2329

## Episodes

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## **ADAPT TO THE FUTURE**

* **LAB HOURS**
	+ In the C.U. CHAMBER, the group looks into clues about what happened to FOGAH
	+ SKITTER and GORIN search the room and find the TOME they discover back in the WAVE ECHO CAVE
		- They remember that it was written by a KOBOLD and contains designs for traps from many different worlds
		- SKITTER is shocked that FOGAH would have left this behind
		- RODRICK offers that NORMSTRA might be a resource for exploring the book more without FOGAH
	+ BEHLEN wonders what FOGAH’s motivations were for leaving (See NPCs-FOGAH and GHOSTS-ZEX)
	+ Outside of the TOME, they find schematics for new ghost hunting tools (See OBJECTS)
	+ RODRICK also shares that they had a situation with a containment breach
		- CORYM and NORMSTRA had been doing their best to operate the unit in FOGAH’s absence
		- At one point, some smaller, less powerful ghosts escaped, but GAMRAD was contained
		- CORYM merged with the CONTAINMENT UNIT, becoming C.U., which has prevented further breaches
	+ It then comes up that DUERGAR are still a problem after the SUNBLIGHT FORTRESS (See NPCs - The UNDERDWARF LORDS)
		- They were able to capture one of their new spirit powered engines and reverse engineered it
		- This allowed them to create the team’s own WRAITHWAINS (See OBJECTS)
		- They DUERGAR’s engines are superior as they destroy the spirits when used creating more power
		- RODRICK says that they take volunteer ghosts from the C.U. keeping them “rested”
		- This use of spirits in this way is a concern for SKITTER and BEHLEN

* **EATING BEEF AND GETTING DEBRIEFED**
	+ RODRICK insists that they head to the MEAL HALL and get some chow while he gets them up to speed about as much as he can think to (See all notes below)
	+ When arriving in the hall, BEHLEN finds FOTHIDA, the woman who gifted him MR STONES, who is glad he is still alive
	+ The group then takes seats at a secluded table with NORMSTRA, BARNUS and JARDROG
		- BARNUS is found to be a proud warrior
		- JARDROG comes off as a bit of a tech geek who enjoys naming things, including their team
		- NORMSTRA is socially awkward, matter of fact, and quick to correct others
	+ The PCs learn that the teams now have a reputation as the DEAD BRANDERS
		- GORIN notices a symbol on B TEAMS winter clothing
		- They would see to homes with doorways branded with a ghost symbol
		- After one particular encounter, BARNUS left his blood stained hand slap on one, creating a logo that stuck with them
	+ The teams discuss quite a bit (noted below), but there are some exchanges of note
		- NORMSTRA found the PCs choice to have all of the 6 powerful tools with them to be shortsighted, but SKITTER stresses “hindsight is 20/20”
		- BEHLEN states that the FOGHA suit could be a separate entity from the TRIPLETS
		- GORIN recalls the connection they felt to RAVING RUIN when near the LAC DEHUR and their concern about that water source
		- The WHITE LADY was destroyed in the TERMALAINE, so that might be why she seems familiar with the LASHES
		- GROVER plans to sit with NORMSTRA and JARDROG to get as much information from them as he can
* **A TEAM HUDDLE**
	+ The group reassures RODRICK that he did a fine job of keeping things together while they were gone
		- RODRICK is much more experienced now, his cocky non-chalant attitude replaced by a more grissled, tired, cynical one
		- Discussions of the fate of D TEAM is a sad one
		- GORIN is able to lighten the mood a bit by referring to him as DEADEYE
	+ The PCs then direct the conversation to next steps
		- BEHLEN stresses the strong connection he is seeing between RAVING RUIN and FOGAH
		- YUNA HEJU was last confronted 7-8 months ago in BRYN SHANDER
			* It possibly has 1 of the 2 SPECTER SPIRES that were set up in town
			* There is also now the plague of YUNA BOILS to contend with, but GOOD MEAD is a source for a cure
		- PHANBARA is still eluding them completely
		- The group is also unsure where to plant the FEY ACORN

