12 - 15 Mitrul, 1369 (Year of the Gauntlet)
Tymora flipped her coin or rolled her dice, whatever she is wont to do, and five strangers found themselves at the Old Skull Inn in Shadowdale on the on a Spring evening in the Year of the Gauntlet. The dutiful Cleric of Tyr, Baskor Elzir; the studious Paladin of Lathander, Laval Lindh; the mysterious Mulhorandi Leachim; the insomniac Paladin of Tyr, Ronin; and the excitable Mage, Simon the Prestidigiator found the illustrious librarian, Llaeo of Shadowdale telling them a story in need of Heroes.
Randal Morn of Daggerdale found the Sword of the Dales in Shraevyn�s Tomb, only to be ambushed by Zhentarim agents. The whereabouts of Morn or the Sword was unknown, so Llaeo hired the five to search for them, in return for land near Shadowdale. The five unlikely partners agreed and set out the next morning on borrowed horses.
On their path, they encountered a caravan that warned them about kobold ambush. After healing the commander of the caravan, the wary heroes made their way to the crossroads temple to Torm, Chauntea, Silvanus, and Mielikki. They headed north on the Tethyamar trail.
Around 1:00am they were ambushed by six kolbolds. This was an apparent diversion as seven other kobolds were ransacking Laval�s tent, as Simon discovered when he returned to the camp to get a torch. Leachim was wounded, but Baskor was able to heal him. Two of the kobolds escaped into the night. The next morning, the heroes tracked the kobolds back to their lair. They scared the tribe off and took their treasure as recompense for the attack. A short debate later they decide not to execute the mostly women and children, hoping the defeat at their hands would serve as warning against further attacks on travelers.
At the Serpentsbridge, the heroes discovered the body of an apparent Daggerdale scout in the water. They collected his gear to bring to his family at a later date, though Simon of the Dales points out they were legally within their rights to salvage the gear.
Later in the day they are attached by stirges, with Simon, Baskor, Ronin and Laval taking constitution damage. There is treasure in the copse of trees where the stirges originated.
15 - 17 Mirtul, 1369 (Year of the Gauntlet)
The adventurers made their way to the valley on the map Lhael provided them. Searching the valley, they found Shraevyn's tomb at the top of a shale pile. As they prepared to climb, they are set upon by a Zhent patrol, two wizards disappearing after ordering the four fighters to kill the heroes. The battle is pitched, but the heroes prevail, even when they urge the Zhents to surrender.
They climbed the shale and entered the tomb. They were given a riddle they reasoned out ("unity") and ventured deeper into the tomb. Another puzzle forced them to fight some strange creatures, one made of ice, one of fire and one of earth. Simon had an epiphany when Baskor mentioned something about schools and put the puzzle together, opening the next door.
Beyond they find a statue to (of?) Tymora at an intersection. They head left, finding what appears to be the actual tomb of the weapons crafter. His image floats above the coffin. Inside the coffin is a Sword with a blueish hue, a piece of paper tied around the hilt. Before they can grab the Sword, they are attacked by skeletons. Baskor turns them, and Ronin, Laval and Leachim pound them into a pile of bones. Taking the Sword, they read the note and learn they might find Randal Morn in the Spiderhaunt forest. Laval holds onto the Sword.
17 - 21 Mirtul, 1369 (Year of the Gauntlet)
The adventurers ride south to the Spiderhaunt Forest. Camping before entering, three of them receive a dream about a tower. The next morning they are attached by two Zhent mages (the same they encountered at Shraevyn's tomb!), six hired thugs, and three strange flying creatures. As they combat, one of the mages casts a lightning bolt towards Laval; it reflects back, surprising everyone, including the mage (who is killed by his own spell). Leachim is almost killed by one of the flying beasts, but Simon, Ronin and Baskor come to his rescue. The remaining fighters, mage and flying beasts are killed, except for three fighters who were put to sleep by Simon. They are tied up and questioned before they are executed for their evil acts.
21 - 24 Mirtul, 1369 (Year of the Gauntlet)
The adventurers contune south through the Spiderhaunt Forest. Latter in the day they come upon massive webs across the trail. Leachim and Ronin use torches to burn away the webs. They are attacked by 16 medium monstrous spiders. They take some serious damage, especially Simon, but prevail. It is decided spending an extra day resting and recovering is in their best interest.
Days later, they encounter Madarn Spiderhunter, a forest gnome wrestling with a large monstrous spider alone. The gnome puts the spider into a cage and takes the adventurers to his village of Stompemhauder. Once there, they meet with Telimas Dreamweaver, a seer. Telimas tells them he had a similar dream and knows where the tower in the dream is. He plans to seek guidance from his deity in the morning and suggests the adventurers spend the night in one of the empty warehouses.
