Campaign Journal

The trials and tribulations of our intrepid heroes as they make their way through the perilous lands of Arcania.

## 1315

### It Midden

The new cathedral is dedicated in Zamoska.

Noah Llew, Theodore Ravenskeep, Svarth and Clover arrive in Zamoska.

The dedication ceremony is disrupted by an attack by bands of Trasgu which is beaten off with the help of the quartet. Following this, they retire to The Gorgon Inn, where they had taken room, in the company of Tobia Ambin di Ordeto.

### Heyar

#### Sneindei, Heyar 1

Next day, the quartet visited Sherriff Drej in an attempt to discover what had happened.  Following this, they visited Mayor Vlado who hired them as unofficial investigators.  Following this meeting, they were summoned by the sherriff who had discovered how the trasgu had managed to gain entrance to the town.  Noticing footprints crossing the grass to a mausoleum, the quartet investigated and found themselves attacked by a group of Manes while inside. Following the defeat of the manes, it was noticed that the body of Fra Nezno, the former priest, had been stolen.

After resupplying, the quartet headed out into the woods in order to try and follow the trail of whoever stole the body of Fra Nezno.  In the woods, they came across a dilapidated cabin in the woods which was occupied by some Trasgu who had taken part in the raid on the town.  After defeating the creatures, Theo discovered a locket which bore pictures of Fra Nezno and his adopted daughter, Izdaja who was thought to have perished when the old cathedral burned down.

Deeper into the forest, they encountered an elf ranger named Aleen who told them that she had seen the raiding party travelling north east the previous day.  In her company, they decided to return back to Zamoska.

Back in The Gorgon, Noah is accosted by a drunk admirer of Lepota (the Landlady).  The drunk, Pijan, attempts to start a fight but is scared off by Theo.

#### Achtdei, Heyar 2

In the morning, Clover is woken by Jeleneath, the Halfling cook at The Gorgon, who tells her that Leopta has gone missing. A note in her room was an invitation from her half-brother to meet him at the glassworks owned by the family. When the quartet investigate, they find the factory has been infiltrated by Trasgu and that Leopta’s father, along with the glassworks’ night shift have been killed.  Venturing below ground, the manage to rescue Lepota and kill Mahtan, her half brother.

#### Moannedei, Heyar 3

Preparing to depart after Izdaja, Noah, Theo and Svarth are surprised to find that Clover has left during the night, citing the death of the head of her order as the reason for her departure.  When Aleen joins them prior to their departure, she is accompanied by a half-orc named Callianna who will be making the journey with them.

Not long after leaving Zamoska, they are attacked by a group of bandits.  Capturing one of them, he makes it clear that they were hired by Tobia to kill Noah. Travelling on, they reach the ruined village of Karbur where they encounter another group of adventurers who are travelling in search of an item called ‘The Tear of the Drow.”

#### Tiisdei, Heyar 4

The party manage to reach an inn named The Wayfarer where Noah made a fool of himself trying to impress a female bard.

#### Woansdei, Heyar 5

Leaving The Wayfarer in the morning, the group are attacked by a group of blights while on the road.  By evening, the reach the town of Silverford where they meet up with an artificer named Io who joins them.

#### Donderdei, Heyar 6

A few hours travel from Silverford, they reach a high forest of thorns which is the only way to reach Krakus Head, their destination. Making their way through the Thorns, the party encounter groups of Trasgu and Goblins before crossing the bridge from the mainland. Ahead of them, they see a large fortified building guarded by more trasgu.

Once inside, they begin their exploration of the complex and encounter trasgu, goblin dogs and a horse. Around this time, Svart discovered the trasgu nursery andtried to adopt one of the young whom he named Neff.

