Tobin’s Revenge makes camp about a day’s journey from Gauntlygrym, located at the base of the mountain range and the Neverwinter Wood. Taking a moment to tend to themselves, the members also take stock of their situation. Having capitalized on their exploits under the White Plume Mountain they realize it has been a little over 2 months since they were first given their deputization of emergency investigation powers by the council in Waterdeep. They all agree that they need to begin the journey south to update the council on the Draakhorn and the pledged support of the Arcane Brotherhood. Considering the various routes to Waterdeep several members feel it has been too long since they journeyed through Phandalin and seen the newly rebuilt manor.
In Gauntlygrym the party learns of a riverboat leaving in the morning for Neverwinter. They make arrangements for passage to a point in the Neverwinter Wood where they can debark and head south to the Triboar Trail and eventually Phandalin. During their journey along the river the three members with their newly acquired weapons continue to learn of their abilities and stories. Wave begins to have doubts about EKIM’s dedication to converting people to the sea gods given that he hasn’t even attempted to speak to his regular traveling companions. Blackrazor declares his disappointment in Hupp. It had much higher hopes that he would be able to assist in accomplishing its mission to send all energy to the void. Finally Whelm shares its history from the dwarves that forged him to its last master that turned it against the very clan that created him. It seems ashamed of its past and does not even know if it has a purpose anymore. It has hopes that Belgwyn can wield it in a way that redeems itself in battle for all dwarvenkind.
Reaching their departure point, the group makes their way south through the Neverwinter Woods. They note that they pass just west of Falcon’s Lodge and wonder how Falcon is now fairing after his property had been overrun by the Orcs they failed to stop what now seems like an eternity past. On the last day through the woods and the first day on the Triboar Trail the weather picks up and makes the journey miserable in the cold of winter. The group seeks warm shelter and food at an unnamed inn. As they settle in, Hupp takes to heart the demands of Blackrazor and asks if there is any animal stock in need of slaughtering. To his luck there is, and though it is not exactly what Blackrazor anticipated, life energy to the void is progress. While he is outside taking care of his business, he notices that the thunder rolls of the storm are growing more intense and occasionally sound ominouslying unnormal.
Pointing out the oddly sounding thunder to the group inside, several members also note that something is not right but cannot exactly figure it out. It isn’t until Sariel pulls herself out her meditation on all that is going on in the world around them (in an attempt to have a better understanding of it all) that she connects her train of thoughts regarding the dragon threat and the cult to the sounds outside. The odd sounding thunder isn’t weather but the roars of a dragon in the area. Several party members begin to rush to the doors and windows to look out for any danger when the wind gusts. The roof of the inn strains until it gives way, ripping back and exposing about half the tavern portion of the inn to the storm outside. In the next flash of lightning the silhouette of a large creature occupies the opening it has just ripped into the top of the inn.
As the head of a black dragon snakes its way down into the tavern, a low guttural voice claims ‘I thought I smelled you around here. How fortunate for us.’ The next several moments are chaos. Tobin’s Revenge immediately takes the offensive landing a few blows before the dragon can let loose its acid breath on a portion of the party. As Sariel attempts to hit the dragon by calling down lightning from the storm she notices that the dragon has a shadowed figure riding on its back. Almost on cue, the figure directs his own magical attack on the grouping of members around the bar while several members of the Cult of Dragons, in their now familiar regalia, drop in from above to confront Tobin’s Revenge. Exchanging several more attacks with the cultists and their dragon, Tobin’s Revenge seems to have the upperhand with the dragon looking well hurt.
Realizing that the party is more than they can handle in their small number, the dragon turns to its rider. Speaking in Draconic, it exclaims that this is not as easy as they anticipated and not worth the effort before turning to distance itself from the threat of Tobin’s Revenge. The rider, now visible in the light, wears a much higher level of regalia than the simple cultists on the ground. The party members last saw a cultist of this level outside Trollskull Manor in Waterdeep when the cult last made an attempt on their lives. Seemingly not in control of the dragon this cultist shouts, “We may not have been able to kill you, but we’ve struck you in the heart nevertheless.” With this ominous declaration the dragon and rider abandon the other cultists to die at the hands of the party and flee into the storm.
