"I always assume the absolute worst about everyone I happen to come across. That way, I'm never disappointed."
-Coorlander Snyde of the Ardent Assembly (Deceased)
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CHAPTER ONE: "THEM BONES"
Chapter Quote: "This one here wears the ashen kiss. Best to stray from the Lady's affections, real or imagined." -Barro
Synopsis: Two new arrivals enter the bustling city of Strodenmarch, keen to find their place among the legendary heroes of the realm, seeking entry into the Order of the Sterling Chalice Adventuring Guild. Finding themselves face to face with a most unfortunate situation involving a vengeful farmer and a set of desecrated remains, the heroes are tasked with giving Eggton the Unlucky a fitting burial and relieving his aura of happenstance from the land. After gaining their place among the Order of the Sterling Chalice, a gruesome discovery casts a somber shadow on the jovial mood...
CHAPTER TWO: "VULTURES & CROWNS"
Chapter Quote: "It's a sad tale, yes, but what is life but a black-tide ocean swirling into a tempest whirlpool of abyssal nothingness?" -Baron Sturmvald Ghastmarch
Synopsis: Our brave heroes are tasked with unraveling the truth of the fate of the cursed family Ghastmarch, but their travel is delayed by a brief abduction by a hungry Goblin tribe. After picking up a new friend and dealing with the menacing Goblin Chief Chulga, the noble Adventurers find themselves face to face with the Baron Sturmvald Ghastmarch himself, and find that the rumors of his responsibility for the horrid death of his entire family are nothing but superstitious fabrication. The Bleak Baron tasks the heroes to set the restless spirit of his Father to peaceful slumber in exchange for a precious and rare herb that only grows on his manor grounds. After bravely facing the riddles of the Ghastmarch family maze garden, the Order of the Sterling Chalice has acquired the Bleak Baron as yet another ally.
CHAPTER THREE: "BIG GAME"
Chapter Quote: "This is not survival. This is savagery." -Gadroon
Synopsis: Tragedy befalls the Order of the Sterling Chalice! The founder of the noble organization, Duke Sivian Sterling is gifted with a mysterious letter and a curious package that puts him into a nightmarish sleep. The only antidote to wake him from his slumber is around the neck of the cruel Ranger Revaris Falconpride, a cunning and evil huntsman who was denied entry to the Order years ago for his black-hearted nature. Swearing vengeance upon the Order that dared to deny him entry, Falconpride's warped sense of sportsmanship is taken to new levels as he formally challenges the finest members of the Order of the Sterling Chalice to come claim the antidote by finding their way through the brutal wilds of Grimthistle forest, where he has set up an array of deadly traps and stalks his prey personally.
CHAPTER FOUR: "ALL HAIL THE ALLEY HOUNDS"
Chapter Quote: "Welcome to the Fringes! They call it 'The Land of Opportunity Aplenty'--Plenty of opportunities to get stabbed by daggers and shot by arrows." -Strivette of Lenk
Synopsis: The East Edge of the Fringes District of Strodenmarch prepares to break out in bloody war as two rival gangs, The Alley Hounds and the Lowborn Legion seek to claim dominance over their turf. A fixer named Caldez seeks to leave his life of crime behind and go straight, but has thrown his lot in with the Alley Hounds and their ambitious leader Sleed. Wishing to secure his break with the Hounds peacfully, he asks an old partner in crime, Strivette, for the aid of her noble Guild. Our brave heroes make their way to the desolate, desperate Fringes of Strodenmarch and meet with Sleed and the Alley Hounds, who prove to be a far less vicious gang than their rivals. Seeking to gain an ally in the Fringes and thwart a far bloodier threat, the Sterling Chalice delivers a swift first strike to the Lowborn Legion while giving the Alley Hounds and their leader a notable image change.
CHAPTER FIVE: "AN ARDENT ASSIGNMENT"
Chapter Quote: "Bah! This crustacean speaks in riddles!" -Gadroon
Synopsis: With the return of Gridwen Hexcloak and Opheliste Feowain, the Order of the Sterling Chalice stands at its full might! A celebratory feast bonds the cadre of brave adventurers ever closer, their noble deeds even gaining the attention of the legendary General and founder of Strodenmarch, Gargrin Gravelbrow himself, who confides in our heroes a troubling suspicion that proves to be true. A foreign force seems to be making inroads towards Strodenmarch, and there may just be chaos on the horizon. All the while, rumors swirl around Strodenmarch about the mysterious figure "The White Hound" and his tireless street war against Gancroft the Dwarf and his Lowborn Legion.
