Glasstaff's Gambit
General Summary
After mercilessly incinerating King Grol, the Ardboys turned their attention to the tied-up mage and constant thorn in their side Larno Albrek. The mage tried to assure them that this was all a bit of misunderstanding and that he is a good upstanding member of The Lords' Alliance, ‘ask anyone.’ Well the Ardboys haven’t been impressed so far with the Alliance but they agreed to untie him and escort him to Phandalin nonetheless.
Before they could venture forth however, they had to rescue the wolf Raster, who they had previously used as a spy. While searching for Raster, Lo-Kag Kalathai instead stumbled into an Owlbear's nest. The mighty beast completely incapacitated poor Lo-Kag Kalathai as his companions used him as a human shield, throwing axes and casting spells over his shoulder. Bursting forth into a crowded room, the Owlbear managed to break through Alistair DütcHoven’s defenses and knock Keith McCraggins, Quinn Bloodscale and Larno Albrek against a wall. The beast took hits from Keith McCraggins’s axe, Quinn Bloodscale’s chilling touch and Alistair DütcHoven’s searing magic beams. Larno Albrek tried to assist with a pathetic fireball but at the first sign of real danger he teleported away before the Owlbear was slain. With a final overhead swing, Keith McCraggins cut the owl head clean off, leaving Alistair DütcHoven covered in viscera. The group rushed to Lo-Kag Kalathai’s aid while Keith McCraggins tended to Gundren Rockseeker and claimed a trophy worthy of a Witcher.
The group let a confused Lo-Kag Kalathai believe he had saved the day, perhaps this was a mistake because he immediately stumbled over some rubble and into fresh danger, filled with an undeserved confidence. Lucky, he stumbled into some pathetic goblins, Gank and Stinky, old friends of Droop. These poor souls were intimidated by Lo-Kag Kalathai but quickly warmed up to him, happy to just be treated nicely for once in their lives. They informed the party Raster was in the nearby temple and were rewarded with a hearty meal. The group rushed forth with carrying the severed parts of slain enemies like some fucked up band of apocalyptic psychos.
The temple's antechamber was filled with various effigies of human gods (Oghma, Mystera, Lathander and Tymora but only Alistair DütcHoven noticed the slithering Grick waiting in ambush, which launched at Keith McCraggins. With a guided bolt of golden light, the Grick was stuck down, leaving it helpless to the quick finishing blow from Keith McCraggins’s greataxe. Alistair DütcHoven also noticed the glistening of a golden elven statue in a nearby brazier, and packed it for later investigation.
Past the antechamber, the group cockily pushed into the back room and found an old enemy, Moop. This little goblin had escaped during their first encounter; he had taken the role of head priest for The Cragmaw Tribe and was about to make a human sacrifice to Maglubiyet. Furious at the desecration of a sacred temple, Alistair DütcHoven called forth the smite of Lathander which instantly obliterated the goblins. Mass murder and bloody messes are starting to become a bit of a pattern for this band of ‘good’ adventures.
After the slaughter, they untied the human only to find it was Elsa Lovegood, who seeming had no knowledge of the 'Ardboys and was kidnapped a week ago. The ‘Elsa Lovegood’ the 'Ardboys knew, and who some had shared a sensual bath with, must actually be some sinister imposter with ties to Larno Albrek?
With a gruesome set of trophies, the 'Ardboys convinced some remaining hobgoblins to stand down and assembled The Cragmaw Tribe forces (those who hadn’t already been brutally massacred) at the front gate. Quinn Bloodscale ceremonially announced that The Cragmaw Tribe should now be commanded by their loyal friend Droop. Some of the hobgoblins protested, prompting Droop to reveal himself as a goblin possessed by the trickster god ‘Nilbog’, and subdued the decenters with a spell of forced laughter. The rest of the goblins quickly stepped in line and agreed to follow Droop. As new leader of the reformed Cragmaw Tribe, Droop vowed to stop attacking humans on the road and instead rule as a chaotic prankster in Neverwinter Woods.
The party headed towards Phandalin with the "real" Elsa Lovegood in tow and hefting the still unconscious Gundren Rockseeker. Setting up camp for the evening, Alistair DütcHoven communed with the elven statue and saw a vision of the Elven lord in a great battle against orcs with a final flash showing the sign of the ‘sun’ from Larno Albrek’s note about Wave Echo Cave.
Quinn Bloodscale was gifted the silver dagger Keith McCraggins had found for her quick-thinking crowning of Droop. When inspecting the gift further, she noticed it was actually a magical dagger of venom, which may be of interest to Venomfang.
Before going to sleep, a halfling Postmaster named Odiri announced her entrance riding a powerful mastiff. Odiri was on her way to a retreat for the rich and famous from Neverwinter called Falcon's Hunting Lodge, hidden within the Neverwinter Woods. She was quite friendly and brought news of a recent overthrow in Phandalin which was now patrolled by some ‘Yellow Cloaks’. Halia Thornton must have achieved her goal, though it is unclear if ol’ greasy fingers (Harbin Wester) is still alive. Apparently, this halfling moonlights as a drug dealer, after purchasing a mysterious potion named ‘The Juice’ for Keith McCraggins and sending a letter home to Alistair DütcHoven's monastery, the whole group partook in an evening of lighthearted drug-fueled debauchery on Devilweed.
Missions/Quests Completed
"The Nilbog" Having decimated the hierarchy of The Cragmaw Tribe, The 'Ardboys looked to instate a new leader. While the Hobgoblins insisted on Targor Bloodsword... The 'Ardboys had other ideas. Droop a treasured member of the group was proclaimed the new leader of The Cragmaw Tribe by Quinn Bloodscale with unanimous support. To their suprise Droop revealed himself as The Nilbog a Chaotic god of pranks and mischif. It is hoped that The Cragmaw Tribe will no longer trouble the surrounding regions and will act as a calling point for goblinoids who have lost their way.
Character(s) interacted with
Created Content
"The Symbols of Phandelver" Larno Albrek appears to have been deciphering five symbols with links to Wave Echo Cave. With the "mountain" symbol in hand thanks to Halia Thornton. Their only other lead is Hamun Kost a mage of some repute near Old Owl Well and The Elven Tomb of Lord Arlan Nordelrae.
"Wave Echo Cave" The location of The Spell Forge and the riches of the Phandelver empire, an alliance of Dwarves, Gnomes, Elves and Humans. Its precise location was lost to history. However, Quinn Bloodscale has seen and memorised a map written by Gundren Rockseeker and his brothers detailing directions. Gundren Rockseeker is also believed to have visited the cave, although currently remains incapacitated. It would appear multiple groups are interested in the contents of Wave Echo Cave with Larno Albrek claiming The Black Spider has almost found it and both Sildar Hallwinter and Halia Thornton aware of its existance.
"Who is Elsa Lovegood" Alistair DütcHoven's love interest Elsa Lovegood seemed a flirtatious, busty las who worked at Stonehill Inn. That was until the 'Ardboys descovered the "Real" Elsa Lovegood being prepared for ritual sacrifice to Maglubiyet by The Cragmaw Tribe within Cragmaw Castle.
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