Campaign 3, Arc 1: The Beginnings of the Wicked

## The Beginnings of the Wicked

* Symbol
* Poster

***The Beginnings Arc***, or ***The Beginnings of the Wicked***, is the first arc of DiceVersa's *Heiliger Krieg* campaign and is the first arc of the *War's Prelude Saga*. It saw *Filii Impiorum* travel across the Eridian Regions of the *Akkaran Kingdom* in order to get themselves out of debt from *Duke Frokum Brickhand*.

The Beginnings Arc began on May 22nd, 2022 with the players beginning at level 1, and ended on September 11th, 2022. The events of the campaign have taken place between **1st Frokure, 6E 34** through **7th Dynikure, 6E 34**.

The first arc is broken down into twelve sessions, detailed below.

## The Sessions:

### Session #1: "The Descendants of the Three Chosen"

32 years after the end of the War through Time, the Freldan Isles has enjoyed its peace thanks to the acts of the Three Chosen and the Lady's Arms. However, where one story ends, another begins. This is the story of a war that covered the continent of Keporis, a war known to history as the Heiliger Krieg, the Holy War. We began at the port city of Baylift's Port, where inside the Ocean's Anchor Tavern; three adventurers met. Their names were Biri Dasmafear, Garret Javies, & Odysseus Nevardy. They wouldn't know it then, but their meeting would change the world forever. In the week prior, they each received a message from a mysterious author. The message detailed information that was very private and personal, and explained for the three to meet at the Ocean's Anchor. After each made their way to Baylift's Port, they eventually met this mysterious author, who turned out to be none other than Formal Emberheart, a former member of the Lady's Arms. Formal explained to the three that Nimway, the Divine Goddess of Time had appeared in a dream of his. She told him of a prophecy, one possibly as deadly as the Prophecy of the Three Chosen.

*"The descendants of Light shall prepare, To face a Choice of hope or despair."*

Formal knew there was more to the Prophecy but Nimway vanished from his dream before he could hear the rest. With fears of another conflict as deadly as the Second Exiled War, Formal asked for the descendants of the Three Chosen to join him on his trip to the Akkaran Kingdom. Eventually, the three accepted. Once the next morning came, the three were taken onto the main port of the city. There, they saw their ticket to Akkara, the HMS Hampton. Once they boarded the boat, they began the two-week journey across the Freldan Channel.  Sadly, the HMS Hampton would not make it, as it was attacked by a Juvenile Kraken. The Juvenile Kraken destroyed the ship sending the three descendants into the waters.  The group would soon wake up on the shores of the Akkaran Kingdom, realizing that they had only one option they began to make their way to a city in the distance. Where hopefully they would find some help.

### Session #2: "Welcome to Keporis"

After the destruction of the HMS Hampton on the Freldan Channel. The descendants of the Three Chosen wake up on the shores of the Akkaran Kingdom. They slowly made their way to the village of Hansberg, after entering the village they split up searching for supplies to take. They quickly learned that their coin would not work here as they needed Akkaran coin, not Freldan. After learning more about the village, the three eventually met a man in need of mercenaries named Zamiel Aistroph. Zamiel is the husband of the blacksmith in the village, which is going through financial trouble due to the presence of a bear in the Hansberg Mine. With a low guard presence in the village, it was up to Zamiel to find people able to help get rid of the bear. Luckily, he would find idiots dumb enough to join him. The four decided to help each other, making their way outside of the village where they would enter the Hansberg Mine.

### Session #3: "Murder in the Village"

The four adventurers made their way outside of Hansberg to the Hansberg Mine right as dusk began to fall. After breaking down the door to the mine with some trial and error, they made their way inside where they eventually came face to face with a black bear. Quick to act, the four killed the bear, only to be attacked by a hidden boar. Eventually, both beasts were taken down, with the head of the bear taken as proof of the kill. Heading back to Hansberg now at night, they heard a scream of horror.

A woman named Venu Lithrim had seen the remains of a dwarven man named Galdar Goldenhand. The four would quickly be met by the Captain of Queen's Hansberg Garrison, Captain Zain, a half-orc male. Garret would travel with Venu to her home, posing as her husband. Meanwhile, the other three would be forced to stay at Zamiel's house, with Captain Zain telling them that they would be important in solving the murder. The four began to try and solve the murder, eventually deciding to help Captain Zain. While Odysseus & Zamiel headed to the Fort's Heart Inn to meet up with Captain Zain, Biri & Garret headed to the Mayor's Estate where Mayor Lazuli officially allowed the four adventurers to help solve the murder. Ready to explain the history behind the Goldenhand, the Mayor sat down with Biri & Garret where the session came to an end.

