Campaign: Trail of Ill-Portents

Nearly a month after Baelsbrook was flooded for the second time, wiping it from the maps, one Grompelstiltzkin von Burgerberg spies the believed culprits (including Ser Baros) entering the city of Lymresk in a carriage bearing the symbol of the Zlataya. After informing his remaining compatriots, they resolve to meet within the city and finish what they started, but they cannot do so alone.

Despite their concerns about what their quarry may be up to, it is the furthest thing from the mind of the citizens as nearby tensions threaten to escalate into outright and all-encompassing conflict.

The sequel to Baelsbrook.

## Plot

### Session One: Through the Front Door

*This session takes place throughout the early afternoon of the Irejan, 7th of Xovo.*

The group reunite (with a new face in attendance) at the Pitomnik tavern. They discuss their findings and talk over ways into the city past the tightened security at the gate. Their planning is interrupted by some tensions between warriors of the Isken Church and a particularly loud halfling, which Grug decides to take advantage of to carve his own path into the city.
They sneak up on the guards and Gromp knocks one out. After some small scuffles, Ester intimidates the remaining guards into giving up and the group pay a caravaneer fifty crowns to take the still-living guards out of town (and hopefully not kill them). In their brief conversations before they leave they hear of a priestess of Luma that forced her way into the city and raised the level of security on the Austryd gate. They send Theodore ahead to meet them at Gunther's Cross with the belongings they can't carry past the gate.

They approach the gateand deal with the guards. They are required to wait for approval from an Isken Ivest, who it turns out refuses to speak Kherran (leaving Grug fully out of the conversation). Ester plays the dwarven duo's captive, the minor rewrite to actuality being that he is the one that hurt the Isken warriors at the tavern, and he does so with gusto. With his help, Gromp weathers the Ivest's questioning and they are allowed into the city.

They have some complications on the way to Gunther's Cross when they are spotted by an elven civilian as they ditch their disguises in a backstreet of the Jarluka district. They make it to the inn and, after Gromp takes a strange and vague posting for help, meet Theodore within, they discuss more of their findings and Theodore offers his contact with an informant that works out of the building. They agree.

The informant offers them information for a price that they find difficult to swallow, so they offer information of their experiences in Baelsbrook in trade. For that they are told about Arlen Vaek's location, the location of Lowra and her group in the Voditel Townhouse, the last-known location of the various disappearances around town and some small details about the other priestess of Luma (including her search for the second Beast of Baelsbrook). She also offers the group the information that there is some interest around them due to their route into the city.

Grug heads to the casino and bets on some lizard racing. When the group join him, Gromp notices a strange, blindfolded elfin figure. The two speak of a marble bowl the person has lost and how much they really need it to get back home. The elfin person asserts that the bowl was stolen for money and the group leave the casino, wondering whether the bowl is going to be sold via the Blutsil Auction House or something less legal. They decide they may need some disguises.
### Session Two: Making Contacts

*This session takes place over the afternoon of Irejan, 7th of Xovo.*

The group take care of some errands, like heading to a clothing shop called "The Splendour" to purchase those disguises, in case they're necessary to enter the Blutsil Auction House. They run into one of Grug's old friends on the way, a man called Ornulf Tryggssen and he tells them that the group is wanted by the Isken Church for their actions. He tells them if they need any help, to find him at the Nargrind. The next of their errands is washing at the bathhouse, followed by investigating the site of Theodore's sister's disappearance.
They follow her trail to two places, the Silverstone Atheneum and a small flower shop called Arta's Bounty. Whilst the flower shop is closed, they talk for a while with the people in the Atheneum and Ester borrows books that seem out of character for the missing Ashfield to have read. They quiz some gate guards about her and use coin to help jog their memories. On the guards' word, they check out one of the other sites of disappearance. Though they find company at it, a halfling man of the Crown Guild of Introspection who talks to them guardedly of the situation and what surrounds it. They agree to meet him the next day to discuss their interests further before making their way to the Nargrind.

