Session 9 - The Defense of Tall Trees

Battle Overview

• The party led their platoon into the fray, holding the line long enough for allied platoons to flank the enemy.
• Enemy rear soldiers attempted to reinforce but were blocked by a wall of flame, giving respite and allowing friendly troops to decimate the boxed‑in horde.
• As the fire died, a shadowy dome advanced, releasing demons and giants. Four prisms of light appeared above allied platoons, refracting into the dome — the shadow shrieked and dissolved, revealing an array of evil lords.
• A Drow priestess and two Driders appeared within the party’s ranks, but were repelled with a lightning strike call‑for‑aid.
• The trap left the party with enough troops to reinforce allies and focus on the revealed horrors. Enemy forces broke and fled; few escaped.

Enemy Leaders & Outcomes

• Captured: Beholder, 2 Red Wizards of Thay, 1 demon, 1 sorcerer, 1 Berbalang.
• Escaped: 1 Berbalang (to Astral Plane), a Drow priestess with Draegoloths, black dragon and rider.
• Defeated but not destroyed: Lich Lord Wulgreth — body destroyed, spirit banished temporarily to another Plane; will reform at phylactery after delay.

Casualties & Losses

• Caerilcarn: Two members of the Council of Wood slain; Adran survived, tending wounded.
• Waterdeep: Captain Rulathon killed; Grath Fayvor gravely injured (lost a leg).
• Blackstaff: Nearly assassinated, saved by Lord Trilluach.
• Dashhir: Wounded defending Lord Paladinson, earned commendation.
• Troops: ~4 dozen soldiers lost.
• Despite losses, the battle was considered a major victory given the scale of enemy forces.

Enemy Composition

• Hobgoblins, orcs, bugbears (Rath Modar’s favored troops).
• Human contingent from Anauroch.
• Undead formation under lich control.
• Drow squads.
• Giants, demons, and other horrors.

Spoils of War

• Loot gathered to compensate families of fallen soldiers.
• Party may purchase basic items (healing potions, scrolls, rings) at nominal cost.
• Garrick’s friend Huthgar secured contract to sell spoils via the party’s new Waterdeep business.
• Current name: The Mighty Five Trading Consortium (tentative).
• Proposal: Repurpose Captain Thrane’s warehouse into an open market — indoor booths, statues commemorating battles, sketch artist for “hero captures.”
• Business currently earning ~30 gp/day; Dashhir and Huthgar manage operations (taking 50%).

Aftermath & Leads

• Prisoners being questioned in Two Trees.
• Lich Lord Wulgreth’s spirit banished; reform delayed by weeks.
• Human prisoners revealed Red Wizards in Anauroch are forcing slaves to dig for an ancient artifact.
• Lich controlled another item promised to allies in exchange for aid.
• Drow prisoners remain tight‑lipped; their priestess’s death enraged them.
• A ring found on the priestess is of particular interest to the Council.

Next Steps

• Question prisoners (Red Wizards, sorcerer, demon, beholder, Berbalang).
• Investigate the ring recovered from the Drow priestess.
• Research Netheril artifacts and Eye of Goram connections in Tall Trees’ ancient library.
• Coordinate with Caerilcarn leaders for defense and intelligence.
• Monitor Rath Modar’s movements — anticipate he may exploit chaos to pursue the Eye.