KWN.3.7 Gnolls & Trolls

Session Preface

"Ladies, Gentlemen, Boys, and Girls it is my pleasure and honor to introduce to you, for the first time since their incredible, indescribable, irrefutable triumph, your Champions of Everlund, the Avengers!"
The stagehand nudges you forward as Grandmaster Zoar, now dressed in a resplendent dress tunic of blue with gold trim and dress pants of dark velvet, gestures you to stand alongside him. The gathered audience, pressed into a dense crowd of beaming faces that seem to blur together, erupts into a cacophony of applause, whistles, and cheers. The swelling sound is only stifled by the repeating throat-clearing of the Grandmaster.
Though their accomplishments are well known amongst their adoring fans gathered here and shall be celebrated forever in the Hall of Heroes here at the arena, let us briefly revisit the achievements of our newly crowned Champions!
The Avengers started with a respectable fourth-place finish in the placement round which saw them charging through desert dunes, racing across jungle canopies, crossing a white-capped river, and scaling a mountain of volcanic rock all while racing against their formidable opponents attempting to thwart them along the way. Even from the onset, a rivalry between the Avengers and Monster Slayers became apparent, one that would last until today's final events.
With their starting position set, the Avengers first saw themselves squaring off against the local hunters and trappers of the Stags at Bay. While the riverbed proved a challenge for the Avengers initially, once they were able to charge into battle and face their opponent directly, the Stags at Bay found themselves to be the prey instead of the predator.
"Next, our fearless foursome found themselves in a jungle ruin against the mercenaries of Leechbrain's Legion. In an unexpected twist of a quite dramatic fashion, one of the Leionaires revealed themselves to be none other than Bonefist, a dwarf who had a well, bone, to pick with Masterbreaker, the fan-favorite of the Avengers."
Grandmaster Zoar once again clears his throat abruptly and smiles politely with gritted teeth waiting for the roar of applause and cheers of "Masterbreaker" to settle down. After several moments, Zoar continues.
"With these foes laid low as well, the Avengers delved into desert canyons, facing against our friends to east in the High Forest, the Sy-Tel-Quessir. But even these trained warriors and masters of druidic magic were not enough to overcome these Knights of Holy Judgement and their ally. Which brought these heroes of the arena to today's bout."
"You fortunate souls witnessed with your own eyes the daring and courageous battle won by these four warriors. Amidst volcanic eruptions and monstrous surprises, Pax, Aethuriel, Tristain, and Masterbreaker, The Avengers, Your Champions, reigned victorious! And as such, it is once again my distinct honor to crown them the first and founding Champions of Everlund, Heroes of the Arena, and recipients of the grandprize - twenty THOUSAND gold pieces. Now, let us join in their festivities and celebrate their accomplishments tonight and henceforth!"
The crowd once more bursts into deafening applause. The Grandmaster Zoar smiles at you as another stagehand, a halfing with muddy red hair, rolls a cart forth with a massive, ornate, stylized chest with a depiction of the arena on the helm. Inside and overflowing from the chest is more gold than you've ever seen in your entire lives, perhaps combined. Masterbreaker, who up to this point had looked onto the crowd stoically as if not hearing the Grandmaster's words, breaks into a wide grin and then a toothy, unexpected smile. "Now that's a paycheck."