They are let in by Ornulf, who gets them drinks before taking Grug to speak to the Hraeddr boss, a man named Candor. Candor is happy to offer Grug and the party shelter, but that shelter is contingent on two things. He only reveals the first, which is a test of strength. Grug agrees and after he informs the rest they step into the ring, finding themselves face to face with Ornulf.
### Session Three: Worth and Value

*This session takes place over the evening of Irejan, 7th of Xovo.*

The fight is close. Early in Ester is toppled by a grease spell and struggles to rise. Grug and Theodore face off against Ornulf and an unarmed halfling, giving as good as they get. Gromp struggles to take out the mage as he is harassed by a trident wielding warrior. As the group begin to fall, Ester comes to the rescue, downing Ornulf before he can knock Grug out. Ester and Grug then team up to take down the mage and the trident-wielding gladiator, much to the delight of the crowd.
They head in to talk to Candor. He is happy with their performance and offers them the next of his conditions. A man is on his way to Lymresk that he wishes the group to bring to him, a man called Zavrazin Matvei Czajka, a lesser princeling of the Czajka clan from Kjarven. Candor would prefer Zavrazin alive, but lists body parts to be brought if that is not possible and pays a considerable fee up front and promises the same again upon completion.

The group is smuggled out of the city in a corpse wagon. Grug and Gromp manage to sleep, but Ester is at his wits end supressing a panic attack at the grisly situation he finds himself in. It turns out that Grug's sleep was fitful, to say the least, as he instinctively attacks the driver as she wakes him. He is quick to apologise, seeming ashamed.

They are brought horses and they take off into the night. A roar is heard, far too close. Ester and Grug cannot keep hold of their horse as it bucks them and strange gnarled giant humanoids rush at them from the treeline.
### Session Four: Crossfire

*This session takes place during the night of Irejan, 7th of Xovo.*

They have some trouble with the Ved, but are able to fight them off. Two of the creature are slain and the last flees as the Jatenlae, dwarven giant-hunters, arrive to give chase. The Jatenlae chastise them for leaving the city at this time and Ester answers that they're hunting the wyvern, which seems to satisfy them.
As they continue down the road, they bring one of the Ved corpses with them, hoping to use it to justify the deaths of their quarry's guards. However when they reach the Czajka camp, they find it under attack by the aforementioned wyvern. They use it to their advantage, approaching slowly and trying to surprise the technologically advanced guards. As they attempt to surprise the guards, Gromp is gunned down and it is only through Theodore's prowess that they take out the guards and save Zavrazin after he is knocked unconscious by the wyvern.
### Session Five: Lymresk's Most Wanted

*This session takes place during the night of Irejan, 7th of Xovo, through to the afternoon of Torjan, 8th of Xovo.*

It is a trek to bring Zavrazin back, due to the damage the wyvern dealt to the Czajka wagon; though they elect to use it anyway, to divert suspicion. They encounter Candor's men on the road, who were sent to check on progress after the horses were scared back to Lymresk by the Ved. The Hraeddr stay behind to dispose of the carriage and the group are brought into the city by Ornulf. On their way to the Nargrind, Ester and Gromp hear the sound of Gromp's Hurdy Gurdy, but Ornulf refuses to stop the cart for them.
They talk to Candor when they return, who tells them of two things: firstly that they have a bounty on their head with an organisation known as Danar's Chord and secondly that he wishes for Theodore to take a missive from "Zavrazin" to the Patriarch. The Hraeddr leader talks of next steps, but encourages the party to sleep and talk of it tomorrow.

Instead the party head out into the night to investigate the sound of the Hurdy Gurdy, only to meet Miric, of Danar's Chord. She engages them in combat and despite some near misses, they best her. She just about manages to escape due to her invisibility but the group capture one of the other assailants, who they bring back to the Nargrind.