CHAPTER SIX: "DEAR RUNAGARD"
Chapter Quote: "We should take great heed to remember, my dears, that art is the only thing stronger than death." -Count Vontrick Narrington
Synopsis: You are proudly invited to a sold out, one-night-only performance of the Dwarven opera singer Runagard Everbellow. Our heroes indulge in an evening of culture and class that goes awry when the star of the show is kidnapped by the insidious and desperate gang leader Gancroft, who intends to ransom off the singer to fund his war for turf against the rival Alley Hounds. His kidnapping attempt is foiled by the agents of the Sterling Chalice, however, and the evening goes off without a hitch. The Lowborn Legion meets its end in this thrilling installment, but Gancroft vanishes after swearing vengeance. Meanwhile, a dark truth is revealed and a shadowy new threat emerges in a telling letter...
CHAPTER SEVEN: "WORDS WITH WYRMS"
Chapter Quote: "And if I spoke through rows of fangs and searing breath, would the wisdom I offer be any more profound?" -Heligsnivarr, Great Wyrm of the Stars
Synopsis: A parlay between representatives from both Gravelbrow Company and the Order of the Sterling Chalice made with the wandering mysterious mercenary band The Severed Sword Nomads end in a terse stalemate. A missing servant girl in the employee of the lofty and morbid Count Narrington is brought to the attention of our heroes by a worried Uncle, which master actor Feowain and deft thief Strivette are tasked with investigating. Gadroon the Barbarian makes a quick stop at his childhood home and then is off to fulfill an ancient prophecy and finally learn how to win the heart of his love, Ligmilla, but decides to use offered wisdom to aid the plight of Strodenmarch and learn more about the Severed Sword Nomads. All the while, the residents of Strodenmarch prepare for The Fair of the Five, a yearly holiday festival celebrating the legendary founding of the city. Activity abounds in this thrilling installment!
CHAPTER EIGHT: "ANDHEREE SHAKTIYAAN"
Chapter Quote: "The bad news, of course, is that I humbly tender my resignation from your service."
-Captain Sidlock
Synopsis: Our Heroes take a moment to observe an ancient village tradition that ends up being more trouble than originally expected. Gridwen Hexcloak and company pay a visit to her deceased magical Tutor, Waylond The Wary, in search of materials and lore to perform a strenuous and difficult mystical ritual, but things don't exactly go as planned when her Mentor's tower defenses are set off by a vindictive Goblin, an a persistent Arcane Guardian dogs the trio through the Tower. Upon returning with the needed components and knowledge, the Sterling Chalice Adventuring Guild launch a stealthy midnight raid on Count Narrington's home, only to find that things aren't quite as they seem. A dark secret is revealed and even Darker Powers are unleashed.
CHAPTER NINE: "USE YOUR ILLUSION"
Chapter Quote: "I fully believe that we have entered the Demiplane of Dread; a horrid amalgam of cursed realms stitched together by dark and uncaring forces that have lured us out of the reach of any Gods or worlds that we have known.” -Phemos Blazebeard
Synopsis: Transported to the dreaded realm of Sri Raji, our Heroes brave the perilous, deadly jungle in the hunt for Captain Sidlock and the strange, bleak artifact that transported them to the nefarious plane of Ravenloft. Taking sanctuary in a masterfully built palace in the midst of the steamy rainforest around them, the wayfaring Adventurers help bring Karmic balance to Master Architect Kushal Maali's misspent life, and have their own inner fears, doubts and regrets dissected in the process. Meanwhile, Captain Sidlock finally attains his heart's desire and finds it coincides with the ravenous appetites of the Dark Lord of the Domain.
CHAPTER TEN: "MEMORY OF A FREE FESTIVAL"
Chapter Quote: "Let all your dark giants die." -Feowain
Synopsis: Happy Ardent Day! The Fair of the Five is in full swing and all of Strodenmarch is in celebratory spirits. Meanwhile, our heroes in the Order of the Sterling Chalice find themselves traveling to Murkharrow Swamp to reclaim half of a stolen relic from the icy grip of the fearsome Swamp Hag Yuznul and her prized...pet. The Severed Sword Nomads find their opportunistic raids against the outlining settlements of Strodenmarch suddenly interrupted when their sacred relic short sword The Steel Shepherd is reformed thanks to our intrepid heroes, and the horde of wanderers peaceably ride off into the sunset after years of banishment from their home. With the threat of the Severed Sword Nomads finally averted for good, our brave Heroes thoroughly take in the sights and sounds of Ardent day in this uplifting final chapter!
