Eric Ericsson's Journal Journalsson, day 675
We returned to the cave a different party than those who left it -- our paladin having religious matters to attend and our fighter parting our company for a time. Fortunately for us, an adventurer had just arrived in town and the innkeeper connected him with us. He was a skilled practictioneer in the arts, and he was also a warlock.
The cave was surprisingly quiet when returned, I had expected to be greeted by arrows instead of silence. We made our way back into the depths of the cave and faced a decision; the howling caves were on our left and some unexplored but probably habitated quarters nearby on the right. I wanted to clear our back before venturing further into the caves so I pushed the party into checking some of the rooms close by.
Surprisingly, we found an old chapel dedicated to Corellon (in the past, the current denizens clearly did not worship such a God and were not exactly.... maintaining it). Opposite the chapel was a living space more decorated than we expected; hoping it might be occupied by a leader of some sort, one who might have more information, we decided to explore it.
It looked like the quarters belonged to a shaman of some sort, the kind who would leave traps under rugs. Rugs in front of doors. Doors we wanted to go through. Hey! There was a trap under the rug by the door in the room. Sneaky. Some nameless wench helped disarm it.
It looked like the shaman went on walk-about when the dragon showed up... smart little bugger. Well, one less thing run into! We certainly didn't run into a kitchen by accident and face any scrap digesting blobs of acids and angry chefs with frying pans.
We continued on through the howling caves...pausing near a pool so we could get attacked by some giant spiders. Caves aren't really fun if you avoid the giant spiders. We didn't.
The caves lead us back to living quarters, through some unused tunnels we suspect were... unused. The living quarters were used. By a pair of hobgoblins being trained by a third who wielded a nasty looking staff.
Hey! We figured it would be great to get into a fight, since poetry night was the other eve. It wasn't so bad, since I healed everybody. Over, and over, and over.
This was just a taste tester... nearby were the icy caves of the dragon. We descended carefully into the depths, hoping we could catch the beast unawares. It...almost worked. Some chick with knives went ahead and tossed a dagger in it's face which pissed it off.
We decided to stick around and fight it out. It was a tenuous battle... frought with danger, fighting, froughting, and more dangerious fighting. We won, only because I healed everybody. A lot.
Next time, we should bring a bigger stick. But the town is safe!
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Pelinal Greenhilt
Pelinal Greenhilt was born and raised in the beautiful city by the eastern sea, Cardin of the Three Towers. His human mother was a minor noble, distantly related to the royalty of old Nerath. His elf father was a travelling musician, who he saw only occasionally during childhood. Cardin apprenticed to the temple of Corellon when he was 10, learning to fight and sing and to appreciate his elven heritage. At 17 the wanderlust struck him, and he headed off to find adventure and fame and to do Corellon's work in the world.
Querris
Querris is a member of the Woodsinger Clan of the Harken Forest. He is not brave, which is partly why he chose the safety of the bow.
When the goblins became more aggressive Querris was scared and left the Nentir Vale in search of a safer life, but was almost immediatelyovercome with remorse. He has returned to the Vale, with the thought of possibly reuniting with his Clan or finding some other way to help them with the goblins.
In my absence
Although I was curious about the howling horde, I had already waited too long to return Hammerfast. Ten years, to this date, had passed since Morel had fallen in battle, and I needed to inform his clan of his fate.
I informed my current companions that I would leaving for Hammerfast the next day and that I would return within a fortnight. They did not ask why I was leaving or what business I had in Hammerfast. All the better. While I trust my friends greatly, I am not sure that they are not ready to know that fate of my former party. Surely that knowledge would cause their loyalty to me to wane.
Upon my return my companions had a very interesting tale. The Howling Horde was a tribe of goblins and hobgoblins lead by a dragon, a white, named Noak. They had enlisted they help of a gruff dwarf arcanist named Dorlok and a charming halfling scout named Roe. With there help, they were able to neutralized the hobgoblin commanders and slay the dragon.
To my surprise, they did not slay the remaining goblins. Instead the Dorlok and Roe volunteered to act as emissary for the goblins and the surrounding towns. Their reasons for trusting the goblins eludes me. Although their decision does not sit well with me, for I know the goblins blood thirst has only been sated, I will not go against their decision.
The short lived races are far too quick to trust and to forget the wrongings of the past. Will they be just as quick to forget my past wrong doings?
I informed my current companions that I would leaving for Hammerfast the next day and that I would return within a fortnight. They did not ask why I was leaving or what business I had in Hammerfast. All the better. While I trust my friends greatly, I am not sure that they are not ready to know that fate of my former party. Surely that knowledge would cause their loyalty to me to wane.
Upon my return my companions had a very interesting tale. The Howling Horde was a tribe of goblins and hobgoblins lead by a dragon, a white, named Noak. They had enlisted they help of a gruff dwarf arcanist named Dorlok and a charming halfling scout named Roe. With there help, they were able to neutralized the hobgoblin commanders and slay the dragon.
