Maravian Adventures

Maravian Adventures was a campaign which is centered on a group of adventures in Maravia. The starting party had all been kidnapped and enslaved aboard a slave ship heading towards the far away island of Maravia. Why the party had been kidnapped is a mystery and the party soon came to learn that whoever had captured them is hunting them down.

## Players

* Aerysa (Cecilia), Elven Gloomstalker/Rogue
* Banksmuth Squan (Benjamin), Aarakocram Monk/Warlock
* Coin (Laura), Kobold Sorcerer
* Hila (Alexis), Halfling Rogue/Cleric
* Munya (Laura), Tabaxi Wizard
* Rhogar (Simon), Dragonborn Wizard
* Zagreus (Jonas), Dragonborn Paladin
* Zevvy (Jonas), Human Bard
* Zyllana (Tanya), Elven Druid

## Prologue

It has been a long time since you tasted the air of freedom. You have lost count over how long you’ve been aboard this creaking, stinking ship. Is it weeks? Months? Who knows at this point? Having been kidnapped by slavers, you have slowly begun to accept that abandoning all prospects of a free life is in your sanity’s best interest. However, despite everything, a faint spark of hope remains inside of you.

One morning, you were awakened by the sound of a loud uproar. You were not sure of what was happening, but you can sense the dread and chaos coming from the ship deck. The sound of the uproar was soon to be replaced by the sound of a thunderous storm. As the noise grew louder, you could feel the ship tilting. Then, water started rushing in through the planks. In a panic you try to break out of your prison but to no avail. Suddenly, the hull was breached. Water came rushing in…

Is this the end?

## Story

### Beginning

The beginning of the campaign was in 1 June 1444. The party consisting of Aerysa, Banksmuth, Zevvy, Munya and Zyllana survived the sinking of the slave ship that they were imprisoned on. A local fisherman named Orwild helped the party get to the nearby town of Darren Cove, where the party got acquainted with each other and acquired supplies. All party members were branded on their arms with a sigil of a sun, which flared up on occasion, causing pain and allowing whoever applied the mark to track them. The party decided to set out for an adventure to figure out who had kidnapped them and to get rid of the sigil on their arms. Zyllana decided to depart, looking to the woods to find allies who could help.

### Haggard Bandits

The party was in need of money and had learned that there was a reward on the head on Kai Haggard, leader of the haggard bandits. They spoke with Erron Daleham, captain of the north in the Grand Duchy of Holvist and agreed to help find them. An ambush was set up to capture bandits, and the party interrogated a bandit who agreed to take them to their leader. Before doing so, another Haggard bandit approached the party, telling that Kai Haggard would offer a greater reward if they let Erron Daleham into an ambush. When encountering Kai Haggard and her bandits, the party switched sides, capturing Erron Daleham and killing his men. Kai Haggard thanked them for the help, leading to the Haggard bandits gaining influence.

### Ardell

The party arrived in Ardell, where they helped a frustrated Nobleman named Menion Leithal deal with a doppelganger who had assumed his identity. However, after bringing the supposed doppelganger to Joevyn, the sheriff of the town, they learned that he was the actual Menion and that the doppelganger was the one who had hired them to remove him. Menion had been poisoned by the doppelganger and was dead on arrival at the Sheriff's office.

Whilst in Ardell, the party was being followed by a gang of thugs. Banksmuth survived a deadly encounter on his own and warned the party. The party was ambushed in a tavern whilst sleeping. The thugs were killed and the party caught one of them, dragging him off to an abandoned farmhouse to interrogate. Whilst at the farmhouse, the party was attacked by more thugs led by a dwarf named Rurik, who was responsible for the kidnapping of Zevvy and Munya. Amongst them was Gnog the Bugbear. Whilst fighting, Zevvy used "Suggest" to convince Gnog to turn on the thugs, promising him a great payment. The party prevailed, the old farmhouse burned down and Rurik escaped. Gnog was paid what the party promised and left. After this encounter, Zevvy and Munya decided that they were done with pursuing their kidnappers and left the party.

Upon returning to Ardell, Aerysa and Banksmuth continued to search for Rurik. They managed to earn some extra coin helping the a local merchant with avenging his brother, who was killed by something sinister. They learned from Graydor, a local werebear, that it was likely a wererat who was the perpetrator. They managed to capture the perpetrator, bringing him to Sheriff Joevyn and convinced him to better integrate lycanthropes to avoid more violence. In the process of capturing the perpetrator, Banksmuth was inflicted with wererat lycanthropy

Aerysa and Banksmuth encountered Zagreus, Coin and Dimo. Dimo had been on the same slave ship as Aerysa and Banksmuth and marked with the same sigil, and had been assisted by Zagreus and Coin. They decided to join forces and work together. Whilst searching for Rurik the party happened upon his hideout at an old warehouse. The party managed to defeat Rurik and his men. However, with Rurik dead, the trail had gone cold on who else might be pursuing them.