CHAPTER TWO: "VULTURES & CROWNS"
Chapter Quote: "It's a sad tale, yes, but what is life but a black-tide ocean swirling into a tempest whirlpool of abyssal nothingness?" -Baron Sturmvald Ghastmarch
Synopsis: Our brave heroes are tasked with unraveling the truth of the fate of the cursed family Ghastmarch, but their travel is delayed by a brief abduction by a hungry Goblin tribe. After picking up a new friend and dealing with the menacing Goblin Chief Chulga, the noble Adventurers find themselves face to face with the Baron Sturmvald Ghastmarch himself, and find that the rumors of his responsibility for the horrid death of his entire family are nothing but superstitious fabrication. The Bleak Baron tasks the heroes to set the restless spirit of his Father to peaceful slumber in exchange for a precious and rare herb that only grows on his manor grounds. After bravely facing the riddles of the Ghastmarch family maze garden, the Order of the Sterling Chalice has acquired the Bleak Baron as yet another ally.
CHAPTER THREE: "BIG GAME"
Chapter Quote: "This is not survival. This is savagery." -Gadroon
Synopsis: Tragedy befalls the Order of the Sterling Chalice! The founder of the noble organization, Duke Sivian Sterling is gifted with a mysterious letter and a curious package that puts him into a nightmarish sleep. The only antidote to wake him from his slumber is around the neck of the cruel Ranger Revaris Falconpride, a cunning and evil huntsman who was denied entry to the Order years ago for his black-hearted nature. Swearing vengeance upon the Order that dared to deny him entry, Falconpride's warped sense of sportsmanship is taken to new levels as he formally challenges the finest members of the Order of the Sterling Chalice to come claim the antidote by finding their way through the brutal wilds of Grimthistle forest, where he has set up an array of deadly traps and stalks his prey personally.
CHAPTER FOUR: "ALL HAIL THE ALLEY HOUNDS"
Chapter Quote: "Welcome to the Fringes! They call it 'The Land of Opportunity Aplenty'--Plenty of opportunities to get stabbed by daggers and shot by arrows." -Strivette of Lenk
Synopsis: The East Edge of the Fringes District of Strodenmarch prepares to break out in bloody war as two rival gangs, The Alley Hounds and the Lowborn Legion seek to claim dominance over their turf. A fixer named Caldez seeks to leave his life of crime behind and go straight, but has thrown his lot in with the Alley Hounds and their ambitious leader Sleed. Wishing to secure his break with the Hounds peacfully, he asks an old partner in crime, Strivette, for the aid of her noble Guild. Our brave heroes make their way to the desolate, desperate Fringes of Strodenmarch and meet with Sleed and the Alley Hounds, who prove to be a far less vicious gang than their rivals. Seeking to gain an ally in the Fringes and thwart a far bloodier threat, the Sterling Chalice delivers a swift first strike to the Lowborn Legion while giving the Alley Hounds and their leader a notable image change.
CHAPTER FIVE: "AN ARDENT ASSIGNMENT"
Chapter Quote: "Bah! This crustacean speaks in riddles!" -Gadroon
Synopsis: With the return of Gridwen Hexcloak and Opheliste Feowain, the Order of the Sterling Chalice stands at its full might! A celebratory feast bonds the cadre of brave adventurers ever closer, their noble deeds even gaining the attention of the legendary General and founder of Strodenmarch, Gargrin Gravelbrow himself, who confides in our heroes a troubling suspicion that proves to be true. A foreign force seems to be making inroads towards Strodenmarch, and there may just be chaos on the horizon. All the while, rumors swirl around Strodenmarch about the mysterious figure "The White Hound" and his tireless street war against Gancroft the Dwarf and his Lowborn Legion.
