IN GORM GULTHYN'S HALL

[Tom Cashel]

After sparring (and a few magical wounds from unexpected crits--see below) you have determined these powers of The Items at Hand:

A Cormyrian Greatshield, depicting a purple dragon standing on a broken arrow (+1 large shield of arrow deflection, wielder has Deflect Arrows feat).

Star (large mithril shield +2).

Ghost (small mithril, reflecting, shield of ghost touch +1) --can affect incorporeal creatures, reflect one spell per day exactly as spell turning.

Iolar’s Skin (mithril, everbright full plate of silent move +2).

three mithril chain shirts +2 (in gnome, dwarf & human sizes).

Snow (a keen mithril dagger of icy burst +3) --the blade is cold...critical threat range doubled, frost weapon, +1d10 cold dmg. on a critical hit

Stonegroan (a mithril-reinforced mighty composite longbow +3).

The Slivers Three (a set of three keen mithril darts of thundering +3)--critical threat range doubled, thunderous roar on a crit., +1d8 sonic dmg. on critical hit

Swift (a mithril, speed, bastard sword +3). Extra attack at highest bonus, 1/round.

Bronn, you surmise (after Velm goads you into sparring with your club) that the ring is a ring of protection +3.

The scroll is Clerical: Detect Good, Inflict Light Wounds (both at 1st level), and a prayer to Meerschaulk containing the following stanza:

...and we built steps toward the sky
to draw you from below
Coiled Lady of Snakes
Fanged Goddess with a Thousand Young
We peer into the mirror
And see you sleeping beyond...
Now--dragons awake!

You still have an unidentified Wand, and two potions.

 

[Bronn Spellforger]

These weapons are very impressive! Truly, the dwarves of Clan Darkfell were skilled in weaponmaking. They will come in very handy in the upcoming war against the Coil.

What does that poem mean? Interesting... there's mention of a mirror there, perhaps atop the ziggerat? Hmmm.

I would dearly like that ring, if you are all amenable.

OOC: Tom -- Sadly, my club is gone ... lost to the stone door at the Speculum. But I've got a keen mithril dagger that I can use to spar with my cousin...

I can try and identify these potions without magic (OOC: Alchemy check, +8).

Who's going to take that scroll? Van? Detect Good could come in very handy.

Now let me get to work on that wand...

 

[Tom Cashel]

OOC: Did you end up with that mithril dagger, Bronn? For some reason I thought Saeita had it...uh, what do I know?

Bronn, you must have an alchemical laboratory to identify or create substances/potions.

Velm:
"Yes, detect good might come in handy...then we could figure out when you finally decide to give up your evil ways, Cousin.

"As for that dragon...chances are we will be victorious if we face it directly. This is what Clangeddin tells me. But we will not all survive unless we find some more crafty way to defeat it. You can bet it will be ready for us."

 

[Bronn Spellforger]

OOC: Tom -- Nope, Sieta grabbed that dagger. Why she needs two magic daggers and her fists... I'm not sure. But Bronn's got his super-genius level intelligence, and that's all he really needs... and that ring.

Well, I can use up another pearl to identify a potion, but it'll mean another day here.

As for the dragon, we've got one major problem: he's waiting for us. We need to find a way to either a) spy on his lair before we go in, and/or b) lure him out of the lair. Any thoughts?

 

[Tom Cashel]

[OOC: Bronn, I can get you the info on the wand later today]

Day One

While you are all locked in the Hall of Gorm Gulthyn, and Bronn is busily identifying the function of the wand (in one of the smaller chambers off the main hall)...a rumble passes through the room, shaking you all for about 10 seconds. Then another shorter rumbling, and one more...then silence.

(later...)

Velm:
"I've been thinking a lot about this armor. It was fine for me to wear it in defense of these Halls--wiping out the Spawning Beast--but I cannot take it away from here. It was meant for the King of Aerunedar, and it will be waiting when the new King arrives. I am only a cleric, meant to fight and die...not a ruler of many."

sets the shining helm aside

"This Skin of Iolar's was not meant for me...a Clanless dwarf."

 

[Van Dyksun]

Uh-oh, that rumbling may mean trouble for us. I need to check something.

Can I get a group together to go check Moraddin's Hall again and bring Zandrus Winter's crushed body back to this hall?

 

[Tom Cashel]

Velm will go with you...

 

[Bronn Spellforger]

You're such a fool, Cousin. Abandoning armor that might save your life in the upcoming war... armor given to you by the dead king himself! That armor wasn't meant for anyone... you found it, so you should wear it.

And doors that don't open shouldn't be passed up as the "will of the gods" ... just as fiendish monsters I summon to aid dying comrades shouldn't be attacked.

Battles need to be won, Cousin, and your superstitions may just cost us this war... and our lives.

Now please find out what that noise is.. it's most distracting.

 

[Tom Cashel]

Velm:
"I will still use this shield called Star, Cousin, and I will wear one of the mithril chain shirts. Unlike you, who has forsaken all faith and belief for the pragmatic ways of Mystra, I still follow the voice of my dwarven heart. I'll not wear a king's armor. If you haven't the stomach for the battle we face, why don't you run off to Uncle Dorn for help?

"If you will hear only the pragmatic view, then hear this: try encasing yourself in clothing of stone. Then you'll know what it is like to move and fight in full plate, even made of mithril.

"The will of the gods is not for you or I to understand. First it allowed us to come directly to Moradin's Hall, and then it allowed us to find a safe place to hide for a few days. When we were meant to gain access, we did.

"Finally, as for you and your Hell-spawned servants...you know too well that I haven't the stomach to kill another dwarf, much less my own Cousin. But if you bring another one of those abominations into my presence, I'm finished with you. We've had our ups and downs, Cousin, but don't test me on this. I serve the Celestial powers, and I walk with Clangeddin. If you make me choose between you and the Father of Battles, I choose my faith.

"Let's go, Snowcap."

OOC: Tough Monday, "Bronn"?

 

[Van Dyksun]

Yes, Velm, let us get that body. I think it might prove useful later.

Bronn, while we are gone briefly, you may want to consider Velm's words. You may not understand it or believe it, but he has your best interest at heart here as well. You do not know what kind of damage might be done by dealing with evil creatures. It is said that Bane himself was once a good man, before power and greed corrupted his soul. Yes, he has achieved godhood, but at what cost?

I'm with Velm in this matter--do not summon forth hellspawn or you will walk this world in company other than ours. I understand the temptation, but I recognize it as exactly that: temptation. What is it tempting you towards?

Van picks up his bow and crosses over to the door, then calls back over his shoulder:

Could you see if there are any masterwork arrows in that weaponstash, Roman. I'm getting a little low in the quiver, and we're not out of Aerunedar yet.