Islemont

Barrmont

Barrmont, with a population of about 10,000, is a bustling port city specializing in the exchange of natural resources. The River Ehan, with its source high in the mountains, provides a natural route of transport for natural resources. The warm western trade winds give Barrmont a pleasant climate throughout the year.

Taking advantage of the course of the River Ehan, Barrmont’s founders had a single purpose in mind: making money. Whether it was from lumber in forest hills or minerals and precious metals mined from the mountains, the River Ehan has been exploited as a natural route for transport for over a century.

The ruling council of the city keeps a tight hold on the daily business dealings of the port. They have gone so far as to place agents at all levels of the bureaucracy, from dock and market workers, to foremen and middlemen, to business owners. Nothing in the city happens without the ruling council knowing or finding out.

Outside the port area, the city is divided into three districts according to class. Lower class inhabitants live closest to the port; upper class inhabitants live on the edges of the city, near the surrounding hills and forest; middle class inhabitants are found in between.

The city derives its name from "bar" meaning "weight" and "mont" meaning "hill".

Boustead Village

The peninsula’s youngest settlement, Boustead Village was founded by people who left Barrmont fifty years ago searching for security and independence. Situated between the Western Forest and the foothills, the village welcomes anyone looking for a simpler and safer life. Its population is about 1,000.

The village derives its name from "bow" meaning "bend" and "stead" meaning "place".

Frostmont

Although it is not the northernmost settlement, Frostmont is by far the coldest. Its location on the eastern side of the mountains prevents its climate from ever truly escaping winter.

With 5,000 inhabitants, Frostmont has a population about half of Barrmont, but they are a hardy people. Unable to grow traditional crops, they hunt the surrounding hills and fish the River Calder for food.

The city government has recently come under the control of a gang of thugs. They have not yet consolidated rule, but have their sights on controlling the city and villages in the surrounding area.

The city derives its name from "frost" meaning "ice" and "mont" meaning "hill".

Calder Village

Situated on the southern edge of the Calder Forest, the original settlement on the peninsula, Calder Village, also known as Calder Bridge, grew around a natural crossing of the river that runs through it. The neighboring monastery was founded very soon after, and the two quickly became dependent on each other. Their founding was so long ago, no one remembers the true history, but tradition holds that the two were founded at the same time. The total population of the area is about 1,500.

Twenty-five years ago, the dean of Calder Monastery died and was replaced by a Minotaur Cleric from Edgemont. Shortly thereafter, the monastery closed its doors to the world and the village has been struggling to survive ever since.

The village and monastery were founded without names, but they and their inhabitants began to be referred to as Calder, meaning "ancients who are together." The village derives its name from "co-" meaning "together," "ald" meaning "old," and "-er" meaning "belonging to a specific place or group".

† Early in Islemont's history song-pu coins existed, but millennia before the island collided with the continent, methods to refine the electrum alloy were found and virtually all old coins were reminted into sib-pu and pu. Any song-pu coins found in Islemont are extremely valuable for their historic nature, worth much more than their simple material value.

Continental electrum coins are accepted in the port cities of Barrmont and Edgemont, but other settlements will not deal in them.

Exploring Islemont

As your players progress, they will be introduced to the five settlement areas and be drawn back to delve deeper into the intricacies of the major cities. They will also investigate the mysteries of the Rivers Eden and Esk.

Freeing Calder is designed for first level characters, introducing them to the mechanics of melee and skills, by traveling from Calder Village to Frostmont.

Where to Now? moves the party to Boustead Village and into the Western Forest in search of the source of the River Eden.

Let's Play Catchup is an optional adventure and a way to get the campaign back on track if the party makes bad decisions during Where to Now?

A Servant of Shar is an adventure in three parts, introducing the party to the city of Edgemont.

The Northern Mountains finds the party exploring caves, meeting Goblns, and facing the return of Gnirk and Gnark.

Two Halves Don't Make a Whole takes place in the city of Frostmont and requires the party to practice diplomacy.

The Whole Kit and Kaboodle shows the party what happens if diplomacy fails. (It is an optional adventure depending on the events of Two Halves Don't Make a Whole.)

In Rescuing Frostmont the party must try to stop the assassination of the Council of Fifteen, Frostmont's ruling body.

The Known and Unknown brings the party back to the Feywild to assist the Conclave of Dryads in moving the portals along the Neverending River (The Rivers Esk and Eden) to restore the bond between the Feywild and the Material Plane.

The Windmill Farm has the party investigate the ancient history of Islemont.

Let's Go to Barrmont for a Drink brings the party face to face with the innerworkings of politics.

Scribing a spell scroll can be done by any spellcaster with the time, patience, and resources. The character must have proficiency in the Arcana skill and must provide any material components required for the casting of the spell. Moreover, the character must have the spell prepared, or it must be among the character’s known spells, in order to scribe a scroll of that spell. If the scribed spell is a cantrip, the version on the scroll works as if the caster were 1st level.

