Backstory
The city of Denton remembered well it's history. During the Dragon War, it was here that the final battle was fought. The greatest heroes of their age slew the last of Tiamat's Infernal Dragons on the peaks overlooking this settlement. One of these heroes, Hraygoth the Unstoppable, had also been born and raised in the very city below.
Once Hraygoth slew the final dragon, its spilled blood stained the metal blade of his sword, Doomsinger. As he decended the mountain, the sword increased in weight. As he reached the heart of Denton, it grew so heavy that Hraygoth could barely lift it with all his might. He placed it upon a rock in the center of the wounded town square and uttered a prophecy: "So long as these stains remain, the sword shall rest in this place, and the world shall know peace from the reach of Tiamat."
It is beleived that if Tiamat's devilish ilk return to the world, the stains of this final blood would disappear and the sword will be called to war once more.
Player Introduction
The adventurers may know or barely know each other as Denton has a population of about 10,000. The adventurers of Denton are young and unskilled, but when the stains disappear and the sword is released, they are commanded by community leaders to go tell the High King Johan Braid II immediately. They will need to cross the dangerous Overland to reach the Castle Braid. The Braid family has united many of the area's cities in trade and mutual defense, but they do not directly rule these lands.
Since speed is needed, assembling and armed caravan is not possible. They have to go it alone, as larger groups would provoke more dangerous foes. As is it, the party can expect to deal with Overland monsters they are familiar with.
After the introductory fights and coming through a narrow trail in dense countryside, the party will see red lights in the sky... fireworks? No! An attack!
Attack On Castle Braid
The fortress city of Braid is being assailed by a demonic and powerful dragon. It flies about, buring and toppling everything. Cresting a hill, the party cannot arrive before the attack is finished.
Finding near total destruction, the party finds homes, businesses, healers, and an orphanage incinerated. The party is soon in sight of a church to Il Mater. It is unharmed, but the main door is blocked by debris. Someone is banging from the inside.
Once opened, the party finds two shaven headed clerics and a score of orphans. They explain that a local veteran and constable, Elspet, began ushering orphans into the church even before obvious signs of attacks. She commanded the clerics and children to stay inside and pray until morning. She then took off, explaining she needed to get a message to the High King.
Following her path, the party finds Elspet dead in the street. She has burn marks. There is a letter on her person. The parchment is enchanted wyvern skin. Normally this should be fire proof, but it is still singed. It bears a special lead seal that can only be opened by a Braid nobleman.
Proceeding to the castle, all the Braid family members have been slain.
A caravan of refuges, including the orphans and children, are preparing to go to a nearby city, Boreas, to find safety and sustenance, and the walls and food stores are mostly wrecked. They will need protectors and will ask the party. As a double bonus, a Braid cousin resides in Boreas as a Gentleman in Waiting.
To Boreas
The party will need to defend the caravan from Overland monsters.
Upon reaching Boreas, the party will need a way to distinguish themselves from the rabble, as they will not be permitted an audience as they are. If they are unable to figure out their own plan (which should be a minor quest), the clerics can make a case for them among the local church High Council. The Council can refer the party to the noble if they recover a holy artifact outside the city in order to help the church cope with the extra parishioners.
After earning their audience, the young Braid scion, Pantheart Gilden, will agree to open the seal.
The letter inside explains that the Elspet's grandmother, a cryptic figure on the Dragon War, was involved at the closing of the war. All but one final dragon could be slain. This Dragon Overload was empowered with devilish might and durability. Then she saw her weakened forces were being turned back by this singular foe. She foresaw the end of the world.
Working with her top advisors and wizards, a fail-proof banishment was created. The spell is powerful, but fragile. It required learning the dragon's name, and once cast, even a single further utterance of the name would break it. She had her most powerful soldiers attempt to bait and challenge the dragon. Lives were lost, but they had the name.
She had the spell cast, in the end, surprisingly simple after all else they endured. She then systematically killed the surviving soldiers who aided the casting, the wizards who knew the spell, and finally her inner circle. Her reasoning: if no one lives that knows the name, it makes it less likely to be spoken. She expected drunken rambling or even talking in one's sleep could doom the world.
She composed the letter and sent it to her family for delivery to the Braid nobles, using a seal common to spymasters, should dragon's return. She indicates she will also take her own life.
Her final words are to seek the final resting place of the Court Wizard Deangelo, as this holds the only copy of the banishment spell, and thus too the dragon's name.
Pantheart doesn't know this location, but suspects it is in the family archives. They are magically protected, meaning they should be unharmed, but he will need to go there to open the doors.
Family Matters
The party once again will go into the Overland. Pantheart is willing to help but is inexperienced.
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