Calendar Highlights - Flamerule 1372 (July)

Flamerule 1st – a traveler shows up looking for work at the keep. He is an artic dwarf named Otihand Battlebeard. He was sent as an emissary to learn of the southerners ways. Kregnok hires him.

Flamerule 2nd – the group is visited by another potential hireling, this an Uthgardt barbarian named Kelser Blackmane of the Red Tiger Tribe. Lozigee hires him.

Flamerule 3rd through 9th – Reports from all the Lords on the last week:

• Melisi – hired a cook for the keep, names Ivan the Cook. Was approached by some orcs to do a job.
  
  
• Althalus – did he usual scouting of the area and found some ruins that had some fey’ri hanging around them. Met a person called the Hermit (Lane) and his a druid of the area. He said the Nether Mountains have had a rough go since the Ripped Guts and the Thousand Fists orcs stopped fighting each other. Also he mentioned an attack on the Lady’s Hand Monastery a few months ago. Found a camp of at least 50 orcs to the southeast. The hill giants have grown to four, up from two on Althalus’s last visit.
  
  
• Kregnok – he and Umberto met Captain Aito, who is in charge of one of the patrols that guards the Everlund Pass and gave him details on the bugbear camp. They were introduced to the NPCs that Lords had chosen to assist in the mission and they road off to eliminate the bugbear threat.
  
  
• Kelser – returns with the other NPCs and almost all of Captain Aito’s patrol and informs the Lords that the bugbear threat is no more.
  
  
• Panian – gives his report on what transpired as his group looked into the disappearance of a couple of locals from Wageton. Apparently they were abducted by slavers and the trail led back to the Red Wizards of Thay enclave. The person responsible was Kizzaf and in was their leader, Hinnar, that aided us in taking her down and escorting her to Wageton for her to stand trial. Hinnar was quite upset over this ordeal as it hurts her group’s chances to make it in the Silver Marches. Both Cato June of Wageton and Hinnar of the Red Wizards look upon us favorably.
  
  
• Umberto – was approached by Cato June about opening a store in Wageton to sell their goods. The newly hired gardeners are doing well here at the keep. K’Gorsz, reports that some poisons have gone missing and Umberto suspects the mysterious group from Cholnudon may be responsible.
  

Flamerule 10th – Ivan the cook prepares his first meal at the keep and everyone is very grateful for it.

A woman approaches, her clothes tattered and she looks exhausted. Gravaar recognizes her for what she is, a sacrifice for an orcish ceremony. When asked on this Gravaar goes on to explain that she (Tian) was the Mouth of Aumauthra, and that she is a ghost. The Ripped Guts tribe follow Aumauthra and if and when they find she is here they will come by the hundreds to get her back.


Flamerule 11th – Johann Cross, the carpenter, explains to Kregnok that the hiring of a couple of general laborers would greatly help his team build faster. Johann also gives estimates for the Stone’s Throw tavern and a wooden wall to enclose the valley. Johann thinks the valley might have a pretty decent quarry on their hands and tells the dwarf to look into the advice of a master mason for not only the stone but using it to build the wall.

Vadania, an female elf druid, of the Nether Mountains, arrives at the keep with her dog Odif, seeking employment. Umberto winks and hires her on the spot.

Tian wakes up and apologizes for her behavior from the previous day, but says that the rest and the security of being here has done wonders for her. She wishes to earn her keep. The mentions that she was part of The Magician’s Alliance in Silverymoon, where she and a handful of others went to establish a branch along the Silverymoon Pass near Hawk’s Nest. They were attacked by orcs, all of them killed except her. A being of some sort entered her body and took control. She watched through her own eyes as this being searched ruins for something. The presence left her body briefly and that is when Tian made her escape. Kregnok hires the wizard.


Flamerule 12th through 18th – Reports from the Lords for the past week:

• Althalus – He and Panian investigated the former camp site of the Thousand Fists orcs to the southeast but found none this time. Tian was captured by the Ripped Guts orcs as they occasionally need to find a vessel for the ghost “Aumathra” to inhabit so she may continue her searches in ruins and tombs. Thankfully Tian escaped. Also, Evans Barksdale , high priest in Temel is here. Highwaymen has stolen medicines from Silverymoon and they are needed desperately.
  