Restrictions: A player cannot select a skill or tool proficiency if that skill/tool proficiency was used during the previous player’s turn, of if the current player used that skill/proficiency on their turn during the last round. This requires players to think outside of their main strengths. A player cannot cast a spell in place of making a Skill check. Players may describe a spell-like ability when making a relevant Skill check (e.g., Arcana for arcane spellcasters, Nature for primal, Religion for divine, etc.); this will not expend a spell slot.

Aid Another: Once per challenge, a party member can choose to use their turn to benefit the next person in the initiative order. The benefit must utilize an action or feature that takes no more than one regular Action or Bonus Action (e.g., Bless, Guidance, Bardic Inspiration, etc.).

Lean on Another: Once per Skills Challenge, each player may choose to reroll one failure on their turn, describing how they involve the next player in initiative order for support. When this happens, the DC increases somewhat for that next player.

As with combat, a player can choose to hold their action until further in the initiative order, but their turn is permanently moved to that position.

A natural 20 should be treated as an automatic success; a natural 1 should be treated as an automatic failure. Since all checks are preapproved by the GM, nothing challenge-breaking should occur. If the attempted check was exceptional, the GM can award (or penalize) at their discretion.

The GM can decide that because of a situation advantage or aspect, the party might have an expendable resource available to them (e.g., the book they found contains information that grants advantage on a INT/Religion check, etc.).

When the party reaches the target number of successes, they succeed in the Skills Challenge. If the party reaches the target number of failures first, they fail. The outcomes of each scenario will be determined by the GM, with a combination of narrative and mechanical consequences.

Story Overview

Ever since the monks of Calder Monastery disappeared, the village of Calder Bridge has come under the threat of bandits and thieves demanding protection payments. No one in the village knows they are commanded by Gnirk and Gnark, half-orc thugs living in Frostmont looking to expand their territory. A group of six comes every month to collect the payments.

Adventure Summary

Regardless of how the party came to Calder Village, they are approached by its leader, Daria Fieldmont (Noble, Human Female). She explains the village's plight, asking them to defend the village from the thugs and bandits, who are expected the next day.

Val and Elle intend to seek out Daria Fieldmont immediately. If the players attempt to hide and follow the visitors (DEX/Stealth vs Val and Elle's Passive Perception 12), have all players following them roll, regardless of Proficiency; any critical failures alert the visitors, who gain the upper hand.

If the party is successful in their DEX/Stealth check, they choose where and how to engage the bandits. The party gains a surprise round. If the bandits gain the upper hand, they will lead the players into the village center so each has an escape path.

Any enemy reduced to one quarter hit points (3 or less) will Disengage and attempt to flee. Any bandit who is killed or knocked unconscious can be searched. The Chain Shirts (AC 13, sized for a human or similar) can be sold for 25gp each. The spears are normal and can be sold for a total of 1gp. The Leather Armor (AC 11, sized for a human or similar) can be sold for 5gp each. All daggers are normal and can be sold for 1gp each. Val or Elle has a coin purse with 127SP and 78CP. They each carry 5SP and 12CP.

If the party searches or interrogates any survivors, they can fnid or learn:

If either is reduced to one quarter hit points (4), they will Disengage and attempt to flee. If they get at least 100 ft away from the party, they can make a DEX/Stealth check to hide.

If either (or both) is killed or knocked unconscious, they can be searched. The leather armor (AC 11, sized for a half-elf or similar) can be sold for 5gp each. Their shortswords and longbows are normal and can be sold for 5gp and 25gp each respectively. They carry 24 arrows, 5GP and 12SP each.

Neither Salellan nor Malellan have any loyalty to Gnirk and Gnark; they are simply hired help. If the party interrogates any survivors, they can learn:

Story Overview

The inhabitants of the Western Lands have always enjoyed the benefits of the River Eden. A few have tried to find its source, but the dense Western Forest has prevented them from succeeding. With the recent settlement of Boustead Village, more have gone in search of the source. All have eventually returned until now.

Adventure Summary

While training in Frostmont, the party is approached by representatives of Boustead Village. Word of the party’s victory over Gnirk and Gnark is becoming known. The party is approached to locate a missing expidition, which leads them into the Feywild.

Setup and Starting Points

There should be nothing special required to establish why the characters are in Frostmont; they are completing their training after the encounter with Gnirth and Gnarth.

