DM Notes

Dramatis Personae

The Story So Far

The Marshal has sent a group of his agents into the Dessarin Valley to locate the missing Mirabar Delegation. They have recently discovered the site of a battle where it seems the delegation was routed. After following tracks from the site and the Dessarin River, they located a keep on the river that bore a strange sign Garrsion Peck recognized. At Summit Hall, they returned the corpse of a fallen knight and learned there are four so-called Haunted Keeps in the Sumber Hills. One of these keeps has recently become the Sacred Stone Monastery which seemingly has links back to a cult in Red Larch and the battlefield. Now the agents head towards the Dellmon Ranch where one of the dignitaries, Teresiel, is supposedly hunkered down in anticipation of a major Iceshield orc raid.

Strong Start

Current Day: 9 Mirtul 1491 DR

Events

Rescue the Anderils

Round 1

• Garrison casts Eldritch Blast at an Orc (R) (19 vs 13 AC, hit, 6 force)
• Orc (R) sprints towards Virlen and swings its' greataxe (18 vs 14 AC, hit, 9 slashing)
• Orc (B) sprints towards the party and swings its' greataxe at Hattie (14 vs 13 AC, hit, 11 slashing)
• Orc (G) sprints towards the party and swings its' greataxe at Widget (7 vs 14 AC, miss)
• Orc (O) sprints towards the party and swings its' greataxe at Sky (19 vs 16 AC, hit, 12 slashing)
• Hattie casts Dissonant Whispers on Orc (B) (15 vs Wis DC 13, success, 7 psychic); casts Fey Step
• Selene moves and dodges
• Meg casts Hunter's Mark on Orc (G) and swings her warhammer at Orc (G) (18 vs 13 AC, hit, 14 bludgeoning)
• Yla casts Scorching Ray at Orc (G) (9 vs 13 AC, miss; 21 vs 13 AC, hit), killing it, and Orc (B) (6 vs 13 AC, crit miss)
• Widget steps out of Orc (O)'s reach triggering an opportunity attack with its' greataxe (22 vs 14 AC, hit, 12 slashing) and uses Draconic Cry and fires her light crossbow at Orc (O) (15 vs 13 AC, hit, 11 piercing)
• Virlen uses Hidden Step to turn invisible, moves, and then casts Eldritch Blast at Orc (R) (23 vs 14 AC, hit, 10 force), killing it
• Sky rages and swings her warhammer with two hands at Orc (O) (20 vs 14 AC, hit, 12 bludgeoning), killing it

Round 2

• Garrsion casts Eldritch Blast at Orc (B) (21 vs 13 AC, hit, 4 force)
• Orc (B) steps towards Widget and swings its' greataxe (22 vs 14 AC, hit, 12 slashing)
• Hattie casts Dissonant Whispers on the Orc (B) (15 vs Wis DC 13, success, 5 psychic), killing it

The Anderils join the adventurers to Dellmon Ranch.

Dellmon Ranch

The adventurers arrive in the evening of 9 Mirtul 1491 DR. Kerbin and Perd Dellmon greet the adventurers and bring them into the compound. Dreena Dellmon introduces the adventurers to Teresiel.

Erned Stoutblade brought news two days ago that there was an Iceshield orc warband in the area.

Teresiel split from the main body of the delegation to head to The High Forest to warn the elven lands. Larmont joined her in Beliard and they picked up Dreena and Flameran Verminbane from here. She doesn't know about anyone in particular that would be after her. Sky scans for the location of the warband and estimates they'll be here in the morning from the north. Teresiel plans to continue on to Goldenfields.

Livi Dellmon helps Meg prepare the ranch for the siege.

Hattie plays a tune to find out that her lute has been detuned.

• Kerbin, Perd, Marka, Dreena, Fyndrick, Livi, and Thrade Dellmon
• Flameran Verminbane (male lightfoot halfling), traveled with Teresiel to the High Forest
• Erned Stoutblade (male Tethyrian human knight), from Yartar
• Stowl and Branikan (male shield dwarf guards), local blacksmiths and tinkers
• 12 commoners, 4 guards, and 2 scouts
• 16 non-combatants

10 Mirtul 1491 DR

The sound of wardrums wakes the ranch. Array themselves at the crest of a hill about 300 feet away. The Eye of Gruumsh paints 20 orcs with the blood of a small mammal. Another beating out of sync with the wardrums and a roar as Halinaxus and Vanifer land in front of the Iceshield orcs. Widget recognizes this dragon as one she's met before that almost ate her. Yla's blood burns and knows that Halinaxus is the sire of her bloodline.

