Summary
The adventurers gathered in the frontier city of Pitden, which had been experiencing mysterious chaos-related graffiti problems throughout its streets. After some deliberation, they decided to investigate a dangerous troll den to the northeast – a location that had claimed the lives of several adventurers months prior. The group gathered their supplies and set out across the grasslands, where they noticed an unusually large trail before entering the forested areas near their destination.
During their night watch while camping, the party was startled awake by the sound of a giant owl carrying away a humanoid figure in its talons. After deciding that pursuing the creature would be unwise, they continued their journey until they reached an ancient stone bridge that spanned a deep ravine with a rushing river far below. Their exploration led them to discover a set of stairs descending into what appeared to be ancient ruins, where Agatha (halfling scout), using their powers of invisibility, investigated a chamber containing stone biers with decaying bodies and a mysterious wizard in dark robes performing some sort of ritual.
The situation quickly escalated when they encountered a dark, belching wizard in the dungeon who was suddenly attacked by Ember wielding lightning magic. In response, the dark-robed wizard animated six zombies and fled downstairs while calling for reinforcements, which brought forth four skeletal guards. The party attempted to escape the undead horde, with some members successfully teleporting or fighting their way through the chaos. However, Agatha found herself trapped in an arrow slit while the zombies attacked her, leaving her unconscious and at death’s door as the dark wizard escaped across a bridge into a cave system, taunting them as he fled.
In a desperate attempt to save their companion, Tyar executed a daring rescue, climbing down a rope to pull Agatha from the arrow slit while zombies lurked menacingly nearby. Thru managed to escape from the undead in a dark tunnel, and the party successfully stabilized Agatha, though she remained unconscious. The harrowing adventure concluded with the group catching their breath.
Scenes
Departure from Pitden
- Party members introduce themselves and gather supplies in Pitden
- Discussion of travel options between fast travel and overland journey
- Group decides to travel overland to the troll den
Journey Through Wilderness
- Party discovers large mysterious slithering rut (3-4 feet wide) heading south
- Group discusses possible creatures that could have made the trail
- Reach old growth forest area after several days travel
- Make camp for the night
- Giant owl spotted carrying humanoid figure during night watch
- Party attempts to scare owl with bird calls
- Giant owl flies away to the north with its prey
Underground Chamber Investigation
- Party arrives at ancient stone bridge spanning deep ravine
- Discover ruins of old human fortress across bridge
- Find partially blocked stairway leading down
- Small party members squeeze through rubble into underground chamber
- Agatha (halfling scout) enters chamber with guttering candles
- Discovers six stone biers with decaying bodies
- Encounters wizard in dark robes performing ritual
- Agatha uses invisibility ability when spotted
Battle with Undead Forces
- Party encounters wizard in dark robes in tight chamber
- Ember (Queen Lia) attacks wizard with lightning bolt
- Wizard animates six zombies and flees downstairs
- Wizard calls for aid in Diabolic language
- Four skeletal guards appear and attack the party
- Ember (Queen Lia) uses misty step to teleport past zombies
- Thru uses brute strength to push past undead
- Agatha attempts to escape through arrow slit but gets stuck
- Zombies attack and critically wound Agatha (12 damage)
- Wizard in dark robes escapes across bridge into cave system while taunting party
- Tyar successfully rescues unconscious Agatha from arrow slit
- Thru fights zombies in dark tunnel with disadvantage
- Thru takes some zombie bites before escaping from the tunnel
NPCs
Skeletal Guards
Four undead warriors in chainmail and horned helmets with glowing red eyes, wielding rusty swords.
Zombies
Group of animated corpses summoned by the dark wizard to attack the party. Some were recognized as reanimated bodies of Thraani and Double Mark. Described as shambling and moaning.
Giant Owl
Large predatory bird capable of carrying human-sized prey, spotted during the night carrying off an unknown humanoid figure.
Wizard in Dark Robes
Mysterious antagonist who performs rituals over decaying bodies in an underground chamber. Speaks Diabolic and commands undead. Survives a lightning bolt attack while animating zombies, and fled while taunting the party. Known to be condescending towards intruders.
Locations
Pitden
Main city in New Moon Bay region with 20,000 people, experiencing mysterious chaos-related graffiti.
Manticore Tower
Ruined five-story tower with broken bridge, previously cleared of a manticore
Troll Den
Northeastern location in a chasm with cliff base and bridge, known for sulfur smell and deadly troll encounters
Ancient Stone Bridge
60-foot long bridge made of mountain granite with 4-foot railings, spanning a deep ravine with a river at the bottom. Despite its age, it appears well-maintained.
Underground Chamber
Six-foot tall chamber with stone biers, lit by mysteriously guttering candles. Smells of brimstone and contains decaying bodies. Part of old ruins beneath the bridge. Connected to tight, cramped tunnels with rubble and arrow slits leading to a chasm. Contains zombies and skeletal guards.
Spells
Misty Step
Teleportation spell used to escape past the zombies.
Animate Dead
Used by wizard in dark robes to animate six corpses into zombies.
Lightning Bolt
Cast by kobold character against wizard in dark robes, dealing 12 damage and leaving scorch marks.
Items
Flammable Crossbow Bolts
Crossbow bolts specially prepared for the journey, wrapped in flammable material making them less effective as piercing weapons.
“Yayana,” Singing Spear
Yayana, an Elvish spear that sings symphonic war songs when wielded, similar to opera music. Not sentient but has special properties.
Dubious Heroes 
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