AERUNEDAR and Beyond

[Mahiro Satsu]

Mellomir's Journal
THE LOST CITY OF DARKFELL

Being a full and true Exposition of the Journey of the Sage Most Wise
MELLOMIR of ARABEL—
How I Reached It, and What I Found There

Scribed by the Grace of Oghma
in the Year of Wild Magic,
1372 by the Reckoning of the Dales,
by
Mellomir of Arabel

Preface
I’ll not burden any who might peruse this slim tome with the details of my studies leading up to this momentous exploration. Suffice to say that without the treatise, On the Significance of Redhand Darkfell in the Northern Marches: Secrets of the Forgotten Keep, by the brilliant sage and scholar Ummattin Tencloak (Oghma protect his soul), I might never have known of the Lost City of the Darkfell Clan, and if I had I may have been so foolish as to begin my search in the dim catacombs of the fey and uninviting Forgotten Keep. To be certain, I would also have met my doom there! Better to know what I do of Hathos, though it be precious little—enough to seek his trail elsewhere. My hope is that the trail will indeed lead me to Iolar’s Deep, and the city he built within its confines.

Flamerule 1
Even the greatest of journeys must begin in the most ignoble of locales.

This is what I receive when I break promises to myself—bitter ale, an uncomfortable bed, and a skull aching from the raucous songs of rowdy locals. ‘Tis unfortunate, to be sure, that I must once again find shelter in the miserable backwater of Eveningstar (which, I might add, has become even worse—if such a thing is possible—since Goodman Dun was forced to sell his fine establishment to the Lady Winter), but even I am surprised to find that my enthusiasm is undimmed. The Lost City of the Darkfell dwarves! By Oghma’s Lore and Deneir’s Quill, this will put me in the palace at Suzail! If Tencloak’s treatise was correct, I dare not seek the Forgotten Keep, not yet. Old Redhand shan’t have the neck of this old scholar so easily! I’m certain the Stone Tooth holds the answers. If those miserable Silversword brats do not arrive by morn I’ll set out on the trail myself, scorpions be damned.

(later) I have outfitted myself for the journey as well as I could at Tethyr’s Hardware. By the lore of the Binder these backwater folk like to pry! A pox upon Arbold Tethyr for his ceaseless questions and unreasonable prices! Perhaps they are only curious—Vilnar, for one, would not give me peace until I let slip that my journey involved a search for mithral. Mayhap he wishes to sell such items in his Adornments Shop—he’ll find himself stymied when I return the treasures to Suzail. Maethlin the alchemist, if also too curious, is at least a fellow scholar. I advised him not to waste his life in such a place as this, and he only smiled—he could have no other customers but Red Thayans in an ignorant sty such as Even’star. I hear they pay well.

Flamerule 2
A company of adventurers arrived today en route to the Haunted Halls. They call themselves the Band of Twilight, showing their charter to anyone who’ll look. Band of Braggarts comes closer to the mark. They’ve a cleric of Tymora among them—I hope the Lady smiles upon them. Not a few of the town’s menfolk are smiling upon the one called Estrel, that’s for sure, and not without reason. She’s cut from a fine cloth, and she shows her midriff without shame. But she seems betrothed to the good cleric, and practices some Art herself, so I’ll not be flirtatious. By my measure, they are far too confident. The Halls will likely be their grave.

Flamerule 3
The Band of Twilight departed this morning. If the brats do not arrive by tomorrow, I’ll blast the ears of those Silverswords, noble blood be damned. This time my promise shall stand—I’ll not return to this mudhole again. Not a morsel of decent food to be had, only tough and stringy sharrada stew with potatoes. Tencloak had better be right about Hathos’ Runes.

 

[Mahiro Satsu]

Mellomir's Journal part 2

Flamerule 4
By Oghma the Binder and all the Gods, it’s about time! The young Geradil and Courana Silversword arrived today, and we shall set out north on the morrow. As I suspected, they are the usual variety of spoiled aristocrat, but their fathers have kept my purse full and my larder stocked, so with me I must allow them to trek. If they are skilled with their blades I’ll forgive them a bad upbringing. The brat of a swordarm keeps calling me Weirdbeard.

I am scarcely able to close my eyes for excitement, but I must try. The road is long, and the Starwater Gorge holds threats unnamed.

Flamerule 5
We have put behind us fifteen long miles on the eastern shore of Starwater. The Silverswords have set us a camp within a cleft in the rocks—she at least seems to have some bit of sense regarding the wild lands. Her cousin is not so well endowed in the mind as he is in the arm. But I’ll not grudge him. His swordarm put down five yapping kobolds this eve and put the rest to flight.

