Campaign Timeline

Prelude

• Prelude: A Year and a Day…

First Cycle

• I. On Assignment
• II. Into the Wreckage
• III. Whispers in the Night
• IV. Dirty Deeds
• V. An Evening of Blood

Interlude I

• VI. All That Lives in Darkness

Second Cycle

• VII. The City’s True Face
• VIII. Return to the Wreckage
• VIV. What Lies Beneath

• 16 June 2008 – New fancy graphics! Will post the next chapter soon. Next step: the updated map.
• 5 June 2008 – Updated the adventure log, the Campaign Timeline and added a few things to the wiki. The next big thing is that new map!
• 21 May 2008 – ...And we’re back! Did anyone miss us? After a few weeks of writer’s block and playing a friend 4e test game, we are up and gaming again. Currently working on the next game. Will update the interlude soon.
• 10 April 2008 – Adventure log is now up to date. Added a few new establishments to the list on the wiki. Will be drawing a new map and organizing the shops by location in the coming future.
• 24 March 2008 – Updated the Windsong, added The Nightsend, and added a few establishments players have visited. We decided to split Chapter 3 into two different chapters. I’ll be posting next chapter after the next game. We are now using Skype to play… and it rocks!
• 13 March 2008 – Updated The Hangmen with new affiliation rules. Working on the rest. Campaign Timeline updated, with greyed out “underworld” activity.

Return to the Wreckage

30 Tarsakh – 3 Mirtul 1373

Under a mechanex streetlamp, just a few blocks north of the Broken Mug, Dynff, Drall, Faridoon, and Vuutharak paused for a moment to catch their breath and collect their thoughts. They had just relieved the explorers from the tavern a few moments ago of their coin purses, their pass to enter the Samreich mines, and their lives. As they rested in the brisk spring night, the bodies they had thrown into the bay drifted out to sea. The only problem was that there were four of them and three passes. They would head to Jacobson’s printing before the morning to make a duplicate. First they would make a quick stop at Faridoon’s tenement apartment to pick up a few supplies.

When they arrived they found Faridoon’s apartment in it’s typical disarray of discarded liquor bottles, half eaten food and dirty clothes. This struck Drall as strange, when he considered that he straighten up the room last time he was here, no more than a few hours ago. Once Faridoon noticed this too he was startled. He checked under his mattress for ring he had took from Senator Olis Samreich on the night they murdered him only to find it gone. It was clear someone had been there. Faridoon packed up his few things, leaving behind his spears, and left with the group to the Crescent Downs. They traveled threw the sewers, along the path Vuutharak was most familiar with, arriving at Jacobson’s printing several hours later.

At Jacobson’s printing the voice behind the one way mirror informed them several others had already been through his shop over the past month or so requesting the same pass, granting access to the Samreich mines in the north. They purchased one, and returned to the Upper Docks, arriving in the early morning. Dynff, Faridoon and Drall took a secure room at The Day Harbor Inn while Vuutharal returned to his lair in the sewers just east of the Skull and Four Bones.

In the morning the group meet up again in the tavern of the Day Harbor’s. Over breakfast they decided to go their separate ways to the Crescent Downs and meet up at a small cafe Vuutarak and Faridoon were familiar with. From there they would head to the Samreich warehouse the passes had indicated that should report to. Vuutharak and Dynff took to the sewers since they both lacked wall passes. The other two traveled through the gates above ground, the only trouble they had was a clumsy merchant running into Faridoon.

By afternoon the group was at the warehouse in the Northern Crescent Downs. It stood amongst the other abandoned or run down structures in the area – the only difference was a large cloth sign outside its steel door that read: Explorers Wanted! Inside a bugbear confronted the group as they walked in, but after inspecting their passes, escorted them through the warehouse down to the subbasement. While walking through the warehouse, the group noticed dozens of tubes, wires, gears, even an occasional object that looked like leg or arm, being worked on by a dozen humans and dwarves. In the subbasement, the bugbear guard left them in a small drafting rooming, where dozens of schematics, diagrams and blueprints lay scattered around. They snooped around in the time they had alone – discovering a large schematic labeled Acranodynamic Convergence Engine that had the words “Check scaling for clocktower – Estimated output 1,000,000 Eldritch Volts” written on the side. Just as they finished inspecting the schematic, the bugbear guard returned with a man in Azure robes – clearly a arcane caster, a human from House Samreich – Aaron Klinhelm, and a gnome with googles on his head and a tool belt. The man in the Azure robes and Aaron stopped for a moment peering at the group before continuing on. The gnome introduced himself as Jinx Witherstone.

The gnome explained that the purpose of the explorers was to scout and map out the mines, that had been abandoned for at least a century. He gave them all strange mechanex amulets that vibrated slightly on their skin and escorted them with the bugbear down a tunnel leading to the mines. Down the way, they joined up with another group of explorers. At the entrance to the mines Jinx departed the group, wishing them luck. The entrance to the mine was protected by an immense field of glowing energy that originated form too strange mechanex generators. Passing through the field left them warm for a moment. Just past the main entrance the tunnel opened into a large cavern that split into different wings of the mine complex, each with another gate. The group and the other explorers separated, both accompanied by a gang of hobogoblins and bugbears.

