1351 Campaign - Act 2: Incoming Calamity from the North

[DM Theophanies]

///This thread will deal with the undead threat from the north. Please feel free to post any relevant RP to the liches, undead and Kheldrivver within this thread.

[DM Theophanies]

I will be running an event series with (hopefully) a few other DM's for the evacuation of Kheldrivver. This will be largely open. Events will start 15:00 GMT on Saturday May 2nd 2015.

A letter is delivered to numerous spots along the Sword Coast by a faithful Templar of the Morninglord upon galloping steed.

Faithful, and goodly people of the Coast;

Many of you already know about the undead threat to the North. Of new undead monstrosities in the depths of the Vaults on the Fields of the Dead, dark curses, nesting evils extending tendrils to the living.

All true. All a matter which calls the righteous.

Yet events reach a critical point in the village of Kheldrivver. An undead horde issuing forth from a ruined Netherese city in the north remains encamped in the village, and its people now live in dire and urgent threat of death, hidden in terror in their homes. We cannot say what the undead who now hold the outskirts of the village seek; we can say that they have the power to extinguish all the lives in that place. Or if not them, another of the lichs from that ruined city, of which dire warnings have been given by Lathander and a host of other deities.

We must act.

If Kheldrivver is to become a battleground again, the people there must be saved. We must save them from being caught up in this war between the living and the dead. If Kheldrivver is to be the anvil of war, they must be brought to safety first. And we call upon all of you for aid in this.

What is currently proposed is that mages are contacted in order to arrange teleportation circles, which will allow for a large movement of people from Kheldrivver back to a safe place. Current thought is Baldur's Gate, where aid can be provided by way of alms by the goodly temples. Donations in this regard would be welcome.

The fear is that when the people leave their hiding places to be teleported, the undead may try and slay them, or those mages who will empower the circles.

It is here we can make a difference.

We call upon your aid in forming an impenetrable shield, standing between the evacuating citizens and the undead - and if the undead should try and stop the evacuation, holding the line.

And once the people are safe, aid in a less glorious task, providing food, clothing and coin to allow the collected Temples of Baldur's Gate to provide healing, support and sustenance to the refugees.

It sounds a simple task. If we are opposed, it will not be. But it must be done. With your aide, it can be done - innocent lives can be saved.

Join us, and let us show the risen dead what the living can do, united in hearts and common purpose!


Knight-Commander Eldarian Al'maire
Vicar Neschera
Brother Ameris Santraeger

[PiaMango]

A contingent of the Everwatch Knights were seen headed eastward to meet with the Helllriders of Elturel after a response was received to Watchknight Bakerton's call for aid again the looming threat to the north. The Hellriders facing an orcish threat of their own were unable to commit there support until it had been dissolved. An ambitous plan was proposed by the Captain holding severe risks for the Half-Orcish Watchknight. The meeting adjourned without final commitments from the Watchknight to the plan, yet.

[mrm3ntalist]

Elindarian, Nai, Dae and Mendel upon getting the reports from the scouts, about the sighting of the undead hoard, they form a scouting party. They travel through Misty Forest to the Troll Claws, searching for the undead hoard. After many hours of searching they locate the army at the eastern parts of the Troll Claws. It is a massive army of undead and exotic looking Golems, all travelling towards the Moors or Misty Forest perhaps, at a slow but steady pace.

The scouting party hastily returns to the village and begin preparations. The first being informing their allies about this danger

[Ariella]

Members of the Radiant Heart and Temple of Sune start getting supply's ready to help with the evacuation. a collection of clothes is gathered up from the temples current seamstress in preparation for the increase in refuges and dropped of in the temple of ilmater.

///58 outfits were given to the npc

[SeedsOfDoubt]

*With a lick of Mendel's face from her forked dragon tongue, she takes to the air, with a note in her massive claw that Mendel had written down for her, and heads straight for the grove to look for Vendor, Berea or Ivan to inform them of what they just saw.

