Dungeons & Dragons: (Castle) Keep on the Shadowfell (Prelude & Day 1, part 1)
Dungeons & Dragons: (Castle) Keep on the Shadowfell
A quick over-view of the events of each ‘day’ of this campaign, for reference by our players whilst playing and for the benefit of any player who misses sections of the story or joins at a later time)
(DM: Pete)
Prelude to the story, and Day 1 - 10am to 3pm
Out story begins with our 3 entrepid adventurers having received a request for a meeting from Marla, a priestess of the remote village of Winterhaven in the Shadowfell lands which lie in the north border of the Dwarven mountains. She is concerned that a Death Cult organised by the evil priest Kalarel has returned to the area, and wants someone to investiage and, if needs be, take care of the situation…….
Cast of characters:
Daisy Razorclaw, a half-human half-beast Druid with shape-shifting and elemental magic, well versed in the at of hand-to-hand combat and tracking skills but lacking in general social skills (played by Rachael)
Merleck S. Wyrmthrall, a half-human half-dragonian warrior with fierce battle skills and basic magic but low wisdom (played by Marc)
Mike “the Encumbersomely Well Endowed”, a Black Night Elf assassin thief avenger rogue. Average fighting skills, good leadership traits and excellent diplomacy and social interaction skills (played by Mike)
(Having quested together before, the 3 are familiar to each other)
Deciding to investigate what the Priestess wants from them, the 3 decided to journey to Winterhaven and meet her. On the path to Winterhaven, Daisy notices strange tracks on the path. Left by non-human creatures, they appear to be several months old, though none of the party are able to identify which creature/s may have left such tracks. Deciding that the area is safe, the 3 set up camp just off the roadside, and after some quick banter about character backstories, fall asleep.
Upon waking, they find that their rations have been stolen, as has their water supplies. Obvious tracks lead off into the forest opposite their location, and after discussion the party decides to pursue the thieves despite not knowing who or what they may be.
Once entering the forest, the footprints trail goes cold due to the grassy undergrowth; Daisy employs her shape-shift abilities to take the form of a wolf, and follow the scent trail left by the thieves.
After a short time, the party finds themselves on the edge of a clearing in the forest. In the middle of the clearing, there are 8 strange creatures visible, which are identified as Kobolds (3 feet tall, scaly skin, forked tongues, excellent sight from their large reptilian eyes but below-average hearing). The Kobolds are tucking into 3 of the rations, and it is clear they are the thieves.
After quick planning in the cover of the tree-line, and lively debate over diplomacy vs force, Mike “TEWE” unleashes a psychic attack on what appears to the largest and most unique member of the group. The Kobold clasps his head and viciously cries out in pain. His eyes begin to bleed, and although he is still standing, he is barely able to do so. (The attack also spills over onto the next nearest Kobold, who is equipped with a large shield and spike helmet. He squints his eyes, and scratches his head, but the attack seems lost on this foe).
Daisy leaps from cover to unleash a devestating melee attack of teeth and claws. Driving her sharp talons deep into the back of one of the smaller Kobolds, not a sound is heard as the spin is crushed and all air extinguished from its lungs. With her cat-like grace, she leaps from one Kobold to another, and another, easily defeating 3 of the smaller enemies in a display of acrobatic assassination.
Suddenly, a spear erupts from the treeline and pierces the shield-bearing Kobold through the shoulder. The second shield-bearer dislodges the enormous spear from his comrade, and raises his shield to protect his injured ally.
Fast and silent on his feet, the deadly Elf Avenger Mike fires off his crossbow, aiming for the largest Kobold who has only just managed to stem the bleeding from his eyes. Turning his head, the unsuspecting Kobold feels the brunt force of the arrow-bolt pierce the back of his skull; one eye now stands a clean 6 inches from it’s socket, ensnared on the sharp point of the arrow firmly lodged through his skull. The Kobold drops to the floor, and lifeless carcass, now no more than meat and bones.
The remaining Kobolds attempt to rally an attack of their own – one of the smaller Kobolds launches a spear at Daisy, but with her reflexes she easily dodges this obvious attack.
The other small Kobold tries to spear Merleck, but cannot manage to throw the spear the distance needed to connect.
One attack is successful; the last shield-bearer drives a small dagger-sword to the lower abdomen of Elf Mike, leaving a 3-inch-long gash accross his stomach. Mike responds with a vicious double-smash of his +6 mace into the face of the shield-bearer, his small stature weakening his use of his shield against an Elf twice his height. The Kobold is just barely alive, but every bone broken and lungs filling with bodily fluids, he hasn’t long to live.
Daisy quickly finishes off the two smaller Kobolds with ease, and prepares to dig graves for those she has defeated. With the one incapacitated Kobold remianing, Elf-Mike and Merleck decide to try and talk to him.
Asking questions in ‘common’ tongue gets them no-where. When they discover the Kobold speaks Draconian, they are able to convince him to answer a question;
“What do you know of Kalarel, leader of the (apparent) Death Cultists operating near Winterhaven?”
Visibly shaken by the mere mention of the name, the Kobold will only reply
“…he is someone you do not want to run into……”
Daisy attempts to use her Healing Mist to keep him alive longer for further questioning, but his injuries are too far-gone. His final words are “I am sorry, that we stole from you. My family and I, we were starving, always starving…. we cannot eat the vegetation around here anymore, everything has become poisonous…. only those in Winterhaven can grow anything edible, and we are not welcome there. It matters not now, you have already sent my Sons and Daughters into the next world…. and I too, shall……. fo..ll…..ow…. t..h….e…..m………..” He breathes his last, with his shield rested over his broken body; a makeshift grave of his own design.
After collecting all the items stolen from them, and taking anything they found on the bodies of the Kobolds of value, the party returns to the road, and heads towards Winterhaven.
They couldn’t help but wonder if things could have gone differently, had they tried a diplomatic approach to the Kobold family……
