After returning Dragonfang Foe Render to its rightful owner, the company trained with their mentors at Shandar's tower. Elessaria trains for 2 weeks and is now level 3.
Selina trains for 1 week and is now level 4.
Routunious is level 2.
Stago, due to his multi-classing as a fighter and mage, is still at level 1. Merle is also still at level one, as a result of her spending so much of the previous adventure incapacitated from the lightning strike.
In the evenings for the past week, Shandar has been briefing the adventurers on the next quest over dinner. The second quest is in some ways much less clear than the first.
"The jeweled dagger that you found so contentious," Shandar explained, "I feel is a sign, the pointer which would guide us to the next item we seek. To my mind, it seems obvious that a dagger of this power and value indicates that the next item is to be discovered in Daggerdale."
"Does saying that you believe, and it seems obvious, mean that unlike last time you don't have a map?" Stago asked.
"It does," replied Shandar.
"I've been working divination magics with Shandar," interrupted Mina, Shandar's cleric.
Shandar continued, "This is truth. While we have not many concrete details, we feel certain that there is trouble in that land, more than the usual...and it is extremely likely that the source of the trouble and the item which I seek are somehow connected."
"Does that mean you're the cause of the trouble in Daggerdale?" Routunious asked, his mouth full of food.
"Certainly not!" The wizard shouted, with obvious displeasure writ large on his face.
"Just checking," the priest replied, returning to his meal until something of interest to him is discussed.
"What is it we are looking for this time?" Selina asked, to diffuse the anger of their patron.
"My old staff, Nemisis. It is an item of great power, a staff that when held causes the opposite effect of a cast spell to occur. So, for example, a fireball would be something similar to Snillic's Snowball, or knock would be wizard lock."
"Aren't those spells already reversible?" Asked Stago.
"Fireball isn't."
"Oh, well, it's third level, so how would I know? But knock is."
"But you have to memorize it as the reversed spell. Having the staff allows you to change your mind depending upon the situation at hand," explained Shandar.
"Well, that does seem useful, but worth risking all our lives for?"
"Don't forget that it will cause the reverse, or opposite of any spell, even those which ordinarily are not reversible. Like fireball. This is unbelievably useful when researching new spells. It opens up an entire universe of possibilities ordinary wizards trapped by what they think is possible would never even consider. I've not been able to explore these arcane areas since the loss of that staff."
"Oh." Stago said, poking at his peas with a fork.
"And furthermore, my good gnome, so long as our contract is in force it is I who decides what is worth risking your life for and not you or anyone else who put signature to parchment. Please, don't forget that. It matters not at all whether you see the value in the risk, only that I do."
"Please, Shandar, ignore him and continue explaining what you know about this quest and how we might best prepare for it." Elessaria interjected, steering the conversation back to productive areas.
"As I was saying, find out what is wrong in Daggerdale and you will likely also discover the location of my staff. However, remember that your first duty is to the fulfilment of the contract, and if you recover the staff before you have put to rest whatever trouble there is in the dale, you can’t spend any longer than a ten-day or you’ll be in violation of the terms of that contract."
"Daggerdale is a large area. Do you have a hint of where we should start looking?" Elessaria asked.
"The primary community in Daggerdale is Dagger Falls. The staff is in Dagger Falls,
about two days travel from here."
"We are all unfamiliar with the area, can you give us some background?"
"Karryn will fill you in there, while I head to the kitchen to help prepare the dessert."
As the old man in grey robes leaves the table, the young ranger picks up the thread, "For more than fifty years, Daggerdale has been battling to survive against hostile raiders, bandits, and monsters. Zhentarim spies and agents have infiltrated the dale, and the men of Daggerdale have been decimated by the attacks. They want nothing more than to be left alone."
"Excuse me--Zhentawhat?" Stago interrupted.
"The Zhentarim, also known as the Black Network, is an evil organization whose goal is to dominate the lands from the Moonsea to the Sword Coast North in order to exploit every resource of Faerûn to its own ends. Originally a secret society, the Zhentarim have operated openly in the area of the Moonsea, particularly around Zhentil Keep, their greatest base of operations."
