Downtime added for DM-Reward: Advancement

Spell Scroll of Passwall

Story Award: A Merciful Soul

After seeing and hearing the plight of the alhoon Berach, you have decided that sparing its life so that it may spend its last year hunting for peace was the correct decision. Whether this will be the correct decision in the future has yet to be determined...

Scroll: Enhance Ability

Run Away and Join the Circus
You spend some time traveling with the circus as a performer until the start of your next adventure. You learn quite a bit about the inner workings of the circus during this time. This award may have additional repercussions in future QCC modules.

Honorary Bullywug
For helping to free their god from the bonds of oppression, a bullywug tribe of Chult owes you a life-debt. Should you ever find yourself in the presence of this bullywug tribe in Chult during a future QCC adventure, you will be treated as an ally. Should you ever willingly kill a froghemoth while in Chult or in the presence of a bullywug, this story award is lost.

The Ecology of the Tarrasque.
Your research on the tarrasque grants you an encyclopedic knowledge of the history and lore of this creature. This award may have additional repercussions in future QCC modules.

Membership in the Royal Order of Tarrasque Herders
Dryearth has offered you membership in the Order if you swear an oath to come to need of any civilized people threatened upon the return of the true tarrasque. This award may have additional repercussions in future QCC modules.

Story Award: Minor Noble
Lord Casplardann has awarded you a Grant of Arms, allowing you to place “Lord” or “Lady” before your name and legally display your heraldic crest on a shield or banner. While in Thentia, people are inclined to think the best of you. You are welcome in high society, and people assume you have the right to be wherever you are. The common folk make every effort to accommodate you and avoid your displeasure, and other people of high birth treat you as a member of the same social sphere. In addition, you can secure an audience with a Thentian noble if you need to.

We were approached by a member of the Black Fist to find the source of the corruption within their organisation, when suddenly, Phlan was attacked. A dragon sweeped over the city, leaving a poisonous trail in its wake. On the streets people were kidnapped and attacked. We rushed to action, killing as many attackers as we could. But the chaos was too big.
After assessing the situation, the captain of the guard approached us once more and asked us to free the imprisioned Lord of the city, while also finding out what was going on with the Black Fist and freeing as much civilians as possible.
Turns out, the Black Fist was undermined by the Dragon Cult and was now turning against each other. Some of the traiters could be identified while many others are still pretending to be a member of the guard.
The Lord was kept prisoner alongside over 100 civilians in the heavily guarded castle. The captives were about to be shipped off to work as slaves, digging to find an ancient artifact of sorts. After the guard captain thought about the situation, she proposed to attack with the remaining Black Fist to draw attention while we could surprise them from behind and free the Lord. The plan was sucessfull, sadly the captain died during the attack.
After some negotiation, the Welcomers (local smugglers) lead us and the nearly 150 civilians through the sewers out of the city where we were attacked by a high ranking cult member and her constructs. After a tough battle, we pressed on to seek refugee in the neighboring city.

On my way back to the Moonshaes we came across an idyllic elven village. We spent some time there, learning about their tradition called "Reflection", which refers to the first 100 years in the life of an elf, where they are still vividly remembering their past life. The local sage, an elderly elf called "Starsinger" is helping those young elves overcome the ensuing conflicts. Sadly, as of late, the village had been the target of increasingly violent attacks by Drow. First they stole just weapons, but only a few days ago they slaughtered all the acolytes at the Starsinger's temple. The town's council is becoming increasingly desperate and asked us for help defending their settlement when we heard the news about the Starsinger's dissapearance.
We investigated her tower and found traces of a battle in the sage's private quarters and numerous crow feathers scattered on the floor, which pointed us in the direction of the Shadar Kai - rather than the Drow - who came from the Shadowfell where they serve the Raven Queen.
Outside the tower, tracks led us deeper into the woods and to an old castle that was guarded by two golems - though they were pretty docile once they saw the Drow lady Talanna in our company. Entering the Drow hideout we snooped around a bit and came across a Drow torturing a Shadar Kai. We dispatched of the Drow and were able to stabilize the Shadar Kai - who later introduced himself as Bart Alloit. But the noises of the battle soon drew a lot of Drow recruits and another fight in the narrow tunnels ensued.

