The Return of the Prince Campaign

[Todd]

DM Campaign Notes

[Todd]

Grandish Campaign
Year 17 Session – 1 – Krikor & Razmik adventure in jungle, fight wild animals and find winged serpent egg. Razmik raises it.
Year 19 Session 0 – Adventurers meet in Nethon’s Starveil Pub and decide to travel to Weton for the Habbakuk festival together.
- In Jungle party gets attacked by Carnivorous Apes, and other wild animals.
Session 1 – The Honorable and beloved ruler of Grandish King Areke Matoian III hosts the Annual Habbakuk festival along the beach. This festival is celebrated biannually in celebration of the changes of the sea. The festival is a time for members from all over the Island to meet and celebrate the plentiful bounty that the sea provides. As tribal members arrive from all over Grandish to the Capital Weton their senses are beset by the traditional music of their forefathers. Sounds of drums, strings, flutes, and the native pipes create an intense urge for all who hear to dance, sing, and be merry. However, those who don’t desire to dance cannot resist the urge to wander towards the multiple pits in the beach that are roasting the islands pigs and fish.
King Areke Matoian III along with Queen Ohan Matoian and their royal party sit above the festivities on a 10’ tall platform where they can enjoy watching the revelers enjoy the festivities. You do notice that the chair on the kings right is empty and that chair belongs to the Kings Heir Prince Davit Matoian who has been taking on many diplomatic missions grooming him to take the throne on the unfortunate day that Habbakuk chooses to fish and sail with King Matoian for eternity. Prince Davit has recently been tasked with finalizing the lumber rights with the Oak Island Consortium. This deal for strong oak will allow Grandicians to travel farther on the seas allowing for more trade and exploration like their forefathers did in the time before the cataclysm.
During the feast you notice GEN Missak Matoian the Kings first cousin and the CDR of Grandish’s Forces receive a warrior who whispers something in his ear. Noticeably distraught by the news the CDR nods his head gets up from his chair on the far left of the king passing Prince Davits empty chair kneels before the king and murmurs what he just heard into the Kings ear. The King places his hand on to his cousin’s shoulder and stands up. In a voice only fit for a King he commandingly yells “Vagagalu” (Silence)! Immediately the music and dancing stop, all conversations cease, and all eyes are on the weathered, aged, overweight, and immense man standing. “I apologize for interrupting the festivities, but I have just received some very grave news. One of our boats was ambushed coming back from oak island, it appears that the crew including my son have been captured. One of our warriors was able to swim to shore and relay this news. He said that two were killed during the attack and he saw only three survivors captured by the Goblins. He said the Goblins used four boats to swarm and moved very quickly overpowering them.” After this statement King Matoian ran swiftly especially for a man of his age and stature towards the water’s edge as if he were to swim to the Goblin Wastelands himself. When he got waste deep, he fell to his knees and cried out to Habbakuk begging for Davits and the rest of the warrior’s safe and swift return. He chanted several prayers praising Habbakuks majesty and blessings for so many years on his people. After this his retinue lifted him out of the surf and escorted him back towards his seat and his weeping Queen. Once there and after a heartfelt embrace from the Queen he said, “Who among you will venture out and return the Sons of Grandish and deliver my vengeance on those evil and honor-less Goblins?” ---Adventurers Volunteer---
GEN Missak tells the King that he does not recommend sending the Kings forces to go but recommends that these volunteers go and scout out the Wastelands and rescue the Prince. GEN Missak recommends that the Grandish Forces stand by and prepare for a full-scale invasion of the Goblin Wastelands. King Matoian agrees “Right you are Cousin, thank you for thinking clearly. You (POINTS TOWARD ADVENTURES) will go find out where my son is and rescue him and the others. You will also draw a detailed map of what the Goblin Wastelands look like and what types of evil resides there. This will be needed when the GENs forces are ready, they will attack and cleanse the land of the Evil. Do you brave adventures accept this challenge from your King?” (ADVENTURES AGREE) The King spreads his arms wide pounds his chest powerfully placing his blessings and the protection of Habbakuk on them. “Good. . . go and speak to Niktar Kaojian he will give you advice on how to approach the Goblin Wastelands.”

