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Music by Kevin MacLeod.
Token art by Demnix.
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Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen is published by Wizards of the Coast, and set in the world of Krynn.

Session 5

Starring
Ellowyn, level 4 kender Bard College of Lore
Elyas, level 4 human Diviner Wizard
Kazra, level 4 human Champion Fighter
Korl, level 4 dwarf Bard College of Dance
Rickard, level 4 human Fighter/Abjuration Wizard

After a grueling evacuation that takes all night, the party arrives outside the walls of Kalaman, one of the largest cities in Solamnia. Survivors are already setting up makeshift camps, and dealing with injury, trauma, and the devastating loss of their home.

After resting, the party awakens to find Mayor Raven thanking and rewarding them for their help. Lord Bakaris has already gone into the city to address the council, and she asks the party to accompany her.

Elyas presents Becklin’s box to Darrett. Inside is a fresh suit of Solamnic plate armor, representing Darrett’s final admission into the Knighthood. He takes it with pride, though wishes Becklin were here.

Speaking of Becklin, Cudgel and Jeyev reveal that the virtuous knight sacrificed herself to save them when they were overrun. Cudgel did not want to leave her, forcing Jeyev to drag her away and toward the village. Ellowyn admonishes him for leaving her, and the mercenary sullenly stalks away.

Inside the city, some of the party are memorized by the sheer size and scale of the buildings and population, particularly the imposing Castle Kalaman that rises from a cliff at the city’s center.

Ellowyen is from Kalaman and eager to see her family, while Rickard and Elyas are looking to turn in their sealed magic scrolls to the mage, Wyhan. But Raven insists they head to the Castle, and the council, first.

As they speak to the guards, Bakaris’ son of the same name sneers at them from the courtyard, explaining that his father has things well in hand.

The party is in no mood for this jackassery. Rickard and Elyas tell him off, and he the young noble slinks away, muttering.

After stowing their weapons, the party enters the castle, and are led to the council chambers.

Lord Bakaris is seated at the table, along with guild leaders and Governor Miat, and Marshal Vendri.

The council is displeased with the interruption, and Bakaris openly associates the army’s attack on Vogler with the appearance of the “foreign warriors.” The party fires back, claiming that Bakaris was nowhere in sight during the attack, and is a general pain in the ass.

The Governor calls for peace, and asks the party relay their findings. The party explains about the Dragon Army, the Boilerdrak war machine, and the army’s fanatical ties to Takhisis, the dark goddess and Queen of Dragons. To enhance their findings, Ellowyn casts minor illusion, while Elyas gets even more dramatic, casting disguise self to transform his body into a draconian, causing a momentary dramatic uproar in security.

The Marshal confirms that similar sightings and attacks have occurred around the area, though none as big as Vogler. The council praises the party for saving the villagers, while admitting they don’t have the infrastructure to suddenly house hundreds of refugees.

They agree to discuss matters while the party waits outside. Ellowyn furtively casts invisibility to remain inside, making sure Bakaris doesn’t sabotage them. Which he totally tries to! But the Governor calms him down, and the council agrees to help the refugees using the shantytown outside the walls, and provide food and supplies, so long as the party agrees to join the Kalaman military and help with this looming threat.

When the party is let back in, they agree to the compromise, and every single one swears fealty to Kalaman, receiving a stipend, free lodging at the castle, and a nifty badge. Their Commanding Officer is Marshal Vendri, though Raven can act as the immediate liaison. Darrett agrees to help train the soldiers.

After being dismissed from the council, the party is free to explore the city.

Ellowyn hurries to her family’s tailoring store, with Korl and Kazra tagging along (after some light shopping). The family is happy to see her, and try putting her to work immediately. Ellowyn grapples with telling her family about her newly discovered powers and links to the divine.

Meanwhile, Rickard and Elyas track down Wyhan’s Apothecary. Inside is a dour, black-robed mage who begrudginly accepts their scrolls. She meets with them in a backroom and asks pointed questions about their relationship with magic, and their plans for the future, even casting detect thoughts to probe into their minds.

Rickard is more pragmatic about his future, and still discovering his arcane skills after being rejected from his dreams of being a Knight.

Elyas is devoted to the gods, despite their absence (until recently!), and feels more confident that this is the right path. Wyhan senses some conflict within him (from the Vogler trauma), but is unable to probe deeper. She recommends the red robes for both mages, and agrees to pass on their admission into the Mages of High Sorcery. She’ll let them know when she hears back, and when they can take the Test.

The next morning, the party reports for duty at the Castle. Marshal Vendri pays the stipend, and gives them each a potion of healing.

She has two missions for the special operatives.

The first regards a pair missing scouts to the west. Kalaman has scouts stationed around the region, and it’s through them they know about many of the attacks. The scouts should’ve reported in several days ago, however, and she wants the party to check on them.

The second is to follow up on the devastating war machine the party witnessed at Vogler. It sounds like the work of Tatina Rookledust, a local gnome inventor who lives in the countryside to the south. Vendri wants the gnome to be brought in, regardless of her involvement, to receive her insight (though she suspects she’s involved in some way).

The missing scouts are a bit more time-sensitive, so the party heads west first.

When they reach the woods, Rickard tracks down the scouts, finding their campsite among some gray birch trees.

One of the scouts is already dead, while another has been tied to a tree by a group of draconians.

The party charge into battle, with Kazra using her warhorse’s speed to quickly free the captured scout. Rickard casts shield to tank blow after blow from the baaz draconians.

When a hidden Kapak drops from the trees above with a surprise attack (critical hit!), the nearby Kazra uses her defensive fighting to deflect the blow.

With the draconians defeated, the scout mourns the loss of his partner. He knows about the Dragon Army, and that the army is successfully cutting off Kalaman from the west through attacks and strikes. He wants to report his findings with the council, and travels a few hours with the party before heading back.

The party doesn’t waste any time, heading south east to rendezvous with Rookledust. When they arrive, they find the miniature fortress under siege by a troop of goblinoids wearing the familiar armor of the Dragon Army.

Next up: Rookledust’s Workshop!

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