Summary
The party began their journey with careful preparation, equipping Jane with the magnificent Plate Mail of the Holy Lady – an ornate suit of armor featuring a Hutaakan-styled visor and rivaling the finest Elvish craftsmanship. The holy symbol of Pflar, worth 200 gold pieces and crafted from emerald and gold, adorned the armor. As they prepared for their four-day journey, they learned that an apprentice of Asmodie had escaped while they were near Barglen.
Through three days of travel in the snowy mountain terrain, the party encountered increasingly frequent signs of orc activity – marked trees, boot prints, and disturbed vegetation. On the night of a full moon, they heard orcs attempting to control something in the darkness. Despite Jane’s clanking plate mail giving away their position, they discovered four orcs struggling with an enormous black wolf, as tall as a pony and displaying unusual intelligence. After Tuck cut the wolf’s restraints, the creature studied them all carefully before disappearing into the night.
The situation quickly devolved into combat when the party mentioned hunting Greeshak, leading to several orc casualties. After capturing and interrogating one of the orcs, they learned that Greeshak sought vengeance against thieves and worked with Ferazhin, a self-proclaimed dragon lord who claimed to have tamed a beast beneath the mountain. The interrogation ended in an honor duel, with Togg emerging victorious.
The party discovered a massive boulder blocking the underwater passage to Greeshak’s lair at the eastern lake. They encountered five zombie orcs, which Jane confronted with Turn Undead, instantly destroying two while causing two others to flee. The remaining zombie fell quickly to the party’s attacks. Their attempt to infiltrate the Stone Tooth fortress proved challenging, with Eldarin casting invisibility on Jane and Togg for a surprise attack on the guard orcs.
The assault on the fortress revealed its formidable defenses – hidden arrow slits, marble steps, and a chasm spanned by a rope bridge. Togg made the decisive choice to burn the bridge, but the party faced heavy fire from concealed positions and was forced to retreat. The orcs celebrated their withdrawal with war songs echoing through the halls. Returning to Needle, they discovered they had been presumed dead for six months by the Wolfgar family.
The evening concluded with the party spending 100 gold pieces on carousing in Needle’s tavern, where they led a series of insulting songs about a local noble. Their performance impressed a famous bard who became their ally. The party sold their captured dwarven great axe, marked with Durgeddin the Smith’s maker’s mark, for 30 gold pieces, earning each member 6 gold pieces and 5 experience points. The weapon, while well-crafted, showed no signs of magical properties despite its distinguished origin.
Scenes
Character Setup and Preparation
The party prepares for adventure by setting up spells and equipment, including holy weapon and plate mail armor.
- Jane sets up holy weapon spell with +5 casting bonus
- Jane equips plate mail of the holy lady, bringing AC to 19 with shield
- Discussion of missing apprentice who escaped while party was near Barglen
- Party prepares rations for 4-day journey
Journey to Stone Tooth
The party travels through snowy mountain terrain toward Stone Tooth, encountering signs of orc activity.
- Party travels for three days through snowy conditions
- Snow falls each night, accumulating up to an inch before melting in morning
- Party notices heavy orc activity, marked trees, and boot prints
- Chuck estimates 4-5 orcs in immediate area
Wolf Encounter
The party encounters orcs attempting to control a large black wolf during the full moon.
- Party hears orcs yelling about controlling something
- Jane’s plate mail alerts orcs to their presence
- Four orcs appear with large black wolf on rope
- Tuck cuts wolf’s restraining rope
- Wolf examines everyone with intelligence before fleeing
- Combat breaks out when party mentions hunting Greeshak
- Multiple orcs killed in ensuing battle
Interrogation and Honor Duel
The party questions a captured orc who reveals information about the fortress leadership.
- Captured orc regains consciousness
- Orc reveals Greeshak the Black-Scaled seeks vengeance against thieves
- Mentions Ferazhin as ‘dragon lord’ who has tamed beast
- Togg challenges orc to honor duel
- Togg kills orc in single combat
Zombie Fight at the Lake
The party encounters undead orcs at a blocked cave entrance.
- Party discovers giant boulder blocking underwater passage to Greeshak’s lair
- Group encounters 5 zombie orcs
- Jane uses Turn Undead, destroying 2 zombies instantly
- Two zombies flee from Turn Undead
- Party defeats remaining zombie
- Cannot pass farther, must try the main entrance
Assault on Stone Tooth Fortress
The party attempts to infiltrate the orc stronghold but faces heavy resistance.
