Adventure in the Astran League

Adventure in the Astran League is a campaign in the Vayan setting.

Players

• Laura Higgins as Catya
• Chris Everett as Chalk
• Kim Roberts as Fayra
• Alex Perkins as Rees Golondwy

Timeline

• Session 1: 17th of Mystrir 863 PCA

Links

Session Log at AitAL Log
Detailed Planning at AitAL Planning
Adventure details at The Dragon Cult

Recent happenings

"The village of Lonstrem is a small farmer’s town of about 200 on the Embraweave Plateau east of Suhder. Its mayor, Marwan Rosebelly, has called for aid from the Order of Dawn after almost a quarter of the population has fallen ill almost 3 weeks ago. You are to deliver a wagon with supplies to these people, and assist the local priest of Lathender, Zinfi Goldrest, with finding out where this sickness has come from, and hopefully put an end to it.

Minister Elreak from the Order of Dawn - part of the Church of Pelor - has promised you 100 gold pieces each for your efforts in delivering the cart of goods to Lonstrem, of which you’ve been paid 25 when you left Suhder. You have also been given 3 weeks worth of rations each, enough to get you to the village and back. The wagon is pulled by two donkeys and contains:

• A chest of dry, herbal medical supplies
• A small barrel of liquid medicine
• A chest of bandages
• 4 flasks of strong alcohol (meant as a disinfectant) in a crate.
• A small, locked chest containing scrolls (1 person was given a key to be kept separately)
• A barrel of feed for the donkeys

The wagon has room for 2 people to ride in the front, and two inside (among the goods). The donkeys are called Hilk and Bitty, and are of calm demeanor (they are affectionate and like to be pet on the head).

Pelir 11th By now you’re about 2 days away from Lonstrem. You’ve traveled the Godsroad Highway for a good while, before leaving its relative safety and well kept road surface to travel on the Embraweave Trackway - a much less traveled path leading through the Embraweave Plateau. The journey has been relatively uneventful, save a thief trying to rummage through your goods and wild animals being attracted to the smell of food cooking over a fire. Now, however, bad weather is headed your way as deep blue and gray clouds are blown north-east from the Inmer.

Session 1

Pelir 11th Having found Johan (Steve) on the road the party learns about a house not too far away, it should provide shelter from the coming storm. They also learn Steve has been beaten by a group of highwaymen.

• The party travels to the house, and takes a long time making sure no one is in there before breaking in.
• They also burn down the little wooden shed to the side.

The party takes their time looking around the house, discovering that one of the room contains a bed, the other room appears to be some sort of study.

• As they are looking around the house, it starts raining.
• In the study they find a magic sigil on the ground and a leather bound book on the desk, as well as about 200gp worth of reagents.
• The book contains a number of rituals written in draconic - among which a ritual that describes how to create a portal to Avernus. The ritual requires souls as a component. The book appears to be given to one Hunozur.

Session 2

11-08-2021 Pelir 11th

The party spend the evening talking with Steve when they noticed a figure stalking around outside.

• Catya snuck out of the house and surprised him , forcing him inside at knife point.
• After questioning they find out this half elven man is called Velsalin, 35 y/o and born in Suhder. He claims to be a servant of his queen and master Hunozur.
  • He was sent here to recover the book the party is now holding.

The party tortured Velsalin for information, which he reluctantly spilled:

• Hunozur can be found in a cave south of the village.
• He was ordered to get the book for Hunozur.
• It was Hunozur who made the circle in the other room.
  • Upon learning this the party threw a kneecap they removed from the half-elf into the circle. Nothing happened.

Velsalin managed to escape as the party tried to drag him towards the well outside. He killed himself on one of their daggers.

The party then discussed what they had learned while the storm raged on.

Session 3

25-08-2021 Pelir 12th

The party rests, with Chalk taking first watch.

• Chalk's watch is quiet, not spotting anything.

Rees takes second watch.

• He spots something outside in the rain.
• He decides to investigate, waking Catya up to watch over him.
• Approaching the location he finds a dirt mound. Digging this up he finds a corpse, and drags it inside.

The corpse is of an unknown fellow, who is identified by Steve as mister Rainvale, the owner of this house.

• The party finds a key in one of his pockets.

The party uses the key they found on any lock they can find, until they discover what it is for; a chest in the bedroom that has been previously looted.

Come morning:

• The body is reburied
• The house is carefully inspected - even the living room rug is removed to check for a hidden treasure, of which there is none.
• The party prepares the donkeys to travel to Lonstrem.

After a day of traveling the party arrives, make their way to the Rusty Trough, and have Zinfi Goldrest (not gold breast) called over. They bring the supplies up the chapel, so he can treat the sick.

Planning Summary

Session 0.5 It's been a good week since the four of you left Suhder now, and some 2 days since you took a left onto the Emberweave Trackway - which is more of a packed dirt road than anything else. The journey has been uneventful, with fair weather and only minor disturbances along the way the largest issue would have probably been the sore bottom those sitting on the cart have the endure.

Beats

• Opening
• Introduce yourself and why you took this mission
• Perception check; Old man sitting on the road side, he asks the players for some food and water, then where they are going and why.
• Survival check, bad weather coming. Easily hits before they reach Lonstrem.
  • Perception / survival checks: Low will not have them find a trail leading to the (strangely, seemingly abandoned) house with a fire still burning.
    • The house will contain information on rituals to summon the Dragon Queen tiamat herself
    • Rituals described as needing many souls
  • An hour after the storm hits someone will enter the building, who will immediately be upset about them being here.
• End (ish?) Arrive in lonstrem

DM Notes

Notes intended to guide the adventure.