Upon landing, she greets the Unicorn and the rest of the animals first then looks for the others, handing them the note and explaining about the disease being spread on every inch of the land these undead are allowed to continue walking on.

Should she not find any of them in the grove, she would then reluctantly head for the cities, sure she will find Ivan or Berea there.*

Elindarian, Nai, Dae and Mendel upon getting the reports from the scouts, about the sighting of the undead hoard, they form a scouting party. They travel through Misty Forest to the Troll Claws, searching for the undead hoard. After many hours of searchingthey locate the army at the eastern parts of the Troll Claws. It is a massive army of undead and exotic looking Golems, all travelling towards the Moors or Misty Forest perhaps, at a slow but steady pace.

The scouting party hastily return to the village and begin preparations. The first being informing their allies about this danger

[LISA100595]

*Lady Elvina returns a quick reply*

We're ready at a moments notice all Knights that are available.

Lady Elvina

I will be running an event series with (hopefully) a few other DM's for the evacuation of Kheldrivver. This will be largely open. Events will start 15:00 GMT on Saturday May 2nd 2015.

A letter is delivered to numerous spots along the Sword Coast by a faithful Templar of the Morninglord upon galloping steed.

Faithful, and goodly people of the Coast;

Many of you already know about the undead threat to the North. Of new undead monstrosities in the depths of the Vaults on the Fields of the Dead, dark curses, nesting evils extending tendrils to the living.

All true. All a matter which calls the righteous.

Yet events reach a critical point in the village of Kheldrivver. An undead horde issuing forth from a ruined Netherese city in the north remains encamped in the village, and its people now live in dire and urgent threat of death, hidden in terror in their homes. We cannot say what the undead who now hold the outskirts of the village seek; we can say that they have the power to extinguish all the lives in that place. Or if not them, another of the lichs from that ruined city, of which dire warnings have been given by Lathander and a host of other deities.

We must act.

If Kheldrivver is to become a battleground again, the people there must be saved. We must save them from being caught up in this war between the living and the dead. If Kheldrivver is to be the anvil of war, they must be brought to safety first. And we call upon all of you for aid in this.

What is currently proposed is that mages are contacted in order to arrange teleportation circles, which will allow for a large movement of people from Kheldrivver back to a safe place. Current thought is Baldur's Gate, where aid can be provided by way of alms by the goodly temples. Donations in this regard would be welcome.

The fear is that when the people leave their hiding places to be teleported, the undead may try and slay them, or those mages who will empower the circles.

It is here we can make a difference.

We call upon your aid in forming an impenetrable shield, standing between the evacuating citizens and the undead - and if the undead should try and stop the evacuation, holding the line.

And once the people are safe, aid in a less glorious task, providing food, clothing and coin to allow the collected Temples of Baldur's Gate to provide healing, support and sustenance to the refugees.

It sounds a simple task. If we are opposed, it will not be. But it must be done. With your aide, it can be done - innocent lives can be saved.

Join us, and let us show the risen dead what the living can do, united in hearts and common purpose!


Knight-Commander Eldarian Al'maire
Vicar Neschera
Brother Ameris Santraeger

[Bassman]

*The Knights and Squires of the Silver Rose can be seen scouring the lands for supplies. Buying up what they can of Healing potions, Raise dead scrolls, and Diamonds. Along with cure disease potions for any that have become stricken with disease. While the Order's smithy's are busy repairing armors and sharpening blades, preparing for war. Knight General Seth Siger still continues to patrol the North, Monitoring the activities in the Troll Claw Hills. All are ready at a moments notice for the call to Battle.*

[Miasmata]

A lone templar with a golden cloak is seen on a dapple grey horse making haste in the north. Oddly, the templar veers away from Baldur’s Gate and continues with as much speed as possible to his mysterious destination. A few murmurs from the farmers that catch the sight state that surely the horse would keel over if he kept up that pace or if he had far to go.