  
• Umberto – He learned from Vadania that the valley and the strong hold that we all call home did not exist months ago. It just magically appeared. Cato June is going to help get the Rockhammer Hold Store in Wageton set up. His nephew, Jeffrey Samuel, has been hired to run the store. Two general laborers (Orray and Enad) have been hired for the benefit of the keep.
  
  
• Kregnok – continued to work with his team on the forge. Johann Cross reports that the barracks are completed as well as all the furnishings inside it. Kregnok brought up the question of what to build next and also came up with the idea of some sort of celebration for the upcoming holiday of Mid Summer. Kregnok also was introduced to Dain Rockbreaker through Evan Barksdale, about the thoughts of a quarry in the valley.
  
  
• Evan Barksdale – told everyone what happened in Temel. There has been an outbreak of Lisfranc disease. While it is not contagious, everyone in Temel has it. Evan requested that Silverymoon send the antidotes. Last night, highwaymen stole the crate. It was the only thing taken. Evan asks the Lords for their help.
  
  
• Lozigee – took the street urchin gang to Silverymoon for a field trip and learned that the caravans start in Silverymoon and he put in a word for them to stop by the “Stone’s Throw” along the way.
  
  
• Melisi – Wrote some scrolls this week and turned a small profit for her efforts. Confessed to being the person behind the raid on the caravan and to stealing the chest of medicine. She turned it over to a middle man, no doubt working for the orcs.
  
  
• Kregnok frowns, and says that we all need to repair the damage we’ve done.

Flamerule 19th – The Hold is visited by Drek of Cholnudon, and he asks Umberto and Althalus where his goods are and that Mr. M is quite upset. Umberto informed him that the deal is over. Drek is very upset at this news and vows to report this to the “boss of Cholnudon”.

Evan Barksdale arrives wanting to know if the Lords had come to a decision regarding the medicine. Umberto says it will be done and NPCs are gathered to do the exchange with the Broken Tusks. The Lords come to learn that it was Melisi and her NPCs that were hired to snatch the delivery of medicine before it reached Temel. The Broken Tusks were behind the deal all along.

Late in the evening the NPC party returns with an ultimatum from Karg, leader of the Broken Tusks. They demand 1,500 in gold and the release of Thar Grim- Rule, orcish priest of Grummsh who was being held in Temel in exchange for the medicine.

Evan Barksdale sheds some light on the capture of Thar. He boldly walked into town and basically waited to be apprehended and thrown in jail. The Temelites were going to turn him over to a patrol but since Thar had committed no crime, the patrol Captain (Captain Thulver, a stickler for law and order) would not take him in. Mayor Droverson decided to wait until Captain Aito’s patrol came by to turn him over. Evan goes on to say that the medicine is desperately needed, and Temel will gladly release the orc, but they do not have that kind of gold.

The Vault is wiped out, along with all the gold Temel can muster up. The PCs are forced to come up with the rest of the money and it just about leaves everyone broke. But the ransom is made.

At near midnight Vadania returns with the medicine. She also reported that Karg laughed at us, called us weak, and said that one day all of us in the Nether Mountains will bow down before him. Vadania rushed the medicine to Temel before returning to Rock Hammer.


Flamerule 20th – Alarms are raised as an individual and horse, both very badly injured, is brought to the gates of the keep by Phyllis the barmaid. The warrior’s armor is removed so that Kregnok and Rez’Gyrk can attend to him. Vadania does the same for the warhorse.

Dain Rockbreaker shows up to talk to Kregnok about the quarry. He figures the start up cost to be 500 gp which includes transportation costs to Wageton, where it can be shipped anywhere along the Rauvin River.


Flamerule 21st – Evan Barksdale, priest in Temel, returns to Rock Hammer and thanks the Lords for saving his village. He offers a small sack of goods as a modest reward. The items had been added to the Vault.


Flamerule 22nd – Captain Aito arrives at Rock Hammer Hold and was quite upset to learn that the prisoner, Thar Grim-Rule, had been released in Temel. Captain Aito agreed that their hands were tied and he had to be let go. Word is sent back to the High Lady that Thar will not be brought in for questioning.

