A Defective Trap

"A Defective Trap" (C1.S06.2) is a one-shot in the first campaign of The Vanguard.

## Synopsis

The esteemed Spark Ascendant gathered a few of the experienced guild members to them and entrusted a delicate mission in which the guild needed to meet with an unknown individual possessing important knowledge about the recent events around the realm. It was thought this person of interest was a defector and had key information concerning the foes The Vanguard were up against. Spark directed the group towards an abandoned house in the middle of nowhere that this informant was to meet our representatives at to discuss what they knew.

The guild members arrived at the house a few hours before the appointed time as dusk was approaching. Given the state of the shack and area surrounding it, they began to fan out and inspect the area for traps. Chosen for the job was Sergio Faesong the druid and Vahorn Aloro a ranger from the WildWatch, Bullin Brightroar from the IronWall and Valas Dyrr from the ShadowHand. Valas began to skirt the area looking towards the sides and back on one side while Vahorn took the other. The house sat on a pond with a dock attached to the back.

After sensing a bit of a disturbance in the trees they couldn't explain, Sergio and Bullin made their way inside the house as Valas entered from the door in the rear on the docks, setting a crude alarm in the process. Vahorn kept an eye on the road as, after a time, the informant met the group. They were distinctly dwarven wearing a large cloak and hood concealing them. Upon entering the house, the mysterious person revealed themselves to be Kordon, an informant from this unnamed group causing trouble throughout the continent.

Kordon told the guild he was a penitent servant of them and their goal was to eradicate magic from the material plane setting nature back on its original course. He was covered in tattoos and runes the party couldn't understand. He also had a huge red, scarred X on his back as well. He indicated that Baron Algoron Hojorath was funding this group with the wealth he has accumulated from his numerous silver mines. Silver being a key ingredient in weapons used against magic wielders lent him to be a natural ally for this group. As Kordon became more reluctant to provide information, the Baron Algoron Hojorath made his presence known by entering the house from the docks. Kordon immediately stopped becoming helpful as the Baron shut the conversation down. The party members revealed they knew very little about the mysterious organization and after a bit of time Bullin charge the Baron. Kordon sacrificed himself as a living bomb, detonating inside the house wounding the guild members.

Bullin was able to incapacitate the Baron who fell from sight off the docks, as the rest of the Vanguard slew the remaining entourage of Algoron that could be seen. Unbeknownst to the group, the Baron's loyal members tied him to a getaway horse and set it running as, from the distance a giant bellowed from the trees lumbering towards the house from the other side of the water. Sergio attempted to talk with the giant but it was hellbent on upholding a deal with the Baron to destroy what was left of his foes.

From the doorway, both Vahorn and Valas took a shot in the dark towards the fleeing Baron feeling confident the two arrows had finished him for good as Sergio held the doorway to kill the remaining attackers. As one final guard fled into the distance the party shot them from behind leaving him to bleed out. The party tried to interrogate the downed enemy but all they got was the same refrain, "Take the stars to the earth. All will be natural again."

As the party fled into the distance leaving the man to die, the giant finished his brutal work destroying the house and whatever evidence lay within it.

## Guild Dispatches

The following are messages from the guild members who participated in the mission. They contain valuable information the guild can use to piece together clues.

