Chapter 1 - The Malevolent Melody

General Summary

Centuries ago, five kingdoms, known as Goth, Icenglav, Norden, Danen, and the city state of Avenve joined together to form a mighty Confederation. Together, these normally weak nations formed into a mighty fortress. There has been peace between the kingdoms for 200 years.
However, these lands are not without troubles. Goth has been under terrible plague, Danen was horrendously devastated by a war with Lysandus ten years ago, and Norden has been bullied by the Elves. Icenglav, however, has enjoyed relatively quiet days in it’s wintry lands. Yet something dark lurks under it’s snow-laden nights.
As the century comes to its turn this midwinter, the celebration of Winterball has begun it’s preparations in Icenglav. All of them, for reasons of your own, had grown interested in the festival, and were now travelling from their homelands to arrive at Fenebach, the capital of Icenglav. All of them had met at the crossroads, and decided it was safer to travel together. Good thing too, as they were waylaid by bandits!

As the party was confronted by bandits, Saphira tried to dispell the situation, and so did Aldric, but the bandits were bent on stealing from them. The party made quick work, with Charles Mane killing the "punks" with his greatsword, while Saphira used Sacred Flame and Aldric used a strange contraption to cast Ray of Frost. Charles Mane would find a note, stating some bandits knew he would be on the road. The party went further down the road, heading into the small town of Bardinca. The towns guard allowed them in after Charles Mane rudely introduced himself as a noble. They then rested at the Snowberry Inn, discussing the happenings. They learned the bandits were correlated with the sudden appearance of an orchestra in town.
So the party split up to investigate. Aldric investigated the local park, finding the Wolfgang Symposium practicing there in fear of the church having a ghost. Charles forcefully comes to speak to the mayor, demanding supplies, to which the mayor complies. He gains a receipt. Saphira visited the Church of St. Stepnov, learning local religious lore on St. Stepnov and his knights, and how they assisted King Piotrev in fighting back the armies of Koschei three thousand years ago. As the party reconvened, they analyzed Charles' receipt, learning a more educated man had to have written the bandit note.
The party then went to the church together, talking with the local bishop, Father Yerzov, who was trying to rid the church of evil spirits by spreading an ashen ward. They also met Amadeus there, who was practicing the organ. Talking with Amadeus, he tried to get more info out of them, and Saphira noticed he tried to cast a spell on Charles to learn more from him. Aldric asked the bard for directions around the place, and Aldric gave him a pretentious note. Then, the terrifying spirit popped up again, pulsating it's voice and telling Amadeus to leave. Amadeus ran away, but the spirit intrigued the party. Aldric compared Amadeus' writing with the bandit note, but it would be Saphira who realized the bandit note was disguised writing. With this knowledge, the party decided to investigate the catacombs, to meet the spirit.
Delving into the catacombs, the party found the tombs of ancient knights. Saphira discovered they were the fellow paladins of St. Stepnov. However, the party encountered giant rats, and had to fight them. The rats began to disturb the dead. The party then faced two hostile skeletons, who were awakened by the rats. Aldric tried to return one of the bones to the tomb, but that rattled the skeletons, who attacked. They party vanquished the skeletons. Then, the spirit of St. Stepnov appeared, telling the party Amadeus was planning to defile the cathedral, and town, with an ancient song from Koschei.
The party rushed out to stop Amadeus, but alas, he already started to play the organ again. Amadeus' goons attacked the party. After a short amount of fighting, Amadeus finished his spell, casting a large sleep spell upon the town. Charles was affected, falling asleep instantly, but the other two adventures fended off the remaining thugs while Amadeus escaped. Charles was stabbed in his sleep by a goon, but the goon would be killed. Saphira used Spare the Dying to ensure Charles did not die. However, the battle had been lost: a malevolent melody had been played, and a spell fell upon Bardinca.

Date (in world)

December 7th, 5699.

Report Date

17 May 2020

Heroes of Gothai by MrCrackerpants

The party, featuring Charles Mane (left), Saphira (right), and Aldric (bottom right).

Player Characters

Charles Mane is a human fighter of noble birth, hailing from the Kingdom of Goth. However, because of his lazy lifestyle, his family hates him, including his scheming uncle. Now in his 50's, he is now on a quest for glory.

Saphira is a half-elf life cleric, devoted to the mercy of Cardia. She finds herself on a quest to help the people of Icenglav to extend care to those who seek it.

Aldric Gemcutter, a gnome artificer from Avenve, finds himself looking for new inventions and ideas. He now travels in Icenglav to discover new possibilities, and uncover the secrets hidden beneath the snow.

And thus, Amadeus played a horrific song on the church organ. Imbuing power from the dark arts of Koschei the Dark One, Amadeus cast a dark song over the town of Bardinca, driving many to fall asleep.