There are fun fully animated intros and chapters, less than 2 minutes, on the channel for Aventainya. youtube.com/@aventainya
Three centuries after catastrophe reshaped Aventainya, the Church of Tain rules a civilization that credits its god with saving the world. Beyond the comforts of its settlements, six sellslingers known as the Traveling Goodberries seek their fortunes amid ancient forests, deadly magic, and the lingering legacies of dragons. Their search for paying work becomes a journey through Dragon Delves, my first foray into using modules within my homebrew campaign of 40 years.
The party reached the cold mountain village of Greysmere and sought refuge at the Death's Bane Tavern. There, they met a silver-haired aasimar man named Oriann who recognized them as capable adventurers in need of work.
A Contract for the Temple
Oriann described crimson-robed figures disturbing graves at a local temple. They stole many odd items, and the church of Tain refuses to assist. The party agreed to investigate the site for a reward, securing lodging and breakfast before preparing for their journey into the mountains.
Rest and a New Companion
During their stay, Aragog summoned a fey raven named Nevermore to assist them. Oriann provided a map of the area, and the group finalized their supplies before heading out into the freezing mountain air.
The Temple Entrance Beckons
The party reached the temple, marked by ominous green-lit goat skulls. They descended into the cold, dark depths, carefully arranging their formation as they prepared to face whatever lurked within the ancient stone halls.
Stealthy Reconnaissance of the Cult
Q and Vel scouted the lower levels, discovering a group of undead workers and a dragonborn cultist. The undead workers were pulling down statues and tearing up the tile floor. Q and Vel observed the enemy's activities from the shadows, gathering information before deciding to strike at the heart of the group.
Ambush and the Undead Fight
The party launched a surprise attack against the cultist and her undead minions. Despite the zombies' unnatural resilience, the group fought with determination, eventually clearing the chamber and securing the area for further investigation.
Clues in the First Chamber
The party examined the desecrated floor and found a mosaic of a winged demon was what was pictured on the tiles. They collected various supplies and matching holy symbols from the fallen, then pushed deeper into the temple through an unlocked door.
The Wraith Rises in Darkness
In a grim torture chamber, Aragog’s search of a fallen tiefling triggered a spectral wraith. The creature drained Aragog’s life force then wounded Vel and Thorik, but the party rallied to drive the spirit back into the walls. The wraith remains at large.
Hidden Treasures and Keys
After the battle, the party recovered a key from the tiefling’s vest and discovered a secret compartment containing a mysterious black wand. They also gathered iron keys and an amulet from the dusty passage.
Movement in the Ceremonial Hall
The party entered a vast chamber dominated by a towering statue of a Shadow Scholar. As they stood in the incense-filled air, they heard the distinct sound of movement, signaling that they were not alone.
The party consulted with Fill Flourforge before heading into the woods, where they used scent and keen observation to follow a trail of smoke and sweets.
The Chocolate Barn Encounter
Upon reaching a cottage made of candy, the party discovered a barn filled with chocolate statues and aggressive, cocoa-feathered birds that turned Aragog into a chocolate statue.
Dryads Defend The Orchard
Two dryads confronted the group, attacking with caustic candied apples. The party fought back, eventually overcoming the dryads to clear the path forward.
Descending Into The Dungeon
Torvin discovered a hidden trapdoor leading to a sugar-glazed dungeon, where the party was quickly ambushed by gingerbread creatures, sugar mephits, and a gummy mummy.
Chaos In The Candy Depths
The party faced an animated rug, ice mephits, and a Gummy Mummy that cursed Thorik. Through coordinated effort, they defeated the threats and pursued the giant wooden doll Bubba Wugga.
Rescuing The Dragon And Ed
Vel and the party reached the workshop, where the homunculus neutralized the hag Uncle Nibblecheek, who was in control of the devious candy cottage. The hag was finished off by Ostran. This freed Brioche Bane and transformed a bubblegum prisoner back into a human boy named Ed.
Looting And Rewards
As the house began to melt, the party recovered several magical items and returned the survivors to town, securing their payment and a new reputation as the Traveling Goodberries.
The party arrived in Humbleton to find a candy-shop-like log building burning, with Edith trapped inside and townsfolk panicking. Aragog directed people toward the well while Thoric charged into the building to rescue her.
Rescue Through Falling Furniture
Thoric reached Edith, enduring the intense heat and the weight of collapsing furniture to pull her to safety. The party and townsfolk formed a bucket brigade, gradually getting the fire under control.
Edith Offers The Job
Edith identified herself, explained that the fire began suddenly at the rear of the cottage, and denied having enemies beyond ordinary business competition. She asked the party to investigate and offered a reward, leading the group to question the town at the Bent Nail.
Rumors At The Bent Nail
At the crowded Bent Nail, the party received free drinks and heard that no one knew how the fire started. Petra claimed a golden lizard flew north from behind Edith's shop, while townsfolk proposed various theories, and the town offered additional coin for anyone willing to check the swamp.
Children And The Charred Bun
Before leaving, the party questioned six children gathered around a charred bun. The children revealed it had been found behind the fire, and its appearance matched Phil's bakery; Q provided the children with coins to buy fresh treats.
Phil's Bakery Interrogation
The party visited Phil Flower Forge, sampled his goods, and noticed his old burns and evasiveness about the fire. Persistent questioning about the suspicious bun led Phil to close the bakery and privately offer to hire the party.
The Hidden Dragon Job
Phil revealed he was hiding Brioche Bane, a tiny gold dragon whose fire powers the bakery and who may have burned Edith's shop. He asked the party to bring the dragon home alive, supplied frosted bait buns, and displayed a chest of treasure before the session ended.