Read the Story Overview to the players and then explain that a group of ten, led by Terth Nightore and Loti Hama, left Boustead about a month ago to search for the source of the River Eden. Every few days, a message would arrive by animal updating the village of the group’s progress. A week ago, the messages stopped. The final message read: “Found a grove that doesn’t belong. Animals strange, too. Hope to find reason for being here. Tomorrow might be the day. Will update tomorrow.” The representatives offer to pay the party’s daily expenses if they accept, as well as a reward for the safe return of Terth Nightore and Loti Hama.

Although not the reason for being hired, if the party is able to locate the source of the River Eden, it would settle a long-standing mystery of the peninsula.

A Word on Treasure and Rewards

The GM will find no mention of specific treasure or rewards in any of the following encounters; there is no logical reason for there to be any to be found. However, the time spent in the Feywild should be used to equip the characters with whatever their needs might be for the next two or three levels. Material components should be easily found; wonderous items and magical weapons or armor should be provided to them through Feywild NPCs. The only rewards the characters should not receive are monetary, excluding occasional gems.

Prologue

Travel from Frostmont to Boustead takes five days by foot, or three days by horse. The trip is along friendly roads and should be uneventful. This can, however, be a good time for the players to discuss and familiarize themselves with the new skills they learned while training in Frostmont. A minor random encounter on one night of the journey would be appropriate.

As you enter the grove, you pass through a shimmering veil you didn't seem to notice before, a clearing reveals itself. At the center is a spring feeding a pool about twenty-five feet across; a stream flows from the pool. The flora seems to have an otherworldly nature. The missing expedition becomes clearly visible: Terth Nightore and Loti Hama are sitting on the ground around an unlit campfire, while the other members are going about pantomiming normal campsite duties.

The Grove of Eden

Created by Eladrin who wished to nourish Islemont when it was still an island, the Grove of Eden is as ancient as the land itself. At the center of the grove is a spring that is the source of the River Eden. The spring is also a gateway to the Feywild, allowing passage between realms.

When intelligent creatures began to settle the land, two dryads volunteered to protect the grove. As time passed and centuries became eons, the grove came under threat and needed to be hidden. Greater Fey came through the spring and caused the great Western Forest to grow, imbuing it with the ability to renew itself as needed.

If any intelligent creatures managed to locate the grove, the dryads charmed them, eventually sending them back into the forest and to their homes.

With the establishment of Boustead, the number and frequency of visitors increased. The Eladrin who created the grove have decided Dryad protection is no longer enough and a permanent solution is needed.

Character Advancement

The author uses milestones for advancement and requires one major (or three minor) milestone each for advancement to level 2 through level 4. At this point, the characters have completed three minor milestones and should be ready to advance to level 3.

This is the logical time to level up all characters, creating new characters if required. The party should all be level 3 before beginning Part Four. Any characters left in the Feywild can return as NPCs if the party ever returns to the Feywild.

Throughout the first day of the return journey to Boustead, you hear whispers in the forest. They seem to be the random voices of campers or hunters. As you set out on the second day, the sounds become more distinct. Eventually one of you notices Ælfspring calling to the party from the direction of the grove, but you cannot make out what he is saying over the sounds of the woods.

Story Overview

The party decided to attack when they should have yielded, completely blowing the campaign off the rails. Now the GM has to figure out how to get things back on track for both Character Advancement and equipment rewards, without it looking like deus ex machina. Luckily, we can buff Lala up to an Auntie and put her into a lair. The players will fight a tougher challenge and we can justify them finding rewards.

Adventure Summary

The party screwed up last time, so getting their equipment isn't going to be easy. A near TPK isn't the right idea, but just giving them the stuff won't work either. They're going to have to work for it.

Setup and Starting Points

The party was in Boustead recovering from the encounter with Ælfspring and training for level 3, so that's where things should pick up.

Since the party was not able to be outfitted in the Feywild, they should be encouraged to spend some of their time during training trying to create items to prepare for upcoming encounters. The inhabitants of Boustead can provide enough materials to cut the cost of potions in half.

Any character with proficiency with the Herbalism Kit can craft a Potion of Healing (2d4+2). Materials will cost 12GP, 5SP each and take one day per potion; the party can craft a maximum of five total.

Any character with proficiency with Carpenter's or Smith's Tools can craft a shield for free. Enchanting a common or uncommon item will require 1d4 days and a spellcaster with knowledge of the applicable spell (e.g., Protection or Shield for +1, etc.).

Any character with proficiency with Weaver's Tools can craft a cloak or robe for free. Enchanting a common or uncommon item will require 1d4 days and a spellcaster with knowledge of the applicable spell (e.g., Enhance Ability for Elvenkind; Shield for Protection; etc.).

No more than one item can be enchanted for each character.

Getting Things Started

You have spent the last few weeks in Boustead Village recovering from your encounter with the Dryads and Ælfspring. You have also taken advantage of the time to train and prepare for the future.

During your time here, Boustead has begun to be visited by ravens each night. At first, they came in ones or twos, but now they are in groups of six to eight. The residents try to hide it, but they are getting worried.

