Episode I: A Reception of Deceit

Reception at Stonehelm Estate
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A Reception of Deceit is the first episode of the Trials of the Forgotten Relics campaign. The adventurers arrive at the wedding reception of Chloe Rowen and Philip Stones and surprise awaits them in the crowd among the mansion's servants.

Synopsis

Introduction

Beyond the Silvercrown Passage that connects the countries of Khentis and Almeria, right on the shores of the Auberveil Basin lies the majestic city of Sagemont. Nestled within rolling hills and verdant forests, the city is a combination of opulence and intrigue, and rises like a jewel from the embrace of the countryside, being nicknamed the Silver Jewel of the Commonwealth. For centuries, this bustling metropolis has been a center of culture, politics, commerce, and magic and has shone as a beacon for the entire continent of Iseron.

Founded during the golden era of the Ancient Pailenid Empire, the city flourished under the rule of the illustrious Rosenberg House. Its cobbled streets, emblazoned with banners bearing the crest of the ruling Family, whisper the tales of a city steeped in history, with its winding streets weaving an epic tapestry stained with both nobility and deceit, triumph, and treachery.

Sagemont's palatial court, resplendent with courtiers and adorned in the Almeria’s finest fashions, dances a delicate waltz of politics and power. Grand Duke Gilbert of the Rosenberg House, a figure of both reverence and scrutiny, currently rules the city from his elegant seat of authority and has guided the city through the last decades of prosperity and economic growth. For an unwary traveler, the sight of Sagemont is nothing short of breathtaking, with its city gates, stately and welcoming, standing as guardians to a world of wonder. Yet, beneath the gilded façade, the luxurious villas and the lavish balls and courts, shadows of intrigue and conflict have been cast, and its dark alleys and busy taverns have yet a story to unfold.

It began on a windy afternoon at the end of the month of October, on the dusty old road leading to the city of Thornhelm as a small caravan approaches the city from the west. As it passes the outskirts and approaches the walls of the city, which are bathed in the light of the mid-afternoon sun, the caravan makes a full stop in front of a large longhouse, seemingly reaching its destination. A group of six individuals separates from the pack, trying to rest their tired bones on several benches placed in front of each other.

This group is of peculiar sorts and seems to draw more attention than the rest of the travelers. Four of them, who seem to be sitting closer together, are a mix of various races and ages.

The caravan

In the late hours of the afternoon, the bustling city of Sagemont greets a peculiar caravan, its members a motley assembly of adventurers, each bearing their own secrets and stories. Among them were Ed and Elinor, siblings bound not just by blood but by destiny, their arrival in Sagemont marking the beginning of a journey neither could have envisioned. Accompanying them were companions as diverse as the lands from which they hailed: Sol, a red dragonborn monk with a serene demeanor belying his fierce heart; Mother, a stone golem whose silent vigilance spoke of an unyielding loyalty to Ed; Draella, a half-elf with eyes as sharp as her wit, clutching a vial of light stolen from the ethereal realms; and Gwaindir, a wood elf whose home in the Wooden Realm had been betrayed by Draella’s theft.

The artifact in question, the Light of Caeth, became the center of a heated debate between Draella and Gwaindir, their voices echoing the discord of a fractured family. Elinor, with the wisdom of one who has known loss, took the burden upon herself, her decision unspoken yet resolute. Draella, her heart heavy with worry for her ailing daughter, departed for her abode within Sagemont, while Gwaindir sought solace in the embrace of the forests that skirted the town, the stone walls of civilization an anathema to his soul.

Meanwhile, Ed, Elinor, Mother, and Sol ventured towards the Stonehelm Estate, their invitation to the union of Chloe and Philip a beacon in the gathering gloom. Ed’s persuasion opened gates that would have barred others, and within the estate, they found themselves enveloped in the warmth of celebration, though shadows lingered at the edges of joy.

Dago's paycheck

Elsewhere, Dago, a goliath of towering ambition, sought recompense for deeds done in the shadows. The Ebonheart Guildhall, a place where honor and treachery danced in equal measure, offered him a warning through Roland’s grave tones: a storm was brewing within Sagemont, a storm that had already claimed lives. Unperturbed, Dago’s path too led him to the Stonehelm Estate, drawn by the promise of a celebration unaware of the gathering darkness.

Wintson's gift

In the quietude of his study, Wintson, a scholar whose thirst for knowledge was unquenchable, delved into mysteries that bridged the arcane and the tangible. A courier’s arrival brought with it a puzzle missing a single piece, a mystery that beckoned with a silent whisper. Remembered obligations tore him from his reverie, guiding his steps to the Stonehelm Estate, where fate awaited.

The wedding reception

Under the opulent canopy of the Stonehelm Estate, paths converged, and strangers became allies. Philip, with the ease of one born to lead, introduced the adventurers, unaware that the night would demand more of them than mere pleasantries. Suspicion and intrigue wove through the festivities like a serpent, leading Wintson on a chase that ended in violence, a harbinger of the chaos to come.

Together, the adventurers peeled back the layers of deceit that enshrouded the estate, their journey taking them from the revelry of the party to the silent accusations of poison vials hidden away from prying eyes. As the night deepened, so too did the mystery, culminating in a desperate search for Chloe, whose absence cast a pall over the celebrations.

Ambushed by treachery, the clash of steel and spell echoed through the corridors of the Stonehelm Estate, a testament to the courage of those who fought.

Featured characters

The adventurers

• Ed
• Dago
• Wintson
• Elinor
• Mother

Other characters

• Philip Stones: a noble's son and the future groom.
• Chloe Rowen: a prodigy wizard and the bride to be.
• Thorian Stonehelm: the mansion's owner and Philip's father.
• Lady Althea and Lord Elowen Starheaven: guests at the party.