Dungeons and Dragons:

Wrath of Ashardalon

Episode 1: A Day in the Life of a Hero

11 Marpenoth 1356DR
Arkanapeaks, Chessenta

For all the time Heskan has lived in Longbridge at least once a year
monsters have raided his little village. But within the last few months, those raids
have become weekly occurrences and at this pace the village will have nothing
left for the coming winter months. Which is why he and three others have
repelled the latest raiders. That started three hours ago, and now only Heskan is
left and he is chasing the last kobold though the wilderness around Firestorm
Peak.
Suddenly the ground gives way beneath him and he plunges into a deep
hole. Heskan hits the ground, his body limp, to take the hit. He stands, shaken,
his tough dragon scales taking the brunt of the fall. In the darkness he finds his
dropped Staff of the Elements, a remnant of his studies with Master Gryphan in
Cimbar..
After 20 minutes of exploring and combat against a bear, the kobold he
was chasing through the forest and a large mass of ooze with many mouths, he
sees day light at the end of the tunnel. But he does not get far when a a large
kobold blocks his way. This exit, or entrance if one comes the other way, is
guarded. “Ah Meerak always stop trespassers. Meerak faithful guard for
Ashardalon.” He attacks, blows are struck, Heskan falls, when he rises 3 other
mirror images surround him. In Meerak’s confusion, Heskan strikes with lightning
from his staff, which engulfs Meerak, killing him on the exit’s stairwell.
Upon his return to Longbridge, Heskan is told that Ashardalon is a dragon
that used to roam around Firestorm Peak, but the dragon has not been seen for
a few generations and many believe he is gone. After a restful night, Quinn, a
human cleric, and Keyleth, an elven paladin ask Heskan to join them on a quest
to put a final stop to the monster hordes. They have tracked the monsters to a
cave near the base of the mountain. Heskan agrees to join them, but asks that
any magical items they discover are his.

Episode 2: Monster Hunt

13 Marpenoth 1356DR
Longbridge
 The cave system is vast, with many monster lairs inside. Among them are
Orcs, kobolds, snakes(who seem to be feeding off kobolds based on the bones
left behind, and Merregon (Legion Devils). After two days of fighting, resting,
repeat, the three return to Longbridge with news of their victory over the horde of
monsters. The village celebrates with a simple festival and and rest.
The rest is not long. A few days later the adventurer Roghar, a dwarf, still
recovering from wounds he received within the dungeon of Firestorm Peak,
approaches the party. “Ye’ve ‘erd ‘o ta dungeon under Firestorm Peak, right?”
Keyleth shakes her head yes, but Quinn and Heskan answer no.
“Well, long ago, the Elves built a laboratory under ta mountain. Some say
tis magical, I don’ believe it meself. Anyway, tis laboratory was expanded and
‘bout 600 years ago when settled by Duergar. But like all things, their time came
to and end, when ‘bout 400 years ago they was driven out by Ashardalon, the
Red Dragon. An’t up till you came back with ta story of a guard of Ashardalon,
we in Longbridge had believed him gone or dead.”
“Look, you three young’uns seem capable, ‘bout eight days ago, I was
s’plorin’ an’t lost me pack as I fled. The gear in that pack is important ta me. I’ll
pay ye well if ye can return my pack an’ gear.”

Episode 3: Roghar’s Gear

16 Marpenoth 1356DR
Dungeon Entrance
Heskan is level 2

The next day the three are at the entrance to the Dungeon that Roghar
asked them to find. It wasn’t difficult to find, for it had two 10 foot elven statues
guarding each entrance. But either the Duergar, Ashardalon or time had toppled
the statues. Roghar said the pack is in a vault, off the main corridor on the left. It
should be easy to find, for Roghar made chalk marks at every corner in order to
find his way back out.
The gear was not in the room Roghar indicated. The band had many
setbacks, Duergar guards, calling down more Duergar guards, lava flows
erupting from walls and creating hazards, more than one trap being sprung(a
rolling Boulder being one of them). Time was running out, no one had any more
healing potions left (both healing surges were used), and the party split up.
When Heskan finally found the room he let loose with a powerful arch lightning
spell, killing one of the human cultist and injuring the Orc guard. He then cast
another spell, killing the Orc. Once the gear was grabbed, Heskan ran and
yelled back to the entrance for the others. They arrived at about the same time
and ran from the Dungeons of Ashardalon.

Episode 4: The Mysterious Chamber

22 Marpenoth 1356DR
Longbridge

Two hunters return with tales of a new evil rising from near the mountain.
An earthquake three days ago opened a new entrance to the dungeon, a
mysterious mist is emanating. The heroes are asked to make sure the new
entrance is safe.
The dungeon had a few monsters, but there was a chamber with Duergar
guarding 3 humans. The humans were from outlying farms, so the Longbridge
townsfolk didn’t know about missing people. The party also discovered locked
sealed door. The three returned as heroes and they will return to discover what
is behind the sealed doors they discovered.