Flamerule 6
Today we passed the source of the Starwater and scaled a cliff. My boots are filled with stones and the scorpions will not stay out of my bedroll. They are a plague, by the Flowing Script of the Binder! But we’ll reach our destination on the morrow, if I’ve calculated correctly. Old Silversword didn’t lie—his niece is a fine tracker. I’d not find the Stone Tooth without her. But she has an awfully uncivil tongue.

Flamerule 8
Wasn’t able to write yesterday. Difficult to put quill to page in the dark. Young Courana is certain we are being followed, and would not permit a campfire, but by whom none of us can say. We are trapped between the jaws and the stone, and in both directions lies the unknown.

Flamerule 9
Success! Our mistake was to travel north rather than east at the fork of the stream. I’ll wager we lost two days stumbling about shale-coated mountainsides and slipping on pine needles, though Courana claims it was one at most. But no matter! We have found the Stone Tooth! No sign of our pursuers, so perhaps the detour was for the best.

The trail rises through several switchbacks to the Mountain Door, just as Tencloak described. By Kelemvor’s palace of bone, he did not lie. Now we must take care, lest we awaken the ghosts of Darkfell in our search.

(later) I am too old for this sort of activity. As if the massive doors themselves were not enough, we have crossed a chasm and met with the traps left by Clan Darkfell. But these halls seem empty of any inhabitants, save vermin of the monstrous sort. The young Silverswords have displayed considerable acumen in dispatching such pests. They are quite a bit less skillful in avoiding deathtraps, all but ignoring my warnings. Beware the granite statue—Geradil barely escaped with his life.

(later) I can barely write, my hand trembles so. The Lost City of Darkfell was called aerunedar by the Clan...Tencloak was right—Hathos left his Runes and his map...a charcoal rubbing of the map itself should do, but I will have to copy out the Dethek by hand ...much of it has been defaced, the very rock smashed away...Redhand’s Doom must refer to Redhand Pool, where the warrior himself drowned...Geradil hears a clamor in the halls nearby and is going to ascertain the source… Oghma let my quill be swift...there is a poem or riddle here...

(later) Geradil is taken by the enemy...they must have been the ones following...Binder willing, perhaps there is another route by which

 

[Mahiro Satsu]

Episode IV Tummarlin’s Wake

Characters: Bronn Spellforger (shield dwarf Wiz3), Corwin Black (human Ftr3), Daziel (human Clr3, Selûne), Saeita Neví (wild elf Mnk3), Van Dyksun (human Rgr3), Velm Trueforger (shield dwarf Ftr3).


***
“For although Lathander’s shining face—his warming presence—rises into the blue of the sky…so does it also sink into the twilight at the day’s end. And so it is with us, the people who do good works in Lathander’s name. We too must, in our time, descend to the twilight. But we do not go alone.”
***

13 Eleasias, The Year of Wild Magic

Exhausted, the Company of the Wolf has defeated the Corpsecoil and descended from a chilling encounter with the restless spirit of Rivior…and learned that Ruathgrym came to Eveningstar Gorge all those years ago not only to join the Bandit King, but also to “join the Sons of the Coil,” in the enigmatic words of Rivior…

…but for now the Wolf Company is longing for a good meal and warm beds, sickened as morose from their confrontation with the risen filths of the grave.

At the House of Morning, Sir Temuel Khiv returns to Charisbonde Trueservant the Golden Chalice of Lathander. All who take a draught from its rim are made whole once again. With spirits risen somewhat, the Comnpany retires to the Welcoming Hand for victuals and drink.

Selûne, trailing her glimmering Tears, soars upon the sky above the tiny village of Even’star, slumbering heavily in the mouth of the gorge by banks of Starwater. In the midnight woods southwest of town, a host of cloaked figures moves along a little-used trail, little more than an animal track, winding along the crest of a ridge. Most let out snarls or grunts of exertion with the weight of the mining equipment they carry. Others trudge along in menacing silence, reciting to themselves the 23 Oaths of the Tyrant.

The head east and then make steadily north toward the Stonecliff and the Southeast Gatehouse of Aerunedar…

***
“No, people of Even’star…we do not go alone. We go into the night with Lathander at our sides, each and every one. He guides us and guards us unto his celestial realm. And so you must believe the same for the friend we have lost, Deltar Tummarlin.”
***

14-17 Eleasias

Training (Daziel, Corwyn, Velm), spell scribing (Bronn), scroll scribing (Daziel), physical training (Saeita), archery, hunting, meeting with Enina Meliamne, mysterious former member of the Company (Van).

17 Eleasias, evening

Corwyn, Saeita and Van stake out the High Pasture and catch the local tattooist Vilnar Orsborg and his sons, Vilnar and Dirk, trying to poach a sharrada. The hapless Vilnar claims he was hired by a mysterious stranger to steal the cattle. “You don’t understand,” pleads Vilnar.

