Summary
After a grueling seven-week journey from New Moon Bay, a diverse group of travelers arrived at the northern port city of Skaal. Among them was Belia, a young woman fleeing her stepfather after her mother’s death from plague. Slib, discovered as a stowaway, cleverly proved himself to be a priest of Half Penny by healing a sailor’s broken finger, earning passage rather than punishment.
The party disembarked into the cold, windy port town of about 20,000 people, where they encountered a group of suspicious goblins offering to show them to a place with “fresh baked buns.” A well-dressed woman directed them instead to two taverns – the respectable Uptown Pub and the seedier Dragon Dropping. The goblins, growing from three to five in number, followed the party until deterred by an intimidating glare.
At the Dragon Dropping, a weathered dockside establishment, they found a dragon skull mounted above the bar – a trophy the innkeeper had received in exchange for naming his tavern. The relative peace was shattered when Khemsa demonstrated magic by creating dancing flames on his fingers. The bar patrons, living in a city strictly opposed to sorcery, reacted with violence. In the ensuing chaos, Belia killed a goblin with a thrown dagger, and Khemsa used acid vomit on another.
The party was overwhelmed and captured, with Slib eventually released after being vouched for as a priest of Half Penny. Khemsa was sentenced to hang. During his imprisonment, a mysterious robed figure offered him a choice to serve the Skull Lord. Through careful planning and bribery, the party arranged to receive Khemsa’s body in a coffin after the execution. The public execution included a puppet show and vendors, but Khemsa miraculously survived the hanging, though severely injured.
The group orchestrated their escape by negotiating passage with a drunk sailor named Patty, who agreed to transport them to Khardruz for a suspiciously low price. While Khemsa hid in the coffin, Slib gathered herbs from a greenhouse, and they set sail with a cargo of poor-quality absinthe. During the voyage, water spirits attempted to drown Slib, leading to a dramatic rescue in the choppy waters.
Upon reaching Khardruz, they delivered their cargo to orc traders at the wharf and traveled by wagon through muddy roads to reach the sprawling tent city surrounding a stone fortress. The city, predominantly populated by orcs and goblins, offered a stark contrast to Skaal. The group spent their last thirty gold pieces carousing with nomads, but the night ended in a fistfight that earned them new enemies. Despite the chaos, each party member gained three experience points from their adventures.
Scenes
Ship Arrival at Skull
The party arrives at the port city of Skaal after a 7-week journey from New Moon Bay
- Belia revealed as a runaway from her stepfather
- Slib discovered as a stowaway and proves himself as a ‘priest of Half Penny’ by healing a sailor’s broken finger
- The party disembarks at the cold, windy port of Skaal
At the Docks
The party explores Skaal’s bustling dock area in the port town of about 20,000 people
- Party encounters suspicious goblins who offer to show them to a place with ‘fresh baked buns’
- A well-to-do woman directs them to the Uptown Pub and Dragon Dropping taverns
- The goblins follow the party, increasing from 3 to 5 members
- Belia intimidates the goblins with a glare, causing them to retreat
The Dragon Dropping Inn
The party enters a weathered dockside tavern featuring a dragon skull above the bar
- Innkeeper shares story of obtaining the dragon skull and naming the tavern
- Discussion about local activities and dragon habits
- Khemsa demonstrates magic by creating dancing flames
- Bar patrons react violently to the display of magic
- Belia kills a goblin with a thrown dagger
- Khemsa uses acid attack on another goblin
- Party is overwhelmed and captured
Prison and Execution
The aftermath of the tavern incident leads to imprisonment and a planned execution
- Slib is released after being vouched for as a priest of Half Penny
- Khemsa is sentenced to hang
- Mysterious robed figure offers Khemsa choice to serve Skull Lord
- Urvane bribes officials to receive Khemsa’s body in coffin
- Public execution includes puppet shows and vendors
- Khemsa survives hanging but is severely injured
Escape from Skaal
The party arranges their escape from Skaal
- Party negotiates passage with drunk sailor Patty
- Khemsa hides in coffin aboard ship
- Slib collects herbs from greenhouse
- Ship departs with cargo of poor quality absinthe
Sea Journey
The party’s eventful voyage to Khardruz
- Khemsa emerges from coffin after a day at sea
- Water spirits attempt to drown party members
- Multiple rescue attempts in choppy waters
- Everyone retrieved but cold and soaked
Arrival at Khardruz
The party reaches Khardruz, northern trade city
- Cargo delivered to orc traders at wharf
- Party travels by wagon through muddy roads
- Arrive at sprawling tent city around stone fortress
- Group spends 30 gold carousing with nomads
- Fight breaks out with nomad clan
- Party gains new enemies and 3 XP each
Npcs
Ship Captain
An overly attentive captain who offered Belia shelter in his cabin.
