The Hellions - Episode Eight

## **Arc Synopsis:**

Inzet, the capital city of Mowen's Borderlands province. Welcome to the Vanguard. An order of heroic Knights whose sole purpose is to protect the Trinity Kingdoms from threats beyond the ability of normal mortals. You are part of the Hellions Faction of the Vanguard, who patrol the wastes for the accursed dread hounds. These fiendish monsters have no tactics, no sentience, never tire, and are always hungry for mortal flesh. Until today, when something changed...

## **Episode Summary:**

Fall 1217. In this adventure, Kell's Hells turns in evidence linking merchant lord Clyth Baltine to the dread hound attacks, and confronts another Etherite interested party within Inzet.

This is the eight adventure in the The Hellions Arc

## **Commanding Officer:**

Mazz (Massidy) Hebner – Second-in-Command, Vanguard: Hellions Faction.

## **Vanguard:**

* Nevelle Szmart - Tiefling Undying Warlock
* El Cangrejo – Crabfolk (Simic) Mastermind Rogue
* Dro Near’th - Drow Shadow Sorcerer
* Tyriel Criller – Human (Loxodon) Ancestral Barbarian
* Shepard Swiftfoot - Horned Halfing (Tiefling) Moon Druid
* Duvel Storm - Aarakocra Arcane Archer Fighter

## **Adventure Debriefing:**

The barbed devil, **Tumdunaus** aka Mr Winch, agrees to Nevelle's contract. Notably, in return for not banishing the devil, he would provide a list of the other devils that escaped at the same time he came to the Material Plane, and as much information about them as he could provide, including his own part in making weaponry for dread hounds on behalf of Clyth Baltine. As part of his cover, Mr Winch would provide smithing services at the Hellions Tower, and offered to use his ability to 'see' the mark of those who've made contracts with Devils.

* **Anthalseus** - "Lord Celebrus"/"Fletchford" - prefers coercing marks
* **Guerson** - has the appearance of a gargoyle with big wings
* **Haarmond** - loves plot weaving. Goes around and helps nobles make all those complicated schemes for power. Probably also made the means for their own downfall.
* **Hazrebel** - Possession. A fearsome one who "harvested" people and could assume their identity by using their skin.
* **Isayrn** - A magic leech. She'll teach you spells but draw on the residual magic that comes from the mage learning them. Good news I suppose is that she can't generate her own magic - some Paladin in the hell wars broke the ability out of her.
* **Malerix** - He'll be hard to find. He trades organs. Look for anyone that's sickly in an odd way, jaundiced, failing kidney at a young age, stuff like that.
* **Soltaxin** - Speaks the truth that should remain hidden yet people might seek out. Course, earning that truth usually costs a pretty bit of service
* **Vhexod** - Trades in memories.
* **Vysorius** - Wish granter. Loves lingering around wishing wells. She gets more power the more the wish goes wrong away from the intent.
* **Zaxum** - is a big "bone"y guy

Mr Winch informed them that there *was* a Hell Gate at the center of the Trinity Lakes, but no more. After the contract is signed and freed from the winch, Mr "Winch" changes into a human-looking form. The remainder of the evening is spent packing up what needed to be transported back to Inzet. Word arrives from Mazz the next day that reinforcements are en route, and Nevelle informs back that the warehouse is secured and that they would be transporting numerous weapons and Etherite back to the city.

In order to help maintain the valuable information network he had developed, El Cangrejo was allowed to take some of the recovered items. While everything else was inventoried and accounted for, El C set up on-going consignment sales through local merchants to help bolster the squads resources.

Due to the enormity of uncovering devilry behind the dread hound attacks, Mazz sent the squad to speak with Elderknight Bess. She cautioned them to complete the delivery to Fletchford in plain clothes, and to not draw attention as Vanguard. But, she does give the squad permission to eliminate Fletchford more permanently if able.

Dro disguised himself as Langston, with Nevelle a secretary, and Tyriel a bodyguard. Kell's Hells headed to meet "Fletchford" at his very ornate and well-tended manor. After waiting in the foyer, Dro, Nevelle, and Tyriel went in to meet Fletchford; the rest of the squad went to take the delivery of Etherite, on the nasus-pulled cart, to the stables.