“Yes,” agrees Van. “We don’t understand.”

There is barely time to ask a few questions when the alrm bells can be heard ringing down in the gorge. The orange glow of flames stains the night sky.

***
“Lathander’s fire warms us in the daylight, and he guides us to its heat when we join him. It warms Deltar Tummarlin right now. He sacrificed himself and his mill to save this woman and these children in the House before me. His nobility will be rewarded. We gather to sing him on his way, not to mourn him. To give him praise on his journey, the one we all someday take.”
***

By the time Daziel, Bronn and Velm reach the crop fields north of the House of Morning, the kobolds of the Crawling Sting have set the fields ablaze in several patches, and corrupted the corn and wheat with green slime…destined to die in the sunlight but able to do catastrophic damage to the crops before that time.

Snuurl Deathwhip, self-proclaimed King of the Kobolds, and his bugbear bodyguard “Crusher” command the field of battle against a full division of Purple Dragons led by Hurvald of Espar—the Crawling Sting is steadily being pounded into the dust by thundering hooves.

The struggle of King is short-lived once the fury of the Priestess of Selûne and Cousins Trueforger falls upon them. But the cost of this battle is high indeed.

 

[Mahiro Satsu]

Episode IV Tummarlin’s Wake part 2

18 Eleasias

Deltar Tummarlin’s wake is held today at the Welcoming Hand. The Bard and Herald Tzin Tzummer gathers local musicians and performers to accompany the celebration of Deltar’s life. Members of the Company have an opportunity to speak with Tahgor Ironcrest (War Wizard of Cormyr), Maethlin the alchemist, Lady Winter, Hurvald of Espar, and others.

Tempers fray and snap during the dividing of treasure.

***
“Go peacefully, Deltar Tummarlin. We’ll sing your name before we miss you.”
***

A stakeout of Vilnar Orsborg’s house that night fails to turn up the mysterious benefactor.

19 Eleasias

In the foggy hours after dawn, a quartet of mule-drawn wagons trundles into town and lurches to a halt in the market square. No one of the Wolf Company sees them arrive.

Twenty or more dwarves climb from their perches and begin to assemble tents and shelter, while their leader Dorn Trueforger, the Hammer of Moradin, heads for Eveningstar Hall to speak with Lady Winter about a certain runestone…

Van and Corwyn find Velm speaking to the dwarves at midday, after he has shown them the location of the Gatehouse. Contrary to opinion, the dwarves only want to excavate the lower levels of the Southeast Gatehouse, and gain access to Aerunedar...not take Bronn and Velm into custody.

Fences are mended within the Company, discussions are held regarding the next steps the Company will take…

…while far to the north, the Company of the Scarlet Flame arrives at the Stone Tooth and spies it jutting into the sky from the misty Storm Horns.

20 Eleasias

The trail southwest of town leads by a circuitous route to the Southeast Gatehouse, and there the Wolf Company discovers that one of the dwarves are dead. A wizard and orc servitors were lying in wait within the cave…they hurled fire and lightning before collapsing the cave and sealing it off. One dwarf paid the price, and lies beneath a cairn of stacked stones.

Now Dorn’s Doomslayers and their mining team will have to open the entrance before opening the blocked cave in the depths of the Gatehouse. “Most likely they are in there, excavating it as we speak,” says Dorn. “We’re in a race with them now.”

Uncle Dorn isn’t taking Bronn and Velm back to Thunderstone…but he Exiles them both from Clan Trueforger for False Use of A Name and Aiding a Criminal, respectively. Velm has yet to find out, of course…

21-25 Eleasias

Wolf Company decides to follow the map and Mellomir’s Journal to the Stone Tooth. They march upon a rocky trail into the Gorge, along the eastern banks of the Starwater. On the 22 of Eleasias the Company meets the Scarlet Flame Company on the trail.

The confrontation is tense between the tall and spindly Hurgald “Hawksbreath” and Daziel, but soon the Selûnite’s diplomacy smoothes the situation. The rival adventuring groups pass each other on the trail, trading naught but suspicious glances.

On the 25 of Eleasias, they arrive at the Stone Tooth. They slay four orcs that night on the trail near their camp, to find that they bear the same tribal markings as those slain in the Southeast Gatehouse, and those who hijacked the caravan of Daziel and Corwyn…

 

[Mahiro Satsu]

Episode IV Tummarlin's Wake part 3

From the woodland journal of Van Dyksun:

...severely spooked by the ghost I saw in the halls. Considering what I’ve seen only in the last month—rotting corpses still walking, squirrels that turn out to be mages, a man thought dead for over 200 years die and then be resurrected—why, it is no wonder I needed some time alone in the woods to gather my thoughts. Most of the company had things that they needed to do, anyway.

