The Cauldron Chronicle - Issue 04
STORMHAMMERS RECOVER WANDS, SAVE CITY
A cataclysmic flood that nearly destroyed Cauldron was narrowly prevented last week thanks to the heroic actions of the Stormhammers. After weeks of intense rain, the water level of Crater Lake began rising alarmingly, something that hadn’t happened in over a decade. In previous years, the local churches worked together and pooled resources to create magic wands for lowering the lake waters. Unfortunately for us, this tradition ceased after the tranquil rain seasons the last few years.Only Sarcem, head priest of the Church of Bahamut, had the foresight to predict this development, and traveled to Sasserine to purchase 7 wands of control water. Tragically, while dining at the popular roadside inn “The Lucky Monkey”, he and the other patrons were attacked by a group of marauding bandits.
The Stormhammers rushed to the Lucky Monkey immediately, but sadly the bandits had already slain everyone inside, including Sarcem. After defeating the bandits, the Stormhammers discovered that the wands were now in the hands of Triel, a former town guard of Cauldron who fled the city after going mad and murdering the rest of her squad.
It was also discovered at this time that Triel was also in possession of a magic decanter of endless water, which was stolen from Orak’s Bathhouse a few weeks ago.
The theft of these items, combined with Triel’s knowledge of Cauldron and the rain seasons, did not bode well to the Lord Mayor and Lord Alahind. They requested the help of both the Stormblades, the group of adventurers composed of young nobles, and the Stormhammers. The Stormhammers were to track down Triel and her bandits and recover the wands, while the Stormblades were sent to Sasserine to use their family connections to acquire more wands of control water immediately as an insurance policy.
After a terrifying few days which saw the lake waters start to overflow and run into the streets, the weary but triumphant Stormhammers emerged with the wands, having hunted down and defeating Triel and her small army of monsters and cultists. The members of the Church of Bahamut and the Church of Pelor immediately began using the wands to stop the flooding, and worked tirelessly through the night until the danger had passed. We owe these heroes a great debt!
Shortly after, the Stormblades also arrived back at the city with a new supply of wands. The Lord Mayor said the Stormblades should also be recognized for their deed, for while the extra wands ended up being unnecessary, they would have been vital if the stolen wands had not been recovered.
The Lord Mayor officially thanked and congratulated both groups at the annual Demonskar Ball and presented them with awards signifying their bravery, and named them the Heroes of Cauldron, which was met with overwhelming cheers from those in attendance.
DEMONSKAR BALL HUGE SUCCESS!
This year’s annual Demonskar Ball was one of the most memorable in years, according to countless guests who raved about this year’s exciting finale. This year’s guests of honor, Yggdrasil and Zachary Hawkwinter II, played the parts of Aggannar the Demon General and Surabar Spellmason to perfection. Whoever fills these roles next year will have some tough shoes to fill!Many in attendance also spoke glowingly of one pair who charmed all they encountered. Brigs, a member of the Stormhammers, and Skie, owner/proprietor of Skie’s Treasury, were perfect guests and a shining example of Cauldron’s elite.
Other guests who received honors were Lady Ophella and Huron, who were named the Mayors of Liduton after the Dance of the Haunted Village, and a mysterious masked man known only as “Snake Eyes” who won the Voice of Heaven singing competition. Annah Taskerhill, widely regarded as the favorite to win the Voice of Heaven for the third consecutive year, seemed quite visibly unhappy at the result. She declined to comment.
TAX INCREASES UNPOPULAR
Recent increases to tax rates are not sitting well with local merchants. In fact, rumor on the street is that the mercantile guilds in Cauldron are preparing a formal protest.One of the most vocal figures protesting the taxes is Maavu Arlintal, a wealthy importer of foodstuffs and supplies who says that the increased taxes are “outrageous” and exist “only to pad the Mayor’s pockets.”
The Lord Mayor said that he feels sorry for business owners but firmly stated that the tax increases are “a necessary evil” given the chaos of the past few months.
When asked what the extra tax money was going towards, he listed building repairs, the founding of the Magical Threats Agency, and additional military support for the town guard.
Lord Alahind supported the tax increases. “Clearly, city security and safety is a major concern right now,” he said. “Vampires in the sewers, magical plagues, cults attempting to destroy the city...we can’t just rely on groups of young heroes, brave as they might be.”
He also mentioned that he and the Lord Mayor were discussing a number of additional ideas, including supplementing the city guard with hired soldiers, and the idea of a tireless magical construct guard force.
MAN ATTACKED BY LAKE MONSTER?
A local resident who may have encountered the legendary Lake Monster says he was attacked by a horrible, tentacled beast lurking in Crater Lake last week.Pilok, owner of the Tipped Tankard tavern, was found unconscious and soaked at the edge of Crater Lake by a guard patrol last week.
According to Pilok, he was out for a stroll when he was grabbed by the ankles by a “terrible, leathery green-scaled tentacle” and dragged into the lake depths. Pilok said he escaped by “punching it in its ugly face” and swimming up to the shore, where he collapsed from exhaustion.
On the other hand, guard captain Skylar Krewis said that Pilok was “ridiculously drunk” when they found him, and that his story should be taken with a grain of salt.
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