### Session #4: "Garret's Greatest Plan"

After being brought over to the Fort's Heart Inn, Mayor Lazuli and Captain Zain explain the history behind the Goldenhand Family and explain their possible leads of the murder. While Garret & Zamiel head with the Mayor to lead more about the Ruinberg Incident, Biri & Odysseus travel with Captain Zain to ask witnesses of the murder. Soon the four would each make their way to Ruinberg, the poor and crime-filled slums of Hansberg. There they would meet a half-orc named Kalorash, who revealed himself as the murderer.

His reasons for the murder were that he wanted revenge, not just for the Ruinberg Incident, but revenge against Eris for enslaving the nation of Ocrta. He was then defeated by the four, with three of them sending messages in their own ways. After returning back to Hansberg they were rewarded in an intense situation. Finally, in the morning, Zamiel officially joined the group with the goal of learning more about his past on their adventures. The four then left the village of Hansberg, traveling headfirst into the lands of the Akkaran Kingdom.

### Session #5: "The Middy, The Heal Me Up, & The Mask"

After traveling for three days the four adventurers arrive in the City of Comfort, after looking around for a bit the four make their way to a general store. There, Odysseus noticed whispers from a wooden mask that seemingly called to him. He quickly bought it and left the store. While Biri & Zamiel continued to shop around the city, Odysseus spoke to Garret about his fears. Especially the fact that he somewhat "enjoyed" killing the two allies of Kalorash. Eventually, the four made their way to the Late Ox Inn, where they slept for the night.

### Session #6: "The Potion Commotion"

Waking up in the Late Ox Inn, the four adventurers split up, with Biri looking for information on Formal's fate, while Garret, Odysseus, and Zamiel look for a potion shop. Finally, the three find the potion shop, but during some friendly banter between Garret & the Potion Seller, Zamiel and Odysseus begin to drink some of his potions. This led to the complete destruction of the shop and the arrest of the three, with Biri sadly arriving too late to help. After the three are arrested, Biri accepts a contract with the Mayor of Comfort; Mayor Frokum Brickhand. After agreeing to the contract, the other three are let out of prison. The four united again, and are given the task to find the Mayor's "parcel" that was stolen from him by a thief from Oprefin, if they complete this task they will be free from the charges and the debt. With no other option, the four head out on the road to hopefully get out of debt.

### Session #7: "The Rodeo & The Trouble at Church Town"

Making their way towards the City of Oprefin, the four adventurers were attacked by a group of bandits on the Lorin-Lavett Pathway. After defeating them, the four rest and soon learn of Odysseus' connection to the mask that he bought in Comfort. They then quickly make their way to the Village of Wayfield where they learn of the Akkaran God Kkara and their beliefs against Keporian Divinism. Soon after they fled the village and began to make their way down the road once again.

### Session #8: "The Void Beckons for Insanity"

On their way to the City of Herdirs; Biri, Garret, and Odysseus wake up in a weird place with a purple sky. A man named the Wanderer then approaches them a tell them that they are in the End-Times; a realm at the end of space and time. Quickly after explaining, the Wanderer leaves, leaving the three to be taken by the Entity. After being eaten by the Entity, the three wake up at Herdirs where they get supplies, and books,  and look at weapons. Afterward, they head to the Ye Olde Goats Tavern where they then sleep.

### Session #9: "The Hawk in the Sparrow's Nest"

Waking up in the Ye Olde Goats Tavern, the group quickly packs up for the trip to Oprefin after listening to Garret's amazing song. Arriving in Oprefin three days later, the group looks around trying to find this "wizard" that Mayor Brickhand told them would help them in getting the parcel. Asking around, they find the wizard's tower where they meet Riros Fullbrew and his Warforged; Mace. Riros tells the group of the ancient "Foreclaimers", a civilization that appeared only a few hundred years after the Great Collapse. After explaining the ancient Foreclaimer technology to the group, Riros tells the group of the dangers of being trapped by the Mayor and Duke Frokum Brickhand.

