Dragonfire

An ancient evil arises

The party first met up in Daggerford. Unknown to the party, north of

Waterdeep, the latest incarnation of the Cult of Elemental Evil rises. After
months of secret planing, the Cult attacks a delegation from Mirabar bound
for Waterdeep. Among the delegation is the heir to Tellum’s Hold, a town
near Waterdeep, Christos Tellum. Duchess Daggorford herself signed the
parchment requesting the party to look into the attack and find the heir.

Characters
Bryn - XP 13 - XP Spent: 0 - Human Female Fighter - An
outlander.
Sennes - XP 13 - XP Spent: 5 - Sun Elf Male Wizard - A sage.
Ray - XP 13 - XP Spent: 5 - Half-Elf Male Rogue - A criminal
Durros - XP 13 - XP Spent: 0 - Shield Dwarf Cleric - A guild
artisan

Episode 1: Wastes of an ancient empire

13 Eleasis 1356
Dessarin Valley
The party arrives at the battle site. But a single glance into the valley
guarantees one thing: It will be difficult traveling. Monsters and the bones
of ancient empires litter the valley. And somewhere in these wild lands is
Lord Tellum’s son is in dire straits.
Outcome:
South of the Sword Mountains, the party found traces leading into the
Kryptgarden Forest. They decided to follow these, and found an abandoned
arboreal city. Surviving attacks by dryads, hennaed a Gnoll witherling.
There was no sign of the heir. Deciding this path lead to a dead end,
they left the forest, but were attacked by members of the assassins guild,
the Fire Knives. Undoubtedly searching the bodies for loot. Goblins and
gnolls also battled the party.
A large sinkhole opened in the valley, taking Seenes down. A Red
Wizard of Thay attacked the party and members of the Cult of the Eternal
Flame. The party got confirmation that the ambush against the delegation
was taken upon by the Cult of the Elemental Evil. In the end, the party
searched the bodies, and tracks, but have not found a sign of the heir.
15 Eleasis 1356
Dessarin Valley
After two days of searching, the party discovers evidence of Tellum. A
Night Mask assassin named, Keeva, and her minion a half-red dragon were
spotted with a tied and hooded figure. Fighting their way past goblin
guards and a displacer beast, the party fought bravely and rescued the heir.
Unfortunately when he was unbound and the hood removed, Tellum was
badly wounded from the fight a few days ago.
“Did he send you? Duchess Daggerford? Or.. my father. Tell them…”.
He collapses.

16 Eleasis 1356
Dessarin Valley
With a night’s rest and a descent meal Christos Tellum seems almost
a new man. “Ten good guards. They should have been stronger! Such a
high price.”
Christos holds up a simple iron flask. Earlier that morning, he rose
and searched the battlefield. “High magic, that’s what the Q’ellon called it.
And he would know. Ancient sorcery.” Sennes says as much as he can feel
the power emanating from the flask.
“A reward!” Christos shouts. “You’ll escort me back to Daggerford at
once.” He rises quickly and places the flask in a backpack. “By my father’s
command, you will!”
A three day march to Daggerford, but returning Christos Tellum to
Daggerford is clearly the party’s only choice.
The party begins their trek through the forest toward Daggerford.

Episode 2: Bodyguards

20 Eleasis 1356
Daggerford
Fighting off Voyev, who brought with her gnolls and hyenas, and
another cult of the eternal flame, and finally Amaxilo, a sossal mercenary,
the party makes it to Daggerford. The gates of Daggerford stand open,
beckoning though the Sword Coast’s dusky twilight. Shouts from the watch
greet the party, along with the ringing alarm of the militia.
Inside they are greeted by Sir Isteval, a retired Purple Dragon Knight,
he is the closest thing this stretch of the Sword Coast has to a military
leader. “You found him. Praise the makers and their servants.”
 Isteval reaches out, touches Christos Tellum, however Tellum yells,
“Unhand me vermin! Or find yourself cast into the fires and charred to a
cinder!” Tellum raises an iron flask above his head, as if ready to strike the
first person to approach him. “Find me Nadir!”
Sir Isteval recoils, studies the face of each nearby person, especially
the rescue party.