In Mulmaster, some of the guards shoved a cloak in my hand and told me I was not supposed to cast any spells over 3rd level. Oh well, it was cold anyways. IN the tavern we were staying they hosted a pitfight, and eager to try my magic (that was allowed here) I participated. After our victory, we were contacted by a dwarf (who supposedly wanted to hear that hilarious joke again that had one of the gladiators rolling in laughter until my teammates kicked him unconcious).
A feud between some dwarven brothers escalated, but now they are seeking reconsiliation. Since both leaders are about to die, they asked us to deliver their well-wishes to the other side. Easier said than done, since there was an avalanche, an army of yetis and very hard wather conditions (that new cloak did not help very much). Turns out, the mine that the fight was about was now overrun by a medusa and her gargoyles.
After some scouting, we confronted the enemy forces rather head on. Thanks to the weapons of warnings' constant screaming, the Medusa was not able to surprise us and jumped into a chasm out of shame, ending the encounter early.
We finished up the last wishes of the dying brothers when those cloak-sellers pressured me to do paperwork worth three days!

Joining the Cloaks: Rank 1

We were investigating a rise in undead-attacks in the border kingdoms that was said to be related to an organisation called the "Great Oak Mercenary Company". And, would you know it, right away we were attacked by a army of undead. After a hard fight and a deserved rest we investigated further and found the base of the mercenaries, where their leader was... not really himself. Sadly, he didn't want to let his condition be further identified and consistently sent us to the nearby lake to see what's wrong there. And found an aboleth. The abberation convinced one of us to follow them into the waters, but we were able to kill the beast before it could do further harm. After returning to the headquarters, we found the leader's brain missing. Soon after, a stunning blast hit us from above. This was followed by a tense battle against a mind flayer, that was influencing the leader to find someone to eliminate the aboleth living in the lake. Seems like the Great Oak Mercenary Company was subterfuged by an organisation called the Black Wyvern

When travelling to Hillsfar, we encountered a caravan that was being slaughtered by undead, proclaiming their vengance. After an admittably difficult encounter, we were able to fight them back, but seeing their undead nature as Revenants, we knew we only had so long until they eventually came back.
Turns out the caravan has plundered the ancient grave of an order of paladins under the leadership of Solina. Most of them died in a battle againts the ice giant Vornjolnir, servant to the Harrowed King. Though it was strange that a order of paladins would fall victim to necromantic magic, we chose to investigate. Upon finding the second caravan slaughtered as well, we followed the tracks to a nearby farmstead, where the owner informed us of the grave nearby. Inside the tomb, the restless spirits and Solina held court over what they believed to be the thieves. We could convince them to let them go, but Solina had another request. Since their tomb was now opened, Vornjolnir's henchmen hand placed runes in here, that made the former warriors rise as undead. We agreed to destroy the runes and even defeated Vornjolnir's lakay.

Story Award: Solina’s Blessing
In the event that you come across Vornjolnir's machinations or the Harrowed King's relics, know that Solina’s blessing is upon you.

We were invited to a fancy party in Waterdeep. Sadly, instead of a festive evening we got an abandoned house and some minor undead. The house was kind of cosy, but the lady of the house planned on sacrificing us and in our attempt to destroy them we were sucked back onto the material plane.
... When I'm good enough a wizard, I'm going to build my own mansion in the Border Ethereal...

Back home again in Waterdeep we were contacted by the Baron of Blood because some other Vampire clan called the "Undertakers" settled here. Since they are a potential danger to the city (and the Baron needs a new lair) we should find a way to get them out. Sadly, they settled down in Undermountain. In order to find an backdoor entrance to Undermountain, we asked Durnan, who, of course, would not part with that information for cheap. He wanted us to find some blue root to make a new ale. So we set out to find the entrance to a mine, coming across an old dwarven "archeologist" that gave us some hints and some blue skeletons, before stumbling into a chamber full of of blue dyed, dwarven skeletons. Following the advice from the dwarf, I consumed some of the root and - oof - I learned so much about the dwarven history. There are about 10 arias in there just waiting to be written. All lost to history... And almost completly lost, since the whole mine was about to collapse, due to a golem, deployed by the Undertakers to drill a way into Undermountain. In a hushed attempet we were able to stabilize the structure and after a short breather we were looking for the golem. A though, but doable fight full of fireballs and counterspells later, a dead sorcerer and a disassembled golem lay at out feet. Back at the Yawning Portal, Durnan was more than happy about the supply of blue root and started his new recipie.