Vanifer dismounts and demands the surrender of Teresiel or Halinaxus will burn down the ranch.

Teresiel hands a seed to Virlen that will become an awaken tree once planted at Goldenfields. Teresiel admits that she and the other dignitaries know how to unlock the evil beneath the Sumber Hills. She shares that it would take Vanifer months to unlock the evil. A dwarven sage discovered the presence of the evil and how to release it. Teresiel and the other two dignitaries all hold this knowledge. There are four elemental nodes and four keys that can be used to unlock the nodes. The nodes are aligned with a specific element, fire, earth, water, and air. The keys can be destroyed. Without the keys, the nodes are non-functional.

Teresiel turns herself over to Vanifer. She mounts Halixanus with Vanifer and they take flight. Vanifer orders the Iceshield orcs to burn down the ranch anyways.

Wave 1

It takes 5 turns for the orcs to reach the farm.

• Widget fires her light crossbow at the Eye of Gruumsh (13 vs 16 AC, miss)

• Hattie uses Mantle on Meg

• Widget fires her light crossbow at the Eye of Gruumsh (10 vs 16 AC, miss)

• Widget fires her light crossbow at the Eye of Gruumsh (6 vs 16 AC, crit miss)

• Widget fires her light crossbow at the Eye of Gruumsh (6 vs 16 AC, crit miss)

• Garrison casts Eldritch Blast at an orc (24 vs 13 AC, hit, 13 force), killing it

• Virlen casts Eldritch Blast at an orc (7 vs 13 AC, miss)

• Widget fires her Eldritch Cannon at an orc (17 vs 13 AC, hit, 7 force), killing it

• Yla casts Scorching Ray at three orcs (22 vs 13 AC, hit, 7 fire; 21 vs 13 AC, hit, 8 fire;, 22 vs 13 AC, hit, 11 fire), killing them

• Sky casts Faerie Fire (20 vs Dex DC 11, success; 3 vs Dex DC 11, fail; 9 vs Dex DC 11, fail; 9 vs Dex DC 11, fail)

• Widget fires her light crossbow at an orc (20 vs 13 AC, hit, 4 piercing), killing it

• Widget fires her Eldritch Cannon at an orc (10 vs 13 AC, miss)

• Garrison casts Eldritch Blast at an orc (23 vs 13 AC, hit, 6 force), killing it; and uses Tentacle of the Deep, it attacks an orc (9 vs 13 AC, miss)

• Hattie casts Dissonant Whispers at an orc (4 vs Wis DC 13, failure, 13 psychic), killing it

• Virlen casts Eldritch Blast at an orc (24 vs 13 AC, crit hit, 10 force), killing it

• Yla casts Fire Bolt at an orc (15 vs 13 AC, hit, 10 fire), killing it

Round 1

• Yla casts Fire Bolt at an orc (14 vs 13 AC, hit, 3 fire)
• Virlen casts Hex on an orc (13 vs 13 AC, hit, 5 force and 3 necrotic), killing it
• Hattie casts Dissonant Whispers on an orc (2 vs Wis DC 13, failure, 10 psychic), killing it
• Widget orders Clank onto the field and casts Thunderwave through him (23 vs Con DC 13, success, 7 thunder; 5 vs Con DC 13, 14 thunder; 15 vs Con DC 13, 7 thunder; 15 vs Con DC 13, 7 thunder), killing them
• Garrison moves his tentacle (7 vs 13 AC, miss) and casts Eldritch Blast (11 vs 13 AC, miss)
• Sky bops an orc on the head (8 vs 13 AC, miss) and flies up into the air
• Selene dodges
• Orc swings at Clank (6 vs 13 AC, crit miss)
• Orc throws a javelin at Sky (6 vs 13 AC, miss)
• Orc throws a javelin at Sky (24 vs 13 AC, hit, 3 piercing)
• Meg drops down on an orc taking 5 bludgeoning damage and kills an orc; she runs towards an orc and swings her warhammer (19 vs 13 AC, hit, 8 bludgeoning), killing it

Round 2

• Yla casts Fire Bolt at an orc (14 vs 13 AC, hit, 7 fire), killing it
• Virlen moves his hex to the orc and casts Eldritch Blast (22 vs 13 AC, hit, 3 force and 3 necrotic), killing it

One of the commoners was impaled by a javelin and died. Other scouting/raiding parties attacked the other parts of the ranch.

