Illithid Empire of Thithnihl

(DMed by David W.) The third and currently final part of the Heroes & Traitors campaign arc, this adventure briefly follows the adventurers and a few new faces in the aftermath of the Battle of Spearsdale.

For character info, go here.

Episode 1: “Aftermath”[edit]

Date: SH 1310, July 17, Sehaninus

Six days after the Battle of Spearsdale, a few surviving champions, along with other battle-hardened adventurers, answered the call from the unofficial coalition of Spearsdale. The leader of the coalition, Garret Heartsun, made the call.

Word had come from Sendugel, the leader of Boar Herpes Academy, on the southern tip of the Beoric Mountains, that drow have been raiding the nearby villages in the foothills and have threatened the very integrity of the Academy. The heroes gathered and traveled to Boar Herpes immediately. Twelve days later, they arrived at the shores of the lake surrounding the academy, which looks to be devoid of its usual activity.

Notes: During the Battle of Spearsdale, King Everett Middlethorn died, causing a power vacuum. The nobility of Spearsdale are now clamoring for the throne. Two families in particular seem to be leading in the race.

Episode 2: "Boar Herpes Academy"[edit]

Date: SH 1310, July 30, Melorus

It took the adventurers twelve days on swift horseback to reach the edge of the lake surrounding Boar Herpes. While the Academy is usually bustling, according to Celador, it seemed to be devoid of activity. Celador used a ritual to allow himself and his comrades to breathe underwater and they swam toward the island in the center. However, they were ambushed by three superior dire sharks. But using their extensive knowledge of natural beings, Psytope-ra, Athena, and Tesk'e managed to tame all three, just in time to fight off Yrindikar, the Warding Kraken of Boar Herpes. After dispatching of the giant kraken, they made it to the island and the Academy.

There, they met Sendugel who explained to them their situation concerning the drow raids. Several towns and villages nearby have been attacked by drow. These dark elves have murdered several civilians, splitting their skulls open and pulverizing their brain matter, and have dragged captives into the depths of the Underdark. Sendugel suggested they go to Beorishtel, the village most recently attacked. Perhaps there they may find some answers or a route to the Underdark.

While spending some time at the Academy, the adventurers learned of a mysterious mental illness that seems to be spreading throughout the school and perhaps the surrounding the region. It is believed that this is being done by the drow raiders in order to weaken their foes before attacks, but Kassio, a survivor from the raids, seems to be saying something different. It was hard, however, for the adventurers to glean any solid information from her due to her severely weakened mental state.

One of the surviving professors at Boar Herpes, Entu, teleported the party to the outskirts of Beorishtel, where they have now set up camp and plan to investigate the village.

Notes: Other NPCs encountered at Boar Herpes include Sarill, Partellen, Memory, Reynald, and Issaquell. Dicky was excited to eat his first true meal as a human, steak and eggs.

[Since we had some D&D newcomers in this adventure, we decided it'd be best to scrap the story and start a new one fresh with level 1 characters. The resulting campaign was the Northern Strife, Part 2.]