? - establishment of Phlan as a trading outpost
112 DR - Destruction of Phlan by the Black Horde. City falls into ruins.
232 DR - Buccaneers establish base on ruins of Phlan.
245 DR - Mulmaster destroys pirate base at Phlan.
289 DR - Buccaneers establish second base at Phlan.
323 DR Red Dragon levels Phlan. City abandoned to orcs and goblins.
712 DR - Phlan re-established as trading outpost by Milsor Valjevo (founder of Valjevo dynasty), Rimon the Mage, and Alonius of Tyr. Phlan cleared of orcs and goblins. Arch-lich Zanakar driven from Sorceror's Island.
750 DR - Cathedral of Tyr (The Evenhanded) completed (largest temple in North at that time). Valjevo dynasty established as hereditary rulers of Phlan.
905 DR - Height of Phlan’s prosperity.
907 DR - Plant rust destroys harvests for next three years.
909 DR - Prince Kasimir Valjevo bans all food shipments out of Phlan. This precipitates war with Zhentil Keep, Hillsfar, and Mulmaster.
910 DR - Siege of Phlan by Zhentil Keep averted through massive payoff to Zhentarim.
911 DR - Rimon the Mage disappears from Sorceror's Island.
911-1000 DR - Phlan continues to decline as piracy increases. Intermittent wars between Phlan and other Moonsea cities drain resources and morale.
1023 DR - Last Valjevo Prince slain in Quivering Forest by orcs. Civil war breaks out.
1025 DR - Cathedral of Tyr (The Evenhanded) looted and burned. Civil war ends in establishment of ruling council. Economic decline continues.
1275 DR - Sorceror's Island inhabited by Yarash, an evil mage seeking Rimon's power.
1305 DR - Raiders from the north, aided by dragons and other fell creatures, march on Phlan. Treachery and dissension among the council hinder defenses. After a month-long siege, Phlan is overwhelmed and sacked. Last High Priest of Tyr holds out for several months on island-fortress of Sokal Keep in hopes of relief. Dissension among other Moonsea cities prevents any effective response, and Sokal Keep also falls.
1306 DR - Moonsea war between Hillsfar, Mulmaster, and Zhentil Keep for control of trade. Zhentil Keep conquers Teschendale. Inhabitants of Teschwave expelled.
1309 DR - Former cathedral of Tyr (The Just) reconsecrated to the service of Bane (Lord of Gloom). Evil warlords and brigands establish themselves in ruins of Phlan.
1311 DR - Stojanow River waters turn poisonous and murky. Farmlands in Stojanow Valley abandoned.
1345 DR - Stockaded community ("New Phlan") established on outskirts of old, ruined Phlan (currently inhabited by evil creatures, warlords, and brigands). New temples erected to Tyr, Sune, and Tempus. New council established, led by Ulrich Eberhard (merchant), Werner von Urslingen (fighter), and Bishop Braccio (priest of Tyr).
1356 DR - Flight of the Dragons. Much of Phlan reduced to smoking ruins. However, almost all of the damage occurs in the already-ruined quarters of Old Phlan, where various evil warlords and monsters vied for control. The attack of the dragons breaks the power of Old Phlan, giving the men of New Phlan a chance to re-establish themselves. On the initiative of junior councilman Porphyrys Cadorna, the following proclamation is circulated throughout the Moonsea, Dalelands, Sembia, and the Archclericy:
FREE NEW PHLAN!
The New Phlan City Council is leading the fight to free
their captive city.
Heroes are retaking the city block by block from the
evil hordes.
RICHES & FAME!
The council is looking for soldiers and gentleman adventurers, mages and clerics, heroes of all kinds, to come to New Phlan. The wealth and land of an ancient city await those willing to reach out and take it.
GLORY!
Legends will be written about the heroic struggle to free New Phlan! Ships to New Phlan depart twice monthly from Hillsfar. When you arrive, see the New Phlan City Council for the latest news and information.
YEAR OF THE WORM, 1356 DR
April - Army of Lashan of Scardale invades the Dalelands. Manfred fights as a Captain of Archers.
May - An army of the Archclericy of Cuthbert occupies Tilverton, ostensibly to prevent orcish raids into its territory.