Candor addresses their wounds somewhat and sends Theodore to deliver the missive from "Zavrazin". The monk is shown in to meet the Patriarch by one Priest Reshnik, but he seems to escape without issue. Meanwhile the rest question their captive, though they are aware that they will be released due to an agreement between the Hraeddr and Danar's Chord. They are unable to get much information from him.

Ester, Gromp and Grug meet Theodore at a small restaurant near the Svanrhof, to liaise with their halfling contact. He calls himself Logan and tells them of their quarry, a cultist who calls themselves the Harbinger. Logan tells them of the Harbinger's past and the current circumstances of Arlen Vaek. He then travels with them to see the origin of the Hurdy Gurdy noise, the group suspecting it to be a new disappearance. They are proven to be correct when Logan identifies the marks of a blade upon a nearby wall, suspecting it to be a polearm or something quit big based on the angle. After this he parts ways with them, telling the party to leave any messages they have for him in the restaurant the met in.

Gromp and Theodore decide to head back to Arta's Bounty, now that it's likely open, partly due to their curiousity about a poisonous plant Gromp spied through the keyhole. They make it there, leaving Ester using magic to pose as a tree and Grug pretending to be having trouble with his armour. They have some trouble with the shop owner, he is unwilling to talk despite the duress they place on him. After this nearly incites trouble with the local Isken, they leave and the duo instead opt to sneak around the back. They break down the door and knock the store keeper out, taking him quickly but not before Gromp's sense of danger goes haywire when looking at the door to the basement.
### Session Six: Eerily Familiar

*This session takes place during the afternoon of Torjan, 8th of Xovo.*

Grug and Ester notice the guards reacting to Grug breaking down the back door of Arta's Bounty, letting him know through a message spell. Grug and Ester are then approached by a woman in the garb of a Lumaran Priestess, who seems to see Ester through his magical disguise. She is quite direct about needing their help in killing the Beast of Baelsbrook and asks them follow. The duo stall for time to wait for Gromp and Theodore.
Meanwhile, Gromp and Theodore try to divert the attention they have gained from the guards by firing off a smoke pellet away from them before trying to rush to their companions. The guards make that difficult however and when they try to slip into the sewer to escape notice, Theodore is spotted by a particularly well-armoured guard. The Isken guard declares that if Theodore doesn't return willingly, he will be declared Apostate. He shouts about doing something important and enters the sewer.

The Lumaran Priestess decides to talk to the guards, telling them of important work that she needs the group for. When they are unmoved by the request, she attempts to use a spell to influence the main guard, which fails and considerably escalates the situation.

They escape into the sewer and after making it to the "Priestess's" hideout, they discuss her aims and ask a name of her. She responds that she is Somni. She reveals that the beast has taken something from her, that she wishes to get back. Whilst they are there, they question the shopkeeper that they kidnapped. He reveals that his wife was taken from him after something broke into his cellar and that Theodore's sister might have found out about it. The thing that broke into his cellar threatened him into silence by holding his wife hostage. The party then move to find the beast, with Ester using the quill to illuminate the trail that the Beasts' blade had scraped into the wall.

As they make their way through the sewer, they are ambushed by undead Isken guards. They fight them off and as Somni summons forth a large bastard sword, the Beast approaches.
### Session Seven: Stillborn Plots

*This session takes place during the afternoon of Torjan, 8th of Xovo.*

The Beast dispels the lighting that the quill had created on the wall and breaths a blizzard towards Grug, Theodore and Somni. They all take it badly and Somni collapses, demanding that Grug take "the body" to someone that can heal it. The dwarf aquiesces and takes her to Ester and Grug, who are still fighting the undead. Theodore then attempts to head off the Beast, it nearly kills him, but he drops it to the ground. As it begins to stand to take one last and fatal blow against him, Somni steps out of her body, revealing a seven foot tall black-metal automaton. She promptly charges Lowra's Beast and pierces its core, destroying it.
The body that Somni was in begins to move and its turn purple, revealing that it is now possessed by the Harbinger. The group converse with the possessed form and after what is mostly a trading of barbs, they reveal that they will be at the auction the next day. After a ignoring questions about Theodore's sister and what the party now know as a "Somnian Knight" asking about how the Harbinger is "adapting to their new body", the possession ends; leaving behind Lyra.

