17 Flamerule, 1368: A Farewell Party

After a tenday of training, the Company of the Severed Head were ready to take on their first quest. Shandar sat back at the table after a feast prepared in the honor of the soon to be departing heroes and tugged on his pipe before providing some background to the adventure that would be undertaken tomorrow at first light.

He spoke slowly, with an intensity of gaze that made certain his words were listened to. "The area of the Dagger Hills," the wizard began, "has long been fought over by various groups of humans, ogres, bugbears, and other creatures. The area along the Dagger Trail is particularly dangerous due to the large number of brigands who loot travelers they are able to waylay. Those who died in battle here were often buried in large tors dug into hillsides and honored as patrons of the living."

"What is a tor?" Routunious interrupted.

"A hollowed out tomb thingy. Like a burial mound." Stago provided, between mouthfuls of his warm custard and apple crisp desert.

"Yes, exactly." Shandar re-lit his pipe and continued, "Though most of these tors have long since been robbed and forgotten, a few do remain—often left alone because they are rumored to be trapped, haunted, or worse."

"Worse than haunted?" Elessaria asked, the terrible nightmares she had been experiencing before being cured by Mina still an unsettling memory, even if not one that any longer cost her sleep.

"Oh, there are worse things than restless dead, but I don't think you'll be facing anything like that on this trip." Shandar said, though his reassurance fell a little flat. He continued, "Among these infamous tombs is the large tor known as Hightower. Its location isn’t widely known, in fact, it had been lost for ages, but was recently rediscovered and its location mapped for me by Karryn Starfollower."

"The map she delivered to you in Bug Tussle!" Shouted Selina.

"The very same. When she isn't here at my tower, Karryn spends her days honing her skills by roaming the Dagger Hills, hunting bugbear and orcs. On one of her hunts she tracked some bugbears to the tor. This particular tomb had a ruined tower on top of it and the bugbears were using it for a hideout. She rightly felt that making note of the location would be more highly prized than the bugbear heads she turned in for bounty at Bug Tussle."

"If she mapped the tower for you, why didn't she just bring the map to you here instead of meeting you in Bug Tussle?" Stago asked.

Shandar responded, "An excellent question, good master gnome. Karryn already had a bag full of kobold heads to be taken to Colonel Putnuam for bounty. She sent word for me to meet her there so that I could access the map without interrupting her hunt."

"Oh."

Shandar continued, "Though Hightower is neither the largest nor the most famous of the area’s tombs, it represents a typical example of this kind of structure. Hightower, apart from my own interest in it, is an unimportant monument in a remote location, a full day’s ride off the Dagger Trail, or two day’s walking, from my home here. It is my belief, through scrying and inquiries I've made, that Hightower Tor is the place where the first of my objects rests. That object is a cursed sword of many enchantments."

"So, the first thing we have to get you is a sword. Right. Got it. Sounds simple. Go to this tomb, get in, find the sword, get out, get back. How hard can it be?" Routunious calculated out loud.

Shandar pretended not to hear him, "The name of the blade is Dragonfang Foe Render. It is a very dangerous weapon, cursed with an enchantment which causes a horrible death to any whose flesh is touched by the weapon. At no time must any of you actually touch the sword, or your flesh will turn to acid and dissolve your very bones."

"OK, that's a complication. Why do you want this sword?" Routnious replied.

"I want it because it is mine." He sighed heavily, and produced from under the table a long and heavy metal box. "This box is made of lead. You must place the sword, without touching it, into this box. The box will prevent it from harming you, and prevent any scrying eye from detecting its presence as you travel. Magic...has difficulty penetrating lead. For your efforts, you will be paid according to the terms of their contract and allowed to keep any and all other treasure you find, except for the sword."

"Well, if these tombs have been plundered and so forth as much as you say, how do we know there will be anything there at all--including the sword?" Asked Routunious.

"You don't. That's why there are more farmers than there are adventurers. But I do have parting gifts for you."

Each member of the company was given 3 potions of extra healing and on vial of sweetwater. To Stago he gives three scrolls, Monster Summoning VI, Water Breathing, and Knock.

To Routunious, Shandar gives four scrolls with clerical spells: Cure Critical Wounds, Raise Dead, Cure Disease, and Invisibility to Undead.

Merle is given a translation brooch which allows her to speak and understand common. She seems oddly put out about this, preferring that everyone learn her native tongue rather than have that beautiful ancient language perverted by magical translation to any other language. The rest of the party doesn't seem to care and is glad that the frustration of the language barrier has been removed at last.

"Tomorrow, my friends, we will prepare you with all the necessary supplies and see you on your way. Tonight, rest, relax, and enjoy the comforts of home. The next bed you sleep in is likely to be a grave...let us hope it isn't yours."

(picture borrowed from Tour By Tor for illustrative purposes only. No copyright infringement intended. And if you want to get a feel for what walking through the Dagger Hills might be like in real life, I would recommend taking this tour!)