Episode 3: Unholy Presence

20 Eleasis 1356
Daggerford
That had been Christos Tellum’s command. Sir Isteval, the retired
Purple Dragon Knight, recognizes the name and demands that everyone
submit red blood from a knife prick.
Afterwards, Sir Isteval pointing to the partys, says, “Take them to the
Dragonback Inn. Have them fed and put up at the Duchess’ expense.”
Later at the inn, Isteval sits with the party and explains what has
occurred. “We are beset by evil. For 2 days now, Citizens at night go
missing. And we are plagued with all manner of unholy spawn. Rumors of
vampires and skeletons, Daggorford may not be the safest place to keep
Christos Tellum but we dare not move him until his affliction passes.”
Isteval checks the corners of the inn, as if searching for a presence.
Then whispers, “In the duchess’ name, I charge you with safeguarding
Daggorford. Watch the streets and defend the town. Our watch word is
‘Vigilance.’ Do not forget it.”

23 Eleasis 1356
Daggerford
Three days on the watch, with attacks from undead every night. On
the third night, Bryn and the party are beset by…

“Lesser creatures. Playing the Shepard without realizing that all are
sheep for the slaughter.” Says a voice that appears to come from all
directions. Suddenly a thick billowing form roils around the party and
there, stands a figure. Unafraid. Commanding.
“Meet my citizens.” Smiles the figure.
Long, raven hair framing a bloodlessly pale face. Red-tinged eyes
stare at the party, while a golden amulet displacing some long forgotten
crest hangs about the neck of the figure. “You were never part of party with
Nadir. So I give you a choice. Pull back. Take what victory you have
already won, and I shall depart on this following night. Daggerford is
yours, if you can keep it. My children and I… we shall move on. This is the
word of Dar Lavien. What say you?”
The party attacks. By the time the battle is ended, Ray is the only one
left standing, but the evil vampire Dar Lavien is vanquished.
The streets of Daggerford are safe again. Ray approaches the body of
Dar Lavien, his body is already crumbling to dust and leaving behind his
fine cloths and gold medallion.
In the distance Sir Isteval is rallying a patrol, which rounds the
corner. Isteval immediately orders clerics to help the wounded party.

24 Eleasis 1356
Daggerford
“Christos Tellum cannot be moved.” Says Sir Isteval to the others
recovering in Daggerford’s Church of Torm. “That iron flask Tellum carries
with him everywhere. He is desperate to open it, but hasn’t the strength. If
we take it away he rages to the point of hurting himself. The duchess has
sent word to Lord Tellum, and for more experienced healers. We are
uncertain if the flask has captured his mind or if this is the work of Nadir.”
“Who is Nadir?” Asks Sennes.
“A rakshasa. Creature from the Nine Hells. It plagued us once before
and it would take new delight in tormenting us… again.”
After a long pause, Isteval continues, “That medallion you found. It
bears the Ambergul crest. A family of wealth and power that fell to
corruption at least 50 years ago. There was a Lavien Ambergul, one of the
last lords of the family. We also unearthed evidence suggesting that many
of the undead were raised from the Ambergul estate cemetery. If Nadir has
designs against Daggerford, he maybe seated there.”
Sir Isteval rises from the chair, draws a deep breath, “Duchess
Morwen can spare no militia to chase down this lead. We are only militia,
and with many wounded and dead, we don’t have the numbers. Your
actions of late have proven your worth to Daggerford. The Duchess and I
believe we can count on you to investigate the old Amberful Estate, and find
anything that can free Christos from his mania.

Episode 4: Terror in the Catacombs

27 Eleasis 1356
Daggerford
Ray doesn’t like the idea of becoming a hero. His goals were simple,
live life to the fullest. Take a little, scam a little. But he is also one to see
that the gods put him on this path for a reason. He just hopes he lives long
enough to see the end.
After healing and two days ride, the party arrives at the Ambergul
estates. The cemetery is off in the distance, with a large mausoleum in the
northwest corner. Durros says, “The mausoleum is a good place to start.”