Session 11 The Shadowfell

When the adventurers exit the portal room, the view is breath taking. From the side of the hill, they can see the entire valley below. A volcano off to the left is the source of the river of lava flowing miles into the distance. Along the river are a tower, forge, stone bridge and thousands of tents... a virtual tent city. The sun is shining, but somehow dimmed, as if the sky were cloudy, though it isn't. Other than the lava, the landscape is somehow darker & duller, yet still beautiful. Small tremors shake the ground regularly.

Along the road to the settlement, the party encounters a group of Dark Creeper guards. They do not attack, but instead chastise the "mercenaries" for wandering beyond the camp perimeter. The heroes learn that Modra came through the portal last night and fought with them. One guard died, and Modra got away.

The adventurers from Brindol enter the camp with eyes & ears open. They immediately start assessing the situation. Most humanoid races are present, though the goblinoids, orcs and such make up the majority. Seregdur & Paleus get some strange looks, but no one harasses the group.

They locate the nearest tavern, a pavillion tent with two barrels and a board for a bar. Prices here are high, but bribes are common. The bugbear bartender tells them where to find lodging and an "agent." Agents here match their mercenary clientel to appropriate jobs. Approximately 2000 mercenaries mill about the various camps here. Agents observe the practice yards and arenas for quality troops with various skills. There are even magical duels.

The heroes boast their combat prowess, bribe, imtimidate and coerce info from the people here. They learn that the entire settlement is under the rule of Sarshan, a Shadar-kia of great reputation. Everyone here serves him, scabbling about to do his bidding and gain his favor. The work is dangerous, but the pay is good.

Sarshan has been building his business for over a decade. He sells arms, mercenaries, intel... anything military his customers are willing to pay for. The forge churns out weapons and armor 24/7. And he has dark wizards experimenting in the tower to create genetically superior troops. His business supplies the wealthy all over the world, though they seldom know where the goods come from. Sarshan keeps several layers of middlemen, smoke and mirrors. He hides his operations in the shadows and keeps a low profile. Something is in the works though. The camps have tripled in size over the last 6 months. Someone somewhere is gearing up for war.

Modra was one such middleman, a lieutentant assigned to Overlook. Sarshan rejected the Orcs' request for supplies because it was too high profile. The business stays profitable by avoiding undue attention. Modra went behind his back and closed the deal anyway. Modra hoped the Orcs would succeed, and he would be a great success. His plans came up short (due to the adventurers). Sarshan now has a bounty on Modra's head. Disobedience has it's own reward.

At the end of the day, the party is approached by Leena, a shadar-kai war witch. She is an agent in the camps and caught wind of the party's inquiries. Leena has a problem they may be able to help with. She wants Modra dead before Sarshan gets ahold of him, for her own reasons. She's offering information on his whereabouts and 1000g if the party will kill him tonight, before he saboutages the master's forges.