Chapter 1 - A Debt in Oenen

General Summary

It is the year 2003, First Age. The world has changed over the last thousand years. Great wars spanned across the Sea of Dragoncrest once the human kingdoms were established. Once, the mighty Madeci ruled these waters, hoping to use their philosophy and war to expand their empire beyond anyone’s reach. However, it would be the meager and arid Tallians that established a mighty empire by the year 1A 1820 and controlled the waters of Dragoncrest.
Now, our adventurers were within the borders of the Tallian Empire, under the banner of the Twin Wolves, and the words “Extendere Omnes Fines Nostros” (which means “Extending the whole territory”). All of them were supposed to go to Lontitano to find passage of citizenship, but instead found themselves going on the wrong course. A storm overtook the ship. Many of them feared their lives. But the sailors rerouted, toward the harbor of Oenens on the island of Myrna.
It is now a bright summertime morning, the sun shining and no clouds in sight. What you do see is a tropical looking island, with hills in the distance, and a small town of marble and stone buildings and plenty of olive trees. As they got off the ship, they were immediately sent to the Imperial Census Offices.

When the three adventurers arrived at the Census Office, they were surprised to learn they were being fined for unlawful passage in Oenen due to lacking papers of citizenship. They arrested the captain and his crew for unlawful passage. The three asked if they could find a way out, and the census taker told them they could pay off the fine. So the party visited Arokas, the local Legate, who told them they could work to pay off their debt. The party decided to take down a bounty: dealing with a notorious pirate named Meles.
The party traveled down the south shore, confronted some of Meles' men, and defeated some of them. They pursued, finding Meles' base. Meles' base was attacked by some harpies, killing some of the bandits. The party then engaged the pirate. They took down some of the goons, but the captain proved particularly vicious, killing Rashida and knocking out Creetens. It was up to Theden to take care of the captain. He snuck up on the captain while he was distracted and hit him with a vicious arrow attack. Creetens and Theden went to check up on Rashida: she was dead. However, before their eyes, her breath was brought back, and she woke up.

Theodora: Rashida heard the words of the elusive Vanu-Am in her ears: "I am not done with thee yet. Wake up."

Heading back to Oenens, the party gave the information of Meles' ship and the scalps of the bandits to Arokas. With that money, Creetens and Theden were freed, but Rashida still had money to pay off. Rashida helped a local fisherman named Inochus to bury his mother for free, as he was in debt. They then all arrived at the Indigo Ipotane, a local inn, where they ate and were merry. Creetens told a story under the guise of "The Blue Bard" which got many applause, while Theden told the tale of their slaying of Meles (with much focus on himself) which got some applaud too.
Then, that night, Creetens tried to sell false elixers and steal from drunken folk (getting in trouble with a local paladin), but Theden pick-pocketed much of the money away from him. Theden went after another thief in the night, stopping him from robbing a house. Theden found a strange symbol on the thief: one of twisted snakes. He returned home, telling the other adventurers about the symbol. They could not recognize it. As such, Theden went to contact information sellers, finding a thief within the town. The thief, named Delphine, told him that the symbol was one of the Medusa.

Jethro: Ah! The Medusa! A cursed woman who thought she was more beautiful than Cardia herself. She was cursed with a face than turns people into stone for her insurmountable pride.

The next morning, they awoke to find Arokas again. He requested they help him. The night they were about, some of the sailors they held for questioning escaped the dungeon. The party was requested to help them find out: if they could, Rashida could possibly be freed from her debt. The adventurers agreed, and thus went out to investigate. The adventures explored the local dungeon, questioning the guards and a prisoner named Mikos. Mikos claimed he saw nothing. Rashida then used a detect magic spell, realizing the lock was opened via a transmutation spell.
They went to the northern beach, finding the dead remains of one of the escaped sailors, picked clean. Theden went on top of a large rock to see more, and noticed a cave in the distance. However, as they explored, they heard harpies. The party hid, and the harpies flew over them. Then they hurried over to the cave, realizing it was a harpy nest, where they found the dead bodies of Tallian soldiers, picked apart by the harpies, and a mysterious note.

Jethro: But what did it say, dear sister?

Theodora: We shall have to see, for Rashida was the only one who could read it. The note was written in draconic.

Jethro: Ah! A forbidden tongue in this age because of the dragons. Then who is behind this evil?

Theodora: Patience, Jethro. All will be revealed soon. First, the follower of Vanu-Am should translate it.

In World Date

August 20th-23rd, 2003

Report Date

16 Aug 2020

Primary Location

Oenens

Harpy by Wizards of the Coast

Local harpies proved to be troublesome for the locals of Oenens. They feasted upon the men of Myrna and built nests on their shorelines for easy pickings.

Characters in this adventure:

• Rashida is a loyal human disciple of Vanu-Am, the hidden goddess of fate, who has saved her from death. Rashida devoted her life to hermitage, walking around the coast of Dragoncrest to secretly assist the misfortunate. She hails from Tamay.

• Theden is an elven acrobat and storyteller, hailing from Potea. He has a strong ethical code, looking out for the little guy and does the right thing more often than not.

• Creetens is a triton bard, one who prefers to enchant his problems away. He is a charlatan and a thief, but as well as a proper performer and musician. He was exiled away from the triton kingdom for his ravaging behavior.