Chapter Two - The Lost Dwarven Hall of the Weaponsmiths

Hammer 5-11 & 13-15, 1371 D.R.

            Our adventure starts in Dagger Falls where we have taken a job to find a Telstang cache in an old Dwarven Hold in the wilderness north of Teshmyr for Gadlyn Bladebright, the local dwarven weapon smith.  We decided that it was beneficial to travel to Teshmyr as caravan guards as we would also be getting paid for the trip.  The caravan only had pots and pans on it but our pay easily got us an inn and meals that night in Teshmyr.  I, of course, played at the inn and learned what I could of local songs and stories.

            The next day we headed north through the wilderness, rugged as it was in the winter season of the year.  Our first challenge came at what seemed to be a simple river crossing.  A large tree spanned an unfrozen stream.  Unfortunately the tree spanning the distance was ice coated as Oskar found out the hard way sending him in his armor to the bottom of the stream.  The group worked together to get he and his weapon out of the ice-cold water and we continued on looking for shelter to warm him up the rest of the way.

            No long after that we did come across a small, run down cabin that had been overrun by a dozen Goblins.  They had found the former owners stash and were intoxicated from what we could tell.  As we approached, some in our group made enough noise to be heard and the alarm was sprung.  Aramil and Xan dropped the two who had raised the alarm dropping them instantly with stunningly accurate bow fire.  Cedar used his magic to disable some of the monsters while the rest of us joined the battle until all were expended but one.  That’s right, we took a prisoner in our first ever battle - Galbyug, a goblin warrior.  This said a lot about our group to start out with.  Cedrik mended people’s injuries calling on Corellon’s power.  It was truly a beautiful sight to see one of the goddess’ chosen helping our group.  Shane, Xan, and I took care of questioning the prisoner and then disputed with the group as we had promised safe release for information and many of the group had just wanted him dead regardless judging the creature on it’s looks.  I assisted in defending our word that we had given to the creature and he was freed into the frigid cold.  He produced no information and had no clue even where he was or how to get “home”, wherever that was.  His trail even showed that as we checked on him to ensure our safety.  This battle acquired us a handsome bounty - a chain mail shirt, five javelins, six morning stars, and 300 pieces of silver in a strongbox.

            We than found the ruins of the Dwarven hold with a large pond nearby.  The pond had a few beaver lodges in it and along the shoreline was one big tree.  We, unfortunately, found the remains of a dead horse by the tree.  We determined the horse had died from something reptilian attacking it.  Aramil, Shane and Xan investigated the site and found human tracks leading from the horse to the pond.  The rest of us stood guard wondering about a possible threat from the air as someone had mentioned the possibility of a dragon with a 20’ wingspan causing this kind of damage and leaving these tracks.  Cedrick cast a spell on Shane to allow him to brave the cold water and he proceeded to investigate the beaver lodges.  Shane discovered the body of Dravis, as we confirmed later.  While Shane was in the lodge, a pair of wolves came out of the woods to attack us.  We made short work of them even having Cedar hit one with his staff.  The equipment Shane recovered included three flasks of Alchemists fire, a necklace with a knot like decoration, and a dagger.  His sword scabbard was empty.  We left Dravis in his tomb, as we needed to carry on to our assignment.

            The entrance to the Stronghold has a downward sloping ramp leading to a doorway, which had been smashed open.  After searching the wreckage of the door and frame, we found the lock from the door and confirmed that we were in the correct place.  Gadlyn had given us a key and it fit the lock perfectly, unfortunately.  We now turned our attention back to the safehold, as whatever smashed the door was most likely inside.  Bravely, we pressed forward into the complex.

            The corridor led in two directions forcing us to make choices right away that could affect our lives.  Shane and Aramil scouted ahead but ran across a pit trap.  Aramil escaped but the trap caught Shane dropping him into a deep pit.  After rescuing him Cedrik healed him using Corellon’s powers again.  This turned us to the other direction for now knowing whatever might be in the hallway would have to pass the pit as well.  The other direction was a lift system that would take us lower in the complex.  Not wanting to leave untidy ends behind us, we refocused our attention on the pit trap.  This was neutralized by the idea of placing the larger timber pieces from the door across the trigger so we could safely walk the hallway.  The hallway went a little further and then ended in a portcullis.  Cedar examined the frost that was all over the area as we were concerned about another trap.

            This is where our collective knowledge came in to our aid.  During the battle with the goblins we had acquired a chain mail shirt.  We tied this to a rope and threw it down the hall to see if it would trip whatever was causing the frost in the area.  Did it ever.  What we didn’t know is that it would be a White Dragon Wyrmling.  The battle was furious starting with missile fire to magic, attempts to use the portcullis as a trap on it, and then opening the portcullis to finish it with hand to hand combat.  The final blow was a devastating blow dealt out by Shane our halfling Monk.  Two party members were severely hurt but all lived thanks to Cedrik’s healing powers.  In exploring the lair of the beast, we found that this was probably the beast that had killed Dravis and his horse outside.  It had grown too big to escape through its escape crack.  We recovered a Masterwork Rapier, 140 gold, and 2000 copper.  We also skinned the two wolves and the wyrmling for their valuable hides.