To my surprise, they did not slay the remaining goblins. Instead the Dorlok and Roe volunteered to act as emissary for the goblins and the surrounding towns. Their reasons for trusting the goblins eludes me. Although their decision does not sit well with me, for I know the goblins blood thirst has only been sated, I will not go against their decision.
The short lived races are far too quick to trust and to forget the wrongings of the past. Will they be just as quick to forget my past wrong doings?
Note found in the dragon's hoard
Noak, I want to thank you for the artifact that you have gifted me. I was surprised that you found a temple dedicated to Corellon in this mountain. I suspect that it dates back to the fall of Nerath, when the elves and humans retreated underground to their Dwarven allies. Hah! Cowards and weaklings the lot of them. The artifact has a long and interesting history, one that I'm sure a sophisticated and cultured dragon like yourself will appreciate, and I'll be happy to share all that my sages have learned with you once you are finished in the Howling Caverns.
In return for your generous gift, I have dispatched these Hobgoblins to aid your efforts in the Nentir Vale, and I look forward to cementing our alliance. Once you have accumulated enough wealth to raise a mighty army, I hope you'll join me at my lair. With our combined forces, we shall be unstoppable! I'm sure that you'll find the climate here to be more to your liking than those warm caves.
-Sinruth
The letter had been sealed with an emblem that looks like a downward thrusting, red hand insignia.
In return for your generous gift, I have dispatched these Hobgoblins to aid your efforts in the Nentir Vale, and I look forward to cementing our alliance. Once you have accumulated enough wealth to raise a mighty army, I hope you'll join me at my lair. With our combined forces, we shall be unstoppable! I'm sure that you'll find the climate here to be more to your liking than those warm caves.
-Sinruth
The letter had been sealed with an emblem that looks like a downward thrusting, red hand insignia.
Friday, June 20, 2008
An Adventuerer's Overview of the Nentir Vale
(DM's note: this is supplemental information to what's presented in Chapter 11 of the DMG. In case of inconsistencies, this overrides the DMG)
Well, travelers, welcome to the Nentir Vale! This place probably doesn't look like much, but it might surprise you how important the Nentir Vale actually was in the history of our little world. There's always been a kind of a frontier, rough 'n tumble attitude here in the Vale. This was one of the last lands that was brought under the Nerath empire, about four hundred years ago, almost a hundred years after the first emperor of Nerath.
It was here that the first alliance between Elves, Humans and Dwarves was formed. I guess it was out of necessity during the Wars of the Shadowfell Rifts, and what with the drow coming out of Harken Forest. But no matter how it started, it's what cemented our friendship with all these other fine folk. A lot of honest folk gave their lives fighting the undead and the drow then, and you can still tour a couple of the old battlegrounds.
During the fall of Nerath, we were pretty lucky to have been so far from the heartlands. Not too many foul beasties came around here, but you've probably already heard of the Bloodspear wars that happened about ninety year ago. Nasty creatures, the orcs, they pretty much pillaged all of the vale before they finally went at each other's throats. It's a shame you've never seen Fallcrest at its peak. I'm told it was a sight to behold. Since then, the Markelhay family, who founded Fallcrest, has been trying to hold on to what it's got and get back some of that former glory. The current lord, Faren Markelhay, is a pretty decent fellow. Still, the roads around here are pretty dangerous, and going between, say Fallcrest, and Hammerfast is going to put you through a couple of days camping in the wilderness. So all in all, Netir Vale might seem boring, but it's got a rich history behind it, and I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for here.
Erandil Zemoar, Proprietor of Nentil Inn, Fallcrest
Well, travelers, welcome to the Nentir Vale! This place probably doesn't look like much, but it might surprise you how important the Nentir Vale actually was in the history of our little world. There's always been a kind of a frontier, rough 'n tumble attitude here in the Vale. This was one of the last lands that was brought under the Nerath empire, about four hundred years ago, almost a hundred years after the first emperor of Nerath.
It was here that the first alliance between Elves, Humans and Dwarves was formed. I guess it was out of necessity during the Wars of the Shadowfell Rifts, and what with the drow coming out of Harken Forest. But no matter how it started, it's what cemented our friendship with all these other fine folk. A lot of honest folk gave their lives fighting the undead and the drow then, and you can still tour a couple of the old battlegrounds.
During the fall of Nerath, we were pretty lucky to have been so far from the heartlands. Not too many foul beasties came around here, but you've probably already heard of the Bloodspear wars that happened about ninety year ago. Nasty creatures, the orcs, they pretty much pillaged all of the vale before they finally went at each other's throats. It's a shame you've never seen Fallcrest at its peak. I'm told it was a sight to behold. Since then, the Markelhay family, who founded Fallcrest, has been trying to hold on to what it's got and get back some of that former glory. The current lord, Faren Markelhay, is a pretty decent fellow. Still, the roads around here are pretty dangerous, and going between, say Fallcrest, and Hammerfast is going to put you through a couple of days camping in the wilderness. So all in all, Netir Vale might seem boring, but it's got a rich history behind it, and I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for here.