Several hundred feet past the entrance to their section of the mines, their amulets stopped vibrating. Shortly after that, they heard several screams from the way they came. The bugbear guard and his hobogoblin henchmen suddenly turned on the group! Once they were defeated the group attempted to pass the entrance again, only this time Faridoon was several burnt as he did so. It looked as if they were trapped for the time.

Vuutharak, Drall, Faridoon and Dynff, proceeded to explore the vast first level of the mines. During the exploration they came across a minator dressed in fine silk whom they avoided, as well as several monstrous creatures – crocodiles, over sized centipedes, dark mantles – living in the deep underground. After a days worth of wandering the mines, group bedded down in a section of the mine that turned into strange ruins. Inside, Drow markings indicated that the room was used as a waypoint. Other markings depicted enormous floating cities, like inverted mountain tops.

They continued on for another day, accidentally stumbling across a svirfnebiln (deep gnome) trading post. After a tense diplomatic encounter the group traded for a few items and after a few questions, were told to speak with the minator, whose name they were told was Boric the Grey, for assistance in escaping. They left the deep gnomes, and made camp in an abandoned tunnel.

The City’s True Face

29 Tarsakh 1373

Faridoon awoke late in the night to a knock at his door. Jack “The Feather”, an old friend from his past was waiting outside. He demanded that Faridoon come quickly to meet “the others.” His body still weak from illness, Faridoon followed Jack through the foggy streets to an abandoned pier of the northern docks. There, a small watering hole called the Broken Mug stood. Faridoon was familiar with the tavern from his youth and was on friendly terms with it’s owner a female shield dwarf named Dakartua Rohelm. The tavern was empty when they entered, except for several youth around a table, the largest one being referred to as Brandon. Just as the two were walking in, a youth next to Brandon was exclaiming that he was worried about the person they were going to meet stating “Brandon! I don’t trust him, this… this… freak we are meeting. He is too much like those infernal creatures! The cutters are practically kin!” As Jack and Faridoon approached the table, Brandon called out to them, but referred to Faridoon as “Kevil”, one of his friends that had died on that night many years ago. Faridoon, becoming unease began to step away towards the door. Just then Bradon began to laugh a deep laugh, his body twisting and growing, the room faded away to fire, and Asb’el again stood before him. Faridoon, taking out his mace and standing his ground demanded to know what the demon wanted. He replied that he had been summoned by Faridoon and his friends, and could not “escape” until they were all dead. Then, lifting his huge demon-faced mace over his head swung a tremendous blow at Faridoon, who suddenly awoke in a cold sweat, but feeling much better—his body having fought off the illness.

Drall finished his duties early in the morning, just as Urcheck call for him. A letter had come from Sevil, which contained instructions to visit the renowned Morgana De’Fey in the Upper Docks. Drall packed up his things, and with Daebian in toe, told Urcheck he would return when he could and the left for the Upper Docks. He arrived at the Watery Nook, by the afternoon and was taken immediately before Morgana, just as she was finishing a fairly lively argument with her brother, Morgan De’Fey. Morgana and Drall discussed three important things. One, that Morgan, her brother, leads a band of renegade assassins who hunt and destroy necromancers who go too far. Two, in exchange for reporting on a recent acquaintance of his, a Drow by the name of Dynff, she would provide him with access to her workshop and library. Three, his first order of business was to retrieve a a piece of the head stone from the grave of Piere De’May as well as a flask of bog water from the Fogdown Cemetery. Drall agreed on all three accounts and wandered north to the Day Harbor’s Inn to find his recent traveling partners.

Dynff received a message early in the morning at his room at the Day Harbors Inn from Enveris, his Shadowfather requesting presence at the Tithing Place. Dynff arrived as rain broke, and found Evenis, a lone figure in the storm, waiting for him by the fountain. He spoke briefly and to the point: Dynff and his partners were to meet with Jonny Undergallows at the Green Boar, just past sundown at the Green Boar. Dynff left quickly, stopping first at Faridoon’s tenement apartment, where he found him sitting on his bed finishing a bottle of rum, mumbling that he had a “bad night.” The two left, heading out into the pouring rain, and marked the alley outside of Vuutharak’s lair with the message: Meet at the Day Harbor’s Inn before sundown and then headed to the inn to wait. Hours later, Vuutharak arrived, and then surprisingly, shortly after, Drall. Dynff explained to Drall they were going to meet the leader of The Hangmen, Jonny Undergallows, and that he could come along, if he thought he could be of any use. Drall agreed and the four left for the Green Boar.

The Green Boar Tavern was alive and belligerent when the four arrived. Inside, jocular groups of Hangmen milled about trading stories and drinks. The four sat at a booth by the wall, while Dynff announced their arrival to the bartender. After intimidating a drunken Hangman who tried to harass the group, the bartender came to their table and told them Jonny was ready to see them. The four entered a back room, where Eveneris and Jonny sat around a table. He explained that he was pleased with the work they had done and inquired about any information they might have gathered. They related that they found a strange star ring on the senator, that had a symbol which was the same as a Sharite priestess they found in ruins under the Northern Crescent Downs. They also explained that adventurers and explorers were being contracted to explor the abandoned mines in the North owned by House Samreich. Jonny, requested that they find the northern mines and investigate what House Samreich was doing there. He told them he learned recently that adventures being called to the mines were staying at the Broken Mug.

