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Asbras' Quest
Overview
On a sunny day in the month of Ches (March) in 1358 DR, a few weeks after their adventure in Myth Drannor, the Ashaba Heroes, having just finished a good meal at the Old Skull Inn in Shadowdale, are heading back towards Mane's Manor. On their way home, they meet a mage of Mystra named Keldor. He says he's from the city of Arabel, in the kingdom of Cormyr and that he has heard a great deal about their exploits and especially their recent expedition in the ruins of Myth Drannor. Ever since he was a young lad, he has heard stories of a mage called Mordrak. According to legend, this mage had built a tower located in the mountains near the Anauroch desert and that it was atop a hill named 'Swordcrag'. No one has ever found this 'Swordcrag' but Keldor says he knows where it is and that he wishes to find Mordrak's Tower to find the long dead mage's spellbook. The adventuring group that Keldor was a part of have recently disbanded and he decided to come to Shadowdale to find another group to aid him in his quest. Keldor promises that Mordrak's Tower will surely be filled with fabulous treasures and that he wants none of the treasures except for Mordrak's spellbook. Also, he offers them money in advance for their help. The Ashaba Heroes are incapable of refusing such an offer...
After leaving Shadowdale, they eventually reach the mountains that border the Anauroch desert. While travelling the mountains, they discover a primitive village populated by sadistic savages. The Heroes are captured and brought to the center of the village. A young woman is about to be sacrificed in some dark ritual. Unable to let these savages slaughter the innocent girl, the Heroes defend the young woman. After freeing her, they learn that her name is Lena and that she's an illusionist. She does not reveal any more to them. The Heroes accept her into the group. For some odd reason, she seems attracted to Jimmy, the invoker of the group...
After many days of travel in the arrid mountains, the Ashaba Heroes, Keldor and Lena finally discover the area called 'Swordcrag'. It's a large hill with a gnarled tree on top. From a distance, the tree looks like a sword that is planted pummel down into the hill, hence the name 'Swordcrag'. While searching around the hill, they discover a cave that leads to darkness.
After having explored several underground tunnels, the adventurers finally discover the ruins of Mordrak's Tower. It seems that the whole tower was buried under sand and rock. Arrived at the top of the tower, they enter a large chamber. Inside this chamber... they encounter an enormous red dragon! When they come face to face with the dragon, Keldor faces the Heroes and presents the dragon to them... Malkor, the red dragon. Keldor betrays the Heroes by helping the dragon's attack. The adventurers manage to slay the dragon and the traitorous Keldor. When they search Keldor's body, they discover a journal. When they read it, they discover that Keldor is in fact a member of the Cult of the Dragon named Asbras Hlumin. It seems Asbras was one of the Cult members present inside Aghazstamn's Lair. Asbras escaped when a group of adventurers killed the dracolich. He returned a few months later, to discover that Aghazstamn's hoard had been stolen. After many months of searching, he finally discovered the identity of the robbers. He made up the Keldor identity and infiltrated the Ashaba Heroes. The journal did not say however why Asbras decided to bring the Heroes so far away to face this dragon. Their only guess is that he had become insane somehow (as are most of the members of the Cult of the Dragon)...
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