"Cyric worshippers, aren't they?" Routunious asked.
"Yes, and they emulate the ruthlessness of their deity. Many Zhentarim are simply opportunistic merchants; however, some do resort to illicit acts such as attacking rival caravans, extorting villages for food, or far more serious crimes like arson and murder. Bandits are hired by the Zhentarim to attack other caravans and towns. Wizards are also hired to conjure up or enrage foul monsters. Their particular expertise is the collection of information...Rumors state that the Black Network is a sinister, murderous band of spies, informants, armies, and wizards who ride around on monsters, engaged in all sorts of secret and terrible activities. These rumors spread fear of the cabal from the lands of the Moonsea and across the Heartlands to the Sword Coast."
"Got it. Bad people, to be avoided....are they in control of Daggerdale?" Stago asked.
"Not entirely, they have more interest in the trade route past Daggerdale and into the great desert to the western lands than spending time and resources managing the affairs of this stop on that route. They have an agent there who runs the town for them." Karryn answered.
"Tell us more of the dale, and then of the city itself." Elessaria requested.
"Located in the upper reaches of the Tesh valley, Daggerdale lies between the Desertsmouth mountains and the Dagger Hills, remote and hard to reach. Paths lead south to Shadowdale and east to Teshwave, but little traffic passes through the dale, other than the Zhent caravans transporting trade goods and slaves. Merchants of other lands have found the trip to Dagger Falls to be dangerous and unprofitable. The Zhents are the most frequent visitors."
"what of the people? Are they as corrupt as those who would be their masters?" Routunious asked.
"The people of Daggerdale are hunters and farmers, but many homesteads are abandoned. Large areas of the dale are heavily wooded; the open farmlands and manors of the other dales are not found in Daggerdale. Instead, people huddle together in small stockaded settlements for protection. Small villages lie in isolated areas. The villagers farm the land nearby and send hunting parties into the dark forests and hills. The Dalesmen barely produce enough to keep themselves alive and have little to offer foreign traders. The folk of the countryside band together in fortified villages, while the people of Dagger Falls, are protected by a Zhentarim-sponsored constable."
"Has it always been thus? Surely at some point there was a legitimate ruler of dale."
"Daggerdale's rightful ruler, a rebel named Randal Morn, leads a band of fighters against the invaders of the Dale. The largest community of Daggerdale is Dagger Falls, but it is ruled by a sheriff from Zhentil Keep, as I mentioned earlier. Randal Morn and the free Dalesmen keep moving their base to avoid the Zhentish forces. Randal's forces have been trying to recapture the town for years, but there are too few to risk a battle against the Zhentarim garrison."
"I see, so we're walking into a civil war."
"Not yet...and please don't start one!" Shandar interrupted, entering with Marie and both laden with deliciously smelling pies.
"Morn isn't yet powerful enough to lead a rebellion," Karryn continued, "But just because there isn't open warfare doesn't mean it isn't extremely dangerous. The countryside of Daggerdale is a lawless area plagued by bandits, monsters, and pillaging mercenaries. Within the fortified hamlets under Morn's control, justice is fair, swift, and harsh. Looters and brigands are put to death. Zhentish sympathizers are run out of town. The scattered hamlets and villages of Daggerdale are usually protected by stout palisades of sharpened timbers. Zhentish patrols are rarely resisted, but the villagers will fiercely resist looters and pillaging mercenaries. In addition, Morn's freedom fighters roam the countryside and often aid villages that are under attack."
"Enough talking now," Shandar said, slicing up the pies, "Tonight we rest and tomorrow you'll experience all that we've discussed for yourselves. One thing I might suggest, however, is that you consider finding some sort of permanent lodging in the area. Not that I mind having you all as guests, but I suspect that living in tents on our front lawn will eventually no longer suffice as a place to recuperate from your adventures and to store the treasures you will acquire."
The company mulls the suggestion between mouthfuls of delicious pie.
Sources:(Not for Players!)
- Doom of Daggerdale module
- Wiki entry
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