20 Eleasisas, 1368: Summoned by the Constable

6:00pm
The black orc standing in the doorway demands, "Me Marrakt, where strangers?"

Ada turns to the company, who are all staring back at her. She explains, "Marrakt is the bodyguard of Constable Tren. And, apparently, his messanger."

The orc grunts, "Don't smartmouth. Tren want strangers him to come. Now."

The party stands, their hands instinctively going to their weapons. Ada cautions them not to with a gesture, then says, "You'd better go with them."

"That right," Marrakt growls, "you listen her. You no come, we bash heads."

"If you don't go with them willingly," Ada tells them, "they will just send more soldiers and tear the town apart brick by brick until they find you...probably hurting a lot of people in the process. Besides, you've done nothing wrong."

The bald thug behind the orc grunts, "That we know of."

Elessaria concedes, "We'll come with you. As you say, we've done nothing wrong."

The party goes out into the street and escorted through town past the market square and through the Sally Port for the garrison. Judging by the size of the bunkhouses and the stables the garrison could easily support 400 troops. Among those there the company can see humans, orcs and other races. As they move through the interior gatehouse toward the Constable's tower, the party realizes they are the only ones not wearing Zhent uniforms.

They are escorted into the Constable's tower and up to one of the upper floors, where the walls are hung with bright tapestries and the floor is littered with dirty rushes.

Constable Tren, a tall blond man with gray eyes and a powerful build, is sitting at a heavy oaken table, listlessly toying with some papers. He rises and smiles tightly when you enter.

"Welcome, strangers, to our little frontier community. My name is Tren, Constable Tren, and I can't tell you how glad I am to make your acquaintance."

Stago, unimpressed, "Isn't Tren a type of overgrown lizard man?"

Tren smiles a grin that would put the fear into any type of lizard man, and says, "That's right. The Tren are a miserable race of cold blooded carnivores that would slit your belly from balls to jaw with a signle movement of their little finger and then hold you up to their snout and scoop out your guts with a flick of their tongue before tossing your eviscerated, but still screaming, husk to the side. Then it would do the same thing with each member of your little party and still be hungry for more....me and them lizard freaks have a lot in common. Don't forget it."

Elessaria asks, "What do you want with us, we've done nothing to deserve to be imprisoned by you, and I don't know what you think you can gain by threatening us."

"I don't need to gain a thing, elf," Tren said coldly. He continued, "I run this town. And that's something you visitors need to realize, remember, and act accordingly. Now, I understand you are mercenaries. Am I misinformed?"

Elessaria speaks for the company, "We are sellswords, this is true. Is that a crime in this community?"

"Oh, by Cyric no. We like mercenaries...sellswords if you'd rather. They take a lot of the burden of dying off the backs of my soldiers. I'll get right to the heart of the matter. I can see that you're impatient...I've never understood why elves, who live so much longer than we humans do, get so impatient...."

Tren chuckles to himself and sits and stands, walking toward the company and smiling. He looks into Elessaria's eyes before continuing, "You're the leader of this bunch. I can tell, a leader is easy to recognize. You and I, we're both leaders. Let me tell you, one leader to another, we're not a big city like Waterdeep...we're not a soft village like Shadowdale...we've got our shortcomings, there's no doubt about that, but we've got things the people of Dagger Falls are justifiable proud of, and we like our lives and our town just the way they are...but we're not without problems. Recently we've had more than our share...people getting sick, people scared of getting sick, it makes everything....tense. I'm nervous, and I don't like being nervous. I think that rebellious dog, Randal Morn, has some sorcerer working for him, killing innocent women and children with this Dream Fever thing that's going around....I think he's trying to...."

He hesitates, then continues, "Well, really, the politics of it are surely beyond you, but the good people of Dagger Falls are willing to pay 20 gp to each of you if you go to the temple of Lathander and rid me--and the town of Dagger Falls, of course--of the things in that are living down in that foul crypt. I'm convinced that whatever is causing this illness is both under the ruins and in the service of Randal Morn. Oh, and if you know of any of Randal's men, there's a 50 gp bonus for each one you capture."

The company stand silently for a moment, looking at each other nervously. Tren is clearly not going to give them time to confer. He's waiting for Elessaria, as the leader of the company, to decide for them. It would never occur to him to get input from anyone under him, and so he doesn't consider that any other leader would either.

Elessaria says, "Agreed."

"Excellent," Tren says with a grin that called to mind his reptilian namesake, "unless you have questions, Marrakt will see you out."

Elessaria says, "I have one question. How many men have you already sent down there?"

"Excellent question, you're not as green as they told me you were," Tren says. "Of the dozen men that were dispatched under the temple, only two lived. And their minds are so fractured they might as well be dead."

Stago chimes in, "If we're working for the city, we're going to need supplies and time to plan what we're doing."

Tren smiles at the gnome, "Good advice. A good leader is only as good as the people under his command. You need good advice, but you're going to have to get your own supplies. If you live, I'll reimburse you for any expenses incurred on behalf of the job...its the only way to make sure we're keeping costs down and so that I don't waste any of the town's resources if you fail."

Stago says, "Unfortunately, that makes sense."

Tren continues, "I'll give you until noon on the day after tomorrow to get down in the ruins. Now, I really have other business to attend to."

Now technically Zhentish agents themselves, the party leaves the tower.

20 Eleasias, 1368: A Friend in Need

2:30pm
The company approaches the gates of Dagger Falls, a town which has become a walled fort. Sharpened timbers sunk into the earth and tethered with leather ties surround the town, and standing on platforms at the top of these walls are many soldiers.

Routunious nudges Elessaria and nods toward the soldiers. He says, "Notice the uniforms of the city guard...The yellow of the Zhentarim."

As they approach the gates they see a wanted poster tacked to the wall with a drawing of Randal Morn on it. The poster, in the common tongue, informs all who enter the town that "Anyone aiding or abetting this rebel will be executed."

A member of the guard at the gate holds up his hand and shouts down to the adventurers, "Hold!"

Routunious removes his hat and calls up to the soldier, "Yes?"

"State your business in Dagger Falls."

"We are...tourists," Routuionius responds.

"Don't you know that this town is under quarentine? Haven't you heard of the Sleeping Sickness?"

The companions act ignorant. Stago says, "No, Sir... what's that?"

"The sleeping sickness is a disease that is--"

Elessaria interrupts, "My friend here is a priest of Gond, and we are accompanying him on a pilgrimage to the major temples of the Dalelands. We understand that there was a temple to Lathander in this city."

"Not for years," the soldier calls down. Another steps up next to him and joins the conversation, "It burned down ages ago. They're trying to repair it, but when they do it will be a temple of Cyric."

Routunious tries to appear elated at the news, "Well, then! That is certainly something worth seeing!"

"Open the gates," the leader of the guard detail says, "but unless you have someone in the city who will sponsor you, you need to be outside the gates by sundown."

"Understood, officer! Understood! And my thanks!" Routunious effuses.

Inside the walls of Dagger Falls, they walk to ruined Temple of Lathander. Along the way they pass a couple of blocks of warehouses for the caravans that pass through the dale. The gate seems to open on what passes for a warehouse district.

Stago points, and shouts, "Tavern!"

Following his pointed finger, they note the presence of a very disreputable looking tavern, the shingle of which names it The Broken Dagger.

Elessaria prods the gnome forward, "After the temple."

The company walks another block, with the feel of the area improving. They pass a few shops and people going in and out of them. It isn't long before they are standing in front of the temple ruins. From where they are looking, they see the cellar stairs that have recently been excavated from under blackened timbers. Low stone walls stand on every side, but the temple's beautiful glass windows and fine sculptures have been destroyed. Half a dozen guardsmen are watching them from a distance, smoking pipes, playing cards, and only half alert.

Stago walks forward and gets too close.

"Back off!" yells a guard.

Stago asks, indignantly, "Says who?"

"Says me, says my friends here, and says Constable Tren," says the guard.

Where the guards were loafing before, now they are all touchy and very alert. Their jobs and possibly even their lives are on the line here.

Stago turns around and returns to his companions. Directly behind them, he now sees, is a townhouse into which a familiar young woman is entering.

He shouts, "Ada!"

The young woman stops, and turns toward him. All the company are now looking at her, and they realize that she is indeed Ada Janko, Alzador's apprentice from Bugtussle.

She shouts with a smile, "Stago! What are you doing here?"

This question brings concern to the face of all the members of the party and increased interest from the men guarding the temple ruins. Routunious says loud enough for the guards to hear, "My child, the street is no place to renew old aquaintences...if this is your home, perhaps you could invite us in?"

"It is my brother's home, but I am here assisting in his care...he has fallen victim to the sleeping sickness."

Routunious, shoving the girl forward with the party following him, says, "What a glorious God it is who has sent his humble servant to you in your time of need. Come, let me look upon your ill brother...what is his name?