> *Like, General, the vibes here are getting harsh. Today I was asked by the religion guy, the priest, I forget what his name is, to go with a group to meet this guy who might know something about … I forget what, but they were very concerned. So me and my good buddies Vahorn and Bullinn, as well as a Drow guy named Valas … Why do so many Elf names start with V? I like them all well enough, but it’s like… not as unique as their parents thought all those centuries ago, you know? Oh right, the mission. So we go early, and right away I clocked that things are tense, but no one wants a mushroom! Anyway there’s this house in bad shape. We look all over and honestly I didn’t see anything weird at all, besides it being old.*
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> *Valas was super careful setting up alarms, and Vahorn said the trees looked funny, but I just thought they looked like trees. Bullinn found a gold piece under a bed! This guy shows up, he’s a dwarf, but it’s very weird. He doesn’t have a beard and he’s got a lot of tattoos. He very serious, and says the Magekiller cannot fall into the wrong hands, and we asked him to tell more, he took off his clothes, but not for what you think. He had lots more tattoos and gashes, but said I couldn’t heal him.*
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> *He says some Baron is funding a big thing to stop magic, even nice nature magic that helps people. They have a logo, which has an M and is super pointy, and this dwarf (I think his name was Gordon?) had it tattooed on him. Then some other guys showed up and this big guy in gold armor trips over Valas’ trap and introduces himself as this Baron guy. I was just about to point out how weird it was that we were just talking about him, but Bullinn gets mad and attacks!!*
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> *It was about as short as fights with Bullinn usually are and this big Baron in gold armor is running away and before we can chase after him, Gordon blows himself up! You should have seen Valas’ face! (Apparently this has happened to him before!). Oh I almost forgot the Giant. There was a Giant that I think had a job smashing the house? Anyway he was shouting about it and must have been late to work or something, because it took him several minutes to get there. When he got there he smashed it up very nicely and I was going to see if he wanted to join the guild, but everyone else didn’t think that was a good idea.*
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> *Oh right, the mission. So after Gordon blows himself up, Bullinn takes off after the Baron guy, and I hear clanging noises that usually mean he’s having a good time. There are a couple soldiers who are understandably upset that Bulinn attacked their boss, but there’s a lot going on and they wouldn’t surrender, so I had to use some magic to slow them down. Then Valas and Vahorn are shooting at a horse (turns out the Baron guy was ON the horse), and said they got him. Valas also shot a guys foot, and then gave him a healing potion, and wanted him to talk to him. And let me tell you General, this guy was not cool. He was saying stuff about how all magic was bad and how they were going to bring natural order back. Normally I like nature, but something in the way he said it kind of scares me. Honestly I was kind of bummed out by Vanguard camp today. Can we have s’mores tonight?*
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> *- Sergio Faesong*
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> *Spark sent us out to meet what could be the biggest break we've had in trying to unravel the mystery of this threat looming in the shadows. It was near dusk as we approached the rendezvous location which was a cabin in the woods. There was something foul in the air from the start. The cabin sat on the edge of a pond with a dock on the back. I was sent with a well-known, and now familiar member Bullin, a barbarian who has a short fuse and a sharp axe. He's quite handy when things go sideways.*
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> *In addition to Bullin was Vahorn, a ranger of great skill, and Sergio. Sergio is a bit flighty but he's calm when needed - I think it's his self-medication. Speaks giant though. Dead helpful.*
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> *We approached with caution but were several hours early. Vahorn did notice a shifting in the trees, but we couldn't make anything of it at the time. Our informant arrived as we took positions in the house. He rode in on a horse and called himself Kordon. He was of short stature being a dwarf and he introduced himself, removing his hood. At first we thought him a Duergar. We were soon dispelled of that notion. He was covered head to toe in tattoos and runes we could not read. The runes seemed to be... smoking. He was also branded with a large scar or gash in the shape of an X on his back.*
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> *Kordon told us the runes were punishment. He was hesitant but informed us that this organization is targeting mages. It would seem they're bent on returning things to a natural order. One can only assume the real cause is the magic this realm holds. Baron Algaron Hojorath is bankrolling them with his numerous silver mines. As silver holds natural properties that affect magic in subtle ways this makes sense. Silver weapons are quite effective against certain magical beings.*
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> *On his right shoulder was that same symbol the guild had briefed us on - the one resembling two M's and a crown. His left shoulder sported a different tattoo dedicated to his family.*
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> *As Kordon was getting on, in walked the Baron himself. Kordon immediately became deferential to the noble and quieted. Bullin wasn't one for talking and perceiving we were surrounded a fight ensued. Bullin made short work of the Baron but Kordon sacrificed himself in the explosive manner I have now become accustomed to these past few missions. It seems I and fire have a destiny I hadn't considered.*
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> *The Baron's companions strapped him to a horse and as the beast was dragging him into the distance, Vahorn took a shot at the figure and struck. As Sergio was bravely holding the doorway, that left me with a decision; finish the Baron or focus on his lackies. I don't know what it was but a voice in my head told me to finish Hojorath once and for all. As I took the shot, I knew it found its mark.*
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> *As the rest of the scum fled, we downed one of his guards to question him. That's when the giant made his presence known. It would seem the good Baron had his contingency plan well in advance. This group's alliance with the giants (or even 1 giant) is concerning. Luckily Sergio was able to understand the monster. Unfortunately, it could have cared less about a mutual dialogue and did its part in destroying the cabin.*
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> *The straggler was unconscious at first so I used a quick healing potion to bring him around. When he wouldn't speak, I gave him my blade again. Once again, I gave him another healing potion Vahorn tossed my way. As he came to the second time all he could get out was "Stars to the earth. All will be natural again."*
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> *It would seem these people are organized, have a driving goal and are willing to sacrifice a great many things and people to achieve it. I feel the guild will be tested in the coming months.*
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> *- Valas Dyrr*
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1. ↑ Be aware that this is told from the player’s perspective of the adventure. Details and happenings may have been presented with some liberties taken to fill in the blanks from poor memory and scribbled notes. Other players should be asked about their views of what happened, and are also welcome to type their stories to share.
2. ↑ His left shoulder sported a tattoo of a heart with the words Mom inside accompanied by an arrow through it.
3. ↑ Above the table: As we were playing, a random customer was walking through and asked what we were doing. After explaining that we're playing D&D I gave him the chance to choose to attack Algoran or finish the guards. He choose the Baron and at disadvantage Valas rolled a natural 20 on the first and 9 on the second but the arrow still hit presumably causing the figure being dragged to die.