Venturing deeper into complex, they came across a temple of some sort where they were attacked by 2 hell hounds. After narrowly defeating them, they continued their exploration where they encountered a historian named Kashrin whom had been working for Izdaja but had become disillusioned with her current situation. Kashrin pointed out the secret door which led down to the lower levels of Krakus Head. It was here that they encountered Izdaja, discovering that she was, in fact, Io's twin sister. Unable to reason with her, they were forced to kill Izdaja and Io, Noah, Calli, and Aleen began to carry her body out of the complex.

*from The Recollections of Svarth*

Following this, the party decided to return to Zamoska, accompanied by Kashrin and her 'bodyguard', Wilhelm Kehlmann

#### Achtdei, Heyar 10

*from the journal of Callianna Giro*

After an uneventful 4 day travel we finally reached Zamoska. Upon arrival, the guards seemed rather on edge. 'Perhaps another attack?' I thought, though I didn't see any obvious damage. Noah was pretty sure they were arranging a party for him...strange guy! they asked us to make our way to the Mayor's office. Once we entered the walls of Zamoska, Wilhelm quickly parted ways.

Much to Svarth's dismay, we went to the office before the tavern (note to self - never deny a goblin his alcohol). Once we arrived, instead of being greeted by Vlado, we were met by two individuals; a dwarfen man, Kordus, and an armoured woman, Dannika. Since our adventure to help Io and stop Izdaja, a string of murdes took place. the victims were as follows:

* Pijan - worked in the dock district, found with a slit throat and this note attached to the body via a pin made of bone.

* Childeric Bramblethorn - found in his shop. Again, throat slit and with this note attached with bone like the last guy.

* Mayor Vlado - Same patter: slit throat, note with pin, but, this time, a suspect - Tobia Ambin de Ordato. While I haven't met him, I've heard his name said a few times within the group. Note says, as follows:

* Finally Lepota - same pattern. After viewing her room and seeing the results of her last moments, there was dried blood on the bed with a smaller stain to the side of it. Thanks to Io's insight, it looks like she managed to get a good attack and injure the attacker. Safe to say she was a badass. Her note was as follows:

We followed the small blood trail which led to another room which contained a pile of bloodied cloth and a letter that was addressed to Noah. Svarth and Mishka decided to eat the cloth, which was weird, and Svarth came to the conclusion it was linen. Noah's note was as follows:

"*Catch me if you can"*"

It's concerning how all of this links to Noah and, even more concerning, how blissfully unaware he is to it. He did seem rather out of it after finding out about Lepota. I'm rather curious about his past and how it could link to all this, perhaps providing a motive. think it's safe to say Tobia is our main suspect, not mention that he was behind the attack in the woods. That alone makes we want to Firebolt his ass.

We decided to set out straight away. However, Aleen asked us to meet someone at The Gibbett, just across from Gallows Square. The door had a rather interesting design of a raven. Can't say I'd seen it before but Io recognised it from rumours. She spoke of an organisation called The White Ravens. Inside was a fucking huge half-orc (like, shit, I look human next to him!). After Svarth downed a drink, we were led to another room by a Kobold called Scree.

Within the room was Wilhelm and another man, Rodava. I remember him from the church celebration, he did this theatrical speech then I got bored and wandered off to get drunk. Rather concerned as to how much he knows about us. After conversing, he revealed himself to be part of The White Ravens, Io's hunch was spot on. He offered for us to join the organisation as a way to make money as long as we remain silent as to our connection with them. He spoke of Izdaja, how there was more to her story and that freaky looking arm she had.

It seems like a good opportunity to gain some money and, perhaps, some knowledge on what I'm looking for. This could prove advantageous for the group. And we've been provided with our first job, someone from Genefels send a peculiar letter and, shortly after that, vanished. Guess we have a disappearance and murder to solve now - never a dull moment with this party.

Moannendei, Heyar 11

*Extract from a report written by Wilhelm for the 'White Ravens'*

So, With the odd group that Aleen put together agreeing to do a job for the Zamoska Boss and with me keen to get out of this gloomy town, the Boss asked me to show them the way we do things in the organisation. The job is to find a bookseller in Genefels, apparently he has a 'rare manuscript' the boss is after. They shared the details with past messages, so we are just to collect the goods and bring them back to the Boss. The details of the seller are as follows;

Ha'Shan

bookseller

Midden Walk

Genefels

Shouldn't be too hard.