Grug is in awe of the Somnian Knight, which confuses her, but the rest question her motives. She requests that Ester remove the possession from Lyra and he complies, but makes it clear that it is not for the Somnian Knight. Theodore gathers the cold iron blades from the dissolving corpse of the Beast and Ester takes the blade that bound Lyra's soul after discovering that it is magical.

Ester decides to climb out of the sewer by destroying one of the grates, rather than finding an exit. After throwing Grug's back out on the first attempt, he makes it to the grate and whilst hanging onto it with one hand, he puts his full might into a single punch with his knife-hand, severing the grate. The group splits up, Theodore heading to the Khram Komandvoln to try and clear his name and the rest taking Lyra back to the Nargrind.

Theodore is caught up with Priest Reshnik, who asks of his affiliations with the group and Zavrazin Czajka. Theodore is torn between getting away and not putting his family in danger, ending up telling Reshnik of Zavrazin's kidnapping and intent to attend the auction. Meanwhile, the rest are told of the next step of Candor's plan. He tells them that they are intending to use an imposter Zavrazin to attend a meeting between the Patriarch and a weapons dealer at the auction and use the opportunity to take him hostage.
### Session Eight: A Stain

*This session takes place through the afternoon of Torjan, 8th of Xovo, to the morning of Ymjan, 9th of Xovo.*

"I don't have any good vibes left." - Ester Thorne

Talks with "Zavrazin" and Candor progress as the former suggests the group guard him during the auction and head out with him to the Evzen Clocktower to meet one Heledd Efydd. This having the dual purpose of helping keep up appearances and perhaps helping hide Ester's distinctive silhouette by acquiring him a mechanical hand. Theodore arrives in time to allow them to make the decision as a group, choosing to guard "Zavrazin". At the same time, Candor informs them that a group of assassin's from Danar's Chord have found their way into the Nargrind and that a gnome without irises seems to be aware of their location. The group change into Czajka-marked armour and avoid the group on their way out, but Gromp takes the time to note their composition.
Theodore splits from the rest as they approach the tower, with the rest heading inside to speak with Heledd. "Zavrazin" gets them inside in short order and they make their way to the upper floors. "Zavrazin" and Heledd speak about a possible deal to acquire her help for things to come in return for breaking her out, the first step of this being to give Ester a new hand. She does so quickly and also provides Grug with an upgrade to his mechanical javelin at his request. They take the time to collect the bounty for the wyvern and head back to the Nargrind.

They take the time to rest and prepare for the next day, Ester using his magics to fix up their injuries before patching his up manually. Gromp buys some poison and two enchanted crossbow bolts before they all turn in.

The next morning they talk to the woman they rescued from the Beast. She is not able to offer much information, being vague about the origin of her mark and sparse with details about her time in Baelsbrook. They are easy with her, as she seems to have genuine trouble talking about the topics. They hear that Lowra and the Harbinger met shortly after the first flood of Baelsbrook and that she changed after the meeting. Clara begins to panic when they ask how her mark had progressed so greatly, but Gromp calms her down and gives the girl the scarf he had been using to hide his own mark.

They decide let her be alone for a while and discuss next steps. The group consider using the quill on one of the Beast's skulls, but Gromp requests that Ester write upon his mark. Ester is reluctant, especially upon seeing that Gromp's mark has increased in size since he last looked at it, but he continues at Gromp's insistence. After doing so Gromp's mark seems to run like ink, seeming to dry in a shape that looks like the formerly circular mark has unwound somewhat. The group react audibly and Gromp opens his eyes with a serious and somber look to him.