### Journey to Echo Valley

Zagreus knew that a famed Wizard known as Marildor the Lonesome lived in a remote place called Echo Valley. In hopes of learning more about the magic used to track the players, they decided to seek him out. Whilst travelling through Falbrook, Aerysa and Banksmuth were arrested by Dask Pilgarlic, the new Captain of the North, who suspected them for their involvement with Erron Daleham, who was killed during his imprisonment by the Haggard Bandits. Whilst in captivity, Banksmuth, as a result of his lycanthropy affliction, transformed into a wererat, breaking out of jail. Aerysa managed to grab keys off a dead guard, freeing herself. Afterwards, the party tracked Banskmuth and subdued him.

The party continued to Echo Valley, travelling through Mothwood Forest. In Mothwood, the party happened upon Holvister soldiers, who were trying to retake a stronghold which had been captured by orcs. The party succeeded in helping them, and managed to free Gnog, who had been captured and held in captivity by the orcs. Gnog decided to join the party. Cervyn, a huntsman from the stronghold, decided to help guide the party to Marildor.

The party arrived in Echo valley. The party was split up after a pink mist dazed and confused them, bringing them into a drug-like state and splitting the party. Aerysa and Banksmuth managed to save Dimo, who had wandered into a cave where a hag was living. The party would later encounter travelers, who where seeking Marildor. Suspicious of the travelers, the party decided not to deal with them, although the travelers would be tailing behind. Upon arriving at Marildor's tower, the party got to meet the eccentric wizard. Unfortunately, he could not help with the sigil, but he knew of a wizard named Ganderil Quaill on Monswork island, who would be able to help. Afterwards, the suspicious travelers were caught stealing from Marildors tower and a fight broke out. They were cultists of Herdeziel and used occult powers and summoned powerful demons. The party captured the leader of the group in order to interrogate him. Marildor provided teleportation, promising them that they would return to Ardell. The spell flunked, instead landing them in a marsh in Mothwood Forest.

### Journey to Monswork Island

On their way to Ardell, the party met with Hila, a young halfling rogue, who was interested in tagging along and who was trying to become a member of the Haggard Bandits. The party interrogated the cultist, who was named Brennagh. Brennagh would not reveal anything about his affiliations and the party let him go. The party travelled to Ardell in order to get a ship that could take them to Monswork Island, finding a pair of Smugglers named Aesop and Grubin who would take them along. At Monswork the party learned that Ganderil lived a secluded life on Little Monswork, a small island close to Monswork Island. They travelled to Little Monswork, being attacked by a giant shark on the way. After scouring the entire island, the party found Ganderil's abode. Ganderil revealed much about the ordeals that Aerysa, Banksmuth and Dimo have been through, and that they are "Ellasil-born", meaning they have been born on the day of the passing of The Ellasil Satellite, giving them magical properties. Ganderil reveals that it is likely his estranged brother, Aldagas Quaill, who might have kidnapped them, as he has been doing experiments on Ellasil-born. Ganderil helped remove the sun sigils on the arms of Aerysa, Banksmuth and Dimo. Knowing who to pursue, the party set out in search of Aldagas, who has set up home at Kartara Island.

Before leaving Monswork, the party helped the locals in the town of Merrik's Cove deal with a trio of sea hags who had been kidnapping children. The party travelled back to Little Monswork along with Sir Greiswald and some soldiers and explored the lair of the hags. The party defeated the hags and freed several kidnapped children.

### Tarrington

The party arrived in Tarrington, the capital of Holvist. Sir Greiswald had invited them to participate in a feast held by the Grand Duke Klavian Goldenvale to celebrate their triumph over the hags. Before the feaast, the party met Rhogar, a dragonborn wizard, who also had been invited to the feast after helping a nobleman survive an encounter with raiders. Rhogar would eventually join the party, as they could assist him on his quest of finding his lost mentor, Medivh. The party would attend the feast, meeting the mighty Grand Duke of Holvist in the process.