June - Flight of the Dragons over the Dales and Moonsea. Much
of Phlan is devastated, especially the quarters of the city controlled
by evil creatures. Yulash totally destroyed. Heavy damage to Zhentil
Keep, Hillsfar, Melvaunt, Citadel of the Raven. Dwarven city of High
Horn attacked and occupied by
ancient black dragon. Many dwarves slain (including ruling family),
remainder flee (including Giselin). Large red dragon settles near Castle
Crag.
July - Tilverton annexed by Archclericy of Cuthbert.
August - Council of New Phlan issues proclamation calling for adventurers to join the struggle to retake the city.
September - Departure of the Elven High Court from the North. Lord Balar remains in Arch Wood.
October - Army of Lashan of Scardale defeated by combined armies
of Zhentil Keep, Sembia, and Dalelands. Scardale occupied. Lashan
disappears. Manfred goes into exile because of his loyal support of Lashan.
YEAR OF THE PRINCE, 1357 DR
In response to the Council's proclamation, adventurers begin arriving in Phlan to seek their fortune.
February 2 - Gangren, an embittered chaotic neutral dwarven fighter/thief, leads a party of fighter thieves into the ruins of Phlan and is never seen again.
March 21 - Cranston, a neutral evil gnomish fighter/thief, leads a party of evil clerics and wizards into the ruins of Phlan and is never seen again.
May 10 - A group of first level adventurers meets at the Inn
of
the Silver Tankard to discuss their plans. The party consists of six
members:
Thecla (lawful good cleric of St. Cuthbert) is a native of Eveningstar, in the Archclericy. She was inspired by a dream to travel to Phlan and bring the Word of St. Cuthbert to the Moonsea.
Ritter Ulrich von Bek (lawful good fighter) is a native of Thentia and
a descendant from refugees from Teschwave. He hates Zhentil Keep and the
Zhentarim for the crimes they committed against Teschendale. His goal in
life is to thwart Zhentish expansionism and someday liberate Teschendale.
He is a zealous
follower of St. Cuthbert, Thecla's first convert in Phlan.
Selene (lawful good mage) is a middle-aged woman from Mulmaster. After her husband was slain by the Cloaks, she fled the city. Previously studying magic as a hobby, she now hopes to earn a living from it.
Lambert (lawful good priest of Mielikki) is a native of New Phlan. He is motivated by a desire to purify the Stojanow River and expel all evil creatures from the woodlands north of Phlan.
Perihelion (lawful good elven fighter/mage) is a native of the Elven Court but a long-time resident of Hillsfar. He and Perki have been wandering through the Dalelands since the recent change in regime in Hillsfar (1354 DR) resulted in the expulsion of all non-humans.
Perkialador (neutral good half-elven mage/thief) is a native of Hillsfar. He and Perihelion have been wandering through the Dalelands since the recent change in regime in Hillsfar (1354 DR) resulted in the expulsion of all non-humans.
The group goes to the Phlan Council Hall and reads a proclamation posted on the door:
"Be it known that the council is interested in reclaiming the remaining blocks of the city of New Phlan. To reclaim said blocks they must first be cleared of monsters, vermin, and other uncivilized inhabitants. To this end the Council is offering a reward to any person or group who is responsible for clearing any block of the old city."
Led by Ritter von Bek, the group enters the Council Hall and speaks
with the Town Clerk. For a nominal fee, the adventuring group is registered
under the name "The Mighty Six". The Clerk then commissions the group to
clear out several blocks of Old Phlan lying to the west of New Phlan.
This section of
Old Phlan once formed the slums and is currently inhabited by monsters.
May 11 - The group leaves the safety of the stockade and enters
the former slums of Old Phlan. There they battle kobolds, orcs, and goblins.
Their greatest challenge comes in the twisty byways of the Rope Guild,
where they must defeat trolls and ogres in a fiercely-fought melee. Returning
to the city, they
receive a pouch of gems from an astonished Town Clerk. "Few groups
of adventurers ever return!" she explains.
May 15 - After resting, training, and reselling all of the weapons and armor taken from their foes, the group returns to the Council Hall and discovers a new proclamation:
“Be it known that the Council, knowing that commerce is the life's blood of New Phlan, has decreed that Sokal Keep is to be cleared of all unlawful inhabitants. A reward is offered to the person or persons who successfully carry out this commission."