On the road, a day or so out of town, Noah sprung upon us that the murder causing mischief in town was targeting him and he wanted top detour to put an end to him. After explaining that was not our job, Svarth demanded he pay us for the job, it was a personal job from him after all. 5gp each and pick of the loot did the job. besides this will be good practice for us as a group, we will need it if we come across my normal resistance when the boss sends me on a job.

Svarth found us a good campsite and we settled down for the night. Io spent the evening messing with her chemicals, hopefully they don't blow up in her face as we need her for healing.

#### Tiisdei, Heyar 12

Io woke me in the night for my watch. She claimed to have seen horsemen in the clouds charging at lightning. Also Gnomes in the undergrowth? My hopes for her chemicals to remain safe were clearly missplaced, if she has the habit to hallucinate like this and not recognise it as such suggests that she is not fit to be trusted to stand watch alone...

Once morning came I roused the others. Svarth leapt up knife at the ready until he saw it was me. He is clearly prepared for the dangers this life can expose us to, so I think I can trust him, but only as far as our interests align. Goblins, like any mercenary, have their own best interests at heart after all.

Late in the day we came across a rotting manor. This must be the place. Svarth jumped off his donkey to scout ahead, perhaps he once ran with a goblinoid warband? After signalling the all clear we approached on foot and entered through the door. We went room by room finding nothing but rotting furniture. We finally reached the door to the kitchens, where the dog signalled something was wrong. Within the kitchen were around a dozen zombies. we took the fight to them and put them all down. a couple slipped past the front line and made it to Calliana, the mage, but no lasting damage done. An area for the group to improve in, at least.

After this room was the dining room, with what looks like the buildings owners murdered bodies occupying the chairs. The body at the head stirred. While he looked like a walking dead man, his wounds were newer. The others recognised him as the murderer. He mentioned a friend in the attic and a stranger in the seller before Io thew her spear into him mid sentence. He threw me back against the wall with far more force than his body should allow, and it hurt far more than any normal blow should. Something foul is at work here. We traded blows and the others magical support was enough to bring him down. Calliana striking him down with bolts of searing flame. Hopefully with this i have time to rest a touch before we deal with the attic and the cellar. I am not as young as I once was, i certainly dont feel young enough to shrug off blows like that anymore....

*From the Journal of Iomesah*

After clearing the dining room, we finished checking the ground floor, and finding nothing, we went down into the basement and wine cellar. In the wine cellar there was some kind of presence. It kept throwing wine bottles at us, trying to push each of us, and even threw Calli out of the room. It was also accompanied by a quite ominous chuckling.

There was another room off the other side of the cellar, and after we passed through the door, it was slammed behind us.

Wilhelm went first, and in the next room found a desk, brazier, and an altar, which was being tended by a hooded figure. I came forward to assist, and it shrank away from me when I spoke in Celestial.

I can't remember who attacked first, but the party ended up fighting the thing, which I believe was some form of undead, as it seemed less affected by strikes from our weapons than it was by spells, and my spear. It was also surrounded by an aura of what felt like rot or decay. Weirdly, I seemed somewhat resistant to this aura.

Noah and Wilhelm were knocked unconscious during the fight, and while I may not like either of them, I refused to let people I can save die, not after Theodore. I managed to bring Wilhelm back with a spell, and gave Noah a potion.

The five of us decided it would be worth taking a short rest in the room, once the undead thing had been destroyed. Svarth went and retrieved some of the alcohol, which even had he offered me some, I would have refused – I've never like alcohol. Calli found a bracelet made of bone on the altar, which Svarth identified as defending against the energies that the undead creature was generating. Calli ended up putting it on Miska, like a collar – at least the cute puppy will survive.

