Betrayal of the Dragon Queen.

The characters.

Hedrag – Fighter, XP 10, HP 19, Level 2.
Peran Freeshadow – Rogue, XP 8, HP 17 Level 1
Derowen – Ranger, XP 7, HP14 Level 1
Morwen – Magic User, XP 6, HP 15, Level 1

The companions have arrived at Northgate, they are cold, wet and miserable thanks to the constant rain. They have accompanied a merchant and his elven friend, Theobald and Crusina the elf maiden.

At Northgate.

Question. Do they have an encounter when they enter Northgate? d6 =3. Yes, but… (I am going to ignore the but this time so it becomes a straight yes).
Roll d20 for encounter (Northgate Encounters p 62, Midlands book). d20 = 7. A young teenager, Lela, is sitting on a crate begging for alms. Her mother was taken buy the Anointed a fortnight ago and Lela is now homeless.
Lela is – inquisitive, demanding.

The companions cannot help but be entranced by the beauty of Northgate, nestling as it does between the great lake Argos, the Ironhull Mountains and Wistwood, it is indeed a city of wonder.

The companions enter the fine city of Northgate through the Westgate entrance. Almost directly in front of them is the Cosyhouse Inn & Stables which Theobald recommends as a place they should stay. He also tells them that this where they part company, he has business to attend to before being on his way again. He thanks them for rescuing Crusina and for their company on the journey here and wishes them well on their travels and to keep clear of the Anointed.

Crusina talks to Moewen, “I know you hear the dragons, your sister too although she does not speak of it. If what Kirkwood says is true then war is looming and I fear we will play our part in it. Find the lost city and find what secrets it holds. I wish I could go with you but that cannot be”.

With that she re-joins Theobald on their wagon and they head off deeper into the city.

The companions get themselves a room for the evening and stable their horses, the old dog follows Hedrag into the Cosyhouse Inn. They dry themselves and eat a meal to nourish themselves.

“What now?” asks Peran.

“Seems I am stuck with this old fellow no matter what. Before we look for the ruins of Dierthama lets take sometime to explore Northgate, we need to stock up on provisions and such”. Hedrag pats the old dogs head.

Although its still raining the companions venture out into the bustling city.

Lela.

The companions make their way past the beautiful district of Yuln Varsune and find themselves in the Row, the poor slum area of Northgate. To the left of the street they are walking down they see the Low District Open Market. Today it is very quiet thanks in no small part to the rain. Sitting on a crate is a young teenage girl begging for food even though there are few to hear her. She is wet through, dirty, looks miserable and hungry.

Seeing the companions enter the market place she calls to them “Please kind gentle folk spare a coin or a bite to eat. My mother was taken by the Anointed and now I have nowhere to go”.

A woman shouts from a window behind the girl “Yer ma deserved what she got, nothing but a common thief that woman and yer no better, go on off with yer”.

Hedrag suggests giving the girl a couple of silver coins then getting on their way, he doesn’t want to get involved in conversation with the girl. Darorwen feels different and approaches the young girl. She sees the girl is no older than 14 years, “What about your farther, do you not have any other family who can help”?

“No and I have never known my Farther, my mother never talked of him”.

Darowen smiles at the girl, “my sister and I know of that only to well. We all could use a hot meal, take us to a food stall and we will treat you”.

“My name is Lela, what’s yours”?

“I am Derowen”.

“And by what names do your friends go by”?

“This is my sister Morwen, this rogue here is Peran and the gruff one is Hedrag”.

The beggar girl leads the companions back the way they came and takes them to an inn called Elfhome. The building is an old three story elven dwelling now converted to a tavern selling expensive food and wine.

“This place looks beyond our means, best you take us to somewhere more affordable” barks Hedrag but the girl is determined.

“This is the only place in Northgate that serves food I would trust not to make us ill”, with that she marches into the Elfhome.

Darown puts her hand on Hedrags arm, “don’t worry, I can cover this, I will explain later”.

Inside, Lela orders herself a sumptuous meal and expensive drinks, Hedrag is about to complain once again but Derowen cuts him off, “Why was your mother taken by these Anointed”?

“Her mother was a thief, thats what we were told and I doubt not that she was” Hedrag barks at Derowen.

Question. Does Lela know why the Anointed took her mother? d6 = 4 No, but…

Lela snaps back at Hedrag “my mother was no thief, she was as honest as anyone. Those Anointed take people for no good reason and for no good purpose, why my mother was taken I know not. All I do know is that she said there was something inside an old derelict house once belonging to a poet called Salic Reynard that would help her release, if you help me find a way in maybe I can find the thing I need and get my mother back “.

“We can help you but what is the thing we are looking for”? Derowen replies.

Question, Does Lela know what her mother thinks is in the house? d6 = 5. No.

“I don’t know, a book maybe or a potion, I am sure I will know what it is when we find it”

The companions make a group Perc check. Morwen and Darowen pass but Peran fails and Hedrag rolls a Terrible Failure. They fail to spot Trisene the landlady listening intently to their conversation.

The companions agree to help Lela search the house for the item she needs, although Hadreg is less enthusiastic than the others.

At Salic Reynards derelict house.

Lela leads the companions from Elfhome back to the poor district known as The Row and to the late Sa;ic Reynards old house which is boarded up, decerped and looks as if it could fall down at any moment.