The group is then commissioned by the Town Clerk to travel to Thorn Island and clear Sokal Keep.
May 16 - The group sails out to Thorn Island. There they battle
skeletons, zombies, giant frogs, and giant scorpions in the outer parts
of the fortress. in the central part of the keep they battle a large assault
force of orcs and hobgoblins, using Sleep and Hold Person spells to great
effect. Finally, they
reach the chapel of the Keep and encounter the ghost of the last High
Priest of Tyr. After convincing him of their sincerity and their mission
to reclaim the city, he is freed from his vigil and goes to his eternal
reward, after leading the party to a cache of treasure and magical weapons.
The group then returns
to the city and claims their reward.
May 21 - After resting and training, the group returns to the Council Hall and is commissioned by the Town Clerk to clear the area of Old Phlan known as Kuto's Well. This area contains one of the few sources of fresh water in the ruins and is thus a natural congregating point for monsters.
May 22 - The group traverses the slums and enters the quarter known as "Kuto's Well". There they battle kobolds, orcs, and lizard men. Examining the Well, Perki finds a set of handholds leading down. They discover a maze of catacombs beneath the street level. While exploring the catacombs, they encounter a brigand leader, Norris the Grey, and his followers. In the ensuing melee, Perihelion casts a Charm Person on Norris. After defeating the brigands, the group takes Norris back to Phlan for judgment.
May 27 - After resting and training, the group returns to the Council Hall and is commissioned by the Town Clerk to clear the area of Old Phlan known as Podol Plaza. This area was once the busiest marketplace in Phlan.
May 28 - The group reaches Podol Plaza and discovers an auction in progress. A cleric of Bane is auctioning off a magical weapon to a group of monsters, brigands, and renegade humanoids. Perki sneaks ahead to spy on the auction and overhears several references to "The Boss". He also determines that the magic item is a Wand of Fear. Since the group of monsters is several hundred strong, the adventurers wait until it disperses before proceeding.
May 29 - In daylight, the group sweeps through Podol Plaza, slaying monsters right and left. Scores of orcs, goblins, and trolls fall to the swords and spells of the Mighty Six! Perki even manages to locate the winner of yesterday's auction, backstab him, and take the Wand! Once the Plaza is cleared, the group finds a hidden temple of Ilmater, maintained by an incredibly brave group of clerics. Returning to New Phlan, the group is rewarded for the information about the auction as well as clearing Podol Plaza. Selene is allowed to keep the Wand of Fear.
June 4 - After resting and training, the group returns to the Council Hall and discovers a new proclamation:
"Be it known that the Council is offering a special reward for all books and tomes containing information predating the fall of Phlan. The amount of said rewarrd is to be dependent upon the value of the information provided."
The Town Clerk commissions the group to clear out the section of Old Phlan known as "Mendor's Library". This quarter was once one of the great centers of knowledge in all the Moonsea reaches. Mendor was a famous sage who lived during the period of Phlan's greatness.
June 5 - The group begins exploring Mendor's Library and finds that it is relatively intact. After searching for several hours through the stacks, the group finds the following books that appear to satisfy their commission: Fyerdethals Discourses on Power, Urgund's Description of Darkness, Lex Geographica, The History of the North, and The Grand Historian's Records of the Arts of War, as well as a Manual of Bodily Health. During their search the group is attacked by a basilisk. Fortunately, each party member has a mirror and thus avoid petrification.
Once the library is cleared, Thecla insists on scanning through the books before handing them over to the Council. She finds several cryptic references to "Tyranthraxus the Flamed One" and a "Pool of Radiance".
When the group attempts to leave the library with the books, they are attacked by the spectre of the last librarian. Thecla is unable to turn him, so the group is forced to destroy him.
June 6 - After returning to Phlan, the group gives the books to the Town Clerk, who informs them that Councilman Cadorna will be greatly pleased. She rewards them with a large pouch of gems.
June 7 - While resting at the Inn of the Silver Tankard, the group receives a message from Councilman Cadorna, summoning them to the Council Hall on the following day.
