Dragons+in+Wizard's+Fall

Our heroes adventure began in the small town of Wizard's Fall, in the western part of Impiltur. A small, rustic town, with little to claim to fame other than a yearly celebration to honor the defeat of an evil wizard who had terrorized the village some fifty years ago. Every year, travellers from all over Impiltur come, and celebrate, exchanging goods, dancing and bardic performances are everywhere. This year, tragedy would befall the small town filled to overflowing with visitors from all over the country. All because of a mysterious artifact, found by a group of adventurers, and handing over to the town guard. Not knowing to do with such a powerful item, the Order of the Dawn was sent to escort the artifact back to Lyrabar for the mages to study.

One of these paladins from the Order of the Dawn was Magnus Dayus, who had been called by his old mentor, Gareth Moonstar to meet him and join the main chapter of the Order in Lyrabar. Recently slaying a powerful necromancer, Magnus's heroism had not gone un-noticed, and aiding in escorting the artifact would further prove his devotion to Lathander. He arrived in Wizard's Fall and met with Gareth and his fellow paladin's, including Treyka Brightwood, and Gareth's daughter Lynette, who was training to be her father's squire.

Also travelling to Wizard's Fall was a young merchant noble, Trey Castle, who was sent by the Carnival of Mask's as a bodyguard to Natalie Rein, the current Violet mask of Lyrabar. The Carnival usually sent a representative to the celebration to scout out any new talent, bard and performers alike from across the country usually gathered there to ply their talents. The Carnival did not suspect any trouble, but it was fortunate that Trey had been sent this year, as Natalie's life would be in grave danger. Trey himself had military training, as well as sorcerous training under Ars Salience, the Arcane Academies sorcerer magister.

One of those said bards, a merchant nobleman, lush, and ladies man known as Reginald Mercer also arrived in town shortly after Trey. Determined to put on a great show, and perhaps attract the carnival's attention, Reggie set immediately to work, doing an impromptu show along with several other bards, attracting Natalie's attention. He also attracted the attention of two lovely twin ladies, local girls who were immediately enamored of the handsome and skilled bard. After the performance, Reggie took them back to his inn for an "encore".

The final player in the drama to unfold was the bounty hunter Ren Winterrowd. Also a young merchant noble, whose family knew little of her side life as a bounty hunter, Ren had been hired by the former Queen's Man, Fetcher, to track down and apprehend the "Black Rose". A notorious lady thief, who had retired, or disappeared six years before, but had recently re-emerged. Rumors had it that she might attempt to steal the artifact before or after it had been delivered to the Paladin's, and Fetcher had implied that more bounty hunters than Ren me be showing up for such a rich bounty. Ren herself met one, Simon Dursaer, but managed to leave him...unable to pursue his bounty due to trickery. He doesn't like to talk about it.

Because each of these four had come into town late, almost all of the town's inn's were full, except for the "Shadow Under the Mountain", a small inn at the very base of the mountain that had a steep trail that led up to the old wizard's tower where the evil wizard was cast down so many years ago. Settling in first, each of four eventually made their way to the town square for the handoff of the artifact. Along the way, Renata thought she saw a shadowy figure making her way across the rooftop, and began her pursuit. Meanwhile, at the handing off of the artifact, disaster happened. Two great dragon's, with armored riders landed in the square, demanding the artifact be turned over to them. Black armored riders also, stormed into the town, as hell broke loose. Other, rogues and brigands threw off their cloaks and mayhem broke loose as several competing forces made their bids. Gareth refuses the riders demands and the dragon's cut loose with their horrible breath. Gouts of acid simply dissolved swathes of towns folks, and Gareth rode forth on his celestial steed to do battle.

Magnus also wished to ride forth, but was stopped by Trekya, who told him that the artifact has never been here, that it was left back at Magnus's inn for him to quietly deliver to Lyrabar, while this artifact was a fake, and diversion. She charged him to ride back and protect it, and deliver it while she and Gareth fought the town's attackers. And so he rushed back, along with Renata, who was still following the mysterious shadowy woman on the roofs. Meanwhile, Trey was still at the inn guarding Natalie, and Reginald was waking up after a well received performance for the young twins. Just as he was leaving his room, Magnus was climbing the stairs to the second floor. Renata...had also returned as was having a 'pointed' discussion with rival bounty hunter Bishop. They all heard a loud creaking and the whole inn shook, and the whole place collapsed in a explosion of timber. They all fell into the darkness of the inn's basement.

Magnus recovered first, followed quickly by the others. Trey had protected Natalie, but was badly injured, some of the timbers landing heavily on him. Reginald was mostly unscathed, but Renata was the worst off. It looked like...she had been impaled...a dagger in her chest. Magnus removed it, and called upon of the favor of Lathander to heal the young woman, bringing her back from the brink of death. But they were still trapped, buried in the rubble of the inn. The only other survivor was the innkeeper, but his lower body had been crushed, and it wouldn't be long before he died, even with Lathander's aid. Calling Trey over, he told them his story, a tragic tale of his father, who had been the original wizard who had come to Wizard's Fall, and married a local woman, the first owner of the inn. He was their son. He told them of another wizard, who had come and killed his father, taking his place and starting a reign of terror that was blamed on his father. He also told them of a secret escape route his father had built from the tower to the inn, and showed Trey how to open in. Then, he died and the party opened the secret path to the tower.

Cautiously entering the tunnel, the party walked through the narrow passage for some time. Full of dust, and cobwebs, it was clear that no one had used the passage in some time. Finally, arriving at the back of another secret door the party emerged into the ruins of the old wizard tower's study hall. Where apprentices clearly studied the Art. Exploring the tower was treacherous, undead filled the place, remains of the forces sent from Lyrabar to deal with the wizard, and animated by a strange, powerful necromantic gem which the party eventually destroyed, cleansing the tower and lifting the pall of evil which hung over the place. The party discovered the original wizards treasures, which had been cleverly hidden from the usurped, and escaped the tower with them. Seeing smoke still hanging over the town of Wizard's Fall, Magnus determined that he would head straight back to Lyrabar, and the others followed.