The Black knight awakens, everyone could tell he was still out of it as he barks out demands for his armor and weapons. He rambles on about someone named “Horace” and seems quite concerned if he is here or not. Kregnok decides to repair his armor as best he can.

Flamerule 23rd – Kregnok does his best to make the black knight’s armor as serviceable as possible, and while doing this, discovered the symbol of Bane on it. Umberto reports that he was visited last night by Mr. M of Cholnudon and threatened him to continue the production of poison or else. Umberto proposes to continue this to work his way into their organization.

The Black knight donned his armor and stumbled out of the keep on top his horse. Panian reports that he thought he saw him wink at Syvgar as he left. K’Gorsz confirmed this as well.

The group turns to Syvgar to see what is up. The half-orc voices his displeasure that he has never received any work here at the keep like some of the other NPCs have. Althalus decides to hire him on the condition that he tell him everything that transpired between him and the black knight. Syvgar agrees.

The half-orc goes on to tell them that his name in Burukhan and he holds the title of Dreadlord. He worships Bane and was chased out of Sundabar by some paladin. He promises to make Syvgar rich and famous. This Burukhan is going to send word to Syvgar soon once he has set up a base in the mountains. Syvgar floats the idea of him “pretend joining” the Dreadlord’s band to feed information to the Lords.

Umberto considers another unused NPC hireling of Bastion, Nadia the bowmaker. She mentions that she would like to be working around here and Kregnok quickly hires her on to his team.


Flamerule 24th – a rider from Silverymoon arrives and brings notice that the High Lady offers the Lords a stipend of reimbursement to cover their losses from the Temel ransom (3,000 gp). Also a half-dozen or so magic items were given to the Lords as well. He also mentions that there is a bounty on the orc named Thar Grim-Rule.


Flamerule 25th through 30th – End of the week reports:

• Panian – visited Temel and found the people to be at unease still after the ordeal with the Broken Tusks orcs. The ogres nearby have doubled in size from two to four. I followed a group of orcs to near Cholnudon where I lost them. I left a note for the hermit to join us for Mid Summer night.
  
  Kregnok – spent most of the week working on the forge along with the rest of his team. Mentions that Ensyer came by and informed him that he had been promoted to captain and would be in charge of one of the patrols.
  
  Umberto – had spent a good deal of time preparing for the celebration of Mid Summer the following day. He had also sold mundane items through the store in Wageton. Umberto also made a drops of goods to Mr. M in Cholnudon and was paid 500 gp, which was divided up to training for the Rock Hammer guards as well as additional guards, the church in Temel, and a bit to his own hirelings.
  
  Althalus – gave his report from the surrounding areas. Ran into a patrol of elves who were tracking a group of orcs north of the valley. The leader was a cold, elven female named Senesus. The hill giants seem to be missing as well.
  

Mid-Summer (Flamerule 31st) – The day of the big party in Rock Hammer. Tons of people arrive for the festivities, lots of information gathered, and lots of ideas are formed:

• Captain Dominic suggests the Lords consider hiring a butler to run the keep while the Lords are away on business.
  
• Mayor Kevian Droverson of Temel thanks the Lords for their hospitality in inviting the Temelites to the festivities after what they had gone through with the orcs.
  
• Priest Evan Barksdale asks if the Lords have any idea what Karg and Thar Grim-Rule are up to as he feels they are concocting some plan.
  
• A couple of the guards ask for and receive permission to build homes here in the valley for their families.
  
• Althalus has a “talk” with Lozigee’s street urchins to stop their shenanigans at the party. He also suggests that they start getting some career training soon to start them down a better path.
  
• Captain Aito of the Everlund Pass Patrol stops by to inform the Lords that he and Captain Ensyer will now be camping overnight on their patrols in Rock Hammer instead of in Temel. He also mentions that the third patrol captain, Captain Kremmel, has been a bit shady lately.
  
• Marina wins the archery contest, and Nadia plans to make her a custom bow as a reward.
  
• Hinnar of the Red Wizards of Thay Enclave arrive with a couple of her assistants. While some of people are happy to see them, most Temelites still do not trust them. Hinnar mentions that she would like the Red Wizards to be regarded as the Lords of Rock Hammer Hold. She asked the Lords that she would like to work with you all the next time an event or adventures comes up. Umberto agrees.
  