June 8 - After arriving at the office of the Town Clerk, the group is ushered into the private chambers of Councilman Cadorna. He informs them how pleased he is at their recent success in carrying out his commissions. It was his idea to encourage adventurers to reclaim Phlan, and his position on the Council has been greatly enhanced by their success. Recently, he hired a fighter to go to the section of Old Phlan once occupied by his grandfather's textile house and recover a hidden treasure. The hireling has not returned. Cadorna wishes to hire the Mighty Six to perform the same task. He emphasizes that this is a private mission for him and not something that should become general knowledge. He points out that as outsiders they are dependent on the goodwill of the Council if they wish to continue adventuring here. The group is left with the distinct impression that turning down this mission would not be a smart thing to do, so they accept.
June 9 - The group reaches the former Cadorna textile house and
discovers that it is now occupied by ogres, gnolls, and hobgoblins.
After a pitched battle, they discover a shrine to Bane inside the house.
After defeating the gnollish shaman, they find Cadorna’s hireling and free
him. Further exploration
of the textile house reveals the hiding place of Cadorna’s treasure,
a sealed chest. The group returns to Phlan with the seal on the chest intact
but are immediately arrested by guards and roughly dragged to Cadorna’s
office. Cadorna opens the seal and inventories the contents of the chest.
After convincing
himself that the party has handed over the entire treasure, he gives
the group a small pouch of gems and warns them to tell no one of their
mission.
June 10 - After their experience with Cadorna, the adventurers decide to maintain a low profile for awhile. They agree that Ritter von Bek should be the one to use the Manual of Bodily Health, so the group spends the next month resting while von Bek exercises and trains according to the dictates of the Manual. At the end of that period, the fighter's constitution has increased by one point.
July 10 - The group returns to the Council Hall and finds a series of proclamations, some several weeks old. The oldest proclamation is dated June 12 and states:
"Be it known that the council is interested in acquiring information
as to the disposition of various formerly-living entities rumored to be
harassing honest citizens in the vicinity of Valhingen Graveyard. A reward
is offered to any person who shall travel to said graveyard and return
with an eyewitness
account."
The next proclamation is dated June 19 and states:
"Be it known that the council is offering a reward to any person or persons who can provide information as to the disposition of several Council agents who have been sent to investigate the unseemly happenings in the vicinity of Valhingen graveyard."
The next proclamation is dated June 27 and states:
“Be it known that the Council is offering an inducement to any individual who shall serve in the rescue force for the mercenary band of Taimalg-the-Invincible which has disappeared inside Valhingen graveyard."
The newest proclamation is dated July 3 and states:
"Be it known that the Council has proclaimed a generous bounty
for each undead destroyed. Be it also known that in addition to said
bounty, the Council is willing to provide a special enchanted item, useful
in the destruction of undead, to any group of adventurers which accepts
the commission to cleanse Valhingen graveyard. Only experienced adventurers
need apply."
The group enters the Council Hall and finds the Town Clerk updating the list of active adventuring groups. She explains that during the last month no less than five different groups of adventurers have failed to return from Valhingen graveyard. Despite this grim news, the group obtains a commission to clear out Valhingen graveyard. The Town Clerk gives Ritter von Bek a +2/+4 longsword vs. undead and Thecla three scrolls of Restoration. The group can retain the items if successful in their mission. She also asks them to stop by the Temple of Tyr and speak with Bishop Braccio before leaving the city.
After arriving at the Temple of Tyr, the group is ceremoniously escorted
into the private audience room of Bishop Braccio. After listening to Thecla
recount the group's previous successes, he is hopeful that at last the
scourge of undead will be lifted from Valhingen graveyard. The bishop summons
a young
gnomish cleric, Dirfan, and suggests that he accompany the party.
"In dealing with undead, an additional cleric could be the margin between
defeat and victory!" he proclaims. This seems wise indeed, and Dirfan
is readily accepted into the group. After receiving the Bishop's blessing,
the group departs from the temple.
Later that day, Thecla and Lambert visit a jeweler’s shop and purchase silver holy symbols (just in case).