Niktar Kaojian – “Gentlemen it is truly a terrible thing that has happened to Davit, truly terrible.”
“I am aware, yes aware of one who has escaped goblin imprisonment and the horrors of the wasteland. He is Arno Karmarian, a great fisherman who has traded his nets for a saw, yes a saw. His story is interesting and true, yes true. His father Iese Karmarian in Beril will tell you how to find him. He will be the key to finding Davit he knows of the dangers of the Wasteland.”
Niktar has adventurers stay with him the night and makes all preparations for their journey.

[Todd]

Session 2 – Adventurers make their way to the port to leave on the “Thunder Tide”. Enroute to the port Argalan finds and heals an injured Monkey (Keko). Adventurers leave Weton traveling to Beril to meet with Iese, the father of Arno the sole survivor of captivity in the Goblin Wastelands. Enroute, they make a stop for the night in the fishing village town of Zadig which has a population of around 20. Upon arrival Argalan hid before docking. He was nervous that he would get into trouble for impregnating a woman Hayrabed. When we docked a man named Matsag was unloading his boat of his days catch. He assisted us in tying off and told us that we would be welcome to dine with him and his family. His wife Hayrabed was pleasant and served Krikor, Zantar, Armen, and Tigran a fish soup. Razmik and Argalan stayed on the ship. The adventurers talked to Matsag about the dangers of the sea and if they knew of Arno the man who escaped the goblin wasteland. He knew of Arno and his tale, he also said that Arno is on Oak Island and doesn’t venture into the sea anymore. During diner Hayrabed’s son Arsen an 8-year-old boy came in from the rain and ate with the adventurers. Matsag informed them that Arsen is not his son, but he loves his mother and the boy as his own, (could Arsen be Argalans?). Shortly after diner Argalan noticed a strange movement in the water. It appeared to be 7 Sahuagins who wanted to raid the village, 1 had a crossbow, 1 a net, and 5 with spears. Immediately Argalan sent Keko to warn the others and prepared the Ballista on Thunder Tide and fired into the group of Sahuagins the Javelin went right through one and logged itself into another. The party was able to make it to the beach and lend aid. Killing all the Sahuagins.

[Todd]

Session 3 – Oak Island – The adventurers leave Zadig early in the morning after having a filling breakfast made by Hayrabed. When they get on the Thunder Tide they notice that Argalan mounted a Sahuagin head on the bow of the ship covering the head of the Dolphin that already adorns the ship. While sailing for an hour they notice shark fins trailing the vessel. Armen tosses over some chum encouraging the sharks to follow the ship. After a few hours the party is startled by some loud bumps and a thrashing that is happening under the ship. Krikor glances over the port side and sees the sea foaming around and the faint ting of red coming from under the ship. Armen peeks over the starboard side and sees two Sahugin hands grasping the side and pulling himself up. Suddenly a large shark’s mouth appears biting the creature and pulling him under. After the feeding frenzy that the Sharks took part in, Argalan casts speak with animals thanking the sharks for their assistance and rewards them with more chum. Before the spells completion he asks for the sharks to stay near and aid them in their travels to the Goblin Wastelands in a few days. The Sharks agree and say as long as food is near, they shall stay as well. They tell Argalan to chum the water in the ship prior to casting off and if they are near, they will return.
Once the party arrives at the docks of Oak Island they see it bustling with sailors unloading their recent catches and are greeted by four sailors. They approach the ship and recognize Argalan and Razmik. Feliki the oldest brother says, “Good to see you again friends, Argalan you look like a dying Sea Devil. HAAAAaaaa! I received this note by carrier pigeon from the King yesterday and we’ve been awaiting your arrival.” He holds up a note showing the Kings seal. The note says that Feliki and his brothers will accompany Razmik and company to aid the crew of the Thunder Tide. Feliki Kapoian: 36, First-mate/Navigator; Afu Kapoian: 34, Sailor/Carpenter; Fatu Kapoian: 28, Sailor/Rigger; Tapu Kapoian: 24, Sailor. Feliki says “My brothers will inspect the ship and replenish any supplies needed, while Afu and I discuss business with you.”
The adventurers head over to Brot’s tavern, it’s a rowdy place where the fights are a guarantee. Once inside Feliki informs them on where to find Arno. They are given directions to find him in the woods. While inside Brot’s tavern the party is met by a boisterous group fighting, singing, and enjoying a woman of the night in some dark corner.