In Tarrington, the party happened upon a performing carnival troupe. During their performance an ensalved Aarakocra named Uuhu was forced to perform degrading tricks. This enraged Banksmuth, who attacked the troupe. The troupe was slaughtered and Uuhu was freed. Uuhu was thankful and decided to tag along with the party.

### Journey towards Kantmark Academy

The party decided to seek help from the wizards of Kantmark Academy, who might know something about Aldagas and Medivh. Rhogar knew that a wizard named Lendir was a member of the school, and was affiliated with Medivh. Uuhu was also interested in getting a potential job at the academy.

On the journey, the party helped a nobleman named Sortiris Farwalk deal with the haunting of his estate. During the investigation, the party encountered the ghost of Isabetha Piergard, who revealed her tragic story. A secret underground crypt called the "Hall of the Blind" existed below the estate, and it contained a seal which had been broken, unleashing tormented spirits upon the estate. The party subdued the spirits and restored the seal. The party managed to satisfy Isabetha, bringing her closure and allowing her to return to the afterlife.

The party passed by the wartorn city of Hykantis, where they dealt with an undead infestation at a local cemetary. After leaving Hykantis, the party was ambushed by more cultist of Herdeziel. Brennagh was with the ambushers, and he was killed in the fight.

### Kantmark Academy

Upon arriving in Kantmark, the party learned that Lendir had gone missing a week prior. They set out to search for him, meeting Geran, Marildor's servant, who revealed that Marildor had been taken prisoner along with Lendir by bugbears. Whilst searching for the bugbears, the party laid eyes on the mighty red dragon called Skieragh. The party encountered the bugbears led by Bragh, Gnog's cousin. Bragh agreed to release Lendir if the party helped recapture artifacts stolen by bandits. The party set of with Bragh to find the bandits, learning that these bandits were the cultists of Herdeziel, who yet again had been causing trouble. The party slaughtered all of the cultists and the demons that had spawned in their hideout, finding Bragh's artifacts and saving captured children.

Lendir was released from captivity along with Marildor. he would reveal that Medivh had returned to Maravia, and was travelling towards Geredas in the Duchy of Orcidia with members of the Faceless Ones, a notorious gang. Upon returning to Kantmark Academy, the party learned that Uuhu had been captured and held hostage by a man named Fal. During this ordeal they encountered Wolfric of Trent, a brooding knight from Rhionland, and his squire Brenly. The party sought out the kidnappers and ended fighting them to free Uuhu. Fal escaped from the fight. During the clash, Wolfric came riding on his horse and supported the party. He revealed that he has been seeking out the Faceless Ones, who supposedly kidnapped his fiancée.

At Kantmark Academy, Hila hooked up with a young Dwarven student named Rita and they started a romantic relationship.

The party set course for Geredas to find Medivh. They travelled through Deepvale, encountering a soldier who asked them to free his men from freefolk who had ambushed and captured their caravan. After speaking with the freefolk, the party instead turned in the soldier. Afterwards, the party encountered Skieragh again, but the party managed to hide from his sight.

### Geredas

In Geredas, the players continued searching for clues about the Faceless Ones. They learned about a mechant named Estia Pontus, who had been kidnapped by the gang and escaped. She had hired two private investigators named Garvos and Safia, who had located a hideout belonging to the gang. The party agreed to infiltrate the hideout and uncover material which could be used to bring down the hideout. The party snuck into the hideout, finding valuable information. Most importantly, the party found a prison cell where Medivh was held captive. Medivh was saved and he would reveal his past working for Aldagas and the true familial past of Rhogar.

The party travelled with Medivh back to Kantmark Academy. On the way the party was attack by Fal and his men whilst camping. The party overcame Fal's men and Fal was beheaded by Aerysa. At the academy Medivh would seek the aid of his former colleagues and decided to stay. Medivh urged the party to leave Maravia to escape from Aldagas, but the party decided to continue their quest.

### Travelling towards Kartara Island.

The party decided it was about time to get to Kartara Island and confront Aldagas. In order to get to the island, the party would have to take a boat from Arrow's Reach in the southeast. On their travels they stopped by Geredas and spoke with investigator Garvos about the raid of the Faceless Ones' compound in Geredas. Garvos helped the party gain entrance to the Geredas Royal prison where 4 Faceless Ones members were held captive. The party interogated a member who remained quiet, but with the help of Rhogar's Detect Thoughts spell they managed to gain vital information and afterwards bamboozle the prisoner, which made him leak even more information about the gang's operations.

