Episode Eighty-five - Forlorn's Hope

General Summary

Having shared a dream, the heroes decided to return once more to Forlorn Hope to ensure the safety of the populace. Arion gave Snake, their goblin tag along, a recruitment speech and he offered to remain with the party out of necessity for food. Along their journey, Raven figured out that there was a large creature ahead as she scouted ahead. When she tried to get Jorg to hone in on the problem he incidentally admitted to feeling something for Raven. Figuring out that a copper dragon hunted before them, Sol used the party's book of monsters and determined the beast's potential for friendliness. Preferring to stay the course, the party encountered the beast and after playing a tricky game of jokes and riddles with the copper dragon they are rode it north of town. Though in the end the dragon liked Arion little, it liked her enough that Raven got the creature to give its name, Nemaereznal. Along the ride, a few of the party told the beast new riddles after giving their names. He would learn Sol to be Sol Astair "not-the-other" and Raven to hold the elven name Estoriel. Sol taught the dragon the riddle, what belongs to you but others use it more than you do?; the answer being your name. Annabelle taught the dragon the riddle, nails in my belly, and trees on my back, though I can swim feet I do lack. What am I?; the answer being a ship. Raven taught the dragon the riddle, what a god never sees, what a king seldom sees, what we see every day; the answer being an equal. After leaning new riddles he could not answer, the dragon called the party his friends and told them that he could often be found in his hunting grounds should they want his company again. Cutting through some trees, the heroes stepped out onto the Deep Road and were met by a farmer who knew them to be the adventurers from Forlorn Hope. After the goblin scared the farmer with his mere presence, Arion warn the goblin that his actions would affect the group and if he did bad Arion would have his head; before accepting a ride into town. In town, the party met with Captain Terganon and established their official command of his units. Arion worked closely with the captain as the rest of the party set out with different goals in mind. Arion ordered scouts further from town and worked out potential traps to cripple the ground the enemy would be fighting on based on the dream. The intention of the traps were to slow or hobble the enemy. He then showed the unit's command elements the field they could be fighting on north of camp and gave everyone an idea of how to use the terrain. He then told them about goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears and all he knew of his potential attackers based on his dream. Arion then had the captain plan to order some men to move a portion of stone wall in the region to make a second line. He took time then to show the men the importance of keeping the goblins behind the wall given their height. He suggested then that the Questing Knights attack the hobgoblins, as they arrived to hear his commands, and he ordered the crossbowmen forward of the line, to be guarded by militia so they might skirmish fire and then move back. Arion then ordered the sergeants to pass on the new information and told them to inform the men that new patrol orders would be issued within the hour. Annabelle went first to the medical unit before joining Raven and Sol. She helped to save a soldier's life and free him from infection. She taught the unit some techniques for aiding with infection and made a few rounds in the ward before heading off to the tavern. Before Annabelle joined them, Raven and Sol had a drink at the tavern and had Durnan point out some potential recruits. As Annabelle arrived, they hired Finn the Human who used to do quests with a partner for a woman named Princess Bubblegum of the Candy Kingdom. Together Annabelle and Sol hired a northern noble and his guard as Raven encouraged the questing knights to encourage their leader to join Arionaction against the undead beholder. Then, as Raven marked a new card deck, Annabelle and Sol met Sir Yoreth. They learned that Sir Yoreth once fought alongside Arion in the Siege of Áthulus. He told them that he once served Sir Maild and that Arion and his original companions saved his lord. He admitted, however, that it was all in vain as Sir Maild died and the village was lost to a new and sinister ruler, though he did not admit that sinister nature to Arion as he arrived. Reminiscing only for a moment, Sir Yoreth was recruited and a plan set to meet for supper with all their potential recruits as they gathered another named Mckenna. After speaking with the Knight Champion, Arion was given use of the knight's personal man-at-arms and a knight that had been of little use of late, Sir Garmont. After that, the party then went and petitioned the Mage of the Tower, Zulthorn, to join their attack. Zulthron required that the party join his expedition and Arion made a deal with him, that he would do so only if Zulthorn could confirm the demilich as present. In the gathering room of the Deep Road Inn and Tavern once more, the heroes took account and set off on individual tasks once more. Annabelle and Arion went off to find her father, the tortle, and the goblin. Raven prepared a song for the dragon, should the party wish to recruit him, as per her suggestion. Sol then set off to use the town's library to learn a few new riddles. All of their moving of course, after a small discussion about giving the dragon the helm they had collected from Azlac's corpse.

Missions/Quests Completed

Quest Vecna's Eye Continued, Sidequest Lair Within Lair Continued, Sidequest Goblin War Started

Notes

Notable Party Damage:

Aldrich has a horrible burn scar on the left side of his neck in front of the ear from an azure fire elemental summoned by Seldra Tylmarande. His armor and shield are extremely claw marked from many Lizardfolk. His shield has a large fist shaped dent in it from when he was crushed by a Sacred Statue.
Noted Effects: Horrible Scar (Neck). You are disfigured to the extent that the wound can't be easily concealed. You have disadvantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks and advantage on Charisma (Intimidation) checks. Magical healing of 6th level or higher, such as heal and regenerate, removes the scar. Missing.
Annabelle has a hole in her armor and healing wound on her right abdomen from a kobold's arrow. She has a scar on her left abdomen from an attempted assassination.
Noted Effects: Minor Scar (Left Abdomen). The scar doesn’t have any adverse effect. Magical healing of 6th level or higher, such as heal and regenerate, removes the scar.
Arion came from Arda with a scar that won't seem to heal.
Noted Effects: Minor Scar (Head). The scar doesn't have any adverse effect. Magical healing of 6th level or higher, such as heal and regenerate, removes the scar.
Raven is pristine.
Noted Effects: None
Sol has tear marks across the back and chest of his shirt, as well as down the sleeve, from the claws of lizardfolk. He was shot in the stomach by a beholder's enervation ray and it left a burned hole in his clothes. He has a scar across his right jaw from a nail that was shot at him in an explosion.
Noted Effects: Horrible Scar. You are disfigured to the extent that the wound can't be easily concealed. You have disadvantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks and advantage on Charisma (Intimidation) checks. Magical healing of 6th level or higher, such as heal and regenerate, removes the scar.