Häs is an extremely proud father. Kisi's pregnancy is what prompted them to leave Barrmont: "It just didn't feel safe anymore. But that's a conversation for another time. Right now I'm worried about the noise the ravens were making all night. When they first landed on my roof, they were making the normal caws that all ravens made, but as the night went on, their calls started to change. By the time the sun came up, I couldn't tell the difference between the cries coming from Talsi and the cries coming from the birds. I can't express the relief I felt when they finally left."

You stop walking and look around. You study the surrounding plants and trees. The branches of some trees fail to move with the wind, as if they are intentionally resisting. You notice the behavior of the animals. Ravens are perched in every tree. Twig fetishes scatter the forest floor. The influence of everything seems stronger to the northwest.

You come upon a pile of trees and branches about fifty feet across and twenty feet high. Those on top are newer than those on the bottom, as if the pile gets added to every so often. On one side, there looks to be an opening covered with branches.

As you open the door, you see a tunnel sloping into the darkness. It's hard to tell how far it goes; the daylight fails to penetrate more than about one hundred feet. As you look down the tunnel, you notice no footprints of any kind. The dirt and moss have not been disturbed in years.

A female human opens the door shortly after you are hit with the darts and in a stilted voice says, "Try remember word." She pauses for what seems almost a minute and finally says "Hello." She moves a paw to her temple as if she is thinking and continues, "Never get visitor. Must take care. Did they hurt?"

A female human opens the door and in a stilted voice says, "Try remember word." She pauses for what seems almost a minute and finally says "Hello. Never get visitor. What bring here?"

If the players just don't get the hints, have Auntie Lala offer the party some refreshements. She goes to the kitchen (in reality the hallway between the children's rooms), and then returns as an Illusory Duplicate. She will begin to attack each party member in turn with Vicious Mockery, eventually moving into melee.

Story Overview

Whether the Calder Monastery was built near the village of Calder Bridge, or the village grew after the monastery’s founding, no one remembers. What everyone knows is that the two share a name and a relationship that has been essential to the survival of both for centuries.

After the death of Dean Othmar, it seemed a bit strange that a Minotaur cleric took over a monastery filled with human monks, but the relationship with village was not affected. Over the next five years, the monks became more reclusive, until one day they closed the doors to the great hall. That was twenty years ago.

Appropriate details can be revealed to the party during the Skills Challenge (Part Two: In Search of a Warlock) on the road between Calder Village and Edgemont.

Adventure Summary

The Party was last seen in Boustead Village training for level 4. The GM can develop whatever story they desire to bring them to Calder and get them interested in investigating the monastery and continue in search of Arsys.

Part One: Entering the Grounds is intended for players of level 4, with at least one character able to deal elemental damage (i.e., acid, cold, fire, lightning, or thunder). It can be run as a one-shot to discover what happened to the monastery and its residents. Treasures should be changed as appropriate.

Part Two: In Search of a Warlock is intended for players of level 4 or 5. It is a Skills Challenge where the players gather information about Calder Monastery, the Temple of Shar in Edgemont, and the Warlock Arsys.

Part Three: A Warlock of Shar is intended for players of level 5. It is the confrontation with Arsys, the Warlock behind the mystery at Calder Monastery.

Setup and Starting Points

If this is being run as a one-shot, before the adventure begins is the time to figure out if the characters already know each other or if this is the first time they have met. If this is a continuation of the Islemont campaign, a reason will need to be found to get the party from Boustead to Calder. The god or gods the original monks of Calder Monastery served is at the discretion of the GM, although they should be of neutral or good alignment.

Prologue

The mystery begins in the village of Calder, where the party hears of the mystery surrounding the monastery.

Speaking with various members of the village, the party can learn:

Outside the Ruins

These are the animated skeletons of the human initiates (level 5 monks) of the monastery. They are dressed in the rags of robes with a rope tied around their waists. Rather than using melee weapons, they fight as monks. They have no treasure.

Searching the Kitchen, the party can find enough pieces of fine cookware and cutlery to put together a set of Silver Cook’s Utensils (100gp, allows user to add proficiency bonus x2 to ability checks).

Character Advancement

At the conclusion of Part One, the players have completed four Minor Milestones and are Level 5. They can train in Calder Village.

Part Two: In Search of a Warlock

Part Three: A Warlock of Shar

Arsys is in the two-room apartment that she also uses as a laboratory. The layout is very simple: a large common room (30 feet by 30 feet) with a desk near the far wall and tables along each of the side walls; it has a door at the far end. Through the door the party will find a small makeshift bedroom (15 feet by 30 feet).

A map of Arsys' apartment is available in Appendix A: Maps.

