Session 21 - Post Session Report

28th Marpenoth, 1371 DR
Night
Diamond Lake, Company Compound
Cool night air, smell of burnt buildings and fires

After leaving Blackwall Keep the Heroes made good time to the Bargewright Inn, located at the intersection of the Amphil Trail, the Cairn Road, and the Dessarin River. The Bargewright Inn is a community of about 35 folk and is an important base for travelers in the North. It was formerly a lone wayside Inn on a natural hill overlooking the River Dessarin and the bridge known as Ironford. Persistent bandit attacks made the proprietor, Feston Bargewright, decide to fortify the hill. He looked for someone to share the cost. To this end, he persuaded several Waterdhavian merchants, tired of guild politics and fees, to relocate. They did so, surrounding Feston's Inn and the slopes of the hill with businesses of use to caravan travel. Feston then raised a wall around the place and business prospered. On good summer nights, Bargewright Inn may have a temporary population of close to 750.

Agents of the Lords of Waterdeep and the Harpers both keep sharp eyes on Bargewright Inn, because the Zhentarium have been trying to buy into it for some years. They hope to gain control fo the ford, and eventually the farms that lie to the north of the Inn, on the west bank of the Dessarin. meanwhile the businesses here make Bargewright Inn a haven for travelers in the North.

Key businesses within the Inn included:
The Bargewright Inn
The Sword and Slash ( Weapons Merchant)
Belvyn's House of Good Cheer (Feasthall and Temple, various Faiths)
Shondrin's Packsack of Plenty ("The Sack" General Store)
The Wet Crossing (Tavern)
Rinthar's Wagonworks (Wheelwright)
The Stalls (Ramshackle awnings more of a flea market, mostly produce)
Haeleth's Horseshoes (Smith)
Ruldarr's Pipes, Locks, Tobacco, and fine Furniture
The Healing House (Animal Healer - Physic)

After obtaining a healthy afternoon meal the Heroes bought some supplies and a few odds and ends. Valcrist spotted four members of Nerjul's gang entering the Bargewright Inn. Luckily none of the Heroes were recognized. The Heroes also encountered Markar the cheese merchant here and Alobron bought some scrolls from a Wizard named Mezalorian who appeared to wear the garb (purple cloak with a white hand) of the Watchful Order of Magist and Protectors from Waterdeep.

The Heroes encountered some refugees from Diamond Lake led by Faust, a human Damaran miner. Faust told the Heroes about a terrible chain of events that had happened over the past few days in which some sickness had broken out in the Church of Illmatar that caused people to turn into ravenous crazed zombies. He also described something called gut rot which was spreading through town and causing much misery among the population. Faust also related how Allustan and the Garrison soldiers squashed the zombie incident at the Church, but indicated that he had seen enough and with the disruptions of the Dourstone Mine and Smenk taking it over, Faust and his fellow miners and their families decided it was time to get out of town and seek employment elsewhere perhaps in Waterdeep.

After this the Heroes headed out for Diamond Lake which was a half days walk north along the Cairn Road and then a short northeast walk on the Company Road along Diamond Lake into the city proper.

Along the way, the Heroes encountered a pack of worm Spawn zombies feeding on a group of refugees. The Heroes easily dispatched them with the help of Egwaine, but not before Tyree found himself surrounded and infested by two worms that had to be cut out before they burrowed into his brain. Ouch!

Later at Sunset the Heroes encountered an old farmer named Markus who indicated his family had been kidnapped by Nerjul the Black. Markus indicated he was to pay Nerjul his livestock in ransom or his family consisting of his wife Nana and his granddaughter Amy would be killed. The Heroes could not help but help the old farmer and set out to rescue Markus' family and once and for all kill or capture Nerjul.

They found Nerjul on an old Djinn ruin just northwest along the Cairn Road and infiltrated his camp set amongst some Stones of Maglar. In a quick epic battle the Heroes defeated Nerjul and his band of some 85 henchmen. Amongst them were two Cultists that had a worm spawn zombie subdued. Storn made quick work of that situation by slaying one of the Cultist and freeing the worm ridden zombie. Surprisingly Storn stood his ground and fought the vile beast. Alobron and Tyree slayed Nerjul and his command group, and Egwaine used her necklace to manipulate the Stones of Maglar and unleashed a terrible blast of fire form the stones that killed poor little old Nana and most of Nerjul's mooks. The resat of the battle was academic and in the end the Heroes were victorious. Tyree severed Nerjul's head as a trophy (disgusting).

After gathering up treasure, the heroes returned Amy to Markus and helped bury Nana. Markus was eternally grateful and sang the praise of the Three Hills Adventuring Company.

Later that night the Heroes arrived back at the compound and found it had been under zombie siege. Jasper and Eldron related how they and Dogun beat back the zombies using fire and other means. Jasper then cooked a late night meal for the Heroes and advised they should report to the Garrison immediately in the morning. Dolgun was too drunk to talk to the heroes and was slumbering away in his room.

Jasper indicated that in the morning he would have an itemized list of expenses, salaries, and repairs that would require disbursements of gold for the end of the month.

Nice job Heroes.