## **GAME INFO DUMP:**

### **BRANDERS**

**The DEAD BRANDERS**

* Nicknamed by public after sigils left at homes or graves they confirmed were “cleansed”
* Called the marking Red Brands, but people called them DEAD BRANDS
* Soon they were referred to as the DEAD BRANDERS

**Teams**

* Comprised of 4 roles
* Scout (Find Ghosts, bait them to group)
* Striker (Take them on, try to buff so they don't get possessed)
* Cager (Trap prep and containment duties)
* Keeper (Medic, supplies, CU communication)

A TEAM - “Home Office”

* BEHLEN
* CLAYMONT
* GORIN
* SKITTER

B TEAM - "The Branders" or "The Beasts" or "The Best" or "The Boo Bashers"

* SCOUT: RODRICK
* STRIKER: BARNUS - (Dwarf Fighter) One of SNARBOLI’s crew, armed with axe called DEATHKISSER
* CAGER: JARDROG - (Dwarf - Artificer)
* KEEPER: NORMSTRA - (Human - Mage - Abjuration)

C TEAM - “The Caer Guards”

* SCOUT: LANDEN (Half Elf - Rogue) - Shawn
* STRIKER: JESSICA (Human Female - Barbarian) - Jeremy
* CAGER: LAMBERT (Halfling - Druid) - Dan
* KEEPER: KADMOS (Human - Cleric) - Bob

D TEAM - “The Deaders”

* SCOUT: YADRULINE (Dwarf - Female Archer)
* STRIKER: DAVION (Human - Barbarian)
* CAGER: SAGI (Dwarf - )
* KEEPER: WHUZNUR (Dwarf - Cleric)

### **GHOSTS**

**THE WHITE LADY**

* Showed up in EASTHAVEN a few months ago
* Seemed familiar with our LASHES and her minions are less susceptible to them
* An older GHOST who was hear before this all went down (hence the WHITE LADY INN)
* Led them to find the TAVERN LEY LINES
	+ Found powerful ley lines between taverns of the ten towns
	+ Not old, like other lines like this in the world, only a few decades old
	+ NORMSTRA believes they are FEY in origin

**YUNA HEJU**

* BRYN SHANDER is stable but still struggling
* Many refugees fled their after the dragon attack, but YUNA seemed to plague the city from below (Old mines the town was started on)
* Had a big stand off with YUNA about 7-8 months ago crippling another one of its plans
	+ Involved UNDEAD DISEASED CRAG CATS with DARKCHARD graphs (See YUNA BOILS below)
	+ Had reworked the SPECTER SPIRE in town as a way to control the CATS, manipulating the ENTRECHO TONE
	+ (See YUNA BOILS below)
	+ They shut that down and upgraded the SPIRES
* Only a matter of time before they have to deal with a new plot from YUNA
* Couldn’t capture them because the CREEL was with the PCs

**ZEX**

* Some of the DWARVES of the CITADEL seemed obsessed with being a part of protecting the C.U.
* There ended up being a women named JAKHALDA that was “motivating” them all
	+ Her effect seemed to require a REMOVE CURSE spell to clear their heads
* But she caught wind of our investigation before we could corner her
* The RUNE CIRCLE was set up by DWOZZOC
	+ Took a year of casting MAGIC CIRCLE twice a day to create the permanent effect
* Couldn’t capture them because the CREEL was with the PCs

**RAVING RUIN**

* Not a peep of him since they disappeared into TERMALAINE
* After ZEX’s incursion, they sealed up the LAC DEHUR except for water flow
	+ Even though it had been used to subdue magic effects, they were concerned
	+ The team had been worried about RAVING RUIN using it

**KELVIN’S CAIRN**

* Animal spirits seem to accumulate there
* Maybe a purgatory for the creatures that perish in ICEWIND DALE
* Might be linked to GAMRAD possessing YETI, but they don’t bother with it much
* They seem to stay there, and there are no settlements on the mountain to prioritize
* The late night AURORA BOREALIS is more intense around it