Since no one else would, I agreed to let Temuel Khiv show me around town. He was fascinated how time had affected Eveningstar, and droned on about how when he had been here before that there was only three buildings, including Redhand’s tower. I admit that I found my attention wandering.

I finally was able to escape to the woods. While I was testing the new bow we found, I felt myself being watched. At first I thought myself still jittery from the recent events, but then I noticed a wolf. Looking into the trees, I saw someone. It was the wood elf who had been with us when we captured the slavers, but who had left us suddenly while we were in the caverns. She drew my attention to tracks—I don’t know how I could have missed them before—a large company of men and possibly orcs. So near town, too. I resolved to tell the others, and asked the elf to find out more. I think she will, but who can tell. She is as almost wild as the wolf her companion.

The others were only somewhat interested in my find. I don’t think they trust my skills.

Feeling that we needed to get on with our mission, before Lady Winter had her guards throw us into jail, I organized a trip to watch the sharrada herd by night, so that we could ambush any demon imps that came poaching. Saeita and Corwyn agreed to join me, although once on the high pasture, Saeita kept to herself. Shortly before midnight, I heard approaching footsteps. I gestured to Corwyn to notch the new bow—I’m hoping to teach him something about killing from afar, although it looks like he may not need my help. The footsteps turned out to be one of the villagers--a Vilnar or Veldar or something like that--I can’t keep these villagers names straight--and his two sons (one of which tried to escape, but was brought back bloody and crying by Saeita). He claimed that a man had paid him to poach just a couple of the animals each month, but I’m not sure of his veracity. While we were talking, we noticed a fire burning back in town. As we rushed back, it turned out to be the mill on fire and the guards informed us that the town had been attacked by demon imps. The others in our party had confronted the leader of the attack and bested them in combat, including something that I heard someone call a Bugbear. It looked strangely like the Owlbear that we had encountered near the halls--in some ways, I’m glad I had not had to face it.

While the loss of life had not been high, the demon imps had burnt or defiled with that horrible green slime most of the crops. And the miller, although he had been able to save his wife and daughters by putting them on a raft and sending them downstream, had been unable to save himself. A wake was organized for the next afternoon.

Vilnar’s mysterious employer was due to show up that following evening as well. I resolved to ambush him and discover what he was using the sharrada for. I informed Lady Winter of my plans, but was surprised to discover that she was blaming us for the imps attack on the village, even for their very presence in this area. I tried to get her to see things logically—that the sharrada herd had been in danger long before our impromptu company had arrived in Eveningstar, that the demon imps were likely a manifestation of the new influence of Bane in the area. Then she really surprised me by claiming that we fabricating this Bane fear to cover our inept actions. I told her that if she no longer trusted us, then we could simply leave and begone, but that we wished to get to the heart of the problem. I had to tell her about Vilnar, and she said that if we did not find his employer, he would be arrested in the morning.

All night long I struggled to stay awake, worried by my conversation, and wondering just how long this company could stay together. The constant bickering among the two dwarves has begun to spread, I fear. I’ve found myself short-tempered with both of them as well, and I’ve noticed Daziel has taken to wandering away when the dwarves start in. Corwyn simply counts his money again, and Saeita seems lost in a trance most of the time. When the mysterious employer failed to show, Daziel asked our goddess Selune to help her determine Vilnar’s trustworthiness. What he had told us seemed to be true, but I knew the guards would be there momentarily, and without the employer, they would take Vilnar. I wrote a short note to Lady Winter to reflect what we had discovered with Selune’s assistance, but I doubt the Lady will care. I suspect if we don’t discover something soon, we will be joining Vilnar in the Lady’s dungeon.

As we gathered later that evening--after I had gotten a chance to catch up on my missed sleep--we finished portioning out the loot that we had found in the halls. Unfortunately, the process was marred by greed, and Velm threw his portion back on the table and stormed out. Bronn abruptly left the table, and that’s when Corwyn informed us that a band of dwarves had entered town. I left in search of Velm, finding him talking to the dwarven caravan, then followed him as he led them out of town and showed them the first cavern that we had explored. As they returned to town, I asked to talk to Velm. I thought that he had resolved to leave our company, to take Bronn back to their home as he had originally intended, but I was surprised that instead these dwarves were here to open the passage to Aerundar that Bronn and Velm believed this cavern to be.