[[ PM sent to DMs. ]]

[Moltrazahn]

*In the Northern Region of the coast, several miles after the ill-famed "boareskyr bridge", Corvus Khaine walked in silent contemplation. It had taken him around a half day to reach this location, and now that he was here, he sighed.

He stood in a bog, a swamp, a place that reeked of old plants and dense air. He had walked it for several hours now, reaching near its inner area, less populated by the tribes of hobgoblins that lived on its borders. Within the bog itself, will-o-wisps and old ents wandered, silently guarding their home, or luring victims to an early death in the treacherous waters.

Still, his training as jungle-druid, did give some advantage in these remote areas of civilisation. Thanks to the blessings of the wild, he had no scent, he left no tracks, he was in camouflage with the wild, and the locals for the better part, let him be, as long as he didn't cross them intentionally.

Still, he was not here to loiter or spectate... he was here to hunt. The task set upon himself, and the elder circle, was one of importance. They needed to find the "Dead-zones" in the wild... a place where the wild seemed, empty, where a void of nothing resided in the otherwise buzzing fauna and flora of nature. In these locations, dug deep under ground, festering like an infected wound, a plague-spitter would reside. An unholy abomination, made by a High priestess of Talona; Magmire the blind. Their task, was to locate these undead-arachnids, contain them... and get enough warriors of civilization here to battle the monstrosities, before they could infect the area in which they resided.

Corvus knelt down, and removed his glove. He uttered a few words, and the magic of the wild flowed through him. Tho' druids were adapt at communicating with nature, the spell would amplify his abilities many-fold. His hand touched the ground, and his presence was engulfed in the entities of the bog, its animals, insects, plants, the soil, the reptiles, trees... His mind stayed like this for a while, allowing himself to look for any part of the bog which seemed unnatural, as if a zone of nothing existed there he would find it... he grunted, and continued his communion*

[Touri]

*Somewhere around Triel you still can see the ruins of the Shrine of Chauntea. Right among the remains sits Vendor Xon, the half-elven ranger, communing with the tainted land.*

[finneas]

*Quint, more comfortable in the rocky terrain and dark holes than most of his Elder Circle brethren takes it upon himself to trek north and search the inhospitable mountain climes of the sword coast. He climbs high to gain good vantage so as to best plan his search.*



*After surveying the area from a distance he moves to the river and spends many hours pressed firmly against the rock there, listening to its tales and trials.*



*He searches the ruins and even takes time to speak with some of the locals to gain their insight into the walking dead scourge.*



*Finally the cavestalker moves to where he feels most comfortable, the close-pressed walls of the caverns in the area. He spends nearly an entire day just walking, always touching the stone, studying its sign, looking for any telltale of the warnings bidden by the druids of the grove. Some do not approve of his presence but it matters not to the grimy dwarven ranger.*

[Truthiness]

This better not be another ruse. Ivan thought to himself as he made his way through the familiar woods. Who was the crone? Why did she know so much? Why was she helping? Is this meant as a distraction to waste our time? It doesn't matter, these blighted minions need to be destroyed as soon as possible, and at least this is only a short detour on my way to-- His thoughts interrupted as he lays eyes on the mushroom circle below.



A Fey Circle. A Leyline. It helped with Kaltyra's communion once before, perhaps it will help with mine. His thoughts continued as he made his way down the small hill. Briefly checking around the circle for any interlopers, he takes a seat in the center of the circle, muttering some words in Sylvan. "I will not be here long, I simply wish to use this site to aid in the protection of the land. A gift shall be had in return." The druid pulls out a small loaf of bread from his pack and places it before him, as an offering.



If uninterrupted, Ivan places his hand against the ground and begins his communion, broadening his senses to the world around him, feeling the current of a nearby river, both the joy and fear as a predator finds a prey, the ebb and flow of the natural workings around him. But, that is not what he is looking for... what he searches for is something unnatural, dead spots in the woods, somewhere where the life above has been desecrated due to what lies below, also searching for any feelings of an unnatural creature in the area. Perhaps one of the plague-spitters have felt brave enough to come to the surface. Not for long, anyway.

