Interlude - Nenwin's Quest

Dungeons and Dragons 5e ongoing campaign in the world of Greyhawk

Location: City of Axegard - former Duchy of Ulel

Date: 30th of Reaping, High Summer

Characters: 

Nenwin

Nenwin Albion - Male Aasimar | Paladin of the god Heironeous [played by Jake]

Lt. Spears

Lieutenant Spears - Male 1/2 elf | Phantom rogue - an operative assigned by Lady Cowl's secretive organization to assist [played by Connor] 

 We return to the RedWater Fellowship, with a personal quest for Nenwin - paladin of the god Heironeous. The Fellowship have been successful in retaking their flying tower and now have flown it to Axegard in the former Duchy of Ulek. Now a protectorate and under control of Overlord Romack as the overlord's armies battle against the demonic hordes of Iuz and the cambion demon's allies.

The Fellowship, having done extensive work for the Overlord, have been granted the gifts of experts to assist in changing the power source of their flying tower from demonic soul destroying power source to a live dragon heart. [DM: please see blogpost for more details]. An arch mage, high priest and master artificer/warlock in demonology are currently at work to convert the tower's power source. They had estimated this would take approximately seven weeks to do. Thus the heroes have some downtime to rest, recuperate and pursue personal goals.

Nenwin a devout follower of his god is contacted by an avatar of Heironeous [DM: Jake rolled a 97% for contact!] and is given a personal quest to assist the local cathedral to the god in Axegard. He feels drawn to the area.

Quest for the Saint:

The cathedral of Heironeous is a ruin in Axegard having been destroyed by the demonic forces of Iuz. [DM: please see blogpost for more details]

The tomb to Saint Ferrante [an arch-paladin to the god] was violated and desecrated the saprophagous and remains of the saint are

all missing as the cathedral is being rebuilt and explored. 

It is said by slaves that were under the dominion of the demonic forces that a trio of witches oversaw the destruction of the cathedral to Nenwin's god and at the direction of Iuz, personally directed the buildings destruction. The Trio are said to be consorts of Iuz, not having been seen since Axegard was under siege and then taken Lord Royce's forces with the direct help of the Fellowship.

Task: Find the bones / remains of the Saint, as well as his armour and shield if possible. His sword was lost in the Sea of Dust in an expedition a score [20 years] back. [DM: possible future quest?]

Nenwin visits the ruins of the Cathedral of Heironeous, now a smoking ruin. He encounters a High Priest of Heironeous, who senses Nenwin has been "touched by the Avatar." The paladin experiences a

The destroyed Cathedral

vision: he sees the cathedral in its glory, then Iuz's forces taking over Axegard, the priests and followers of Heironeous being sacrificed, and the three witches destroying the cathedral, causing a huge explosion and collapse, and taking Saint Ferrante's remains deep underground. Nenwin realizes Saint Ferrante's bones are gone and feels a "homing" desire to find them, leading him down into the sewers. Knowing he needs stealthy or city-knowledgeable assistance for his quest, this is where Lady Cowl's operative Lt. Spears comes in.

Lieutenant Spears an agent recently returned from battling in the Jotun mountains to the West and convalescing in Axegard from some wounds taken in battle. As partial payment for a second dragon killed by the Fellowship, Lady Cowl requests that the Lieutenant assist the paladin in his quest in the sewers under Axegard. In the end this is a win / win for the Lady as this benefits Romack's forces to destroy any remnants of Iuz in the city. While speaking with a contact - Wormland, a dwarf also one of Lady Cowl's operatives, Spears is advised to not trust the Fellowship as they tortured Wormland! The dwarf holds a strong grudge against them specifically "Tumultuous Dude" and "Doc Dude," and an "Elvish Ranger archer". [DM: that would be Tibaltuous, Doc Holliday and Gothi. Blogpost]

Lt. Spears gets a message from Wormland to meet Nenwin at the Redwater Fellowship's Tower. He's warned again about the "evil" Redwater Fellowship by Wormland but is tasked to assist Nenwin without risking his own life.

