Season 1, EP 3: Side Quests
With the immediate threat to Cloudheath somewhat contained, the party shifted their focus to the larger conspiracy surrounding Gundren Rockseeker and The Black Spider. Their intel led them to Cragmaw Castle, a ruined fortress bristling with goblin forces. The journey itself was not without its detours. They passed by the ancient, overgrown ruins of Old Owl Well, a place that exuded a strange, desolate power. There, they encountered Hamun Kost, a necromancer whose morbid research drew him to such forgotten sites. Though his presence was unsettling, Kost provided them with directions to Cragmaw Castle, his dark knowledge inadvertently aiding their cause.
Upon reaching Cragmaw Castle, the party plunged into another brutal engagement. They fought their way through the stronghold’s twisted passages, facing hordes of goblins and their monstrous pets.
The fortress was a chaotic labyrinth of crude defenses and savage inhabitants, culminating in a confrontation with King Grol, the goblin chieftain. The battle was a test of endurance and teamwork, but the party emerged victorious, defeating King Grol and his most formidable warriors.
Yet, even in triumph, a familiar frustration lingered: Iarno Albrek, the elusive sorcerer, made another appearance, confirming his alliance with a mysterious Drow figure. The Drow, cloaked in shadow and radiating an unsettling presence, was clearly the mastermind. As the fighting reached its peak, Iarno once again managed to slip away, leaving the party to ponder the true identity and motives of The Black Spider and his enigmatic allies.
Returning to Cloudheath as celebrated heroes, the adventurers were met with a fresh wave of pleas and quests. Sister Garaele, a kind priestess from the local temple, approached them with a delicate request. She sought a legendary spellbook, once belonging to the renowned mage Bowgentle, and believed its location might be known by Agatha, a banshee haunting the abandoned ruins of Conyberry, a few miles south. Sister Garele described Agatha as a vain elven spirit, forever trapped in a horrific visage, who might respond to flattery. The priestess herself had encountered undead creatures near Conyberry, a recent and alarming development.
Next, Quelline Alderleaf, a halfling mother, shared a vital lead concerning Wave Echo Cave.
She directed them to Reidoth, an old druid residing in the ruins of Thundertree, warning them that the place was somewhat haunted.
Finally, Daran Edermath, a grizzled, retired half-elf soldier, expressed grave concerns about the Orcs of Wyvern Tor, who had been sending scouts far from their nest. His intelligence suggested an unsettling alliance with The Mardu Clan, a more tactical and organized orc tribe, and he feared for Cloudheath’s safety. The party set out to tackle each of these challenges.
They journeyed northward to confront the Mardu Tribe, engaging in a fierce battle that culminated in the defeat of their fierce leader, Zurgo.
In Conyberry, they sought out Agatha. It was Thane who stepped forward, his inherent connection to the ethereal allowing him to communicate with the banshee.
Through his empathy and the right words, he managed to soothe Agatha’s tormented spirit, learning the location of Bowgentle’s spellbook and, more importantly, bringing peace to the long-suffering elf. The spellbook was returned to Sister Garaele, earning the party her gratitude.
Their final side quest took them to the Ruins of Thundertree, a forested ancient ruin that had fallen prey to an evil blight. The party battled the corrupting forces, liberating the ruins, and finally met Reidoth. The old druid, true to Quelline’s word, provided the long-sought-after directions to the Wave Echo Cave.