Story Award: Endless Bluetooth Ale
If a way was discovered to set up a supply of the blue lichen to the Yawning Portal, Durnan provides all the Bluetooth Ale the characters can drink whenever they visit. Brewed from the blue lichen grown on the skeletons of dwarves left for dead in the Stonebone Mines, bluetooth ale is a truly unique beverage.
The strong dwarven-style ale is a rich sapphire color and has a faint earthy taste. While the ale lacks most of the special properties of the blue lichen, it still can turn the imbibers teeth (and bones) temporarily blue.
The ale functions as an ingested poison. The drinker must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw, or their skeleton turns a dark shade of blue for 24 hours.

Oh boy. The rumors of the Ghost Ship perveiled in Phlan and the local gravekeeper asked us to further investigate. A lot of settlements along the shoreline have been raided, burnt down and in its wake the attackers left peciuliarly goblin bones.
So we set out to a small island village that is suspected to be next in the raiders path while a storm cut off our way back to Phlan. The villagers were extremly cold toward us. Only one wanted to actually talk, and that man had clearly lost his mind when the ghost ship "Audacity" attacked his village and a dracolich burnt it down. I spent the night in his shack, since the only other possibility seemed to be the stable - where we uncovered planks from the original "Audacity", swept ashore years ago.
The next day we followed the warnings of the village's old crones and went to find the monsters in the forest. We found a hole in the ground and in it a turly terrifying altar. It was there when I left. The others later informed me that is was an altar to Tiamat and that someone within the village had forged a contract with her to protect her against the attacks of the ghost ship. Since my comrads quickly destroyed everything in there, the crones were not too happy. And sure enough - came nightfall the village was attacked. But peculiarly enough, not by ghosts and undead - there was way to much blood spilling when they were once again laid to rest.
When we rushed to the bay, we saw a ship by the name of "Audacity", ghostly yes, but not really otherworldy patrolling the shore. We jumped into a rowing boat and while we were on our way there, from the depths of the ocean came a truly ghostly sight: The apparition of a ship, long sunken, bearing the name "Audacity" and now engaging in combat with the other ship. When we rowed there, a healty brawl on deck had broken out. An intense battle later, all two crews lay dead. One part of them truly ghosts, the others mostly human, but covered in illusions to make them look like ghosts. Turns out the human pirate crew had borrowed the name "Audacity" and, with the help of a lot of illusions and goblin-bones, created these otherworldly raids. Yet when we broke the contract with Tiamat, the real Audacity sprung back to unlife and took revenge on the imposters

Downtime added for DM-Reward: Advancement

Spell Scroll of Passwall

Story Award: A Merciful Soul

After seeing and hearing the plight of the alhoon Berach, you have decided that sparing its life so that it may spend its last year hunting for peace was the correct decision. Whether this will be the correct decision in the future has yet to be determined...

Scroll: Enhance Ability

Run Away and Join the Circus
You spend some time traveling with the circus as a performer until the start of your next adventure. You learn quite a bit about the inner workings of the circus during this time. This award may have additional repercussions in future QCC modules.

Honorary Bullywug
For helping to free their god from the bonds of oppression, a bullywug tribe of Chult owes you a life-debt. Should you ever find yourself in the presence of this bullywug tribe in Chult during a future QCC adventure, you will be treated as an ally. Should you ever willingly kill a froghemoth while in Chult or in the presence of a bullywug, this story award is lost.

The Ecology of the Tarrasque.
Your research on the tarrasque grants you an encyclopedic knowledge of the history and lore of this creature. This award may have additional repercussions in future QCC modules.

Membership in the Royal Order of Tarrasque Herders
Dryearth has offered you membership in the Order if you swear an oath to come to need of any civilized people threatened upon the return of the true tarrasque. This award may have additional repercussions in future QCC modules.

Story Award: Minor Noble
Lord Casplardann has awarded you a Grant of Arms, allowing you to place “Lord” or “Lady” before your name and legally display your heraldic crest on a shield or banner. While in Thentia, people are inclined to think the best of you. You are welcome in high society, and people assume you have the right to be wherever you are. The common folk make every effort to accommodate you and avoid your displeasure, and other people of high birth treat you as a member of the same social sphere. In addition, you can secure an audience with a Thentian noble if you need to.

