Recap of Previous Events#
- The party had escaped High Forge and began traveling with a large caravan.
- They met Eleanor’s Wandering Coven, got introduced to a magic guild, and helped Fred, who now provides them with info.
- Fred brought them the case of Bori, a boy in a coma due to a deal made with a mysterious entity named Crowley.
- The party retrieved a fox totem from a shrine after solving a moonlight puzzle and fighting a guardian, then gave it to Crowley. Bori and his family recovered.
Journey Toward Milstrom#
- The caravan travels along a blighted, eerie landscape toward Milstrom.
- At a crossroads, the party meets two intimidating Eldoran Knights warning travelers to avoid Milstrom.
- The knights say the town has changed, hinting at dangerous, mind-affecting forces.
- The party, citing numerous quests tied to Milstrom, decides to proceed despite warnings.
Context for Milstrom#
The group lists their reasons for entering Milstrom:
- A blight affecting Eleanor’s shrine.
- The mystery surrounding the mayor’s disappearance and rumors of a political collective.
- The last known location of Finnegan and George (Project Purple Patch).
- A potential portal to hell.
- Red ’s personal ties: family history and suspected involvement of the Twilight Company.
- Possible show venue for Helisanna at the Common Mug tavern.
Enter: The Vroomfall & Party Debate#
- The party discusses tactics (talking vs. explosions) in their crowded Vroomfall van, full of allies and passengers.
- Political and social topics emerge, including the status of tieflings, who are recent hellspawn refugees, and commentary on racial/species mechanics in D&D.
- The party debates decision-making processes and considers votes, brute strength, and past combat performance.
Arrival at Milstrom#
- They talk their way past the Eldoran Knights checkpoint with Eleanor’s help, receiving a brooch to report back with findings.
- The town appears unusually orderly and proud. The forest is blighted, and the townspeople wear red armbands.
- The Common Mug tavern is the social center. There are no street vendors or signs of a typical free market economy.
- Tobias the blacksmith mentions a collectivist movement led by someone named Red Lennon.
Meet Roscoe#
- The party meets Roscoe, a bizarre old Warforged with a makeshift digestive system from wish magic.
- Roscoe, clearly eccentric and alcoholic, offers valuable knowledge in exchange for beer—a lot of it.
- The party stealthily steals a keg from the tavern while the town holds a public trial.
Show Trial at the Common Mug#
- The party witnesses a chilling communist-style public tribunal.
- A woman named Willemay Hargreave is sentenced to execution at dawn for “counter-revolutionary activity.”
- Her accusations: questioning Red Lennon’s regime and warning about creeping authoritarianism.
Tunnels and Revelations#
- In exchange for the keg, Roscoe reveals:
- A hidden trapdoor that leads to tunnels beneath Milstrom, used by pilgrims to avoid the town.
- Directions to the corrupted shrine, detailed via a drunkenly hand-drawn but decipherable map.
- Information about Willemay’s dissent and religious alignment (devoted to Tyr).
- Confirmation that the town is under subtle magical corruption stemming from Red Lennon—a literal devil from hell.
- Insights about Olivia ’s nephew Finnegan and George, who passed through these tunnels in pursuit of a pilgrimage.
The Pilgrim Route and Next Steps#
- The party uses Roscoe’s tunnels and map to plan their approach.
- They face moral quandaries:
- Should they intervene in Willemay’s execution?
- Can they defeat Red Lennon and break his corruptive influence on the town?
- Olivia and Elspeth reflect on familial ties and motivations.
- Roscoe encourages them to act quickly, warning of Red Lennon’s hold on the town’s morality and politics.
Notable NPCs Introduced#
- Roscoe – A drunken Warforged with a self-modified digestive system, deep knowledge of the town, and tragic yet comedic undertones.
- Tobias – Friendly blacksmith, neutral on politics.
- Willemay Hargreave – Elven woman and outspoken dissenter sentenced to execution.
- Red Lennon – Devilish communist leader corrupting Milstrom from behind the scenes.
- Eldoran Knights – Cautious guards stationed outside Milstrom.
Key Threads Moving Forward#
- Investigate and potentially cleanse the shrine causing the blight.
- Stop Willemay’s execution and uncover more about Red Lennon’s control.
- Use underground tunnels for stealth and recon.
- Follow leads regarding Finnegan, George, and Project Purple Patch.
- Maintain faction reputation and balance public-facing actions with the risk of exposure.