Raid on Tumbleton

The forces of the Cult of the Dragon were split into small groups of generally 10. These individual groups were assigned tasks, such as rounding up civilians, burning buildings, or searching the town for valuables. The dragon Lennithon was tasked with sowing chaos through liberal use of his lightning breath and for standing by when Don Rel made his escape.   The Tumbleton militia was caught unaware, and, unwilling to face a dragon, retreated inside the walls of the university, which was also protected by the Aethercore.

Tumbleton was built around the Gregory Tumbleton University, which was situated on a hill in the middle of town. Most of the fighting was localized around the defense of the town's mill, church, and the president's manor.

A rain the night before allowed the attacking raiders to approach unnoticed, as their forces didn't kick up any large dust clouds. The evening and night was also cloudless, giving all forces a perfect view of the dragon raining lightning down from the sky.

The forces of the Cult of the Dragon attacked Tumbleton late in the evening from the west, where the sun was setting. They quickly began their rampage, forcing most Tumblers into the protective bubble of the Aethercore. About an hour into the raid, Mariana Goldfinch, Malachor Wolfsbane, Legolass Darkblade, and Amber, four students from Gregory Tumbleton University, arrived after a year they had spent studying abroad. They saved a family from attacking kobolds and retreated into the university's walls.   There, Tolm LeNoir informed them of the threat to the town. The four students saved the mill, and much of the town's food stocks, but were unable to rescue a group of civilians trapped in the Temple of Chauntea, resulting in their deaths.   After returning to the university's walls, the protective bubble of the Aethercore vanished, stolen by Don Rel, who lept from the university's tower onto the back of the dragon Lennithon. The dragon returned to destroy a portion of the university's walls before leaving.   Now far past sundown, the remaining raiding forces gathered around the university. The raiding party's half-dragon leader, Langdedrosa Cyanwrath, presented four prisoners they had taken: Eyleth Veral, Sella Kinclaith, Russae, and the former cult mercenary Ransolm. Cyanwrath offered to release the captives and leave the town if Tolm LeNoir surrendered himself to them. Instead, Mariana Goldfinch offered to duel Cyanwrath in one-on-one combat.   Mariana lost the duel, but, either in an act of mercy, respect, or pity, Cyanwrath released the captives and the raiding forces departed, ending the battle.

Though news of the raid would take some time to spread, the Raid on Tumbleton would mark the beginning of the Great Dragon War. The Harper agent Ser Vich, stationed in Tumbleton as a professor, recognized the threat of the Cult of the Dragon immediately, and he attempted to following the retreating army, though he was captured in the process. Ser Vich's disappearance would motivate Tolm LeNoir to send his students, Mariana Goldfinch, Malachor, Legolass Darkblade, and Amber to the cult's nearby base to find him.   The loss of the Aethercore also put Tumbleton in a difficult and treacherous position, as the magical barrier served as the town's biggest deterrent for attacks. Many students would leave or transfer during the next few months over fear of further attacks.

The 1491 Raid on Tumbleton began the Great Dragon War. The raid itself served as Ser Vich's justification for calling together the various forces across the Sword Coast into what would eventually become the Council of Waterdeep.   More far-reaching than anything was the Raid on Tumbleton's role in creating the force that would eventually be called The Breadwinners. Their role in saving the town, followed by their rescue of Ser Vich, would mark the start of the adventuring careers of Mariana Goldfinch, Malachor Wolfsbane, and Legolass Darkblade.   In addition, the stolen Aethercore would also serve as the greatest hindrance facing the Council of Waterdeep's forces during the Battle at the Well of Dragons, necessitating the involvement of the Breadwinners in the final assault.

Today, the Raid on Tumbleton is portrayed less of a loosely organized raid and more of a foreshadowing of a greater conflict. The fact that the future Breadwinners and Don Rel never met during the course of the raid is often ignored, in favor of more dramatic retelling where the cult leader himself duels Mariana Goldfinch, rather than his subordinate Cyanwrath.   The town of Tumbleton, and the town's university, have benefited tremendously from their association with both the Great Dragon War and the Breadwinners. Statues to the four students who saved the town now sit in the middle of the university's square, in addition to taverns being renamed in honor of the heroes.