**The SPINE SOULS**

* SPINE OF THE WORLD has other issues
* Things that have died long ago have come back from the dead
* Anything south of the REDRUN or REDWATERS is dangerous
* Not just ghosts but other undead plague the region
* GOLIATHS, GIANTS, and other inhabitants are now seeking territory in the wilds of ICEWIND DALE
* The UNDERDWARF LORDS seem to navigate it well, though
* They wonder if the RIME’s borders are affected differently

### **NPCS**

**FOGAH - The TRIPLETS**

* The TRIPLETS were very helpful and seemed to be getting into a groove with enhanced gadgets for the cause
* Unfortunately, they went AWOL about 5 months ago
* CORYM had been overseeing the CONTAINMENT UNIT with the help of DWOZZOC before he fused with it
	+ Was done to compensate for a breach that happened without FOGAH’s maintenance
	+ They were overloading the unit with too many deposited over short amount of time
* NORMSTRA had been helping too, but the dwarves have grown wary of non-dwarves in the CITADEL
	+ CORYM had theories on what happened with FOGAH
	+ Believes they were obsessed with GHOSTS as a power source, but not sure what they would power
	+ Said “YUNA’s dragon was just the tip of the iceberg”
	+ Their entanglements with the DUERGAR since showed that FOGAH was right
* Some of the towns have reported cases of a “MASKED WIZARD” making a ruckus
* They’ve gone to investigate, but the culprit is long gone by the time they arrive

**The UNDERDWARF LORDS**

* The DUERGAR seem to have found another way to be a nuisance
* Warlords are vying for power and raid from strongholds in THE SPINE OF THE WORLD
* They’ve developed DARKCHARD engines powered by captive souls
* NORMSTRA was able to deconstruct one and worked with CU to make their own
* The sleds are fast (60ft), but the DUERGAR engines are stronger allowing for more vicious vehicles (metal and fire)
* The team has not investigated strongholds as of yet

**The LIVING INQUESTORS**

* A group that hunts/interrogates/imprisons those they believe are possessed
* Call their quarry the “BI-FOULED”
	+ “I thought ‘Corrupled’ was fun!  ‘Corrupt’ and ‘Coupled’! Get it?”

**GHOST FANS or “DEADHEADS”**

* Those that are obsessed with being possessed
* Almost like a fetish or coping mechanism
* There are GOOD GHOSTS of course, but this is still a problem
* They’ve had to solve a few problems to get some plaguing ghosts to be free spirits

**RED WIZARDS of THAY**

* Tangled with a few in the past year
* One they interrogated claimed they were interested in undead activity up here
* They’re annoying necromancers that are making their lives difficult

### **OBJECTS**

**SPECTOR SPIRES (LEY LINES)**

* THE LEY LINES help in towns where there is no really good ARCANE source of power, but not the safest
* Found them beneath taverns in the TEN TOWNS, linked them to how EDIN OF THE GLOWWER was moving about

**SOUL LASHES**

* Less powerful than the REVENANT LASHES
* Simply allow them to grapple INCORPOREAL creatures

**COOPS - Mini Creepy Creels**

* These are standard Creels that can hold an incorporeal creature (4HD or less)
* Similar look as the CREEP CREELS, but are 3in x 8x

**PHANTRIKS - Scrimshaw Tokens**

* Well crafted art that can hold a soult
* Takes months to make one that can hold an unwilling spirit
* Used to contain the recently deceased (Buried with the dead)
* Other ghosts can sense their presence
* Necromancy can summon them out pretty easy when near them

**WRAITHWAINS - Ghost Carriages**

* Sleds pulled by spirits or steam wagons powered by imprisoned specters
* The DUERGAR have used DARK CHARDALYN to make impressive snow war machines

**YUNA BOILS or “EXORCYSTS”**

* Yellow pussing scars that slowly harden over with a DARK CHARDALYN-like substance
* Those infected are much more easily possessed and once possessed, harder to exorcize from the victim
* Since the ordeal that created them created a lot of chaos it spread
* Some citizens of BRYN SHANDER left after the event, so it's not just something plaguing that town
* They have a recipe for YUNA TONIC, but it’s expensive to make (100gp a dose), ingredients from GOOD MEAD

