Inspired by ‘Campaign Posts: Do They Work?‘ on Exchange Of Realities.

For a while, I went through a phase of writing regular D&D campaign journals.  This one recants the events of a particular adventure - or the latter half an adventure, I should say.  It is a complete journal up to the end of that adventure, though.

The first couple of parts are scene-setters really, and you’ll spot some obvious party-assembly contrivances going on - a bit painful but it’s the nature of the beast sometimes.  In the course of posting the journal I’ll also pause here and there to flesh out some of the characters.

Don’t expect crunch.  I find it rather unexciting to write about.  I’m a ‘mechanics are a means to an end’ kinda guy.  The real life of a campaign is what emerges, storywise.  The tales that are told in taverns for years afterwards.

NB this adventure draws on elements taken from the module ‘Return to White Plume Mountain’. Persons reading this who are familiar with that module are requested not to post any plot spoilers, as my players are known to read this blog  - this story thread is still ‘live’ and will be returned to at some point.

The story so far:

Our tale begins with our heroes Albrigon, Sorrel, Snake and Ugrat staying as guests within the caverns of the alluring ice-elf witch Valaina and her equally enthralling daughter Uruviel. Their quest - to retrieve magical shards of ice from the legendary Hanging Glacier of Alisedren deep in the Corusk mountains. This is the second of three tasks demanded of them by the wizard Keraptis, long thought dead by the world at large but recently encountered by the party, alive and well in his old stronghold of White Plume Mountain. Let us now unfold the tale of events that led them to this place…..

On completion of three tasks, Keraptis has agreed to divulge the secret of a certain magical vault built by him in ages past in the vicinity of the city now known as Roland, to which Snake has been trying to gain entry for reasons unknown.

The first task, successfully accomplished, was to repel invaders from his stronghold – an advance force from the realm of Iuz sent forth to claim White Plume Mountain in the name of the lord of that grim and wasted land.

The party then travelled by flying carpet many leagues into the north and east of the Flanaess to the lands of the Schnaii barbarians in search of the Hanging Glacier, the object of Keraptis’ second task. They eventually found a guide, a half-elven bard with the slightly unimaginative nickname of ‘Lute’ who led them to their current locale on the pretence of introducing them to the community of the ice-elves who knew of the secret way to the Hanging Glacier.

Unbeknownst to the party, Valaina, the mistress of these caverns, was an outcast from the society of the ice-elves, an evil enchantress who had ensnared many of her kinfolk by sorcery and now dominated and used them according to her desires. She had no interest in aiding the party, and instead ensnared Albrigon and Ugrat as playthings for herself and Uruviel whilst sending the less tractable Snake and Sorrel into an ambush of Frost Giants with flimsy simulacra of their companions beside them.

Fighting their way out of the perilous ambush, Snake and Sorrel returned to the caves intent on rescuing their comrades, having seen the bodies of the slain simulacra turn back to ice and snow a few minutes after their death. An initial sortie inflicted significant casualties on Valaina’s forces but ultimately forced the pair into a retreat, confounded by the fact that Albrigon and Ugrat manifested no apparent desire to be rescued and even fought on the side of Valaina and Uruviel. A second attempt by more stealthy means was successful in extracting their two comrades and Albrigon and Ugrat were eventually freed from the enchantments that held them in thrall.

Snake then returned alone into the caverns and sought to confront the two elven witches. When he eventually did so, much to their surprise he offered to parlay with them and proposed an alliance. This they accepted, keen to avoid further conflict and casualties to their already depleted pool of minions.

So, the party returned to the caves as the guests of these two lovely if somewhat untrustworthy creatures. Plans were made with them to locate and conquer the Rakeskia tribe of ice-elves who were the true custodians of the secret way to the Hanging Glacier. The secret was to be pried from them by force, and Valaina would have a fresh group of captives to enthral and thereby re-stock her depleted caverns.

Then a great driving blizzard fell upon the mountains, rendering any expedition foolhardy. The party were forced to remain cooped up in the caves. Snake paced back and forth impatiently, muttering darkly, sometimes poring over his crystal ball and hissing quietly to himself whilst swaying from side to side. After two days with no respite from the storm in sight he declared that he had other urgent business to attend to in Keoland and would be departing thence for a while with Ugrat. He teleported away leaving Albrigon and Sorrel in Valaina’s doubtful care…