Cauldron stories

You've spent a week in Cauldron basking in the success of your last adventure. Even if you wanted to lay low, the townsfolk have insisted on expressing their gratitude for uncovering Ghelve's perfidy and rescuing their friends and loved ones. You haven't needed to spend coin on food or drink since your return.

Other than Ulrika at St. Cuthbert's, the response of city officials to your success has been perfunctory. You've received congratulations, but suspect that some may be .

So far, here are some things you've learned:

Alton

You've had a good time catching up with your uncle at the livery as well as Maple. You've discovered that she is a rogue by profession....
Your uncle has told you tales of two potential threats to the civilized people of the region: It seems that an old red dragon has a lair in the mountains north of Cauldron. Nobody has been so foolish as to disturb him and he hasn't bothered anyone recently....
In a old mountain village south of Cauldron, it seems that someone or something is raising an army of undead. Well, this is something that was done back in the day. No recent evidence has surfaced.

Kurgan

Kurgan has been holding his own at the Tipped Tankard where the patrons have reveled in his new (for them) goblin jokes. They've also liked his take on diseased gnomes....
He has been learning about the local geography and trade routes....
Cauldron sits in a mountain range near the head of three rivers-- one goes east and becomes the Hruesen while two converge in a village called Redgorge and continue west into trackless jungle....
The mountains descend rapidly into rolling hills and then into immense tracts of untamed jungle. There are plantations outside Cauldron and around the few settlements, but food is a perpetual problem for the citizens. Merchants (mainly from down the Hruesen) are Cauldron's life's blood. Exotic trade comes from the other directions....
The four roads that lead from Cauldron lead east to Kingfisher Hollow and downriver towards Hruesen; southeast to a village called Hollowsky and on to overland trade routes; west (roughly) into jungle and less travelled territory; south through the village of Redgorge and beyond....
Travellers have told Kurgan that there is enough road traffic on the eastern side of the mountains that well-armed caravans are usually safe from the area's marauders. Western road traffic is more perilous....
There seem to be four places outside of Cauldron where one could learn more about the surroundings-- Kingfisher Hollow (pop. 2100), the jumping off point for the Hruesen River; Redgorge (pop.600) for southern trade routes or the western jungles; Hollowsky (pop. 460), home to Cauldron's largest plantations; The Lucky Monkey, a roadhouse that serves as the last stop before the western jungles.

Hope everyone had a good vacation. I am back from 2 weeks exploring Germany.

Cadfan will spend his time getting the maximum out of levelling up. Also he wants to learn how to use a shield to get a little more protection. Other then that he spends his time enjoying the comforts of an expensive Inn that includes the ability to get a regular bath - and enjoys the nightlife.

tegeus

The Delvers have spent have spent a lot of time enjoying their status in Cauldron. However, summer inertia seems to have caused some of the members to go their separate ways.

Kurgan, perhaps disappointed by the inactive lifestyle and his need to gain wealth to attract a mate back home, has struck out to find richer offerings elsewhere. Nevertheless, he has grudgingly parted with some of his coin to vastly improve his fighting skills. After spending 250 gold coins on his training, he left Cauldron with an additional 280gp, 1429sp, 674cp, a CSW potion and 2 gems (10 & 25gp).

Alton, never really comfortable in the big city, has convinced Maple to return with him to their Halfling village near Kingfisher Hollow. There, he can patrol the headwaters of the Hruesen River for threats that come out of the northern woods. His experience in Cauldron has made him a better ranger and he has used his time in the city to work on his stamina and his fighting ability. He also spent 250 gold coins on his training and departed with an additional 280gp, 1429sp, 674cp, an invisibility potion and 2 gems (10 & 25gp).

Cadfan's dedication to his profession during the day and his passions by night have been paying dividends. He looks like he's ready to go adventuring again and has gotten a lot of ideas about where to go next. So far, he's gotten Tenkar to sign up to another journey. His training has cost him 250 gold coins and his late night adventures have cost another 40 gold, but it's been worth it. That still leaves him with an additional 242gp, 1307sp, 549cp, an invisibility potion and 3 gems (1 10 & 2 25gps).