Episode 5: The Closed Doors

25 Marpenoth 1356DR
Longbridge

Yesterday a few brave Longbridge souls returned to the dungeons to loot

for treasure, but instead found a strangely sealed door. Heskan, Keyleth, and
Quinn return to the dungeons to discover what is behind the sealed doors.
The party was split. The mage Heskan was left to himself when volcanic
vapors erupted from a room. Hoping to come around and meet up with the party,
he explored on his own. This was a mistake.
Being chased by an Orc archer, Orc smasher and a gibbering mouther,
Keyleth and Quinn finally reached the horrid chamber. Inside they found an
ancient many eyed gauth, an aberrant with ties to the mighty Beholders. The
aberrant was in the middle of opening a portal between this world and a realm of
madness. The party was overwhelmed, Keyleth fell, but Quinn stood firm. He
defeated the gauth. And by that time, Heskan returned, through the vapors, to
help defeat the remaining monsters.

Episode 6a: Campaign Against the Clans- Kobold Leader

28 Marpenoth 1356DR
Longbridge
 Over the last few days, the party and the town of Longbridge have learned
that the monster clans around Firestorm Peak are working for the red dragon
Ashardalon. The party arrives at the idea of attacking and killing the leaders of
the monster clans; this way, the dragon will lose some of its defenses.
The party found the lair of the Kobold Leader. After facing many monsters,
they found the leader, although only a kobold, the weakened party killed him.

Episode 6b: Campaign Against the Clans- Orc Leader

1 Uktar 1356DR
Longbridge

Over the last weeks, the cold has been coming. Winter is near and in the
area around Firestorm Peak, snow begins to cover the ground. The party knows
a confrontation with Ashardalon is near, and with this weather, it will hurt
Ashardalon.
But first, the Orc leader must be dealt with. The orc leader was quickly
found, and defeated.

Episode 6c: Campaign Against the Clans- Duergar Leader

2 Uktar 1356DR
Longbridge

Over the last few days the leaders of the monster clans have died at the
hands of the party. The last one the party will face this day. This was a tougher
battle for the party. They were successful, but Keyleth and Heskan only had one
HP left by the end of the battle.

Episode 7:
4 Uktar 1356DR
Longbridge

While defeating the Duergar leader, a map was found. Nobody in the party
could read Duergar, but Droller, a dwarven blacksmith, has read and understands
the map.
“It’s a map of Firestorm peak. See here,” Drollar points, “this is the camps
of the orcs, kobolds, and Duergar leaders you just killed. This here,” he points to
a different spot, “is a secret entrance some of the monsters have been using. I
suggest you somehow destroy that entrance to stop the monsters from attacking
the villages around here.”
 The party agrees that the entrance must be sealed. The party successfully
blew the entrance, and stopped monsters from exiting that area. One step closer
to stopping Ashardalon.

Episode 8: Rescue the Prisoners

8 Uktar 1356DR
Longbridge

Monsters have taken five prisoners. The party must rescue them before
they attack Ashardalon. The party successfully rescues the prisoners.

Episode 9: Sneaky Endeavor

12 Uktar 1356DR
Longbridge

The party must sneak through the entrance to Firestorm Peak. But they
will have to get by a rage drake. The party makes it by.

Episode 10: Vast Gate Ritual

12 Uktar 1356DR
Firestorm Peak

A few hours later, after resting, the party continues. The tunnels wind
through the depths of Firestorm Peak. They become more strange and alien the
further they travel. It’s as though an unnatural evil has infused the mountain. In
the distance is a vile chanting that sends shivers up everyone’s spin.
Heskan, “We must investigate that chanting.”
“I agree,” says Quinn, “it’s an unholy sound, like evil rising from the graves.
It must be stopped.”
“Look, I’m all for stopping evil, but we’ve got an evil dragon to stop.”
Replies Keyleth.
Heskan agrees, but adds, “Just a little detour, it’s on the way.”
The three head closer to the chanting.
On their way to the chanting, the party was cursed, and poisoned. A hole
opened up and volcanic vapors caught Heskan. With few hit points left for
Keyleth, they found chanting cultists performing some kind of foul ceremony. As
the party attacked, a hole began to appear above them. Other aberrant
creatures stepped from the gate. Suddenly the party was flooded with floating
tentacled grells.
The gate must be closed off. Heskan attack with arc lightning, hits.
Keyleth attacks with arcing smite, hits!. The portal begins to break apart.
Meanwhile, Quinn is attacking the grells, and cultists. The gate is close to fully
opening, with a final valiant strike, Keyleth destroys pedestal that controls the
gate. The gate shimmers blue, a large creature can be seen trying to enter as
the gate shuts forever. The enemy that didn’t flee, was killed by Quinn, Keyleth,
and Heskan.

Skipped Episode 11 because they stopped the gate

Episode 12: Wrath of Ashardalon

12 Uktar 1356DR
Firestorm Peak

After healing and memorizing spells, the party continues its search for the
dragon Ashardalon. It’s not long before gigantic stone pillars support a an
enormous tunnel that leads to a loud scratching and breathing noise. This must
be the dragons lair.
A voice calls out as the passage widens even further, “You’ve reached
Ashardalon, you won’t get any farther.”
With 1 or 2 HP left and no healing surges, the party manages to defeat
Ashardalon.