When the party arrives outside her apartment, regardless of what they say in greeting, ask for a CHA/Deception or CHA/Intimidation check.

If the party beats her Passive Insight (17), the door will open on its own and she will allow them to enter.

If the party fails to beat Arsys’ Passive Insight (17) check or she knows the party is coming, the door will open as they knock and she will be found by one of the side tables, but within reach of the desk. She will be casting Armor of Agathys (25 temporary HP) as the party enters.

Concluding the Adventure

The players can visit the temple of the god or gods of the clerics that founded Calder Monastery to relate the story of what has happened. If the party returns the four religious relics found in the Brother Monks apartments from the monastery, they will be given one Potion of Greater Healing (4d4+4 hit points) per player.

If A Servant of Shar is being run as a one-shot, where you take the players from here is up to you. Calder Village and Edgemont can be placed anywhere in your world, allowing the players to visit (and maybe revisit).

If it is being run as part of the Islemont Campaign, the party can stay in Edgemont or return to Calder Village.

Story Overview

The party has been approached to explore a newly discovered network of caves in the Northern Mountains. In the meantime, Gnirk and Gnark have heard the party have returned to Frostmont. Little do the thugs know how powerful the party has become. After a very brief and unsuccessful attempt at revenge, Gnirk and Gnark decide to gather a small band and try to ambush the party outside that same network of caves.

Adventure Summary

Gnirk and Gnark play a game of hide and seek with the party, as the party explores caves in The Northern Mountains.

Setup and Starting Points

During their time in Edgemont or Calder, the party has heard of an opportunity to explore newly discovered caves in the Northern Mountains. They are to travel to Frostmont and meet their contact, Darser Woldstone (a dwarven merchant), at The Compass, an outfitter for mountain treks. It is on the same street as The Bronze Mace, the same tavern where the party found Gnirk and Gnark months before.

If Gnirk and/or Gnark were killed during the party's first encounter with them at The Bronze Mace, the GM will need to make appropriate changes to the storyline. Or the GM can simply state that they were found and healed after the party left The Bronze Mace.

Prologue: Return to Frostmont

As soon as the party enters the street with The Compass and The Bronze Mace, Gnirk and Gnark attack. They swore revenge on the party but had no idea how powerful they had become. No matter the initiative, Gnirk and Gnark will act first in the round. Gnirk and Gnark should miss their attacks. No matter their rolls (except a natural 1), the party should hit on their attacks; damage is irrelevant. At the beginning of the second round of combat, Gnirk and Gnark will run away. If the party tries to follow them, they quickly lose them in the crowds.

The party can then continue to The Compass to meet Darser Woldstone.

The Temple

The Temple and Antechamber (13) have been outfitted for worship, but the altar stone and greataxe have not yet been installed. When the party enters The Antechamber, they will see the altar stone and greataxe there. They will find four Goblin Priests and eight Goblins in the Temple area making final preparations for the consecration ceremony. The Goblin Priests will fight to the death, but the other Goblins will disengage and try to escape if given the opportunity.

Goblin Priest (4) Small humanoid (goblinoid), Neutral Evil AC: 14 (Leather Armor) Hit Points: 9 (2d6+2) Speed: 30 ft STR 8 (-1) DEX 12 (+1) CON 10 (+0) INT 10 (+0) WIS 14 (+2) CHA 12 (+1) Skills: Stealth +5, Medicine +2 Senses: Darkvision 60ft, Passive Perception 10 Languages: Common, Goblin CR: 1/4 (50 XP) Proficiency Bonus: +2 Nimble Escape. The Goblin Priest can take the Disengage or Hide action as a bonus action on each of its turns. Spellcasting. The Goblin Priest is a 1st level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 12, +4 to hit with spell attacks). The goblin priest has the following cleric spells prepared. Cantrips (at will): light, sacred flame, thaumaturgy 1st level (3 slots): bane, bless, cure wounds Actions Club. Melee Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5ft, one target. Hit: 4 (1d6+1) bludgeoning.

Goblin (8) Small humanoid (goblinoid), Neutral Evil AC: 15 (Leather Armor, Shield) Hit Points: 7 (2d6) Speed: 30 ft STR 8 (-1) DEX 14 (+2) CON 10 (+0) INT 10 (+0) WIS 8 (-1) CHA 8 (-1) Skills: Stealth +6 Senses: Darkvision 60ft, Passive Perception 9 Languages: Common, Goblin CR: 1/4 (50 XP) Proficiency Bonus: +2 Nimble Escape. The goblin can take the Disengage or Hide action as a bonus action on each of its turns. Actions Scimitar. Melee Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5ft, one target. Hit: 5 (1d6+2) slashing. Shortbow. Ranged Attack: +4 to hit, range 80/320 ft, one target. Hit: 5 (1d6+2) piercing.