July 11 - The group makes its way through the ruins of Old Phlan until they reach Valhingen graveyard. Upon entering the graveyard, the sky quickly becomes overcast and lightning can be seen in the distance. The group first encounters hordes of skeletons, but Thecla and Dirfan destroy them. The group then enters a mausoleum and finds a spectre busily creating skeletons. After destroying the spectre, the group enters a different quarter of the graveyard, where they are set upon by mobs of zombies. Inside a tower they discover a spectre creating zombies. After vanquishing the spectre, they enter another quarter of the graveyard, where they encounter a necromancer who offers to join their group. Sensing evil, Thecla declines his offer, whereupon the mage attacks! After defeating the evil mage, the group battles wights, a wraith, spectres, and mummies.
In a tranquil corner of the graveyard, the group finds the undisturbed tomb of a long-dead paladin. Thecla casts Augury and finds that St. Cuthbert wants Ritter von Bek to take the dead paladin's weapons and armor. After opening the tomb, von Bek takes the paladin's enchanted longsword, dagger, shield, and plate armor. He vows to wield them only in defense of Right and in opposition to Chaotic Evil.
The group enters the last quarter of the graveyard and confronts a vampire,
the Undead Lord of this graveyard. The vampire manages to Charm Lambert,
Dirfan, and Thecla, but the others manage to resist, and Ritter von Bek
slays the vampire with his new weapon. Perihelion and Selene then cast
Dispel
Magic and free the Charmed party members.
Sensing that their task is not yet complete, the group continues to
search through the graveyard until they discover the vampire's hidden coffin.
There they must battle the vampire yet again. After defeating him, Thecla
and Dirfan consecrate the coffin, destroying the vampire's resting place
and laying
his spirit to rest.
After the final defeat of the vampire, the wandering undead return to their graves. The sun breaks through the clouds, and the group returns in triumph to Phlan.
The astonished Town Clerk gives the group a large pouch of gems and
escorts them into the office of the Council Leader, Ulrich Eberhard, who
personally congratulates them on their success. Dirfan returns to
the Temple of Tyr, where Bishop Braccio also offers his congratulations
and grants the
adventurers free healing at his temple in perpetuity.
July 18 - After resting and training, the group returns to the Council Hall and discovers a new proclamation:
"Be it known that the Council has declared those individuals who have taken up residence in the mansion of the former Koval family to be traitors and thieves. Be it further known that a reward has been offered for the elimination of these outlaws."
After receiving a commission from the Town Clerk, the group crosses
the Stojanow River and enters the Koval mansion. They find that it is inhabited
by a band of thieves, who have rigged numerous traps and ambushes throughout
the house. Using Find Traps and Perki’s skills, the group is able to safely
avoid the traps and defeat the thieves. Interrogation of the prisoners
reveals that to the southwest of the mansion lies the former Cathedral
of Tyr (The Just), now converted to a Temple of Bane. The group decides
to push on and eradicate this nest of evil.
July 19 - Disguising themselves as worshippers of Bane, the party enters the evil temple and advances toward the unholy altar. Thecla disrupts the profane ritual in progress by throwing a vial of Holy Water at the High Priest of Bane, precipitating a free-for-all. Selene blasts the worshipers with her very first Fireball, while Perihelion and Perki cast Sleep spells. Ritter von Bek and Lambert hack and slash their way through the crowd of evil worshippers, while Perki manages to backstab the High Priest of Bane. Finally, the adventurers stand alone, surrounded by the corpses of Bane's deluded followers.
Perki searches through the apartments of the High Priest of Bane and discovers a great quantity of gold and jewels. In the nave, he uncovers a secret cache of items dating back hundreds of years, to the time when this was once a Cathedral of Tyr. The treasure includes relics and holy items of Tyr.
Thecla casts a Sanctify spell, removing Bane's evil presence and consecrating the Cathedral to the worship of St. Cuthbert. Henceforth, this temple will be known as the Cathedral of St. Cuthbert (the Provident). As Thecla and von Bek kneel in prayer, the spirit of St. Cuthbert appears. He blesses the party, healing them of their wounds and restoring lost points of constitution. St. Cuthbert then asks Ritter von Bek if he is willing to dedicate himself to the service of Lawful Good and St. Cuthbert. After von Bek replies affirmatively, St. Cuthbert raises him to the status of Paladin.
