Ashen Frontier
Characters
Ashen Frontier
Dungeons & Dragons 5e
Gold:
429.79
Species:
Elf
Class:
Warlock
Completed:
7
Upcoming:
1
Most recent:
3 days ago
Villiarra is an elven wanderer with the quiet dignity of a wandering saint, offering aid to those in need and asking for nothing in return. Bound to a mysterious celestial entity known only as the Nameless Radiance, Viliarra is determination to become worthy of the second chance she was given.
Location
Encounters
Journey Entry #3
It began with a dream shared among several of us: an armoured man calling for help while being attacked by a shadow dire wolf, with only the name Hakon's Dent to guide us. Somehow, we all gathered at the coachhouse and set off together. After persuading a citizen to part with a map for half the asking price, we reached Hakon's Dent and met Nara's uncle, Hakon. Their howling greeting left me deaf for the remainder of the day—a cultural experience I could have appreciated perfectly well with less enthusiasm. We later visited Raxxom for information about the shadow wolves. I admit I became curious about his wares and poked at something I probably should not have. He made that quite clear. Eventually, we learned that the wolves could be found northwest of the settlement, where the boundary between our world and the Feywild grows thin.
The forest proved considerably less pleasant. After becoming somewhat lost, we followed tracks that led us to Henry—or, more accurately, Henry's severed but inexplicably living head—surrounded by shadow dire wolves. Clothilde charged into their midst, and the rest of us followed into battle. I spent much of the fighting trying to keep everyone standing, particularly Nara, who seemed determined to undo my efforts by repeatedly approaching death. After recovering Henry's head, a strange fog separated our party. My group was confronted by a spirit troll and its two-tailed minions while the others faced more wolves. Somehow, during all of this, the rest of Henry's body found its way back to his head and simply... reassembled itself. We defeated the creatures, gathered what remained for investigation, and returned to Dawnport. Against all reasonable expectations, the quest was apparently a success.
Personal Note
I am beginning to think the Guild has a rather generous definition of a successful quest. I spent a day deaf, got lost in a forest, found a talking severed head, fought something already dead that refused to stop healing, and somehow we all returned. I suppose that counts as success.
The Guild tasked us with eliminating the Spider King hidden deep within a cave several hours from Dawnport. We intended to proceed with caution, especially after Obiana warned us not to set the webs ablaze. Unfortunately, one careless flame turned the entire nest against us. Instead of confronting a single target, we found ourselves surrounded by an endless tide of spiderlings. What should have been a straightforward hunt quickly became a desperate fight for breathing room, made even more frustrating as many of our attacks failed to find their mark. Arthur was brought to the brink of death before recovering, while the rest of us slowly fought our way through the relentless swarm.
Only after the countless smaller spiders had fallen did the Spider King finally reveal itself—and to my surprise, it proved far less troublesome than its offspring. Jerrod, after enduring what felt like an eternity of missed strikes, landed the decisive blow before the creature had any real chance to retaliate. It was an oddly swift end to such a gruelling battle. With the nest secured, we claimed what little remained within. I left carrying a piece of turquoise and several cuts of poisoned spider meat, wondering if the smallest enemies had truly been the greatest threat all along.
I had hoped this hunt would end with a single decisive battle, but instead it became a lesson in patience. A king may command fear, yet it is often the countless lesser dangers surrounding it that slowly wear one's resolve away. I still cannot bring myself to like spiders... and I doubt I ever will.
Our journey began with Pak Lang requesting the Guild's assistance regarding a troubling matter at Pak Ghani's home. Upon arriving at the village, we found an angry crowd gathered outside the property. Rather than allowing fear to turn into violence, we spoke with the villagers and convinced them to step aside while we uncovered the truth ourselves.
Within the estate, we discovered an unsettling sight: undead labourers carrying out work in silence. While investigating, Bonk somehow managed to fall into the water. Obiana and I rushed to help, yet despite our efforts, neither of us could pull him free before the others intervened. Fortunately, the mishap served as an unexpected distraction, allowing the rest of the party to continue searching the grounds unhindered.
Our investigation revealed that Pak Ghani had been charmed and manipulated into overseeing the undead workforce, all while operating outside the law. With the source of the problem uncovered, the undead were dealt with peacefully whenever possible. Only the final one met a less graceful end, as Bonk enthusiastically introduced it to the business end of his weapon several times over. In the end, Pak Ghani was taken into custody and escorted back to the Guild, bringing the affair to a close without the needless destruction I had feared.
