Summary
The adventure began with a vivid dream vision in which a fog-shrouded elven woman named Shuigh appeared, her long, blonde braided hair flowing as she wore an ornate silk robe. She was furious that Nathair had obtained a key to the Black Tomb and was heading there to claim a relic. The vision showed Nathair in black spiked plate mail wearing a golden amulet set with a giant ruby, striding through snow-flecked mountains.
The party arrived in Vishrun, a moderately fortified town of 15,000 people occupied by empire settlers and Enoq nomads. They discussed logistics with their crew leader Udo, who required 20 gold monthly payment plus 2 gold each for his five sailors. After purchasing supplies and rations, they began their journey toward Lake Falcon.
While traveling along the riverbank, the group encountered a herd of massive moose-like creatures with giant flat antlers. Though the creatures represented potential food and resources, the party decided to leave them be, with Slant recognizing them from previous hunting experience. They continued their journey until making camp near a strange stonehenge-like monolith surrounded by mysteriously sheared trees.
Their rest was interrupted by a skeletal warrior in chainmail who created a blinding fog cloud during combat. The battle was fierce, with Orm taking two devastating axe blows before Wulf finally landed a killing shot with his bow, cleaving the skeleton in half. As they recovered from this encounter, they met a more unusual undead – a skeletal knight with a ram’s skull head riding atop a skeletal horse with sparking hooves.
This ghost knight revealed himself as a former knight of Halderon who had deserted the Battle of Snowgale twenty years prior. After Wulf challenged him by calling him a coward, a duel to first blood ensued which Wulf won. The knight then tasked Patick with finding his lost shield bearing two lions rampant, giving him a mithril spear to use as a summons once the shield was found.
Following the ghost knight’s directions, the party traveled three days north to find Calliope the nymph, encountering a gruff woodsman named Otog who claimed the woods as his territory. They discovered his cabin filled with carved figures of Calliope, and through their efforts, managed to arrange a wedding between Otog (revealed to be a werebear) and the elusive nymph. However, the celebration turned sour when Wulf touched a unicorn’s horn without permission and was struck blind.
The adventure concluded with various rewards and developments. Calliope gifted Essa a magical pearl that could raise the dead, though it would be consumed in the process. The party received experience points for their achievements, with some members reaching 3rd and 4th level. During downtime in Vishrun, they created a tavern song mocking Wulf’s unicorn incident, while scholarly research revealed details about Halderon’s complete defeat at the Battle of Snowgale. The blinded Wulfwas approached by a weathered cleric of Aere, offering to help him use his affliction for “better things.”
Scenes
Dream Vision
A player has a dream vision of an angry elven woman warning about Nathair obtaining a key
- Vision of fog-shrouded elven woman with blonde braided hair appears
- She angrily reveals Nathair has obtained key to Book of Morkle
- Vision shows Nathair in black plate mail with amulet heading to mountains
- Shuigh instructs to find nymph Calliope by Lake Falcon near Vishrun
Arriving in Vishrun
The party arrives in Vishrun, a moderately fortified town of 15k people
- Party discusses logistics of their ship and crew
- Learn they need to pay crew 30 gold next month (20 for Udo, 10 for 5 sailors)
- Purchase supplies and rations for journey
- Begin traveling toward Lake Falcon
Moose Encounter
The party encounters a herd of large moose creatures while traveling along the riverbank
- Party spots half dozen large moose grazing by the river
- The creatures have giant flat antlers and are much larger than elk
- Discuss potential value for food/resources but decide to leave them be
- Slant recognizes them from previous hunting experience
Making Camp & Skeletal Combat
The party makes camp near a strange monolith site and battles a skeletal warrior
- Discover strange stonehenge-like monolith on hilltop surrounded by mysteriously sheared trees
- Set up camp on higher ground with stone at their back
- Skeletal warrior in chainmail emerges and creates blinding fog cloud
- Orm gets struck down by two axe blows
- Wulf lands killing blow with his bow, cleaving skeleton in half
Meeting the Ghost Knight
The party encounters a skeletal knight with a ram’s skull head riding a skeletal horse
- Ghost knight appears riding skeletal horse with sparking hooves
- Reveals he was a knight of Halderon who deserted Battle of Snowgale 20 years ago
- Wulf challenges the knight by calling him coward, wins duel to first blood
- Ghost knight tasks Patick with finding his lost shield bearing two lions rampant
- Gives his mithril spear to summon him when shield is found
- Provides directions to find Calliope three days north
Finding Calliope and Otog
The party seeks out Calliope the nymph and encounters Otog the werebear woodsman
- Party reaches verdant grove with blooming hawthorn after three days travel
- Meet Otog, gruff woodsman who claims the woods as his territory
- Discover Otog’s cabin filled with carvings of Calliope
- Calliope appears briefly, provides leaf map showing tomb location
- Party arranges wedding between Otog (revealed as werebear) and Calliope
- Wulf touches unicorn’s horn without permission and is struck blind
- Calliope gives Essa magical pearl that could raise the dead, great healing
XP Awards and Downtime
The party concludes their adventure and receives rewards
- Party receives XP for ghost knight’s spear, unicorn pearl, and achievements
- Some characters level up to 3rd and 4th level
- Group creates tavern song mocking Wulf’s unicorn incident
- Characters engage in carousing and scholarly research
- Wulf is approached by cleric of Aere while begging
- Research reveals details about Halderon’s defeat at Battle of Snowgale
NPCs
Cleric of Aere
A weathered, wrinkled man dressed in clerical garb who approaches the blinded Wulf and offers to help him learn to use his blindness for ‘better things’. Serves god of constellations who dominates in Skaalberg.