### **THE TEN TOWNS**

**DUGAN’S HOLE**

* SPECTER SPIRE: Set up at the TWENTY STONES OF THRUUN site
* Had a large standoff there with some FROST GIANTS about a year ago
* Considered it acceptable losses as all citizens fled
* It’s the closest to the SPINE OF THE WORLD so too risky for little reward

**GOOD MEAD**

* SPECTER SPIRE: Set it up in the VERBEEG CAVE near the STATUE OF SILVANUS (under the ice)
* Worked with an apothecary to discover the water gives everyone a 1 time GREATER RESTORATION effect
* The MEAD HALL is up and running again!  Also serves up ingredients to help make the YUNA TONIC
* OLVIVESSA is the SPEAKER still and a good ally (One they gave election support to)

**EASTHAVEN**

* SPECTER SPIRE: Set it up on the LEY LINE they discovered in THE WHITE LADY INN
* The 2nd largest town in ICEWIND DALE is now a NECROPOLIS
* They were picking at the spirit population (most of what’s in the C.U.) but the WHITE LADY’S arrival changed things
* The remaining population has broken into factions
* And making matters worse are the larger populations of LIVING INQUESTERS and DEADHEADS there
* RED WIZARDS aren’t afraid to show up there as well
* They lost D TEAM on a mission to reclaim the SPECTER SPIRE

**CAER-DINEVAL**

* SPECTER SPIRE: Placed it in the UPHILL CLIMB on the tavern LEY LINES
* Dragon destroyed the town completely
* Haven’t been back to deal with the town as they focused a lot on EASTHAVEN
* C TEAM picks away at the undead there

**CAER-KONIG**

* SPECTER SPIRE: Set up in the RUINED CAER as there is an old altar believed to be buried there
* They established C TEAM there and get reports that they have the spirit population under control
* The group is plagued by UNDERDWARF LORDS due to the dangerous supply line to other towns
* C TEAM is surviving regardless, passionate hometown heroes for sure

**TERMALAINE**

* SPECTER SPIRE: None
* Considered cursed, so all team were ordered to keep a wide berth
* The nearby forest is plagued by strange FEY creatures and other nuisances

**LONELYWOOD**

* SPECTER SPIRE: None
* Some run-ins with FEY made them untrusting of setting up a SPECTER SPIRE there
* Unlike undead, they seem drawn to meddle with magical things
* The town has re-established well enough, but don’t trust the town
* They hear a rumor that the well-meaning SPEAKER made a bargain for the towns protection

**BREMEN**

* SPECTER SPIRE: Erected it in the FIVE-TAVERN CENTER
* Town is mostly spirit free and is using PHANTRIKS pretty successfully
* The LEY LINES are STRONG there due to the number of taverns
* Dealt with an AWAKENED lake monster from the towns docks
* Convinced it to not attack fishermen anymore, but learned it was AWAKENED by DRUIDS serving the FROSTMAIDEN

**TARGOS**

* SPECTER SPIRE: Set up at the THREE FLAGS SAILING tavern, but not sure if still standing
* The town is run by a SPEAKER they find corrupt who has tightened things up over the past year
* They’ve reinforced their town’s wall and don’t let outsiders in now
* This is the base of operation for the LIVING INQUESTORS
* Do not have much intel since 9-10 months ago

**BRYNS SHANDER**

* SPECTER SPIRE: Set it up in the HOUSE OF THE MORNING LORD with power from the SHRINE
* SPECTER SPIRE: The 2nd had been in tunnels beneath THE NORTHLOOK, but YUNA got its hands on that one
* YUNA BOILS show up here the most, but the town is still one of the safest to resupply and rest in
* They deliver YUNA TONIC when they can (they were just dropping some off when they go their call)
* SPEAKER DUVESSA SHANE is still in command of the town
* She has a militia set up to handle DARKCHARD creature sightings and folks working on PHANTRIKS
* No YUNA encounters since the standoff 7-8 months ago
* DEAD HEADS are an issue in town, though
* UNDERDWARF LORD attacks are few, but they try every month or so with a new gadget