Brawl at the Broken Mug

After their meeting with Jonny, the group departed immediately for the Broken Mug. They arrived several hours after sundown, just as the rain stopped and the fog began to roll in, passing two drunk sailors who were stumbling through the streets singing chanties to the moon. Inside, the Broken Mug, a dozen or more day-laborers, dock workers and sailors gathered for a rowdy evening. Darkatua immediately recognized Faridoon and was delighted to see him again, having not seen him for years now. She offered the group drinks and in reply to Faridoons questions, told them a group of explorers were in the back. The group immediately made their way into the back area, where a fiddler played on a table. Sitting alone a human, and elf and a goblin spoke loudly over drinks about their good luck in being selected to adventure into the northern mines. Faridoon, sat next to the goblin and began to pick a fight. Suddenly the bar was a flurry of punches and smashing mugs. The half-orc sailors at the front of bar who had been eying a bugbear day-laborer started to fight. The fiddler ducked under a table as a mug smashed over his head. Through Drall’s intervention, their fight was taken out back behind the tavern, but inside the brawl continued to wage on. With little difficultly, the group slew the explorers – first the goblin, then the human and elf – relieved them of their coin purses and their passes to the Northern mines, and dumped their bodies into the bay. Darkartua smiled a familiar smile as Faridoon apologized for the mess and ran out the front door.

The group quickly fled the scene, heading north to regroup and inspect the items they had taken from the explorers.

All That Lives in Darkness

28 Tarsakh 1373

Dynff, Faridoon and Vuutharak finished thier elaborate planning and killing of Sen. Olis Samreich and took a few days to stay low and recuperate. On 27 Tarsakh, the Fogdown Herald came out with a special edition paper, the front page article detailing the assassination of the Senator, and pointed out several pieces of evidence that the authorities were investigating: the bloody footprints leading to the window, the arrows and poisons found in both bodies, and researching which guests were not present at the festival after the assassination, but had arrived before. The article also mentioned that a special detective had begun to actively look into the crime. Among the possessions of Senator were two gold rings which Vuutharak had took: one with an elaborate emerald crest of House Samreich and another with a black and purple nautical star.

Strange nautical symbol

Reminded of his debt to Pox of the Withering Leaf, Vuutharak recruited the help of his former partners to find a missing “package” for Pox. Along the way they picked up a charming young half-orc by the name of Drall, who was sent by his employer to assist Vuuthrak and company in their investigations. After following the path that Drall’s couriers typically take (which as it turns out were undead rats stuff with illicit goods) the group came upon the entrance to a pocket of ruins deep below the sewers. Inside, the group found a Thiefling priestess of Shar tending to the entrances, who Drall recognized as a worshiper of Shar by the symbol on the palm of her gauntlets. Drall convinced her to help the group out, and in doing so, she and her three zombie bodyguards led the party to area where a pair of ghouls had been feeding on Drall’s rats that passed through the area. During the fight, Faaridoon had been bitten by one of the foul ghouls. After destroying the them, the Sharite wanted a replacement for her “guards”. The group dispatched the priestess and her guards, and using a rat scout, returned to the surface. By the time everyone returned, Faridoon was already feeling the effects of some disease, likely contracted from his bite. The package, which turned out to be a pair of demonic mandibles were returned to Pox, and the group went their separate ways: Dynff to the Day Harbor Inn, Vuutharak to his sewer lair by the Upper Docks, Faridoon to his small tenement apartment north of the docks, and Drall to Xobol’s Taxidermy.

An Evening of Blood

26 Tarsakh 1373

Dynff, Vuutharak and Faridoon waited patiently in their room at the Crow’s Roost for the hour of the party to arrive. They had decided 6:30 would be an appropriate time to begin the operation, meeting first in the alley behind Aldonmir’s Manor they scouted days before.

Their plan was now complete: Vuutharak would enter magically disguised as a Sunelf, with Faridoon as his bodyguard. Dynff would climb his way onto the balcony outside the west second floor bedroom. Vuutharak would approach Senator Olis Samreich, hand him a note detailing an offer to discuss business with his “employer from the Drow house Maelefka of Nyvin’dondrenz” in the room Dynff will be waiting in. Once the Senator is in the room, they will spring the trap.

As twilight began to fall on Fogdown, through the seas of people making their journeys to festivals across the island, the three headed to the alley to being. As they arrived, they saw the party had begun and guests were arriving to the manor. Vuutharak took the scroll in hand and began attempting to manipulate the magic item. With great difficultly he succeeded, after nearly an hour and half of trying. As they waited for Vuutharak, Dynff climbed onto the roof of Aldonmir’s Manor. Now with the spell successful they were on a timer: 30 minutes until Vuutharak reverted back to his true form!

