D&D Campaign One: Scalebreakers - 003
Clasped
In the last session, the four adventurers found themselves deep in the shadows of Stilben. Within the secret underground camp of the Clasp, hidden beneath the Goldleaf Inn, Keithara, Skarn, Ran, and Arrin stood face to face with the elf Ardyn Vex.
The atmosphere was tense, but Ardyn quickly came to appreciate the group's honesty and openness. Ran particularly piqued Ardyn's interest with an eloquence extraordinary for a Kenku and a strong moral compass. Surprisingly, virtues that aligned well with the values of the Clasp.
Ardyn revealed that Calven Drevok was not being held as a prisoner, but rather as a valued guest. For his own protection, he was staying at a hidden location in Stilben where no one could abduct him against his will. However, Keithara's sharp observational skills did not miss that while Ardyn spoke the truth, he was burdened by great pressure: a valuable artifact for smugglers had gone missing.
Once Ardyn’s plight became clear, the group unhesitatingly accepted his request to retrieve the 'Sextant of Night’s Escap'. As a first lead, Ardyn gave them the name Ebram Karr, a Clasp contact, collector, and informant who likely knew where the artifact might be or who had last seen it. In exchange for their assistance, Ardyn promised to guarantee Calven’s safety and grant the group a meeting with him upon the mission's success. He also provided room and board at the Clasp headquarters.
That evening, the group retreated, strengthened themselves with a shared meal — lovingly prepared by Skarn — and enjoyed some well-earned ale. Arrin used this peaceful respite to initiate confidential conversations, during which Skarn finally revealed what had brought him to Stilben: the search for the murderers of his mentor and guild master. The adventurers showed compassion, and Keithara shared her own stories of loss, confessing that she, too, was searching for those responsible for changing her life.
Ran spoke of the mysterious fires in his homeland and voiced a suspicion that the artifact Calven mentioned might be the cause. In this intimate atmosphere, Keithara also introduced the group to her magical companion, the little fox Nyra.
After a short but restful night, the group set out early in the morning for Ebram Karr’s house. They found the door standing open and bloody footprints leading ultimately to Ebram’s corpse, murdered at his own desk.
A thorough investigation of the crime scene brought several crucial clues to light:
- Skarn discovered a mysterious note from Ebram.
- Keithara found a boat key and a half-finished naval chart.
Arrin’s magical senses revealed an illusionary enchantment hiding something in or on the house. With the aid of Keithara’s support magic, Skarn finally succeeded in recovering a hidden Edelweiss-medallion of the Myriad and a note that read: “Ask if C.D. has been informed about the routes.”
In the adjoining rooms, the group found valuable supplies, including bottles of fine wine, a keg of ale, cheese, and jerky. They also discovered exquisite teas: Silverleaf tea, Moonblossom tea, herbal infusions, and chocolate tea, which Arrin carefully stowed away. Ran pocketed the bloody murder weapon before the adventurers left the crime scene to inform Ardyn of their findings.
Back at the Goldleaf Inn, however, they learned from Marla that Ardyn would not return until late that evening. Instead of waiting, they headed straight for the harbor. Using the key they had found, they quickly located Ebram’s boathouse, where they met Jaren, an elderly Clasp informant hiding there. Deeply affected by the news of Ebram’s death, Jaren reported that the Myriad planned to smuggle the sextant out of the country by ship that very evening.
Using Jaren’s description, the adventurers quickly found the mentioned boat, but it lay at anchor, abandoned and unguarded. They decided to follow the lead from Ebram’s note and investigated the hideout on the Southern Coast mentioned in his papers. There, they proceeded with strategic care and laid a clever trap:
- Keithara, turned invisible by magic, knocked on the door with a feigned warning from the city watch.
- Skarn prepared a crate from which a deceptively real voice emanated to lure opponents out.
- Ran positioned himself calmly and precisely with his bow.
The plan worked: A member of the Myriad and his dangerous companion, a Death Dog, fell into the trap. A swift arrow from Ran killed the first opponent, but the ensuing fight was hard and grueling. As the group bravely faced the Myriad members, Ran was injured and poisoned. After a bitter struggle, the bandit captain attempted to flee, but Keithara, in bear form, pursued determinedly and ended the fight once and for all.
With the last enemy on the ground, the adventurers now stand before the open warehouse, wondering what lies hidden within: Is the sextant truly here, or do further dangers await in the shadows of the Southern Coast?
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