Solar Quartz Quandry

*Game Scheduled: November 20, 2023*

*GM: Thom*

## **Synopsis:**

Odilrin's Court Mage has many tasks ahead of them, one of which involved hiring Miners to acquire Solar Quartz from the Rawrock mountain near Hahler. There's only one major hitch, the mining group has disappeared and five groups of mercenaries have been sent out, none have returned.

You have been hired directly by Mage Lord Oliff Twinstep to discover what has happened to the miners, and past mercenary groups, route any threats that may have caused the disappearance, and bring back 2,500 pounds of rawrock (about 17 crates; or two wagons' worth). The promise of gold is always alluring, but Oliff has promised something additional, a rare enchantment boon to the Auric Chain to bolster its' ability to coordinate mercenaries across long distances, if you can complete the job without further incident.

## **Mercenaries**

* Cast'el Limtoshilledth - Dragonborn Wizard
* Gobin Glowstep - Halfling Druid
* Pi'ater Happenstance - Firbolg Fighter
* Xilon Starrati - Half-Elf Wizard
* Yewie - Foxfolk Monk

## **Adventure Debriefing:**

The mercenaries arrived in Hahler, outfitted with cold-weather gear and climbing equiment from Virgil. They headed North, anticipating about twenty-five miles of climbing rugged mountain terrain. Cast'el's familiar Daemon, a great horned owl, acted as the parties scout flying ahead to watch for dangers. Gobin's companion Mush, an awakened mushroom, left a faint trail of spores in their wake. The approach was uneventful, until a gargantuan streak of fire in the shape of a bird soared overhead passing the group. Former Crystal Academy students, Cast'el and Xilon, recall stories of the mythological phoenix. They theorized that as magic has grown over the last few years, perhaps magical beasts have been reawakened. Cast'el cast Detect Magic to heighten his awareness.

The adventurers exercised more caution in their steps to hopefully not be noticed by the fiery beast. Crossing stone and snow, Pi'ater noticed a cave goat staring at him. It's eyes glowed with a strange faint green hue. It's side bloody with a wound as though pierced by a spear. The goat bleated at him, while more goats converged from the rocks ahead. Cast'el slipped on a loose stone, and the goat shifted it's attention to him and charged. Xilon and Yewie stabbed at the goat as it passed. Yewie's strike connected and slowed it enough that it did not knock Cast'el over.

Gobin threw an Ice Knife, exploding cold shards into the beast. Yewie speared and forcefully kicked another. A cave goat hoofed it over to Gobin, but missed. Another butted with it's head. Xilon climbed up higher and released a Sword Burst. A Fire Bolt from Cast'el finished the goat attacking Gobin. Daemon swept past a goat near Pi'ater, who took the opportunity to run the goat through with his rapier. More goats attempted to gore Gobin. One that got too close was blocked by Pi'ater's intervening shield.

Gobin Wild Shaped into a goat and screamed a throaty goaty howl. Yewie speared another goat. Goats ineffectively attempted to kick and gash the party. Xilon pierced a goat with a Mind Sliver. Daemon flew back around to distract the goat near Cast'el, who blasted the goat with a Fire Bolt. With a flourish, Pi'ater slew another goat. A goat bonks Gobin back into his halfling self.

An angered Gobin raked the goat with acidic Primal Claws. Yewie deftly speared another, but only saw stars when he tried to headbutt the beast. Xilon and Cast'el unleashed Fire Bolts upon the remaining goats. Fiery goat bodies fell a little too close to Gobin who's panicked cry got the attention of the phoenix. The phoenix bombarded the party with flame. Most dodged out of the way with minimal injury as the phoenix flew away.

Again thinking back to their schooling, the CA students found the phoenix actions peculiar, as such fire would normally be used to hunt or impress mates. It had done neither and only flew away.

Further up the mountain the mercenaries made camp for the night, Yewie used snow as cover to hide the tents. Daemon did some night scouting and spied an animal corpse with an unusual wound, pierced by an unknown weapon. Later, during his watch, Pi'ater saw a pair of miners with the same green tint to their eyes the cave goats earlier had. They impaled a goat with picks and dragged it off.

The following day, the party discussed whether the miners and animals could have been poisoned or magic'd. Unsure, they pressed onward. Unable to conceal their noise, another salvo of fire rained down upon them. Fortunately, the snow extinguished the flames and provided cover until the phoenix passed.