Appearing as a dashing young Sunelf, Vuutharak and Faridoon entered the festival, the invitation passing as authentic. Inside they were greeted by a young noble by the name of Johnathan Samreich. He was egger to make the guests at home, and politely informed them dinner would begin in 20 minutes! Worried that his disguise would not last through dinner, Vuutharak requested to see Senator Olis Samreich on urgent business.

On the roof, Dynff entered into a family gallery in the attic: a hallway lined with painting of various Samreichian nobles of the past, and at the end, a large bronze statue of some goddess of earthly domains. As he approached the statue, his Drow senses went off suggesting some magical secret around the statue which he began to look for. Pressed for time, he abandoned his search and returned to the roof, securing his grappling hook, and rappelling his way to the second floor balcony to wait for Vuuthrak and Faridoon.

Inside, the Senator meet with Vuuthrak and took the note. He said he would return in a moment, stepping into the dinning area which guests were now being instructed to enter. Worried they would be trapped in the dinning hall, Vuutharak and Faridoon went out into a nearby hallway, under the guise of needing to use the restroom to freshen up.

As they waited in the hallway, thinking of what to do next, Senator Olis Samreich entered through the same door they had come through (from the ballroom) with his personal guard, Captain Steelbout. Vuuthrak led the way to the room.

Once they arrived, Vuutharak closed the door “for privacy”, as Captain Steelbout went around the room lighting the oil lanterns, and Faridoon “secured the room” and secretly swallowed a pinch of Redleaf. As soon as the room was lit, Dynff was revealed to be standing in front of glass balcony window, his hands behind his back; an ominous black shadow against the sky of the setting sun. Vuutharak opened the door and stepped aside; Capitan Steelbout prepared for trouble and placed his hand on his flail.

Immediately the Senator demanded to know “what business House Maelefka have meddling in the business of House Do’Durdin?” Grinning, Dynff tossed the garrot to Faridoon who snatched out of the air, activated his magical tattoo and fired a poisoned bolt into Capitan Steelbout’s leg. Although injured, Capitan Steelbout fought off the poison. Faridoon, attempted to get the Senator in a garrot choke, but was disarmed by Captian Steelbout, and the Senator managed to fight off his grapple.

No longer in need of his disguise, Vuutharak leapt across the room, reaching out with his clawed hands while his Sunelf disguise bleed away midair, revealing his lizardfolk nature! With a fell swipe he gashed Capitan Steelbout’s neck, provoking his attention.

The battle ensued, with Captain Steelbout trying in vain to fend off the attackers. Dynff managed to poison the Senator, paralyzing him. With the Senator frozen in place, awaiting his death, the three focused on his personal guard.

Just then, Captain Steelbout gained the upper hand for a moment: Vuuthrak reeling back from an attack, Faridoon prone on the ground from being tripped, and Dynff’s poisoned arrows either not hitting or not working. Captain Steelbout turned to Faridoon to finish him with his flail, just as Faridoon began to stand. Deftly, Faridoon rolled on his side, avoiding the descending flail, and pulling out his mace, swung with all his might and caught Captain Steelbout in the leg, breaking it like a twig, knocking him unconscious!

The main threat neutralized, Faridoon slit the throat of the Senator and Captain Steelbout, just as he was uttering his last words: “traitor!” Vuutharak took both gold rings on the Senator, despite Dynff insisting he give one to Faridoon, and Faridoon took the note they had passed to the Senator earlier and his garrot.

The three escaped to the roof, down into the sewers, and then finally back to the Crow’s Roost. From there they returned to the Upper Docks, with Vuutharak returning to his lair, and Faridoon and Dynff renting a secure room at the Day Harbor Inn.

Dirty Deeds

19-25 Tarsakh 1373

Faridoon and Vuutharak awoke to a bright spring day in Fogdown, the city streets bustling with activity, much of which was in preparation for the upcoming Green Grass Festival. Dynff had not returned from his personal business yet, but the two set out again from the Raven’s Tongue, in search of Etinee Blackmire, who they had learned the previous day may know more about Senator Olis Samreich and the Mechanex Faction.

When they found Etinee’s gallery on Burrow St., they were disappointed to found a rather slow-witted human attending it and Etinee nowhere to be found. The mumbling human informed the two that Etinee does not supervise the gallery during the day, only at night, and if they wished to purchase an item, to come back then.

Later that evening, just after sunset, Vuutharak and Faridoon returned to the gallery impersonating a fictitious noble and his bodyguard from a made up lizardfolk tribe along the Sword Coast. When Etinee greeted them in the main gallery, he was not fooled. He insisted they step into the back room to discuss the true nature of their business. Reluctantly, they agreed.

In the back room, Vuutharak continued to insist that he was a lizardfolk noble, despite Etinee’s visible rejection of the bluff and increasing frustration. Faridoon, thinking that Etinee was just a spineless, but witty, socialite, took it one step further – he insisted Vuutharak was a noble, and that Etinee shouldn’t ask any more questions. Startled and intimidated, Etinee reeled slighted and with his now white eyes staring into Faridoon’s, demanded he leave the gallery and, “go wait outside for your friend.” Dominated, Faridoon agreed.