Half Penny
A trickster deity considered lesser than other gods but known for attention to followers. She is compared to someone who crashes parties, drinks all the beer, but makes the party memorable.
Innkeeper of Dragon Dropping
Tavern keeper who displays a dragon skull above his bar, obtained in exchange for naming his establishment. Knowledgeable about local affairs and willing to share information.
Mysterious Robed Figure
A bald man in black robes who visits Khemsa in prison is revealed to be an agent of the Skull Lord attempting to recruit prisoners.
Mortician
Disturbing crematorium operator who talks to corpses and acts out conversations with the dead.
Patty
A drunken sailor who agrees to transport the party to Khardruz for a suspiciously low price, delivering poor quality absinthe.
Orc Traders
Legitimate businessmen at Khardruz’s wharf wearing pelts who handle cargo transactions.
Nomad Horse Traders
The group, owning 20 horses, including a large black stallion, share fermented mare’s milk (kvass) and become enemies with the party after a fistfight.
Locations
Skaal
Northern island city in the Daj Kodan region. An empire town with strict anti-sorcery laws, featuring a grand hall, prison, market square, and crematorium. Temperature ranges 35-40F with icy conditions.
New Moon Bay
Temperate, rainy bay area that the party fled from seven weeks prior to arriving in Skaal.
Dragon Dropping
Seedy dockside tavern in Skaal with weathered boards and a dragon skull mounted above the bar. Features a fire pit outside and a perpetual smell of stale beer.
Uptown Pub
More respectable tavern option in Skaal contrasts with the Dragon Dropping.
Khardruz
Major northern trade city known for its black market and institutionalized criminal activity. Features a stone fortress surrounded by a sprawling tent city filled with merchants, nomads, and refugees. Population is 70-80% orcs and goblins. Area experiences snow most of the year with frozen mud grounds covered in straw.
Vishron
A more liberal city where local nomads have settled, though still maintains anti-sorcery stance.
Spells
Cure Wounds
Healing spell used by Slib to heal sailor’s broken finger and prove his credentials as a priest.
Dancing Flames
Minor magical effect of Khemsa creating small flames on fingers, which sparked the tavern conflict.
Acid Vomit
Khemsa spewed acid, used to kill a goblin.
Alter Self
Hour-duration transformation spell that can change one’s appearance, mentioned but not cast due to restraints.
Detect Magic
Cast to investigate the nature of the water spirits after the encounter.
Items
Dragon Skull
Large lizard-like skull with horns and huge tusks, about human torso size, mounted above the Dragon Dropping’s bar.
Coffin
Cheap wooden coffin used to transport supposedly dead Khemsa, later used to smuggle him aboard ship.
Thieves’ Brand
Mark branded onto back of Belia’s hand indicating “thief”” or “cutpurse.”
Cold Weather Gear
Essential equipment for surviving harsh northern climate, costs 2 gold and occupies an inventory slot.
Herbs
Satchel of pungent plants collected by Slib from a greenhouse, sufficient for a day’s group smoking.
Water Pipe
Ornate ceramic pipe filled with wine, decorated with carving of woman leaping from water.
Poor Quality Absinthe
Cargo of terrible alcohol that causes hallucinations and blindness, delivered to Khardruz.
Dubious Heroes 
Leave a comment