “Glad we could… Duck!”

] Dayni choosen a new target (Redbrand07) which Leely has just turned her back to. [()] Her daggers strike rib bones but not in time to prevent the attack on Leely. [()] Redbrand07 misses Leely who ducks suddenly. The blade is now inches away from the chest of the grappled Redbrand (05).

Deynn] Seeing the enemy blade in such an opportune location, I release the bandit and push him forward onto the blade [Strength Athletics check]

(2d20a) Strength Athletics 11 +2 [Success]

] The young man cries out as is pushed forward and his mates sword stabs into his belly.

Roonoo] I attack the rebrand with the busted knuckles (04)

(1d20) Attack 8 +7 = 15 [Hit] Dmg 7 +7 = 14

] You hear someone yelling “Stop! Stop this now!” You see an older human running your way from the Townmaster Hall. Sildar is behind him, drawing his Longsword. L’Khifrey stands watching from the front of the Townmaster Hall.

] Harbin Wester yells “We will all suffer for this! Let them go!” Roonoo – you notice that Redbrand04 turned his attention away from you and to the yelling Townmaster

Roonoo] I sidestep and punch Redbrand04 as covertly as possible

(1d20) Attack 18 +6 = 24 [Hit] Dmg 4 +4 = 8

Deynn] “Hold! Lets hear the man!” I yell

] The Redbrand with the busted hand (04) drops his sword and begins nursing the main hand.

Ileel] I step back away from the combatants and find some cover over by Syrinx – then I notch an arrow and watch. (Ready Action – shoot any Redbrand who shows further aggression)

Leely] I sheathe my sword but keep it ready. I position myself so that no one is behind me and I can see all. (Ready Action – Attack any Rebrand who shows further aggression)

] Dayni notices that one of the prone Redbrands (02) is still breathing but apparently unconscious. She positions herself to attack his should he prove to be faking

] One of the Redbrands (07) – the one who started the confrontation by pulling up Leely’s robes – is still choking on the teeth that flew back into his throat. He drops to his knees as if trying to puke.

Deynn] “This gang in red cloaks…” I say loudly to the Townmaster as he gets closer “invited trouble by assaulting a young girl. We could not stand by and watch them outnumber an innocent.”

] Harbin Wester “They will retaliate – and it be against townsfolk who cannot defend themselves.”

] Sildar “Such lawlessness must be put down. No town should be held hostage in this way.”

Roonoo] I place the butt-end of my staff to the skull of Redbrand04. “Who leads your sorry little band of puke buckets?” I jab  at his head “Who?”

] The Redbrand looks down and slowly answers “Glasstaff.”

Roonoo] “Glass staff he says. Does this mean anything to you Sildar?”

] Before any more words can be spoken, you hear yelling and look up to a see another group of Redbrands – 5 more – running down the cartway at you, swords drawn for conflict. Sildar steps directly into the path and with sword and shield ready, he yells “Relent you fools! Or die!”

] They seem frenzied and perhaps drunk – with one exception.  But will they relent? [()] No. Success is not in the cards for them but they charge into the town center yelling.

Result Table (each)

Ileel] 19

Leely] 5 – Dmg 4

Deynn] 16

Roonoo] 18

] Three Redbrands lie still as death. The other 7 are injured beyond any further resistance.

Roonoo] “Alright you dretchholes!” I say to the remaining punks. “Who wants to live another day? You will answer us or I’ll void yer veins. Who is the Glass Staff?”

] One of them says “A powerful wizard. He pays us to cause trouble in Phandalin.”

Roonoo] “Where is this wizard now?”

] The boy points towards the manor on the hill. “In our hideout, under that ruin up there.”

Deynn] “How many miscreants are in this Red cloak clan of yours?”

] Another Redbrand who is down on one knee holding his guts in, spits blood at you and says “Wouldn’t you like to know!” Dayni leaps on the rebel and plunges both of her daggers down into his back, behind his shoulder blades. His screams are surely heard throughout the valley. The sound of muscle and tendon ripping is surprisingly loud as she yanks back on her blades like levers. The contentious fool falls face down, blood quickly pools around him.

Deynn] “I promised someone this would not be a slaughter. Please…” I say to everyone… “no more blood today.”

Roonoo] I jab again at the back of the Redbrand who was speaking. “How many more of you?”

] He answers quickly… “About 30 total. The rest are in the hideout with Glasstaff – probably sleeping still.” The Redbrand gives you a basic idea of the layout of the hideout. The

Deynn] “Who is this Glass Staff?”

] “I don’t know… that is what we call him. I don’t know any other name for him. He also has a boss though. Calls him ‘The Black Spider’… we ain’t met the spider

] Dayni wipes her blade on the face of the boy. “What Sister Garaelle? Did you hurt her? Where is she?” She places the tip of a blade at throat and applies a slight pressure

] “Yes… the priestess of Tymora… she is in the crypt with the others. Kid Kaito said she was causing us trouble… had us take her to him. She is… she was with the others in the crypt beneath the manor.”

Roonoo] “You kidnapped a priestess of Tymora? What fools! How many lifetimes of bad luck might that bring!?! I don’t know Deynn… maybe they should all die.”

Deynn] “Perhaps they should. What others have been captured? How many are being held in this crypt?”

] He tells you there are 6-7 still alive. A mother and her two children – the father was already feed to the monster. The rest will be too… except the priestess – he thought that Kid Kaito wanted to keep her. He explained further about the one-eyed monster – it hides in a tunnel down inside the crevasse. Only a few of them have ever actually seen it but they are all afraid of it. It speaks inside their heads sometimes – taunts them with their own dreams.

Deynn] “What say you Townmaster? What should be done with boys so evil?”

] Harbin Wester “We will lock them. The hall has a couple of cells, we lock them up there… for now. But you have to stop this Glasstaff and prevent a retaliation for today.”

Leely] “We must hurry and save Sister Garaelle.” I call Aylan and leap onto his back. “Ileel! We know where Garaelle is now!” I yell back to my sister.

Deynn] “Hold up! We will join you, help you… but first allow me to heal your wounds as much as I can. You are in no shape to take on a powerful mage and 20 others.” I play my willow flute. 4d4 to all who can hear the music – including the Redbrands who yet live.

Appreciation & Collaboration