"Costa," she says as they enter the house.

Inside she takes them to a room where a feverish man with an eyepatch and beard as red as the hair on his head tosses and turns in bed. Watching over him is the silent Dwarf with No Name. Ada sits in the empty chair next to him, and from a bucket with cool water she wipe her brother's brow with a wet cloth.

"Three nights ago I recieved word that my brother had fallen ill. At first it was just a fever and sweats...but with the sleeping sickness in Dagger Falls, he thought it prudent to send me a message when the symptoms first appeared. Alzador teleported my companion and myself here. After another two days, he fell into this fiful sleep and won't wake up. I brought several healing potions but they dont' seem to help very much. If I get him to swallow some, he comes around in a kind of daze and recites verses of poetry, then he falls back into sleeping again. Nothing we can do brings him fully awake."

Elessaria asks, "What has happened to other people who have fallen sick like this?"

Before Ada can answer, Stago also asks, "How many are sick?"

Ada replies, "About 190 victims have been claimed in Dagger Falls and nearby 11 farms, 60 of them from the garrison. Most victims have been asleep for several weeks, a few have disappeared, and several are dead. Everyone is puzzled by what is going on. We were going to look into finding the cause, but I've been too afraid to stop treating the symptons in my brother."

"Let me see what I can do for him," Routunious says, and begins making a healing potion and a poultice from herbs he carries with him.

4:00pm
When Routunious applies his healing proficiency to the young man, Costa awakens and recites: "When morning comes
to mourning we go, back to our master in
caverns below."

Stago shouts, "A clue!"

After the curious burst of poetry, Costa falls back into his fitful slumber.

Ada says, "You see? Nothing works for longer than a few moments."

Routunious turns and questions Ada, "We think that the temple might have something to do with this. What can you tell us about it?"

Ada pauses, to collect her thoughts, "Some things I know from growing up here with my brother, other things I know from what little investigations I've been able to conduct since I got here this trip. The temple burned down 8 years ago. It was a terrible fire. A dozen priests of the Morninglord were burnt in their beds. The ones who survived were persecuted and ridiculed by the Cyricists...mostly by Eragyn, the new High Priestes of the Dark Sun. She wanted them gone so that she could rebuild the temple and dedicate it to her own god. Two years ago, she got Tren to endorse the plan and they started excavating the foundations before reconstruction."

Elessaria asks, "Where is this Eragyn now? Perhaps we should question her."

Ada replise, "No one knows. Six months ago she disappeared. It could be that she was the first victim of the Dream Fever, or it could be that she is behind it."

Stago asks, "Are the ruins always guarded?"

"They weren't always. The excavations continued even after Eragyn disappeared. Not long ago, there was some kind of accident down there. I think they broke into a hidden room or something. Tren sent soldiers into the temple. They never came out, and rumor is they died. Since then, the work has stopped and nobody is allowed down in the ruins. There are always at least six guards on duty, day and night."

Elessaria asks, "How often do they change the guard?"

"Every 4 hours."

Routunious says, "It is getting late, and there is still much to discuss. We have to leave the town before sunset unless we have a local sponsor who will vouch for us. Would you be willing to let us spend the night?"

"Of course, it is good to have more help."

Ada shows them to another room where they can put down improvised beds. Once they have their sleeping area prepared, they come back down and continue their discussion.

6:00pm
Their conversation is interrupted by a loud banging on the door. Ada motions for her visitors to remain seated, and she goes to the door. When she opens it she is surprised to see a black orc with a shield and mace standing in front of two burly thugs. One of the thugs, the party recognizes as the man who was watching them from the door of the Teshford Arms.

20 Eleasias, 1368: Back to the Teshford Arms

2:00pm
After a restful night in Shandar's Tower, the company is teleported by the wizard back to the spot on the road where they had used the Stone of Recall. The companions, now numbering four, walk toward the Teshford Arms.

Stago asks, "Isn't that the Red Rock Inn?"

Elessaria answers, "No, that's the Teshford Arms."

"Where is the Red Rock Inn?"

Routunious answers, "Other side of town."

Stago continues, "Aren't we supposed to go to the Red Rock Inn?"

Elessaria gives him a stern look and motions for him to keep his voice low. Then she says, "We are, to get information to Randal Morn, but as of yet we don't have any information to give."

"Oh."

"And," Routunious interjects, "We've already paid for our rooms here in advance. I'd recommend stopping in, and consider our options in relative comfort before we strike out again. We may also want to extend our reservations by another ten-day as we don't know how long these investigations are going to take...but with each passing hour the story seems to become more complicated."

The party enters the Teshford Arms. The day clerk employed by Olavia, a mousy little fop named Eb Farnum, has eyes that nearly pop out of his head at the sight of them.

Farnum stammers, "The travellers have...have returned! What a joy it is...to see you here again...when these troubled times might stack the odds against your safe return so considerably!"

"The road has not gotten the best of us yet," Routunious says.

"And yet," Farnum says cautiously, "I see that your number is diminished since last you left our premisis. I hope that some dire calamity has not reduced your number permanently? Perhaps you are no longer in need of all of your rooms?"

Elessaria, who has little patience for the wordy clerk's banter, interjects, "We are all of us, hale and whole and we would like to not only keep the rooms we have already paid for, but to extend the rental of those rooms for another full 10-day."

"I see, I see," stammers Farnum, "That would be perfect, and we're as fortunate to have you under our roof as you are to still be hale and whole, as you say, and payment can be made in advance, as is the custom?"

"Yes," Routunious says, sliding a small stack of gold coins to him. Farnum quickly pockets the coins as the company begins to walk past him to their rooms.

Farnum shouts, "Oh, no, you can't go to your rooms at the moment."

"May we ask why?" Elessaria asks with an icy tone.

"I need time to, uh, get the rooms ready. We've simply been over-run with business today and the staff, which by staff, I mean me. I need to change the linens and beat the mattresses to ensure that no vermin have infested the rooms while you left them vacant."

Elessaria sighs, "Very well, we will return for supper this evening. For now we'll venture into the town." The party turns to leave. As they exit the inn, a man stands and follows them to the door, watching from the steps as they head toward the river ford. Elessaria halts the party, sensing something. They turn around in the road and look back at the man who is watching them.

This goes on for a long while, then, Elessaria says, "Let him watch." She turns and continues on her way. After a moment's hesitation, the rest of the party follows her.

Stago asks, "What are we going to do?"

Elessaria responds, "Go into town, check out the ruined temple."

"Oh. Well, we could try going to the Red Rock Inn."

"We still don't have anything to tell Loudon the Cooper."

"Oh," Stago says, momentarily defeated. Brightening, he says, "What time is sundown, anyway?"

Elessaria says, "In six or seven hours."

Stago says, "Well, that's plenty of time to explore a burned down church. Let's go!"

Inside the inn, Farnum watches as the zhent agent comes back inside and sits by the fire. The two exchange a knowing nod, then Farnum snaps his fingers and a hunchbacked, slack jawed, clubfooted woman shuffles up to him with a look of mild terror on her face.

"Jewel," Farnum says to her, "I never would have placed a single coin on those green adventurers coming back to stay a second night."

"Nuh...nuh....No, sir." She stutters.

"And I thought to myself, the rooms are paid for in advance and there's no reason not to let them again when their cold bodies are sleeping out in the woods somewhere and can't take advantage of the comforts of our accomodations in any respect."

"Smuh...Smuh....Smahrt business, Mr. Farnum."

"And now...instead of double the profit, we've got double the occupancy and I have to figure out how to get the merchants who've been double booked in those rooms out before these greenswords come back for dinner."

"Miss...Misss...Olaaaahvia ain't going to like you double booking the rooms and pocketing the extra money."

"No...you have, my humpbacked and clubfooted char woman, precisely pinpointed my problem."

"Thahhh...Thahhh...That's a problem alright."

"Solve it for me, would you?" Farnum says, returning to his seat behind the counter and the bottle of whisky he keeps there. Jewel looks sadly at Eb, who ignores her, then looks just as sadly up the stairs to the rooms. Slowly, she clumps her way up to evict the merchants trying to come up with some story along the way by which they will leave the inn without a refund, which she knows Eb will never give them.

19 Eleasias, 1368: Back to Shandar's Tower

1:00pm
As they walk back toward the Teshford Arms, Routunious stops and asks, "Elessaria...do you think they are dead?"

Elessaria says, "Selina isn't. I can see her and the cats inside the globe. She doesn't seem to be in any danger...probably the magic of the globe sustains her."

"But, what about the other two. The ones who are now stone figures?"

Elessaria reminds Routunious as she hands him the two small figurines, "If they are dead, the wizard could resurrect them. The contract said so, free of charge."