Returning to their business, Vuutharak gave up his disguise and requested for Etinee’s help in getting into a party where Senator Olis Samreich will be on the night of the Green Grass Festival. Etinee agreed and offered his invitation to be copied for 75 gold, and stated he was helping for his “own reasons.” Vuutharak agreed to return the invitation no later than Tarsakh 21.

Vuutharak left quickly and grabbed Faridoon who had been wondering around outside, and was startled to find himself out there, claiming he was “just inside talking to Etinee.” Vuutharak explained that Faridoon had just stood up and left when Etinee had asked him to leave, and they both suspected magic was behind it.

With an invitation in hand, Faridoon recommended a well established printing shop on the other side of town, which has a reputation for being some of the best forgers in the area. They travel through the cover of night and fog, and using a secret teleportation circle in the alley behind Jacobson’s Printing, arrived in a long hallway illuminated by magical lights, leading to a one way mirror. A man’s voice greeted him on the other side and agreed to make a copy of the invitation by Tarsakh 21 for 100 gp. Vuutharak and Faridoon agreed, and asked for the name on the invitation to be “Atraus Sunleaf” and “Dynff” will be picking it up. The two returned to the Raven’s Tongue to bed down for the rest of the night.

In the morning, Dynff returned to the room explaining that he was running a few personal errands. Vuutharak and Faridoon had proven to be very useful and explained, what they thought to be, the best plan for getting into the festival.

Using a scroll Vuutharak was given some months ago, Dynff would transform himself into a Sunelf with Faridoon as his body guard. Vuutharak would sneak into a room in Aldonmir’s Manor, and using some ploy they would lure the Senator into the room, poison him and strangle him with a garrot. They had the invitation and the scroll, now all they needed was the poison and the garrot.

Proving their usefulness, Dynff agreed to send a message to his superiors recommending Faridoon and Vuutharak for possible services. He traveled to his contact in the area, Rondell Riverstone at his business, a jewelry store called the Waterstar.

Faridoon, went and visited his reacquainted friend Jack “The Feather” at Concreto’s hoping he could get some more information about the Mechanex Faction. After a few drinks, Jack divulged all he knew, which wasn’t too much more than the group already had discovered. Afterward he purchased a simple garrot in the Midmarket.

Vuutharak set out to find a herbalist shop called the Withering Leaf, located near the wall between the Crescent Downs and the Upper Docks. He found it without much difficulty, using a pseudonym pretended to be inquiring about some “poison to paralyze vermin for his elderly pet snake”. He discovered quickly the shop to be well versed in the illegal business of poison selling. Vuutharak conducted most of his business with a raspy voiced, seemingly elderly humanoid by the name of Pox. Unable to pay for the poison he requested, Vuutharak agreed to do Pox a “favor” and was told to return on Tarsakh 29.

The three meet again at the Raven’s Tongue, now with all the pieces to the puzzle, except for one: it turned out that Dynff lacked the skill to use Vuutharak’s scroll and they would need to switch roles. To ensure that Dynff could get the best shot he could at the Senator, he investigated using magical means. The result: a recommendation from Rondel to speak with Beltha’zar Tha’zi at the Black Ink, northwest of the Midmarket.

There, Beltha’zar using his magical abilities inscribed in Dynff’s arm a magical tattoo with the spell in exchange for one of the three scrolls of Alter Self Vuutharak possessed.

Finally, in preparation for any possible problems following the job, the three checked out of the Raven’s Tongue, and head over to a less “upscale” inn, called the Crow’s Roost, northwest of the Midmarket, in the grimy heart of the Crescent Downs. On the eve of Tarsakh 26, with all their preparations set, Dynff, Vuutharak and Faridoon patiently awaited for their coming evening of blood.

Whispers in the Night

18 Tarsakh 1373

Vuutharak, Faridoon and Dynff awoke in their windowless room, in the Raven’s Tongue, still sore and filthy from their evening of running the sewers. They ordered a change of clothes from the kitchen boy and a hot bath. After refreshing up, they began their business.

Vuutharak made clear that he would require his outstanding payment for running Faridoon under the walls, a fee Dynff was responsible for. He made note he had no good reason to continue to work with them – until Dynff offered him the prospect of building a reputation and life outside of the sewers in the Upper Docks, and proposed giving them both a favorable recommendation to his superiors in the Hangmen.

After their short order of business, Dynff departed on personal business, hoping to find out what he could about Senator Olis Samreich. Unfortunately without any contacts in the Crescent Downs or a plan, he spent two days, largely in vain, learning only a few trivial and commonplace facts about House Samreich and the Mechanex Faction.