The party left Geredas and headed east, travelling to the town of Eoghin Dirh, arriving on 15 August 1444. The town has been overrun by strange acidic golden oozes. The party was hired by the sheriff, Shelly Dumbledee, to investigate and figure out how they came. The party figured out that the slimes were accidentally created by Lester, a half-elf alchemist who experimenting with turning slime tissue into gold. The party learned the slimes were susceptible to loud noises, and they cleared the town church of slimes so that the church bell could be used to eliminate the remaining slimes.

The party passed by Port Kaech, which was dealing with an undead plague. Within Port Kaech the party was apprehended by followers of Ralgar the Bishop, who were suspicious of their presence and wanted to burn them at the stakes. The party fought against Ralgar and his men and killed Ralgar. A doctor named Remus was interested in having the party investigate the source of the plague. Surprisingly, Isabetha Piergard had reemerged and had informed Remus how her spirit escaped the Flow, the realm of the dead. On the 19th of August 1444, the Maravian Adventurers managed to close a portal leading to The Flow. The portal had been opened by careless adventurers seeking treasure. From this portal emerged restless spirits that brought havoc and disease upon the local communities. By removing a Black Orb of Nosos orb which was used as a conduit to open the portal, the portal was closed and the spirits that had escaped were sucked back in. The party was subsequently knighted by Lord Haelmont, lord of Kaech.

The next stop on the journey was the relatively secure port town of Arrow's Reach. During their stay in Arrow's Reach, the party happened to meet Maviano Gradenius, son of one of the world's richest men, Porto Gradenius, who was on a trade excursion to Eolainn and Maravia. The party would encounter the smugglers, Aesop and Grubin, who once again provided them with ship transport, this time to Kartara Island.

### Kartara Island

On 23 August 1444, the adventurers arrived via boat to Kartara Island. The party started searching for clues about Aldagas' whereabouts in the town of Callaway. During a harvest festival in the town, the party happened to catch a speech held by the mayor in town, who then introduced Aldagas. Aldagas had been using his magic to help the islanders, providing them with fertile soil for agriculture on what was otherwise once a barren island. Before the adventurers intervened, Wolfric appeared, urging them not to blow their cover. He and Brenly had been spending the last week finding clues about where Aldagas resides and had met with a criminal informant who had intel. The party decided to go with Wolfric to meet this informant, but were ambushed by the Faceless Ones, led by Aerysa's old lover Levander. In a tense fight which cost the life of Brenly, WOlfric's trusted squire, the party managed to catch Levander and deliver him the killing blow. The party would bury Brenly whilst Aerysa burried Levander, reminiscing on the memories of her lover turned foe.

Later, the party encountered Ganderil Quaill, borther of Aldagas, who had travelled all the way to Kartara Island to confront his brother. Ganderil knew of Aldagas' location and adviced the party not to go with him, but the party insisted on travelling towards Aldagas. Ganderil travelled one day ahead but gave the party Aldagas' location.

Travelling south towards the wild interior of Kartara Island, the party encountered suspicious bandits in the forest who were inquisitive on the party's intentions. Later, the party was ambushed by the same bandits, who were led by a manipulative Naga. The adventurers repelled the attack and slew the Naga, which vowed to return once reincarnated and bring its vengeance upon them.

The party arrived at a shack that Ganderil had marked on their map. Ganderil planned to return to the shack to tell the party of his encounter with his brother. Waiting for a few days, Ganderil never showed up. However, a strange wizard in the form of an anthropomorphic otter named Stravigan Beall showed up. He told the party he was a wizard from the distant Ealric Academy of Magic working for the Arcane League and was searching for a wizard named Briania, who had disappeared 2 years prior, supposedly after she went to seek out Aldagas Quaill. The party agreed that he could travel with them.

### Aldagas' tower

Arriving at Aldagas' tower, the party immediately requested an audience with Aldagas. They were allowed to meet him in his tower. After a short audience, the conflicting parties quickly came at odds and Aldagas requested the party leave immediately. A fight would ensue between the adventurers and Aldagas' wizards and magical creations. The party chased Aldagas to the top of his tower, but before capturing him he would teleport away from the premises. The party would not discover any damning or incriminating evidence of what Aldagas' had been doing within his tower.

Meanwhile, Stravigan Beall had been assaulted by wizards outside, but managed to defeat them in battle. The adventurers interrogated one of the wizards who revealed a secret location that is part of Aldagas' domain. North of the tower, an old dwarven subterranean dungeon was located under an old volcano. The party headed towards that location immediately after.