He tells them that they shouldn't trust him at all and possibly try and prevent him from getting his "parcel". The group decides to stay with Riros for the night, while Garret leaves to head somewhere in the city. Garret then stops by a well and climbs down into it, after submerging himself in the water, he finds himself on the shores of an underground town. Immediately, Garret is surrounded by a large group of thieves. Right before they attack, a woman appears from the crowd and welcomes the Hawk to the Sparrow's nest.

### Session #10: "Enter! Filii Impiorum"

After a long rest in Riros’ tower, Biri, Odysseus, and Zamiel wake up to learn that Garret is missing. Making their way throughout the city, they eventually learn of a thieves' den hidden underneath the city. After looking for a glowing Glyph, Odysseus and Biri notice a glyph on a door that reads “Sanctuary” in Thieves Cant, while Zamiel was looking at a basket of apples. Making their way through the door they are swept away in a large current of water, only to end up at the shores of an underground city. As they reach the beach, a group of thieves suddenly surround them. They try to defuse the situation, but the thieves open fire. Luckily, the Sparrow and Garret arrive in time to stop anyone from getting killed.

The Sparrow then leads the group to her manor, where she offers them a job. The Parcel that the Duke asked them to get was taken by one of her thieves, that thief went rogue and went AWOL. While the Sparrow’s Thieves check the cities for the thief, the four would head into the Hyslia Forest and hunt for the thief within the Hyslia Takers (shit name). The four decide to take the job and come up with a name for themselves. They decide to name themselves Filli Impiorum, the Sons of the Wicked. After giving themselves a name, the four head back to the surface where they prepare for the journey ahead. After getting an upgraded cart, weapons, and armor, they make their way to the Hyslia Forest looking for the Hyslia Takers.

### Session #11: "The Binding of the Light"

Filii Impiorum travels into the Hyslia Forest, where they talk and learn more about each other's backstories. However, as Garret goes to sleep he suddenly meets with Ravenos who makes him a deal. Garret accepts becoming a warlock under Ravenos, and wakes up with a black mark on the back of his left palm. Right after Garret wakes up, Odysseus suddenly gets a message from the mask telling him not to trust anyone. This causes the group to suddenly have a feeling of distrust for over a week, eventually, the group runs into a bunch of bandit scouts. After their battle, the group suddenly begins to attack each other as Odysseus and Garret start to question both's beliefs.

Finally, the group is able to calm down, with them beginning to question what is wrong with Odysseus. They decide to tie him up and plan on finding out what's wrong with him. Before they can, however, they continue on their quest and arrive at the Hyslia Takers' Camp. Entering when they gain an audience with the leader of the Hyslia Takers, he then reveals that the parcel the group is looking for is actually a Lost Light. The group then quickly realizes that they just led the Duke right to what he wants, before they can react suddenly an arrow flies in and hits the leader. Filii Impiorum then looks out to see the bandit camp in flames. The battle has already begun.

### Session #12: "The Battle of the Scorching Forest"

While talking to the bandit leader Risvor Cinderfall, Odysseus and Zamiel make small talk with some of the bandits, learning that most of the Hyslia Takers are actual innocent civilians. Suddenly they were interrupted when Duke Frokum Brickhand and his men arrived at the Hyslia Takers' Camp. This led to a battle now known as the Battle of the Scorching Forest, the battle saw Filli Impiorum fight to survive as their members would fall near Death's clutches. In the end, the Duke was killed and his men slaughter. However, the battle would lead to the Hyslia Takers' Camp in ruins. After a night of rest, the group would awake to meet a messenger of the Queen's Council.

The messenger invited the group to the capital city of Eris, where they would meet the Queen's Council and learn of the aftermath of the Duke's reign. After teleporting to Eris, Filli Impiorum was introduced to Vadren Alderheart, who explained what would happen in the aftermath of the battle. The Duke's Duchy of the Northwest would be broken up into multiple minor duchies, while the Duke's allies would be placed in prison for the rest of their lives. The Hyslia Takers would be broken up, and Risvor would be hung for the crimes of the Hyslia Takers. Finally, Filli Impiorum was asked to give the Lost Light back to the Council, once they did they were rewarded four thousand gold and given invitations to the Moonstone Banquet, where they could learn more about the Queen's Council and get more high-paying jobs. The group was then led back to the teleportation circle, where they were taken back to the remains of Hyslia Takers' Camp. This would be the end of their beginning and would lead them down a path more dangerous than ever before.