SoW: Return to Brindol

The messenger delivers her message, and the PCs find themselves returning to familiar climes.

After rescuing Alys, the PCs receive her message:

"Greetings from Sertanian, castellan of the Hall of Great Valor. I beseech you to return to Brindol with all haste, as your presence is needed here. The matter concerns one of the relics that you recovered while saving myself and our town’s other captives in Rivenroar, and is most urgent.”

Alys confides to the party that she has never seen old Sertanian as fearful as when he sent her forth. That should serve as a pretty good hook, especially if you played Sertanian as stoic when the PCs first encountered him in rescue at Rivenroar. If the PCs didn't rescue Sertanian, then the message comes from his successor Aeomon. Much of the personal collection is lost, but guilt over a life not saved might be just as strong a motivation to return to Brindol.

The PCs meet a dwarf patrol on the road, led by a dwarf named Zoram Splitershield. The purpose of that meeting seems to be solely to inform the PCs that gnolls are in the area, because virtually no other information is exchanged. I sorely suspect that Splintershield is introduced here because he'll turn up again later in the adventure path. If not, this meeting is a little bit of a proud nail.

Upon their arrival at Brindol, the PCs get to enjoy a bit of hospitality from the friends and family of the citizens they saved. It's a nice way of telling the PCs "you've come a long way, baby" and impressing upon them that they're more than just adventurers now. They're heroes. When they finally make it to the Hall of Great Valour, they discover the reason for Sertanian's summons: the platinum blade they recovered from Rivenroar has started to talk!

The weapon calls itself Amyria, and warns the PCs of a gnoll shaman seeking to become an exarch of Yeenoghu, the god of butchery. Just as importantly, the sword maintains that its form is only temporary, and that if the PCs bear it to Fortress Graystone - where the gnolls are preparing for their ritual - her true form can be returned. There's a lot of information to be imparted in this section of the adventure, and DMs would be wise to read through the scenario a few times to make sure they understand it all.

After Amyria has delivered her message, company shows up.