Ester expresses worry that Gromp will become like the others that have been possessed. Grug is supportive of Gromp, assuring the old hunter that they can keep him in line. Theodore is thrown and completely taken aback by what is happening. As Ester cautions Gromp by saying "If you get too close to the fire, you'll get burned." Gromp calmly responds to this as he draws a knife across his left shoulder "Maybe. Maybe if I get closer to fire I will be reforged." The knife does not draw blood.
## Characters

#### Player Characters

* Ester Thorne, Human Warpriest and former warrior of the Zlataya
* Grompelstiltzkin von Bergerberg (aka Gromp), Dwarf Slayer and monster hunter
* Snadgrug Brewbeard (aka Grug), Dwarf Barbarian and former competitor in the Bezkruvgra games of Urvatsa.
* Theodore Sebastian Ashfield, Human Monk associated to the Isken Church in Lymresk.

#### NPCs

* The Quarry: People that had to do with the fall of Baelsbrook.
	+ Lowra, a priestess of "Luma" that seemed to be allied with whatever flooded Baelsbrook.
	+ Ser Baros de Oliviera, the missing captain of a group of five Zlatayan Knights
	+ Ser Grant Hardel, an archer of Ser Baros' group who seems to have been possessed.
	+ The Harbinger, appeared in Baelsbrook after the first flood and was found dead after the second but still they prove troublesome.
* Isken Church: Traditional Worshippers of Iske, the Paragon of Order. Their seat of power lies in Dohrn.
	+ Zhdan Damir, Patriarch of Lymresk
	+ Priest Grisha Reshnik, Right Hand of the Patriarch
	+ Dryagin Maxim Svlatayovich, Isken Church Ivest (Sergeant) that was sent on a trip.
* Imperial Crown Guild of Introspection: A group working alongside the Kherran Imperial Army to root out corruption within the Empire.
	+ Logan, a halfling investigator that is interested in the Harbinger case.
* Collegiate: A gnommish educational and research collective dedicated to research of the mystical, the medicinal and the mechanical.
	+ Heledd Efydd, the former archmechanist of Lymresk that has been imprisoned within the Evzen Clocktower for the suspicion of consorting with dark magicks.
* Hraeddr: Blackmarket cartel operating out of the Hesmid district.
	+ Ornulf Tryggssen, a former dwarven athlete and old associate of Grug's.
	+ Candor, a younger dwarven man that seems to be the leader of the Hraeddr.
	+ "Zavrazin", a more pragmatic partner to Candor who seems to be quite the actor.
* The Beached Whale Inn: A elven multinational crime syndicate that originates in the southern kingdom of Estlarn.
* Unknown Affiliation
	+ The Informant, a Quasa woman who offers premium prices for her knowledge.
	+ Blindfolded Elf, strange and seems to believe quite strongly in chance, needs help finding their bowl.
	+ Clara, a human woman from Baelsbrook.
* Mentioned
	+ Arster Voditel, a human noble from south Freydolv who is apparently hosting Lowra et al.
	+ Udvaskr, a Patriarch of the Isken Church, supposedly assassinated in Nulinvermark.
	+ Arlen Vaek, one of the Zlatayan knights, now in protective custody with the Imperial Crown Guild of Introspection in Urvatsa.
	+ Zavrazin Matvei Czajka, a lesser member of the Czajka family that is visiting Lymresk. Said to be a bit of a brat.
* Lizards: Probably don't bet on them too much.
	+ Strajka: Absurdly good odds on this lizard, don't trust it.
	+ Hellewynd: Someone got lucky on this one.
	+ Obbol: A crowd favourite, just so plucky.

## Places

The bulk of this campaign will take place with the largest port in Freydolv: Lymresk.