Routunious puts the figurines in his pocket, and conducts an inventory of the contents of Tick-A-Tick's compartment. Stored in the automaton are 1pp, 1062gp, 51sp, and 13 cp. He says to Elessaria, "We've got plenty of money for the return trip."

Holding the figurines of Stago and Merle, Elessaria says, "Dead or not, Shandar needs to be informed of this, and of the warning. He's the only wizard we know who is powerful enough to counteract something...this bad."

Routunious says, "Use the stone, we've got enough to cover being sent back even after two or three resurrections."

Elessaria pulls the Stone of Recall from her pack, and Routunious reaches out to hold her arm, and with his other hand, holds onto Tick-a=Tick. By using the command word, the stone is activated and they are instantly transported in a crackling flash of energy to Shandar's secluded tower.

Once back in the safe company of the wizard and his band, Routunious and Elessaria realte the traumatic events of the previous day. Shandar listens to everything and then sits for a long moment, pulling on his pipe with a slow intake of breath. He says,"This is not a welcome development."

Routunious sputters, "Of course, this isn't a welcome development! But why has this development happened? Who did this thng? And how are you going to undo it?"

Shandar sighs and says,"You remember the evil wizard who first stole my items from me...Nesha?"

"Yes, of course," Routunious riplies, "Nesha took your artifacts, and your spellbooks."

Elessaria adds, "And people said that he used his power to make contact with the Lower Planes...and either consorted with or attracted the attention of a demonic entity. In either case, they say he was captured by evil forces and pulled into the Abyss."

Shandar nods, and says, "Very good. You listen well."

"So, do you think what we saw was some sort of demon?" Routunious asked.

"That may be, though why any demon would want you to cease your quest, I can't say. I'd always thought that Nesha was being held a prisoner of his hoped for allies, tortured endlessly for the rest of time...but it may be that he has struck some hateful bargain and is himself becoming something infernal. Perhaps, my friends, you have met Nesha himself. One of his favorite illusions was to appear as a ball of green lightning, as you describe. Perhaps he is also looking for that which he has lost and wants to scare you from the trail so that he might find them before you can return those things to me." The old wizard stops then, a very puzzled look on his face.

"Let me see the figurines of your companions...you have them with you?"

Routunious pulls the two figurines from his pockets, and Elessaria carefully removes the snowglobe from her pack. Shandar raises his eyebrow even further.

"Further unwelcome developments, I see."

Elessaria says, "Indeed."

"Well," the wizard sighed, "at least you all weren't killed or...immobilized."

"If we'd all been killed, how could we have delivered the warning to you?" Routunious offered.

"True. Message received, loudly and clearly. But, you realize this doesn't affect your contractual obligations?"

"Part of the contract specifies your aid and assistance in things pertaining to recuperation, restoration and resurrection." Elessaria countered.

"She reads as well as she listens," Shandar said through a smile.

"We understand all applicable fees will be charged," Routunious says, "but I'm sure you understand that we are better off working for you with our original number than as we are now. Can you return them to their original forms?"

Shandar studies the figurines and peers into the snow globe, at last he says, "I think I can help, but it will take time and if Nesha or his agents are already in Dagger Falls, then time is something we do not have in abundance. Which member of your party would you like me to concetrate on first?"

The elven ranger and the human priest confer for some time, and in the end decide that they have the greatest need of the gnome illusionist's talents. Elessaria says, "Stago first."

"So be it," Shandar says, as he retires to his conjuration chambers.

Mina, Shandar's cleric steps forward to ask, "What else can you report? We should waste no time and while Shandar labors to bring your companion back to us, perhaps I can help make sense of the rest of your story."

Elessaria removes the dwarven sword from her pack and unrolls it from the center of her bedroll onto the table. She says, "This sword was found in the dwarven outpost. It bears runes upon it which I lack the ability to read."

The beautiful priestess examines the sword closely, while Routunious examines her. He gets somewhat flustered as he relates the tale of the sword's discovery. Eventually, his stammering makes Mina uncomfortable.

"These runes are of a curious, ancient type...I think it would be better if I examined them in my private study."

"Of course, of course..." Routunious assures her as she departs with the sword, "We'll be out here if you require any assistance!" Elessaria only rolls her eyes.

After an hour the elf hears two sets of footsteps descending the stairs from the second level of the tower. Shandar is leading a very confused and slightly dizzy gnome.

The wizard says, "It took a good deal of doing, but I brought this one back."

"Stago!" Routunious shouts, overjoyed at the sight.

Stago says, "I'm fine, I think."

"You're as fine as you were, my diminuitive friend," Shandar says.

Stago asks, "Would someone do me the very small favor of telling me what in the world happened up there? And could you do me the very great favor of telling me over a good, hot meal?"

Everyone laughs and Shandar directs Marie to meet the request, and she heads to the kitchen to start cooking. As she does, the party sits with the wizard and the tale is recounted again. Shandar listens attentively to see if any new information comes to light the second time around.

"Don't discount anything, tell every detail," Shandar says, "you never know what might be important."

They tell of the sleeping sickness and meeting Randal Morn. They relate how they haven't heard or discovered anything relating to the staff they seek. When they get to the point of the glowing green orb, Stago stops them.

"Selina is in a snow globe? Let me see it!"

Cautiously, the globe is handed to the gnome, who peers inside it and then shakes it.

"Stop that!" Elessaria shouts.

Stago hands back the globe, saying, "But that's what you do with a snow globe, isn't it?"

Elessaria peers into the globe and sees a very tiny Selina shivering with her cats in a flurry of snow. Shandar offers to take the globe and says that he will keep her in the tower and work on her next.

"The enchantment on the other figurine, that which now contains Merle, is of a different nature than that used on Stago. I am not sure how to undo it. It could well be that the effect is temporary in nature and will reverse of its own accord. To that end, you should take it with you, for she may return to normal at any moment. I've devised a break away pouch for you to carry her in, so that should the effect reverse, she won't pop up at the bottom of your pack."

Stago asks, "Why can't we stay here until you can figure out how to restore her?"

Elessaria answers for the wizard, "That thing that struck you down is after the same thing we are, and there isn't time to sit around here while he researches the proper magics. He can do the research while we continue looking for the staff and if the effect wears off, then Merle and Selina will pop back up. If it doesn't, then Shandar may have found the answer by the time we return."

Shandar agrees, "Correct, but I think it might be better to leave the snow globe here. The figurines are nearly impervious to damage, but I can't say what might happen should the snow globe shatter from the rigors of the road."

At this point, Mina returns from her sanctuary, "The blade is magical, that is certain. This word, Olar, it is the name of the blade."

Shandar's eyes widen, "Olar means--"

"Mage Killer!" Stago finished for the wizard.

"That is correct. A dwarven sword fashioned for the purpose of killing wizards."

"May I see?" Stago asked. He looks at the runes on the blade, and says, "Yes, Olar is the name of the sword, and this name...Dorn the Grim, is the maker. Dwarven isn't so different a language from Gnomish, you know."

Everyone in the room nodded as if they did know, whether they did or not. Stago reaches out to trace the runes with his index finger, though very careful not to touch the blade.

"The blade," Stago continues, "possesses a keen and lethal edge, but is additionally perilous to any practicioners of the magical arts by virtue of exactly the sort of enchantments dwarves are so good at. The full inscription reads: I am Olar, forged by Dorn the Grim of the Brightblade Clan, blood of Belgin and Miira. Those last two names must be his parents or kinsmen or something."

Shandar says, "Interesting find. What can you tell me of the finding of it? Leave nothing out."

Routunious explains, "It was on an altar in the outpost, Elessaria pried it out of the hands of a dead dwarf."

"And this blade," Elessaria begins with an icy tone, "only works on wizards and not priests?"

"Can we keep it?" Stago asks.

"You can't even hold it, why would you want to keep it?" Routunious says.

Shandar interrupts, "Best not to hold onto it. Any dwarf, especially a member of the Brightblade Clan, who sees you toting it around or trying to sell this blade may consider you a blood enemy and call killing you for it a matter of racial honor."

"That," Routunious says, "would be bad."

"Do we put it back, then?" Stago asks.

"No, I think that if the sword were meant to be returned to the altar, it wouldn't have allowed itself to leave. You say you had visions while in the outpost?"

Elessaria answers, "Dreams...possibly visions. The priest and I were asleep, but we dreamed the exact same dream." She went on to recount the exact events of the dream, with Routunious chiming in to ensure that no detail was omitted.

Shandar says, "Interesting." The old wizard spreads his hands above the blade, also careful not to touch, and mutters the incatation for an identify spell. The blade's deadly properties are fully revealed to him.

THE SWORD "OLAR": +1 short sword, +2 against mages. Any magic user touching it suffers 1d3 hp damage per round in addition to any damage which may have been dealt by its edge in combat.