Late that night the adventurers are awakened by the sounds of battle. Six skeletal spiders and three bonebats are attacking gnome fighters outside Telimas' home. The adventurers spring into action, well, except for Simon, who is still recovering strength. Madarn also joins the fray but is temporarily paralized. The undead resist all of Baskor's attempts to turn them. Ronin takes on most of the skeletons, but Leachim takes the most damage. Laval tries to aid his comrades with the Sword of the Dales. Telimas comes outside and is attacked by two ghouls. He is temporarily paralized by a bonebat after destroying the ghouls. The adventurers come to his defense, and they finally prevail. Oh, and Simon ventured out to assist if necessary, is attacked, but managed to avoid exerting himself.
24 - 26 Mirtul, 1369 (Year of the Gauntlet)
The adventurers have the reoccurring dream about the tower. In the morning, they meet with Telimas, who explains there is some urgency for this task. Randal Morn is still alive. Madarn will accompany them to the tower. They pack up and begin walking.
The adventurers reach a fishing shack on Lake Melishar and spend the night.
During the night, two loud ogres stumble upon the shack and there is a fight. The adventurers take some pounding, but finish off the ogres.
On the trail, Madarn informs the adventurers that a leopard has been stalking them. He warns them against killing the creature. Moments later, the leopard pounces Ronin. The paladin stabs it with his shortsword, but Madard knocks it unconscious with his weapons. They move on.
The adventurers arrive at the crumbled tower. Madarn convinces them to recover and prepare themselves to enter the tower in the morning. That night, they have the most vivid dream yet, including images of Elminster and Randal Morn.
The adventurers enter the tower without Madarn, who informs them this is their task, and are attacked by a summoned giant skeleton. Baskortries to turn it, but does manage to destroy the smaller animal skeletons in the chamber. Before the skeleton can be defeated, it vanishes. The stairs are filled with rubble. Leachim climbs the tower, but discovers there's no way in from the collapsed roof. Seaching the chamber, the adventurers find a trap door. Below is an 80 foot shaft leading to a slide downwards at a 45 degree angle.
26 Mirtul, 1369 (Year of the Gauntlet)
The Heroes decide to take the plunge and go down the shaft. Below, they find a large worked stone room that suffered ceiling collapse in many places. Venturing out into the maze of fallen stone, they find what they believe to be Randal Morn suspended in a glowing sphere. As Laval approaches with the Sword of the Dales and an image of a slender woman emerges from the Sword, telling the Heroes she is Hedristin, a spirit bound to the Sword. She tells the Heroes that Randal Morn's soul is trapped in one of the skeletons in another room. As they go to investigate, Zhentarim soldiers start coming down the shaft-slide and a battle begins. Baskor and Simon try to free Randal Morn as Leachim, Laval and Ronin> fight off the Zhents. A Zhent mage appears and makes it more difficult. Baskor and Simon find that the skeletons try to magic jar them as they try to figure out which one is Randal; in fact Simon is trapped. During all of this chaos, the Zhent Mage gets to Randal Morn and frees him from the sphere and teleports away with him. The Heroes finish off the remainin Zhents and determine Randal Morn's soul isn't here. Returning to the surface, they learn from Madarn that the Zhents were heading off to Dagger Falls. They decide to head there as well.
26 - 28 Mirtul, 1369 (Year of the Gauntlet)
The Heroes follow the Zhents around the south end of the Spiderhaunt, on to The Northride, and then The Tethyamar on into the evening. Pushing the horses and their light, the Heroes are ambused by a dozen Zhentarim. The Heroes kill all but one, saving him for interrogation later. They ride on into the night. In the morning they interrogate the Zhent and learn little, but decide to let him go. Later, they encounter an efreet who demand they beg for mercy. They do (eventually) and ride on. After spending the next night resting and recovering, they are ambushed by hobgoblins which they dispatch very quickly. Rinding on, they find the Freedom Riders camp and meet Captain Delmis.