Lymresk Locations:

* Hesmid: Largest district of town that tends to have a population of northern humans, western (Asgeirn) dwarves, halfling, gnomes and orcs.
	+ Khram Komandvoln: Third largest church of Iske, Paragon of Order.
	+ Church of Saint Alyenne: A church of Luma dedicated to a Saint that represents life despite trying circumstance.
	+ Gunther's Cross: Quite a nice tavern, has a bathhouse too.
	+ Evzen Clocktower: Incredibly advanced machinery, used as a makeshift prison for its creator.
	+ Messen Circle: A residential area near the Forstray Gate. This is where Charlotte Ashfield was last believed to be.
	+ Sandvhalur: Smaller and seedier tavern associated with the Beached Whale Inn syndicate.
	+ Nargrind: Blackmarket and headquarters of the Hraeddr. It has a small arena as well.
* Jarluka: District with tightest security, the elves, eastern (Dorhnish) dwarves and southern humans tend to be found here.
	+ Blutsil Auction House: A blue-blooded establishment for the rich to flaunt their wealth and purchase strange things.
	+ Voditel Townhouse: Where the Voditel stay when in the city, apparently has some other occupants now.
* Trurhofn: The dockfront district.
	+ Svanrhof: The main market on the dockfronts, great place to get fish and other fresh imports.
* Knights Docks: A large Kherran Naval encampment on the opposite bank of the Caede River.
* Austryd: A district named for the road it lies upon outside of the east gate of Lymresk.
	+ Pitomnik: The tavern that the players met in, it's no particularly nice.
* Forstray: A district outside the south gate of Lymresk.
* Vestangar: The district outside the west gate of Lymresk, apparently under the highest scrutiny and security.

Other Locations:

* Saeluma: An isle in the north that was hit by a demonic invasion.
* Asgeir: Country to the west of Freydolv, home to one of the two types of dwarves native to the Kherran Mainland.
	+ Nulinvermark: Capital of Asgeir and where the Saeluman refugees landed. There has been some disagreements about what to do with them.
* Kjarven: One of the dwarven countries associated with the Isken Church.
	+ Baelsbrook: Small former village with Kjarven that sat in the Zlataya barony. It is gone now.
	+ Khal Sharok: Seat of official power within Kjarven and where the five families fight over the seat of Viceroy.
	+ Urvatsa: Seat of financial power within Kjarven, where Grug was an athlete mostly (had the most competitions).

## Misc. Jargon

Various words that are good to understand.

#### Organisations

* In Lymresk: Groups that operate significantly within the city.
	+ Vordr: The local guard of Lymresk.
	+ Imperial Crown Guild of Introspection: Kherran-wide organisation for rooting out corruption and danger from within. Very mixed reputation.
* Elsewhere: Groups whose focus is not upon Lymresk.
	+ The Five Families of Kjarven: The families that squabble over the title of Viceroy in Kjarven, ruling out of the mountain city of Khal Sharok.
		- The Czajka: The family that currently holds the seat of Viceroy.

#### Religious Vocab

* The Paragons: A group of eight deities that represent each of the species that make up the Kherran Empire (mostly)
	+ Luma: The Elven Paragon of Life, married to Iumos.
	+ Leta: The Human Paragon of Death, worship of her is outlawed.
		- Saint Alyenne: A Saint who lived with disease and came to represent Life Despite Circumstance.
	+ Iumos/Iske: The Dwarven Paragon of Order, was originally Iske but became Iumos during his courting of Luma.
	+ Incomo: The Paragon of Disorder, another outlawed deity to a species that isn't mentioned in most records.
	+ Aliturr: The Halfling Paragon of Nature.
	+ Adcenurr: The Gnommish Paragon of Technology.
	+ Vis: The Orcish Paragon of Strength.
	+ Vox: The Quasa Paragon of Speech.

#### Language-specific Vocab

* Dohrnish: The language of the Dohrnish dwarves
	+ Ivest: Military Leader, like a sergeant or captain.
	+ Okhrana: Main force of the Isken Church guard.