"I think that you have been chosen by the dwarven spirits to return the sword to its rightful owners, the surviving members of the Brightblade Clan. I would advise you to keep this curious item close at hand, and in secret, until the opportunity presents itself. And, given the great uncertainty at this stage of your quest, it is entirely possible that a weapon with these unique properites might be very useful. But I'd get rid of it at the first opportunity that presents itself to put it in the hands of the Brightblades."

Routunious asks, "What can you tell us of the Bladebrights?"

Shandar walks to a bookcase, and while removing a tome, says, "Little. This reference is a minor history of Daggerdale, it doesn't go any further back than after the vampire infestations."

Stago croaks, "Vampires?"

"Long ago, nothing to worry about now," the wizard said, flipping through the pages to find the spot he was looking for. "Here it is. The tale of Belesaria and the clan of the Brightblade dwarves."

Stago asks, "Who is Belesaria?" Then, recognizing the similarity, at least phonetically, to the name of their elven leader, he eyes Elessaria with some fresh curiosity.

Shandar answers, "The Mage-lords’s wife."

Routunious interjects, "Who is the Mage-lord, again? I'm having a hard time keeping all this straight."

Shandar sighs, and continues, "Colderan, who was the ruler of House Morn around 100 years ago."

"Morn?" Asked Elessaria, "As in Randal Morn?"

"The same, Colderan was Randal's great grandfather."

"And Belessaria was his great grandmother!" Routunious said, happily.

"Yes, you're paying attention, good." Shandar sat down with the book and waited for the party to calm sufficiently for him to continue. He read, "The Brightblade goldsmiths lived in delvings in Daggerdale, in peace with the ruler of House Morn, the Mage-lord Colderan. Belesaria, was a proud and arrogant woman, who believed that the people of the dale were her servants, not she their protector."

"That usually leads to trouble." Stago says, getting engrossed in the tale.

Shandar goes on, "One cold day in autumn she went to the Brightblade dwarves to buy fine jewels. The Brightblade dwarves had just finished crafting a masterpiece gemstone for their king under the mountain, and as soon as Belesaria saw it she demanded to buy it. The dwarves refused, Belesaria offered more for it, and still they refused. Vowing vengeance for this slight, she stormed off."

Stago says to Routunious, "Straight to her hot head husband, I bet, to stir up a hornet's nest."

"Exactly so," Shandar says, "When Belesaria returned, she told her husband that the dwarves would not sell her their finest work, only their trinkets. She told her husband that the dwarves had told her to her face that she was not fit to wear anything more than the baubles no dwarf would want. The Mage-lord's pride was wounded and he was so angered by the lies his wife had told him, that he swore to teach the dwarves a lesson."

"Trouble. I told you." Stago says, and is hushed by a stern look from Elessaria.

Shandar continues, "Returning to the Brightblade delvings, the dwarves explained that the gem his wife sought was a tribute to their own king, and that they had meant no insult to Belesaria. The Mage-lord realized the difficult position his wife had put him in, but could not back down without a loss to his own prestige after the threats he had made against the dwarves in public. He told the dwarves they could keep their precious stones, and hoped that their king choked to death on their gift. But, he told them, they owed him an equal duty while they maintained an outpost in his dale, and equal respect. He threatened the dwarves with a sorcerous curse if they would not pay him a great tribute of gold and worked steel as an apology for their insults."

Stago asked, "How did that work out for him?"

Shandar looks up from the book as he says, "As you suspect, the dwarves refused, but, knowing the power of a mage’s wrath, the clan and all their kin gathered what they had and left to dwell with cousins under the mountains to the north."

Elessaria asks, "But the two we found there...why did they stay behind?"

"My guess," The wizard said, closing the book, "is that the dwarven skeletons are the remains of the chief priest and the clan leader of the Bladebright dwarves who once lived here. The two dwarven heroes probably tried to kill Colderan, even though they knew enough about his power to be aware that their end was upon them. Sending their kinsfolk to the halls of their cousins in the Mines of Tethyamar, Elshar Kurl, the priest, and Dorn the Grim, the chieftain, remained behind to buy time for their clan, knowing that they would probably die. They kept up the appearance of an entire clan resisting Colderan’s forces and the rest of the clan escaped. Since you found them in the forge room, it seems likely that the two dwarves sought to destroy the upstart mage and his curse by forging a sword of cold iron. Just as you saw in your vision, they made the blade of dark ironstar steel and chanted sorcery with every strike of the smith's hammer, but ultimately the blade must have failed them. Colderan could not touch the blade that was meant to slay him, and his magic was not powerful enough to destroy it. And so, it was left to the next living souls who entered that chamber to discover it...you."

Elessaria says, "What a sad story."

Shandar replies, "Yes, indeed, and it explains why to this day, the Brightblade dwarves will render no aid to descendants of House Morn, including their only male heir, Randal Morn."

"Hmmm... And this fellow is Randal Morn's grandfather, eh?" Stago asks.

"Don't judge a person by his forbears," says Shandar. "Now," he continues, "You mentioned some writing in dwarvish on the walls, writing you copied down?"

"Yes," Elessaria says, pulling out the parchment upon which she had copied the runes.

Stago takes the parchment and reads out the runes copied by Elessaria. "Your dream seems correct. It looks like it was written by Colderan: Children of Earth, for your insults to Belesaria, my beloved, your axes shall be blunted and your crops shall wither. All living things shall flee my unhallowed might. In seven days, I shall tear down your halls, and leave no stone standing. Signed, Colderan the Mage-Lord."

Routunious asks, "If the dwarves fled and Colderan killed the priest and the chief...what happened to Mage-Lord and his wife? Why isn't Randal Morn the leader of Daggerdale today?"

Elessaria interjects, "Zhentarim mercenaries and spies deposed the Morns after the fall of Teshendale, 50 years ago."

"How do you know that?" Stago asked.

Elessaria sighs and says, "Because, I listen when people tell me things. You should try it."

"I listen, but I guess I'll need to start writing everything down. So, the Morn's were deposed 50 years ago, but that doesn't explain what happened to this Mage person."

Shandar flips forward in the book, and says, "Historical data is sketchy at best, but indications are that not long after the dwarves left Eagle's Eryrie, Belesaria fell deathly ill. Colderon suspected it was poison, and blamed the dwarves. Nothing he tried, neither magical nor clerical seemed to halt the wasting effects of whatever she was afflicted with. There were some reports that the Mage-lord even sought the aid of dark elves, contacted through subterranean tunnels beneath the town. When Belesaria finally died, Colderan buried her in a secret location, fearful that the dwarves might return to exact even more retribution on his wife's corpse. He never revealed burial sight, even to his son, Randal's father, though it is said he frequently spend long periods of time their wailing in his grief. Colderon Morn died not long after his wife's death, a bitter, hate-filled man. Legend has it that his apprentices buried him secretly in a hidden laboratory somewhere beneath the town of Dagger Falls, and then stole his spell book. And that is the sum total of all that is known or written about him."

Marie enters with a huge wooden platter piled high with strips of fried small game meat and mashed turnips, all covered in gravy. She says, "Time to eat, you can talk again later."

As the others move to the table to enjoy the quickly prepared meal, Elessaria approaches Shandar, and draws her sword. She says, "Shandar...this is the sword which I recovered from the tor. The gnome said this inscription named it God's Bane, when he read it with the brooch of translation. I never had it identified...would you?"

"Of course, my dear," Shandar says, and casts the spell. After reading the item, he tells her, "This is an amazing artifact, and one which may prove useful indeed one day. Against all common opponents it will always strike more quickly and deal more damage than a non-magical sword of its type...however, against creatures of other planes it will be even more deadly, and deadly in proportion to the level of its weilder."

God's Bane: +1 longsword, +1 per level of weilder against extra-planar entities.

Shandar and Elessaria join the conversation at the table. While they eat, there is a discussion of hiring additional adventurers as subcontractors. Shandar says that is acceptable, but anyone brought into the party, regardless of the status given them by the original signators of contract are also bound by the terms of that contract and the original signators will be held responsible for any breeches of the contract by new members of the party.

After dinner, the company convince Shandar that it would be to the advantage of all to return to Dagger Falls in the morning, after the adventurers have rested.

19 Eleasias, 1368: Dreams of Dwarves

The dwarven priest and dwarven warrior are badly wounded and exhausted...they have staggered back into the sacred altar room for their last stand. A strange wizard surrounded by a garrison of soldiers enter the room. He speaks to the dwarves, but his speech is badly garbled...The dwarves stand defiant and prepare to charge the wizard.

The wizard casts some sort of spell at the two dwarves, who are held fast as the soldiers come up to them. They spit on them and ridicule them before hacking their motionless bodies to pieces. The dwarves fall dead to the floor. The wizard pushes his way through the soldiers and gives them a command.

