Copper and Crystal
The adventure begins in late spring, in the two of Krupka, here on the north eastern coast of the Great River. The party is in search of adventure and hear that an intriguing notice has been posted in the market square.
The note is written on quality paper in a fine hand and reads:
- WANTED: Stout band of adventurers to investigate goblin raids in surrounding farmlands, locate goblin hideout, retrieve items of interest and value.
- Pay: Good Danger: Low
- M.
Filica thinks the M could mean either Miranda (an enigmatic local wizard) or Rulden Murry (a member of the town council and jeweler). They party heads to Murry's shop where they find him writing a "wanted" notice of his own. He wants the goblin raids stopped. There are also rumours that the some of the goblins are carrying unusual crystals and he would like to obtain some. The party agree and head out of town along the north road towards Smythe's where the latest raids have been reported.
Along the way the party learn that the Huws's farm has just been raided not more than 5 minutes ago. The party set of and soon catch up with the goblins (who are carrying heavy sacks of stolen goods and moving slowly).
| Goblin Raiders (Normal; tp 10) | |||||||||
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The stolen goods turn out to be pans, bowls and other kitchen utensils all made from copper. The party return the goods to a grateful Huws and a modest reward.
The party continue on to Smythe's farm. Along they way they encounter a crazy man with two dire rat pets gnawing on a goblin corpse. The man, fearing the adventurer's to be thieves, attacks.
| Crazy Man (Normal; tp 7) | |||||||
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Continuing along the road, the party soon reaches the Smythe farm. Ms Smythe, who is mending some farm tools at the forge, says she has no information on where the goblins came from as both she and her brother were tending the sheep when the raid occurred. During the raid the goblins smashed the old still and stole the large copper vessel.
Everyone applies their skills to tracking down the goblins.
| Tracking the Raiders (Skill challenge) | |||||
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Unfortunately, the goblin's laid a false trail and the party reaches a old, ruined chapel on top of a hill instead of a goblin lair. The chapel is haunted by zombies, skeletons and other undead creatures. On the small altar within the chapel is a crystal on a corroded copper stand; the crystal glows faintly with a deep purple light.
The party resolves the slay the undead and kick in the rotten chapel door.
| Haunted Chapel (Normal; tp 3,5) | |||||||||
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Mordecai investigates the crystal but only determines that it has a faint necromantic aura. Further investigation would require a magical laboratory and library.
From the chapel hill the party can see the ruined watch tower which looks like a likely spot for a goblin camp.
The adventurers reach the ruined tower an hour before dawn and with the setting sun behind them they attack.
| Goblins at the Ruined Tower (Hard; tp 6,8) | |||||||||
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After a close battle the goblins are defeated. The goblins had constructed a makeshift smelter in the tower and were using it melt down all their stolen copper items into ingots. The crude map found on the goblin spellcaster showed the location of all the farms in the local area and would might be a cave. The farms that have been raided have crosses scribbled in charcoal next to them.
After resting overnight in the tower, the party heads for the cave.
Party Level: 1st (440/1000 XP)