We were approached by a member of the Black Fist to find the source of the corruption within their organisation, when suddenly, Phlan was attacked. A dragon sweeped over the city, leaving a poisonous trail in its wake. On the streets people were kidnapped and attacked. We rushed to action, killing as many attackers as we could. But the chaos was too big.
After assessing the situation, the captain of the guard approached us once more and asked us to free the imprisioned Lord of the city, while also finding out what was going on with the Black Fist and freeing as much civilians as possible.
Turns out, the Black Fist was undermined by the Dragon Cult and was now turning against each other. Some of the traiters could be identified while many others are still pretending to be a member of the guard.
The Lord was kept prisoner alongside over 100 civilians in the heavily guarded castle. The captives were about to be shipped off to work as slaves, digging to find an ancient artifact of sorts. After the guard captain thought about the situation, she proposed to attack with the remaining Black Fist to draw attention while we could surprise them from behind and free the Lord. The plan was sucessfull, sadly the captain died during the attack.
After some negotiation, the Welcomers (local smugglers) lead us and the nearly 150 civilians through the sewers out of the city where we were attacked by a high ranking cult member and her constructs. After a tough battle, we pressed on to seek refugee in the neighboring city.

On my way back to the Moonshaes we came across an idyllic elven village. We spent some time there, learning about their tradition called "Reflection", which refers to the first 100 years in the life of an elf, where they are still vividly remembering their past life. The local sage, an elderly elf called "Starsinger" is helping those young elves overcome the ensuing conflicts. Sadly, as of late, the village had been the target of increasingly violent attacks by Drow. First they stole just weapons, but only a few days ago they slaughtered all the acolytes at the Starsinger's temple. The town's council is becoming increasingly desperate and asked us for help defending their settlement when we heard the news about the Starsinger's dissapearance.
We investigated her tower and found traces of a battle in the sage's private quarters and numerous crow feathers scattered on the floor, which pointed us in the direction of the Shadar Kai - rather than the Drow - who came from the Shadowfell where they serve the Raven Queen.
Outside the tower, tracks led us deeper into the woods and to an old castle that was guarded by two golems - though they were pretty docile once they saw the Drow lady Talanna in our company. Entering the Drow hideout we snooped around a bit and came across a Drow torturing a Shadar Kai. We dispatched of the Drow and were able to stabilize the Shadar Kai - who later introduced himself as Bart Alloit. But the noises of the battle soon drew a lot of Drow recruits and another fight in the narrow tunnels ensued.

In Mulmaster, some of the guards shoved a cloak in my hand and told me I was not supposed to cast any spells over 3rd level. Oh well, it was cold anyways. IN the tavern we were staying they hosted a pitfight, and eager to try my magic (that was allowed here) I participated. After our victory, we were contacted by a dwarf (who supposedly wanted to hear that hilarious joke again that had one of the gladiators rolling in laughter until my teammates kicked him unconcious).
A feud between some dwarven brothers escalated, but now they are seeking reconsiliation. Since both leaders are about to die, they asked us to deliver their well-wishes to the other side. Easier said than done, since there was an avalanche, an army of yetis and very hard wather conditions (that new cloak did not help very much). Turns out, the mine that the fight was about was now overrun by a medusa and her gargoyles.
After some scouting, we confronted the enemy forces rather head on. Thanks to the weapons of warnings' constant screaming, the Medusa was not able to surprise us and jumped into a chasm out of shame, ending the encounter early.
We finished up the last wishes of the dying brothers when those cloak-sellers pressured me to do paperwork worth three days!

Joining the Cloaks: Rank 1

We were investigating a rise in undead-attacks in the border kingdoms that was said to be related to an organisation called the "Great Oak Mercenary Company". And, would you know it, right away we were attacked by a army of undead. After a hard fight and a deserved rest we investigated further and found the base of the mercenaries, where their leader was... not really himself. Sadly, he didn't want to let his condition be further identified and consistently sent us to the nearby lake to see what's wrong there. And found an aboleth. The abberation convinced one of us to follow them into the waters, but we were able to kill the beast before it could do further harm. After returning to the headquarters, we found the leader's brain missing. Soon after, a stunning blast hit us from above. This was followed by a tense battle against a mind flayer, that was influencing the leader to find someone to eliminate the aboleth living in the lake. Seems like the Great Oak Mercenary Company was subterfuged by an organisation called the Black Wyvern

When travelling to Hillsfar, we encountered a caravan that was being slaughtered by undead, proclaiming their vengance. After an admittably difficult encounter, we were able to fight them back, but seeing their undead nature as Revenants, we knew we only had so long until they eventually came back.
Turns out the caravan has plundered the ancient grave of an order of paladins under the leadership of Solina. Most of them died in a battle againts the ice giant Vornjolnir, servant to the Harrowed King. Though it was strange that a order of paladins would fall victim to necromantic magic, we chose to investigate. Upon finding the second caravan slaughtered as well, we followed the tracks to a nearby farmstead, where the owner informed us of the grave nearby. Inside the tomb, the restless spirits and Solina held court over what they believed to be the thieves. We could convince them to let them go, but Solina had another request. Since their tomb was now opened, Vornjolnir's henchmen hand placed runes in here, that made the former warriors rise as undead. We agreed to destroy the runes and even defeated Vornjolnir's lakay.

