3. Disappearances in the North
General Summary
Written by Roknar.
After a long journey on the road, the Company of the Broken Banner arrived at the majestic and awe-inspiring city of Dol Gadmen.
Graciously housed by House Thorn, the party met their host, the First Daughter Alina, a prominent and influential member of the Conclave of the Fifth. During the welcoming feast, where food and wine flowed in abundance, Alina revealed much. She told the party about the history of the opulent city and her house’s standing. She also informed them of the Northmen refugees in the city and where they could learn more about their expedition.
Restless from their travels, the party members—Ellri, Pluto, Orvasa, and Roknar—made their way to a tavern in Lower Gadmen, a district quickly overflowing with refugees from the northern lands. Inside, they spotted one of their leads, a band of adventurers who had recently returned from a disastrous journey North. Roknar finessed a round of free drinks and approached the group. While they appreciated the drink and kind wishes, the band was consumed with grief and kept to themselves.
At this point, the party split up. Acting on information they had procured from the bartender, Ellri and Pluto ventured off to a nearby medical centre, carrying with them servings of stew in priceless bowls. Talking to Josec the medic, only confirmed the horrific rumours. Mass disappearances, monsters and chaos. Northmen on mass flood through the Rosewall for sanctuary.
Meanwhile, back at the tavern, the night was heating up. Orvasa, Roknar, and the local bard had turned the dreary afternoon vibe into Goros 2.0, performing banger after banger after banger. Just before last call, Orvasa captivated the crowd by singing an ode to the fallen (Empty Chairs at Empty Tables). Entranced by her ballad, the band of adventurers invited her to their table. Through sobs, the adventurers told Orvasa of the horrors up north and to beware of the Hooded Men.
The next day, the party made their way up to the observatory to meet Fleur, a researcher studying the strange occurrences happening in the northern lands. The situation had been snowballing. At first, only a few people and villages had disappeared, but now entire clans within a single night were gone. Fleur passionately showed the party her research and in great detail revealed a pattern she had uncovered—Clan Fury was soon to be on the chopping block.
Realising time was no longer a luxury, the party readied themselves to leave the next morning. In the dead of night, sneaky like a shadow, Orvasa successfully snuck around the Thorn manor and changed the house colours to those of their rival house, Partay. Positive she changed only the main banner, the party arrived at their farewell breakfast to find all banners of House Thorn in the colours of their rivals, House Partay.
Fully stocked and provisioned, the Company of the Broken Banner left the city and began their journey northward. After some time on the road, they heard screams in the direction of a large plume of black smoke, some kilometres away. Ellri, Pluto, Orvasa, and Roknar, accompanied by Lola, the halfling bard, went off to investigate. They discovered a burning farmstead being sacked by raiders. Among the scoundrels was a hooded man. The party’s strategized plan of attack was thwarted by a keen-eyed raider, and battle commenced. Ellri and Pluto made quick work of the initial wave of raiders with electric fingers and high knee sprints, but the enemy was greater in number than expected and they suffered many blows. Roknar and Orvasa quickly joined the fray, killing raiders left and right. Looming in the back of the farmstead was an ogre-like creature commanding the raiders, sowing deep fear in all that looked upon him. As the battle raged on and the tide turned in favour of the party, he lumbered towards Ellri and Roknar, eager to avenge his fallen men, but hesitated. A mass of men appeared on the nearby hill, blowing war horns. The mounted knights charged in support of the party, and the ogre quickly vanished. The day was won.
The party rescued a mother and child from a burning building and gained the acquaintance of the leader of the supporting force, @Manannan, hero of the Mere, from Clan Scàthach.
Report Date
19 Jul 2024
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