Wave 2

Eye of Gruumsh sacrifices another small mammal and paints another 20 orcs with its' blood. The Orog orders several orcs to light some trees on fire. A heavy smoke spreads across the battlefield between the hill and the ranch obscuring vision.

It takes 5 turns for the orcs to reach the farm.

• Widget fires her light crossbow at an orc (8 vs 13 AC, miss)

• Virlen fires his light crossbow at an orc (7 vs 13 AC, miss)

• Widget fires her light crossbow at an orc (15 vs 13 AC, hit, 6 piercing), killing it

• Virlen fires his light crossbow at an orc (17 vs 13 AC, hit, 4 piercing), killing it

• Widget fires her light crossbow at an orc (7 vs 13 AC, miss)

• Virlen fires his light crossbow at an orc (11 vs 13 AC, miss)

• Widget fires her light crossbow at an orc (22 vs 13 AC, hit, 9 piercing), killing it

• Virlen fires his light crossbow at an orc (13 vs 13 AC, hit, 9 piercing), killing it

• Garrison casts Eldritch Blast at an orc (7 vs 13 AC, miss)

• Yla casts Fire Bolt at an orc (8 vs 13 AC, miss)

• Hattie casts Dissonant Whispers on an orc (10 vs Wis DC 13, failure, 8 psychic), killing it

• Widget activates her Eldritch Cannon at an orc (7 vs 13 AC, miss)

• Virlen casts Eldritch Blast at an orc (9 vs 13 AC, miss)

Round 1

• Selene dodges
• Virlen casts Eldritch Blast at an orc (20 vs 13 AC, hit, 5 force), killing it
• Meg swings her warhammer at an orc (9 vs 13 AC, miss)
• Widget casts Thunderwave through Clank (Con DC 13, 8 thunder), killing 7 orcs
• Sky swings her warhammer at an orc (21 vs 13 AC, hit, 6 bludgeoning), killing it
• Hattie casts Vicious Mockery on an orc (10 vs Wis DC 13, failure, 2 psychic)
• Yla casts Fire Bolt at an orc (11 vs 13 AC, miss)
• Garrison activates his tentacle to slap an orc (22 vs 13 AC, hit, 8 cold), killing it; He casts Eldritch Blast at an orc (7 vs 13 AC, miss)
• An orc swings its greataxe at Clank (12 vs 13 AC, miss)
• An orc swings its greataxe at Clank (23 vs 13 AC, hit, 9 slashing), killing Clank
• An orc swings its greataxe at Meg (15 vs 19 AC, miss)
• An orc swings its greataxe at Meg (16 vs 19 AC, miss)
• An orc swings its greataxe at Meg (22 vs 19 AC, hit, 8 slashing)

Round 2

• Selene dodges
• Virlen cast Eldritch Blast at an orc (12 vs 13 AC, miss)
• Meg swings her warhammer at an orc (6 vs 13 AC, crit miss)
• Widget casts Acid Splash on an orc (19 vs Dex DC 13, succeeds; 21 vs Dex DC 13, succeeds); Widget activates her Eldritch Cannon at an orc (21 vs 13 AC, hit, 11 force), killing it
• Sky swings her warhammer at an orc (12 vs 13 AC, miss)
• Hattie casts Vicious Mockery on an orc (20 vs Wis DC 13, succeeds)
• Yla casts Fire Bolt at an orc (15 vs 13 AC, hit, 8 fire), killing it
• Garrison uses his tentacle to slap an orc (6 vs 13 AC, miss); He then casts Eldrtich Blast at an orc (18 vs 13 AC, hit, 11 force), killing it
• An orc swings its greataxe taking down the door to the house and exposing Livi who is dragging a warhammer for Meg
• An orc swings its greataxe at Meg (12 vs 19 AC, miss)

Round 3

• Selene flies down in front of the orc and dodges
• Virlen casts Eldritch Blast at an orc (12 vs 13 AC, miss)
• Meg swings her warhammer at an orc (7 vs 13 AC, miss); Meg moves out of reach of an orc and it swings its greataxe as an opportunity attack (8 vs 19 AC, miss)
• Widget fires her light crossbow at an orc (18 vs 13 AC, hit, 6 piercing), killing it; Widget activates her Eldritch Cannon at an orc (15 vs 13 AC, hit, 9 force), killing it

Meg picks up Livi.

