Quest Report - "exploring the upper excavation"

[Quest report]

Debriefing for the Ironhold Keep

From: Mars the Asura of Tempest

Subject: Exploring the Upper Excavation

1. Purpose: Oldman Fiddlesticks, the halfing, requested that a group investigate and clear out the excavation tunnels. Upon taking his request, Oldman Fiddlesticks offered to pay five gold (ten for all our belongings in the case of death) up front and a sum more upon completing his request. This is to make way for another squad to venture further without impediments.

2. Travelers: Mars the Asura (elf, evocator/archer/melee/medic), Camille (human/undead(?), death priest (?)/melee/medic), Friday (human, alchemy (poison)/long range), Riddniss (gnome, conjurer/evocator), Khazrel (kobold, sun priest/trapper(?)/medic)

3. Itinerary: Upper excavation tunnels, July 4, 2x giant maggots, 2x giant flies, 10+ zombies, 1x Necromancer, Something Khazrel faced

4. Discussion: The squad of five made their way into the excavation tunnels and were met with two paths. Khazrel went through the left, which was too small for most of us to enter; upon hearing a screech, the rest attempted to go to the right up a ledge. On the ledge, we fought and defeated two giant maggots before two giant flies approached. Camille took a position in melee during the encounters; Friday blew from a blowgun; Riddniss summoned a broom and shot electricity; Khazrel returned; and Mars the Asura used electric arc and ray of frost. Following the battle, Camille and Mars the Asura healed before moving on to the right path. Twenty or so feet away, there was a branch to the right, which we entered.

Camille succumbed to a spike trap, and we engaged with a druegar, fighting him at range. After running into a few more traps, we secured provisions from the druegar and followed the tunnel back and into the original destination of our travel, where we saw giant ants transporting bright moss.

Following from their place of origin to the right, we saw that the ants came from a pit and decided to go left, which lead to a pool of stagnant and foul-smelling water. Khazrel managed to paddle a log into the muck and managed to bring back more logs to lash together into a raft. Halfway into the pool of water and next to a small, twenty-foot diameter island, we were beset by waves of zombies, as a cackle of laughter rang out. Like in the first encounter, we fell into similar roles with Khazrel showing his mettle with many spells that disrupted the zombies; Camille was effective in forcing one to flee with her magic as well, and Friday managed to bring a crossbow and light mace we picked up to bear.(edited)

After taking care of our wounds once more, we pressed on to the source of the cackling. Finally with tactical thinking, we decided to move forward stealthily, until we happened upon a necromancer. Camille, prior to the skirmish, gave Mars the Asura a magical enhancement to his weapon and the squad moved to attack. Unfortunately, we did not account for the other high-level magics in the necromancer's possession, who caused severe damage with a lightning bolt, downing Khazrel, though not fatally, took hold of Riddniss' own skeletal summon, and nearly took down Mars the Asura with a poisonous magic. However, before he could down another, Mars the Asura, with Camille's enchantment on his blade, managed to destroy the creature. The squad secured the necromancer's spellbook and returned shortly after.

5. Conclusion/Recommendations: No casualties. Oldman Fiddlesticks rewarded the squad with 20 gold each. The excursion was useful for building teamwork and showing individual creativity. However, possible training and education on small-team tactics should be necessary for all members. Furthermore, Mars the Asura, requests an officerial position within the Ironkeep Hold military.

Mars the Asura of Tempest

Addendum: According to parchment guarded by the druegar, the Chest of Mare in The Tunnel is locked. The answer is to drown yourself in the water for a full minute. Also, the necromancer's living quarters held writing in different languages. We managed to bring back sketches of the writing, but further investigation may be needed. (edited)

-Written by: Mars the Asura

source/citation: https://discord.com/channels/858449417152233472/861331235661807647