The Long Road to Triboar - Legend

The Long Road to Triboar

Discovery in the Hallway

After the monstrosity vanished, Fjord and Olaf investigated the hallway from which it emerged. They discovered the bodies of several guards and an unopened door. Responding to Olaf’s call, several townsfolk hiding inside revealed themselves, including Breothar Alagar, the Lord Warden. Recognizing his rescuers as the famed Moonlight Vigil, Breothar emerged alongside two wounded individuals. He shared his belief that the attack was connected to the Glad Bracken, but Olaf corrected him, stating that the Glad Bracken had actually warned the citizens and were not responsible for the assault.

Meanwhile, Alencia and Jember examined the hole left by the monstrosity, determining that it had not tunneled from deep underground but was either long buried or had appeared as the comet passed. Zeromus confirmed that the comet was headed toward Triboar, prompting Jember to send a pigeon to Gwaeron’s Slumber to alert the rangers there.

Preparing for the Journey

The party met with Shazgob, a local member of the Glad Bracken, who thanked them for the warning. Seeking a swift journey to Triboar, they requested her help securing mounts, and she arranged for them to take horses from the town stables. Olaf also warned Shazgob of the Lord Warden’s suspicions, but she reassured him that the Glad Bracken was already aware.

While passing through the town, the group stopped at the market, where they found all the merchants slaughtered. Jember discovered a safe in an upscale shop and stole two diamonds for Olaf’s revivify spells, deliberately leaving behind the stash of gold he found.

Observing the Comet

Estimating their travel time, the group calculated that they could reach Triboar before the comet. Alencia used a spyglass found in the market to examine it more closely, while Zeromus gazed at it directly and experienced a vision of his body withering. As they traveled, the party speculated about the nature of the curse and what might occur if Zeromus died without an heir. They even debated what would happen if he was killed and then revived.

Seeking divine guidance, Olaf prayed to Selûne, who informed him that she was forbidden to interfere but sensed no curse in Zeromus at the moment. She advised them to seek one of her devout followers in Yartar, whom they would find outside the gates of Triboar. Olaf also sent a message to the head Selunite cleric in Waterdeep, requesting contact with Kelemvor’s followers regarding the curse. After resting, the party set out for Triboar the following morning.

The Skeletal Mage Encounter

During their journey, they spotted an elegantly robed skeletal figure walking in the same direction as them. Zeromus recognized it as the entity that had been watching them from the Temple of Lathander the previous day.

Alencia immediately dismounted and sprinted toward the figure, tackling it to the ground. Jember ensnared it with Entangle to further restrain it, while Fjord launched an attack and Alencia unleashed her breath weapon. The skeletal figure turned its gaze toward Zeromus, instilling fear in him as a strange sensation emanated from it. The entity then exhaled a poisonous gas, engulfing Fjord and Alencia. One of its emaciated hands grasped Fjord, channeling necrotic energy into him.

Olaf retaliated with Sacred Flame and his Spiritual Weapon. Meanwhile, Jember—enhanced with haste by Zeromus and assisted by Noctis—fired three arrows that struck true. The poison rendered Alencia unconscious, and she failed a death save. Fjord quickly hurled her out of the poison cloud, sending her skidding across the ground. Zeromus then launched a Fireball, which caused the skeletal mage to explode. Olaf immediately healed Alencia, helping her stand as she recovered from the near-fatal encounter. Using the spyglass, Olaf confirmed that the entity had been keeping pace directly beneath the comet.

Theories About the Comet

The party continued their journey until evening and made camp. While on watch, Olaf observed the comet passing overhead and was overcome with feelings of resentment and disgust. The next day, they increased their pace, eventually passing beneath the comet again around noon. As they did, Zeromus experienced a sudden feeling of dread and detected the odor of smoke and char.

That night, Zeromus explored possible explanations regarding the comet:

Could the comet itself be an entity?
If the curse was not truly a "curse," was it instead linked to an external being?
Since Selûne was unable to interfere, was another god responsible—perhaps not a god of death, but of undeath?
If the entity was the curse, would it cease to exist if Zeromus perished?
If the entity was simply using the comet as a tool, would it find another vessel should Zeromus die?

With these thoughts weighing on them, the party continued their march toward Triboar, uncertain of what awaited them under the ominous celestial phenomenon.