Midnight
Amphail Trail, just off the road
Cold foggy night
On the morning of the 29th Marpenoth, having been fully rested and fed the Heroes set out to town on their way to the Garrison. On the way they stopped at the wagon of Otto Hizgarian, the old friend Jasper was telling them about. It was discovered that Ottos was a bit of an oddity and seemed to be a traveling Rasheman Apothecary specializing in these very worms the Heroes have been up against. Otto showed the Heroes his wares but the Heroes passed on the worm products he offered.
The trip to town was uneventful, however now in daylight, the Heroes were able to see for themselves the damage the town had suffered from the unrest over the past few days. The Church of Illmatar was severely damaged and remained boarded up and under Garrison guard by two squads, who were burning bodies out front in the middle of the Vein. In addition to the damage to the front gate of the Three Hills Adventuring Company Compound, the Emporium also suffered damage to include fire and a wall being partially knocked down.
In town, at the Emporium, the Heroes were greeted by Gaspar. Here, after some haggling, they sold Storn’s Owlbear pet to Zalamadra’s henchman. Though Storn had grown fond of the furry little beaked horror, Jasper’s words of wisdom won the day and the decision was made to part ways with the creature. He will be a valuable addition to the Emporium’s "Freak Show".
At the Garrison, the Heroes attended an Executive Council meeting where they were awarded 5,000 gp for the defeat of Nerjul the Black and accepted the modification to their charter and designation as “Agents of The Alliance”. It was also learned at the meeting that Kullen and his gang were made specially appointed deputies of the town constabulary, based on their heroics at the Church of Illmatar. It was also learned that Smenk had turned into a massive worm spawn zombie and was on the loose at large. Kullen and his gang actually took the oath of allegiance to the Alliance at the same time the Heroes did; ironic. Tyree demonstrated his typical Uthgardt Primitive ways and accosted the Governor Mayor with demands concerning the Elk Tribe. Though these were dismissed as babble, they did ignite a huge debate and outbursts from Lt. Skunt and Sheriff Cubin drew Kamist into the debate and allegations and name calling ensued. In the end, the Governor Mayor called for silence and tabled the entire topic to a later 'Executive only' session.
Also in the meeting, Allustan introduced Aedrinar a Sun Elven Warmage of the Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors from Waterdeep. Aedrinar had been sent to Diamond Lake to join the Three Hills Adventuring Company so that he could offer what assistance the Order could muster in order to get to the bottom of the Cataclysmic set of events harboring the prophesized coming of the Age of Worms.
After the meeting, the Heroes were taken to Sgt. Voss and Sparrow, where even in worm infested death, they remained imprisoned yet still holding hands. Tyree exterminated them with no hesitation, in the process Tyree himself was nearly taken by the worms.
After the meeting Kamist and Mekkela were able to catch up and spend a few moments alone while the others collected the reward and were fitted with Alliance tabards. The Heroes then went for a meeting with Allustan at his tower. On the way, the Heroes stopped at the General Store where Taggin assisted them by providing the two wands that had previously been ordered.
Allustan was waiting for the Heroes and invited them inside and sat them at a very large table. Here, after apologizing for abandoning them at the Blackwall Keep, Allustan revealed what his research had learned so far:
Nether Tome of Trask
"This book is the Nether Tome of Trask and is said to have been written by the god Myrkul himself. This apocalyptic text mentions a name… ‘Kyuss’ and from my research is associated with the prophesized Age of Worms.
Though I have much more research to conduct with this ancient text, I have found quotes within it from another text known as The Way of the Ebon Triade. I heard of this text before and know it as a blasphemous collection of apocalyptic essays, epic poems, and cryptographs that discuss and advent of an era of darkness called the Age of Worms, during which a great
Overgod of evil would arise from the ashes of three evil dead gods. This Overgod would bring destruction on a scale never seen before and would mold all the Realms in its own terrible image. This tome further suggests specifically that the Overgod would form from the essence of three slain gods. I wonder if Myrkul knew of his own imminent demise while writing this text. According to what is written within, this Overgod would be the Harbinger of an Undead Colossus known as Kyuss who would once again stalk the Realms."
At the conclusion of the meeting Allustan asked the Heroes to travel to Waterdeep and meet with an associate of his named Eligos. Allustan handed the Heroes three large scrolls with the notes of his research on this matter and indicated he would pay the Heroes 500gp to travel to Waterdeep to speak to Eligos on his behalf about these happenings and to deliver Allustan’s notes to him. Allustan paid the heroes 200gp each up front and indicated he would pay them an additional 300gp each upon their return.
The Heroes then headed back to Adventuring Company Compound for rest and recovery before departure the next morning. The Heroes had more meetings with Jasper and Otto and learned a number of their potions that they had found amongst the Dragon’s treasure were sabotaged with writhing worms hidden inside the dark murky swirling liquids. Otto also seemed immune to some of the effects of the worms and even showed up to dinner and ate one by chewing it up. Otto also kept a jar full of the worms in his wagon and used them to make protective items such as a paste that warded away worms from penetrating ones skin when applied. He also made from the worms an oil that could be used as a 'bane' verses the worms on weapons.
Also during the day the Heroes battled two worm infested zombies that had been in a house and rescued an infant from the same home. The infant was provided to the Cult of Final Passage with a donation of gold for its upkeep and protection. Hein’s girlfriend Julie gladly accepted the baby and promised to take care of it and raise it as her own. It was discovered at this time that Hein had also joined the Cult of Final Passage but was away on business of Kelemvor.
Late at night on the 29th a large Dire Wolf attacked the Compound and fell Suzanna’s old mare, ‘Lady’. It got away but had jumped through the damaged gate. Tyree rushed out into the night without any light source and soon found himself in total darkness, screaming out into the night, only to be answered by a distant howl.
In the morning, 30th Marpenoth, the Heroes set out for Waterdeep. On the way they were attacked by a very Large and Old Black Dragon who swooped down on them and sprayed the Heroes with acid. It them flew away and did not look back. More than one of the Heroes were ‘shaken’ by the magnificent deadly and evil beast.
The heroes spent the night at the Bargewright Inn and set out on the morning of the 1st of Uktar for Waterdeep. In the evening on the 1st of Uktar the Heroes had made it half the way to Amphil. Here Aedrinar used his 'High Eleven' magic to create a magical shelter to provide cover from the cold and elements for the Heroes.
Just after midnight on the 2nd of Uktar, Storn was on watch alone; all the Heroes deep asleep in their shelter. Then something groaned in the night as it approached. Shambling along the road as if it had been following the Heroes was the massively obese, and disheveled Smenk, as Storn saw and identified Smenk in the night with his dark vision it was about 60’ away and moving toward the encampment. Smenk was obviously seriously infested with worms and was running at Storn hands outstretched with a quizzical look on his face and as he mouthed the words… “BRAINS”…worms crawled out of his mouth…Oh no.
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