Tenkar seems to have been keeping to himself while in town. Nobody seems to know what he's been up to. In any event, the cleric has agreed to accompany Cadfan on the next adventure and has rededicated himself to his deity. In reward, the deity has granted Tenkar new spells he can draw upon in a time of need. There was one other development regarding Tenkar. Inspired by Tenkar's bravery, one of the rescued orphans, Deakon Stormshield, has volunteered to serve Tenkar. Deakon doesn't have any adventuring skills, but he would be happy for the chance to learn from the older dwarf. It's not clear yet if Tenkar is going to allow the young dwarf to follow him. Tenkar has spent 250 gold on offerings to his deity, not to mention any other offerings he may have made over the last month or so. He has an additional 280gp, 1469sp, 674cp, an invisibility potion and 2 gems (10 & 25gp).

Finally, Camlin hasn't been seen very much in Cauldron. It's not even certain whether the young wizard is still in town. He has certainly done well for himself after leaving Malforten those many months ago. He was last spied attempting to make sense of the latest scrolls he'd discovered. He has certainly accumulated a lot of low-level power, but higher level spells are still beyond his comprehension. His latest share was 530gp, 1400sp, 674cp, a scroll with 4 low level spells and 2 gems (10 & 25gp).

1) Though large, the gnomish enclave and the dwarven fort beneath Cauldron are not especially unusual. Apparently, dwarves were the first to build settlements in this region and in Cauldron in particular. It seems that many residents have a basement that leads to some old dwarven chamber.

2) The City Watch suspect that the owlbear rampage that happened in town several weeks ago may have been due to the creature finding its way through someone's basement via a lava cave from the outside. While this incident was unusually horrific, the townsfolk live with the fact that this might happen from time to time. Where do you think all of that goblin graffiti comes from? That's why most keep their basement doors locked and, in some cases, boarded up.

3) Many desperate families have asked for your help in finding missing relatives. The most credible incident happened a couple of weeks ago. You were invited to a small dinner. There, you met an ancient dwarf, Davked Splintershield. After many cups, you learned that he has been estranged from his youngest son for several decades. Davked would like to see his son one last time, but is too ill to go looking for him. He wondered if you might find the son and tell him his father would like to make amends before it's too late. He hinted that he'd be willing to offer something from his personal armory if it would help....

4) Jenya, St. Cuthbert's priestess, has privately expressed concern over 'necromantic blood cults' operating in Cauldron. She calls it a silent evil that's in danger of rotting the souls of Cauldron's populace. She hasn't asked for help exactly, but you can tell she feels passionately about this subject.

5) Your old friend Tygot, who has bought some of your Jzadirune art, has asked nervously if you've been involved with smugglers. He doesn't want any trouble from the City Watch. It seems that the bathhouse that Cadfan frequents has been rumored to be a hub of smuggling activity. With all of the party's newfound wealth, one never knows....

Tygot warns that the party should try to maintain a low profile if they plan to stay longer in Cauldron. The local thieves' guilds may be jealous of the party's success....

Finally, he has told you that if you need to get out of town, an old map has come into his possession which may be of interest. He thinks it leads to ancient ruins in the forests west of Cauldron.

You came upriver from Hruesen to Kingfisher Hollow where you disembarked and proceeded to Cauldron (about 20 miles). Hollowsky is the main small town in the region (about 25 miles away) that produces food and plantation crops for Cauldron. Red Gorge is the last community before the Western Wilderness begins (about 20 miles from C). Cauldron sits in the middle of a mountain range, which serves as a natural frontier between civilizations. The one unnamed outpost on the map is a small stronghold (about 30 miles from C).

Cadfan is interested in that map that has come into the possession of Tygot. He feels he is getting taken by the dice games at a local Inn, he has noted the attention his dwindling gold is receiving and a barmaid at the Inn has just gotten too comfortable in his room and has started hinting about settling down. It might be a good opportunity to leave town or at least switch Inns.

Tygot also let slip something about a gnome and a gold bowl in front of Cadfan and Kurgan and that was the last he saw of Kurgan.

tegeus

Alton was in Cauldron recently visiting an uncle. He was surprised to see that Cadfan and Tenkar were still in town. The thought of exploring the Umeshti Jungles is very tempting.... He may sign on.