Season 2, EP 2: Draconian Mountains

Their first priority was Brianna Windshadow. They discovered her at a small outlying farm called the "Pale Giant," overrun by ravenous Ankhegs. Brianna’s team had been decimated, but she and a few recruits had barely survived. The party swiftly eradicated the Ankhegs, rescuing Brianna and her dwindling force. It became clear that these Ankhegs, typically native to the Draconian Mountains, had been displaced by a tribe of orcs connected to The Mardu Clan. This interruption intrigued Brianna, she surmised that something far more sinister is brewing. "Why is the Mardu this so close to Runeshire?"

Next, the group journeyed to Draco’s Heel, an ancient Aarakocra barracks situated at the foot of a mountain. As Javero had warned, the site was heavily guarded by Duergar, dark dwarves.

Navigating this treacherous dungeon, they encountered numerous traps and intricate puzzles, designed to thwart intruders. The place was steeped in Aarakocra language, etched into the walls, a language only Goen’s unique background allowed him to understand.

They fought through waves of Duergar and mysterious cult members. Deep within the dungeon, they discovered and rescued Tristian, a High-elf cleric who had been studying the ancient site but was held hostage for his healing abilities. The party finally found the passageway to the underground section, where the Aarakocra weapons were hidden. Here, they faced the dungeon’s master: Purger, a formidable foe later identified as Maligorra, a fierce black dragon.

The battle was arduous, pushing the adventurers to their limits, but they ultimately triumphed, defeating Maligorra. In his dying breath, Maligorra revealed a chilling prophecy:

"When the blood moon rises, Mother will get her claim."

They ransacked the dungeon, gathering the stockpiled Aarakocra weapons, and immediately noted the weapons for retrieval.

The next task was through the famous pilgrimage to the Temple of Lathander, high in the Draconian Mountains. The journey was a grueling test of endurance, fraught with dangers including evading a gargantuan Roc.

After days of relentless climbing, they finally reached the Radiant Peaks, where the millennia-old temple stood, a beacon of light and faith. There, they met the venerable Aurora-Kage, the master of the monastery, and Gwannea Vilrith, an elven monk of Jounin rank. They also encountered Cait, a rambunctious adventurer, remarkably skilled in fist-fights, who was seeking to overcome her alcoholism through the monastery’s teachings.

The Aurora-Kage presented Wong with the "Trial of Light," an arduous spiritual journey within a hidden dungeon beneath the temple. The party rallied, assisting Wong through the trial, ensuring his safe passage and earning him the first elusive ingredient for his perfect brew.

On their perilous descent from the peaks, chaos erupted. They stumbled upon a group of clerics and a Druid named Urin Stargazer, held hostage by a pack of menacing kobolds.

The party intervened, defeating the kobolds and freeing Urin and the clerics. However, the chaos of the encounter split the group. Crystal, Wong, and Goen found a separate path that led them through a series of caves, fighting off more kobolds before safely reaching the base of the mountain. Thane and Sam, separated from their companions, descended the mountain path and witnessed a disturbing scene: a group of orcs holding a tiny goblin female hostage, preparing to eat her. Without hesitation, Thane and Sam intervened, saving the small goblin, who introduced herself as Dot. The two vowed to protect her, and eventually, the full party reunited, embracing Dot as a new, unexpected comrade.

Their next steps were to head back to Runeshire to report the news of their success.