The goblins’ and goblin priests’ weapons and armor are non-magical. They each carry 20SP. The goblin priests each carry a holy symbol of Maglubiyet.

The Northern Mountains

Story Overview

The many explorers in the mountain caves have disturbed Nicandran, a White Dragon living in the Northern Mountains. She sends her two half-dragon frost giant sons, Koras and Kunir, to Frostmont to find out why humans keep coming into the mountains.

Adventure Summary

About two weeks after the party returns to Frostmont, two half-white dragon frost giants enter the city. They have been sent to find out why the residents have been exploring the Northern Mountains. They are imposing, but do not make threats or attack the city. The encounter can (and should) be resolved through diplomacy.

Setup and Startup Points

The party is in Frostmont completing training for level 7. Koras and Kunir enter the city on the afternoon of their last day of training. After a very short meeting with the nominal city leaders, the party members are approached to hold discussions with the half-dragons.

Can We Talk?

Koras and Kunir are in Frostmont to gather information. They will defend themselves if attacked and will not intentionally kill anyone.

Because Thugs control most of the city, the Council wants to appear neutral and is reluctant to enter into public discussions. A few members privately approach the party to speak with Koras and Kunir.

Successful resolution can be reached by talking, including:

Story Overview

The attack on her sons, Koras and Kunir, has forced Nicandran, the Adult White Dragon living in the Northern Mountains, to seek revenge. She attacks the city of Frostmont, laying waste to it.

Adventure Summary

Two weeks after the fight with Koras and Kunir, Nicandran attacks Frostmont, laying waste to everything she can. The party finds themselves helpless in defending the city and must try to save as many residents as possible.

Setup and Startup Points

This adventure should only be run if the party made the stupid decision to attack Koras and Kunir in Two Halves Don’t Make a Whole. The party has physically recovered from their encounter and are in the Western District of Freemont.

Nicandran, The Great White Wyrm

You have spent the last two weeks recovering from your wounds after the fight with Koras and Kunir. Just as you feel well enough to leave your lodgings and begin light training, the city erupts with screams and prayers.

"Great Eldath, protect us!" "Helm, we need you!"

You look into the sky to see a great White Wyrm flying over the Northern District of Frostmont, breathing ice and tearing at buildings with its great claws. You quickly realize it is Nicandran, Koras and Kunir's mother, come to seek revenge for your attack on her sons.

You are too far away to engage them directly, but you know there are other ways you can help.

We’re Here to Help

Although the stats for Koras, Kunir, and Nicandran are given, the party should not directly encounter them. The party’s mission is to help as many inhabitants of Frostmont as possible and should be played out as a Skills Challenge.

As with all Skills Challenges, there are no right or wrong actions, only successes and failures. The party must achieve the target number of successful Skill checks (typically the number of party members plus three) before getting three (3) unsuccessful Skill checks. The DC of the checks is set by the GM based on the party’s level and the CR of the encounter.

When the party reaches the target number of successes, they succeed in the Skills Challenge. If the party reaches the target number of failures first, they fail. The outcomes of each scenario will be determined by the GM, with a combination of narrative and mechanical consequences.

If the party attempts to engage Nincandran, Koras, or Kunir directly through the Skills Challenge, any successes should result in minor injuries to the foes at most. Failures can result in minor or major injuries to the character or party, depending on the Skill attempt. No character should die unless they place themselves directly into harm's way.

The success or failure of the party at the Skills Challenge has no bearing on the fate of Frostmont: it is devastated by Nicandran and her sons. The party will have an opportunity to help the city in its recovery later.

Character Advancement

The author uses milestones for advancement and requires two major (or six minor) for advancement to level 8. If the party succeeds in the Skills Challenge, they have earned two Minor Milestones. Combined with the one they earned from failed discussions and melee in Two Halves Don’t Make a Whole, they now have one Major Milestone for level 8.

If the party fails at the Skills Challenge, they earn one Minor Milestone and will be one Minor Milestone short of their first Major Milestone for level 8.

The success or failure of the party at the Skills Challenge has no bearing on the fate of Frostmont: it is devastated by Nicandran and her sons.

Story Overview

The thugs have decided it is time to settle their individual differences and take direct control of Frostmont.

Adventure Summary

After the three assassination attempts are resolved, surviving players and NPC Guards should make their way to the Frostmont Authority Building in the Central District for the final confrontation. Surviving Thugs and Assassins from any party failures will also be at the Frostmont Authority Building, so their statuses should be recorded at the end of melee (a chart is provided to the left). If all party members survived, the final confrontation should be resolved quickly.

If the party is successful in stopping the overall assassination attempt (i.e., killing all eight of the Thugs), Freemont is safe. The Thug network has lost its leaders and will not be able to recover quickly enough to threaten the city.