### Aldagas' secret dungeon

The party found the entrance to the secret dungeon used by Aldagas. However, the entrance was sealed shut by a magical barrier. The party spent some time figuring out how to enter when suddenly a goblin named Buugi appeared. Buugi told them he knew of a secret entrance through cavernous tunnels and showed them the way. Through these tunnels, the party would be attacked by different kinds of subterranean monsters. Reaching the end of the tunnel, the same Naga that the party killed in the forest on their way towards Aldagas' twoer appeared, having returned from the dead. This time it was being supported by a gang of werebat goblins. Once again, the party emerged victorious and killed the Naga, which once again vowed its revenge. Afterwards, Buugi confessed that he had been controlled by the Naga to lead the party into its trap. The adventurers forgave Buugi and Buugi decided to continue helping them.

The party managed to enter Aldagas dungeon by crawling up towards a bridge crossing the tunnels they had been traversing. Within this dungeon they encountered fierce resistance from Aldagas' henchman, wizards, magical beasts and traps. After much struggle fighting through the dungeon, the party happened upon evidence of Aldagas' grand scheme. Scrounging through the mountains of notes and logbooks revealed a terrible realizaiton. Aldagas had done research and experimentation with the blood of Ellasil-born, discovering the blood’s potential for creating rejuvenating mixtures that can cure most wounds and diseases and even has the potential for reversing the effects of aging. Experiments have also been made with the soil of Kartara Island, showing that the blood may even rejuvenate barren soil and make it fertile. It was revealed that these findings are a result of testing with blood tapped from Ellasil-born. Whilst searching through his test chambers, the party encountered Briania, the wizard Stravigan was searching for. She had been complicit in Aldagas' experiments, hoping to reverse her own aging by tapping the blood of Ellasil-born. Stravigan would seize her to be taken into the custody of the Arcane League.

Further search through the experiment chambers revealed the numerous dead bodies of test subjects. Reaching a holding cell, the party found living test subjects. Among these subjects were Dimo's twin sister Senilla, Aerysa's twin brother Alvalon, Ganderil Quaill who had been taken hostage by his brother and two other test subjects. However, a subject had passed away within the cell. That subject was Ylaine Ridoran, Wolfric's fiancée. Her death made Wolfric go into grief and vow his revenge on Aldagas. Stravigan would teleport the prisoners back to Kantmark Academy and the party would meet with Aldagas in his chambers for a final showdown.

Aldagas had prepared for the confrontation, having activated his many mechanical constructs to aid him in the fight. The fight was intense, as Aldagas quickly overpowered the party with his powerful magic, almost subduing them all with a powerful blast of ice magic, killing the helpful goblin Buugi in the process. However, the adventures managed to turn the tide, using all power at their disposal to distract Aldagas whilst defeating his mechanical contraptions. In a final maneuver, Gnog threw a javelin into Aldagas, followed up by Rhogar who managed to get close enough to unleash a fiery dragon breath which brought him down.

Aldagas was weak and incapacitated. Before the adventurers decided to kill him, Aldagas pleaded his case, saying that his death would mean the death of the islanders of Kartara Island, as they were dependent on his magic to keep the soil fertile and productive. Stravigan also said that they could leave him alive so that he may take Aldagas to be tried in front of the Arcane League, promising that Aldagas would be convicted thanks to the mountains of evidence available and that he would be facing the harshest of punishments for his transgressions. Letting go of their vengeance, the adventurers decided that Aldagas should stand trial and his evildoings exposed to the world.

Following the capture of Aldagas, the party found a passage leading towards a hidden dockside containing a ship. The party jumped on the ship and sailed westward towards Tarrington towards safety and to deliver the captured Aldagas to Kantmark Academy.

### Epilogue

Following Aldagas' capture, the Maravian Adventurers would split. Aerysa travelled with Dimo Ceafani to Kordobia, Banksmuth Squan travelled with Gnog to explore the world. Hila would stay at Kantmark Academy, initially returning to a life of crime but later dedicating herself to a more righteous lifestyle along with her girlfriend Rita. Rhogar would likewise travel the world and pursue his research into esoteric divination magic and rituals. Wolfric of Trent returned to Rhionland, entering a period of deep depression due to his loss of his fiancée Ylaine and trusty squire Brenly.

Following the adventure, the Grand Duchy of Holvist would prove to be succesful against the Duchy of Orcidia, conquering its territory and becoming the prime power on Maravia. the inhabitants of Kartara Island would struggle as they had grown dependent on Aldagas' magic to sustain their agriculture.