Elemental Evil - Adventure Overview

> *When the words "Sumber Hills" were spoken, the only thing that gave away the tabaxi’s interest was the sudden beating of her tail.*
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### Part 1 - **Welcome to Red Larch**

The three adventurers, Roland Daybreaker, Eldrin Liadon, and Mordekai, had arrived in Red Larch each with their own reasons. The townsfolk were abuzz with rumor about the missing delegation from Mirabar that was heading south through the valley en route to Waterdeep. Most were mystified about the details, only that the caravan was well protected and filled with many powerful nobles from Mirabar, the great northern mining city. Other strange events were occurring, such as the strange changing weather, the pathetic bards and musicians of ill repute who were wandering in great number toward the Sighing Valley, and the recent stirring of undead from a place called Lance Rock. Roland and Eldrin learned of these events through Kaylessa, proprietor of the Swinging Sword Inn. A mysterious humanoid cat creature was curled up by the fireplace of the inn, but she did not seem interested in conversation. Suspecting that a larger group would be needed, Roland posted an advertisement seeking adventurers for a trek into the Sumber Hills.

Mordekai, a tiefling bard, was quick to make contact with Lorren the baker, a no-questions-asked agent of the Zhentarim. Lorren mentioned that the Zhents in Bargewright Inn had been experiencing all manner of trouble due to the piracy of a fellow named Grimjaw who was preying on the Dessarin River’s southbound traffic.

The trio enjoyed the quaint nature of the town, but the more they spoke with the locals, the more unsettling things they began to hear. The adventurers were eventually stirred to action by the appearance of a strange zombie in motley lurching down the Larch Road at midday. Though still strangers, Roland and Eldrin agreed to investigate Lance Rock as a pair. Mordekai feigned disinterest in the excursion, but his curiosity was piqued, and he chose to follow behind the others using his fiendish wings. After attempting to shadow the group into the tunnels of Lance Rock on foot, he was noticed, and used the opportunity to introduce himself to the others.

Together thre trio discovered a small horde of zombies and skeletons, all raised by a wicked necromancer named Oreioth. His undead minions defeated, Oreioth quickly wilted, and the so-called Lord of Lance Rock spoke madly of ‘the eye’ before being gagged, shackled, and traipsed back to Red Larch for the townsfolk to deal with.

Shortly after returning to Red Larch, a great earthquake struck the town, causing a great chasm to open in the dead center of town. The chasm revealed the beginnings of a crude tunnel system on the eastern end.

The tabaxi, Pangur Ban, could no longer deny her interest, and handed Roland the note he’d written. “Yes,” she purred, “I will go with you to the Sumber Hills.” She resolved to follow the party from that point onward, sensing the group’s potential in aiding her insiatiable curiosity for exploring the secrets of the Sumber Hills.

The cries of trapped children spurred the adventurers to immediate action. Four little kids, an old nag, and the cart they were playing on had fallen into the sinkhole. They were bruised and scared but otherwise unhurt, yet they were unable to climb out without aid. Three townsfolk in particular seemed intent on keeping the townsflk away from the hole. Their names were Ilmeth Waelvur (of Waelvur’s Wheelhouse), Albaeri Mellikho (of Mellikho Stoneworks), and Ulro Luruth of Luruth’s Tannery (who opened his big mouth to Roland about the Believers’ secret entrance to the cavern below, by way of Waelvur’s Wheelhouse).

Anyone standing near the edge of the sinkhole had to make a DC10 Dex save or fall into the hole. This curiosity proved too strong for Roland.

### Part 2 - **The Chamber of Moving Stones**

The revelation of the chasm exposes another uncomfortable secret of Red Larch; the existence of the Believers. A secret society as old as Red Larch, the Believers was comprised of many of the most successful businessfolk in the town. While their goals were originally altruistic, their secrecy made them easily coerced by true believers of the earth cult. Led in secret by the earth cultist Larrakh, who spoke to the Believers through a room they called the Chamber of Moving Stones, the believers soon turned from simple interference with civic plans to more sinister rituals in search of power, rituals eventually culminating in murder. The adventurers discovered gruesome proof of these foul deeds, proof that was later used by the town constabulary to seal the fate of the culprits.

While exploring the chasm the group discovered an earth genasi being held in the place the Believers called the Chamber of Moving Stones. Here he was being tortured by Larrakh, who sought to coax him into service of the earth cult. His semi-conscious body is stowed behind a large rock pillar near the northeast corner of the room. The group made quick work of Larrakh, who was attempting to flee. Eldrin Lyadon, being a native of the North, recognized some iron bars found in Larrakh’s possession, identifying them as the trade currency of Mirabar. Whatever had occurred to the missing delegation, it was now clear that these cultists had played some part.

The earth genasi, Nane n'Dhaan, was thankful to the adventurers for coming to his aid.