Story Award: Solina’s Blessing
In the event that you come across Vornjolnir's machinations or the Harrowed King's relics, know that Solina’s blessing is upon you.

We were invited to a fancy party in Waterdeep. Sadly, instead of a festive evening we got an abandoned house and some minor undead. The house was kind of cosy, but the lady of the house planned on sacrificing us and in our attempt to destroy them we were sucked back onto the material plane.
... When I'm good enough a wizard, I'm going to build my own mansion in the Border Ethereal...

Back home again in Waterdeep we were contacted by the Baron of Blood because some other Vampire clan called the "Undertakers" settled here. Since they are a potential danger to the city (and the Baron needs a new lair) we should find a way to get them out. Sadly, they settled down in Undermountain. In order to find an backdoor entrance to Undermountain, we asked Durnan, who, of course, would not part with that information for cheap. He wanted us to find some blue root to make a new ale. So we set out to find the entrance to a mine, coming across an old dwarven "archeologist" that gave us some hints and some blue skeletons, before stumbling into a chamber full of of blue dyed, dwarven skeletons. Following the advice from the dwarf, I consumed some of the root and - oof - I learned so much about the dwarven history. There are about 10 arias in there just waiting to be written. All lost to history... And almost completly lost, since the whole mine was about to collapse, due to a golem, deployed by the Undertakers to drill a way into Undermountain. In a hushed attempet we were able to stabilize the structure and after a short breather we were looking for the golem. A though, but doable fight full of fireballs and counterspells later, a dead sorcerer and a disassembled golem lay at out feet. Back at the Yawning Portal, Durnan was more than happy about the supply of blue root and started his new recipie.

Story Award: Endless Bluetooth Ale
If a way was discovered to set up a supply of the blue lichen to the Yawning Portal, Durnan provides all the Bluetooth Ale the characters can drink whenever they visit. Brewed from the blue lichen grown on the skeletons of dwarves left for dead in the Stonebone Mines, bluetooth ale is a truly unique beverage.
The strong dwarven-style ale is a rich sapphire color and has a faint earthy taste. While the ale lacks most of the special properties of the blue lichen, it still can turn the imbibers teeth (and bones) temporarily blue.
The ale functions as an ingested poison. The drinker must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw, or their skeleton turns a dark shade of blue for 24 hours.

Oh boy. The rumors of the Ghost Ship perveiled in Phlan and the local gravekeeper asked us to further investigate. A lot of settlements along the shoreline have been raided, burnt down and in its wake the attackers left peciuliarly goblin bones.
So we set out to a small island village that is suspected to be next in the raiders path while a storm cut off our way back to Phlan. The villagers were extremly cold toward us. Only one wanted to actually talk, and that man had clearly lost his mind when the ghost ship "Audacity" attacked his village and a dracolich burnt it down. I spent the night in his shack, since the only other possibility seemed to be the stable - where we uncovered planks from the original "Audacity", swept ashore years ago.
The next day we followed the warnings of the village's old crones and went to find the monsters in the forest. We found a hole in the ground and in it a turly terrifying altar. It was there when I left. The others later informed me that is was an altar to Tiamat and that someone within the village had forged a contract with her to protect her against the attacks of the ghost ship. Since my comrads quickly destroyed everything in there, the crones were not too happy. And sure enough - came nightfall the village was attacked. But peculiarly enough, not by ghosts and undead - there was way to much blood spilling when they were once again laid to rest.
When we rushed to the bay, we saw a ship by the name of "Audacity", ghostly yes, but not really otherworldy patrolling the shore. We jumped into a rowing boat and while we were on our way there, from the depths of the ocean came a truly ghostly sight: The apparition of a ship, long sunken, bearing the name "Audacity" and now engaging in combat with the other ship. When we rowed there, a healty brawl on deck had broken out. An intense battle later, all two crews lay dead. One part of them truly ghosts, the others mostly human, but covered in illusions to make them look like ghosts. Turns out the human pirate crew had borrowed the name "Audacity" and, with the help of a lot of illusions and goblin-bones, created these otherworldly raids. Yet when we broke the contract with Tiamat, the real Audacity sprung back to unlife and took revenge on the imposters