FORGOTTEN REALMS I

Waking the Beast

THE PLAYERS AND THEIR CHARACTERS: Per (Hlôwart, cleric), Ola (Zimbar, assassin), Anders (Carolyne, cleric), Johan (Bardich, barbarian) and Hans (Chobbet, gnome fighter).

What you will read here is a loose translation of the original chronicle for my first Forgotten Realms campaign. This later turned into a Spelljammer campaign and in a distant future you might get to read that one too. For now you'll have to make do with this one. This chronicle was originally printed and distributed as part of Luntan #18 in 1996, and is considered to be #72 in the LOkes Lunta numbering system.

PART ONE: The Shadowy sewers of Waterdeep.

Hlôwart, Cimbarr, Caeren and Chobbet met up during New year's celebrations in Waterdeep as 1357 became 1358. Infighting during investigations of a thief's death in the sewers turns to hatred and when Chobbet runs to hire assassins the rest of the group hops on the first ship south. Aboard the ship they meet Bardich the barabarian.

PART TWO: The Mysterious Creatures of Chult.

A storm takes the crewmen by surprise and the ship takes severe damage when making harbor. Travelling through the jungle by foot to a merchant station news that the tribe that the ship had come to trade goods with had not been heard from made the group curios and they joined the crew as they made their way to the tribe's main village.
When reaching the village it was clear that some sort of battle had taken place and no survivors could be found. The merchant captain suggested a search for the tribes gemstone cave and after several hours it was found. Two winged, gargoyle-like, humanoids guarded it and the group did their best to defeat them. Hlôwart and Cimbarr died in the fight but thanks to the gems that Bardish and Caeren gathered they were able to pay a cleric to resurrect them.

PART THREE: The Demon in the Ruins.

When the ship was repaired the journey back to Waterdeep began. The group left the ship in Zazespur where they were asked by local ranger, Khelben, if they could help him put an end to an Orcus cult. The group agreed and travelled with him to the ruins of an old dwarven outpost which had been abandoned several hundred years earlier and now was home to wild animals and the cult. Khelben fell victim to Zygom fungi but the group pressed on. When they reached the place where the cult was, the ritual to bring in Orcus’ spearhead, the Silver Lord had already begun. After quickly disposing of the surprised cultists and their human sacrifices the gate to Orcus' realm began closing. Before it was totally closed Orcus managed to send a minor demon through and as he swore revenge the group was already running for their lives. (Orcus would return in the ”Something’s Rotten in Waterdeep” campaign.) Throwing themselves into a magic pool they had explored earlier they reappeared in the Sea of Fallen Stars where their pursuer was finally disposed off by the catapults of Dergauth’s fortress.

PART FOUR: Into Caer Magicum.

The master of Dergauth’s fortress hadn’t heard from his court mage and to show their gratitude for being saved earlier they travelled to the mage’s tower and found it had been partially destroyed by a magical fight. The mage was nowhere to be found but a creature from the demiplane of shadows and a strange type of undead did reside in the tower. The group also explored the extensive cavern network under the tower. When going outside again the group was captured by Neogi except for Cimbarr who stowed aboard in a crate of filth.

PART FIVE: Hiho, hiho, it's off to space we go.

Caeren broke loose from the ropes the Neogi had tied them up with as the Spelljammer ship left Toril behind. The neogi’s slave umber hulk killed her on the spot. After docking on the rock of Braal, Hlôwart and Bardich were sold off as slaves. They and all others where bought by Dolgar Ironfist. As they sailed away on his ship, Cimbarr waved goodbye to them. Later all slaves were given the choice to stay aboard and follow Dolgar or be put back on the surface of Toril. Hlôwart stayed but most of the others and Bardich opted to go back to Toril. (Bardich would return briefly in the ”Something’s Rotten in Waterdeep” Campaign) This campaign then became the Spelljammer campaign.