I convinced the others to join me in tracking the company of men and orcs that the wood elf had pointed out to me. We started the next morning, ending up circling back around town until in the late afternoon we came right back to the cavern that I had been at with Velm and the new company of dwarves the night before. Except something horrible had occurred--as they had started their mining operation, they had been ambushed by men and orcs--the very group we had been tracking! If only we had been a day earlier! The lead dwarf was furious with Velm. I have a feeling that he thinks Velm did this on purpose. Looking at the map we had from Mellomir, the rest of the party is convinced that the entrance to Aerundar is not in this cavern, but further up the gorge. We decided to follow that map, and Mellomir’s journal, the next morning.

 

[Mahiro Satsu]

Episode IV Tummarlin's Wake part 4

From the Woodland Journal of Van Dykson:

21 Eleisias
Staying on the east side of the river just as Mellomir’s party had done, we began our trek up the Starwater Gorge. When we arrived opposite the cleft in the cliffs that were the halls, I shivered, remembering the final words of the ghost that had driven us from that place before. I discovered the old tracks of a party that we had been following before. We continued up the gorge.

24 Eleisias
We encountered the Company of the Scarlet Flame today. I admit that I nearly let my worst instincts get the better of me. When I first spotted them, I immediately thought the worst. Among their party was a large, unnatural creature that was the mirror of the Bugbear that Velm had brought down during the attack on town. I wanted to immediately attack it. I realize that not all unnatural creatures like that are dangerous, but I have not always been thinking so clearly. Luckily, cooler heads prevailed and Daziel was able to interact with them and prevent a fight. Still, as I passed by this company, I stared at them with the distrust that I feel I am beginning to have for anything I don’t understand.

26 Eleisias
We found the Stonetooth. As it was in the late afternoon, we made camp about 100 yards from the path we had been following. In the mountains, a little stream of smoke could be seen.

Right before dawn I was awoken by Corwyn. He pointed back to the path. As I got up and grabbed two arrows, notching one on my bow, I heard Bronn cursing, then Daziel’s prayer to Selune. Among the trees, I could see two orcs light up with the power of the moon. I instantly let an arrow find its way to strike down one of the unnatural things, while the others take off, running up the path, with the entire company giving chase. The elf caught up with the three of them immediately knocking one unconscious, killing another, but in turn being knocked out by the third. Daziel, following shortly behind, also gets hit before I am able to get close enough to drop the final one with another well placed arrow. We are lucky we dropped this patrol here--if they had been able to warn their fellows, we could have been in severe trouble.

We gathered our things together and climbed the path into the mountains. The smoke turned out to be a constructed chimney--Saeita was able to find this out, although she fell hard off the rocks when she returned from her investigation.

We discovered two orcs guarding the path, and I was able to drop them both before they could raise the alarm. The arrow slits in the cliff around the path indicated that we needed a better plan than simply to continue strolling up the path. Bronn, the dwarven spellcaster, decided to try a subterfuge. He altered his appearance magically so that he looked like an orc. Then he ran up the path, screaming “Help! Elves below. Attacking!” in orcish, or at least that’s what Saeita said he was screaming. It just sounded like grunts to me. We couldn’t hear what happened next, and spent an anxious ten to fifteen minutes trying to decide what to do. Saeita taught me how to scream. “Help! Come quick!” in orcish, but when I did so, the orcs behind the arrow slits simply laughed and said, “we are not so easily fooled.”

Velm pulled out a potion that he had been given by Bronn. He claimed that it would enable someone to climb walls like a spider. Quickly, we formed our plan, feared for what might have befallen Bronn. I removed my boots and gloves as instructed by Velm, and drank the potion, gagging slightly at the little spider contained in the bottom of the vial. Then I took the four vials of alchemist’s fire. Daziel jumped out into the path and taunted the orcs, running across the path to get next to the cliff, out of sight and danger from arrows. At the same time, I rushed across the path, leaped up on the wall and climbed above the arrow slit, throwing one of the alchemist’s fires inside the narrow opening. It broke on the outside and I singed my hair, but I also heard the satisfying screams of a burning orc. The rest of the company rushed to join Daziel as I moved to the next two arrow slits, given each orc his own particular taste of cleansing fire.

Around the next corner, an additional two arrow slits protected the double doors leading to the mountain fortress. Corwyn was trying to force the doors, but having difficulty. I used my last alchemists fire in one arrow slit, then dropped to the ground and attempted to place an arrow through the slit on the opposite side. The others screamed at me to help them force the door, so I put the bow back on my back and threw my weight at the door. On the second try, with all five of us pushing, the metal bands holding the door secure snapped and a dimly lit interior revealed a wide gorge spanned by a rope bridge. Velm rushed onto the bridge, but was slowed by how it was so unstable. I rushed across the wall, as I could still move like a spider, and dropped to the other side, next to one of the six orcs stationed there to guard this entrance. One of the orcs suddenly went up in flames, then Corwyn hit one with an arrow (as I said, he needed no help from me on learning how to use a bow), then Daziel summoned a celestial badger that instantly killed the orc that Corwyn had wounded. I was able to quickly dispatch the orc in front of me with my longsword. One orc tried to rush the rope bridge and cut the tie to the posts on this side, but he was dropped by a well-placed crossbow bolt by Daziel. As I rushed the last orc, it put up its hands and screamed, “It’s Bronn!” From behind me, I heard, “’ware the badger.” I glanced down to see the badger ready itself to leap on Bronn’s throat, and I swung my sword to intercept it. Even though I knew it was but a construct, it sickened me to feel the thud of sword on flesh as I killed the brave thing, it not understanding that this orc was not a foe.

