Session # 11.9 - Rurik's Quest
While some of the senior clerics worked over Rurik, the rest were led down below the temple proper to a vast archive of lore. Books, scrolls, artifacts, and relics from ages of dwarven culture were piled upon shelves in all directions. Father Stonewall introduced them to Volko Minersong, an extremely old dwarven sage.
Volko began by asking for the return of the stolen book. Kisty finally opened her backpack and withdrew the Bag of Holding that was folded up under the rest of her travel gear. From the Bag, she produced the bulky book and handed it carefully over to the sage. He gave it a critical inspection and then set it down upon a table.
"You've done a fine thing there, young girl," the sage told (the middle-aged) Kisty. "From accounts, you came across this book a good long way from here and we appreciate your effort to return it. Its theft was a painful blow to us, both for its loss and for the life of one of our librarians who was slain by the thief. Perhaps you could tell us more of how you came to be in its possession?"
Kisty was happy to recount the tale of how the Shadow had mistaken her for her sister Misty, the head of the Thieves' Guild in Water Break. Someone had contracted Misty to find something - information, perhaps - and Misty had in turn hired the Shadow to get it. The Shadow had given the book to Kisty by mistake and she had chosen to play along. When she realized what it was, she had made it her personal mission to return the book to the dwarves, the least she could do to put things right.
Kisty then explained how Rurik and the others, who had encountered her on her journey to return the book had hindered her initially, but in the end helped her see it through to completion. She emphasized how Rurik was as adamant about seeing it returned as she was.
Zalman decided this was as good a time to chime in as any. "The book was marked to a specific page - one that references a place called Kladish and something called the Adonix. We wondered if you knew anything of either of these. We thought it might be possible that someone stole this book for that specific information. They could be seeking either."
"This book is ancient beyond description," the sage said. "In fact, this book is the oldest in our collection, and we believe that it is actually a copy of an older book. As you might have noted, the language is barely recognizable as dwarven. In any event, we suspect that Kladish was one of the first dwarven cities. Khalaz Steelmaker are ancient legends and nothing is known of the extent of their Tauren Empire or what the Adonix may be. There is speculation, of course, but after more than five thousand years, even dwarven memory is a bit hazy."
"Well," Zalman said, "there may be more to this mystery." Volko raised his bushy white eyebrows. "Shortly before we left Water Break last week, Rurik was handed an anonymous note. It told of dwarves trapped in the ruins of Kladish, pinned in by some manner of foul beasts. They sought Rurik's aid in escaping. The note included instructions on how to reach Kladish - saying it was about fifteen 'derr' north of the city along the coast."
"A specific reference to Kladish?" the sage said. "And recent? There are very few who would even know of that name."
"On top of that," Zalman continued, "the note was written in the same ancient dwarven as this book was."
The sage looked stunned by the implications. "Do you still have this note?"
"It's in Rurik's bags," Zalman said. "Now, we did have a few questions about the note. For one, if they could get a note out asking for help...could they not escape or deliver it person?"
"And what is a 'derr'?" Bommer asked.
"A 'derr'," the sage said, "is a measure of distance. We believe it to be somewhere between one and two common miles. As for how they got this note out to Rurik, your guess is as good as mine. Let's go find this note...I'd like to take a look at it."
Everyone followed back to the temple and to the room they had placed Rurik in. The Most Holy Father admitted them and everyone was excited to find that they had revived their comrade. Rurik remained weak and groggy, so they were discouraged from pestering him too much. The sage looked over the note and asked Rurik if he had any more insight into the matter.
It was at this time that Rurik chose to reveal that a mysterious dwarf paid him a visit one night during his watch over their camp. He couldn’t recall the dwarf’s name, or even if he had given it. It was all very surreal now, like a dream half forgotten, but he was quite certain that the dwarf had given him a directive – that there were followers of Moradin somewhere nearby (Water Break) who needed his help.
“That would explain the nature of the Quest spell placed upon you Rurik,” the Most Holy Father said. “And, it would explain why you’ve been getting more and more ill the farther you travel from the destination of your Quest’s objective.”
“I’m no expert in these spells, Father,” Zalman said, “but in coming here we were actually learning more about what we needed for Rurik to fulfill this mission, assuming the note and the Quest are interrelated. If he was working toward the Quest, would he still suffer ill effects?”
“Difficult to say,” the elder Stonewall said. “It can depend heavily on the wording of the Quest, though. I don’t think this was an ordinary version of the spell, either. I suspect this dwarf who visited Rurik was a direct agent of Moradin.”
The sage filled in the senior clergy on what the others had revealed to him about the book, the note, and rumors of Kladish resurfacing. “Rurik,” the Most Holy Father said, “it seems you have been chosen to perform this duty. I urge you to hasten in doing so. Rescue our brethren and, if you can, find the lost city of Kladish. It would be a profound find.”
“I fully intend to,” Rurik said. “Alone, if need be.” He had a pretty good idea that his friends would support him in this, though, and he fell back asleep.
The others were given a room to rest in while Trevor Aberdeen worked on his trade agreements with the merchants of the dwarven kingdom. Shortly after dawn in the world above ground, Rurik and the others were roused from sleep and told that it was time to return them to the griffon riders. Rurik wished for time to stay and study at the largest temple to Moradin he’d ever had the chance to visit, but he knew that he did not have the time or energy now. He promised the senior clergy to return with word of Kladish once he found it.
The griffon riders were happy to see the group return as they had little desire to remain perched on their high cliff any longer. Everyone mounted up and they were soon in the air back for Water Break. En route, the group discussed their next move. While visiting New Selmar, Lord Murell had given them leave to pursue their own agenda after successfully fulfilling their objective. They agreed that they would start by helping Rurik rescue the trapped dwarves in Kladish. After that, only time would tell.
Captain Silverleaf was persuaded to veer north of Water Break so that they could take a look at the coastline in hopes of finding evidence of Kladish from the sky. They considered even having the griffon riders drop them off, but were dissuaded when Nigel and Bommer both spotted a large winged creature flying down the coast in their general direction. From the apparent size, it could only be a wyvern or dragon. The riders changed course and made straight back for the city, arriving late in the afternoon.
Trevor Aberdeen told them that he would begin to prepare a caravan to leave as soon as possible for New Selmar. He expected to have the necessary wagons and goods ready in about ten days. The group was offered positions in his caravan guard if they wished but they deferred for the time, unsure how long it would take to help Rurik.
Kisty also announced to the group that she was going to go her separate way now. She wished Rurik the best on finishing his quest and thanked everyone for helping her return the stolen book to the dwarves. She said that she would stay in Water Break for a short while, trying to learn more about her sister’s activities, but would likely leave town before too long because of the danger the Guild presented to her. If she learned anything useful, or they had to get in contact with her, she told them to contact Helga Vie, the owner of the Battleaxe & Archebus in the dockside part of town. Kisty would use the cover name of Kelly.
With their farewells complete, the group gathered their stored gear, returned the Rings of Featherfall, and decided to leave that night for Lohna’s. The sooner they could get out of town, the bigger head start they’d have on anyone trying to pursue them.
Next session: Into the ruins of Kladish...
This episode almost made Nigel tell Rurik, "Love ya, but I ain't helping your stupid ungrateful buddies get anything not matter how many durrs it is away."