[Todd]

Session 4 – Arno Karmarian – Found living solitary on Oak Island. He survived imprisonment from the Goblins. There were 5 fishermen and himself that were ambushed by the Goblins. “The Goblins took us back to the Goblin Wasteland and would stay in one camp for a few days. After that they would then move on to another camp, sometimes from the land and others from one of their boats. Occasionally when the goblins would get hungry, they would fight among themselves, and the winner would sometimes grab a prisoner and roast him. After he had his fill, the others would then eat what’s left. I was captured for what seemed like eternity, everyday wondering if I would be the next one on the spit being ripped apart while still alive. It came where I was the last one left, blindfolded and tied I laid in the bottom of the boat. My only way of keeping time was the kicks and scars they would give me and my full bladder emptying out where I lay. We were on the sea sailing somewhere when suddenly the boat began to rock, the Goblins were screaming and howling last thing I knew, I was in the water trying to get free the harder I tried the quicker I sunk. When I awoke, I was on Oak Island I coughed and looked toward the see. The last I saw was what I thought was a man swimming away but when he dove under the waves, I saw a tail. Like a fish. By Habbakuk he saved me, I was saved. Habbakuk was not ready to fish with me yet. But praise be to him I am still breathing.”
Upon leaving Arno’s home the party heads back to town to board the Thunder Tide. Once boarded they head South towards the Goblin Wastelands. A mile or so offshore Armen once again chums the water and within 10 or so minutes three of the familiar fins from the journey to Oak Island appear. During the journey Argalan worked on training his little friend Keko on how to aid fallen comrades with goodberries that Keko had in a pouch around his neck. Four hours into the journey dark clouds begin to appear on the horizon and the sea begins to get rough with 3’ waves. Some of the party begin to tie themselves off to the ship. Argalan was making his way to the bow of the ship when he lost his footing slipping on the wet deck and hitting his head. As soon as he hit the deck Keko was on him giving him a goodberry to aid his injured head. “Thank you, dear friend,” he said accepting the berry and knowing that Kekos training was successful.
An hour or so into the journey the storm increases with 7’ waves and winds up to 50 mph. Feliki and the crew fight tirelessly keeping the ship on course. While fighting the storm Armen is startled when a 4’ tentacle appears off the starboard bow searching for something to grab. He shouts warning the crew “Octopus”! The crew begins looking overboard for more signs of the octopus. As five more tentacles appear, two on the starboard and three on the port side covering the first quarter of the Thunder Tide. Razmik’s right leg gets grabbed by one of the tentacles and he feels extreme pressure moving up his leg. The party fights back, hacking and slashing every tentacle. Razmik lets out a roar as he begins to get pulled overboard, the only thing preventing him from being pulled over was the lifeline he tied himself to prior to the storm. The adventures as if in perfect coordination attack and sever all tentacles. Razmik making an amazing attack on the octopus, while hanging overboard he pulls his leg free from and with one swing separates the tentacle from its host. As soon as the fight was over, Armen reached over and aided his companion back on board. With the danger no longer present the crew assessed their surroundings and went back to fighting the dying storm.