On this side of the gorge were another set of double doors. Bronn warned us that he had been interrogated by a Bane priest and that there was also a Bane wizard beyond. I faded back to a stone pillar to provide cover, while the rest of the party readied themselves. Bronn, as an orc, took hold of Corwyn’s jerkin and grunted something at the doors (“Master Victory! Open up!”). When the doors opened, my heart fell. I did not fear that two orcs that opened the doors to either side, nor the four soldiers in black-lacquered platemail armor, but the ten-foot tall monstrosity holding two large wolves by chains made me slightly weak in the knees. When he chortled and welcomed Bronn with a “The Great Ulfe welcomes victory!” I nearly feared that we had made a terrible mistake. But it was too late to wonder, because Daziel immediately shot and killed one of the orcs with a crossbow bolt, Bronn let Corwyn go and cast two magic missiles at one of the soldiers. As Velm, Corwyn and Saeita rushed into the fray, I tried to save my arrows for where they could do the most good. The Great Ulfe attacked Velm, causing blood to fly, so I concentrated my first flights on him. One of the wolves tried to rush past Velm, but Velm immediately slashed down with his war axe, cleaving the wolf in half. Corwyn dropped one of the soldiers, while one of the others ran away, to likely spread an alarm. Bronn said some magical words and moved up to confront the Great Ulfe. Bronn looked like he was trying to grab the large creature, but The Great Ulfe instead met him with a great waraxe.

Screaming “Traitor,” Ulfe slashed down at Bronn, very nearly splitting him in half as Velm had done to the wolf only seconds before. During this, Saeita had tumbled back out of conflict, with a wolf on her heels that I was able to drop with an arrow before it could attack her again. Corwyn had dropped another one of the soldiers. Saeita gets back to her feet and returned to kill the final orc. Velm, seeing that his cousin had been slaughtered, screams and has his vengenance on the Great Ulfe, while Daziel finished the final soldier. In the silence that followed, Velm dropped his axe and dropped to his knees before his cousin, who had returned to his dwarven form after his death. We listened for rushing footsteps, fearing reinforcements, quickly taking advantage of the lull to use the magical healing that Daziel had traded for from the temple in Evenstar.

[journal excerpt ends here]

 

[Mahiro Satsu]

Episode IV Tummarlin's Wake part 5

Bronn Spellforger, spell-altered to resemble an orc, infiltrated the Zhentarim forces guarding the Stonetooth Gatehouse. Although he could not quite make them believe he was sent from “da big temple of Bane,” he was able to narrowly avert disaster by convincing the Zhentarim wizard Faraugar and a Cleric of Bane that he was just a simple and stupid orc, out to plunder and willing to sell his labor. Thankfully, they believed him.

When the Company of the Wolf bravely stormed the gates, Bronn’s machinations allowed a crossing of the chasm without a single casualty. In the meeting with the Great Ulfe, his wolves Vak and Thrak, and the shocktroops of the Zhentarim, Bronn Spellforger was not so lucky. He died well, so that others could live.

Daziel leads the Company through the Gatehouse, seeking the Banite cleric and Zhentarim wizard Bronn mentioned before his fall. The young helpers of Mellomir (mentioned in his journal, above) are found in a miserable cell. The Company finds the Dethek runes partially transcribed by Mellomir, and the original carved stone map from which he made his charcoal rubbing.

But they find that the place is absolutely empty, deserted by those of the Black Network. But did they flee down the Great Staircase into the darkness below? Or by some other route?

Corwyn is able to decipher the runes:

To enter Aerunedar
Carry the water of the doom of Redhand
1500 paces east to the humble cave
Which enters upon the southeast gatehouse
Quench the Rune of Darkfell
And open the way to the deep stair

Find you Redhands cellar
Find 5 of ale
Find 5 of death
11 to the Under Road
And to the Great Pillar of Iolar

I fall forever and not at all
I slay fire
I guard Hathos' skull
It holds the key
To rubies 3
Sapphires 3
And crown of fire
But remember Hathos’ curse

Daziel feels a tugging on her Silver Disk of Selûne, in the direction of the Great Staircase…

 

[Mahiro Satsu]

an episode from the journey back to Eveningstar

The party had made camp in a previous spot, the top of a small hillock in a lightly wooded section of the gorge, overlooking the Starwater River. The weather had been cold and grim all day.
After a nice supper of fresh fish, as the party is bedding down for the night after determining the watch, they heard the howling of wolves off to the north, as they had most other nights in the gorge. This night those wolves sounded a bit closer perhaps, but they faded into silence before midnight.