July 20 - The group returns to Phlan and receives their usual reward from the Town Clerk. Von Bek donates his share to the poor, as befits a Paladin of St. Cuthbert. Thecla returns the relics and holy items of Tyr to Bishop Braccio, who in turn transfers all rights to the former Cathedral of Tyr to her. Braccio recognizes that the establishment of a Temple of St. Cuthbert in Phlan will strengthen the forces of Lawful Good.
Using her share of the reward, Thecla hires guards to protect the new Cathedral of St. Cuthbert (the Provident) from wandering monsters and brigands.
July 21 - News of the downfall of the Temple of Bane sweeps through Phlan. The once-anonymous adventurers are recognized everywhere they go. Many new converts to St. Cuthbert are made.
July 24 - The Mighty six are again summoned to the presence of Councilman Cadorna (now #3 in the hierarchy of Phlan, after Ulrich Eberhard and Werner von Urslingen). He offers the group a special commission:
"Be it known that the Council has decreed that the foul poisoning of the river formerly known as Stojanow must cease. Accordingly, your group is commissioned to travel up the river currently known as Barren, locate the source of its poisoning, and eliminate said source. Success will be richly rewarded, failure will not be tolerated."
Despite the misgivings of Perihelion and Perki, Lambert eagerly accepts the commission, as he has been anxious to address this problem for many years. The group does not suspect that Cadorna has secretly warned the instigator of the poisoning (Yarash the sorceror) that the adventurers are on their way. Cadorna fears the power and popularity of the Mighty Six and hope to see them destroyed!
July 25 - The group departs Phlan, heading upriver. During their journey through the poisoned lands along the river, they must battle kobolds, stirges, displacer beasts, and lizard men.
July 28 - The group finds a massive pyramid constructed on an island in the Barren river. Inside the pyramid they enter a maze of teleportation gates and quickly become lost. After barely surviving their first encounter with Driders, they discover a group of imprisoned lizard men. Lambert communicates with the prisoners and discovers that a mad sorceror (Yarash) has been experimenting on lizard men in an attempt to create a super-race of amphibian slaves. The group frees the lizard men and persuades them to make them a map of the maze. Eventually they find their way to the laboratories of the sorceror, Yarash, and defeat him after a lengthy struggle. After looting Yarash's treasury, Lambert destroys the machinery pumping poisons into the river. The group frees the remaining lizard men and escape from the pyramid.
July 31 - The Mighty Six returns to Phlan and claim their reward. The waters of the Stojanow are already beginning to clear.
August 4 - The group is again summoned to Cadorna’s office. They are given a general commission to travel through the lands surrounding Phlan and destroy any enemies that might threaten the city. In particular, the group is told to deal with bands of lizard men in swamps to the east, a buccaneer base somewhere to the west, nomads to the north of the city, and the kobold tribes far to the east.
August 5 - The group again departs Phlan. Led by Lambert, the group traverses the wilderness with ease, battling wild boars, thri-kreen, ankhegs,and giant snakes.
August 11 - The group discovers a camp of nomads on the plains north of Phlan. Through parlay they discover that the nomads are considering joining "The Boss" and attacking Phlan. Thecla and Lambert persuade the nomads not to ally with evil. The group then helps the nomads defend their camp against a surprise attack from a kobold army. In gratitude, the nomads make the adventurers honorary warriors of their tribe.
August 16 - The group trails the defeated kobold army to a complex of caves. Interrogation of prisoners reveals that the kobolds are preparing to march on Phlan in alliance with "The Boss". The group sweeps through the caves, annihilating kobolds. They defeat a wyvern and take its considerable treasure. Eventually they meet the kobold king and defeat him and his minions after a prolonged melee.
August 27 - While travelling through a swamp, the group encounters
a group of lizardmen. Using a password given him by the prisoners in the
pyramid, Lambert convinces the lizardmen of their good intentions.
The lizardmen escort them to a ruined keep in the center of the swamp.
There they meet the aged leader of the lizardmen, who informs them that
his leadership has been challenged by a young, aggressive lizardman who
wants to ally with "The Boss". After Ritter von Bek defeats the upstart
lizardman in single combat, the tribe pledges to cease
raiding caravans and not support "The Boss".
September 5 - The group discovers a cave in the Dragonspine Mountains occupied by a Lawful Good silver dragon. The dragon warns them not to trust Councilman Cadorna.