As the soldiers set about searching the room for any sort of secret door out of the complex, the wizard bends to the bloodied corpses. He reaches out to grab the short sword held in the and of the dwarven warrior but shrieks in pain as his hand touches the blade. He recoils and growls something profane at the bodies. Then he turns, and climbs up on the altar. He asks for tools and is given a hammer and chisel.

The wizard carves a series of runes in the stone above the altar and when he is finished everyone in the room who is still alive laughs in a horrible, jeering way. They look at the bodies and back at the altar and then the wizard leaps down and leads the soldiers out of the room.

The two dwarves lie there in the gathering darkness, the waterwheel slowly turning and the sound of the water is all that can be heard. Then it seems as though time is rushing faster than normal, incredibly fast. The wheel is spinning whildly until the water stops flowing and it abruptly stops. The two bodies on the floor turn from meat to bone in a flash.

Then, suddenly, the vision ends.

2:00am
Routunious and Elessaria both wake up in a cold sweat.

"I had a dream, about the dwarves in the other room." Routunious says.

Elessaria is stunned, "As did I." They excitedly tell each other the details of their dreams, and discover they were both having the same dream.

Routunious says, "I couldn't see his face, the wizard, but everything else was so real."

"I couldn't see him either," Elessaria says, "...but if the dream is true, he is the one who killed the dwarves and wrote the message on the wall."
we had the same dream!!!

"Maybe we need to go back and re-examine the altar room. Those soldiers were looking for something they didn't find," says Routunious.

"Yes. Perhaps going back in the room will help us remember more of the dream. Even now the details are fading," replies Elessaria.

They check to see if the bear is still there. It is, though sleeping and snoring loudly. They creep into the altar room and instruct Tick-a-Tick to resume turning the air pump as the conduct a fruitless search for a secret doorway or hidden room.

Routunious says, "This is useless. But, as long as we're awake anyway, let's check that room you said might be an armory. The one with the fire bugs."

The elf agrees that they may as well, and so they creep across the main chamber, careful not to wake the bear. Before entering, Elessaria peeks into the abandoned armory again and sees that the fire bugs have departed.

"Odd," she says, opening the door all the way and entering the empty room. They search everything and find nothing other than a hole in the corner of the room large enough to roll a canonball down. It was behind one of the rotting wooden racks, which is why Elessaria hadn't noticed it before.

She says, "Even if that is another way in and out for those bugs, it isn't going to do either of us any good."

Routunious agrees, "No, and I think now I'm tired enough again that I could sleep without thinking of the dreams I might have or being eaten by that bear."

4:00am

With Tick-a-Tick standing watch, they sleep soundly through the rest of the night.

7:00am
The pair wake up, fully rested, and in good spirits prepare breakfast. After eating, they clean up and pack their belongings, including their now inanimate companions.

8:00am
Routunious and Elessaria sneak around edge of main chamber to secret entrance with Tick-a-Tick behind them. The bear wasn't in the main chamber, but might have gone back into its own, more familiar portion of the cave entrance. Cautiously they move through the tunnel and outside. The bear is gone.

Elessaria stands at the edge of the cliff, thinking back over the events that have transpired over the past 24 hours. She considers the glowing green orb, the dwarven complex, and the dream.

"I can't help but feel we are missing something obvious," she says.

Routunious approaches and says, "You're frustrated that we've lost so much and found nothing to justify it."

She looks at him, then asks, "Can we examine the altar room one more time? Especially the altar itself. I just can't' help feeling we're missing something. Where did all the dwarves go? How could they fool the wizard we dreamt about into thinking the dwarves were there unless there was a secret escape route?"

Routunious shrugs, "We can look again, maybe we'll have better luck now that we are better rested."

They return to the altar room and again put Tick-a-Tick on the waterwheel to pump fresh air into the chamber.

10:00am
"Elessaria," Routunious finally says, "it's no use. There is nothing here...or if there is the dwarves have hidden it so well that only a dwarf could find it."

Elessaria's shoulders sag, "You're right. We should leave and find a dwarf to translate the runes."

"Don't worry. We'll get our friends back and we'll solve this puzzle. It just isn't time to do it now."

Only partially reassured, she leads the automaton and the uncharacteristically caring priest out of the dwarven complex and they start down the mountain trail. Looking back at the outpost from the road they realize how difficult it is to see the eyrie from below. The dwarves were exceedingly skillful in crafting their watch point. They travel without incident until they get to the ravine.

They are glad that Stago convinced Selina to leave the rope bridge up, or the gorge might have proven impassable to the remaining members of the company. They manage to get to the bottom without incident. On the way back to the inn they stop at Farmer Navil's home to tell him that they explored the entire mountain but found no sign of sheep, shepard or little boy.

He thanks them for their troubles, and implores them not to forget to keep an eye out for his son and shepard as they continue their travels.

18 Eleasias, 1368: The Altar of the Last Stand

4:00pm
The next room the company explores is directly across from the rusty doors of the empty armory. This room has an ornately worked stone corridor, with a turn at the end of the visible passage.

Turning that corner they see a large, vaulted room and notice that the air is stuffy and makes their lights flicker low. There are two dwarven skeletons lying near an altarstone at the far end of the room.

Before Routunious covers his light, they see dwarvish writing on the wall above the altar, and a silent water wheel standing motionless against the adjoining wall.

Routunious says, "This would appear to be the chapel...I don't know enough about dwarves and their religion to know to what god it is dedicated."

Elessaria holds her battle axe at the ready and Routunious holds his staff with the knife on the end. In the room, looking from the doorway, they see look at the altar and the writing carved into the walls above it.

Entering the room, the ranger and priest bend down to examine the dwarven dead carefully and without touching them. The skeletons each wear remnants of chain mail armor. One wears a holy symbol with markings similar to those on the altar--a gemstone inside a mountain. The other wears an elaborate helmet and holds a sword inscribed on the blade with dwarven runes.

"Have you noticed it is getting harder to breathe?" Elessaria asks.

Routunious nods, "I'm glad you said something, I thought it was just me being winded from the battle."

Elessaria smiles at that, and says, "No, the air is bad and getting worse in here."

Routunious stands and walks over to examine the waterwheel and Elessaria guards his back. There is no water coming in, but it is clear that at one time a natural spring did flow from high on the wall and onto the wheel, before draining away through a crack in the floor. Without touching the apparatus it is impossible to tell if the wheel would still turn. Using his expertise in engineering, Routunious comes to some conclusions about the purpose of the wheel.

The priest says to Elessaria, "The water wheel once provided power to circulate air throughout the dwarves’ complex. Machinery that powered fans and air ducts are behind the wheel. Without it, no fresh air, except that small amount that comes in through the forge. When the forge was in operation and the secret door closed, this machine would have been the main source of air. Everyone in the complex would suffocate without it."

Elessaria ponders this, and says, "Maybe the dwarves are gone because the water source dried up?"

Routunious says, "It may be so. I think we should copy the runes from the wall there, and take them back to town in order to translate them. Perhaps they will provide an important clue."

Copying the runes takes a long time, during which the air continues to worsen. Routunious nearly faints. He turns to Tick-a-Tick and commands, "Tick-a-Tick, turn the wheel until I tell you to cease."

As the automaton begins turning the wheel, they hear a sound like the earth breathing. In a very short time the air in the room is fresh and clear. The pumps still function perfectly.

6:00pm
"Are you hungry?" Routunious asks, after a rumble growls out of his own belly.

Elessaria says, "Yes. We should break into the rations."

They eat while discussing what to do next. Routunious wants to return to the inn, but Elessaria notes that the climb up the mountain was difficult enough in full daylight, trying to navigate the narrow trail and crossing the ravine in darkness would be impossible.

"We've done impossible things before," Routunious grumbled.

"Only when there was no other choice. We have a choice. We're sleeping here tonight."

"Not next to them," Routunious said, pointing at the two dwarven bodies with his stale bread.

"The othe room then."

Routunious asks, "Would it be...a sacrilige to loot their bodies?"

"Yes." Elessaria says.

"Not loot, I mean...search the bodies and carry their valuables back to..."

"Someone who might pay a reward for them?" Elessaria interrupts.

"Something like that. The sword has runes on it too, and is easier to transport than the wall...we should take it with us."

They continue to discuss the matter until they finish their food, in the end deciding to take the sword. Then follows an equally long discussion of the logistics of doing so. Routunious insists that Elessaria do the honors.

In the end, despite the trepidation inspired by the animated warhammer in the other room, taking the sword from the dwarven corpse is uneventful.

7:00pm
A great growlilng is heard echoing in the complex.

"You've already eaten!" Elessaria says.

"It isn't me...I think...the bear is home. We forgot to shut the door."

There is more noise back in the main room.

Routunious asks, "What do we do?"

Elessaria says, "I'm a ranger...I will try using my Animal Empathy to make friends with it."