- Party discovers hidden fortress entrance with marble steps and stone doors
- Eldarin casts invisibility on Jane and Togg
- Party kills two guard orcs
- Togg burns rope bridge spanning interior chasm
- Party faces heavy fire from concealed arrow slits
- Orcs celebrate with war songs as party retreats
Return to Needle
The party retreats to Needle where they learn they’ve been presumed dead.
- Townspeople reveal Wolfgar family thought party died six months ago
- Asmodie’s apprentice spots party and hurries to tower
- Party spends 100 gold on carousing
- Group leads insulting songs about local noble
- Party gains famous bard as ally
- Each member receives 5 XP and 6 gold from selling axe and carousing
NPCs
Wolfgar Family
Nobles living north of Needle who own vineyard and previously helped party. Believed party had died performing honorable deeds.
Hostile Noble
Unnamed noble in Needle who strongly dislikes party and became target of their insulting tavern songs during carousing.
Famous Bard
New ally gained during carousing in Needle, impressed by party’s insulting songs about local noble. Offers to teach more such songs.
Durgeddin the Smith
Famous historical dwarven smith who worked at forge under Stone Tooth mountain. His maker’s mark appears on high-quality weapons found in area.
Giant Black Wolf
Unusually large wolf, tall as a pony, showing signs of intelligence. Was being held captive by orcs during full moon before being freed by party.
Ferazhin
Self-proclaimed ‘dragon lord’ who has allegedly tamed a dragon beneath Stone Tooth mountain. Rallies forces in the name of dragon kings and convinced Greeshak to follow their leadership.
Greeshak
Dragon seeking vengeance against thieves who stole something precious. Works with Ferazin and controls territory around Stone Tooth. Actively working against adventurers.
Asmodie’s Apprentice
Former captive who escaped near Barglen and later spotted the party in Needle, hurrying to report to Asmodie’s tower. Their presence suggests tension between the party and Asmodie.
Locations
Stone Tooth
A 1,400ft mountain fortress with snowy conditions that thaw during the day and freeze at night. Features hidden entrances, arrow slits, marble steps, and an interior chasm spanned by a rope bridge. Back entrance through an underwater passage now blocked by a massive boulder.
Needle
Town where party has good reputation with locals but tension with a noble. Home to Asmodie’s tower and the Wolfgar family vineyard located one day north. Party previously helped rescue Wolfgar family servants from raiders.
Mountain Path
Treacherous switchback path leading to Stone Tooth fortress entrance. About 10-15 feet wide with 200-foot drop on one side, steep mountain face on other. Scattered with discarded items and debris.
Eastern Lake
Lake in a damp valley on the eastern slopes of Stone Tooth. Previously connected to Greeshak’s underground lair via underwater passage, it is now blocked by a 10-foot boulder.
Fortress Entrance
Broad entranceway carved into mountain with marble steps, double stone doors, multiple concealed arrow slits, and copper fire pits. Interior features chasm spanned by rope bridge before party burned it.
Spells
Invisibility
10-round duration spell that ends if target attacks or casts spell. Used by Eldarin to make Jane and Togg invisible for surprise attack on orc guards.
Blind
Successfully cast on an orc during combat, turning their eyes black and rendering them unable to see.
Turn Undead
Priest spell that destroys undead creatures outright or causes them to flee. Successfully used to destroy two zombie orcs instantly and cause two others to flee.
Holy Weapon
Tier 1 priest spell with touch range and 5-round duration. Creates a bluish-white hologram of a coyote that howls at themoon before dissipating. Grants +1 to attack and damage while making the weapon magical.
Items
Plate Mail of the Holy Lady
Magical plate armor that provides AC 17 (19 with shield)requires 3 item slots. It is very noisy to wear. It features a Hutaakan-styled visor helmet and rivals the best Elvish craftsmanship.
Dwarven Great Axe
Well-crafted great axe bearing Durgeddin’s maker’s mark, found on orc guard. Takes 2 inventory slots, worth 30 gold pieces but not magical.
Wolf Restraints
Makeshift rope and muzzle combination used by orcs to control the giant black wolf before being cut by party.
Holy Symbol of Pflar
Emerald and gold holy symbol worth 200 gold pieces, considered an absolute fortune.
Dubious Heroes 
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