The Rising

It was a pleasant day in the city of Stormhelm.  A ship by the name of The Evening Star had just docked. Castle guards were escorting the precious cargo they carried to the keep, and the group of sassy adventurers who had retrieved the goods followed. A procession of the common folk, eager to get a look at whatever they had found, cheered and followed along.

 As the procession traveled through the streets, the rumors began to fly.  Most of the people talking agreed that this group, an adventuring troupe known as the Crimson Blade, had taken the ship into a reef in the Dragon Sea and sacked an ancient temple, defeated its guardian, and were sailing with all haste back to the city, with something chasing them. This story was loosely confirmed by the damage seen on the ship and the bodies of the brave sailors who had died on the voyage being offloaded at the dock.

 What was unknown was what exactly had attacked the ship. many thought it had to be sahuagin, as they were common in these waters and were hateful towards surface dwellers. Some speculated it could have been something larger, maybe a sea serpent or leviathan. there was even a group convinced that the Crimson Blade didn't exactly win their fight with whatever was in the temple, and it followed them home. The only thing that had saved them was the spell cannons on the sea wall. The most amusing rumor was that a siren turned good had risen from the depths to save the ship before its destruction, as no cannon fire had been heard that day.

 Whatever did happen will never be truly known.

 The next day, strange events happen as the town watch and castle guard seal off the docks early in the morning. They claim to be quarantining the ship for the safety of the populace. Next, mages from the keep start to send out messages summoning to the keep any who have met with the great sage known as the Silverhand or know how to contact her. Over the course of a few hours, the sky overhead becomes filled with messenger birds, familiars, and spells seeking her out, most flying to the East, the direction of the Sword Coast.  At the edge of the city, in one of the poorer districts, sits the magnificent tent of Farkle, the Merchant. He sells discounted spell components, inexpensive scrolls, potions, and weak magic items, and he is advertised to cast specific spells for a nominal fee. Two brothers of Leonin descent, Caine, a tiger-type, and Abel, a leopard type, stand nonchalantly near tables of merchandise, carefully scrutinizing any customers who walk in, and a large, well-bearded, and muscled elf named Bubba stands outside guarding the door. In the corner of this unique tent, a structure that seems bigger on the inside than on the outside, sits a smallish goblin named Glug, who is deep in studying a large tome covered in arcane symbols.  Soaring overhead is Grallaack, an aarakocra that sets down near the tent with a package in his claws and steps to the tent to deliver some goods to Farkle.  In the back of the shop a tortle named Pickle is cooking a delicious stew. the tantalizing smell wafts through the street, drawing folk to the tent from blocks away. Farkle is a shrewd merchant and gladly lets the cook stay here. His business has never been better. He seems to have a menagerie of races working for him. He pays them little, but room and board are given freely.

Rumors flood the streets that the volunteer militia has been called up to serve, and guards from every district in the city gather at the keep gate. There might be a clue of truth to these rumors; no one has seen a guard all day, even in their favorite pub. only the guards at the docks remain.  Day turns to night, and the sun rises one last time in the glorious city of Stormhelm.

The Royal Society of Magi visits the quarantine area at the docks. They seem to be casting some big spell at the edge of the water and, afterward, are talking among themselves. Most who saw the spell cast and the aftermath agree that the seven elderly mages looked worried. They teleport away as one, and the guards close ranks tightly on the area; their focus has shifted to watching the sea instead of the surrounding people. 

The rest of the day passes uneventfully, and by the time the sun sets, the misfit lot has cleaned up the shop and has set down to eat a bowl of gumbo from Pickle's cookpot.

Sleep comes. 

Then the warning bells sound from the watchtowers on the seawall near the docks, followed by more ringing from the keep.  A deep undulating sound can be heard from the bay, and most would most likely agree they ignored the bells but were startled by the beast's roar if they had lived.

The great serpent's shape could be made out from spellfire being hurled from the cannons. It is said that a rider could even be seen on the beast, but who knows how true that is?

The great serpent was one of the undead, and as soon as it breached the city's walls, it began to thrash its tail, throwing a purplish ooze on everything. This substance didn't affect the city's structures but began to dissolve the flesh of anyone who came into contact with it. The poor folk died quickly, were reborn as undead, and began to attack any living thing near them. 

The screams could be heard from all over the city at first, then silence. 

Farkle forces everyone out of his shop and whispers a word to shrink the tent into a handy carry bag. The group starts driving the wagon as fast as they can but are forced to deal with the wagon axle breaking and bail out. The undead attacks them. To their horror, they find that their weapons do not affect these creatures. Bubba even manages to get some of the purple ooze on his axe; his left hand is covered in it while he defends the group. 

The party comes upon the wreck of the Marquis' carriage; inside, there is the unconscious form of Lady Jane. They retrieve her, her bag, and the odd golem made of mostly metal strapped to the back. 

They borrow another wagon and flee through the streets, driving madly with Grallaaack guiding the way from above. They head south, following the coast. Once they have put some distance between the city, the seemingly invincible undead, and themselves. the take a rest. Lady Jane begins to wake; the group sees Bubba's hand dissolve in the ooze, cuts it off, and then pats him up. 

Farkle realizes that this is going to spread through the countryside quickly; the city's population of 70,000 and that damned gargantuan monster are worth calling for help. He steps away from the group, keeping them on the lookout, and prepares a summoning circle. He claims to be owed a favor by an outer planer. 

Meanwhile, Lady Jane is up and explains that the metal man was the object found in the ruins. It was found fallen outside of a large double door leading into an inner sanctum of the ruin. inside its chest is a curious artifact that the Royal Society of Magi couldn't understand and sensed tremendous power emanating from. One mage called the thing a Biforcated portal, whatever that means. The object opens a portal to the Shadowfell and the Feywild. Lady Jane grabbed a few of her possessions, forced a guard to load the metal man on the carriage, and drove her away. She had hoped to meet a ship and leave the city. Once she realized that the dead were being created, she thought that she noticed them chasing her carriage and ignoring living victims in the streets. 

As she says this, the group can see the strange glow emitted by these undead on the horizon, and Grallaack flies up to investigate, returning shortly with the worst news. Then Farkle yells for the group to gather just outside the circle, chants words in an unknown language, and a cloaked woman in drab, gray clothing appears. She speaks in a raspy voice, lowering her hood to reveal her hideous face, worn with wrinkles and scars. She admires Abel and agrees to transport the group away, but where? Lady Jane suggests going to Neverwinter, she was attempting to travel there to meet with her lover, Lord Neverember, the current Lord of Neverwinter.

Everyone agrees, and the circle begins to omit a bright white light, followed by blinding darkness. The group blinks and finds themselves on a hill overlooking a new city.

The woman names herself Ravel and roughly flirts with Abel again, telling him she will be in touch. She also tells Bubba that she could return his missing hand to him should he wish to speak to her and make a deal. He says he will think about it. She hands him a spikey black seed, telling him that should he change his mind about doing business, he should blood the seed in his hand and then smash it with something heavy. And she disappears. 

Lady Jane tells the group that they should travel to the Hall of Justice to meet the city's lord. Farkle has no interest in hobnobbing with royalty. He mentions he will be somewhere in Neverwinter. Find him, and he will buy a round of beer for all. He takes off alone.

At the Hall of Justice, The group meets Lord Neverember, who rewards the group with a bit of gold for escorting his lady here. He listens to their story and offers them a cot in the guard barracks and a few meals a day. 

They take the Lord up on his offer and rest.

Next, The Graverobber.