If the party fails (i.e., all party members are killed or knocked unconscious), the Thugs take control of Frostmont and the players get to create new characters.

Story Overview

The party has reached a milestone in their adventuring and have been summoned to the Conclave of Dryads to make a personal sacrifice to preserve the relationship between the Feywild and the Material Plane.

Adventure Summary

Last we saw the party, they were in Frostmont, having reached level 8: new skills, new feats, new abilities. But they haven't been able to replace their weapons and armor since they were in the Feywild. They have been summoned back to the Feywild and must make a choice.

Setup and Startup Points

The party is in Frostmont completing their training for Level 8 when they receive a message from Ælfspring summoning them to the Feywild. They must venture northeast to the Grove of Esk.

Part One: Summoned to the Feywild

While completing their training in Frostmont, the party receives a message from Ælfspring. The GM can choose to have the party together or separate when the message arrives, but they all receive it at the same time:

Part Two: The Grove of Esk

The journey to the Grove of Esk is a seven to ten day journey. Traveling through the grasslands and foothills, the party should have two or three random encounters. The grasslands are unsettled, so a small pack or herd of beasts (i.e., dire wolves, lions, giant elk, etc.) would be appropriate. Eventually, the party reaches the river and begins to follow it.

The Conclave can be inside or outside, but should not be within sight of the portal. They greet the characters, introducing themselves in turn. The GM should describe the members in relation to their flower and color. The players can take this opportunity to introduce themselves. Any character who speaks to the Conclave without making an introduction is directly asked who they are.

After introductions, the characters are told they have been summoned to assist in restoring the bond between the Feywild and the Material Plane. The Conclave will allude to the the history of the Rivers Esk and Eden and the closure of the two Groves of Eden. Juniper speaks to the party:

What the Conclave is proposing is a point of Strength or Constitution or a Hit Dice from each character to correspond to the sacrifice made by each Conclave member. The players can ask any questions and/or make any counter proposals they wish. Simple magic will not be accepted. Only personal sacrifice of some kind. Discussions should be guided by the fact that the Conclave of Dryads are Lawful Good and will always follow reasoning for benefit of the greatest good.

The GM should make it clear to the players that table discussions are allowed, but their characters should make the decision individually and it should be communicated to the GM privately.

Epilogue: Return to the Material Plane

When the party is ready to return to Islemont, Ælfspring will escort them through the portal. They emerge to find themselves about half a day's journey from where they entered the Feywild. They recognize the landscape, as they passed it on their journey to the Grove of Esk, but they are no longer in the grasslands. They are in the foothills.

The party can return to Frostmont (seven days) to relay the information they have learned. If the city was destroyed by Nicandran, they might need to travel to Edgemont (ten days) instead. If they wish, they can follow the River Esk into the mountains in search of the other Grove of Esk (seven days) but risk a deadly encounter with Nicandran outside her lair.

Character Advancement

The author uses milestones for advancement and requires three major (or nine minor) for advancement to level 9. The party should earn one Minor Milestone for each random encounter during the journey to the Grove of Esk. Any member of the party agreeing to assist the Conclave of Dryads, earns their first Major Milestone towards level 9. Any member of the party not agreeing to assist the party earns a Minor Milestone.

This is the first time characters within the party can be mismatched in their advancement. It is important to keep track of what characters have earned what Milestones.

Story Overview

After returning from the Feywild, the party is contacted by an historian from Edgemont who wishes to hire them to find out if rumors of a collection of long-lost coins from Islemont’s past are true.

Adventure Summary

A small number of ancient song-pu pieces have been sold in Edgemont and appear to be real. The local historian wishes to hire the party to locate where they were found and if there are more.

Setup and Startup Points

While traveling from the Grove of Esk towards Frostmont or Edgemont, the party is contacted (in person or by Sending) with a job offer.

Prologue

In Islemont's ancient past, most pure silver and gold was reserved for jewelry and precious objects. Some coins were minted in silver (sib-pu) and gold (pu) for use by the nobility or in religious ceremonies, but the vast majority were minted using the naturally occurring electrum alloy for coins called song-pu. When they learned to separate the electrum into its composite metals, the old song-pu coins were melted down for use in new sib-pu (silver) and pu (gold) coins, as well as jewelry and other objects.

The few song-pu coins that still exist in Islemont are extremely valuable for their historic nature, worth much more than their simple material value.

Tishan Rouse, a mage studying the prehistory of Islemont, recently learned of the sale of three song-pu coins to a merchant in Edgemont. Although she was not able to acquire them, she was able to examine them long enough to cast Identify and determine they were real. She was also able to learn where they were found.

She is too old to travel herself, and would like to hire the party to investigate.

The party will need to decide if they will climb down the rock face, if they will walk around to the southern side of the farm, or if they will call out to the farm.

