Next, they asked around town for some information about Roedyn and his band of adventurers. From some they heard that the band, also known as the “burning blades”, were great heroes who had rescued maidens, helped out those in need, and were generally great guys. From one man they heard that the band was a bunch of cutthroats pretending to be heroes for money. It was a small lead that got them going in the right direction. Rykasha questioned a money lender in the city who said that Karakas, the “burning blades” ranger, had settled his account, and mentioned heading off to the east towards the Quirion barony to find an Old Road that was supposed to be ravaged by goblin raids. There was also talk of a fruit that could cure any illness when eaten.
Enthusiastic about beginning the quest, the party purchased some equipment, some mounts and headed off to the Quirion barony near the eastern sea.
When they arrived in the area, they found a small town near the Old Road called Oakhurst. In the town, the party found out some more information about the surrounding area. They heard of a barren plain, called the Ashen Plain, where it was rumored to be caused by an angry dragon called Ashardalon. They also found that most of the town residents were afraid to stray near the old road for fear of the goblins as well as some mysterious attacks that caused dozens of small puncture wounds on the unlucky man or animal.
One thing they did find was that the “burning blades” had been through here recently on their way to an entombed citadel, but there was some discrepancy as to the time frame in which they arrived. It also seemed as though there were fewer members than there should have been, but town folks were unable to give exact descriptions of who it was or why.
While they were going over their plans for entry into the ruins near the Old Road, Garon the barkeep mentioned that he knew someone who might have some light to shed on the situation. The party was then introduced to Kerowyn Hercule who said that an armored paladin by the name of Sir Bradford recruited her grandchildren into their party. The old woman offered reward and begged for the PCs assistance.
In the morning, the party set out for the ruins on horseback to investigate the terrain and find out as much information about what they were up against. They found the Old Road to be mostly grown in, and travel took quite a while. Once they arrived at the ravine, they realized that they were going to need better sources of light, as well as a place to stable their horses. So they traveled back to Oakhurst and made some additional purchases. Now fully provisioned for what they faced, they headed off towards the Citadel. Without the speed of the horses, they were forced to camp halfway to the ruins and were visited that evening by an annoying presence which would enter camp unseen and trigger the spell effect waking the entire party only to be woken again as soon as the spell was reactivated. Unable to get any sleep, the party decided to sleep during the day and travel underground during the night.
By late evening they reached the doorway into the ruined Citadel after climbing down through the ravine and over some very unstable debris. At the entrance to the ruins, they found evidence of a recent battle with Goblins. After searching the bodies, they found a plaque hidden beneath one, which revealed the name Ashardalon written in Draconic. Inside the citadel they found a mounted carving of a map that gave them the layout to the ruins. First they tried a pathway that led them to a door that would not open no matter how hard Killian tried the lock. Unable to proceed, they backtracked until they found another door with an aquatic dragon carving on it. Inside they found a metal drum filled with liquid. Unsure as to what to do with it, curiosity won out and they pried the clasp off the lid and released a dragon shaped body of water that didn’t attack them, but instead pushed them back until it was able to escape through the top of the ruined tower.
A little shaken, the party continued until they came across a room with a broken cage, and a small lizard-man who called himself Meepo. Scarred little Meepo said he was the caretaker of his clan’s dragon named Calcryx. Once the party mentioned the possibility of helping Meepo find Calcryx, he quickly offered to take him to his leader Yusdryal. The PCs took Meepo’s offer, and spoke with Yusdrayl who gave them some more information about the ruins and told them of the war between them and the goblins that has lasted for a many years. Yusdryal said that if the party retrieves the dragon for her, she would grant them any one gift that they desire. The PCs then went into a very large guarded room where they caught the full impact of how hard this long lasting war has been on these lizard folk. They saw only two fighters, and over twenty women, children and old men. They were given a dirty bed to sleep in, and some stew that was best not imagined as to how it was prepared.