Vuutharak and Faridoon, went off together to see if they could prove themselves as invaluable to Dynff – better securing their payments and recommendations. First, since Faridoon had just recently worked in the service of the senator, he wondered if he could get any information or maybe even some work from his former employer, Captain Steelboot, Senator Olis Samreich’s long term personal guard. They headed off to the Midmarket to look for the last location Faridoon knew that the senator was staying at. With luck, they found the manor just before sundown. While Vuutharak waited out of sight, blending into the crowded streets, Faridoon requested an audience with his former employer. Cpt. Steelboot spoke with Faridoon briefly outside the manor, stating that while the senator stayed at this manor, the manor of Senator Altdonmir, a loyal member of House Samreich, there wouldn’t be a need for his help. Somewhat defeated, the two headed off to a nearby café to find the latest edition of the Fogdown Herald, for any more leads.

As Vuutharak paged through the newspaper, Faridoon was surprised to hear someone from the crowd calling out his name. On guard he looked around, attempting to spot where it was coming from. He stepped a few feet away from Vuutharak and saw a well dressed human with a lute over his shoulder waving to him. It turned out it was an old friend of his, Jack Daleman, who had been in the same gang as Faridoon in his youth. Much like Faridoon, Jack had not gone with the rest of the gang the night things went bad. He didn’t know of anyone one else that had survived that night, except for Tommy “Black Arms”, who works as an informant for the Thousand Hands. Jack, who went by Jack “The Feather” now, explained he was always talented with a lute, and made a life as a Windsong pieceman. Faridoon asked to keep his return to the island a secret, and Jack agreed as a favor for an “old friend”. As Jack left, he told Fairdoon to come see him sometime at Concreto’s if he was ever in need of any information.

When Faridoon returned, Vuutharak had finished looking at the paper, and had a few ideas about how to proceed: Given the nature of the festival and the party, they should try and get a hold of an invitation and disguise themselves. Using what info they got from the Fogdown Herald, they decided to track down Etinee Blackmire, a socialite knowledgeable about Fogdown’s houses and the owner of an art gallery on Burrow’s Street. By the time they returned to the Raven’s Tongue though, it was well past sunset. They decided to turn in for the night after a hearty meal, and seek out Etinee in the morning. Dynff had not returned yet.

Later that night, Faridoon had awoken with a start. The candle they used for light must have been left burning and he smelled smoke. As he looked around the room Vuutharak was nowhere to be found, and he spotted the candle lying on its side in the middle of the room. When he went to grab it fire rapidly spread around him engulfing the room at an unnatural speed. Suddenly he was fully dressed, with mace in hand and fire burning all around him, and despite the fact that he realized he was dreaming he could not awaken. The fire was now complete surrounding him, as if he was standing in the center of an enormous orb of fire. Looking down he saw blood begin to pool at his feet. He began to step back, and as he did so, his boot prints left trails of blood that followed him. Suddenly a mass began to grow out of the pool of blood and he could hear his name being called out in a booming, distant voice. Startled he moved back away from the growing pool of blood. As he watched and backed away, the mass began to take form, turning into a towering demonic figure! It slowly began to walk towards him at a speed faster then he could move away. Growing increasingly angry, Faridoon stood his ground and demanded the creature’s name. As the huge figure loomed above him it boomed: My name is Asb’el!

Suddenly he awoke – it had only been a dream. Faridoon finished the night at the tavern on the first floor…

Into the Wreckage

17 Tarsakh 1373

After sealing their deal the night before, Dynff, Vuutharak and Faridoon went their separate ways for the evening, bedding down as the early hours of morning arrived.

The next day the three tended to their business separately – preparing themselves physically, mentally and most importantly, financially.

Dynff awoke in the dark little drafty cold room that he had taken the night before, at the Day Harbor Inn – the sound of rain running on the roof. He recognized he made a deal too far the night before with Faridoon and Vuuthrak, and had made his way through the streets in the light rain to send a message to his Shadow Father, Enveris by way of an attendant at the Dockside Rope Company. He would meet him later at the Skull and Four Bones, before meeting Vuutharak.

Fairdoon woke late in the afternoon to the rain outside, and the sound of water dripping from every crack in the little shanty he was staying in: nothing more than a 2 dozen beds in a common room, under a make-shift-roof. He tended to his equipment, making sure the worn rings on his chainmail shirt were not coming undone and practiced a bit with his mace. By evening he paid for his room, and left the shanty-inn. He made his way to the Skull and Four Bones to get a meal before heading out with his new employer, an unnamed Drow.

Vuutharak had heard the water slowly picking up throughout the morning, but did not rise until late afternoon. He rose out of his bed of broken furniture, straw and junk, in the ruins below the sewers and decided to scout the path ahead that night. He returned just before sunset and went directly to the alley behind the Skull and Four Bones, waiting for his two charges.

By sundown, Dynff had been in the Skull and Four Bones for several hours, patiently awaiting Enveris’ arrival. Finally he arrived, along with Gill “20 eyes” and Faridoon shortly after. Dynff and Enveris spoke about the importance of his assignment and, before leaving, Enveris gave Dynff enough gold to cover the additional unseen expense of running Faridoon under the wall with him. After their conversation, Faridoon joined Dynff at the table, and then left to meet Vuutharak in the alleyways.