Kerbin has died. Erned Stoutblade defended the wall to the death allowing a defense to form at the wall breach. Two warriors and five commoners have died in this wave.

Wave 3

Eye of Gruumsh sacrifices another small mammal and paints another 20 orcs with its' blood. He also paints himself and the Orog with the blood. The heavy smoke is still spread across the battlefield.

It takes 5 turns for the orcs to reach the farm.

• Widget fires her light crossbow at an orc (8 vs 13 AC, miss)

• Virlen fires his light crossbow at an orc (22 vs 13 AC, hit, 6 piercing), killing it

• Widget fires her light crossbow at an orc (7 vs 13 AC, miss)

• Virlen fires his light crossbow at an orc (5 vs 13 AC, miss)

• Widget fires her light crossbow at an orc (6 vs 13 AC, crit miss)

• Virlen fires his light crossbow at an orc (6 vs 13 AC, miss)

• Widget fires her light crossbow at an orc (17 vs 13 AC, hit, 4 piercing), killing it

• Virlen fires his light crossbow at an orc (10 vs 13 AC, miss)

• Hattie casts Crown of Madness on the Orog (2 vs Wis DC 13, failure)

• Garrison casts Armor of Agathys

• Virlen casts Eldritch Blast at an orc (7 vs 13 AC, miss)

• Yla casts Fire Bolt at an orc (9 vs 13 AC, miss)

• Widget activates her Eldritch Canon at the Eye of Gruumsh (19 vs 16 AC, hit, 11 force)

• Garrison casts Eldritch Blast at an orc (8 vs 13 AC, miss)

• The Orog swings his greataxe at an orc (21 vs 13 AC, hit, 6 slashing), killing it; He swings his greataxe at an orc (17 vs 13 AC, hit, 7 slashing)

Round 1

• Sky flies up and bops an orc with her warhammer (24 vs 13 AC, hit, 6 bludgeoning), killing it
• Garrison uses Radiant Soul and flies
• An orc passes through Sky's reach and triggers an opportunity attack (14 vs 13 AC, hit, 10 bludgeoning), killing it
• An orc charges Meg and swings its greataxe (7 vs 19 AC, miss)
• An orc charges Meg and swings its greataxe (18 vs 19 AC, miss)
• An orc charges Meg and swings its greataxe (17 vs 19 AC, miss)
• An orc throws a javelin at Sky (21 vs 16 AC, hit, 4 piercing)
• An orc throws a javelin at Sky (7 vs 16 AC, crit miss)
• An orc throws a javelin at Sky (25 vs 16 AC, hit, 5 piercing)
• An orc throws a javelin at Sky (10 vs 16 AC, miss)
• An orc throws a javelin at Sky (20 vs 16 AC, hit, 4 piercing)
• An orc throws a javelin at Garrison (14 vs 12 AC, hit, 8 piercing)
• An orc throws a javelin at Garrison (13 vs 12 AC, hit, 8 piercing)
• An orc throws a javelin at Garrison (26 vs 12 AC, crit hit, 11 piercing)
• An orc throws a javeiln at Widget (10 vs 14 AC, miss)
• An orc throws a javelin at Yla (14 vs 15 AC, miss)
• An orc throws a javelin at Virlen (9 vs 14 AC, miss)
• An orc throws a javelin at Hattie (13 vs 13 AC, hit, 9 piercing), Hattie makes her concentration save (17 vs Con DC 10)
• An orc throws a javelin at Selene (19 vs 14 AC, hit, 9 piercing)
• The Orog throws a javelin at the Eye of Gruumsh (19 vs 16 AC, hit, 8 piercing); Orog attempts to break Crown of Madness (3 vs Wis DC 13, failure)
• Virlen casts Guiding Bolt at the Eye of Gruumsh (9 vs 16 AC, miss)
• Hattie casts Vicious Mockery at an orc (13 vs Wis DC 13, success)
• Eye of Gruumsh casts Spiritual Weapon next to Hattie (5 vs 13 AC, miss); Eye throws a spear at Sky (8 vs 16 AC, miss)
• Yla casts Scorching Ray at the Eye (13 vs 16 AC, miss; 20 vs 16 AC, hit, 3 fire; 14 vs 16 AC, miss); Yla casts a Quickened Fire Bolt at an orc (7 vs 13 AC, miss)
• Widget uses Draconic Cry and fires her light crossbow at the Eye of Gruumsh (15 vs 19 AC, miss)
• Meg swings her warhammer at an orc (17 vs 13 AC, hit, 11 bludgeoning), killing it

