*Season 1, Module 6* -- “Into the Fray” (one month later, now into the Time of Troubles period)

[Featuring: Clamus (elven mage/thief-Kree), Sahl (human psionicist-Scot), Alimas (human thief?-Chris Nieder), Kohira (human ninja warrior-Kyle), Maxolt Alberim (NPC human fighter-Bret)]

 

            After the retreat of the Lords of Waterdeep, the City of Splendors fell into chaos.  A month after the Krie’lat statuettes tore through the city, Leif (from “The Silk Gloves”), who escaped the destruction, and his new friend Kohira seek a psionicist to help battle the psionic threat and rescue Leif’s companions.  Their search has taken them to Suzail, the capital city of Cormyr.

 

            The following rumors have sprung up over the past month:

* magic is flawed, mishaps and injuries are now the norm after spellcasting

* evil organizations around the Realms have begun plots to take advantage of the chaos left by the Krie’lat

* the hold of the Oriental group appears to have moved east to the Anauroch Desert, south to Baldur’s Gate, and north to the Spine of the World itself

* racial battles in the west have had repercussions all over the Heartlands; races no where near Waterdeep view others with skepticism if not open hostility

 

            Azoun IV, king of Cormyr, has ordered his borders be closed in an attempt to slow the passage of statuettes to the east.  He has issued a call for adventurers to meet at the Palace Garden that afternoon.  Kohira attends (Leif departs to attend to ranger duties) as does Maxolt’s fledgling adventuring band called “The Red Monkeys.”  It consists of Maxolt, Sahl, Alimas, and Clamus.  It is these five adventurers that are picked to form a task force called “Azoun’s Dragons.”  In the Palace War Room, Azoun himself briefs the party on their mission:

 

            “The reason for the racial wars, that you have probably heard about, is a stone inside the Krie’lat statuettes that has some sort of psionic properties.  The stone has been traced to a cavern due south of the former City of Splendors.  This knowledge comes to us from a refugee wizard, whose companions were captured there.  This escapee, Cyric, was allowed to crawl away as he was mocked and taunted by the overconfident “Runts,” my own word for those Orientals.  Any information about this cavern and what makes the stones special can be found at the great library of Candlekeep.  In order to browse their facility, you will need the seal of a known wizard and a book of great value.  Cormyr’s own Vangerdahast will provide his seal and a tome detailing the political dissolve of the Elven Court before the Retreat.  These must not be lost, for they alone can provide you access to the keep’s resources.”

 

            Azoun then thanks each adventurer and gives them an official seal of Cormyr before leaving.  The great mage Vangerdahast steps in to finish their briefing:

 

            “No doubt you’ve heard many rumors.  Well, here are the facts as we know them.  Magic in the Realms has become unstable and should be kept to a minimum during the mission for your own safety.  As for organizations making trouble, you must be watchful for the Zhentarim and Red Wizards of Thay, who each, we believe, desire the secrets of the psionic stones for themselves.  The area of direct control under the Krie’lat is smaller than generally known.  It stretches from Leilon to Westbridge to High Moor to Dragonspear Castle.  We can expect no help from the Moonshae Isles due to their weakened state after the fight with Bhaal, Lord of Murder.  Furthermore, Waterdeep’s Lords and more noteworthy officials have taken sanctuary here in Suzail.  They have confirmed the reports of widespread violence.  It is also fact that the constant use of so many psionic devices has attracted the attention of other planar beings.  No one can be sure what they want, but I can assure you that the most powerful of them are being stopped by Elminster and the Harpers.  Lastly, it is widely known that priestly powers have been greatly diminished.  This is because the gods no longer answer them.  It appears that they have left the Realms to fend for themselves.”

 

            The mage hands over his seal and the tome.  He also gives a small, pale opal.  “This,” he explains, “will allow you to communicate with Ardrist, your assigned mage.  All you need do is squeeze the stone and then speak a brief sentence.  Since magic is awry, I cannot guarantee its success.  Two-way communication is impossible, but you can at least check in from time to time as you discover things of note.”

 

            Azoun’s Dragons gather their gear and supplies and head for the docks, where a ship waits to take them across the Lake of Dragons to Ilipur.  It would take much longer to cross the Storm Horns to the west of the kingdom and the total journey will take one month by horseback from Ilipur.  The lake passage is uneventful until Ilipur comes in sight.  It is evening and flat barges drift lazily away from the lit town.  The captain of the Rusty Nail comments that there should be crews on those barges.

 

            The party and two other passengers are dropped off.  The buildings of this over-glorified village are in no discernible pattern.  There are few street lamps lit and light are seen within some of the buildings.  The other passengers move further into Ilipur and the party moves in another direction.  They soon encounter a man-sized wasp creature gnawing on a cat inside a nearby alley.  The thing attacks them with two sickle-like forelimbs before being killed.

 

            There are other signs of combat throughout the town but no bodies are found.  Investigated buildings that have lights inside only contain half-eaten meals and overturned chairs.  More of the Tiger Flies (as the creatures are called) are found fighting over the remains of the two men that disembarked here with the party.  The creatures are killed before a woman strolls by in a trance-like state.  She says her name is Leila and explains what has happened in Ilipur:

 

            “We, we, were backed into an alley by some, um, street thugs.  My husband…oh, Torin, he cast a spell.  It was a simple monster summoning.  It shouldn’t…it couldn’t have done this.  The men b-became, th-those beasts!  Torin…h-he was covered in insects…oh gods!  Help me!”

 

            Another Tiger Fly attack kills Leila and forces the party to take shelter in a warehouse.  Inside is a honeycomb goo with people’s bodies inside the pockets.  Metals and other indigestible bits have been lumped into a corner.  Numerous bodies, apparently waiting to be inserted into the goo, lie across the length of the room.  Sahl perceives a psionic disturbance as something pushes against his mind shield and then rolls away.  The force is strong and like nothing he’s felt before.

 

            Two more Tiger Flies fly past the party.  They emerged from a hole in the floor near the back of the large warehouse.  Before they enter it, another Tiger Fly group attacks from behind.  During the melee, an unseen statuette affects the adventurers.  They quickly dispatch the creatures and escape the statuette’s range by diving into the building’s sub-basement.  Besides large crates, a human-shaped mound of living insects lies on the cold stone floor.  This monster (a Cifal) attacks the group’s spellcasters first.  As they fight, a human face erupts from the “body’s” head area.  It says, “Please, help me…” before submerging again.  The description given to them by Leila identifies the poor man as Torin.

 

            The Cifal is eventually destroyed, freeing Torin and causing the rest of the Tiger Flies to revert back to their normal selves as Ilipur’s citizens.  The statuette in the warehouse is found with a bloodied note wrapped around it: “Smuggle into Suzail.  Place on or near Promenade.  For the glory of the Emperor and the K.”  The “K” has a bloodied dagger coming out of it and obviously stands for the Krie’lat.  The statuette is thrown into the sub-basement and the party instructs the citizens to keep it buried.  The mage, Ardrist, is contacted as to the events in Ilipur.

 

DM’s Note: Torin’s warped spell was an ideal introduction to the strange Time of Trouble happenings.  Since I had taken the Realms to war, no village or city was safe from destruction (I usually like to keep things in line with the TSR products so future releases can be easily used).  I also had recently picked up a copy of Fiend Folio which contains the Cifal and Tiger Fly monsters (hence, their involvement in this module).  Regrettably, the statuette threat played a less significant part in the module than I had originally thought.

Module Rating:  **