28 - 30 Mirtul, 1369 (Year of the Gauntlet)
The Heroes ride into Dagger Falls to investigate the current forces of Zhentarim there. They ride through town, watched the whole time by the Zhents. In the Red Rock Tavern, they are warned about the Zhents by the innkeeper, Kessla. They leave and tour more of the town, eventually going to visit Dular. They report in and buy some leather goods. As they leave, they are arrested by the Zhents. Shackelled, gagged and hooded, they are put into a room and kept away by smacks to the head. Presumably the next morning they are interrogated by the Constable, Guthbert Golthammer. He is quite the fool. He demands from Laval what the powers of the Sword of the Dales are, but the paladin does not tell him. Guthbert cuts off Laval's arm at the elbow. A whisper on the wind says, "Merrydale", which they tell Guthbert. This releases the Heroes from their shackles. The Heroes spring into action, attacking Guthbert and the Zhents in the room, as well as going for their weapons. Ilthond teleports in to attack, taking the Sword of the Dales from the constable. In the chaos, Laval commits an evil act against Guthbert. Hedistrin appears out of the Sword, but transforms into a lich-like creature and attacks Ilthond. Ronin, Baskor and Leachim are suddenly compelled to grab one of the floating skulls Ilthond brought in, as well as one of the Zhent guards. The Zhent and Ronin become magic jarred by the skulls. The lich creature grabs the Zhent guard and Ronin and teleports out. Baskor summons a dog to attack Ilthond, as Simon attacks. Ilthond is killed, as is Guthbert by Laval. The Heroes search the garrison headquarters for signs of Randal Morn, eventually finding him as he is being carted away. Leachim leaps into the cart and uses a darkness on the cart, causing it to crash. The Freedom Riders have been attacking the Zhents, chasing most away (or killing them). The Heroes help get Randal Morn to safety. He asks them to help take care of a group of Zhent archers shooting flaming arrows on Freedom Riders and buildings.
30 Mirtul, 1369 (Year of the Gauntlet)
The Heroes approach the Red Rock cautiously, scoping out the archers on the roof shooting the flaming arrows. They find a sturdy table so Simon, Laval and Ariton (who joined them to help) can approach with some cover from the archers. Simon moves around to another building to provide support, as Leachim fires behind the three. The trio make it to the Red Rock and start breaking down the door. Leachim sneaks around the back of the tavern. Ariton goes in with Baskor to confront the 20 or so Zhents inside. Laval sneaks around back to enter through a window, with Leachim following. Simon comes to the front door to assist with his spear. Methodically, they take down the Zhents, until Toren the Half-Orc arrives and takes on Laval. Ariton fights his way to Toren, so the Half-Orc jumps out the window where Leachim is waiting. The two battle briefly before Toren flees. Leachim and Ariton give chase. Toren renders Leachim near death and flees, leaving Ariton having to stop to aid the fallen hero. Meanwhile, Baskor, Simon and Laval finish off the rest of the Zhents, taking five as prisoners. Going upstairs, they battle the archers, driving them to where Freedom Riders wait to rain arrows on them. Ariton gives chase to Toren, leaping onto a horse as Leachim fires at the half-orc. Ariton rides down Toren and knocks him unconscious, securing him on the borrowed horse. The Heroes collect up and return to the Garrison headquarters to report in.
Later that evening there is a celebration for the liberation of Dagger Falls. Elminster and Khelben Blackstaff are in attendance. The Heroes of Dagger Falls are given 50 acres of land by Randal Morn, as well as title and opportunity to have positions in the council. Elminster gives them 10 acres in Shadowdale. Laval offers Randal Morn the Sword of the Dales, which he declines, viewing it as cursed. Elminster takes the Sword and casts a spell which brings out Hedistrin, the beautiful spirit of the Sword, who then turns into the lichlike hag they had seen before when Ronin was taken. Elminster banishes the hag and declares the Sword free of the influence. He hands the Sword to Laval who then is appointed Seneschal of Dagger Falls by Randal Morn before taking the Sword. The Heroes decide the next step is to rescue Ronin from the lich creature.
30 Mirtul - 7 Kythorn, 1369 (Year of the Gauntlet)
The Heroes ride to the Spiderhaunt as quickly as possible. They find lizardfolk barbarians outside the tower, which they engage. The battle goes badly for them until Baskor casts a obscuring fog and the Heroes use it defensively. Two hobgoblins throw javelins at Simon before he disappears into the fog. Together, Leachim and Laval defeat the two barbarians. The Heroes decide a full retreat to heal up and spell up is a good plan. During the night a black dragon passes by, panicking the horses. Baskor and Leachim slap the horses to get them running while they grab what they can, wake the others, and go deeper into the forest to escape the dragon. Later in the day Leachim sneaks up invisibly to the tower and spots the black dragon perched upon the tower. The Heroes decide to go to Stormpenhauder to check on the gnomes. They spend a day there to prepare themselves. Teleporting to the tower, they find lizardfolk and hobgoblins outside the tower. They teleport to the chamber below the tower, which is very different that what it looked like before. They find themselves in a cage with a dragonne, and outside the cage are four spellcasters (including Ronin). Things just go bad for them and Simon and Laval are killed. Baskor uses the last teleport to evacuate them to Stormpenhauder, and then to Dagger Falls to have them raised. After much deliberation, it is decided that Ronin is beyond their help. Thus ends the Prelogue of our story.
Updated: March 4, 2009.