Round 2

• Sky bops an orc with her warhammer (25 vs 13 AC, crit hit, 13 bludgeoning), killing it
• Garrison casts Hex on the Eye of Gruumsh and then casts Eldritch Blast at the Eye of Gruumsh (14 vs 16 AC, miss)
• An orc swings its greataxe at Meg (19 vs 19 AC, hit, 11 slashing)
• An orc charges Meg and triggers an opportunity attack from Sky (25 vs 13 AC, crit hit, 14 bludegoning), killing it
• An orc swings its greataxe at Meg (10 vs 19 AC, miss)
• An orc swings its greataxe at Meg (6 vs 19 AC, crit miss)
• An orc throws a javelin at Widget (15 vs 14 AC, hit) and Widget casts Shield (16 vs 19 AC, miss)
• An orc throws a javelin at Hattie (8 vs 12 AC, miss)
• An orc throws a javelin at Garrision (16 vs 12 AC, hit, 6 piercing)
• An orc throws a javelin at Sky (10 vs 16 AC, miss)
• An orc throws a javelin at Sky (18 vs 16 AC, hit, 3 piercing)
• An orc throws a javelin at Sky (12 vs 16 AC, miss)
• An orc throws a javelin at Sky (13 vs 16 AC, miss)
• An orc throws a javelin at Sky (11 vs 16 AC, miss)
• The orog swings his greataxe at an orc (16 vs 13 AC, hit, 9 slashing), killing it; Save attempt against Crown of Madness (11 vs Wis DC 13, failure)
• Virlen casts Eldritch Blast at an orc (14 vs 13 AC, hit, 4 force), killing it
• Hattie uses Mantle of Inspiration on Garrison, Meg, and Sky; Hattie casts Vicious Mockery on an orc (8 vs Wis DC 13, failure)
• The Eye of Gruumsh activates his Spiritual Weapon against Hattie (13 vs 13 AC, hit, 7 force); Hattie fails her concentration check (1 vs Con DC 10); Eye of Gruumsh commands Meg to grovel (4 vs Wis DC)
• Yla casts a twinned Fire Bolt on an orc (20 vs 13 AC, hit, 5 fire; 14 vs 13 AC, hit, 9 fire), killing them
• Widget activates her Eldritch Cannon at an orc (8 vs 13 AC, miss) and then fires her light crossbow at an orc (15 vs 13 AC, hit, 9 piercing), killing it
• Meg grovels
• Sky swings her warhammer at an orc (17 vs 13 AC, hit, 11 bludegoning), killing it
• Garrison casts Eldritch Blast at an orc (9 vs 13 AC, miss)
• An orc swings its greataxe at Meg (16 vs 19 AC, miss)
• An orc swings its greataxe at Sky (19 vs 16 AC, hit, 3 slashing)
• An orc swings its greataxe at Sky (18 vs 16 AC, hit, 6 slashing)
• An orc swings its greataxe at Sky (7 vs 16 AC, miss)
• An orc moves in
• The Orog charges Sky and swings his greataxe twice (8 vs 16 AC, miss; 25 vs 16 AC, hit, 4 slashing)
• Virlen uses Healing Light on Sky for 12 hit points; Virlen casts Eldritch Blast at an orc (6 vs 13 AC, miss)
• Hattie casts Crown of Madness on the Orog (14 vs Wis DC 13, success)
• Yla casts Fire Bolt on an orc (8 vs 13 AC, miss)
• Widget activates her Eldritch Cannon at an orc (17 vs 13 AC, hit, 14 force), killing it; Widget fires her light crossbow at an orc (17 vs 13 AC, hit, 8 piercing), killing it
• Meg stands up from prone and swings her warhammer at an orc (15 vs 13 AC, hit, 9 bludgeoning), killing it

