Army of the Maiden King - season 1 episode 3

The party once again surprised me. How is it that they manage to completely forget their main aim and most solid lead? Does anyone pay any attention to their character alignment? Makes for interesting DMing...

In the last session, the party stopped for the night near the Bargewright Inn. They are on their way to the Forlorn Hills, hoping to find a wizard named Yurik Shurikov. Shurikov apparently lives in or near Uluvin, a village somewhere in the Forlorn Hills.

After doing a travelling merchant in, the intrepid adventurers set out from the banks of the river Dessarin. Travelling east on the Iron Road, they come across three orcs terrorising a young soldier. They jump in and help him, hoping, as always, that there will be a gold dragon or two for them as a reward. The fighter, Arnie, manages to almost get himself killed, but with the help of the awkward wizard Crosby, they manage to kill all three orcs. So, after saving an unfortunate soldier in need, they threaten him and steal his belongings. (Wouldn't you have done the same thing?) Fortunately for them, they do manage to gather some important information in the process. Luckily for Arnie, Tara is able to provide a bit of healing with mushrooms she had picked. And so, with bruised bodies and inflated egos, they trundle off to the tiny village of Uluvin.

Once in Uluvin, they partake in many exciting activities, including getting a dwarf drunk, stealing from his shop, and of course, discovering how much fun a ring of jumping can really be. After branding themselves as lawless thieves, drunkards and amateur acrobats, they make camp a small distance outside the village. The rogue, Malaga, travels back to Uluvin in the morning, and manages to buy some supplies and a very useful hangover cure. Sober and sorry, the adventurers make their way to a remote cavern complex where the Maiden King's army has set up base. In the ice-filled caverns, they manage to slide down a slippery slope, both physically and metaphorically. Everybody, apart from Crosby, slides through a wall to an open cave in a very cold mountain range. Arnie takes the lead and starts exploring their new surroundings. He doesn't get very far though, as a gargantuan white dragon appears from a large tunnel. Judging from his toothy expression, the dragon isn't about to invite them in for a casual chat. Back in the ice caves, Crosby sits and bemoans his ill-fated situation. Luckily for him, he is not alone in the icy cave. He discovers the frozen body of a dead wizard on the snow-covered floor. He finds an interesting ring and an even more interesting diary on the wizard. If only he could share his knowledge with the others...

Will the party survive their encounter with the dragon? Will Crosby discover a way to join his lost comrades? Are white dragons amenable to polite negotiations? To find out, bring your spare character sheets and join us next time for another exciting episode from...

The Army of the Maiden King

Campaign Journal : Chapter 3

As dawn broke and the battle weary group packed up their belongings, they heard the sound of approaching wagons crossing the stone bridge across the river Dessarin. With the druid Valentia in a bad state loaded on the back of their wagon, and the hexblade Fantasia strangely missing the group decided to gather some information from the approaching merchant train.

Upon reaching them the fat overly dressed fop of a merchant demanded that they step aside and make way for his eminent self. Not to be deterred Arnie stepped into the path of the leading horse and with just a look and a roll of his shoulders to settle his armour more comfortably, he dared the driver of the first cart to continue on his current path. The merchant realized that some civility might be in order at that point and proceeded to trade with the ever opportunistic rogue Malagar. Crosby gathering some information on the lay of the land and their ultimate destination of Uluvin, decided to get the group going and not waste any more time on this encounter.

After half a day’s travel, the druid Tara, who was scouting ahead, noticed some figures in the distance. After some fairly inconsiderate reconnaissance with a lunch break enjoyed by all, the companions decided to help a struggling man from being beaten up completely by a small group of orcs. They proceeded to exterminate the orcs with some rather spectacular fighing by their resident barbarian, who even in battle could take a very pointed discussion with his wizard friend to whole new levels.

After rescuing, flirting, intimidating, robbing and chatting with the disgruntled man, they figured out that he was in the employ of the maiden king and that he had a convenient map to some location. The group decided to follow the directions, but not until after they had some sleep and resupply from the nearby town of Uluvin. The night they spent in town was adventurous and very profitable, the only problem of consequence is the fact that 90 percent of the group had splitting hangovers.

After some extensive medical intervention they managed to get back on the wagon and travel to the marked caves on the stolen map. Upon reaching the caves, Crosby felt a strange sense of magic, while Tara found disturbing tracks leading into the cave system. On consultation of Arnie, they decided to enter the caves and explore, hopefully to find some clue of this maiden king and his army. After some dazzling acrobatics by Tara the group made it relatively safely through the caves up to a point.

The adventurers decided to risk a slide down a dark, ominous looking slope and proceeded to get thoroughly lost and loose a member of their party. They found themselves outside without Crosby, who got lost somewhere on the slide, and the cold of the area was getting distinctly uncomfortable. After hearing some disturbing sounds, the remainder of the doomed, but hopeful, party noticed a large, rather cuddly ancient white dragon standing nearby. He was smiling, or at least showing lots of teeth and they ..........

The Ice Cave

Once again I find myself in great peril, alone in a frozen cave, lost and separated from those I choose to call friends. I suppose I can count myself lucky, I think I may have found something of great importance: the Wizard's Medallion. I found the body of the wretched soul lying at the bottom of the pit I am now trying to exit. I hope I do not suffer the same fate as him.
Writing is difficult with fingers numbed by this accursed cold.



Crosby of Green Meadow