1, Leleth Snow, Armiger of Fallcrest, daughter of Alana. Half-elf Blackguard (Tiffany)
2. Messoria Dorimant, Armiger of Fallcrest, daughter of Kallain. Tiefling Paladin (Judith)
3. Arjhen, soldier of Fallcrest. Dragonborn Slayer Fighter (Jelena)
4. Aelar of Harkenwood, soldier of Fallcrest. Elf Hunter Ranger (Philippe)
5. Mirabelle Markelhay, daughter of Lord Farren. Human Mage (Jelly)
Messoria's Account
Following our return to Fallcrest after defeating the hobgoblins we are summoned by Lord Markelhay who is instructing his knights to attack a kobold stronghold which they have been using as a base to raid travellers on the road.
Our mission, to be led by Lord Markelay’s daughter Mirabelle, is to investigate reports of a cult based in the swamp that has been abducting merchants travelling by barge to Fallcrest. Most recently a group of elves has gone missing and their barge found sunk on the edge of the swamp. Unfortunately Mirabelle is not present for the briefing and her somewhat exasperated father has to send her teacher, the wizard Nimozaran the Green, to find her.
A few minutes later Nimozaran returns with Mirabelle who is somewhat the worse for wear. We finalise our preparations including borrowing an Everburning Torch while Aelar purchases Buttercup the mule (though we decide the swamp is not a good place to take a pack animal).
We take a few minutes to compare notes on what we’ve heard about the swamp and decide the cultists’ base is probably located towards the north-western part of the swamp as to the south a black dragon holds sway along with tribes of lizardmen. Messoria thinks a logical place for them to be would be the site of a ruined Nerathi Fort said to be at the base of a black stone tower. Most worryingly there is a rumour that the spirit of a Turathi Sorcerer King, Skolos the Undying, haunts that part of the swamp. There are also stories of crocodiles and frog-men, but Mirabelle assures us that crocodiles are a myth dreamed up by the credulous.
Mirabelle is able to call on her drinking buddy, the Halfling Irena Swiftwater, for the loan of a barge to help us investigate the cult. Irena tells us that two Halflings have also gone missing. Following the current of the river we drift south keeping an eye out for the elves’ barge. It is one of the halflings who finally spots it. Aelar scouts around and quickly locates a hidden raft from which tracks about 3 days old lead off into the swamp. He is able to determine that it is about eight humans carrying heavy weights – perhaps bodies.
After a few hours following the tracks we hear the sound of drums. In front of us a fallen tree trunk bridges a creek – one of several we have crossed – but this time Aelar spots movement in the water and what we had originally thought were sunken logs reveal themselves to be crocodiles! Aelar shoots at one and the crocodiles rush to attack. Despite the crocodiles grabbing Arjhan and Leleth and trying to drag them into the swamp, we manage to defeat them and continue towards the sound of the drums.
As we draw near we see the ruined outline of the Nerathi fort. A strange bluish smoke drifts around. To one side a hide-covered hut is surrounded by what Mirabelle identifies as enspelled giant frogs. From within the fort we can hear the drums starting to build to a climax.
Not wanting to be outflanked by the frogs when we attack the fort, we decide to attack them first. Fortunately they are not particularly tough but they do cause some problems as they drag us around with their long, sticky tongues. Despite this they are quickly defeated. Checking the hut we find a healing potion and 22 silver-tipped arrows. Arjhan takes the potion while Aelar takes the arrows, then he sneaks forward to scout the fort.
He soon returns to report that a group of cultists are preparing to sacrifice a female elf. A high priestess seems to be officiating assisted by a mighty half-ogre wielding an enormous sword. Aelar, Arjhan and Mirabelle sneak forward to get into position to attack while Leleth and Messoria remain further back as our heavy armour makes it more likely we would be heard.
Aelar shoots the priestess, dazing her, while Arjhan charges the nearest cultist who falls beneath his sword. Mirabelle summons a Fountain of Flame that burns the priestess, the half-ogre as well as two of the cultists. Still startled by our interrupting their ritual we are able to cut through the cultists. Mirabelle’s magic compels the half-ogre to strike the priestess who is killed by his attack while her enchantments push other cultists into the Flame.
Arjhan fights his way through the cultists to duel the half-ogre but falls before the brute despite slashing him on the arm. A surviving cultist attempts to cut Arjhan’s throat while the dragonborn lies unconscious but is confounded by his armour. Messoria fights her way through to the half-ogre while Aelar and Leleth finish off the rest of the cultists.
The half-ogre falls and somewhat bloodied we stand triumphant. The elf Andara is originally from Fallcrest and we promise to try to return her safely. Messoria then draws on the Light of Sehanine to pull Arjhan back from unconsciousness and he quickly drinks the healing potion as we realise that the rumoured cult leader Malakai the Mad is not amongst the dead. Messoria notes a cave entrance in the wall of the black spire behind the fort and we think he may be within.
Even as we prepare to advance, a giant crocodile emerges from a nearby ruined room and moves to the attack…
Arjhen's Account
Arjhan was keen to leave the small town of Fallcrest for the wilderness of the fens, in hope that he’d be able to find some traces of the great Arkhosian empire. He liked the young quest leader, Mirabelle, the impetuous daughter of the local lord in whose service he had spent the last couple of months. The rest of the group he already bonded with, defending the Antler & Thistle tavern from an organised hobgoblin attack.
On the way to the fens, the Halfling crew of their barge were staring at Arjhan with unbridled curiosity; he managed to overhear that they’ve seen someone similar to him deep in the swamp. Could it be another dragonborn, or even a small dragon? Surely not the mythical beast known as crocodile!
Arjhan was, therefore, astonished when Aelar the elf spotted two of the creatures in front of the group – so much so that his usually deathly greatsword only scratched the thick skin of one of them. The infuriating beasts both latched onto Arjhan’s leg, even with Leleth’s brave attempt to help, and brought him down, biting him in the neck! He was revived thanks to Messoria’s skill, and ready to continue after a short break.
After hacking through some hypnotised giant frogs and finding a quiver of 22 silver-tipped arrows in a tent they were guarding, Arjhan was given a healing draught found by Mirabelle. Alas, he didn’t have time to quaff it as Aelar discovered a horrific sacrifice about to happen, and as soon as the elf shot an arrow into the officiating priestess, Arjhan charged into the room, slaying the nearest cultist. In the melee that followed, Arjhan managed to kill two more human minions with his acid breath and slice off the arm of a half-ogre, but sadly fell from his retaliatory attack combined with the earlier wounds. His soul fought bravely to escape the final frontier, and he vowed not to be as reckless with his recovery in the future.
With the cultists slain and the intended sacrifice freed, Arjhan was once again brought back to the land of the living, just in time to see a giant crocodile advancing towards them. He quickly gulped the healing draught and grabbed his faithful greatsword…
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