Session 14: Defense of Nandar Keep

General Summary

As the party pours from the staircase the adult blue dragon attacks the parapet of Nandar Keep, its lightning breath and giant claws tear through the keep's defenses. The party rushes to a ballistae while Escobert the Red charged with his guards. The dragon evades the first ballistae shot, swinging down knocking out Rowan and Dameila. As it swooped around preparing to attack the party again, the Dragon is struck by the second ballistae shot from Hadden and Thoril and flies away East into the mountains. Nandar keep lost 12 guards in the attack.
The group rests for another 2 hours before the alarm bells rouse them and they are ushered to the keeps wall to see 4 human hostages held by kobolds commanded by the blue half-dragon Langdedrosa Cyanwrath. He called for a champion to challenge him in combat and the hostages would be released. Sergeant Markguth of the guard offered as his sister was the hostage, but Thoril took the challenge on his behalf. Governor Nighthill warned not to do anything that may endanger the civilians lives. As Thoril climbed a rope down the keep wall and walked forward to the duel with Cyanwrath, a surprise attack exploded through the sally port of the keep.
In a viscous battle between Hadden, Rowan, and Dameila against the kobolds and cultists that pushed through the damaged openings in the Sally Port, the forces were held back but Hadden and Rowan fell unconscious in their attempt to bar the opening before more forces pushed in. Thoril used his martial prowess to riposte all of Cyanwrath's initial greatsword attacks, shattering the half-dragon's sword with shatterspike. With a feint Thoril bloodied his opponent, but the multiple spear attacks evened the score and with a desperate last attack, Cyanwrath unleashed a lightning breath point blank that concussed the paladin unconscious into the mud aside the keep wall. The deal was upkept and the hostages were released as the cultists retreated with their looted horde and Hiral Mystrum healed the parties wounds and offered 2 healing potions for Thoril's bravery.
In the morning light, half the town of Nightstone smoldered in fire and the cultists were no longer in sight, wagon trails leading away from the city to the East. Hundreds of injured people are crowded into the keep or are found hiding in cellars, but most of them will survive. Governor Nighthill approaches the characters with a proposal: If they locate the raiders’ camp and find out certain information, he offers to pay them 250 gp apiece. He wants to know where the camp is sited, how many raiders are there, who their leaders are, what’s motivating these attacks, where they plan to strike next, where the horde of treasure is going, and what it will be used for. Also he asks for help recovering Leosin Erlanthar. Before the party leaves an injured monk named Nesim Waladra requests their help, telling the party that he and his traveling companion Leosin Erlanthar were attacked by the raiders on their way through town and he needs their help to save him. Leosin is an expert on dragon cults and would be an essential asset to the party. The party says they will see what they can do, gathers supplies and a cloak before setting off East.

Rewards Granted

Each player is at 2705 xp (level 4) 0.1%

Duel: 200 xp
Cultists x3: 75 xp
Dragon Defense: 200 xp
kobolds x3: 75 xp
Guard Cultist: 25 xp
Nandor Keep Defended: 200 xp

Missions/Quests Completed

Current Quests:
I. Nightstone Raid

i.Find out where the raided horde of treasure is ultimately being brought

ii.Who is the queen of Dragons?

ii.What purpose does the horde serve?

II. Rescue Leosin Erlanthar

i. Dragon cult expert captured by cultist raiders

III. Journey to Khundrukar

i.The Stone Tooth is north of Blasingdell

ii. Orcs are raiding from Stone Tooth

IV. Mysterious Sealed Letter

i.Knights with eye symbol seen in Blasingdell

ii. Who is R.T. and what do they want

iii. Smitherson family may know more about Bartholomeil's actions

V. Emerald Enclave

i.Issues in Neverwinter Wood

VI. Dangerous Trade Route

i.Caravan attacked in The Crags

Character(s) interacted with

Governor Nighthill
Castellan Escobert the Red
Hiral Mystrum

Campaign

Tales of the Yawning Portal

Protagonists

Report Date

26 Nov 2019

Primary Location

Nightstone