A Fraudulent North¶
Key Characters¶
Player: Phelser Cauhp
NPCs: Jasper Warmwater, Paul Eidothea
Key Places¶
Backstory¶
After Fight for your right to get drunk, the humble monk Phelser Cauhp has just been dubbed the “Seven Hundred Nintey-Seventh Gladiator” of The Bloody River and released from his captivity, but not into freedom. Rather, he is still a slave but with a new master.
Rescuing Phelser from certain (eventual) death in the coliseum, Jasper Warmwater has acquired the rights to his life through an unknown deal with Engong Zheng. An obsidian collar has been placed around Phelser’s neck during a bonding ceremony in the middle of the coliseum, for all to bear witness, that surpresses his monk abilities and natural strength.
Key Events¶
Note
This section should be used to get a refresher of the adventure. Content will be an overview of the story, not a record of critical information the player should remember. In short: keep your own notes!
Tats, Taverns, and Tots¶
DATE: Phoenix 3, 3642
Teleport to Canlodge
Jump into Naal’s Hall for a bite and drink
Jasper plays a song, its a big hit
Phelser learns that Jasper is trying to defeat a lich terrorizing Baylun and needs help defeating it
But first, they need to confront a wizard that sold Jasper a bunk item of some sort
The wizard is on an island near Elkcaster
DATE: Phoenix 5, 3642
On the way to Elkcaster they are ambushed by three people wearing a strange symbol on their clothing
They make it to Elkcaster the next day just before nightfall, in the morning they will secure a ferry to Whalefell Island
Searching for answers¶
DATE: Phoenix 7, 3642
Jasper wakes Phelser just before dawn and they head down to The Banderhobb’s Goat to get some breakfast from Margery Bradshaw
Jasper caught Phelser up on a few details on their way to Elkcaster:
The wizard they are seeking is Paul Eidothea
Paul lives in Whalefell Swamps, and Jasper has not been there (met/bought item from Paul in Canlodge), knows general location
That wasn’t the first time he was ambushed by the Children of Crizhur and likely won’t be the last
Ferry will get them to the island in just a couple hours, so should have most of the afternoon to find the house
Phelser picked up some woodcarver’s tools at the Stocking Stuffer Guild general store in Elkcaster before heading out
And Jasper droped off Stripes at a stable, too dangerous for the road ahead
They make it to the island on the Heart of Oak, with Morthril as captain
After some time in the swamp, they encounter a druid with her crocodile companion and easily defeat them, but they did not find Paul…
Still more searching and more attacks. This time a druid, crocodile, and an ooze ambush them!
But, after enough searching and a superb Phelser plan using the compass, they are able to find the wizard! - While exploring, Phelser found a pair of Slippers of Spider Climbing
Before confronting the wizard they decide to pitch a Tiny Hut and take a long rest
DATE: Phoenix 8, 3642
It is a new day, Jasper and Phelser have finished a long rest in their Tiny Hut in the middle of the swamp without incident
Jasper takes a disguise of a young human male
They carefully enter the wizard’s home and are not bothered by the fear trap set on the front door
—
Inside, they are greeted by a strange man dressed in noble clothing who asked to inspect their weapons and said “he will be with you shortly”
While waiting Phelser noticed a large painting was not made of canvas and rippled like water when touched
They stepped through and on the other side was a set of stairs leading to a door
—
On the other side of the door was a room full of animal trophies hanging on the wall and two statues in the center of the room
One statue was a man holding a key with an arm stretched out in fear towards the other statues, a Spectator
Phelser twisted the Spectator in midair and when the eye contact of the two statues was broken then returned to flesh
The man threw the key he was holding (now a large gold key) and ran out the door
The Spectator attacked Phelser and Jasper but was no match for Phelser, who single-handedly took out the Spectator
—
Next, they masterfully avoided a dragons detection by placing Jasper in a Bag of Holding and Phelser climbing to along a wall to get to the next floor
—
A round room with stone statues of each Major Deities required them to successfully place colored gems to the appropriate god to unlock the only door out
—
A bedroom awaited them next with a mirror that had a surface ripple similar to the painting on the first floor
They both stepped through and found a mirrored room on the other side that was in better condition than the original
However, the mirrored room had a skeleton in the bed and treasure in drawers throughout the room
