Session 0.3: Danger in Daggerford Report

General Summary

Huge, heavy raindrops pelt your skin. After 4 days and roughly a hundred miles of travel, the heavens have opened up and turned the roads to sludge. The timing is fortunate, at least: you stand just outside the first town you've seen since departing Waterdeep, a riverside burgh known as Daggerford. A handful of ramshackle houses, and a fine three-story inn sit in the shadow of the town's keep.

The party wanders about town for a little while in the heavy rain, trying to immediately recoup supplies lost on the journey, and in doing so, a few feel the effects of the cold weather. All except for Aurum decide to head into the warm and lavish River Shining Tavern and as they are turning in for the night, a Hellrider, a knight of the Holy Capital of Elturel, enters the bar and issues a warning.

"Everyone", he has the innkeeper, Dirgleh Cross, tell the patrons. "I'v e been informed that an evil spirit has taken up residence in this inn. The generous Sir Ardor has offered to exorcise it, and requests that you leave at once. He has even offered to reund your rooms for the night. Come up and get your coin."

As the party begrudgingly walks up to receive their refunds, Sir Ardor pulls them aside, recognizing them as adventurers, and requests their aid in exorcising evil. Once everyone has left, he also asks that the innkeeper leave as well, and he bars the door behind her. He then asks the party to assist him in spreading holy oil on the ground, as it is part of the ritual to purge the evil. After they spread it, he lights and oil lamp and walks slowly towards them, speaking in vague terms about the evil of devils.

"As an acolyte of Torm in the city of Elturel, I was told that there existed evil beyond that of mortals. I learned that nine kingdoms of cruelty roiled and burned in the everlasting darkness beyond our world. I learned that beings of such evil are only prevented from overrunning our realm by one cosmic law: they cannot open doorways across the planes on their own. Fiends...demons... devils... they can only be called to this realm by mortals.   "Mortals who consort with devils are evil, and evil is to be purged!"

And after his soliloquy, he hurls his oil lamp to the wooden and oil-soaked floor, and the lamp explodes in a cloud of oily flame! The initiative is Rolled, and Ardor charges at the party with a longsword in hand.   The fire grows uncontrollably soon, and after a decisive blow by Orion, Sir Ardor lay limp, his body being overtaken by flames. The goblin, Jonesy, notices that the flames will soon reach the alcohol stores, and urges the party to escape through the windows, which they do. Not even a few seconds later, an explosion crashes through, followed by a second, and a third. The Inn begins to collapse in on itself, and the party is surrounded by the Town Guard, who inquire about what transpired.   With their feet firmly planted in their mouths, the innkeeper, Dirgleh Cross, steps in on their behalf. She sees through their deceptions before the Guard can, and spins a tale of heroism in their favor, which allows them to leave unscathed. She ushers them to the Lady Luck Tavern, where she sits them down to converse. After she is satisfied, she pays for their rooms for a few days and looks forward to having 6 mercenaries in her debt.   Meanwhile, Aurum, the one that did benefit from the deal with the devil, was across town, duplicating coins thanks to his transaction. A knock on his door distracts him for a moment, and when he tries to resume, he finds a stranger in his bedroom. The stranger is draped in black clothing with gold lining. Its skin is pale, nearly glowing white, wearing a golden mask that resembles a deer with three horns that are so large that it cannot be functional. The stranger shows Aurum visions, and reminds him that he has a task to complete, and great evil to slay.

Rewards Granted

Sir Ardor

• 1 Heavy Crossbow (Burned)
• 1d20+5 Bolts (Burned)
• Plate Armor - Marked with the crest of Torm and Elturgard. (Burned)
• Companion Longsword - This sword can hold 1 charge, and regains 1 charge at dusk. Speaking the command phrase, "Shine with the Light of the Companion!", a cone of lightning erupts from the sword. Each creature in a 30-foot cone must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, a creature takes 6d6+10 Lightning damage, or half as much on a successful one. A creature that fails its save can't take reactions until the start of its next turn. After this charge is expended, roll a d6. On a 6, the charge is instantly restored. If this new charge is used before the next dusk, roll a d6. On a 1, the blade of the sword is broken, and all magic is lost. Nothing happens on any other result. (Levi)

Missions/Quests Completed

Road to Elturel
The party is making its way to Elturel, and this is the first stop.

Devil in the Details
Aurum has taken up this quest at the behest of his patron. He is tasked with slaying the great evil that is making waves on the Material Plane, and preventing his patron from acting against it.

Character(s) interacted with

Sir Ardor - Fought, and killed.
Tall, Bonded Man - Seen during the fight with Sir Ardor, seemingly as an accomplice. He escaped. Whereabouts unknown.
Dirgleh Cross - The party is saved from persecution by her. She expects work in return.

Created Content

Sir Ardor (NPC)
Hellriders (Group)
Tall, Bonded Man (NPC)
Dirgleh Cross (NPC)