CHAPTER SIX: "DEAR RUNAGARD"
Chapter Quote: "We should take great heed to remember, my dears, that art is the only thing stronger than death." -Count Vontrick Narrington
Synopsis: You are proudly invited to a sold out, one-night-only performance of the Dwarven opera singer Runagard Everbellow. Our heroes indulge in an evening of culture and class that goes awry when the star of the show is kidnapped by the insidious and desperate gang leader Gancroft, who intends to ransom off the singer to fund his war for turf against the rival Alley Hounds. His kidnapping attempt is foiled by the agents of the Sterling Chalice, however, and the evening goes off without a hitch. The Lowborn Legion meets its end in this thrilling installment, but Gancroft vanishes after swearing vengeance. Meanwhile, a dark truth is revealed and a shadowy new threat emerges in a telling letter...
CHAPTER SEVEN: "WORDS WITH WYRMS"
Chapter Quote: "And if I spoke through rows of fangs and searing breath, would the wisdom I offer be any more profound?" -Heligsnivarr, Great Wyrm of the Stars
Synopsis: A parlay between representatives from both Gravelbrow Company and the Order of the Sterling Chalice made with the wandering mysterious mercenary band The Severed Sword Nomads end in a terse stalemate. A missing servant girl in the employee of the lofty and morbid Count Narrington is brought to the attention of our heroes by a worried Uncle, which master actor Feowain and deft thief Strivette are tasked with investigating. Gadroon the Barbarian makes a quick stop at his childhood home and then is off to fulfill an ancient prophecy and finally learn how to win the heart of his love, Ligmilla, but decides to use offered wisdom to aid the plight of Strodenmarch and learn more about the Severed Sword Nomads. All the while, the residents of Strodenmarch prepare for The Fair of the Five, a yearly holiday festival celebrating the legendary founding of the city. Activity abounds in this thrilling installment!
CHAPTER EIGHT: "ANDHEREE SHAKTIYAAN"
Chapter Quote: "The bad news, of course, is that I humbly tender my resignation from your service."
-Captain Sidlock
Synopsis: Our Heroes take a moment to observe an ancient village tradition that ends up being more trouble than originally expected. Gridwen Hexcloak and company pay a visit to her deceased magical Tutor, Waylond The Wary, in search of materials and lore to perform a strenuous and difficult mystical ritual, but things don't exactly go as planned when her Mentor's tower defenses are set off by a vindictive Goblin, an a persistent Arcane Guardian dogs the trio through the Tower. Upon returning with the needed components and knowledge, the Sterling Chalice Adventuring Guild launch a stealthy midnight raid on Count Narrington's home, only to find that things aren't quite as they seem. A dark secret is revealed and even Darker Powers are unleashed.
CHAPTER NINE: "USE YOUR ILLUSION"
Chapter Quote: "I fully believe that we have entered the Demiplane of Dread; a horrid amalgam of cursed realms stitched together by dark and uncaring forces that have lured us out of the reach of any Gods or worlds that we have known.” -Phemos Blazebeard
Synopsis: Transported to the dreaded realm of Sri Raji, our Heroes brave the perilous, deadly jungle in the hunt for Captain Sidlock and the strange, bleak artifact that transported them to the nefarious plane of Ravenloft. Taking sanctuary in a masterfully built palace in the midst of the steamy rainforest around them, the wayfaring Adventurers help bring Karmic balance to Master Architect Kushal Maali's misspent life, and have their own inner fears, doubts and regrets dissected in the process. Meanwhile, Captain Sidlock finally attains his heart's desire and finds it coincides with the ravenous appetites of the Dark Lord of the Domain.
CHAPTER TEN: "MEMORY OF A FREE FESTIVAL"
Chapter Quote: "Let all your dark giants die." -Feowain
Synopsis: Happy Ardent Day! The Fair of the Five is in full swing and all of Strodenmarch is in celebratory spirits. Meanwhile, our heroes in the Order of the Sterling Chalice find themselves traveling to Murkharrow Swamp to reclaim half of a stolen relic from the icy grip of the fearsome Swamp Hag Yuznul and her prized...pet. The Severed Sword Nomads find their opportunistic raids against the outlining settlements of Strodenmarch suddenly interrupted when their sacred relic short sword The Steel Shepherd is reformed thanks to our intrepid heroes, and the horde of wanderers peaceably ride off into the sunset after years of banishment from their home. With the threat of the Severed Sword Nomads finally averted for good, our brave Heroes thoroughly take in the sights and sounds of Ardent day in this uplifting final chapter!
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