Campaign summary of Clockwork Dawn, set in the World of Kiynan (5E compatible, based on Wizard of the Coast’s SRD 5.2.1).

The party began their assault on Whisperwind Canyon at dusk, slipping past the main gate through a secret, unguarded pass revealed to them by their Valkan allies. This clever approach allowed them to emerge deep within the canyon.

They decided to use their advantageous position to ambush the main gate’s five guards from behind. The sudden, violent cacophony shattered the desert’s evening calm. Shep’s Spike Growth erupted from the sandy floor, transforming the guards’ camp into a deadly briar patch. A moment later, a vial of Oren’s corrosive acid hissed through the air, followed by a massive flame strike from Ethane that engulfed the area in a column of fire, incinerating most of the guards where they stood.

The two survivors, powerful “juicers” whose bodies twitched with the effects of potent combat stimulants, rose from the inferno with defiant roars, only to find their drug-fueled strength useless against the magical storm. Bitoh picked one off with well-aimed arrows from the shadows, and the party’s combined might quickly overwhelmed the last man.

With the gate secured, Oren briefly scouted the southern camp before the heroes turned their full attention to the northern workshop. The area was a chaotic scene of industry, containing a makeshift forge, a cluttered workbench, and an array of chemicals and smithing tools. On one side, an enormous cauldron of water bubbled violently, emitting a steady flow of steam, yet, mysteriously, no fire licked at its base.

Instead of a frontal assault, Ethane chose a path of brazen deception. Using a magical disguise to appear as one of the Serpent’s Head goons, he strode confidently into the workshop. He walked directly up to the man in charge, but his ruse was short-lived. The man, revealed to be the genius inventor Aldred of Spire himself, saw through the deception. As his minions moved in to seize the impostor, they made a fatal error, triggering Ethane’s Fiery Illusion and engulfing themselves in a violent, fiery explosion. The battle escalated in an instant as more Serpent’s Head thugs poured forth from a large tent, brandishing heavy warhammers and lobbing grenades, adding their numbers to the chaotic fray.

Just as the heroes found themselves beset on all sides, two tall figures made their dramatic entrance. The Valkan Hunters slid down the scree-covered cliff face like desert specters, their movements a stark contrast to the brawl below. With deadly precision, they launched their javelins, skewering the surprised Aldred of Spire. Ethane scorched his enemies, his magic strangely augmented by his proximity to the cauldron. In the midst of the mayhem, Bitoh saw a brutal opportunity. A powerful, crunching swing of his warhammer sent one of Aldred’s minions staggering back into the mysterious cauldron. The man’s screams were sharp, but mercifully short, quickly silenced by the boiling water.

Though wounded, Aldred of Spire fought with the fury of a cornered genius. He unleashed a devastating seismic charge which caused the ground to heave and split as the blast tore a permanent, jagged fissure in the canyon floor, sending shockwaves that threw everyone to the ground. The explosion was as callous as it was powerful, badly wounding Ethane and Bitoh while catching three of Aldred’s own men in its indiscriminate radius. He followed this with a shrapnel grenade that tore through Shep and Oren, leaving them bleeding profusely from dozens of wounds.

Shep’s powerful healing magic pulled the party’s members back from the brink of defeat. The fight reached its climax at last as the party, battered but resolute, focused all their efforts on the wounded inventor. After Oren, finding a clear line of sight amidst the chaos, landed a critical pistol shot that staggered Aldred, the inventor desperately tried to evade the party’s renewed onslaught. It was then that Bitoh, ignoring his own grievous injuries, saw his opening. He charged forward, closing the distance in a few powerful strides and, with a final, precise swing, brought his warhammer down on Aldred’s head, knocking him unconscious. With their leader captured, the remaining Serpent’s Head members dropped their weapons and surrendered, bringing the battle to a decisive end.