Campaign One Arc 1: The Mage Killer

The **first arc of Campaign One** of The Vanguard begins a new campaign on the continent of Faerûn starting in in the year 1495 DR, long after the founding of the guild. The Arcane Brotherhood has sensed an evil lurking that could upset the balance of magic and power. We quickly find the guild called into action to look into these mysterious events. The elder members have sent recruits to see if these events mean anything and how it could ultimately impact the fate of the world.

## Arc 1 summary

In the bustling town of Waterdeep, The Vanguard guild's ranks have slowly been growing. After the completion of StoneHeart Hall, the elder guild house leaders were called into action. Dispatching a number of recruits the guild got word of trouble stirring. Visiting location after location, guild members started seeing signs of an ancient artifact sought after by a shadow entity. This entity has funded numerous other organizations, including the Whispers Breath Clan, to do the dirty work of stealing relics or long sought after keys that could possible open a legendary tomb. Information gathered through mysterious cyphers and runes point toward a race for these powerful artifacts. To what end - General Grom & the other leaders of The Vanguard still are unsure. What is certain is that whoever is digging for these things, including the keys to the tomb where Naraxas may lie, is not filled with good intention.

3 keys have been found and all signs of disturbance point toward whoever is behind the kidnappings and threats left by letter. A mysterious insignia looms large over the guild. More and more attacks by a nefarious organization have lead to harassment and finally a defector from them to reach out for a parlay. As the group found their way into the jungles, after killing one of the Covetous Coven, the eldest hag projected a shared dream that affected the entire guild revealing the name of the group to be the Monomaterial.

After losing valuable document to them found in Rhekiel's Rest, Valas Dyrr went undercover to find out the material were planning a daring raid on Revel's End to kidnap a prisoner, Thoren of Eldoria thought to have knowledge of the keys to the vault of Naraxas. A battle took place but The Vanguard secured Prisoner 626 and brought him. After promising protection and aid, Thoren revealed there is a 5th key to the vault that lays buried in him in the form of his tattoo bound to his blood and lineage that he has been burdened with his whole life.

Asked to put down in-fighting and street crime in Waterdeep, the guild perused the death of Ash Valen uncovering that he used a modify memory scroll to alter his knowledge of Naraxas so that he wouldn't divulge the location. Fighting against the ever-growing forces the guild is now beset by accusations from inside the city and outside by Baron Algaron to try and discredit the guild as they stretch themselves thinner each day trying to fight these fires. In an attempt to gain the upper hand, The Vanguard infiltrated the Monomaterial's operation in Manshaka returning with 3 eggs believed to be imported from Chult. The goods were identified as dinosaur eggs as one began to hatch upon inspection at The Den.