After mopping up the remaining cultists who carry on with fervor even without the dragon, the party begins to contemplate the dragon and cultist statements. It seems like the dragon was looking for the party, and the companions become worried about the cultist’s threat. Is the cult trying to attack connections to Tobin’s Revenge? The closest of those connections is in Phandalin just a couple more days down the trail from this inn. Taking a restless night at the inn, the party departs with haste to Phandalin. As the storm parts for clearer skies a little after noon on that next day, Belgwyn begins to feel unease with each moment the sun brightens the day. Though she is not afraid, she has this new and unnatural feeling as if she would be better off underground or at least in an enclosed space. Fearing her vampire attack in the White Plume Mountain, she asks of the other members that also had been bitten by the vampire. No one else seems to be feeling the same.
At midday on the second day after the inn, the party turns off the Triboar Trail onto the road south into Phandalin. As they approach the last rise before dropping down into the town they are met by a group of knights from the Lord’s Alliance. They question the approaching group of travelers as to their business for visiting the town of Phadalin. Moving past the outburst from Dennis, the party explains that they are Tobin’s Revenge and have residence in the town. They further explain they are just passing through to check on the town and those living there as it has been a while since they last checked in. Hearing this the knights’ faces drain of color and all they can say is that the town has been destroyed.
In disbelief the original members of the party run to the crest of the hill seeing the now noticeable wisps of smoke in the breeze and look down into what should have been the tranquil town of Phandalin. Instead their eyes take in the absolute horror of utter devastation. Not a single building is left standing. As they slowly make their way towards the center of town, the dead bodies of townsfolk are strewn about in every direction. Entering the square where Stonehill Inn once stood they find several of their slain friends. It is here that they find Sildar Hallwinter, Daran Edermath, and Harbin Wester in what appears to be the last stand of the massacre. On the east side of the town proper, on the way up to the manor, they find amongst another concentration of fallen bodies the remains of Nundro Rockseeker, Gundren Rockseeker, and Halia Thornton. Finally making their way up to the hilltop where their manor stood, all they find is an ash filled void where the basement of the manor would have been. There is nothing left, period. The damage sustained here is beyond any they have seen wandering through the town below.
Sariel takes the time to wander through the fields around the outskirts of the manor. She finds several bodies including that of Brughor Axe-Biter. Taking the time to look over their former head of household she notes that his fatal injuries must have been sustained before Brughor even knew something was wrong. The state of Altalas Galatheneil and Cedany Truegust’s remains are the same. Sariel thinks they must have been the first to fall in an initial ambush before the manor was assaulted, followed quickly with the entirety of the town. Returning to her companions, Tobin’s Revenge has come to the conclusion that the town and its residence are a complete loss. In the muck and mud of the walkways are the signs of extremely large force including at least one dragon, if not more based on the types of damage across the township.
Filled with sorrow and a renewed anger burning in their hearts the group does not linger long. They have dragons to kill and a cult to stop. With the greatest speed they can muster Tobin’s Revenge continues south to Waterdeep. Arriving at the northern gate, they inform the city guard of their return and a need to report to the council. The guards let the party know that they will deliver the news to the open lord, and someone will most likely contact them when the council has been called. Members of the party disperse into the town on errands, checkins, and other business. Over the course of a couple of days the party comes and goes from Trollskull Manor. The hearsay in the city is that Lady Silverhand is now the open lord of Waterdeep after the masked lords removed Lord Nevermember from the position.
As night descends on the city, the members of the party present gather in the tavern of the Manor for dinner and some drinks. As Fionne retrieves another drink from Tom some of her companions notice him whisper something to her. Whether they attempt to discuss the matter with her privately or remain quiet as if it didn’t happen eventually Belgwyn, a few drinks in for the night, directly asks what is up a little louder than she is aware. Fionne explains that he asked about the potential for a raise because of some personal issues. Not exactly believing Fionne, Belgwyn tries to find the bartender that has seemingly disappeared into the back. Not finding Thom, she leads Jewel out to the common room for questioning. Jewel admits that Tom is in debt from gambling. She also admits that Tom is running gambling room in one of the side rooms from time to time. She promises that Tom is using personal funds for his time at the tables and attempts to make it sound better by stating that the upturn in funds for the tavern is from the house take.
Accepting the words of their employee for now, the party begins to retire for the night one by one. Before the last couple of members head up for sleep they receive word that the council will convene tomorrow afternoon and the party’s attendance is expected.
Session Date – 17 April 2026
Roster
- Belgwyn
- Dennis
- EKIM
- Fionne ‘The Ankle Biter’
- Sariel
- Seebo
- Hupp