As the group made their way down into the sewers, the rain, which had continued lightly all day, began to pick up. Once underground, they noted the steady stream of filth, waste and garbage flowing west. Vuutharak lead them onward. Unfortunately, Faridoon had mistaken the conditions he would find himself and neglected to bring a lantern. Unable to now see, Vuutharak lead him by rope, blindly and deeper into the tunnels.

They made their way through the sewers which twisted and turned, through a series of crumbling stone worked tubes, ladders and iron stairs descending ever downward. As they moved into the bowels of the undercity, the smell of a hundred years of waste, became toxic. As they entered the main line running between the Upper Docks and the very eastern border of the Crescent Downs, Faridoon was struck ill. Using a piece of cloth he tore from his clothing, he covered his face and waited a moment. After a few minutes he was able to go on.

They made their way through the main line, moving westward towards the Crescent Downs. After several hundred feet they arrived at a 30ft section of the main tunnel that had collapsed; rivers of waste from both sides tumbled down into the darkness, where is crashed into a body of water, far below. Vuutharak assured them, this was the way forward, noting the section had been collapsed for some time now. As they began to find a location to tie a rope and head down below, Dynff caught the sound of moving water that wasn’t coming from the waterfalls, but from behind them in the tunnel!

Rushing as quickly as they could, Dynff assisted tying the rope with Vuutharak. Faridoon waited patiently, hearing the rushing water coming down the tunnel towards them, and then finally grabbed onto the rope and began to slide down. Vuutharak followed quickly behind Faridoon, but it was too late for Dynff. Just as Vuutharak began to head down, the wall of water hit. Dynff leapt off the ledge and dove 60ft into the pool below slightly injuring himself as he hit the water. Faridoon managed to cling for his life to the rope as the water came tumbling down over head, while Vuutharak lost his grip and fell, crashing into the water below on his side.

After the water from above slowed down, the group pulled themselves from the water, caught their breaths, and began to head down the tunnel towards their final destination. On the way, they noticed the tunnels and water ways deeper down appeared to be more like crumbling ruins then sewer tunnels, with crumbling mason walls and suggestions of ancient complex architecture.

Traveling some ways down the tunnel, leading away from the waterfalls, the group came across a large room likely apart of a massive entrance at some point with six towering pillars, three on each side. In the center of the room they saw liquid dripping on what appeared to be the remains of a large rat and surrounded by chunks of broken wax. Above, a gaunt creature sat perched between a pillar and the ceiling, its arms and legs like tentacles with spiny pads for hands and feet. It was twitching erratically while devouring the belly of the rat. It initially did not seem to notice anyone.

Attempting at first to sneak up on the creature, Vuutharak made his way behind the pillars, but altered the beast after stumbling a bit. It lashed out in a blind fury, but was quickly dispatched by the group – a bolt from Dynff’s hand crossbow landing the final blow in the creatures head.

Collecting their wits, they finally began the long trek to the surface, eventually coming out of an alley a few blocks from a popular inn, the Raven’s Tongue. Too exhausted to find separate lodgings, they rented a large room for the night thinking carefully about the next task at hand: Senator Olis Samreich.

On Assignment

16 Tarsakh 1373

The claws of winter have retreated on the island, revealing the city of Fogdown on the eve of spring. The fog has returned, as it does every season, and already the underworld is thriving with trade, murder, and theft.

After 3 weeks Faridoon had finally grabbed a run with House Samreich, following a spat of unemployment. He had worked as a guard for Sen. Olis Samreich while he was staying on business in the Lower Crescent Downs. Faridoon’s contract had ended when the Senator went north to the Eastern Mid-Market, to a small area, heavily guarded and owned by the house. It had been slow lately, but he blamed it on the cold; it had been unseasonably cold lately, at least as far as he could remember.

He found himself in the Day Harbor Inn, in the northern section of the Upper Docks, a little past sundown, starring at the the bottom of his empty mug. A lute player had taken the stage and began to play an upbeat song accompanied by dancing… much to the dismay of the crowded bar.

After a few rounds, he was approached by a woman he had seen at the Inn several times, but whom never paid him much mind. Now suddenly, she showed a great deal of interest. She introduced herself as Jane “Split Tongue”, an informant, and interested in anything Faridoon knew. While Faridoon protested that rumors weren’t his business, for a drink, she got his name…

For Vuutharak, work had been steady lately. About every 10 day an offer came in. Nothing was too interesting: a few drugs there, a severed hand there – mostly things people just didn’t want others to see or know about. It was perhaps other peoples shame, not fear of the law, that had kept him in business lately. It seemed like that night was the only night of not running goods under the wall through the sewers he had had in some time.

He had found himself moving briskly along the streets just before sundown, heading towards the docks looking for something to eat. The thought of fish had crossed his mind as just the thing. Two large raw tunas would do just nice.

He knew of a little stand that stayed open late. He had done business with them before in a few jobs with the Dock Guild, who used it to sell unregistered weapons at a hefty price, stuffed in fish. He never saw what a “great sword” looked like, but the thought of all that fish had just made him hungry again.

After purchasing his fish and returning to the alley that was the entrance to the sewers where he stayed, he saw a familiar symbol tagged on the wall: Gill “20 Eyes” wanted to see him at the Skull and Four Bones.