At the quarry, they spotted a miner seemingly in a trance near the mine entrance. He dropped something into the mine and returned to his post. Nearby, a couple mountian lions lay, their eyes greenish as well. Surveying the rest of the quarry, there are more humanoids and goats, but not enough to account for all the miners and mercenaries that had been sent. And none of the humanoids appeared to be mining, the only activity they performed was throwing meat into a large cave.

Pi'ater used his Thread talent to appear as a green-eyed dwarf and offered to carry Yewie disguised as an offering. Gobin Wild Shaped into a cave goat. Xilon used his Manifest Mind ability to scout ahead into the cave while he readied his broom to fly over. Cast'el snuck through the groups with the help of Daemon's keen eyesight.

At the cave, Xilon's Mind saw a bear with glowing green eyes drop off a sheep to a giant manticore. The monstrosity large enough to probably eat five goats a day. The manticore took the food and rolled back into the cave.

The party wended it's way through the quarry to not garner attention. As those on foot crossed the threshold, Xilon dived in on his flying broom. A tad clumsily on entry, he knocked a stalactite loose blocking the entrance behind them, and any reinforcements from the entranced.

The manticore raised it's head and growled at the intruders, "Kroth! Eat!"

Goatbin charged in screaming. Still carrying Yewie, the disguised Pi'ater approached as if to feed Kroth. Cast'el cast Web at Kroth to trap him, but instead Kroth flew up and across the room. Yewie threw a dart at the manticore, but it fell away unable to pierce the thick well-fed hide. Xilon blasted Kroth's mind. The manticore attacked Goatbin twice, fangs sinking deeply with the second bite.

Goatbin headbutted back at Kroth and tried to move away, the manticores claws digging into him. Kroth began rolling his massive body around the room and crushed Goatbin underneath. Daemon flew past Kroth's face, and Cast'el ignited the webbing now under Kroth with a Fire Bolt. Pi'ater ran up to Kroth while growing in size and attempted to lift the massive manticore off Gobin. Yewie tried to pierce Kroths thick hide with his spear, and followed up with lightning-infused punches. Xilon attacked the manticores mind. Kroth, writhing in flaming webs, missed biting Gobin as well as missed a tail spike aimed at Xilon.

Gobin Melded into the stone floor. Kroth switched to try biting the enlarged Pi'ater. Cast'el Fire Bolted the last of the webbing and Kroth, causing the manticore to leap up. Pi'ater swung at Kroth. Yewie stabbed again with his spear and more punches, willing elemental cold into his blows. Kroth vainly attempted to bite Yewie. Xilon exploded a ball of lightning energy upon Kroth. The manticore tried to bite and claw at Yewie but was blocked by Pi'ater's shield.

With the giant body of the manticore out of the way, Gobin popped back out of the floor and tried to polymorph Kroth, but the magic was shrugged of by the beast. Cast'el hit Kroth with another Fire Bolt. Kroth turned to bite Cast'el but missed. Pi'ater took the improved flanking position to sink his rapier deep into the monster. Kroth dropped down and started rolling again. Pi'ater rolled out of the way with Gobin. Yewie got knocked over by the rolling but swiftly got up and threatened Kroth.

Badly wounded, Kroth decided that this food was too much work and rolled over in an attempt to "be cute."

The mercenaries ask what it ate, where it would go, and what it would do if they allowed it to leave the quarry. Kroth replied that it would make more servants via the poison in it's stinger and eat elsewhere. Unsatisfied, the party counter-offered that if Kroth would help protect the mines and miners, he would be provided food for his service instead of having to enthrall people. Kroth agreed to enter a treaty as such.

The currently charmed miners and mercenaries are placed in holding in Hahler until an anti-venom can be developed from the manticores poison. Xilon Send(ing)s to Oliff of the missions success and about the manticore. Xilon also Send(ing)s Virgil information on the mission, including the living manticore and the need to develop antidotes to protect the Whispering Cutlass.

The mercenaries inform the Kregian Lord of Hahler of the manticore and offer to draw up the contract if needed.

## **Rewards**

* 20 Gold, each
* 1d4 Solar Quartz, each
* 2 Weeks Downtime, each
* Pair of Sending Stones for future Riot House missions