The following three Believers participated in the murders: Elak Dornen, quarry master, Marlandro Gaelkur the barber & black market forger, and Ilmeth Waelvur. Dornen professed innocence in the face of all evidence, even after the damning testimony of Baragustas, but after weeks of imprisonment Waelvur broke down and confessed, implicating Dornen as well as the others. For their crimes, Dornen, Gaelkur, and Waelvur were sealed alive in the Chamber of Moving Stones, and all mention of the buried ruins or ‘Believers’ soon vanished from the lips of the townsfolk.

That night, Roland dreamed of a rushing river and a cozy large walled town that overlooked it. Viewed from aloft, like a bird, he witnessed a glint of blinding light from the southeast section of the town. Then he woke up.

The next morning, a zhent spy named Nalaskur Thaelond breathlessly pulled Mordekai aside, asking him to gather a small group of outsiders to run the Bargewright Inn complex for the next ten days. “I don't trust the regulars to run a tight ship... so I want you and your compatriots to handle things for me. Many strange happenings about there… some of which may interest you.”

Thaelond then whispered only to Mordekai, “and if you can prove a capable innkeep while I am away, you shall find favor in the eyes of the Black Network.”

### Part 3 - **A Simple Job**

On the road to Bargewright Inn, the party encountered a slow-moving caravan also headed southeast toward the Inn.. A pair of very rude shield dwarves rode on the cart, whipping their bruised and battered donkey and hurling insults at their bodyguard, a short and stout goblin with a massive battleaxe slung across his back, an axe as big as he was.

The goblin made common cause with the group, primarily because he was offered free booze by Mordekai. The dwarves turned verbal abuse toward Mordekai for distracting their servant. “I ain’t yer servant,” Rancin spat back. “Call me such again and pay the price.”

They did. Rearing his axe as if to chop into the donkey, Rancin instead sheared the axle from the cart. With a slap of his hand the donkey ran off into the brush, bouncing and bounding with the joy of freedom. The two shield dwarves were left to their own devices, abandoned by the group. They would not reach their destination.

Upon arriving at the Inn, the gate guards inquired if the goblin was with the party. "He has a wicked look about him," one of the guards had said.

"No shit, I'm a goblin!” was Rancin’s reply.

The party is introduced with Chalaska, captain of the Swords, the local guardsmen of Bargewright Inn. She points to the southeast corner of the town as she gives them a terse tour. One of the structures there has been burnt to a cinder. "Many killed," Chalaska says. "Horrible business." She shows the walls and the postern gates. ""My men lock these every night, two hours after sundown. Then we lock those,” she said, pointing to the inner wall to the east, “and go about securing every private room in the Inn, both the North and the South towers."

Roland took a tour of the burnt-out building, suspecting that a mysterious murderer by the name of Bastian Thermandar might be responsible for the killings.

At the end of the day, Chalaska will show the innkeeper where the keys are kept, in the north tower. "They're to stay here, in the innkeeper’s room. In case of emergencies. There've been times when we need to let folks in after-hours, or to shut up early when trouble is brewing up the roads."

On the second day one of Chalaska's swords will tell Mordekai about the travelers at the inner gate. They wish to speak with the innkeeper about renting out two of the empty paddocks on the south side of town for three months. Most of the paddocks are untended, but a few are already occupied by camps of travelers and a few semi-permanent stalls selling meat and onins on a skewer. Chalaska doesn't deal in the paddocks so she won't know what the fair going rate would be.

The travelers are three gnome brothers who deal in cheeses, Jan, Kem, and Gur, and their cheese farm was recently pillaged and ransacked by a marauding band of blue-skinned Orcs. Each one has a silken rope tied to a doe-eyed cow with mushroom-like fuzzy antlers.

Their farm, Gladcurdle Ranch, was burnt to the ground. Other farmers are at risk in the fields to the northeast of the Sumber Hills. "Terrible business. The orcs used to keep to themselves in the Sumber Hills, but recently they've been charging down the mountain. Not just the marauders, but their elders and sucklin orcbabes, too!"

Gur piped up and said, "I still think we should've headed to Dellmon's Ranch. That farm is half a fort, all perched up on that slope." Kem shook his head and pet his cow. "We are not fighters. We are tradesmen. And Lorren will be mighty cross with us when he learns of it. He banks his business upon our cheeses, and we must return to production immediately!"

Jan finished by saying, "Indeed, Gur. Even these hearty looking adventurers look a bit under-prepared for such as those awful Orcs!" He demured, "Even if just a wee bit," bowing."

On the third day the privy pipes got backed up, and some of the guests began to complain. A Chondathan male tradesman named Kendrin demanded that the problem be solved. Inglor, the handyman, fixes the stoppage without much fuss. Easy enough task, since he’s the one who caused the clog. He tries to stay on the adventurers’ good side, while at the same time plotting to frame Chalaska and blame the party for failing to safeguard the Inn. Mordekai ensured that Kendrin was relocated to another room.

