Hard to Bard - Loads of Singers here apparently

Day 5 of 6 1/2

Imprisoned Singer

The band march on and Ekam spots a tall human bard  with greying hair looks about as if to see if he’s being followed, then addresses the brand.

Excuse me, it may not look it, but I am a captive!

There is a malevolent fey creature that has bound me to this area. However, I’ve deduced that if someone can drive him off, I will be freed.

You look like mercenary types, so I’ll skip to the ‘what’s in it for you’ part: I am Rigard Firhouse, a minstrel of some renown in these lands. If you can return me to the Theatre of Lake Tormunga, I’m sure someone there can pay you handsomely for my rescue.

Sister feels that there’s something more to the story that Rigard’s not telling, but he doesn’t seem like he’s trying to lead them into a trap.

The band agree to help, leaving the knights behind with the cart.

Rigard lead's the band a short distance into the woods and points out a cavern into the earth, but he won’t follow the band in, telling them that the fey will strike out at him for seeking help. 

Rigard encourages the band to charge the fey immediately to avoid having any charms woven over them.

Sister puts up an aura that makes charming the band harder.

After a winding passage through roots and earth, the cavern opens into a 50 foot wide opening, lavishly decorated like a palace with a fountain in the middle.

Heironymo is the first to see lounging on the other side is an autumn eladrin with elaborately coiffed hair and skin tight colourful clothes (extravagant even for an eladrin). 

Noticing Heironymo, The eladrin rises elegantly from chez lounge magically changing his clothes into something more flamboyant and even more skin tight.

Please allow me to introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
I've been around for a long, long year

Stole many a man's soul and faith

Just as every cop is a criminal
And all the sinners saints
As heads is tails, just call me Holder
'Cause I'm in need of some restraint

Welcome new guests, whats your business, whoo whoo. 

Ekam mentions that they’re trying to free Rigard.

Holder scoffs at them, stating that his relationship with Rigard is none of their business and they should leave immediately. 

Sister tries more politely, Holder then reveals that Rigard came to Holder as a friend and a lover, and Holder showered Rigard with coins and gems to pay off his many creditors. Rigard has become ungrateful, but he’s free to leave at any time once he’s repaid the fey the 5000 gp he lent the bard.

Together the band persuade the Holder that the only way Rigard can earn that sum of money is to go back to the city or the theatre.

The band confront Rigard about what he owes Holder. Rigard confesses, but argues that he didn’t take advantage of Holder, and never asked for the financial gifts, they were freely given. 

Sister gets Rigard to agree that he will pay back Holder his earnings minus living costs at 200gp intervals until his debt is paid.

The Knights escort Rigard to the Theatre.

Immith Chargoba then notices as they are leaving that he now has a large pearl worth 150gp in his possession.

The band check it is not magical, and discuss whether to drop it back into the cavern, "Returning the Gift", giving it the Rigard so it goes towards paying his debt, or keeping it so they can pay Bianca for the trip back.

Treasure Cache

Setting down for camp the band find a small clearing off the main road. 

After a bit of investigation they find that the earth has been recently disturbed. 

Hydrica asks Blinky to start digging and within half hour, they discover a hidden treasure cache containing 500 gp and Pipes of Haunting.

Day 6 of 6 1/2

After heading out, they are shocked that Bianca starts heading back towards them warning them that up ahead is a barricade.

Singing, Angry Men

Where the path sinks into a gulley between steep bluffs, several carts have been overturned into a makeshift barricade. Three humans in simple dress are barely visible between the gaps, but the echo of the solemn, threatening humming is unmistakable.

As the band get closer they find three berserkers guarding this pathway. 

Their barricade gives them full cover against ranged attacks. 

The angry men demand the band to state their business. 

The band admit they do not know of Alec Hammond and General Warner.

The angry men shout refrains about how they will topple the regime, even if it means their deaths.

They are advocates of Alec Hammond and General Warner, but the Feywild’s influence has turned their dissatisfaction with the political regime into revolutionary anger. They will occasionally shout refrains about how they will topple the regime, even if it means their deaths.

So State your business shout the men, those openly working to help either Madeline or Henry will be turned away/killed depending on which angry man has shouted.

Sister tries to convince them that they are not trying to help either royal, but the lies are blatantly seen through (well they are on a mission from Queen Madeline herself), and the bezerkers charge.

Big fight

Sister is hit... Hard

Ekham is hit, even harder

Heironymo jumps into action and makes the ground under two of the bezerkers difficult terrain and surronds himself with it.

This helps him not take a double attack to the back from the third bezerker.

Hydrica with Blinky try to tag team individual bezerkers

Immith Chargoba steams in aiming to take chunks out of them

Sister dodges out of the fray, Ekham misty stepping away, they then provide cover fire to the up front crew.

Heironymo is saved from death so many times by Sister

After a long and bloody fight the final Bezerker is slain.

Well what the fuck was that, and who the hell are Alec Hammond and General Warner.

The band press on and reach the a clearing.

Overgrown stones line a small courtyard. In the center stands a 10-foot tall statue of a handsome elven man, his right hand resting on the hilt of his sword and his left arm outstretched in front of him, pointing forward.

The statue depicts King Richmond in his prime. 

The Tomb of Richmond

The statue points to the entrance of his tomb. 

There is an engraving written in Sylvan on the base of the statue.

“Come, worthy warrior-poets. Claim my song, sing it to the ages for eternities to come.”

The grove is engulfed with plant growth and foliage.

 
Tiny sprites and spirits hop between plants.

The Band have a long rest here within the grove, and find food magically presented to them when they are not looking, Sister check that the food is not poisoned and Hydrica checks that it is not magical.

The Band scoff down the hot breakfast.

Bianca informs the Band
After reigning as the first King of Richester, Richmond the First returned to his home in the Feywild to live out the rest of his days in peace. A tomb was constructed in the Enchanted Forest of Nevernever to aid his passage into the afterlife. At his behest, the tomb was built like a concert hall, so that King Richmond could forever practice the arts and perform for the gods.
Over the centuries, many adventurers have broken into the tomb to test their abilities against the tomb’s spectral guardians and claim their piece of The Bards’ Tale. It was stated in The Bards’ Tale itself that worthy warriors, poets, and musicians would be able to claim a chapter of the original if they could survive the trials of Richmond’s Tomb. Richmond wanted his song to be in the hands of the most capable people.

Exactly four people have entered the tomb and survived, and exactly four chapters of The Bards’ Tale are missing from the tomb. Only the very first chapter remains, waiting for someone worthy of its power.

She also states she will not enter this place, but if paid will remain in this clearing.

Day .. who cares they arrived

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