But the mirror was solid and would not let them pass, and there was no door on this side
They seemed stuck, and in desperation Phelser lifted the sword to destroy the mirror
Fearing the mirror was their only way out, Jasper jumped between the sword and the mirror
While pleading with Phelser to not destroy it, Jasper fell backwards back through the mirror
Phelser followed suit and now on the other side the mirror had turned into a door that opened to a spiral staircase
—
At the top of the spiral staircase was a hatch door the led into Paul’s study
Jasper and Phelser searched the study but didn’t not find anything of value
As they searched, an Aarakocra flew in through the door and changed its shape to look like a Human the instant he saw the two of them
The three tried to negotiate with each other but eventually Paul made the first move to start a fight
Paul started by teleporting next to Jasper and making him fall asleep
Phelser quickly responded with a stunning punch to the chest and a leg sweep that knocked Paul prone
Bloodied and prone, Paul began begging for his life and promised to make things right
—
He revealed that he had already sold the enchanted dwarf tools to Thurzgrak Dimstone in Bil Moldur before meeting Jasper
Paul assumed Jasper would die so he sold him the fake tools (selfish, deceitful wizard indeed)
They all agreed Paul would fly them back to the Heart of Oak to catch a ride back to Elkcaster and help them get the tools from Thurzgrak
Paul flew them to the ship but just dropped them onto the boat deck and flew off, staying true to his deceitful behavior
—
They set sail for Elkcaster, just afternoon, tummies rumbling as they both realized they skipped breakfast
Digging Deeper¶
DATE: Phoenix 8, 3642
After landing Jasper and Phelser are approached by 4 bandits trying to capture them
Phelser immediately killed two of them with his shortbow, Jasper tied up and choked out one, while Phelser knocks out the leader
Phelser found a note signed by Dalron Stoutfeast with the Children of Crizhur symbol
The note had a description of both of them
The bandits appeared to be part of a gang called The Jackals
After a rather uneventful journey, the adventurers arrive to the mineshaft entrance of Bil Moldur
They follow the sole minecart tracks left in the spiderweb of tunnels
Most of the way is lit by naturally growing mushrooms that glow, known in Bil Moldur as Glowcap Mushrooms
A Dwarf guard greets them and lets them through the gate, giving a brief description of the city as he does
Hetmun of the Minotaur’s Pommel agrees to make Phelser a quiver for javelins that he can sling across his chest, and would have the order ready in the morning
Phelser discovers the best brew he has tasted outside of the MugFlagon, a mead called Glowcap Mead served out of The Soaked Meadery
Valida, the owner of The Soaked Meadery, promises Phelser a meeting with the brewmaster in the morning to discuss the brew
Phelser and Jasper talk to Thurzgrak but things don’t go well, he seems untrusting
Thurzgrak tells them he must think about their ask and talk to them another day
That night while resting, a drow raid on the city occured
Phelser and Jasper sprang to action fighting off troglodytes, ankhegs, basilisks, and drow
They appeared to be stealing the Glorious Gem from the dwarves of Bil Moldur
Phelser was able to stop the drow from leaving with the gem and retrieve it from them
After the fighting stopped, Phelser was approached by Gryrom Kindhelm who take an assesment of the situation and took the Glorious Gem from Phelser
They learn from Gryrom that there is a clan of Drow, the Chalavin, that periodically attack Bil Moldur
Day After the Attack¶
DATE: Phoenix 9, 3642
Phelser and Jasper have a meeting with the Council of Bil Moldur: Gryrom Kindhelm, Bromdarh Dimstone, and Nasri Evergift (as well as, Thurzgrak Dimstone)
DATE: Phoenix 12, 3642
Phelser, Jasper, Hetmun, and Thurzgrak arrive to Baylun
They rest a night before making their first move
DATE: Phoenix 13, 3642
They enter the town of Baylun and visit Jasper’s mother and counsin at his home
Things sound bleek but Phelser learns a lot from Jasper’s counsin about the Children of Crizhur’s movements and activities in town
Phelser & Co. decide to leave and make their assualt on the Crizhur’s lair
DATE: Phoenix 14, 3642
After another night of rest before everyone but Thurzgrak enter the lair…
Thurzgrak stays up top in a Tiny Hut made by Jasper
Before entering the lair Thurzgrak destroys the compass
A loud shriek can be heard coming from underground as the earth rumbles, clearly it worked
Phelser, Jasper, and Hetmun descended into Crizhur’s lair
They first encounter a large construct guarding the entrance to the deeper interior of Crizhur’s lair
