A rando nerd DMing Hoard of the Dragon Queen as his first D&D campaign and making it his own. Read at your own peril.
Session 1: Let’s Do The Timewarp, Again
In the physical universe, after three large horn-like booms a voice echoes out, “The Harbinger signals the Age of Cataclysm has begun. The Device of Judgment has faltered. Creation slumbers while the vile darkness stirs to regain all powers that were silenced. Their past strife brought forth Zarex, and here on the continent of The Forgotten Realm the fates hang in the balance. Either the awakening foe is overcome or the entire universe will be plunged into eternal annihilation.”
It’s a half moon of Neilum, and the 5 adventures have joined Tovar’s Caravan as guards and sell-swords to protect the cargo of goods being shipped to the trade-post city, Greenest. The adventurers: Winrey the Goliath Paladin, Garret the Halfling Barbarian, Xanathia the Elven Ranger, Toshin the High Eleven Bard, and Kasaan the Tabaxian Sorcerer.
At roughly 4pm, the adventures begin trading pleasantries and finally make introductions to one another after having been on the road together for several days. The leader of caravan, a brutish half-orc, makes comments to Kasaan about his drinking habits, inferring he must visit the Frost’s Bite tavern when they reach Greenest.
Around 8:30pm and due to happenstance, the 5 are at the front of the caravan as it begins to come into view of Greenest. As the sky turns its pinkish hue, not only is Neilum present, so too is Dathan, the full moon of random appearance and sheds its teal light across the sky.
And something happens to the world. Time begins to act sporadically and bizarrely. Winrey and Garrett perceive the change accurately, deciphering that any short rest only takes 5 minutes and long rests take 1 hour. And below them, a blue dragon is lighting the town ablaze, as well as groups of raiders and bandits.
Now 9pm, the 5 move closer to the city, leaving the caravan at a safe distance. The closer they get to the city they realize the blue dragon has spotted them and flies towards them. He grazes over them and flies off. But then 4 cultists and 1 guard spot the 5 and engage them in combat. The baddies fall easily and the bodies are looted. And just as things seem ok, the blue dragon lands before them. Winrey moves up and slashes the dragon making damage on the beast (the first it’s ever had) whilst Garrett and Xanathia miss with valiant effort and Toshin hides. Kasaan wisely grovels and it appeases the dragon and he takes off. Winrey tries to ride the dragon, but fails miserably and lands right on her face.
A moment later a crazed woman runs out and tells them to follow her to Governor Nighthill who may able to explain some things. The 5 reluctantly agree and they make their way to the Keep. But then 4 ambush drakes sneak attack and kill the woman. An epic fight commences. Kasaan is able to put 3 of the drakes to sleep and the 5 are able to beat the last one, an arrow straight through its eye thanks to Xanathia. The 3 sleeping drakes are taken care of.
A time jump happens. It’s now 3 am. The city is now oddly quiet. A few murmurs and wails but it’s very still. From the shadows emerges the lone figure of Govenor Nighthill who leads the 5 to the Keep. He leads them to the parapet and tells them the bandits and baddies and all have left. He regrettably has no idea what’s going on despite what crazy lady said. He is worried about the monk Leosin, but suggests to them that they should visit Frost’s Bite now and take off for the bandits at first light. Just then a group of 50 kobolds with torches approach the city.
Half-dragon Langdedrosa Cyanwrath steps forward from the kobold ranks and claims to face off in combat against the town’s chosen champion or he’ll execute 4 hostages. This disturbs Nighthill and he informs Cyanwrath the champion will be out in 10 minutes. He then leads the 5 and his associate, dwarf Escobert the Red, to the Keep’s basement. There he changes his composure to one of wonder and asks what the 5 know about the occurring events and they know nothing. He reveals they are the Heroes of Eternity, that their arrival had been foretold and prophesied of in his family for centuries. He mentions to them about Gwyn the Lord of Sunlight and his Device of Judgment. And then Nighthill bestows the 5 gifts, or magical weapons, only capably wielded by his or her class.
Winrey takes the chance to fight Cyanwrath and she kicks the ever living tar out of him, taking no damage herself. She beheads him with such force that his body flies back 10 feet. The 50 kobolds turn tail and run and then a time jump happens. It’s now 7 am, the prisoners are freed, and the characters are at Level 3.
Cinecism 