“Should we go in the front door or try round the back?” asks Peran.

“I don’t think it anyone will care, just try the front door” Hedrag replies.

Question. Is the front door locked? d6 = 3. Yes, because…

Peran examines the door, “the late Reynard certainly didn’t want anyone to enter uninvited, there is a masterworks lock on the door and its locked. I may be able to open it though”.

Derowen looks through a window, “it’s dark in there, anyone think to brig a lantern or a torch”?

Morwen takes a torch and tinderbox from her backpack, “I knew this would come in handy”.

Peran has his thieves tools with him and attempts to pick the lock, (Dex (traps & locks check) at disadvantage. Needs 18 or less to unlock the door, d20 rolls = 5 & 11) he unlocks the door but it refuses to open, it seems the hinges have rusted shut.

Hedrag steps up to the door, “step back Peran, the door should give with a good push”. Hedrag makes a Str (Athletics) check. d20 = 4, a great success, Hedrag shoves the door with his shoulder, not only does the door open but the rust hinges snap and the door falls inward to the ground landing with a dull thud.
Lela rushes towards the entrance keen to get into the old house but before she can Hedrag grabs her by her hood, “oops! sometimes I don’t know my own strength. No you don’t young lady, you can stay next to me where I can keep an eye on you and keep you safe too”.

Morwen use her tinderbox to light the torch, she draws her dagger and steps through the door. “As I am the one with the torch I suppose I should go first”.

Question. Is there anything else in the room. d6 roll = 2 Yes.

Morwen gives out a screech as (d4 = 3) three giant rats run towards her from the corner of the room. As the Giant Rats race towards her Morwen waves her torch at them and Darowen steps into the room as well Short Sword in hand.

Each Giant Rat makes a WIL check to see if it resists Morwens torch. 2 fail, one passes and attacks Morwen.

Two of the three rats fall back, scared by Morwens torch but the third attacks Morwen (d20 roll =12, a hit)
and nips her leg (causing d3 = 1hp). Cursing her bad luck Morwen stabs at the Giant Rat with her dagger, (d20 roll =12 a hit for d4 = 4 hits), she hears the daggers blade crunch the rats bones and the rat drops limp to the floor.

Morwen, waving her torch in front of her, and Darowen advance on the remaining two Giant Rats. Both rats fall back faces with Morwens torch. The sisters corner the rats and strike at them,
Morwen d20 roll = 17, a hit for 3 hits
Darowen d20 roll = 19. a hit for 5 hits + blade trauma
Both Giant Rats bite the dust.

The companions search the room, there are a few bits of decaying furniture but nothing else is found.

A door leads into a second room which looks like it was once used as a cooking and eating area.

Question. Is there anything in this room. d6 = 6 No, and…

Apart from a few bits of old furniture there is nothing of interest in the room and a search by the companions finds nothing useful. A further door at the back of the kitchen room leads into a small back room. There is a flight of stairs up to the upper floor, a locked door that leads outside and stony steps that look like they lead to a basement.

Deciding to search upstairs first, Morwen takes the lead holing her torch high. She sees some yellow mould above her head, the yellow mould releases its deadly spores. Each of the companions make a Luck(Con) roll. Only Darowen fails the roll but I allow her to use her one reroll and she passes.

Morwen uses her torch to burn the yellow mould and the danger passes. No one has inhaled any of the deadly spores and they enter the upper room which contains a bed and a few other bits of old furniture.
A search of the room reveals a bag containing 97 silver pieces and an intricate eyeglass in the shape of a yellow cats eye (value 75sp).
The companions make a group Perc(Detection) Check. Only Peran fails.

Inspecting the rotten mattress on the bed reveals a corner has been slit open and the stitched back up. Morwen uses her dagger to carefully reopen the cut, inside are 5 rolled up paintings by the dead Salic Reynard.

Peran notices an old bookcase which is slightly away from the wall, (Perc (detection) = 7), he risks putting his hand behind it and finds one of Salacs old journals.

Having found all there is to find, the companions head back down the stairs and down the stony staircase to the cellar access to which is blocked by a locked iron door. Peran manages to pick the lock (Dex(Lock and Trap) check d20 = 5, a great success) and the door creaks open.

They enter a 40 ft cellar containing several wine racks with various bottles of wine in them. They guess the wine will be so ols it is probably undrinkable so leave it. They also see a large black curtain on the wall, a stone step at its foot with narrow gauges in it as if struck by a sword. Morwen attempts to detect magic (Int(Arcane Lore) d20 =14, pass (just))

Morwen pulls the curtain down and there behind it is another, circular, door. Two locks keep it from being opened. Peran tries to pic them but fails. Morwen suggests they must be locked with strong magic.

“I don’t wish to worry any of you” says Hedrag, “but there is a bright flickering light up the stairs we cme down, I think the building is on fire”.

The five companions run up the stony stairs, sure enough the place is well on fire, the only way out now is through the back door which is locked. Peran attempts to pick the lock (Dex(Locks & Traps) d20 =2 Great Success). The back door swings open and the companions rush outside back into the rain but safe from the blazing house.

“How did that happen?” asks Hedrag.

“Must have been from my torch when I burnt that yellow mould”, replied Morwen.

Not wanting to hang around, the companions take Lela and everything they found back to their digs at the Cosyhouse tavern.

to be continued