Seeking Siblings in the Sunken Spire

The Southwind Adventurers' Guild mission was to find and return two missing human nobles Talgen Hucrele a male warrior, and Sharwyn Hucrele a female spellcaster.

If they had perished their signet rings could be returned as proof of their deaths, which seemed likely as they went into a dangerous sunken tower.

The young nobles were escorted by a paladin named Sir Braford and a ranger named Karakus.

The mission was began by Smax and Balak Orebiter

Backup was sent in the form of Austenus Belloq and Duart Swordsbane

After some skirmishes with the locals found a strange sight, a crying kobold. Turns out the kobold was named Meepo and was the keeper of a White Dragon Wyrmling that was important to his people, but had been stolen by the goblins which they are enemies of but aren't in all out war.

We retrieved the wyrmling after an incredibly lucky goblin softened it up a bit. The deed got us audience with the kobold queen Yusdrayl, who turned out to be rather civil. She had items for sale and promised a pick of even better items if we drive the goblins away so the kobolds can deny involvement.

Shortly after found an important fountain with magical liquid. Austenus tasted it (spicy) and collected some in a water skin. A fact that will not at all seem hypocritical in the future.

So went about dealing with some goblins, which Orebiter reveled in to an uncomfortable degree.

In one of the rooms we found several kobolds tied up, as well as something other than a kobold in a cage... a gnome named Erky. Freeing the kobolds was simple, but the cage proved trickier. It would be an incredible understatement to say it was worth the extra effort to free the gnome.

A much better discovery then the Elf Pudding we found soonafter.

There was much combat, but through interrogation were on the trail of the nobles and their escorts. Learned Karakas was likely dead.

Also began, with some resistance from part of the party, to show some mercy to the goblins and spare some.

Also learned of the Dragon worshipping past of the place bit by bit as we went.

The latter culminated in finding the sarcophagus of a Dragon Priest that had been entombed alive.

Turns out the Dragon Priest was a Troll and was still very much alive, until we rectified that.

Austenus got a nifty ceremonial dagger and a magic green torch that would cause some confusion later.

After a fight with one of the more powerful jerks in the place we found what was likely Talgon's signet ring.

Then went to a former cathedral that had been a goblin town, due to our fair warning was now mostly abandoned.

One brave goblin, name?, was looting the place since all the others had left. Very practical.

Learned more info from him, like the surviving two we sought were likely on the levels below.

So down we went. By this point we had lost track of the dwarves.

Found the odd sight of skeletal gardeners. Despite the calm hobby they attacked on sight.

Austenus tries for the first time to correct Smax's belief that he is a satyr instead of a tiefling.

Might have gotten the point across if not for being ambushed by bugbears and giant rats.

After some skirmishes find a couple of casks of bitter but drinkable goblin wine.

This changes Austenus's opinion of the goblins, as making such a decent drink surely is a sign of civility.

As was the following room for fixing old armor.

Then there was a nice room of dragon art.

Less nice was a snake made of fire encountered by the group.

After some more searching came across a small group of fungus farmers and their guards, a little diplomacy and learned of the Druid that ran the place.

They told of a tree the druid cultivated and that the remaining noblewoman and knight were likely being held by then.

Went in the direction the goblins directed and first came across a magic dragon statue that granted a boon to Austenus.

Then they discovered the druid's library, and after some research raided the niftier tomes & a few magic scrolls. The books included the draconic text of "Treasures of the Fire Lord" and a one seemingly scribed by the druid himself on Life and Death, including notes on the creation of Blights and about the tree he valued greatly... grown from the wooden stake driven into the heart of a vampire.

The small party made last minute preparations and entered the druid's inner sanctum.

Bramble covered the floor, slowing travel and hiding Blights.

Unfortunately Sir Bradford and the noblewoman Charwin weren't just captives, they were controlled somehow by the druid.

Austenus uncharacteristically and foolishly charged forward to face the druid directly, though he had the aid of Charwin's spells as well. Plus a giant frog for good measure.

Smax battled the majority of the Blights then with a far more equal fight against Sir Bradford.

Austenus was blinded and things seemed dire, but had taken the strange liquid discovered earlier... which he had learned was a Potion of Dragon Breath. Though blind the vampire grown tree was an easy target to hit with a gout of flame.

Then the calvary arrived. The goblins that had been shown mercy and aid rallied to aid the group and also rid themselves of the druid.

Now that the goblins were no longer hostile the party was able facilitate a truce between the goblins and kobolds.

Not trusting the noblewoman and knight they were kept tied up.

Unfortunately as they were leaving the citadel it was noticed that the two were changing, taking on plant-like features such as skin like bark.

Rather than take the risk the two were euthanized.

That dark business done the party went to Oakhurst to give the bad news (with obvious omissions) and signet rings.