The Cursed Crown

General Summary

During the 6th century, the chaos following the fall of the Age of Dragons had not yet subsided in the Scarred Wastes north of the Allerdale Mountains. For many years this region was ruled by the warlord known as Kazareth the Bloodhand, until a few years ago when he succumbed to his own madness. There were even rumours circulating that Kazareth might have been under the influence of a curse. Now instability plagued the region and this had led to a few adventurers teaming up on their journey through the wastes for protection. These were the consipiratory human fighter known as Alexandra D Tesla (Alex for short), her squire the rogue tengu known as Manny the Handy, the collecting kobold scoundrel named Grogg, and the incomprehensible gnome bard named Wizzle P Grumblehop. Together they headed across the waste towards the Zimean counties on the other side hoping for some security.

After travelling for a few days the party reached an outpost where they planned on spending the night. It was there that they met a messenger that, after some persuasion told them that the crown of Kazareth had been located, and that the local warlords would most likely destroy one another and all who stood in their path to get it. She also told them about the supposed curse on the crown that might have driven Kazareth mad. After realising that the crown was only located a bit of their way they decided to see if they might be able to nab it for themselves. It would still be a week until they reached Blackfang Keep where the crown was said to be. 

The next day they headed off, and a few days later they ran into some bandits from the Black Vultures mercenary troup setting up an ambush. They instead ambushed the bandits. The fight turned into a massacre as the flat-footed bandits scrambled to defend themselves, but were severely outmatched. Only one bandit survived, as he fled for his life. Grogg made sure to strip the bodies near-nude to maximise profits. 

Some days later the party came across an ancient battlefield where spirits whispered warnings of the Kazareth’s madness. Warnings that the group chose to promptly ignore. In the end they reached the fields surrounding Blackfang Keep and saw that it was surrounded by three campsites. One belonging to the fierce orc warlord Varak the Iron Fang and another belonging to the Black Vultures. The third they didn’t recognise from afar. Realising that they might be able to pass for members of the Black Vultures if they wore the armour they had taken from the bandits, they thought that it might be a perfect opportunity to get a way into the keep. 

When they arrived in the Black Vulture camp, they were met by organised chaos. Soldiers and units scrambled to get themselves ready, for when night fell they would attack. In the tumultuous chaos they managed to deceive a foreman that they had been the band of bandits that they slew. He pointed them to a tent where the surviving bandits had sought refuge. Manny, who was responsible for most of the bandit’s deaths, snuck silently into the room and with a quick stab with her sharp into the bandit's neck he was taken out. Paralysed and bleeding out he fell to the ground. They hid the body under a bed before resting for a short while. 

Suddenly their rest was disturbed, when the camp was attacked by Iron-Fang’s orcs. In the heat of battle they saw a chance to make a break for the Keep. Well inside, they found Varak himself and his warband fighting against cultists from the Bonefire Cult in the outer courtyard. They managed to sneak past the fighting and across the drawbridge to the inner parts of the keep. But as they drew the bridge up behind them the Iron-Fangs took notice and rushed to stop them. When Varak himself ran to hold the bridge down the group fought back. Wizzle called upon an eagle to help them, whilst Manny shot his crossbow towards them. Varak on the other hand began to negotiate, promising them a massive reward if they brought him the crown. The orc soon realised their stalemate and with fighting cultist behind him, he let the party go. 

Well inside of the inner parts of the keep, the party soon found a throne room, with the crown elevated on a pedestal. After many discussions on what to do with it, Manny grabbed it abruptly and became possessed. The group fought him off and even knocked him unconscious. They then decided to keep the crown on the tengu’s head to avoid anyone else being possessed. Thus they tried to sneak out of the keep. But as they climbed down into the empty moat that separated the inner and outer courtyard, they alerted the orcs, who had just managed to fend off the cultists. To make things worse, Manny woke up and stabbed Alex, who promptly fell down, dying. At the same time the orcs began throwing rocks at them.

A rock knocked the tengu out again, and Wizzle then managed to move the crown from Manny’s head and into a bag. Meanwhile Grogg poured a healing potion into Alex’s mouth, saving her life. She woke back up. Varak was now standing above them and stopped his warband from pelting the party with more stones. He told them to give him the crown and he would let them live. They tried to refuse, but realised the futility of their situation.

That’s when Alex grabbed another bag of supplies, threw it in another direction and told the warlord to go get it. As the orcs rushed the bag, the party climbed out and began to run. They made it all the way over to the Black Vultures camp, where they managed to deceive them into thinking that the orcs were coming back for another attack. The mercenaries counter-charged, halting the warlord's chase, as the party stole some horses and escaped with the crown.

After a few weeks they managed to arrive in Valland and the castle of the count. They sold the crown to him for 800 gold, enough for all of them to start their new lives in the western provinces.

Rewards Granted

• 800 Gold