Any character trying to climb down the rock face must succeed on a DC25 DEX/Acrobatics or STR/Athletics check or take 2d6 bludgeoning damage. If the character makes use of a rope, they gain a +5 on the check.

Any character choosing to walk around to the southern side of the farm will take five minutes if they head northwest or fifteen minutes to find a safe path if they head east.

If they call out to the farm, Warford and Sibbford will emerge from the main quarters and walk towards the double gate into the livestock yard.

Warford asks, "It's not often we get visitors. What brings you out this way?"

"We always knew there was something under the windmill because of the stairs, but we couldn't get down there from all the rubble. Once we repaired the fences and whatnot, we started clearing the steps a little each day until we found a room that was almost as big as the main house."

"From the dust and dirt, it looked like it had been sealed off for over a century. There were a few crates, a wheelbarrow, and some small rooms with straw mats, but nothing that looked valuable. We saw a few coins here and there, so we picked those up."

He walks over to a sideboard, opens a drawer and takes out a small coffer. When he opens it, a look of puzzlement comes across his face. "Audery, did you move them? Nothing's in here.

Audery gives him a look of confusion, walks over and looks in the drawer. "Maybe they fell out."

Once underground, you see that they were telling (mostly) the truth. Only the stairs and large room have been cleared. The stairs enter the large room (35ft x 30ft) in the southeast corner. The rooms with straw mats line the northern wall, but they look more like cells than rooms. There is a single door on the western wall and a double door on the eastern wall.

[Sibbford speaks up, "As you can see, this is all we were able to clear. The doors lead to a hallway that goes around this room." He points at the western and eastern walls, then motions along the southern wall "There are more little rooms over there. And that's where the room with the big table is. The office and bedrooms are that way." "Most of the coins were in the office, but a couple were just on the floor here and there."]

Tishan is very interested in the coins, but does not have the resources (between 50,000gp and 100,000gp depending on condition) to purchase all 5,000 from (or reimburse) Warford. She offers 2,500gp for the crate he allowed to be brought to Edgemont and asks that he keep the rest secret while she researches the coins. He agrees only if the party returns/stays to find the young couple.

When the party presents the crates to Tishan, she is overwhelmed by the number of coins you have brought. Tishan quickly becomes lost in thought, forgetting the party is there. She mumbles occasional sentences: "One, maybe two, dozen coins, I thought. But five thousand? In one place? The entire early history of Islemont will have to be rewritten. How many coins were minted? Are these just the coins that survived? Or were none destroyed? I wish I could live long enough to answer these questions."

If she's interrupted, Tishan apologizes, "I'm sorry. It's just that even if only one percent survived, they would have had to mint over half a million coins for a population we think was fewer than 5,000! What were they doing with all those coins?"

If the party asks Tishan about the Ring of Mind Shielding, she will cast Legend Lore and relate all information to them. She will offer to cast Banishment to rid the ring of Guzzik's soul.

Agriculture and Husbandry

Being isolated for so long, the people of Islemont had to find ways to ensure their survival from the flora and fauna present on the island. They developed varieties and breeds that could be exploited for specific resources.

Cosmology and Metaphysics

The island's location near the equator allowed its inhabitants to study nearly the entire night sky as the seasons passed. Through this work, they developed theories and proofs about the nature of the universe.

This study of the cosmos influenced their spiritual beliefs, leading most to a polytheistic view. The truly devout found themselves imbued with the ability to channel the desires of certain deities as divine magic.

Once contact with Faerûn was made, the gods of Islemont found complementary deities in the pantheon of the Realms. Some natives of Islemont still insist on using the ancient names of the gods.

Natural Magic

The presence of the Neverending River and its portals into the Material Plane allowed the magic of the Feyworld to seep into the natural world. Over time, those living nearest the springs learned to channel and control the energy until they became masters of manipulating this natural magic.

Arcane Magic

While some sought power through faith or nature, others studied the secrets behind magic. Slowly they untangled the mysteries that allowed them to bend reality to fit their desires. In time, they formed schools to focus their research and secure the survival of their knowledge.

-14,472 DR to -14,371 DR

-14,372 DR to -14,271 DR

-14,272 DR to -14,171 DR

Clans merged

-14,172 DR to -14,071 DR

-14,072 DR to -13,971 DR

-13,972 DR to -13,871 DR

-13,872 DR to -13,771 DR

-13,772 DR to -13,671 DR

-13,672 DR to -13,571 DR

-13,572 to -13,471 DR

Story Overview

Adventure Summary

Setup and Startup Points

Prologue

Part One:

Part Two:

Part Three:

Epilogue

Character Advancement

The author uses milestones for advancement and requires X major (or X minor) for advancement to level X.

Because characters within the party can be mismatched in their advancement, it is important to keep track of what characters have earned what Milestones.