• A short play called, “A Cobbler’s Tale” made several mentions of shady things happening in Cholnudon.
  
• Vadania the druid brings a large brown bear to the stage and puts on a show for the group.
  
• The group meets a very outgoing, very outrageous tiefling named Haer Dalis’ from the local acting troupe, who was looking to join the group. Umberto hires him on the spot.
  
• A couple of the Lords go over and hang out with Gravaar and K’Gorsz to make them feel important to the happenings of Rock Hammer Hold. Gravaar mentions that he has worked well with other hunter, Ol’ Jed.
  
• The Hermit (Lane) arrives to the party and you find that he is a fountain of knowledge for these parts of Nether Mountains. He also mentions that he has been searching for the Broken Tusks orcs as well as the Black Knight’s camp in the mountains, but has had no success with either. He goes on to say that he has seen increased traffic (gnolls, hobgoblins, bandits) in the foothills west of Wageton and he thinks this is the work of the Dreadlord Holt Burukhan. Apparently the hermit had discovered that he has a very high up in the Church of Bane in Sundabar until their secret underground temple was raided. A formal alliance is made between the Lords of Rock Hammer and Lane the hermit to work together in protecting the Nether Mountains.
  
• Captain Ensyer shows up to the party and mentions that he has gotten bad vibes from the town of Cholnudon. Umberto agrees with him.
  
• Cato June and his nephew, and Rock Hammer employee, Jeffrey Samuel arrive to the party. He has great news for the Lords; the priests of the Hall of Everlasting Justice in Sundabar have need of repair to there temple. The cut stone they require is the same type that comes from the quarry here in Rock Hammer Hold. Their leader, Defender of Justice Lathkiera Morlund, will be in Wageton the following day and Cato had set up a meeting for the Lords with her.
  
• Umberto wraps up the party with a speech dedicated to the free people of the Silver Marches.
  

Shieldmeet (Flamerule 32nd) – The day after the celebrations of Mid-Summer and the Lords are greeted in the morning by a representative of High Lady Alustriel of Silverymoon. The Lords are all given broaches that bear the official insignia of Silverymoon and allow them to conduct matters in the best interest of the Silver Marches. For this service, Rock Hammer will receive a monthly stipend of 500 gp. After the official left, the Lords headed off to Wageton for the meeting. The “away team” consisted of:

Kregnok
Althalus
Umberto
Kelser
Vadania
Tatyl (who they didn’t run into until Wageton)

Wageton feels a little weird today as you are greeted by councilman Cato June. He takes you over to the local tavern where you are introduced to Lathkiera Morlund, Defender of Justice in at the Temple of Tyr in Sundabar. A deal is struck for stone to be dug up at Rock Hammer and then transported here to Wageton where it will be shipped via the river to Sundabar. The monthly profit to Rock Hammer is to be about 1,500 gp, with the first shipment due on the first of Eleint.

After negotiations are complete, Lathkira introduces the group to Horace Danim, champion of Tyr in Sundabar. He goes on to explain that he has been tasked with tracking down an individual in these western Nether Mountains. His name is Dreadlord Holt Burukhan, high priest of Bane.

Explanations are made and Horace is caught up to speed with the Lords run in with the Dreadlord as well as the fact that an informant is in his employ (though not his name).

Once the Sundabar delegates left, the Lords headed over to the bar to celebrate. They ran into Tatyl, a wizard from the Thay outpost. While at the tavern the Lords were summoned to investigate trouble up at the old graveyard. Apparently a family went up to the graveyard two days ago and never returned. Two guard are missing as of today as well.

The guards were found at the doors of the mausoleum, killed by humanoids but being eating by worgs. Cato June implored the Lords to enter the Mausoleum and investigate this further. Two rooms later the Lords found what was left of the family. The little girl and her dead parents who had been zombified. The Lords were pressed to continue the search for the intruders.

Through a handful of more rooms, the group starts to get the sense that they are following the tomb raiders and that they have left undead in the Lords way to prevent or slow them down. After a battle with an ogre zombie, the group holes up and rests for the night.