11 - 07/12/23 : Against the Hour
"It ain't just about the reward at the end of the thing. Sometimes it's just good doin' right by folks."
Edea Lockehart
This tale of ours begins in the early days of the year 3523, as winter's chill maintains a firm grasp on the winds. Months have passed since the conclusion of the Usurper's Gambit, and the city of Revelmoore continues to reel from the unsolved assassination of Open Lord Reverie Ilvastarr II. Braving the snowfall, a drow woman entered the famous Balladeer’s Eclipse, wherein she spoke to the proprietor like an old friend. Nearby sat her quarry; the adventuring party known as the Fairhill Four, once known for their exploits in the Stoneheart Valley, now renowned for their braving of the first two levels of the deadly Undermountain. Sinelthriandra approached the group and introduced herself before quickly getting to the heart of the matter at hand; the presence of the Fairhill Four had been requested at Ilvastarr Palace, the home of Revelmoore's Council of Lords, to discuss a mission involving investigating the Open Lord's assassination. The Fairhill Four, led by the half-orc Ozwik, took time to deliberate if they wanted to undertake such a high-profile mission. After taking a vote, the party agreed that it was a worthy endeavor, and would do right by the people of Revelmoore. Gladdened by their acceptance, Sinelthriandra guided the party through the snowy streets to Ilvastarr Palace, where they were admitted. The party was admitted before the Council of Lords after following an exacting entry and announcement protocol. Present at the meeting were well-known and influential individuals, including Warden Barik Thunderkeg, High Dragon Solauvaire Oussndar, High Priestess Rydia Margaster, Ser Izerna Sundever, and of course, new Open Lord Renaer Ambermantle himself. The party was given the scope of their mission. Open Lord Reverie's assassination had yet to solved, though the drow of Uyen Asari were all but confirmed to be the perpetrators, as the assassination consisted of an explosion during a meeting between the Open Lord and diplomatic delegates from Uyen Asari. Unable to move troops within the Undermountain without provoking the already touchy Xanathar Syndicate and having already lost agents to the dungeon, the Council of Lords settled upon the Fairhill Four as the adventurers with the most known experience with the dungeon in recent memory. The Fairhill Four were tasked to enter the Undermountain and make contact with two agents of the Council; Volaire Evermere of the Masquerade, and Vesper DeVir, a member of the adventuring party known as the Moonlighters and a Knight of the Rose in training. Once the situation was appraised with these two individuals, the adventurers would then be tasked with tracking down any installation of Uyen Asari within the Undermountain, discovering proof of their involvement with the assassination, and then subsequently driving out the threat to the best of their ability. However, the party was asked to attend to a preliminary matter; Warden Thunderkeg's people in the City Guard had been attacked in several locations throughout the city, and their efforts to track down a surface encampment of the drow led them to a particular abandoned stretch in the Dock Ward. The Warden asked for the Fairhill Four to accompany him and his adopted daughter Sinelthriandra to the area and wipe out any resistance found within. The Fairhill Four agreed to the mission, and were asked personally by Open Lord Renaer to keep an eye out for any proof of his father, King Dagult, having involvement in the assassination. Together with Sinelthriandra and Barik Thunderkeg, the Fairhill Four arrived in the derelicts of the dock ward, where an oppressive fog hung over the area. They discovered that lanterns were lit, despite the area being seemingly abandoned. Some further investigation saw that the dust covering the area had been placed magically to conceal footprints. In one of the broken hovels, Sin discovered a drow acolyte of Lolth. Using her glamoured armor and powers of deception, she attempted to feign allegiance to the drow city of Menzoberranzan. However, the drow had already been watching the group, and they sprung an ambush. Barik, Sin, and the Fairhill Four fought an intense battle against a large contingent of drow warriors, including an ordained priestess and a powerful mage, the latter of which summoned a demonic yochlol from his own body. Ozwik and Yzzan, having fought together for years, coordinated effortlessly to bat away formations of guards from their position in an alleyway. Edea's unerring accuracy with her revolver felled many warriors, and Sin's impenetrable defenses held off the onslaught of many of her wayward brethren. Wyncaryn, while felling enemies with her agile maneuvers, was struck by a bolt meant for Warden Thunderkeg, but shrugged it off. After a long battle, the group felled the last of the dark elven attackers, and took stock of their own hurts. Just as it seemed they were all well, Wyncaryn suddenly turned pale and collapsed. Ozwik put his medical training to use and determined the ailment to stem from a poisoned bolt, though he was unable to infer the exact nature of the poison. With Wyncaryn's condition deteriorating rapidly, Warden Thunderkeg suggested that she be taken to the nearby Temple of Kamien, Goddess of Rivers, Springs & Streams. The party agreed, taking their fallen friend as quickly as they could.
Portraits
HALASTER BLACKCLOAK
THE FAIRHILL FOUR & CO.
NON-PLAYER CHARACTERS
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