The hours past...until Corwyn and Saeita's watch in the early morning hours.

The two of them hear the keening cry of a sparrowhawk from the north in the gorge. A chorus of angry barking at about the same loudness explodes at the same moment...and fades just as quickly. The keening of the sparrowhawk is continuous in the night sky, growing louder and louder still...seeming to get closer.

Corwyn whispers to Saeita, "I've got a bad feeling about those wolves."

The sparrowhawk's cries become louder still, its harsh voice echoing off the limestone walls of the gorge.

They both are able to see the faint silhouette of the hawk. It circled about them.

Corwyn says, "Hmm, do you think, Saeita, that the hawk might be a familiar?"

"Could be," responds Saeita, "I'm going to wake the ranger, something seems odd here."

At the risk of seeming like a scaredy cat, Corwyn begins to awaken the others as well.

Van wakes up cranky. "What's up? Is it morning already? Damn, I hope it's not going to rain again."

Saeita hears a crunch in the underbrush below the camp. "Shhhh," she says to the ranger. "I'm going to have a look."

As the others wake up, only Corwyn has the presence of mind to put on his armor. Daziel hands Van the magical spectacles so he can see in the dark. Saeita crouches down and peaks over the edge of the camp.

Daziel begins to don her armor, as Van looks around the camp. Saeita sees dark shapes, large shapes, moving through the underbrush down the hillock's side.

Van whispers, "Take cover," as he hears them...approaching from behind...then, with a great snarl, two massive wolves explode into the clearing of the camp, one gray and one black.

 

[Mahiro Satsu]

an episode from the journey back to Eveningstar continued

Van lets two arrows fly from his bow, the first one causing the gray wolf to howl in agony, but breaking his bowstring as the second arrow misflies.

The two wolves lunge, seemingly at random, attacking Saeita and Velm. The black wolf misses Saeita, its teeth snapping shut in front of her. The wolf is feral, massive, six feet at the shoulder and seven feet long.

The gray wolf clamps its teeth on Velm and flings him to the ground.

The party springs into action, attacking the wolves in their own ways. The two Silverswords, Courana and Geradil, attempt to help as well. The gray wolf, who hunches over Velm, countines to rend him while Saeita is able to continue to dodge the black wolf. She responds by kneeing it in the mouth. Geradil is able to also damage the black wolf, while Corwyn and Daziel's attacks cause it to panic. As it tries to run away, Saeita kicks it in the ribs with her heal as it passes, but Daziel gets the last blow in, crushing its spine with her mace.

Velm slips into unconscious as the grey wolf continues to rend him. Saeita rushes over to the grey wolf, jumping up and coming down hard on its hips (a sensitive area for wolves and dogs). The others, surrounding it, distract it from Velm until Courana impales it with a well-placed arrow.

As everyone breathes hard, looking at the wolves lying dead in front of them, they hear the howling of the rest of the pack rising up around them. Daziel quickly urges Selune to grant healing to Velm, while Van rushes to put his chain shirt on.

The howling gains in volume and ferocity as the beasts being a frenzied chorus...growing closer.

Corwyn yells, "Quick, everyone, form a circle around Velm!"

"Someone start a fire," suggests Van.

Abruptly, a nearby stand of trees and brush ignites in an enormous blast of flames. The whining and other cries of wolves dying is heard.

"Cyrgull?!" cries Corwyn.

The night is torn open by a thunderous roar so massive, so terrifying, the party feels as though their very guts are turning to quivering sour jelly.

Everyone in the party except Daziel panics and runs, most dropping what they had been carrying on the ground. Corwyn cries like a little girl, Van calls out for his goddess. Daziel hears a massive crashing and splintering of trees. Turning to face the sound, she sees an enormous shadow taking wing into the night sky. With a few huge leathery flaps, it's gone.

Twenty minutes later, the rest of the party returns to find Daziel guarding Bronn's body.

"What in the seven regions was that...thing?" asks Van.

Corwyn says, "Glad it came; glad it left."

"I don't know, but very little can make me run off like that," says Saeita, shaking her head.

"Van," instructs Daziel, "go look for the tracks where it was."

Van scouts the area, somewhat gingerly, finding huge clawprings in the earth and crushed undergrowth. "I'm going to make a guess here," Van says, "but...dragon?"