After finishing his dinner, he had headed over to the Skull and Four Bones; a shady little hole in the wall, just west of the docks. Inside, the tavern was crawling with dock workers, commoners and a cast of humaniods. Vuutharak, a lizardfolk, had fit right in. He had found Gill at a table waiting for him.

As it turned out, the Hangmen needed someone run under the walls: an up and coming assassin who couldn’t get a pass. For a price, Vuutharak agreed and headed north to the Day Harbor Inn to meet his charge…

Dynff, after arranging for Morgana De’Fey to take the phylactery, giving Etinne Blackmire a fake, had decided it would be best to get out of the Crescent Downs. He had moved into the Corner House Apartments, and rented a room, giving no name, and at a significant discount due to his connections with the Hangmen. As far as anyone was concerned, the room was vacant.

Thus, when there was a knock on the door, Dynff was quite surprised… and cautious. It had turned out is was only a message from his Shadow Father, Enveris Tren, requiring his presence at The Tithing Place, just south of the Dockside Rope Company.

After meeting with Enveris, his assignment was clear: The Mechanist faction was becoming something of a problem for the other houses, as well as the houses involved. On the surface it was looking like it was a play for power with various houses working in collusion to take over their respective houses – Sen. Olis Samreich was to be the target. Enveris noted, this job had come on Dockguild orders.

Unable to procure a wall pass for him, Enveris instructed him to go to the Day Harbor Inn to meet a lizardfolk runner who would take him under the walls. More so, he was to find a human by the name of Faridoon, who had worked as a muscle for the Senator recently. Finally, he was to intercept the Senator at a social gathering in the Crescent Downs during the Green Grass festival, and kill him. Dynff headed over to the Day Harbor Inn to meet his guide.

Meanwhile, Vuutharak had arrived at the Day Harbor Inn, which greeted him suspiciously. When Dynff arrived, he bought a name off of Jane: Faridoon. Having recognized the lizardfolk guide and now Faridoon, he passed them both notes, instructing them to meet him in room 39, on the third floor, in 15 minutes.

In the room, the three became acquainted over a few sharp glances, hands on the handles of weapons, and about 135 gold. Faridoon agreed to work for Dynff providing muscle and information. Vuutharak, agreed to take the two of them under the wall, but only if Dynff was willing to pay the extra 100 gold for his new partner. Dynff agreed, and the date was set for the run: tomorrow in the alleys behind The Skull and Four Bones, as the fog begins to gather.

Prelude: A year and a day…

16 Tarsakh 1373

A year has passed since the Marked Four handed over the phylactery to Morgana De’Fey. Despite being unable to leverage his uncle, Johntress remained a prominent figure in House De’May. Freed from any debt that was owed to Morgana, the group had decided it was time to part ways. Rumors circulated for some time about the members of the gang, later nick named the Marked Four, who had killed Jonny Undergallows and three prominent Senators. Keller and Nero stuck together, going underground for several months. Last anyone heard of them they had been captured by the guard after a failed attempt at robbing a prominent merchant in the Lastshoppe district. Despite their legacy of crimes, there was never any word of their deaths, and the Fogdown Herald speculated they lingered in a prison somewhere, because someone wanted them alive. Alec after, spent some time with Stern at the Rusty Nail and is said to have remained there as his assistant. Maxin completed his apprenticeship and was admitted into the College of the Last Requiem. He appears in taverns from time to time. His current whereabouts are unknown.

Since that day a year ago, the rule of the Divine Triad has stabilized and the workings of everyday life have mostly normalized around the immense repression. Ten months ago, House De’May lost several seats in the senate to House Ashenfey, causing a slight imbalance of power. When a part of the highly secretive and reclusive Gnome islands of Lantan were sacked by the Drow wizard-pirate Din’zry Blackstar, Fogdown, specifically House Ashenfey, played a quiet but important role in reclaiming the island. When the ships returned, the once obtuse island began healthy trade relations with The City of Fogdown. With the new trade alliance came more of little seen wonders of gnomish ingenuity. In the course of several months, a Mechanist faction formed in the senate of House Ashenfey and House Samreich. To help capitalize on the trade with Lantan, the Mechanist faction has begun to push various “innovations” to the city, which would require greater utilization of House Samreich’s growing industry of clockwork machines, it’s primary source of wealth, beside former mine property in the north, and light-smithing production.

Two months ago a Senate bill was passed ordering the replacement of all oil-street-lanterns with Mechanex lanterns (the term used to describe clockwork-arcane hybrid creations). More popularly, the bill also ordered the creation of an immense clocktower in the Crescent Downs. Construction has been underway for over a month.

Questions have already begun to drift through the underworld about what this new Mechanist faction will mean in terms of power. Rumors have begun about the purchasing of land in the Crescent Downs for new industries, beyond what has already been bought for the clocktower. Beyond that, tales from merchant ships say that the god Bane has returned to Faerun, and the domains of his clergy have been restored, raising question as to the fate of the underground churches already established on Fogdown, and the guilds they tie to…