Episode VI: The Belly of the Gryphon
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The Belly of the Gryphon is the sixth episode of the Trials of the Forgotten Relics campaign. Trying to get to the bottom of Chloe's disappearance, the party investigates the basement of the Golden Gryphon Tavern where they are ambushed.
Synopsis
Recap
Last we left off you participated in a reception for a wedding unfurled with all the grandeur befitting such an occasion. Invited as guests amidst this celebration at the Stonehelm manor, you soon found yourselves in the midst of unexpected turmoil. A sinister plot was unveiled as doppelgängers, disguised as mansion servants, attempted to kidnap Chloe, the bride-to-be. With quick thinking and swift action, you thwarted the abduction, but not without consequence. During the chaos, Philip, the future groom, fell victim to a paralyzing affliction, necessitating his urgent transport to the local temple for aid.
In the wake of this harrowing encounter, Grendar, Chloe's adopted father and a figure of considerable influence, implored you for your continued assistance. While you were at the temple, his plea was echoed by Chloe herself, who, disguised as an old lady, tasked you with a crucial mission: to delve into the enigmatic catacombs beneath the temple. Her concern was palpable; someone was after her, and clues pointed to a connection with these ancient underground passages beneath the temple.
Braving the darkness of the catacombs, you encountered a labyrinth of challenges. You first navigated through a complex puzzle that guarded the deeper recesses of this subterranean maze. Your journey then led them into a confrontation with a group of ominous individuals, commanded by a deep-disturbed red witch. The clash was fierce, but you emerged victorious, meeting afterwards a spectral apparition pressing you onward to face the guardian's trial. This mysterious test of skill and wit was no small feat, yet you prevailed, meeting a very strange and chaotic entity that introduced himself as Strife. Congratulated by the guardian and rewarded with a beautiful sword, you escaped the catacombs with both new insights and lingering questions.
The day's events culminated at a local tavern, known as the Enchanted Chalice, where you found yourselves entranced by the myriad of magical implements and effects that adorned its interior. The whimsical ambiance provided a much-needed respite from the day's events. However, during the night your rest and relaxation was abruptly interrupted by a series of noises at the door. To your surprise, it was Grendar, appearing with a look of grave concern. He hastily explained that a dire situation had unfolded: Chloe, now missing, had been falsely accused by the Helmets, the local elite guard, of murdering the priests at the temple. Urging the party to take immediate action, Grendar implored you again to search out for Chloe and uncover the truth behind these alarming allegations and kidnappings. You spent the remainder of the night without any other disturbances, taking your long rest, now with the story taking a darker turn as you prepare to delve deeper into a conspiracy that is becoming increasingly complex and perilous.
And that’s where we continue our adventure.
Questions about the Wings of Amber
The party wakes up and has breakfast together with the captain and they discuss what they need to do. Wintson joins them from the library, but he is upset he did not find anything relevant. Again, Captain Grendar tells them to look for Chloe as she might be in danger and together they decide to investigate the Golden Gryphon Tavern. Dago gets back a message from his camp telling him to ask at the guild, as they might know more. They decide to pay a visit there white the captain retires to his room to continue his sleep.
At the guild they meet with Isolde, the information broker there. Isolde tells Dago that the guild boss was looking for him this morning, but now he is out, and recommends that Dago should come later to discuss business with him. The adventurers ask Isolde about the cryptic information in the letter. Isolde, helped by Wintson, realizes that the phrase “Wings of Amber” points to an ancient golden gryphon that was ridden in battle by a leader of a cultist organization that waged war 300 years ago. She suspects that the tavern was named after it. They don’t remember much about the leader, only that he entitled himself “The Chosen One”.
The party splits with Sarya going to take care of some personal business and they decide to meet at the tavern. Arriving there, Wintson proposes to go into the sewers as the cryptic information in the letter speaks about something under the Wings of Amber. Together they find an entrance into the sewers and start navigating.
The fate of General Fenlee
Meanwhile Sarya remained at the tavern to inquire more about her father, Daeran Fenlee. Despite her insisting on the matter, Elara does not seem to know more, although Sarya detects some reservations coming from her. However Elara recommends her to go to the Ironhall Keep, the local guard barracks, to find more answers there. On the way to the tavern she stops at the keep meeting a collaborator of her father, inspector Flint Bramblethorn. Flint seems surprised to see her, but he obviously has some reservations to speak in more about in public. He takes Sarya into an office room, where he reveals more about what has happened. Him and Sarya's father, General Fenlee, have been investigating a cult's emergence in Sagemont, but when they were investigating the Artisan Consortium, her father got accused of murdering a merchant a got arrested. Due to his collaboration with him, Flint got suspended. He is reluctant to speak more about, as the walls have ears, and he invites Sarya to the Memory Garden in the Upper Cross District after nightfall to speak more about it.
Sarya makes her way to the Golden Gryphon Tavern and she sits at one of the tables there. As she cannot see other group members, she looks around after clues that may hint to their whereabouts. Brianna the innkeeper comes to offer her something to eat, but Sarya begins to pay unusual attention to Lorelei, the tavern bard, who sings a beautiful song. Another bartender comes to Sarya and invites her to the VIP room downstairs, but she starts to suspect something. With her mind being charmed by Lorelei, she doesn't notice several things around her, like the bartender grabbing her wrists, but making a will effort she manages to shake it off. She quickly realizes that she is being charmed and tries to leave, but several customers try block her way.
However the tavern door opens, hitting the customers, who noticing two hooded individuals enter, they go back to their places. Sarya takes the opportunity to get out, but not before bending towards the new arrivals to warn them. One of them raises its head, revealing to be Grendar Ironkith who quickly motions Sarya to keep quiet, while the other palms her a message. Sarya heads outside and reads the message: "Go around the backyard. Find another entrance." Sarya goes invisible and picks the lock at the gate, and circling around the tavern she finds a trap door going down. She cuts the rope, opens the trap door and climbs into what seems to be a cellar. Looking around she finds a door hidden behind several creates and hears several gun shots in the distance.
Path through the sewers
The other group try to position themselves under the tavern, but they go the wrong direction and arrive at a round room where seems to be a conflux of pipes with a whirlpool in the middle. As they realize they went the wrong direction, water comes out of the pipes and pushes the adventurers into the whirlpool. All of them hang on but Ed splashes into the murky water. Elinor throws a rope and together they pull Ed out. They backtrack their steps to the entrance and try again. This time they manage to approximate the position of the tavern and find an open era where several torches burn on the walls. They start to investigate and they find two opposite secret doors made of stone. On one of them Ed and Elinor find that in order to get it they may need an item that goes into a crevice. On the other, Wintson finds a secret lever that opens the door into a dimly lit chamber.
Inside they find a bloodied stone altar where several body parts are found. Two side stone staircases go up to a large two-sided door. As they begin to investigate the room, Wintson discovers that one of the chests is actually a mimic that attacks them. As the battle ensues several more mimics pop in from various objects in the room. The adventurers fight the mimics, but they make a lot of noise. As all but one of the mimics go down, Ed commands Mother to go to the above door and place the shield barrier. Immediately they hear the door open and somebody asking: “What is going on here?”.
Featured characters
The adventurers
Other characters
- Maerek (only heard): a torturer of the cult.
- Isolde Ravenshadow: the information broker of Ebonheart Guildhall
- Madame Elara Mistral: the proprietor of the Enchanted Chalice Tavern.
- Inspector Flint Bramblethorn.
- Olyrith (mentioned): one of Dago's camp members.
- Mimics.