Appearing oddly youthful compared to the look in his eyes, Fletchford welcomed Dro. The disguise no longer necessary, Dro dropped his illusion of Langston. The delivery to which Fletchford "contracted" with Dro through the watch now completed. Fletchford offered that many more jobs could become available, but Dro declined by taking the watch from his pocket and dropping it right in front of Fletchford before he could take it. As the bond was broken, Dro was hit with a wave of exhaustion. "Worth it," he gasped weakly. Nevelle had Fletchford sign the receipt of delivery, and the three started to leave.

At the stables as the package was unloaded and inspected, to hide the fact it had been opened previously, El C knocked into Fletchford's henchmen. Both parties agreed to not tell Fletchford. As they scurried away, El C called out "Have fun with the bomb! Ole!" and Duvel made sparks appear from the package with a prestidigitation cantrip.

A stable hand ran into the house, "Bomb in the stables!" Fletchford commanded Dro, Nevelle, and Tyriel to stop. Tyriel drew his two magical axes and growled back "we're done here." Fletchford was slightly taken aback. Retreating back out to the courtyard the squad regrouped.

Deciding that a party full of civilians might not be the best time to attempt removing Fletchford from the Material Plane, Kell's Hells committed to keeping a close eye on him and return to their primary objective, Clyth Baltine.

To help, Mr Winch sends Clyth a message to meet in a back alley to come see a new weapon he had been working on, "to truly get the dread hounds under your dominion." Kell's Hells then set up to ambush Clyth at the meet. Dro disguised himself as Mr Winch and drew Clyth into the alley. Nevelle Misty Stepped behind Clyth and told him, "You just got served. On the authority of the Vanguard who have been dealing with your shenanigans this whole time, you are officially under arrest for terrorism, war mongering, and tax evasion," and slapped manacles on his wrists. El C slid down from the nearby roof and with rope in hand, one end to Nevelle, then "skated" around Clyth to wrap him multiple times with the rope. Duvel cast Hunter's Mark on Clyth, and prepared to fire if he tried to run. Dro attempted to coat Clyth in Faerie Fire. Tyriel maintained his vantage point on the roof, looking out in case any of Clyth's guards had come with. Shepard readied a Fire Bolt. The bound Clyth attempted to escape by Misty Stepping onto the far roof, Shepard cast his Fire Bolt and Duvel loosed his arrows. Duvel's grasping arrow locked Clyth into place on the roof preventing him from moving farther.

El C pulled aside his coat to reveal a winch hook at his belt, then picked the rope back up and attached the two. Whirling the hook around and releasing with extracrabordinary force it sailed straight into Clyth; and scuttling backwards El C pulled Clyth off the roof. Seeing Clyth prone in the alley below, Duvel flew down and poured a vial of Zeal into Clyth's mouth, smashing it into his face. Nevelle grabbed a page out of her journal and shoved it in Clyth's mouth. Unable to cast, Clyth surrendered. A trial and long jail sentence awaited him.

## **Conclusion/Pre-Epilogue**

Uloreen had taken notice of Nevelle's skill working with undead and offered to recruit her into the fold. Nevelle, unsure of wanting to command undead but more interested in studying, negotiated a different position.

Aradrine came into a way to get Wellbloom for Duvel who sent it back to his village on a regular basis.

El Cangrejo's legend continued to grow as word of Clyth's arrest spread and how the "Wincher" and his hook took him down, literally.

Shepard's sister, Sabine asked to train with him more and gain some pointers regarding Wild Shaping. Shepard hired Ulmer, Bolton, and Willard at the Riot House to deliver a letter to the Arcaners. The following day, he persuaded Mazz to send a letter to the Skull Splitters regarding events in Inzet and asking for assistance from fellow Vanguard.

Tyriel is promoted to Striker of Squad Twelve, and is knighted in his tuxedo at a later ceremony. El C became his second-in-command.

## **Rewards**

* A deep purple (nearly black) waterproof Sharkskin bag for Nevelle (from Shepard)
* choice of 1 magic item from Quartermaster to keep
	+ Dro Near'th, Boots of Levitation
	+ Duvel Storm, Longbow +1
	+ El Cangrejo, Medic Sash
	+ Nevelle Szmart, not chosen
	+ Shepard Swiftfoot, Crystal Ball
	+ Tyriel Criller, not chosen
* 100g for completion of duty
* 8 weeks downtime