Halderon
A vassal lord of the Empire whose forces were completely destroyed fighting against Legion of Undead in the Battle of Snowgale 20 years ago. No known survivors from his forces.
Calliope
A green-skinned nymph with strategically placed long hair who lives in the grove near Lake Falcon. Initially playful and elusive, later marries Otog. Has magical powers including ability to summon unicorn and create magical items.
Otog
A gruff woodsman in his 50s with gray beard who transforms into a massive grizzly bear under moonlight. Lives alone in cabin filled with carvings of Calliope until marrying her. Claims ownership of the woods near Lake Falcon.
Ghost Knight
A skeletal knight with a ram’s skull head who rides a skeletal horse with sparking hooves. Former knight of Halderon who deserted Battle of Snowgale. Seeks his lost shield bearing two lions rampant. Gives party his mithril spear to summon him.
Udo
A crew member who requires payment of 20 gold pieces monthly, leads a crew of five sailors who each require 2 gold per month.
Nathair
A figure in black spiked plate mail armor who has obtained an amulet, key to the Black Tomb. Wears a golden amulet with a giant ruby and Primordial writing. Currently occupying Richard’s body/space.
Old Shuigh
An elven woman who appears in a dream vision, described as having long blonde braided hair and wearing an ornate silk robe. She is furious about Nathair obtaining the amulet and sends the party to find Calliope.
Locations
Battle of Snowgale Site
Location in snowy mountains where Halderon’s forces were completely wiped out fighting against a legion of undead 20 years ago. Likely location of ghost knight’s shield.
Calliope’s Grove
A verdant grove with ancient cedar, birch, ash and hawthorn trees. Area shows signs of fae influence with unusually blooming plants and magical atmosphere. Located three days north of Vishrun.
Otog’s Cabin
A small 20×10 log cabin in the woods with a fire pit outside and tanning racks. Contains woodworking tools, hunting gear, and many carved wooden figures of Calliope. Has a small loft and is filled with woodsman’s equipment.
Monolith Site
Elevated area with a stonehenge-like monolith structure and mysteriously sheared trees. Located about a mile from where the party made camp. Notable for the absence of wildlife and eerie quiet.
Lake Falcon
A large lake with forested shores where the nymph Calliope resides. Western shore consists of half-frosted swamps and peat bogs that are difficult to traverse.
Vishrun
A moderately fortified inland town of 15,000 people, occupied by empire settlers and Enoq nomads. Less bureaucratic than Skaal, with sorcery frowned upon and Chaos gods not openly worshipped.
Spells
Restoration
A Tier 3 spell mentioned that can cure conditions like blindness, costs 80 gold to have cast.
Fog Cloud
A spell used by the skeletal warrior that created a thick cloud of fog, obscuring vision and imposing disadvantage on combat rolls.
Light
Used to create illumination effects while trying to attract Calliope’s attention in the grove.
Items
Calliope’s Pearl
A tiny pearl-like bead taken from a unicorn’s horn by Calliope, capable of great healing but is consumed in the process.
Seashell Token
A tiny seashell with two hearts carved into it, given as a token of love between Calliope and Otog.
Magical Leaf Map
A green oak leaf with veins and yellowing that form a map pattern, given by Calliope to help locate the Black Tomb in the mountains.
Shield of Halderon
The ghost knight’s lost shield bearing the symbol of two lions rampant facing each other. Symbol of service to Lord Halderon. Lost during Battle of Snowgale.
Ghost Knight’s Spear
An ancient spear with a mithril tip that can harm werewolves and possibly non-corporeal beings. Can be broken to summon the knight when his shield is found. Counts as a silver weapon.
Golden Amulet
A large golden amulet set with a giant ruby, has Primordial writing around the edge. Worn by Nathair atop his plate mail. Apparently important for accessing the Black Tomb and some kind of relic.
Skeleton’s Axe
The skeleton’s salt-encrusted axe bore a name etched inthe blade, “Tuunrangayak the Fourth.”
Dubious Heroes 
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