Summary
The adventurers embarked on a journey near the Stone Tooth Mountains, following a map they had copied from a magical four-sided lantern before giving it to Asmodie. Their travels were guided by Jhaulk’s ranger abilities, as they had been previously barred from taverns in both Needle and Barglen. After several days of travel, they came upon a grim discovery – an abandoned camp containing three decapitated goblin bodies that showed signs of being eaten, with tracks suggesting gnolls were responsible. They managed to salvage some pelts worth 10 gold from the camp.
The party cleverly set up an ambush at the abandoned goblin camp, preparing for whatever might come their way. Their wait was rewarded when five gnolls, hyena-like creatures marked with white ash on their muzzles, appeared in a berserker frenzy. During the ensuing battle, Togg was overcome with his own berserker rage as the party successfully defeated the creatures. A search of the fallen gnolls yielded little beyond a dull goblin-made spork.
Following the trail further, the party encountered an unsettling blue mist that led them to a macabre hilltop. The site was decorated with impaled heads and bodies of goblins, orcs, and gnolls, creating a grotesque display. Their investigation was interrupted by an ambush from ghoulish gnolls who possessed the terrifying ability to paralyze their victims. The battle proved treacherous as several party members were paralyzed and nearly killed, but they ultimately prevailed. Before they could fully recover, a mysterious voice shouted something incomprehensible and threw a marked skull toward them, prompting the party to grab it and retreat to Barglen.
In Barglen, the party sought out expertise regarding the marked skull, leading them to Cormath, an elderly elf wood warden. Cormath identified it as an elf skull bearing Thanian markings that translated to ‘defiler’, explaining that they had stumbled upon a sacred gnollish ritual site. The wood warden offered rewards for the recovery of more elven remains and requested to copy their map for his records. The party began discussing alternative routes to the gorge where they had encountered the gnolls, hoping to avoid further dangerous confrontations.
Scenes
Journey to Stone Tooth Mountains
- Party travels near Stone Tooth Mountains
- Chalk successfully guides the group through difficult terrain
- Discovery of an ancient, forgotten road that matches their map
- Party spots smoke from a nearby camp
- Discovery of three decapitated goblin bodies
- Found evidence of gnoll attacks and tracks leading to a gorge
Ambush at the Abandoned Goblin Camp
- Party finds a ransacked goblin camp with headless bodies
- Group discusses and plans an ambush
- Togg volunteers to be bait while others hide
- Five gnolls approach the camp in a berserker frenzy
- Togg charges and goes berserk himself
- Party successfully ambushes and defeats all five gnolls
- Eldarin heals Togg after the battle
- Party discovers white ash markings on gnolls’ muzzles
Encounter at the Hilltop Cemetery
- Party follows trail marked on map where gnolls were spotted
- Encounter strange bluish mist with smell of decay
- Discover plateau with impaled heads and bodies
- Hear mysterious wailing/chanting
- Ghoulish gnolls ambush the party
- Eldarin attempts sleep spell which has no effect
- Multiple party members become paralyzed by ghoul attacks
- Party manages to defeat the ghouls despite severe injuries
- Unknown voice shouts in strange language
- Thanian-marked skull is thrown toward party
- Party grabs skull and retreats to Barglen
Consultation with Cormath in Barglen
- Gondwin approaches Cormath respectfully about their mountain encounter
- Party shows Cormath the skull found in the mountains
- Cormath identifies the skull as elven with Thanian markings
- Cormath explains the significance of the ‘defiler’ marking
- Cormath offers to keep the skull and requests retrieval of other remains
- Party receives payment for their hides
- Cormath requests to copy their map
Npcs
Cormath
A 500-600 year old elven wood warden in Barglen. Shows clear elven prejudices, particularly dismissive of non-elven remains. Knowledgeable about different races’ anatomical features and gnollish markings.
Ghoulish Gnolls
Undead creatures with purple-tinted skin, long tongues, sharp claws, and red eyes. They have the ability to paralyze with their attacks and feed on corpses.
Gnolls
Hyena-like creatures wearing hide armor and carrying bone-tipped spears. They fight in a berserker frenzy and have white ash smeared on their muzzles, possibly indicating religious significance. They show extreme determination in combat, fighting even when severely wounded.
Ferazin
A nemesis who had his face melted by dragon’s acid, now working with Greeshak and seeking revenge.
Locations
Barglen
An elven village of about 100 elves that sees significant trade, known for being business-focused when dealing with outsiders. Also serves as a safe haven and home to wood wardens, scholars and knowledgeable individuals.
Stone Tooth Mountains
Craggy mountain range with ravines, scrub trees, and evidence of an ancient forgotten road.
Mountain Gorge Path
A narrow path leading up the side of a gorge into the mountains, where the party encounters the gnolls.
Hilltop Cemetery
A misty plateau decorated with impaled heads and bodies of various creatures, including goblins, orcs, and gnolls. Site of ghoulish activity.
Spells
Restorative
A healing ointment mentioned as being capable of treating paralysis conditions.
Sleep
Cast by Eldarin against the ghoulish gnolls but proved ineffective against the undead creatures.
Items
Marked Skull
A white elf skull with Thanian markings for “defiler” carved into its forehead, marked with dark reddish-black ink. Thrown by unknown entity.
Pelts
Collection of beaver and ermine pelts found in goblin backpacks, one set worth 10 gold.
Four-sided Lantern
Magical lantern with blue glass and iron filigree that projects a map when lit, given to Asmodie after the party made a copy.
Dubious Heroes 
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