September 12 - The party discovers a stockade on the coast to the west of Phlan. Slipping inside the stockade at night, they discover that this is a base for buccaneers who prey on shipping in the Moonsea. The group causes a distraction by releasing the buccaneers' horses, then defeats them in small groups. The adventurers free several captives from Phlan.
September 17 - The group returns to Phlan and discovers that
Councilman Cadorna is now in charge. During their six-week absence,
both Ulrich Eberhard and Werner von Urslingen died under unusual circumstances.
Cadorna greets the adventurers warmly and immediately offers them a new
commission. He orders them to deliver a sealed diplomatic pouch to an outpost
of Zhentil Keep to the west. Ritter von Bek is loath to have anything
to do with Zhentil Keep, but Cadorna assures them that an alliance with
Zhentil Keep is a temporary expedient until the city can increase its military
strength.
September 19 - The group delivers the sealed pouch to the Zhentil
Keep outpost and is invited to spend the night. Wary of the Zhentil
Keepers, von Bek insists on maintaining a watch. His caution is amply justified,
for the Zhentil Keepers
treacherously attack in the middle of the night. Ritter von Bek manages
to slay the Zhentish commander and recover the diplomatic pouch, and the
group escapes from the Zhentil stronghold.
Later examining the documents in the diplomatic pouch, the group discovers
that Cadorna intended to betray the city's defenses to Zhentil Keep, in
hopes of becoming Overlord of Phlan under the Zhentarim). The document
concluded by ordering the Zhentil Keepers to slay the messengers since
they would have
opposed his takeover.
September 21 - The group returns to Phlan disguised as nomads
and immediately seeks out Bishop Braccio. They show him the evidence of
Cadorna’s treachery and prepare to inform the surviving council members.
Word leaks out of their plans,
however, and Cadorna flees the city.
September 22 - In an emergency meeting of the surviving council members, Bishop Braccio proposes electing Ritter von Bek to the leadership of Phlan, with Thecla as #2 and himself as #3. This is readily agreed to, as Cadorna’s fall has discredited many of the remaining politicians and the populace wants a new slate of leadership.
September 23 - Ritter von Bek strengthens the defenses of Phlan against a surprise attack from either "The Boss" or Zhentil Keep.
September 25 - Ritter von Bek proposes a daring plan: while the Phlan militia creates a diversion, he and the other adventurers will storm the gates of Valjevo Castle, the great stronghold overlooking New Phlan and still controlled by "The Boss". With Stojanow Gate under Phlan’s control, the city will be much more defensible.
September 26 - Disguised as merchants, the adventurers pass through Stojanow Gate and attack the bugbear guards. An alarm is given, and the group eventually defeats a relief force of ettins. Stojanow Gate falls and is immediately garrisoned by the Phlan militia.
September 27 - Sensing the opportunity for total, victory, the adventurers press on into Valjevo Castle. The castle is surrounded on all sides by barracks containing hill giants, but the party avoids combat by disguising themselves as menial laborers. Inside one of the buildings, they find Cadorna, who fled to "The Boss" in hopes of joining him but instead was tortured for information. Ritter von Bek exercises his prerogative as a paladin and leader of the council and puts Cadorna out of his misery. The group eventually enters the grounds of the inner keep and finds a maze of poisonous rose bushes, dotted with hidden teleporters and patrolled by giant poisonous snakes. The group makes its way to the central keep and easily defeats "The Boss". Sensing a deception, the group searches the keep until Perki finds a secret corridor. The corridor leads them to the chambers of the real "Boss", who turns out to be Tyranthraxus, one of the original conquerors of Phlan. Tyranthraxus is an evil spirit currently housed in the body of a bronze dragon and drawing power from the "Pool of Radiance". The group manages to defeat the genuine Tyranthraxus after a difficult struggle, in which Lightning Bolts and Fireballs shatter the walls of the Keep.
With the death of Tyranthraxus, the remaining monsters flee from the last unconquered sections of Old Phlan. The Mighty Six are acclaimed as Phlan's Deliverers!
November 2 - Thecla is raised to the newly-created see of Bishop
of the Moonsea by the Archcleric of St. Cuthbert for her work in freeing
Phlan and spreading the teachings of St. Cuthbert.