While we were resting, Calli took a look at a diary she'd found in the library on the floor above. She found mention of the Syrinx in it, and let me take a look at it. The diary mentioned Iremian, a city supposedly lost in the Sighing Desert, that was the centre of an empire.

There were also references to The Dark – a dwarven legend that's basically a prophecy for the end of the world.

I shared these findings with Calli, but not the others. Noah wouldn't understand, and I don't think Wilhelm believes in, or even cares about, old legends and prophecies, and I honestly believe he'd either mock or berate me for believing in them. I'm not sure Svarth would particularly care either.

After this, we returned upstairs to check the second floor. At the top, we saw the ghost of what must have been the maid fall off the balcony, which explains the blood splatter that I found before. The apparition affected Noah and Calli quite badly. Calli curled up in a ball, I think as a fear reaction, while Noah temporarily lost the ability to speak coherently – not a big change, but at least it stopped him bothering us with stupid comments. They eventually both snapped out of it though, Calli was faster because she got help from Miska.

The rooms on the top floor were mostly unused bedrooms, suggesting the owners hadn't fully moved in. Svarth seemed strangely obsessed with the carpets.

There was also a room with a desk and a suit of armour. The notes on the desk talked of a whisperer in the attic, and a presence in the cellar.

I had a look over the armour, as Noah and Wilhelm both seemed interested in it. However, it was fake, and just there to make the owners look rich. I'm not one to speak ill of the dead, but I really don't like whoever the owners of this place were.

*from the journal of Callianna Giro*

After searching the house, we headed towards the attic, of course Noah went first, I swear that guy has no sense of danger. The Room was dusty, no one has been here for a while… no one with a physical form anyway, this house has been interesting to say the least I do not think anything will surprise me after fighting Tobia downstairs. Miska seemed agitated she noticed it before we did, a strange dust like creature jumped out from behind a create towards Noah and attacked, Svarth jumped in and defeated it turning it back into a pile of dust he identified it as a dust mephit.

We continued through another door to find a makeshift altar, on top of it was a weird creature with wings, almost a minitour or orc like body and a skull on its head wielding a weapon made of a spine and pelvis? Whatever it was it looked proper freaky. Io identified it as Kulkan. Svarth being his usual self-drew a dick on the table he is uncomfortably detailed when drawing inappropriate body parts. After moving some of the crates we set the building on fire ensuring it was completely burning before leaving.

Woansdei, Heyar 13

Spent the day on horse back travelling towards Esper nothing eventful happened other than passing a small group heading in the opposite direction as us.

Donderdei, Heyar 14

We awoke to Svarth chucking, during his watch he carved a bunch of dicks on to our wagon, Io scratched some of them off with her spear and I scorched a few off, again he really pays attention to detail not sure if he was even keeping watch, I’ll die before I’m seen riding a wagon with a bunch of dicks on it.

As evening was approaching so was the small town of Esper in the distance, we arrived just as it was getting dark. We headed to the Green Drow as it seemed less busy than the other tavern, I am not one for crowds. Once we sat down it became obvious most people here were associated perhaps some guild, the barkeep notified us that they will not take part in any business while within the establishment. Svarth manage to convince Noah to ask why their signet looked like a ball bag, despite my desperate attempt to trip him up he still managed to ask, he’s persistent if nothing else thankfully the guy did not seem aggressive according to Noah, he seemed to like Svarth, he even winked.

Wilhelm Managed to secure himself a new set of armour, its condition is less that suitable for use just he seems quite keen on repairing it, with Io’s help it should be a relatively easy job.

Freedei, Heyar 15

I woke up to Miska lying beside me and Noah looking rather flustered, I think it is the first time he is woken up within a meter of a woman. As we left it seemed a lot colder than yesterday, I may have to invest into getting a coat before winter, though its only mid-summer surely it should not be getting this cold yet. We continued the road and set up camp as night fell. Another peaceful night.