Routunious is doubful, "Right...but what is the back up plan in case that doesn't work? Cast Animal Friendship?"

"fine," Elessaria says, "and if all else fails, we fight the bear."

Routunious asks, "You're better at fighting than making friends...couldn't 'we start with killing the bear? That plan seems most likely to yeild success."

Elessaria insists, "I'm not going to kill anything unless I have to. A bear isn't an evil creature, and we are in its home. If we can remove the bear without killing it, that is what we will do."

Routunious gives up the argument, "As you wish."

Leaving the chapel, Elessaria enters the main room to see an enormous brown bear on all fours hungrily eating the remains of the Stago's dog.

The ranger senses that the bear is a little confused. It didn't know that it had a whole back room, and is enjoying the new space. One paw is on the squishy head of the dog, and one paw is on squishy tail section while its jaws happily rip apart the rest.

Routunious steps up behind her and is sickened by the sight of the bear's meal.

Elessaria asks, "Do you notice anything strange?"

"Stranger than trapped by a bear in an abandoned stronghold after eating dinner in an airless chamber with two dead dwarves?"

"Strange about the dog--look, each time the bear bites or paws it, clouds of dust seem to puff up from the animal, as if its bones were made of chalk that had been crushed."

"Yeah...that is strange. What are you going to do about the bear?"

With the priest prodding her, Elessaria enters the chamber with the bear. It is about 50 feet away, and doesn't seem to be bothered by her. She tries to employ her Animal Empathy ability and there is no change in the bear's activity.

"We don't seem to be able to leave, even if we were planning to. Shall we explore the remaining passage?" Elessaria asks.

Routunious replies, "Why not? Maybe it will be gone when we get back."

They slide along the wall and down the corridor with the bear not seeming to even notice it is sharing the space. As with the first tunnel, this one leads to a lookout post which has excellent views of the Tesh River Valley through arrow slits, but after a thorough search, it is decided that there is no egress from here except into main chamber.

8:00pm
With Tick-a-Tick standing guard, Routunious and Elessaria set up camp in forge room and attempt to sleep until the bear leaves for its morning hunt. Routunious almost suggests killing the bear again, but the look Elessaria gives him stops him before the words can leave his mouth.


Sources:

• Doom of Daggerdale Module (No copyright infringement intended, for reference use only)
  
• Reaper Miniatures Online Store
  

18 Eleasias, 1368: The Defender of the Forge

3:30pm
Elessaria, Routunious, and Tick-a-Tick enter the passage that leads to the forge room. The center of dwarven work and religious life is often a smithy, and this outpost was no exception.


The anvil still rests here, with a warhammer lying upon it. Leather bellows stand unused beside the forge, and a small shrine sits in an alcove beside the anvil. The shrine has empty candle holders before it; the alcove itself is filled with an iron statue of a dwarven god holding up a hammer. All the blacksmithing tools are missing.

As the remaining members of the party enter the room, they hear a clattering clanging sound. Astonished, they realize that the warhammer on the anvil is jumping around. Suddenly, it flies up into the air and moves toward them menacingly.

The adventurers prepare to do battle with the guardian warhammer. Elessaria puts her bow aside in order to use her battle axe.


The warhammer attacks her twice in rapid succession, and Elessaria fends off both attacks. Routunious summons Tick-a-Tick and then retreats to a corner with knives drawn. Elessaria is struck by the hammer, taking minor damage, then she and the warforged fighter attack the hammer but it is able to dodge their blows. While Routunious watches from his corner, Elessaria lands a hit against the warhammer, although Tick-a-Tick misses again. The elf's strike on the hammer splits the haft...and if a warhammer could become angry, they feel certain that this one would be.

The hammer flies at Elessaria, missing on its first attack but landing a serious blow on its second. Tick-a-Tick hits the warhammer and the handle breaks into 2 pieces, falling away from the hammerhead which, in turn, wavers and drops inert to clatter on the floor.

Elessaria removes a bottle from her pack and takes one swallow of an extra-healing potion. With a warm tingle she is fully restored to health.

Routunious examines the head of warhammer, fascinated by this magical opponent they have defeated. Holding the hammerhead in his hands, he says, "This weapon is finely worked steel but otherwise unremarkable. I don't have the knowledge to identify it further."

Elessaria, in an effort to placate whatever angry dwarven spirits might be watching and to shed a little light into the alcove, places 4 candles in the empty holders in front of the statue in the shrine.

Routunious asks, "Are you sure you want to light those?"

"We've already defeated the guardian." Elessaria returns.

"What if that statue thing comes to life?"

"Then, we will defeat it, too."

Elessaria lights the candles and holds her breath. Nothing happens, except that from the movment of the flames it is clear that there is air moving in this room.

"Look," Elessaria says, "the flames are moving."

"Where is the breeze coming from, I wonder?" Routunious thought out loud. They search the room carefully but cannot locate any concealed or secret door.


Routunious determines that the fresh air is likely coming from the area of the forge.

"The chimney must still be clear all the way to the surface," he says.

Satisfied with the explanation, Elessaria returns her attention to the alcove to the side. In it, they see a cache of iron which has over time rusted into a single large lump of metal. There appears to be nothing of value or any longer even of use. There is nothing but snapped blades, broken tools and plow blades, pitted and cracked horseshoes, twisted lanterns, irreparable bits of armor, and bars and sheets of iron that were never fully worked.

18 Eleasias, 1368: Inside the Dwarven Outpost

2:50pm
The passageway seems to open on the living quarters of dwarves. A secret series of rooms that have remained well-hidden for a human lifetime, the air un-breathed until
the Company found the secret entrance. The secret, no doubt, helped to be kept by th bear taking up residence in front of it!

As they move down the passageway, Elessaria and Routunious see a soft and diffuse blue light ahead of them. Elessaria's vision shifts back to the normal spectrum and Routunious puts a hand on the handle of a throwing knife. They round the corner and the great vault is revealed. Dozens of arches and flying buttresses shore up the ceiling of this enormous cavern 25 feet above. The blue light is stronger here, emanating from three bright blue globes that sit atop three of four great pillars standing in the centre of the room. The fourth pillar is dark, no globe sits atop it.

Routunious asks, "Are these blue orbs related to the green one?"

"I don't think so...They are much smaller."

"Eggs?"

"They appear to be nothing more than lamps, stone orbs upon which a continual light spell has been cast...as with your hat light...but stay alert to danger."

They continue to examine the great, circular chamber. It is decorated with a bas relief border depicting bearded dwarven legions fighting hordes of orcs and trolls. The areas under the arches have been carved into niches, fire pits, and areas separated by low stone walls; perhaps tapestries or curtains once hung before them.

There are six exits leading out of the room, including that from the secret passage where the Elessaria, Tick-a-Tick, and Routunious have entered. Large pillars stand before two of the passageways and statues of dwarven warriors line both sides of the corridors. Two other passageways are undecorated. A set of rusty iron double doors indicates the sixth exit.

Routunious whispers, "You seem to be doing remarkably well."

Elessaria responds, "What do you mean?"

"I didn't think that elves were accustomed to environs more suited to dwarves."

"I'm not exactly comfortable underground, it is true, but I've forced myself to get used to it by exploring the caves in the woods near my home," Elessaria explains.

"How remarkably far-sighted of you."

"Thank you...I do try to prepare for every contingency I can think of in advance."

"Perhaps you'd like to carry our companions? They might be safer in your care than mine." Routunious says, as he offers her the two figurines. Elessaria accepts, and places them in her pouch with great care.

Routunious suggests, "Perhaps we should be methodical in our search of these chambers. Begin with the natural opening here on our right side and work our way around the room?"

Elessaria shrugs, it doesn't matter to her in what order the search is conducted, only that it be done quickly and thoroughly. Routunious arms himself with knives and Elessaria readies her bow.

3:00pmPeering down the darkened opening in the stone, they can see shafts of light coming in, several yards down the passage.

"Another entrance?" Routunious asks.

"Possibly. But we didn't notice anything like a doorway on the cliff wall outside. Judging the distance from the entrance to that point...this passage would end on the other side of the rock from where the eagles had nested. More likely this is a hidden observation point or more crossbow slits to shoot at any who might try to get in through the front door."

"Not likely to be anything worth looking at then," Routunious says, "shall we try the double doors?"

Elessaria examines the corridor wherein the rusty doors are set. They are made of iron and set with great skill into the natural stone with massive hinges. On each door is a handle covered in dust. The elven ranger uses her long sword to push on the doors very slightly. They do not give at all. She reaches out her gauntleted hand to grip the handle on the right door, turning it gently while pushing very slightly inward. From the open crack between the doors a soft red light spills out.

