Nerd Dice: Chapter 4: Greenfields and Greenlocks

The party spends some time in Greenest, recovering from their harrowing experience in the undead-filled temple of Bane. Leythan the paladin spends some time getting to know his new equine companion, and Thorne meets a companion of his own, a tiny psuedodragon that becomes his familiar. Sergor spends his time almost exclusively at the temple of Ilmater, disturbed by his close contact with the evil taint in the temple.

It is not long, however, before Laucian is eager to head off on the trail of Darkblade and discover what the sinister mage had been up to before he died. The group head south into the Greenfields, a wide, grassy stretch of land sparsely populated by small halfling settlements.

They come to a settlement large enough to have regular trade with non-halflings and an inn that accommodates large-sized humanoids. The inn has outdoor tables for food and drink, where a pair of Sun Elves is sharing a meal. Laucian goes over to talk to them, but they are rather snooty with him, since he is merely a wood elf. They also don't have any particular information about Darkblade. By pure coincidence, as the party moves inside to talk with the publican, Lomion and Aurion just happen to poop on the Sun Elves.

The publican at the inn, however, is much more helpful. He claims that someone matching Darkblade's description had passed through a few times and seemed to have a business relationship with one Duncan Longfoot, who lived in a settlement about a day away called Bright Pond.

After a full night's sleep the party heads out toward Bright Pond following the publican's directions. They don't enter Bright Pond immediately, having been warned of Duncan's temper and tendency toward many dodgy business deals. Mirabelle scouts ahead but gets spotted by a small obnoxious halfling child. She can't convince the kid she's harmless, and he bites her and begins to yell. She escapes detection and returns to the others.

Then, Milos hides his symbol of Tyr and does his best Big Dumb Orc act, heading into the settlement alone. He asks for Duncan, who comes out and speaks with him. Milos tries to explain that he was working for Darkblade, but his story falls apart under Duncan's questions. He leaves without immediate trouble, but Duncan sends a halfling to trail him. Milos leads his tail just outside the camp where they are both spotted. Sergor and Mirabelle sneak up on the tiny follower and tackle him to the ground. They question him and don't find out much more about Duncan, but they do find a vial of poison on him. They tie him to a tree and prepare to invade Bright Pond for Duncan himself.

Shrike, the pseudodragon flies ahead and spots Duncan's location. Thorne flies up into the tree and casts sleep on three of Duncan's guards. Another three had already left to find the first scout following Milos. The three scouts are met by Mirabelle, Sergor, Leythan and Milos and are quickly and quietly killed. The party bolts into Bright Pond after Thorne is spotted by an alert Duncan. The battle is concluded quickly and leaves Duncan unconscious and the rest of his flunkies dead.

Talking with the villagers of Bright Pond, the party learn that none are sorry Duncan is dead. Apparently he was prone to dangerous flares of temper and was suspected of murdering his own mother. The party gives the weapons and money found on the bodies of the guards back to the town. However, they do find vials of poison on the rest of the guards which they keep.

They search Duncan's house and find a small key which opens a hidden chest. Along with some valuables they find a notebook detailing business with Darkblade and indicating he was involved with some type of demon called Azimoth. It also mentions a woman named Greenlocks in the town of Scornubel. After speaking with Duncan to verify what has been learned, Milos sentences him to death by drowning, which is how Duncan purportedly killed his mother. Leythan heads back to the tied up scout outside of town and sets him free.

The party travel as quickly as they can. Mirabelle asks around for information and finds out about a mage who turned her hair green in an alchemical accident. She earns her living fencing magical items and other valuables. Her regular hangout is a seedy pub by the name of The Drunken Ox. Lately she has been especially seeking dragonsbane weapons and other items for slaying dragons.

They visit The Durnken Ox and Greenlocks is easy to spot. They watch her chatting with customers. Thorne approaches her and asks after some magical items. She gives him an address to visit later that night for an exchange.

The address is in a warehouse district of the town. Laucian and Thorne enter the building while Leythan patrols the immediate area and the rest of the party remains hidden in various strategic places outside. Thorne's conversation with Greenlocks doesn't last long, as the party's reputation has preceded them. Greenlocks turns a wand on the pair as guards surround them and two orcs crash through the ceiling. Out of the shadows outside five more guards appear and start heading toward the building.

With so many opponents on so many fronts, the battle is a difficult one, but Laucian and Thorne are saved from being completely overwhelmed as Thorne calls up a protective ring of fire around the pair. Milos and Sergor manage to tackle most of the guards outside, despite sniper fire from an unseen assailant with a crossbow. Leythan and Mirabelle head inside to help out Laucian and Thorne, who are holding their own now that the ring of fire has burned most of the guards.

Greenlocks is hit heavily, but is bandaged up to keep her from dying before she can be questioned. Meanwhile, the monk discovers the source of the sniper fire and climbs up into another building to stop the hidden attacker. Laucian follows, going into the building through the door. Sergor hits him seriously and Laucian shoots an arrow at him from behind. Not quite dead, the man flees and jumps out the window and is knocked unconscious.

The party rounds up their prisoners and secures them with Milos' manacles. They put both prisoners in the room where they found the sniper and question them. The sniper knows little; he is simply a hired assassin, and Milos executes him. Greenlocks is a tougher nut to crack and in the end they feed her a potion of truth. She explains that she works for a demon living near the Forest of Wyrms. She describes what she knows of the demon and his motive, which is a desire for money and power. Then she, too, is executed.

From Greenlocks they obtained her valuables along with a key to a room in The Drunken Ox. They search her room and find all the dragonsbane weapons she obtained are destroyed. They find some books on demons, and a booby trapped spellbook, which they are unable to safely recover. Along with a substantial amount of gold and some other valuables, they also find a code book on the criminals in the area, which they hope to eventually decipher.

The next day the party meet two men who were going to do business with Greenlocks, from whom they buy some dragonsbane arrows. They also purchase some weapons and armor to prepare for their inevitable meeting with the demon Azimoth.