            We rested the night in the secure lair as we recovered before continuing our quest.  We were hard to rise but some comforting tunes and adventurous stories gathered our senses and we were off the next morning.  We proceeded back to the lift in the other tunnel.  As we lowered on the lift we were all on guard as we expected the worst - an ambush.  However, there was no ambush awaiting us at all.  Aramil started again scouting ahead but fell victim to another pit trap.  Before the trap slammed shut I quickly jumped ahead to shove my quarterstaff into the opening prying it open so others could descend and save Aramil.  Cedar got his rope out and secured it with Oskar and Cedrik.  Xan lowered into the pit as I continued to fight to keep the pit open.  Xan stabilized him and we got both of them back up out of the pit.  Aramil was in very poor shape but Cedrik’s power from her goddess was enough to bring him back.  While this was going on the trigger for the trap to lock it was found and the trap was disabled.

            We continued through the complex finding more broken doors.  There was one early on that was unbroken which had the symbol of Moradin on it.  It was amazingly undisturbed.  We later found the complex invaders as the monk kicking in a stuck broken door finding them.  I sang a Dwarven battle song, as it seemed the right place for the song and my comrades rushed in to the battle.  We were fighting several 6’ tall gargoyle-like beasts called kir-lanan who called us “god slaves”.  They had bat like wing and claws that were very sharp.  We battled them in a couple different rooms healing when we could after each encounter.  They fought with the desire to survive that you would expect from a wild animal coupled with the strength and weaponry of a monster.

            After defeating the creatures, we discovered an alter to Moradin in one room that was untouched.  Oskar made an offering of 20 gold on the temple to Moradin.  A ghostly hammer appeared to claim the offering and shock the paladin into a vision of the facility back when it was at it’s full potential.  He said he saw a corridor with statues, a hall with a list of names on the wall, weapon smiths crafting amazing blades, and the master smith opening the door to the Telstang.  We continued and found the corridor and hall he saw.  The statues of Dwarven heroes had been defaced and there were more of the kir-lanan waiting for us.  At the end of the battle I changed into a dwarvish victory song, as it seemed as we had won the day.  The corridor lead to a large hall where more surprises awaited.

            In the large hall was obviously a hall of the weapon smiths as one wall was filled with dwarven names for all the weapon smiths who once were here.  There was one oddity in the list of names.  Shraven, the human weapons mage, was listed amongst the dwarven names.  The date was a few hundred years old but for a human to be listed on a dwarven weaponsmith’s wall was a major find.  It also peaked my interest as the dwarven Shraveners seemed to be named after him.  Curious but to be followed up on another time.  I read all the names with hopes that I can recall them if needed in the future.  We also recovered 8000 copper, 200 silver, and 1000 gold pieces.  We proceeded on and found a secret room where the Master stayed.  It had the trigger to open the door to the Telstang.    We rested in the Master’s room for its security.

            The next morning we checked on the Telstang and found 50 bars in mint condition stored perfectly by the dwarves.  Each bar was roughly 30 pounds and three feet in length.  A heavy load indeed.  We re-secured the Telstang and headed back to Dagger Falls with news of our success.

            On the way back we crossed the path of a pair of groups battling.  A group of Goblins and a party consisting of three half-elf females and one half-elf male.  We started first by assessing the situation.  Xan and Aramil, along with most of the rest, jumped to the assumption that the goblins were the evil group of the two.  As soon as our assistance began the party turned its attention to us.  Shane and Oskar battled the party and Xan, Aramil and myself finished the goblins.  Oskar dropped during the battle but the priestess and Cedar got to him in time.  Thanks to the healing of Corellon, Oskar resumed the battle with the party until its end.  We recovered three potions (Darkvision, Hiding, and Cure Light Wounds), a Masterwork Long Bow, and four short swords.  The adventuring group was made up of followers of Bane, which explained their actions.  We burned all the bodies and continued our journey back to Dagger Falls.

            We re-equipped, paid our taxes, and ran some errands when we got back.  We got a sled and began the trek back to recover the Telstang.  Broder joined us as he was going to give Dravis a proper burial.  He became our scout for the journey.  On the way we shared our different backgrounds as now we had all fought and traveled together.  It was an amazing experience as biases and strong feelings came to the surface at the same time as compassion and understanding.  As a group, I consider us somewhat enlightened as we dealt with some of the news but stuck in the bias of the area in others.  It will be interesting to see how we grow together over our adventures.  Anyway, back to my story.

            On the way back to the Safehold, we were attacked by three krenshar.  Krenshar are big hunting cats with large sharp teeth and tentacles which come out of their faces.  Working together again we finished the cats off as our scouts came back to join us.  Xan skinned the three animals as we traveled.  Dravis’ body was still in the beaver lodge.  The burial was a quiet one for this man who was another hero of the Dalelands.  His grave is marked only with a canoe paddle by the pond at the Safehold.  Broder told stories of Dravis’ life and then told us of other Tales of the area.  I listened intently into the night as he told us of Chronomancers, the Bone Witch, the Servant of the Dark Sun, and Erigyn the Dark.  He also told us about malaugrym.  They are shape shifters that come to wage war on a particular organization.

            We were loaded the next morning and headed back to Dagger Falls with the Telstang.  We arrived after a long, uneventful day of traveling and promptly returned the Telstang to Gadlyn Bladebright.  Then, we were off to find the next adventure to share in our lives.  Be assured I’ll write you of our upcoming adventures as well.

The Songs and Stories of my Life,

Kerith of the Dalelands