With preludes and preparations out of the way, the PCs board the Lyrandar airship Eminence. On board, they have no duties. The trip north consumes one uneventful day. After they land at Ardev, they set off on the Orien trade road leading northwest.

From around a curve in the road ahead, they hear raised voices. On the road, three humans have captured a dark-skinned, tattooed goblin and are questioning it. Based on Captain Kalaes’ description, the party can tell the goblin is of the Kech Volaar. Although these humans are dressed as hunters or scouts, they wear cloak brooches that mark them as proud knights of the Emerald Claw.

Encounter: Emerald Claw Scouts
5 Emerald Claw scouts
Govaan, Wordbearer goblin

Sabraxa and Gennal stay with Govaan while Sariel and Rick interrogate the last Emerald Claw scout. He reveals that the Emerald Claw works for Captain Warrik and Demise. Demise ordered them not to interfere with those seeking the Ashen Crown. They don’t know why, but they know that Captain Warrik disagrees with Demise about this.

Govaan is unusual in that his skin is dark brown, mottled with lighter orange-brown. He is bound and bloodied. Saying only what he must in a reserved manner, he claims to be a mercenary returning to Ardev after a pilgrimage to Six Kings. They press and discover that Govaan is a Wordbearer scout trailing his comrades to report pursuit and other dangers. Govaan is unwilling to accompany the PCs, since that’s not his job. When they release him, he gives them a silver Dhakaani necklace.

They continue along the road. The plains here roll along, intermittently covered in thick scrub. In this region rocky spires, some flat on top, also rise from the grassland. In the distance, from the direction they’re traveling (northwest), they hear horns blaring. Those horn calls aren’t Brelish. They sound like war horns of Droaam. They probably belong to raiders who are preying on far-flung ranches and farms.

A hint of smoke on the breeze catches the party’s attention. Crouching low atop a wide stone spire amid some boulders, a single gnoll watches the road. The party approaches stealthily and circumvents the monsters to get behind them. A hulking minotaur blocks the road. Just behind it is a gnoll in chain, its khopesh and shield ready. Dried blood stripes the minotaur’s scale armor, shield, axe, and hair. The gnoll has similar decoration, along with piercings and ritual scars. Two leather·clad orcs lurk among scrub thickets to either side of the road. A small fire burns to the west of the road, heating a rough cauldron and giving off a thin plume of smoke. A human head sits next to the blaze. Seeing this, Gennal and Sariel can’t just move on without making them pay for murdering a human. Pelor demands retribution for evil.

Encounter: Turakbar Toll
Young Turakbar minotaur raider
Gnoll Mockery priest
Turakbar gnoll hunter
2 Turakbar orc marauders

Other than mundane equipment, the gnoll priest’s magic holy symbol, and gruesome trophies, the raiders carry gold and various jewelry. The minotaur also has a tiny ivory box intricately shaped like a stylized dragon skull. Inside its red velvet enclosure is more gold.

The party receives a note from the professor the next day.

Friends,
I’ve made a terrible mistake. Lady Dannae Ulyan is, I fear, not who she claims to be. She could be a threat to even those as resourceful as you. I’m afraid for my own safety, so I’ll be leaving Sharn tomorrow if possible.

Before I go, I want you to have copies of all my notes and tell you all I know. I’ll be spending the day preparing for my departure. Please meet me tonight, at 8 bells, at my apartment: Shava House 19. We’ll talk more then.

The attached key is to a wall panel hidden behind my bed’s headboard. I’ll keep what I mean to give you there until I meet you again. Use the key if something goes wrong. If I haven’t seen you before I leave, I’ll try to get the information to you somehow.

Gydd Nephret

They head to her apartment that night, in a thunderstorm. They find her door is slightly ajar.

Encounter: Postmortem
Skullborn Deathlock Wight
2 Skullborn Rotwing Zombies
3 Skullborn Zombies

Alain finds a crumpled note near the professor’s desk. “Dannae is Demise. Why Emerald Claw?” Gennal investigates the wall panel in the loft bedroom to find a note about Dannae and her servant Jaenus being members of the Skullborn – elves who practice dark necromancy in reckless pursuit of immortality. There are other notes on the Ashen Crown that the party already knows. Gydd’s notes mention an ancient goblin belief, shared by the Valaes Tairn elves, that either fate or the Crown itself dictates who comes to possess it.

The party goes to Captain Kalaes to get more information, collect new equipment, and ask for reinforcements. They are granted a shield for Rick, Catstep Boots for Alain, and heavy discounts at the city’s merchants. He also tells you to go by the barracks and see who will accompany you on your quest, and to tell that person that they will be compensated for their time in the form of their regular salary plus a bonus upon quest completion.

The alchemist gives them discounts on poison phials and and lesser healing potions. Rick hits up the enchanter for a weapon enchantment upgrade. The stable gives them cheap supplies for the horses. Then they stop by the barracks, looking for the biggest and strongest warrior they can find. Many soldiers are occupying the barracks, milling around, arm-wrestling, and other assorted mindless activity. However, there is a large dragonborn in the corner, reading a book.  The party exchanges glances and heads toward her. They greet her and she introduces herself as Sabraxa. They describe their quest, and diplomatically request that she join them, at the behest of Captain Kalaes. They tell her that the Captain has said she’ll be compensated for her helping them. She puts down her book and agrees, beginning to pack some things into a backpack.

The heroes, now including Sabraxa, return to the Captain to get their final orders and because Sabraxa wants to verify their story. The Captain does verify they are truthful and the she will indeed be compensated. Sabraxa requests a note with the city’s seal to be able to prove to important people they are who they claim to be, and not on the Empire’s side. The note is also written on special paper that changes to be completely benign when not read by those intended to see it.

Kalaes tells the party they will be going to Ardev in west central Breland by airship, then to the ancient goblin monument of Six Kings in the northern fringe of the Graywall Mountains. The town of Graywall is the unofficial gateway between civilized Breland and the anarchy of Droaam, but those who frequent the western reaches of the Brelish frontier know that civilization holds little sway within sight of the mountains. The road northwest from Ardev resembles any other Orien trade route.