Nenwin and Lieutenant Spears meet at the Redwater Tower which is in a rubble strewn area near the

The Fellowship's Flying Tower

West gate. Formerly a winery the scents of grapes, wine and all still permeate the air even though the winery was completing destroyed. An old crone and a young woman (supposedly sisters, one a high priest and the other an arch mage) are casting spells on a large black box engraved with runes and bound with platinum chains near the tower's broken gate. The living heart of a black dragon lies in that box it is rumoured.

Lieutenant Spears, using one of his skills covertly detects a nearly celestial aura around Nenwin, possibly from an item. He thinks back to Wormland's words. This paladin was not mentioned by the dwarf. Perhaps he should not pre-judge him.. 

The two get to planning. They are informed that the closest sewer entrance to the cathedral is still blocked by rubble. Nenwin and Lieutenant Spears travel to a sewer entrance two streets from the cathedral.

Around Noon, it is a hot and sunny day as the two clear debris from the sewer entrance and descend.

Sewer Entrance

They navigate the dark, misty, and foul-smelling sewers, following a pull to the left (towards the city center). Nenwin can sense the general location of the remains of his brother paladin and Saint.

Moving carefully and as quietly as possible, the two adventurers encounter signs of recent sewage overflow and a single set of tracks going their direction. Nenwin wings come forth this generates a singing choir, potentially alerting nearby inhabitants. [DM: it is canon now that when Nenwin uses his flying ability a signing choir can be heard in the area. 😊]

Spears and Nenwin reach a four-way intersection. Looking and listening they decide to proceed down the right path, encountering an area with increasing air pressure and a smell of cinnamon. Lieutenant Scales (Spears' familiar) is sent forward, confirming the strong smell of cinnamon and flowers, then a drop in air pressure and no smell.

Into the sewers

Nenwin performs a ritual spell to identify the magical mist as an enchantment, recognizing the spice smells as indicative of a summoning ritual by witches and demons. Nenwin notes a shadowy creature that briefly appears watching them and then scuttles away into the gloom.

Lieutenant Spears' familiar - a snake - called Lieutenant Scales, is sent forward but is affected by the mist perhaps and falls asleep due to enchantment. Nenwin invokes the power of his god to sense evil and feels "abyssally undead" presence ahead. The two prepare..

Battle!

Coming out of the sewer tunnels, they come to a more open area with a right turn. Under a pile of rags they can hear a murmuring and movement on one side. A skeletal, dwarf-sized, flesh creature (called "God" by itself) talks to the two briefly until Nenwin, his drive to destroy evil cannot be held back and engages it, and Lieutenant Spears attacks with daggers. 

The rogue has been walking on the walls and ceiling, benefit of Boots of Spider Climbing as he throws magical daggers cutting into the skeletal creature. Nenwin slices down with his Holy Avenger cracking and slicing bone. The second swing causes the creature to explode, revealing a large number of similar creatures half the size which all attack! They shoot out long black claw like strands which hit and drain life from both the rogue and the paladin.

Lt. Spear's uncanny dodge ability mitigates some damage. and uses a bonus action to deal more damage, heavily wounding one creature. Unfortunately the necrotic attacks take their tole and the rogue

is knocked unconscious by combined death effect when three attacks hit him (possibly a "death saving throw") and falls into the sewer water.

Nenwin casts a Fear spell that repels the majority of the creatures, making them run away screaming. Swooping down - with choir signing in the background - Nenwin pulls the rogue from the putrid and scummy sewerage and uses his Lay on Hands ability to heal Lieutenant Spears.

They pursue the fleeing creatures, heading towards the area where the sewage has risen, covering the walkway. They surmise this was a lower area and the rising sewage is a "demonic thing." Spears uses his spider-climb ability to move on the ceiling while Nenwin flies down the center of the sewer tunnel. They come to an open area with at a pool of sewage, but some dry area in front of large iron door with a demonic face and a keyhole. There are runes and script engraved in the door, the engravings filled with black substance.. dried blood?