Elessaria peeks through the crack. Inside she sees wooden racks lining the walls and standing in the middle of a windowless room. The red glow comes from gigantic beetle-like creatures with a single large compound eye and some sort of vent atop their glowing abdomens, from which short bursts of flame periodically jet forth. The strange creatures are scuttling across the floor, clicking their mandibles and hissing. They do not seem to have noticed the elf, and she slowly closes the door again.

Routunious asks, "What did you see?"

She describes the room and the fire beetles, and then says, "I couldn't tell if anything was on the racks in the flickering light provided by those creatures, but I think they were empty."

"Then, let's move on to the next room," he says, already walking toward it.

18 Eleasias, 1368: The Warning

2:15pm
With the secret door's sliding open, the party prepares to enter the tunnel which has been exposed. Before the first step can be taken, however, they notice a glowing red "spot" on the floor in front of them. A red spot that was getting redder.

Just as Routunious is about to examine this strange spot with the light from his hat, the spot becomes concave, and collapses into a hole from which a lightning bolt erupts. The lightning bolt ricochets around the walls with a sickening crackle. More lighting sparks up from the hole, which is now growing larger, and it looks like horrible electrical spider legs searching for anything upon which it can seize in order to lift its main body up from below.

Unsure of what to do, the party decides to watch it to see if there is a pattern that might reveal its purpose. As they watch, green tendrils of smoke rise from the ground around the hole.

Elessaria asks, "Stago, is this an illusion? Something put here by the dwarves to frighten intruders away?"

The gnome concentrates on the lurid green display, his hair beginning to stand on end from the charged air. He shouts through the growing noise, "No, that's real smoke...real lightning!"

More lightning fires out from the hole, bigger bolts with louder crackling and the growing stench of sulphur.

Elessaria shouts to the rest of the party, "Time to leave!"

Everyone but Merle quickly begins to exit the cave, but the strange young woman from the far east lags behind. She watches the green bolts of lightning, and sees a large, glowing green orb rises on legs of lightning and begins walking toward her. Merle comes to her senses and sprints to join the rest of the party.

Just outside the mouth of the cave, the company stands their ground and looks back at the tunnel where green dancing lights crackling all over the place.

Elessaria shouts into the tunnel, "Hello?"

The glowing green energy ball comes around the corner.


In a voice that sounds like thunder and feels like ants inside of their heads, it says, "ABANDON YOUR QUEST"

The members of the company are confused, and Routunious shouts back, "What quest?"

"THE ITEMS YOU SEEK BELONG NOT TO YOU NOR TO THE ONE WHO SEEKS THEM"

Stago doesn't hesitate...he never does...and fires magic missile from his ring of spell storing. The missiles fly out from the band of gold and sparkle as they impact the orb to no effect. Suddenly, the gnome is bathed in a green glow himself. Stago gives out a startled, strangled cry as he is lifted up into the air. He flails violently as he shrinks, his skin turning a deep green hue that shimmers. Then, with a thud, the impetuous gnome lies on the ground...transformed into a miniature version of himself seemingly made of emerald.

"ABANDON YOUR QUEST"

Selina, putting practicality first, grabs up her cats into a bag and jumps over the side of the cliff. She hangs there, fearfully watching as Merle turns toward the thing and then leaps to attack it with a flurry of kicks and punches. Before she can even make contact, the monk freezes in place. The purple of her costume turns black and she begins shrinking in size as the gnome had only moments before. Merle is also transformed into a miniature, this time in onyx.

"ABANDON YOUR QUEST"

Routunious attempts diplomacy over any form of physical or magical defense. He says, "We mean you no harm! We will do as you ask, just let us collect our friends and leave." Getting no response, the priest rushes forward and snatches up the two figures that had been his companions, and shoves them into a pouch on his belt.

As Routunious scrambles back, he sees Stago's dog growling and barking in front of him. The snarling is overwhelmed by crackling and pops from whatever the green glowing creature is behind him. Then, the dog yelps and crumples into a pile of jelly that continues to whimper and whine in pain. Routunious kills it with a knife out of mercy.

Overcome with fear and horror, Selina climbs back up on the ledge and tries to run away, but she is encased in a globe of green light. The light lifts her up and the ball begins to shrink in size, reducing Selina's form inside it as well. As the light fades it leaves behind a crystal ball about two fists wide. Elessaria picks it up and realizes the crystal ball is a snow globe. The elf is shocked to see that Selina and the cats are inside it, alive and shivering in what looked for all the world like a blizzard of green snow.

"YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED"

The orb hovers above its crackling legs of energy, but it seems to be giving the remaining party members time to consider options. Then, as mysteriously as it arrived, it sinks down into the ground and is gone.

Tick-a-Tick stands silently as Routunious and Elessaria discuss the incredibly powerful force which has attacked them.

Routunious says in a stunned voice, "I don't understand what it wants. Was this...thing...sent to warn us away from this cave or does it want us to end the quests that Shandar sent us on?"

Elessaria considers it for a moment and responds, "I would guess the latter, but we can't know for certain. But, the thing is gone. I think we should go on, and explore this cave it worked so hard to divert us from."

"What if it comes back?"

"It could have done to us the same or worse than it did to our companions. Perhaps its time was limited, in which case, we should do our exploring quickly before it is able to return."

"I'm not sure...maybe we should do what it said, and just leave."

Elessaria ends the debate by saying, "If we get into immediate danger, we'll retreat, using the Stone of Recall, if necessary."

Routunious responds, "Alright...but I'm shrouding the light from my hat. Your infravision will alert us more quickly than my eyes in light."

Elessaria, leading the way into the cave, sees nothing dangerous. They creep slowly forward through the secret door and gingerly step over the depression where the red hole had opened up. They move down the tunnel, which is dwarf sized so the two humans and the automaton have to stoop. Movement is slow, but they manage the passage without any real difficulty.


(Played June 24th, 2006. Special thanks to U. for transcribing the notes from the voice recorder used in the absence of the normal scribe.)

Sources:

• demimonde mesila thraam's artwork and website
  

18 Eleasias, 1368: On the way to Eagle's Eyrie

MORNING
The party wakes and begins preparations for their investigations. Stago casts an identify spell before breakfast, and discovers that the scroll taken from the goblin leader is a fumble spell.

When they go downstairs they see that Olavia has been replaced by a day clerk. He is a balding little fop with a twitchy attitude. They immediately suspect that he is likely to be a Zhentish agent, just by the way he constantly watches and listens to everything at once.

Moving slowly among the tables with a broom and damp cloth for wiping up spills is a clubfooted woman with a hunched back.

With the clerk listening attentively, the party keeps conversation over the morning meal to a minimum as they themselves strain to overhear the buzzing discussions taking place around them. Here are some of the things said that morning:

"Constable Tren caused the dream fever so he can cure it and win favor. Mark my words, Tren will bring some sorcerer into town to pretend to lift the curse, so that us simpletons will hail his bravery and forgive his past cruelties. What? You think that's daft? It's what I'd do if I was him. What do you mean that proves your point?"

"A man with a strange accent came into my shop the other night, and tried to buy odd bits of this and that with these gemstones engraved with dwarven runes. I could tell at a glance he was surely up to no good, so I run him off and told him to come back when he had proper money and not that bad luck bringing dwarven stuff."

And lastly, "It’s more than likely outsiders up to no good. Strangers are always bad news." Suddenly the entire tavern goes eerily quiet as all the patrons look directly at the Company of the Severed Head.

The day clerk comes over to their table and clears his throat, "Ahem, my name is Eb, Eb Farnum, and I'm Miss Olavia's partner, of sorts, I run the hotel during the day for her while she...recovers from the exertions of the night shift. You folks are adventurers, I can tell by your togs and gear, and by the lack of scars on your faces and arms, I'd guess that you are somewhat new to the trade. As you are strangers to these parts, and likely looking for purposeful employment, might I offer whatever assistance I can in the area of steering you towards bodies that need guarding, caravans which might need protection, or dangerous dungeons which need exploring?"

Elessaria says, politely, "No, we are already employed."

Farnum, non-plussed, continues, "Might I inquire as to your employer and the service to which he has secured you? I am well aquainted with the environs and for a small fee could be induced to part with a great deal of useful knowledge."

Routunious thanks him, and nudging Elessaria, he suggests that it might be an opportune time to settle the tab and leave the inn. Everyone agrees and in moments they stand blinking in the bright sunshine, grateful to be out of the presence of Eb Farnum.

Merle mutters something incomprehensible and Stago says, "I think that is the Kara Turian phrase for 'Now what?', don't you?"

Elessaria says, "We can either go into town now or we can scout around the perimeter. I suspect that once we get inside the gates, getting out again won't be as easy, so I'd like to nose around out here today."

"I agree," Stago said, "Let's go up and look at the dwarven place."

"Eagle's Eyrie."

"The very same. We might as well, it sounds like dwarves are part of the trouble."

"Olavia didn't seem to put much stock in dwarven spirits haunting the town," Elessaria said.