Three and a half days into the task, a kenku ranger named Thonk arrived in town along with two other kenku. They attempted to lure the party into an alley by mimicing the sound of crying children and a weeping woman. The two kenku in front are wholly devoted to the air cult, and have been sent by Windharrow to kill Mordekai. Thonk was ready for the ambush, and readied an attack to shoot the other Kenku. Before striking a kiling blow, the kenku rogues mimiced a flute playing a tune that Mordekai would know very well. After dispatching the rogues, Thonk introduced himself and revealed much of what he knew of the Cult of Howling Hatred, of Windharrow, and of their beautiful leader Aerisi Kalinoth.

Thonk wrote upon the wall "I am not like them. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. You are here to help. I have seen it in the omens. The omens come to me like whispers of wind through my feathers. Drawing me to the Hills, down to the Depths below..."

"My kinsmen are corrupted, bewitched by the promise of flight, a gift all of my people strive for. They serve a wicked elf queen, for she promises them wings of flight... wings like her very own."

When asked about Windharrow: ""I know him, yes. He serves the winged elf. He pleases her with his music."" At this, Thonk perfectly mimics the flute solo from the song Portable Hole. ""He is gathering a band of musicians who play like he does. Play the same instruments he does. He calls the the Wyndwards."

"My brothers and my father were the first to hearken to the wicked elf's call. They have gone to the Depths below... to a place I haven't yet been entrusted to see."""

Six nights into Mordekai’s watch, it’s discovered that six keys are missing! The young tavern sever Grendo looked particularly nervous. When questioned, he revealed the note he found in his pocket, stuffed there by "who knows who." The note says "Tell Kendrin Feldarr it's Chalaska"

When confronted, Kendrin screamd and tried to shove his way through the door, dropping his exotic spiders. A note was left on his bed that said "They're watching. You aren't safe here."

He had no idea who Chalaska was, and as to the second note, he admitted that INDEED he was not safe here. A room search revealed little else.

While the party was busy with Kendrin, Inglor was busy ransacking the strong room. As suspicion mounts, townsfolk will begin to murmur about how Chalaska is responsible for security...

After burglarizing the strong room, Inglor begins a rumor campaign that something weird is going on within the Old Bargewright. At this point, the broken-in strong room is quickly discovered by the group. Soon after that, an overwhelming åmount of evidence points to Chalaska. Feeling cornered, she locks herself in the strong room with four loyal guards and demands that the party find the true culprit.

After suspecting that the evidence against Chalaska is too perfect, Roland and Eldrin set about charming Inglor. They only did this after finding dwarven footprints in the dust of the southern tower attic. After using the suggestion spell on Inglor, Mordekai was able to coax the truth out of the unscrupulous dwarf.

Ten days later, Thaelond returns to the Inn to resume his leadership. He assures Mordekai that the Zhentarim will hear of his good work. After leaving the inn, the group decides to head into the Sumber Hills to learn more about Windharrow's whereabouts. Thonk has a good idea of where to start; Feathergale Spire, where a club of aerial enthusiasts gather to fly upon the backs of winged beasts.

### **Part 4 - Feathergale Spire**

After a quick stop in Red Larch--where Mordekai hid from the leatherworker Phaendra--the group traveled three days into the Sumber Hills, toward the Sighing Valley. Thonk knew the way. En route, a pair of aarakocra scouts flew down from the sky to challenge the group's intentions. When told that the group was heading to Feathergale the aarakocra warned them to avoid the place. They have seen the inhabitants doing strange things at night.

In order to easily ascend the cliffs to reach the Spire's entrance, the party left Thonk and Rancin behind with the cart. Mordekai took care to disguise himself. At the entrance they were initially greeted with friendliness by Savra Belabranta. Mordekai spun a creative yarn, but a few critical mistakes in his tale-telling caused Savra to distrust the party. Nevertheless, she singled out Roland Daybringer as an Order of the Gauntlet member and used that excuse to give the party a tour of the spire. On the roof she introduced them to Thurl Merroska, leader of the Feathergale Knight order.

Thurl happened to mention that he was a big fan of Regicide. Upon hearing this, Mordekai removed his disguise and revealed his identity. This proved useful for Thurl, who had been warned in advance of the party's arrival thanks to the air cultist spy within Red Larch. (Thonk had also mentioned the presence of a spy in Red Larch. Hmm...)

The party was treated to a sumptuous feast. The festivities were interrupted midway by the appearance of a manticore in the valley. Seeing an opportunity to dispatch either the party members or the manticore, Thurl Merroska offered the group the chance to hunt down the creature using hippogriffs.

The group was successful in slaying the manticore. Upon return to the spire they retired for the night. Here they found themselves ambushed and overwhelmed by the Feathergale Knights, who had been waiting for the party to drop their guard.

Shackled, the party was dragged up to the roof where the knights planned to offer them as ritual sacrifice to Yan-C-Bin. Eldrin Liadon was selected as the first victim. A gruesome sigil was branded between his shoulder blades before he was hurled from the rooftop. Miraculously, he was saved at the last moment by the tribe of friendly aarakocra.

A fierce battle ensued, but the party was eventually successful. Thurl Merroska was slain, Savra Belabranta captured (or fled?), and the remaining Feathergale knights retreated east toward Knifepoint Gully.