Chapter One: "You meet in a Prison Wagon?" (2026-03-21)

 

Campaign Setup & Character Introductions

  • Characters transported from Baldur’s Gate to Elturel in prison wagon

  • Party composition:

    • Sima (Laura) : Mage from Tower Hazelshadow, accompanied by Talon (her protector)

    • Talon (Max): Human fighter, Sima’s guardian for 2+ years

    • Vantric (Cameron): Elf blade singer, former magic school student

    • Flea/Darcy (Michelle): Disgraced former soldier, slummed in a gang since

    • Oz (Nacho): Religious surfer-type from seaside town, worships Helm?

    • Honey (Emily): Steals food and drink

  • Backstory: All arrested for alleged involvement in baker’s murder in Baldur’s Gate

  • Vantric expressed his frustration in a dignified manner for how Flea got him into this situation

Mission Assignment from Elturel Leadership

  • Meeting with three authority figures:

    • Onthar: Leader of Order of the Gauntlet, acting High Overlord of Hellriders

    • Gideon Lightward: High Dawnbreaker of Church of Lathander

    • Elder Ravengard: Grand Duke of Baldur’s Gate

    • Lulu: flying golden elephant emissary from Mount Celestia

    • Raya Mantlemorn: 16-year-old Hellrider recruit

  • Mission objective: Clear Cult of the Dragon from Elturel woods near burned town of Greenest

  • Conditions:

    • Follow orders of Raya Mantlemorn (16-year-old Hellrider recruit)

      • This is her final exam to be a full Hellrider

    • Complete mission = cleared criminal records

    • Failure = return to prison/execution

Journey to Greenest

  • 50th anniversary celebration of “The Companion” (divine sun protecting Elturel)

  • Encounter with wedding couple in forest

    • Party received “Newlywed’s Blossom” (heroic inspiration items)

    • Positive interaction, gifts exchanged

  • 4 Wolves Attacking girl

    • Rescue of Grace Lynn (12-year-old aspiring mage)

      • Attacked by wolves while fundraising for magic school tuition

      • Party defeated wolves in first combat encounter

      • Oz gave her 5 gold coins through magic trick

      • Sima promised future assistance if needed

    • Flea harassed Vantric mercilessly about his bladesong technique

  • 1 wolf escaped, 3 defeated/unconscious

Arrival at Burned Greenest

  • Town completely destroyed by Cult of the Dragon

  • Stone foundations and few surviving buildings remain

  • Ghost town with only small animals present

  • Strong smell of ash, charcoal, and smoke

  • Need to track cult into Elturel woods from town’s far edge

World Building & Lore

  • Elturel protected by divine “Companion” (golden sun)

    • Keeps evil monsters at bay for 50 years

    • Some creatures clever enough to hide from its light

  • Cult of the Dragon background:

    • Dedicated to chromatic dragons and bringing Tiamat to material plane

    • Nearly successful 8 years ago

    • Recently burned Greenest, believed hiding in nearby grove

  • Cultural tensions between Elturel and Baldur’s Gate citizens