The Demonic door

Lieutenant Spears - a 1/2 elf of many skills and abilities - studies a tome from his satchel for 10 minutes, and is able to ritual cast comprehend languages. He discovers the door says "Welcome to paradise" in multiple languages, including Orcish. After multiple failed attempts to open the lock, the rogue realizes it's a "fake complex" lock, similar to a master craftsman's trick that was done on him and his students friends when Spears was training. The rogue finds a hidden lock behind a loose eye on the demonic face and, recalling his master's lessons, successfully unlocks it.

The doors glide open, revealing what appears to be the Cathedral of Heironeous in its full glory. They see the three beautiful witches, standing behind Saint Ferrante's sarcophagus, performing a ritual. They reiterate in unison, "Welcome to paradise." The smell of cinnamon and potpourri is very strong here.

The witches explain they are returning the saint to life as "worshippers of Harmonious," claiming they only want the best. Both Nenwin and Lieutenant Spears resist a mesmerizing/charm effect from the witches' words, shaking off the effects the two heroes attack! One witch glares at Nenwin, attempting to drain his life force, but he resists. She then moves away far back in the large room. The middle witch attack with magic missiles, dealing damage to Nenwin. The paladin shrugs off the magic attacks as his only focus is the Saint's bones. He begins to retrieve the bones, shield, and chainmail of Saint Ferrante from the sarcophagus. [DM: this will take two turns]

Lieutenant Spears attacks one of the witches with a thrown magical

dagger, heavily damaging her. The witches continue to attack Nenwin with black strands, dealing necrotic damage. One witch screeches at

Nenwin, making him roll a Constitution save [DM: a death save], the choir signing - from his wings - as he flies keeps his focus and he shrugs off the death effect. She attacks him with a claw dripping black oily goo, dealing significant damage.

Nenwin swings his Holy Avenger sword and slices into the witch draining an ability from her and regaining some health at the same time! Then the third witch casts Finger of Death spell from a long, crooked finger, dealing massive damage and ripping at the paladin's heart.

Battle in the Cathedral

The small creatures the two had met previously made of bones and rags come out from all over and attack sending the strands of necrotic energy at the two heroes.

Meanwhile, the witches teleport it seems and switch places, making it hard to distinguish them. They all appear heavily damaged. The two heroes realize it is only one witch! She is using some mirror images or illusion and casting spells from the other two images as well. They try to focus their attacks on the REAL witch.

Nenwin completes gathering Saint Ferrante's remains (shield, chainmail, bones) while Lieutenant Spears attacks one of the witches, who screeches

as the dagger impacts with a near fatal wound. The witch has blood streaming from multiple gashes and in pain, looks close to death. All three screech again in unison and flee, firing black strands at Spears one final time but the rogue uses uncanny dodge to expertly take less damage. Then two of the witches disappear and the final - true - witch flees and disappears into the floor.

Nenwin uses an action to activate a holy power, causing the bones and rags of the killed creature to collapse, destroying them with his divine power. The entire room starts to change, the floor disappearing into sewer water and narrow walk-ways., the illusion dissipating. The smell of cinnamon and potpourri fades, replaced by sewage.

Nenwin determines the witches' ritual was likely an attempt to summon or raise Saint Ferrante as a revenant or undead knight.

From a sewer entrance in the far wall, they hear a whisper trailing away.. "I will find you."

Without further issue or encounter the two heroes exit the sewers. Nenwin returns the remains of Saint Ferrante to the High Priest at the ruined cathedral. The High Priest is delighted and gives Nenwin a statue of a horse (directly from the Avatar Heironeous), which Nenwin can name to call upon. A figurine of wonderous power: The Paladin's Flying Horse.

Lt. Spears sends a coded report to Lady Cowl, In it the rogue notes the task completed and full details on the witch and other activity under Axegard. Also, that the paladin, Nenwin,  is an excellent ally against the evils of Iuz and solidifying a new alliance for Nenwin with Lady Cowl's covert intelligence agency.

Nenwin plans to pray and name the horse. He turns to thank the rogue operative, Lieutenant Spears but the 1/2 elf has already moved off without a word. The paladin shrugs and heads back to the RedWater Fellowship's tower, to pray and contemplate his new item. The quest for the bones of Saint Ferrante completed.