Session Summary

Following the award ceremony, the Avengers momentarily go their own way among the crowds departing the arena.  Pax finds Gerron and the two Blood Hunters discuss their plans. Pax catches Gerron up on the disappearing undead Knights, though the Mutant seems less worried about them since they are being taken to another plane and not gathered somewhere along the Sword Coast. When asked where he is off to, Gerron informs Pax that he and Arcurth are taking on work that will see them in Triboar for the next leg of their journey. He also informs Pax that a retired Knight in Daggerford might have an old text that would be of interest to Pax's search for knowledge about the founding of the Order of Profane Souls. With that, Gerron departs to catch up with Arcurth and the twins. Meanwhile, Aethuriel helps a brewer that had been bothered by Arcurth while Tristain has a moment to chat with Masterbreaker. The goliath announces that upon returning Bonefist to Silverymoon and claiming the bounty, she will return as an official member of the arena's roster, where she will have the freedom to participate to her heart's content while pursuing other work as a freelance mercenary with quite the reputation now, thanks to the tournament. In a moment of sincerity, she expresses gratitude for Tristain and the others selecting her to be their fourth member and for their efforts in seeing the tournament through. Tristain compliments her valor and strength and she begrudgingly admits that the Knights, "fight pretty well with those sticks up your ass" with a smile before the two part ways.
Back in Everlund, the party are welcomed by crowds of excited fans as the adrenaline from the night's festivities spills over and surges through the city. Children reenact the battle on the front porches of homes, volunteers line up outside the Keep of Vigilance to offer their services to Helm, and autograph requests come from all directions. At the Keep, the party speak privately with High Watcher Merek who thanks them profusely for the good they have done the reputation of the church, as well as for the 500gp donation Aethuriel makes to ensure the new recruits are properly trained and outfitted. The party agrees that while their ultimate goal is to reunite with the Knights of Holy Judgement in Elturel with gold to help refound the order's stronghold, that it is equally important to ensure Sundabar's community can rebuild and thus agree to send 3000gp to the church in Silverymoon to disperse as they see fit in the rebuilding efforts.
The next day, the party scour the city with their newfound wealth inhand to restock on supplies and equipment. Aethuriel acquires half-plate armor as well as completes the enchantment process on his great sword. Tristain visits a mage in his homefront store where the older gentleman identifies the magic items discovered in the tomb of Deckon Thar. Pax finds an antique vendor selling a mislabeled and undervalued pack of cards for the game Might & Magic, but the contents are not particularly notable. After a quick meal from Katelyn's Kebabs, the party returns to Moongleam Tower to discuss the favor the Harpers requested in exchange for access to the teleportation circle.
Within the tower, the party is reacquianted with Moonlord Daviana Yalrannis who explains that she needs them to serve as neutral, third-parties in settling territorial disputes around the Grandfather Tree, a sacred location to multiple factions within the High Forest. They are also introduced to their guide, the centaur Vosh'ri. The party learns that the barbarians have claimed dominion over the Tree, upsetting the Wood Elves coalition, while the presence of Stone Giants with a stake in the matter seems to have further heightened tensions. The Moonlord hopes that the Knights, as worshipers of the gods of Justice and Protection, can solve the matter in a way that preserves the balance of power within the forest.
The party sets out southward with Vosh'ri for the settlement of Olostin's Hold, opting to rent horses and ride through the night so as to rest in a warm bed the following day before their journey into the High Forest. As evening sets in, the travelers observe what seems to be a rainbow cast across the skyline. Vosh'ri explains that it is likely the result of a fey crossing, an phenomenon that becomes increasingly common in autumn throughout the forest. Following the evening trek, the party reaches the central stronghold of the city to find it being raided by gnolls and a pair of trolls. The party charges in to the aid of several guards, a gnomish druid, and a half-elf sorceress, soon after overwhelming the monsters before they can do any significant damage or escape.

Session Overview

Date Played:
January 16, 2022
Party:

• Aethuriel
• Pax
• Tristain

Time Passed:
Eleint 5, 1493 (PM) - Eleint 7, 1493 (AM)
NPCs:

• Grandmaster Zoar
• Masterbreaker
• Arcurth
• Gerron
• High Watcher Merek
• Katelyn Drake
• Moonlord Daviana Yalrannis
• Tencobbles
• Vosh'ri

Loot:

• Aethuriel's Enchanted Great Sword
• 3 Potions of Healing
• Identified Items from Deckon Thar's tomb
• Half-plate armor