Not every problem is solved by striking first. Today reminded me that asking questions can uncover truths hidden beneath fear and anger. I still find death a solemn thing, even when it walks again, and I was grateful that most of the restless souls found peace without further violence... though I suspect Bonk would have preferred otherwise.
Where did you go?
The Tavern
The Village
Who did you meet?
Kejora - A familiar face — after several journeys together, her presence has become a comforting familiarity.
Yen Sen - A familiar face from the goblin incident — his charisma remains noticeable, and he seems to possess the qualities of someone others naturally follow.
Omii - A familiar face from the goblin incident — still easily frightened, though I find myself unable to ignore her worries. I continue to reassure her whenever fear takes hold.
Morban - A new companion — stern in appearance, but his swift movements reveal a capable fighter.
Skeletons - Enemy turned unexpected allies — not quite what I expected when we were told the village was overtaken by undead.
Goblins - Enemies — different from the goblins we encountered before. Their actions seem connected to something beyond simple destruction.
Hobgoblin - A dangerous presence among the goblins.
Giant Eagle - A powerful creature somehow allied with a hobgoblin
Ogres - Enemies and allied with goblins
What actually happened?
I had been spending some time alone at the tavern when my quiet moment was interrupted by a man suddenly bursting through the entrance, shouting for help. His desperation was enough to gather the attention of those nearby, and soon the party decided to investigate. Apparently, his village had been overtaken by undead. A simple request for aid that quickly became another journey into the unknown.
The man brought us to the village chief, a bald man who explained that skeletons had taken control of the village. What made the situation unusual was that one of these skeletons could speak Common. We travelled to the village and encountered two skeletal guards at the entrance. Rather than fighting, Yen Sen and Kejora attempted a different approach — using music to persuade them. Unexpectedly, it worked. I am beginning to suspect Yen Sen has a strange talent for making even the strangest creatures listen.
Inside the village, we learned that the skeletons had not taken over out of hatred, but simply for their own amusement. Before we could understand more, the two skeletal guards were struck by arrows, and goblins emerged. The battle began soon after. The creatures fought fiercely, and by the end, only a giant eagle and an ogre remained alive while the rest had fallen. Despite our unusual first meeting, I found myself saddened by the loss of the skeletons who had fought beside us.
The surviving skeletons thanked us and suggested cooking the giant eagle, though Yen Sen managed to convince them that perhaps taming it would be a better choice. Soon after, a giant skeleton arrived and revealed the truth behind the conflict — the village had been overrun because the goblins had insulted the giant skeletons. In the end, the skeletons restored the fallen ogre and giant eagle, allowing them another chance at life rather than letting them become another casualty of this conflict.
Personal Note:
This quest reminded me that appearances can be deceiving. I expected the undead to be the threat, yet the truth was far more complicated. The skeletons were not the monsters I imagined, and even creatures I once considered enemies showed signs of reason and purpose. I wonder how often the world is divided by fear before anyone seeks to understand the truth beneath it.
Where did you go?
Who did you meet?
What actually happened?
Upon waking in a woodlands offcourse, Vili meets with some she went an adventure before and some people she never met before. In front of them there were a cave, and the team decided to explore together. The first room, with a struggle and activating a lot of traps (curtesy of Obiana), they have found ingots and some gold with help of Omii weapon and fire. A few caverns in, they were faced with spiders.. which then after a gruesome battle with a trauma from her pervious near death, the party destroyed them. Then, they took a small break, where she, Obiana and Kejora were getting charmed by River (again...). After a moment of rest, they proceed ahead (with Obiana tripping again), they are met with a group of goblin... who they interrupted their.. lunch? Anyway, the team stalled under the boss showed up, under RIver's natural charm the boss has let passage. But, the boss noticed that they were suspicous and starts questioning them. It was then River made the mistake of casting a spell in front of it, causing it to be agitated, Vili in a slight panic, casts charm person on the goblin to ease it. It was upon giving him the pelt and RIver's cloak, that it calm down under charmed and left to inform his kin. At this point, Obiana explores the hidden room with her keen senses and found a treasure of scrolls and a pelt worth a lot of money. As such River, Vili and Obiana left the cave.
Part 2, Yen Sen, Omii and Kejora escorts the merchant through the cave, and they now need to persuade the goblin to allow passage. Which they have successful passed. Now, the party has stole and gave back stuff.
Where did you go?
Who did you meet?
What actually happened?
Upon arriving the woods with a team of strangers and a drunk paladin leading them, they investigated and caused chaos along the way. They notices a huge swarm of spiders on the trees and found the missing people deep inside the spider cocoons and . After a perilous battle, they have saved the people while fleeing for their lives.