Corwyn says, "That's my first guest...or maybe Cyrgul?"

Geradil and Courana blush. Saeita asks them why. They say, "Sorry we ran."

"Hell, if Daziel hadn't said something, I'd still be running," says Van.

Corwyn aks, "Could this be a gold dragon?"

"Wolves I can handle," Van says. "Orcs? Let me at 'em. I'm not sure about dragons. I thought the last one was dead."

The party packs up their belongings, readying themselves for another day of marching towards Eveningstar.

 

[Mahiro Satsu]

Episode V INTO the LOST CITY
(a Velm’s-Eye view)

Characters: Bronn Spellforger (shield dwarf Wiz2), Corwyn Black (human Ftr4), Daziel (human Clr4, Selûne), Saeita Neví (wild elf Mnk4), Van Dyksun (human Rgr3/Rog1), Velm Trueforger (shield dwarf Ftr4).

Eleint 1-4
This is the first time I’ve bothered to keep a journal in my life. Truth be told, I’m doing it to get rid of a nasty hangover more than anything else. The scratch of the quill on the parchment is soothing somehow...the dipping into ink a balm for pulsing temples.

Now that I’ve been given the Stone Boot right out of Clan T———, what else is there for me to do but drink? I’ve chopped enough wood for today, and I’m sick of this backwater town. There’s always been a lot of talk about how suspicious and provincial dwarves can be, but these Cormyrians are truly a worthless lot.

Except for my companions, of course...they are the exceptions. And exceptional. I respect Corwyn for his strength, Snowcap for having the innocence and idealism I’ve lost, Daziel for her puissant skill at war planning, and Saeita for knowing when silence is best. And also for having the best punch I’ve ever seen from man, dwarf or elf. Even Cousin Bronny has been different since his Return; older and perhaps wiser. We shall see...

So tomorrow we set out for the Lost City of Aerunedar. Which will be good for us: as usual, Bronn and Daziel are at each other’s throats the second there’s a lack of danger pressing in on all sides. We’ve made Daziel our leader. A good choice.

Aerunedar, the Goldhome, awaits me. Journal, you’re the only one I say this to: I’ll go down fighting for Clan Darkfell. No one else of my kind did, that’s for certain. I’ll meet my doom in those lightless depths and I hope that I can save my friends or lift Hatho’s Curse in the process. But I’ve seen it in my dreams, the Axe of Clanggeddin dripping with gore, and I know what it means. Bereft and without Clan, I’ll welcome it.

Bring me your worst. I’ll give you Clanggeddin’s best.

Eleint 5-8
Trudging back along the same path to Aerunedar, sleeping at the same campsites, staring at the same moon overhead, while Daziel and Snowcap chant prayers to the Goddess. I’m tired of walking this road. I know what the Father of Battles has planned for me, and I want to slay as many wurgym-sargh as I can before I am felled.

Companions, if you are reading this small book taken from my broken corpse: do not pull me back from my Lord and Keeper. I stand at Clanggeddin’s side.

Met Cyrgul along the road again. No one’s sure what he is, but we agree he’s probably not human.

Reached Stone Tooth. No ale and my mouth is dry.

Eleint 9
Spent the whole of this day rebuilding a rope bridge across the chasm. Almost lost Saeita to the depths.

I felt a chill when we passed the spot of Bronny’s doom...I wonder if he felt it too.

We sleep in the Shrine of Selûne beneath the grand staircase. Someone else passed this way before us—“Leather Boot” is what Snowcap and Daziel are calling him—I think it was the Zhent wizard. He’ll be waiting for us...I hope he’s ready for my axe. Bronny and I have a score to settle with that dog.

The Shrine is safe. It’s good to be within the bosom of the earth again. I dream of the Axe Father.

Eleint 10
We descend into the old mithril mines; damp, moaning, windy caverns bereft of life. I’m able to find the correct way; you can tell from the reinforcements to the stone that the cave has been worked. Turns out it’s more of an under-road than a simple cave, burrowing down through the earth toward Aerunedar.

Scrawled on the wall in chalk: MEERSCHAULK. No one knows what it means.

We walk the miles for hours and hours, until our legs tire and we have to sleep. A side passage will do.

(later)
Hard to get back to sleep now. I woke to Bronn screaming—and a devil of a deep-lizard stuck to the ceiling, trying to drag Bronny into its jaws with a disgusting sticky tongue. How it crept up on us undetected I don’t know; neither Bronn nor Corwyn heard it until the tongue flicked out and stuck to Bronny’s shoulder.

We slew it before it could run away.

We are getting close. There are mine-wagons overturned here and there, and I can feel the ghosts of Darkfell crowding toward the warm life we radiate. I don’t remember the underground ever being so cold.