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Felled Hopes
Overview
Note : This adventure is strongly based on the adventure titled "Felled Hopes" included with the expansion boxed set "Ruins of Zhentil Keep". In fact, the DM practically translated the adventure from English to French. Now, the DM is re-translating this overview from French back to English. Hehehe.
On a beautiful sunny day in the month of Kythorn (June) in 1358 DR, after a few months of well-deserved rest, the Ashaba Heroes are once again commissionned by Lord Mourngrym Amcathra of Shadowdale. Their mission : liberate the small village of Snowmantle from the grip of the Zhentarim. Three years ago, this small peaceful village was annexed by Zhentil Keep's forces in 1355 DR. The Zhents use the village as a labor camp to cut down trees and bring back the lumber back to the Keep. The villagers of Snowmantle are slaves and they can't do anything to defend themselves.
Lanseril Snowmantle, an old friend of Mourngrym and member of the Knights of Myth Drannor, has recently left the Knights to go help the druids and the creatures of the forest in the liberation of the village. Lanseril was hoping to receive aid from his Knight companions but Mourngrym has just learned that the other Knights won't be able to come to the aid of Lanseril for quite some time. Also, Lanseril has not contacted Mourngrym for several days. He fears he has been captured by the Zhents or worse, killed by them.
The Lord asks for the help of the Ashaba Heroes to go and find out what has happened to Lanseril. He proposes that they try and pass themselves off as mercenaries. According to some spies in place in the town of Dagger Falls, to the north of Shadowdale, a recruiter for the logging operation in Snowmantle will be in Dagger Falls soon, looking for new mercenaries to help defend their operation.
Before leaving, Mourngrym offers a Harper's pin to Kiril. He says that the pin will help prove to Lanseril that the adventurers can be trusted. Arrived at Dagger Falls, the Heroes go to a tavern called The Broken Dagger to get in contact with the recruiter. They meet a man that offers them a job as guards for the Snowmantle operation. The man accepts to hire the adventurers but he warns them that they will be closely watched.
Arrived at Snowmantle, the Ashaba Heroes integrate themselves slowly in the Zhent's operation. They learn that an agent of the Harpers is present in the village. With his help, they learn that Lanseril is still alive and that he's being held prisoner in the village's only jail. They successfully manage to enter in contact with Lanseril Snowmantle. The druid tells them about a tribe of elves called the Lost Ones and that they are located somewhere in the Border Forest. Lanseril's familiar, Lawrence the badger, has entered in communication with the elves and they wish to meet Lanseril. Lanseril could have escaped easily by now but there's only one slight problem : if Lanseril escapes the jail cell, the Zhentilar commanders have said that they will execute 5 slaves on the spot. Therefore, Lanseril asks for the Heroes' help to go and find the Lost Ones in the Border Forest with Lawrence's help. According to Lanseril, the elves will probably help the Heroes in freeing Snowmantle.
The Heroes manage to enter in contact with the Lost Ones and their chief, Tanseril (Lanseril's grandfather). After explaining their intentions, Tanseril gives the Heroes a magical scroll inscribed with a very potent magical spell. The scroll allows the caster to conjure a nature elemental that will completely destroy the village of Snowmantle and the Zhentarim's operation. Thankfully, the spell allows to designate a certain number of persons that will not be affected by the elemental. The Heroes bring the scroll back and give it to Lanseril. After successfully escaping the jail, he reads the scroll and the nature elemental appears and starts it's path of destruction. The Ashaba Heroes, Lanseril and the villagers of Snowmantle flee while the village is completed destroyed. Many Zhents, having escaped the destruction also, intercept the adventurers and the townsfolk. The Heroes fight courageously to protect the villagers from the Zhents and Snowmantle is finally freed from the Zhentarim's grip.
Back in Shadowdale, Lanseril gratefully thanks the Ashaba Heroes for their help. He says that Snowmantle has probably been completely destroyed by the elemental and that it will need to be rebuilt. In a few months, he will return to the forest, along with some of the villagers to rebuild the village. He invites the Ashaba Heroes to come whenever they want and that they are free to go and settle themselves there with them. Balrog says that he will eventually build his stronghold there. Mourngrym congratulates the Ashaba Heroes and offers each of it's members a Harper Pin and a place among the Harpers. Only Kiril Threndor accepts the offer...
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