[Moltrazahn]

Corvus was told by Eleanor about the eminent rescue of the town of Kheldrivver. From what else he gathered, this town had been overrun before by hordes of unliving... And given its location, it seemed all but too convenient. From what they had discovered, the longer plague-spitters strayed from the broodmother, the weaker they became. And Kheldrivver was in-between the two weaker encounters, yet close to the strongest spider they had faced thus-far.

He located the heart-warder, Erza, and gave his name those that were going to Khendrivver to help with the evacuation. Honestly, he cared little for people... these lands could do with less populated areas so nature could reclaim some of its lost borders. Yet still, one has to brake an raptoregg to get an omelet... just have to make sure its mum aint around. And in this case, the undead-plague counted for that... if humorlessly so.

They arrived some hours later at the town, with the rest of the would-be-heros. Knowing that peace most likely wouldn't last long, he jumped out the wagon to inspect the place. A open area, few hills and mountains not far off, given its location. A fortress of stone rose atop the highest natural rise in the area, overlooking the worked soil of farmers underneath its shadow. He grunted, such desecration of what must have been rolling hills once.

Regardless, he knelt down as the people behind him started to bark orders at each other. He felt a twitch of annoyance knowing he had to lend support to them, but nevertheless more was at stake then his own dislike of people, and holy fanatics... He placed his hand on the ground, uttering the words of his communion blessing again. His mind expanded, as every root, worm, bug, ant, tree, crop and animal in miles spoke to him, yet where they presence where soothing, plenty of fear, and lack of life where detected.... The undead were not far... yet despite this, his mind propped for the deadzones, if any were to be found near the city of Kheldrivver.

[DM Theophanies]

Evacuation of Kheldrivver

The time had come for Kheldrivver to be evacuated and many answered the call. Caravan's leaving from Baldur's Gate arrived at the tiny hamlet nestled along the Trade Way between the Troll Claws and the Troll Hills. As they walked through the village, they saw many of the townsfolk packing up their things into caravans for their journey from their homes. This had been their home for generations, fighting back against the waves of trolls in the areas from the safety of their walls. Leaving it now was very difficult, even after the city had been occupied by the undead.

The group arrived just in time, as when they were meeting with the Mayor, a scout arrived to report not one, but two groups coming towards the village. A band of trolls and a horde of zombies. Time was of the essence as the preparations were made to open the portals to safely bring the refugees to the Trade Way leading towards Baldur's Gate.



Then came the zombie horde, creeping along the edges of the village and through the grain fields, blocking off the road out of Kheldrivver and preventing any escape by caravan. The portal the only option to get the people out alive. The defensive group repelled the incoming horde as they battled in the open fields, slowly falling back to the gates of the walled hamlet, buying time for the evacuating group within to finish getting the remaining citizens out of their homes and into the safety of the portal.

The fight was long and taxing, though their combined might of the defensive group were able to hold back wave after wave of the undead horde and fierce trolls. The mayor and his guards joined in the fight, which would eventually cost him his life, as well as a few of hte guards. Luckily, the defensive group were able to pull his fallen form back within the walls. Finally there was a pause as the onslaught ceased, the remaining zombies of the horde lingering outside the walls, slowly swarming around a magic shrouded figure. It would appear this newcomer was commanding them and trying to lure out the defenders from their walls. Instead the group used the lull to give the final push to evacuate through the portal and safely away from Kheldrivver.



On the other side the Mayor was brought back and the citizens were comforted. Thankful, the Mayor offered to return with what was left of his guards to help clean out the city to allow the group to use it as an outpost while his people were displaced. Shortly after, the Flaming Fist arrived to bring the refugees to Baldur's Gate to be checked over, healed and housed.

Rewards:
2000 gold or xp.