Round 3

• Sky recklessly swings her warhammer at the Orog (21 vs 19 AC, hit, 13 bludgeoning)
• Garrsion casts Eldritch Blast at an orc (22 vs 13 AC, hit, 4 force)
• Orc swings its greataxe at Meg (21 vs 19 AC, hit, 11 slashing)
• The Orog swings its greataxe at Sky (12 vs 16 AC, miss; 26 vs 16 AC, crit hit, 11 slashing)
• Virlen casts Eldritch Blast at an orc (14 vs 13 AC, hit, 8 force), killing it
• Hattie casts Vicious Mockery on the Orog (14 vs Wis DC 13, success)
• Eye of Gruumsh activates his spirtual weapon to attack Virlen (9 vs 12 AC, miss); He then stabs Meg with his spear (24 vs 19 AC, 14 piercing), knocking Meg unconscious
• Yla casts Chromatic Orb at the Eye of Gruumsh (15 vs 16 AC, miss)
• Widget activates her Eldritch Cannon at the Eye of Gruumsh (5 vs 16 AC, crit miss); then she fires her light crossbow at the Eye of Gruumsh (15 vs 16 AC, miss)
• Meg passes her death saving throw (11 vs Con DC 10)

Round 4

• Sky recklessly swings her warhammer at the Orog (15 vs 19 AC, miss)
• Garrison casts Eldritch Blast at the Eye of Gruumsh (16 vs 16 AC, hit, 6 force, 4 necrotic and 3 radiant), killing it
• The Orog swings his greataxe at Sky (16 vs 16 AC, hit, 5 slashing), knocking her unconscious; Orog swings its greataxe at the Eldritch Cannon (18 vs 18 AC, hit, 7 slashing)
• Virlen casts Eldritch Blast at the Orog (20 vs 19 AC, hit, 2 force)
• Hattie casts Vicious Mockery on the Orog (7 vs Wis DC 13, failure, 3 psychic)
• Yla casts Fire Bolt on the Orog (8 vs 19 AC, miss)
• Widget activates her Eldritch Cannon at the Orog (20 vs 19 AC, hit, 4 force), and then fires her light crossbow at the Orog (25 vs 19 AC, crit hit, 13 piercing)
• Meg passes her death saving throw (13 vs Con DC 10)

Round 5

The sound of horses fill the battlefield

• Sky fails her death daving throw (7 vs Con DC 10)
• Garrison uses Healing Touch on Meg healing her 3 hit points
• The Orog swings his greataxe at Yla (8 vs 15 AC, miss) and at Meg (24 vs 19 AC, hit, 13 slashing), knocking Meg unconscious
• Virlen casts Eldritch Blast at the Orog (10 vs 19 AC, miss)
• Hattie casts Vicious Mocker on the Orog (11 vs Wis DC 13, failure, 1 psychic)
• Yla swings her quarterstaff (16 vs 19 AC, miss)
• Widget activates her Eldritch Cannon at the Orog (5 vs 19 AC, crit miss) and fires her light crossbow at the Orog (6 vs 19 AC, crit miss)
• Meg fails her death saving throw (4 vs Con DC 10)

The Knights of Samular run the Orog and remaining orc over.

Secrets and Clues

• Teresiel split from the main delegation after they left Beliard to bring the news to the elves of the High Forest
• Teresiel was planning to head to Goldenfields to deliver seeds of awakened trees to the monks there
• A dwarven sage discovered not only the evil that lies beneath the Sumber Hills but how to unlock it
• Teresiel and the other delegates know how to unlock the evil
• There are four elemental nodes that are unlocked with keys that release the evil
• Teresiel suspects it would take a few months for a determined group to unlock the evil
• Vanifer and Halinaxus captured Teresiel
• Halinaxus is the sire of Yla's sorcerous bloodline
• Widget has previously interacted with Halinaxus, she escaped with her life, barely

Fantastic Locations

Dellmon Ranch

Important NPCs

Rewards

Level up to 4.

Notes