In one ancient world, there was a region where strange majicks and demihuman races thrived. The “Vanished Lands” were blessed by the gods and cursed by prophecy. Travelers became adventurers, and adventurers strove to be heroes in the face of many perils and wonders….

Player Character Party 45 for Gene D.’s “Vanished Lands: Northern Frontier” monthly fantasy campaign, using Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition, Groups.io, Obsidian Portal, and Roll Dice With Friends, as well as Google Drive, Meet, and Jamboard as of winter/spring 2021:

• “Felsbrocken Stonefrost” [Corbin A.Y.]: male Khaz Alchemist (Mountain Dwarf herbalist) from a merchant family; curious experimenter; Neutral

• “Hesmyn Fiddlefen” [Dexter V.H.]: male Forest Gnome Rogue (Arcane Trickster) with ferret Felicity; Chaotic Good

• “Harukor Shinda” [Beruk A.]: male Karsuk/Tsucharim human Cleric of Hendlir, guardian of the ways (Twilight Domain), and blind warrior; Neutral Good

• “Sunny Fregard” [Sara F.C.]: female Wolfen Barbarian (Path of the Beast) and folk hero; Chaotic Good

• “?” [Byron V.O.]: male Avariel (winged Elf) Ranger; Neutral Good?

23 February 1224 B.C.E.: A new band of wanderers met in the village of Pugil, high in the Ivory Mountains. After Feldbrocken shared some herbs with people including Sunny and a local miner, they had visions of a procession of pale Elves, a shadowy figure on a stone throne, and a dragon at his feet….

Non-Player Characters in Pugil, in the Zeda kingdom of Dwarves and Gnomes:

• Bardoc Ironhorn: male Khaz (Mountain Dwarf) bartender at the “Demon’s Loo” tavern; told “Feldbrocken” about a miner checking out early (see below)

• Seglinda Oakbane: female Khaz, friendly barmaid; said that Mendel had rushed out in the middle of the night (after “Sunny’s” vision)

• Tharmyl Onyx Razor: male Khaz miner; directed “Brock” to go down, past Pugil’s hospitality and civic quarter, residential levels, and active mines, to abandoned tunnels

• Walchud Steinmesser: male Svirfneblin (Deep Gnome), dour miner; offered “Hesmyn” and “Harukor” work

• Mendel Coalnose: male Khaz miner, was apparently affected by Feldbrocken’s herbal “stew enhancer” and disappeared

• Jolene Oxbellow: female Woldan Halfling provisioner; made a dinner date with Hesmyn

• Norkal Fairbeard: male Khaz, mayor of Pugil, successor of founder Yalosh Whitebeard; offered the new team 40 sovereigns (half the gold paid upfront) for investigating and securing the area

• Brumor Bear Rider: male Khaz knight; overheard arguing with Norkal

• Dead goat: Blood found at entrance to a disused portion of the mines beneath the Ivory Mountains; “Sunny” and Hesmyn’s ferret Felicity began tracking…

• Shriekers: Giant fungi, made noise in reaction to group, later harvested by Brock

• Huge centipede: Found in cavern past the Shriekers; knocked out Hesmyn and slain by raging Sunny; head and poison glands harvested by Brock

Items acquired from Jolene Oxbellow with advance from Norkal Fairbeard:

• “Brock” [Corbin]: Hooded lantern and flask of oil, 50 ft. of hemp rope, a pickaxe, and a pouch of pipeweed (later harvested 3 Shriekers and monstrous centipede head and venom)
• “Hesmyn” [Dexter]: Bag of ball bearings, 50 ft. of hemp rope
• “Harukor” [Beruk]: Pitons and mallet, spear
• “Sunny” [Sara]: Sacks (each Player Character got one in addition to their existing gear)