The Raider’s Camp and a Cultist Ruse

The company found the path of a hundred plus warriors and kobolds easy to track. They came across a group of warriors, kobolds, and a human that was bound. The party sprung to action, attacking the raiders, and when freed the human warrior joined in to slay his captors. He introduced himself as Kestor, employed by Ontharr Frume, and then found himself clasping the arm of Frinzbraun in recognition. Both of them were long lost friends from early adventures.

Kestor was at Greenest when it was under attack and among the group that Ontharr organized to follow the raiders when they retreated. They were ambushed by a rearguard that sought to take Ontharr Frume and himself back to the camp as prisoners. The rearguard split up and he fortunately had ended up with the rearguard stragglers.

The group followed the trail and came across a large camp of several crude leather hide huts. Nearly a hundred warriors, some clad in black leather armor and purple cloaks, were what looked like in a state of revelry. Among them were almost an equal number of kobolds, also drinking and feasting merrily. The group saw this as a likely opportunity to get closer and find out more information.

They successfully infiltrated the camp and were able to arrange the escape of Ontharr Frume who was severely beaten and injured. The group learned that many of the raiders were cultists under the leadership of Frulam Mondath, the woman they observed arguing with the dragon during the raid on Greenest. Aside from the cultists were kobolds and mercenaries throughout the camp nearing a total of 200 in all.

As the group made their escape from the camp, a messenger on horseback arrived. They entered the tent of Frulam Mondath and minutes later she came out with Langdedrosa Cyanwrath who was visibly agitated. The half-dragon Langdedrosa bitterly complained, ‘This is a task for underlings,’ and then set about orders to break camp. The raider camp bustled with activity as tents were taken down and gear readied for travel.

Most of the group took the opportunity provided with the sudden camp activity to escape. Unfortunately they were unable to also secure the release of a handful of villagers that were taken prisoner. Quel'thalas lingered though. Having made a successful ruse of being a new cultist recruit, he saw the opportunity to travel with the raiders and learn of their true purpose and destination. From afar the group saw the cultists pack up several wagons of treasure and make their way northwest.

Returning to Greenest as fast as possible. Ontharr Frume pleaded with the company to follow the cultists and determine where their destination. He offered a writ of support from the Order of the Gauntlet. He suggested they keep their distance but follow the cult members as long as possible, and when arriving at any major settlement, convey their findings to any member of the Order of the Gauntlet.

On horseback the group followed the baggage train of cultists and kobolds who made their way up the sword coast. Nearly a week later, a torrential rainstorm broke. The next day the group found that the kobolds had left, gone their own way, and taking a wagon of treasure with them. The company decided to follow the remaining 80 mercenaries and cultists with the remaining baggage train. A day later, still following the villains, they saw the mighty River Chionthar and the city of Baldur’s Gate before them.

The Raid of Greenest

Weeks on the road the company came upon Greenest just as the last tinges of dusk were slipping away. Columns of smoke and small fires were seen among the village homes and swarms of men and kobolds ran through the streets. Worse of all, a large blue dragon circled above occasionally swinging low over the village keep and blasting the keep with blue lightning.

The group snuck forward, helped some villagers, and joined them making haste to the defensive walls of the keep. Inside they met the governor of Greenest that requested the party do what they could to find other villagers and take them to safety. The keep’s master engineer told the party of a secret tunnel that was locked and used as a drain from within the keep that ran into the nearby stream.

Using the old tunnel the group was able to scurry out of the keep and direct many villagers to refuge. During this time they saw the dragon land and appear to have an agitated conversation with a black haired woman clad in dark armor with a billowing purple cloak. After the conversation the dragon flew off and the group could see more activity among the raiders, loading loot into carts.

As the hours dragged on it appeared the raiders were content to keep the city defenders sequestered away in the keep. Near dawn a tall half-dragon strode forth flanked by kobold warriors, announced himself as Langdedrosa Cyanwrath, and demanded a champion come out and fight him in single hand to hand combat. If the villagers failed to produce a warrior, he would slay village prisoners. Takari took up the challenge and after several rounds fell in defeat, unconscious. Cyanwrath held his part of the bargain though and released the village prisoners.

As dawn approached, and the raiders left the village. A wounded warrior stumbled up to the group claiming that he was with Ontharr Frume in the initial defense of the town near the temple. As the raiders left, Ontharr gathered a group of warriors to follow them. The governor let the group rest and had the wounds of Takari tended to. Mid-day he asked them to seek out the camp of the raiders, see what they were doing and report back to him. He would pay for this information and stressed that while information was essential, they not risk getting caught. The group gathered what reserves they had and steeled themselves to track the raiders.