Issue 1:
The Feldor (or Escaping Brindinford)
Two days have passed since chaos truly broke out in Brindinford. The Avengers defeated the Mindflayer holding the city hostage, and killed Baron Euphrimes II in the process. Unfortunately they could not defeat the Bone Devil who acted as the enforcer for the flayer. In fact, when it summoned another of its kind, the group scattered to the four winds. Lidda barely made it back to Shooma’s before the poison of the devil’s tail barb set in again. Nokie is the only other ally who returned to Shooma’s. The two halflings were all that was left to blame for the chaos the city is currently in. The hellmouth in the
church of
Pelor remains, as does the Bone Devil.
Things look bleak for the leaderless city of
Brindinford.
Lidda and Nokie begain quickly selling off their loot and re-equipping, preparing for the worst should it be the devil or the angry mobs. The halflings were an easy scape goat for the people of Brindinford.
They remained holed up at Shooma’s as she finished the dragroncraft gear for Lidda.
Lidda gave her the axe of Durgaden the Black and the map to his hidden mountain fortress, which she rewarded the Halfling as much as she could.
Lidda was made an official clan sister of the dwarven artisan’s clan.
Previously, in the capital of Delorian, the inept King’s brother, the true controlling factor of the kingdom, sent his special secret strike team, the Fellowship of Delorian, or the Feldor for short on an urgent mission. The captain of the brother’s personal guard called them together, the unexpected duo, Pebbles and Bam-Bam, one a half-orc killing machine of pure adrenaline and rage, the other a cunning and sauve, small support agent, as well as the Sacred Fist and undead hunter, no, annihilator Lex, and for magical support, the dependable cleric of the cudgel, Ben Kenobi.
These four heroes were to be sent to Barovia to rescue a princess who is supposed to be very ill and in danger.
A letter came to the prince, calling for his aid.
For the first time ever, the agents of the Feldor were to strike outside the borders of Delorian.
The Feldor traveled to Brindinford, their last stop before entering the infamous forest surrounding Barovia, which is rumored that nobody who enters it ever returns. Along the road, they find a streaming multitude of halflings, some appearing to be refugees, some looking like fleeing merchants.
They knew the Halfling festivals were supposed to be going on, and were looking forward to the festivities before their mission really got underway, but this sight told them that those thoughts were but dreams.
Closer to town, they could see a column of flame from the sky, which might just be a portal to hell.
The dejected looking guards informed them that help was on the way, and the acting Baroness (sister of the Baron) was trying to maintain control in light of recent events, including the assassination of Baron Euphrimes II.
As the Feldor enter the town, the guard are rounding up the two now-notorious halflings. The knock came on Shooma’s door, it was the guard.
The halflings were hidden, well-hidden in the workshop.
She answered and the guard asked her to round them up.
The new Baroness wanted an audience.
The last audience they had with her, she rewarded them and the other Avenger’s with bejeweled brooches in thanks for saving the festival.
That was before the mindflayer tipped his hand, using Euprimes to declare martial law.
The Avengers took the fight straight to them, ending both the Baron and his controller before scattering in the wake of the two bone devils.
Lidda and Nokie sit in a waiting room, fully armed and ready for anything. Before too long, four adventurers enter.
Two human St. Cuthbertians, a half-orc and a Halfling.
The Halfling is taken into an audience with the Baroness.
Behind the closed doors, he is told that he should take the two halflings outside with them when they leave.
They are remnants of the group known as the Avengers, and responsible for some of the chaos of the city.
Being well-studied, Pebbles quickly links the female Halfling with the Champion’s of Justice and the tale of the Sunless Citadel.
After negotiations for ponies and food, Pebbles returns.
Introductions are made around, though the ones left in the room had already exchanged small-talk common to any room full of adventurers. Nokie and Lidda agree to join the Feldor for this trip, if nothing else, it gets them out of Brindinford safely.
On the road, the caravan of horses and ponies head for Barovia. They enter the massive forest, that seems darker and thicker than any forest any of them had ever seen or even heard of.
A long ways down the road, they come across a horrid gate.
Before it are two once-noble statues, now beheaded.
The gate radiates powerful magics.
Lidda sneaks up to investigate.
As she approaches, it creaks open.
After thorough investigation, she passes through with no harm.
The rest of the group follows.
Once they are all through, the gate closes behind them and will not open back up.
The party of six continue on, riding their mounts. They come out of the forest, the road leads towards a small town.
The town of
Barovia.
It is here that their quest will begin.
The land is shrouded in fog, without hardly a stitch of pure daylight.
They press on into the town…