Erandil Zemoar, Proprietor of Nentil Inn, Fallcrest
A Brief History of Nerath
Nerath is not the first empire to have stretched across the world. Before that was the Age of Fey, when the first Eladrin stepped into this world. And even before that, more than two thousand years ago, was the Age of Dragons, when the dragons and dragonborn together ruled the realm of Arkhosia. Though the earliest recorded history was by the dragonborn, we have evidence of an even more ancient civilizations, ruled by creatures so alien and fantastic that they are beyond imagination by anyone alive today.
It's been almost a hundred years since the fall of Nerath, the Empire of Man. Some say that Nerath was the greatest empire to have existed in the world. It stretched from the tiny fortress of Lands' End far to the north to the ports of the Elemental Seas to the south. The empire ruled for over four centuries, and it's greatest achievement was perhaps its openness and tolerance, bringing together elves, eladrin, dwarves, halflings, dragonborn, and even tieflings in peace and the spirit of cooperation.
However, in the end, people say that it was hubris that brought man's downfall. Unsatisfied with the taming of Oerth, a group of paladins devoted to Bahamut sought to cleanse the planes of evil. With the backing of the emperor and the most powerful wizards and clerics of the land, they assaulted the very heart of the Abyss, seeking to banish evil forever. However, they were betrayed. Some say that they were manipulated by the demon Graz’zt, the dark prince, all along. Others say that it was a betrayal by the emperor himself, having been driven to madness by power and corrupted by Asmodeous, lord of the Nine Hells. Yet still others say that it was simply the nature of the Abyss, and that if even the gods could not drive the evil from there, then the idea of mere humans taming it was pure folly, and the disaster that resulted was just punishment for mankind's hubris.
Whatever the true cause was, the result was clear: the Empire of Man fell within weeks. Once great cities fell quickly beneath the onslaught of demons, devils, and even fouler, unimaginable creatures. It is not clear why the entire world was not overrun within the year. The elves who were alive to witness it say that one day, the monsters just disappeared. However, the damage was already done. Armies that once kept roads safe were decimated, and humanoids such as goblins and orcs quickly multiplied and began raiding what was left. The world fell into a new dark age, and for decades very little changed, with minor nobles and warlords rising and falling over what little civilization was left. However, in recent years, a new force can be felt in the world, uniting the civilized races, reestablishing routes between towns and cities and driving monsters back to the wilderness. Will this force bring about a new age of prosperity and peace, or will the fledgling flicker of hope be extinguished yet again? Only time will tell.
Philel Kivvi'en, Historian residing in Aragoth, the last city of Nerath
It's been almost a hundred years since the fall of Nerath, the Empire of Man. Some say that Nerath was the greatest empire to have existed in the world. It stretched from the tiny fortress of Lands' End far to the north to the ports of the Elemental Seas to the south. The empire ruled for over four centuries, and it's greatest achievement was perhaps its openness and tolerance, bringing together elves, eladrin, dwarves, halflings, dragonborn, and even tieflings in peace and the spirit of cooperation.
However, in the end, people say that it was hubris that brought man's downfall. Unsatisfied with the taming of Oerth, a group of paladins devoted to Bahamut sought to cleanse the planes of evil. With the backing of the emperor and the most powerful wizards and clerics of the land, they assaulted the very heart of the Abyss, seeking to banish evil forever. However, they were betrayed. Some say that they were manipulated by the demon Graz’zt, the dark prince, all along. Others say that it was a betrayal by the emperor himself, having been driven to madness by power and corrupted by Asmodeous, lord of the Nine Hells. Yet still others say that it was simply the nature of the Abyss, and that if even the gods could not drive the evil from there, then the idea of mere humans taming it was pure folly, and the disaster that resulted was just punishment for mankind's hubris.
Whatever the true cause was, the result was clear: the Empire of Man fell within weeks. Once great cities fell quickly beneath the onslaught of demons, devils, and even fouler, unimaginable creatures. It is not clear why the entire world was not overrun within the year. The elves who were alive to witness it say that one day, the monsters just disappeared. However, the damage was already done. Armies that once kept roads safe were decimated, and humanoids such as goblins and orcs quickly multiplied and began raiding what was left. The world fell into a new dark age, and for decades very little changed, with minor nobles and warlords rising and falling over what little civilization was left. However, in recent years, a new force can be felt in the world, uniting the civilized races, reestablishing routes between towns and cities and driving monsters back to the wilderness. Will this force bring about a new age of prosperity and peace, or will the fledgling flicker of hope be extinguished yet again? Only time will tell.
Philel Kivvi'en, Historian residing in Aragoth, the last city of Nerath
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