"No, but she couldn't rule it out. Anyway, its here, we're here, and it is a lovely day for a hike up a mountain, don't you think?"

And since there was no arguing with logic like that, the company began walking down the road toward the mountain with dwarven ruins at its summit.

8:00 am
At the base of the small mountain is a farmstead with an old stone house. The farmer comes out to greet the company.


"My name is Navil," he says to the adventurers, "can I help you?"

Elessaria speaks for all, "We are The Company of the Severed Head, and we would seek your permission to traverse your land in order to explore Eagle's Eyrie in search of the root of the current troubles in the dale."

Navil looks dubious, and Selina uses her charms on him to sway his opinion of them in their favor. The farmer is taken by the cat suited thief and explains that he too, would be eager to have the troubles lifted. "Only a few days ago," he says, "I lost my shepherd and all of my sheep. They just disappeared, like those children that went missing from town. My son went looking for them, he thought they might be up at Eagle's Eyrie. Now, he's gone too."

"We're so sorry for your loss," Selina purrs, "and if we can find him, we'll bring back your son."

"What about my sheep?" Navil asked.

"Your sheep too."

"Alright, then...you can cross my land and climb my mountain. The trail isn't very good, though. You might have to cut your way through the brambles."

The farmer's warning turns out to be accurate and it is very slow going as they hack their way through the thickets. Eventually, the path opens out on a deep ravine. Elessaria scouts for an alternate path, but there is no other choice.

10:00 am
With no alternate paths, the party must find a way to cross the ravine.

Selina, utilizing her wall climbing skills is able to get to the other side. Then, using her phenomenal ropecraft abilities, she builds an elaborate harness large enough even for Tick-a-Tick, and a simple rope system to pull it across from one side to the other. Merle and Stago are the first to cross in the contraption, and then Routunious. Elessaria fastens the harness to Tick-a-Tick and Stago's dog, then she crosses without it--her elven dexterity affording her the confidence to do so. Once across, Elessaria and Routunious pull Tick-a-Tick and the dog across the ravine.

11:00 am
Selina beings to disassemble the riggedb harnes and rope bridge but Stago stops her.

"Don't take it apart, we'll only have to build it all over again on the way down," reasoned the gnome.

Seleina protests, "But what if we need the ropes up there?"

Stago says, "We've got plenty of rope, and if we need more, then we know where this thing is and we can come down for it."

"Easy for you to say, it's my rope we're leaving behind."

"But think how glad you'll be when you come back down all tired from adventuring and mountain climing that you don't have to rig this thing up all over again. We're only going to be up there for a few hours and back in the inn by dark."

Routunious grumbles at the gnome, "Excellent, gnome, you've just cursed us. We're likely never to see that inn again."

Everyone laughs and they continue to climb, leaving the rope bridge behind.

NOON
On the hilltop, the party observes a ring of stones, the ruins of an ancient tower.
They also see a cave entrance, a natural opening which has been expanded and worked by dwarven hands. So engrossed are they in the examination of the entrance that they are suprised by a pair of mated eagles which attack them from the direction of the ruined tower.

The male eagle attacks Elessaria, its talons and beak ripping into her shoulder. The female eagle claws at Nugget, but does no serious harm.

Merle, watchful that fighting the eagles does not keep the party from noticing a greater threat scans the ledge and sees something move in the rocks of the ruined tower. She moves to tell Routunious.

Elessaria is again attacked by the eagle, and the bird attacking Nugget scores another hit, causing the cat to fall limp. The eagle continues to peck at the unconcious cat, toying with it before the final kill. Selina howls in rage.

Merle manages to get Routunious' attention and alerts him to the hidden danger. He yells, "Something's in the rocks!"

Selina attacks the eagle still playing with her beloved cat while Elessaria continues to flail at the eagle batting her face with its wings and tearing at her flesh with its talons.

Stago attempts to aid her by firing a bullet at the eagle, but misses.

Routunious also attacks the same bird with a thrown knife, but misses. Fortunately, the aim is wide and he does not do any harm to the elf he is trying to aid.

Selina stabs the eagle feeding on her cat with Lifedrinker. The bird falls lifeless to the ground.

Elessaria finally manages a powerful hit on her bird of prey, and it too falls to the ground. Both the elf and the thief decapitate their eagles in short order.

Selina demands that they use 2/3 of a potion of extra healing to revive Nugget, but Routunious casts healing spell on the cat and revives it, saving the 2/3 potion of extra healing for their own use later.

Merle frantically gestures towards the rocks, she may be glad that the cat has been saved, but there is still danger nearby. She is still not confident of her translation brooch, and so she stammers, "I saw some thing!"

Stago nods, but continues to retrieve his sling bullets.

Clambering over the tower ruins they see a hideous hulking figure. It is covered in a thick coat of green and black fur and a horrible maw of jagged teeth. It looks as though it is preparing to leap toward the party.

Stago fires a magic missile, striking it in the chest. Tick-a-Tick and Elessaria close in to engage. The creature is gesturing and grunting at them, and as it does so the patterns of green and black fur seem to change accordingly. As Tick-a-Tick closes, the beastman swings its stone club at the automaton and misses. Tick and Elessaria score hits much more accurately and the beastman falls.

Selina rushes to the ruins of the stone tower and searches it. In a carefully tended nest she finds an unhatched eagle egg.

Stago says, "That's gonna die without the parents. Let's eat it."

Elessaria looks at the nest and stops the gnome from gathering breakfast supplies. She has a very grim visage as she says, "They were protecting their nest."

Routunious replies, "They nearly killed us. And this thing...This beastman...you think he is some kind of eagle farmer or something? He tried to kill us too."

The elf turns her eyes, filled with sorrow, on the priest. She says, "I don't want to have killing things always be the first thing we do. I'm a ranger. I'm supposed to be protecting nature, not destroying it everywhere I go."

"You're supposed to be protecting us," Routunious returned, "and you're doing a wonderful job of it."

"He's right, El, without your help, we wouldn't have collected half so many of these!" Stago says as he saws at the bestman's neck to remove its head.

"I just don't like feeling...evil."

"You're not evil," says the priest.

"How do you know?" Elessaria asked sincerely.

"Because evil people don't worry about being evil."

"He's right! So, stop worrying and help me search this body." Stago quipped, laughing at his own joke.

Selina says, without turning to look at them, "I already checked him. Nothing but the club, his gerkin, and the shield."

"Well, let's roll his body down the cliff, then, so it doesn't spoil our lunch."

Elessaria comes over to Selina and looks out on the impressive view with her. She can see the entire town of Dagger Falls from this vantage point.

She whispers to the thief, "I won't become evil."

"Don't expect them to become good." Selina replies, and they both share a laugh.

Routunious drops his pack on the ground after rolling the headless body of the beastman down the cliff. Wiping his hands on his robe, he asks, "What's for lunch, then?"

Stago shouts, "Eagle egg!"

"No!" snaps Elessaria and snatches the egg away from the constantly hungry gnome.

"What's she going to do with it? Hoarding is wasting, and wasting is probably more evil than eating the egg would be," Stago grumbles.

Selina puts her hand on the gnome's shoulder and says, "Let her be, and eat your rations. You can have all the eggs you want at the inn tonight for supper."

2:00 pm
After their meal, the party prepares to enter and explore the cave. Only a few feet in and the top of the cave is black as tar. The elf and the gnome make use of their infra-vision and see that the cave cieling is carpeted with fist-sized thermal signatures.

Stago says, "Bats." Then, before anyone can stop him, he lifts up a stone and throws it as hard as he can at the sleeping creatures. They come to life in a flurry of leathery flapping and flee the cave in a thick swarm, biting Selina once and Stago twice as they pass.

Stago doesn't feel well, but other than the scratch on her face, Selina appears fine. "What did you do that for?" She asks.

Stago replies, "I can't help myself."

Selina re-enters the cave with Routunious, who has opened the lantern lid on his hat allowing the illumination from the continual light spell cast on it to flood out. In the cave there are piles of guano, bones, garbage and what is presumed to be bear scat. The cave dead ends very quickly, with no appearant sign of any secret dwarven fortress. Selina carefully examines the walls and discoveres several narrow slits in the stone.

She says, "These are not a natural feature."

Elessaria asks her, "Do they look like arrow slits?"

"Very much like arrow slits. I'll check for traps...you check for bears."

Selina spends several minutes checking for traps and finds none. She takes a bit of string and ties it to a stone, which she then tosses through one of the arrow slits. She can hear it clatter to the floor but nothing else happens.

She calls the others to her, "Everyone help me look for secret doors or panels."

After a long time searchng Selina finds a secret door. The door slides open and a very long tunnel is revealed.

Experience points awarded to the party: 218xp each,
not including bonuses.

Sources:

• Pardulon Fantasy Building Series