Once the large construct was defeated, its individual parts formed into multiple other constructs
This went on for several iteration before Phelser and Co. were able to proceed deeper…
The winding, dark hallways lead to a large room with many doors splintering off
One of the doors was locked, but the others were unlocked
Behind one door was yet another long passage of winding, dark hallways that ended at a large metal door
The door stood 20 feet tall and 20 feet wide with a lever on the wall adjacent
Simple observation indicated the door would open upwards
Eminating from the door was a wretched smell, groans, and occasionally bumping against the massive door
Phelser and Co. decided it best the door remained shut and doubled back to the other unlocked door
After more twisting hallways (and flying flaming skulls and necromancers…) the gang ends up in an evil santuary
The unholy sanctuary was littered with the symbol of the Children of Crizhur and dead bodies…lots of dead bodies
Phelser and Co. dispatched several necromancers and the evil creatures they summoned only to find a dungeon adjacent to the sanctuary
Within the dungeon were sevearl constructs guarding many cells full of people kidnapped from Baylun and the surrounding areas, including some of Jasper’s family
After vanquishing the guards, Phelser helped free all the captives
However, they encountered a magically locked door as they attempted to leave the lair
With no other option, Phelser instructed the captives to remain in the large room while they head through the last unlocked door
More twisty hallways, more flaming skulls and necromancers
But this time, at the end of the hallways was Crizhur’s throne room with Crizhur himself inside!
The massive throne room had a large stage with an intricating carved golden throne positioned at the highest point
Next to the throne was a large workbend/ritual altar, which is where Crizhur was standing when Phelser barged in
Flying around in the air were 4 flying constructs with a purple aura glowing around them
Bubbling Crizhur and the altar was an aura with the same purple color
Between Crizhur and Phelser was a disgusting, fleshy abomination of muscle and rage
The battle was quick and devastating…
Hetmun lead the charge against the Flesh Golem and served as a distraction while Phelser and Jasper dealt with the flying constructs
Phelser’s Slippers of Spider Walking combined with Jasper’s flutegun meant the constructs had no where to hide
Upon the last constructs destruction the purple bubble surrounding Crizhur disappeared, leaving him vunerable
Durng this time Crizhur was splitting his focus between fighting off the invaders and completing a ritual he was in the middle of when Phelser and Co. arrived
But it was too late, his aura of protection was down and the ritual incomplete, so he fled through a secret door near the altar
Though Hetmun paid the price with his life, the Flesh Golem was defeated and nothing stood between Phelser, Jasper and the lich
They chased Crizhur through the secret door that lead to Crizhur’s personal study
A small room with books and papers scattered across a desk
Finding the lich cornered, Phelser and Jasper acted quicking and without mercy
Huzzah! The lich laid lifeless in his lair with no (known) phylactery in existence - Upon further investigation of the surroundings they determine the ritual they found Crizhur performing was for the purpose of creating a new phylactery
Phelser and Jasper’s celebrating was interrupted by horrible screams coming from what sounds like the freed captives
When they make it back to them they find several of them dead at the hands of zombies
It turns out, the giant door had dozens of zombies behind it and during their attack against Crizhur the door was opened and the captives were directly in their path
Fortunately, all the zombies dropped dead (again…) when Crizhur was defeated, so not everyone died to the zombies
They find Thurzgrak after leaving the lair and break the news to him about Hetmun
Everyone shares a moment of silence out of respect for the sacrifice Hetmun made
cue end scene of A New Hope, but in Baylun
Epilogue¶
DATE: Phoenix 20, 3642
Phelser departed Baylun alongside Thurzgrak with their path set for Bil Moldur
A welcome worthy of a hero is given to Phelser and Thurzgrak, and special honors during their traditional grieving ceremonies given to a warrior of Bil Moldur
At this point, Phelser is a minor celebrity given his extraordinary feats to defend Bil Moldur, and his heroics to defeat a lich and save the town of Baylun
The Council felt it necessary, as a way of thanks, to award Phelser with status of “Resident” and gift him the former home of Master Brewer Bardek Glughammer - Bardek left no heirs and his family name has ended with him