IN GORM GULTHYN'S HALL

[Tom Cashel]

[OOC: Hey Roman! 1. It is a small mithril shield. It will not replace a buckler, but you are welcome to use it and your bastard sword one-handed. 2. Using a two-handed weapon with a buckler negates the armor bonus of the buckler (why do I listen when Bronn looks up rules??? ). So you'd be much better off switching to the small mithril shield, with its special powers, and taking the slight reduction in damage for using the sword one-handed. Considering you attack twice with it, that shouldn't be so bad....]

 

[Van Dyksun]

Interesting speculation

Could it be that the Coil were amassing an army? For what purpose?

The Coil were somehow in league with the Banites as well (witness the orcs covering the north gatehouse, as well as the attacks on us).

Bronn, is it possible to use the ring of legend lore once again?

Regarding that potion, I'm suspecting that Velm or Roman may need to carry that for the next battle, as they will likely be on the front line of any melee. We've still got 5 potions of cure moderate wounds as well (I think I was the only one who used mine). Maybe Roman or Velm could take the cure serious wounds and give me the moderate one that they have.

Also, I want to remind everyone that these potions can be used if someone is unconscious. And they do no good if someone dies, so don't hesitate to use them if you need to do so.

Now, let's talk about travel. I have a feeling that we're going to need to cross or use that river. Enthandas will allow me to walk on water briefly. Who else can do that?

 

[Tom Cashel]

Velm:
"This mooncloak of Selune allows me to walk on the water. I also have a potion of swimming that anyone is welcome to use.

"As for the orcs and Zhents being in league with the Coil...it seems to me that they weren't so much guarding the gatehouses for the Coil, but rather trying to control access to the Lost City."

 

[Bronn Spellforger]

Lightfoot -- I disagree with you. The Zhents were obviously in league with the coil. Do you remember Leatherboots? However, alignments between evil powers are never very strong (believe me, I would know).

Van -- I'm not sure if I can use Legend Lore again, let me check my notes (OOC: Hey Tom, let me know). What would we cast it on? I can, however, cast Stone Tell whever we need to.

Remember that these two potions seem very similar to me... my guess is that their both Cure Serious Wounds. So we probably have two. Before we head out, we'll take a summary of who has what potion... if we're going to use Cara again as an "invisible ally".. it might pay for her to carry a bunch to heal those who are unconscious.

Bronn

 

[Bronn Spellforger]

And you know... going through my notes, it seems like we're missing something.

Remember this from Hathos's drum?

Tho goblins rose in fury against them
Hatho’s outraged pride has doomed them–
Doomed the Darkfell dwarves
To be forgotten.

Tho Ruathgrym is held and bound
The snakes he brought have sought and found
The prison-place where Glamerdrung
Bound the serpent.

Tho Selûne’s walls have toppled
–still the Worthy may seek the Moonweb
Tho Cindarm’s Hall is looted
–let this map lead ye to Crown of Fire

Tho trails may lead to this and that
Seek ye last the ziggurat
And stop the snakes who try to
Free the serpent.

My blood has ebbed
My life does fade
As all my deeds are mere charade
Let these be Hatho’s last words said:

End my curse whose purpose is old
Fill your heart's purse up with gold.


And that 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!


Finally, we have that magical disk to Meerschaulk that looks like it opens something. But what?

But listen, we've lifted the curse, broken the coil, and reopened Aerunedar to the dwarves. Maybe we should just head back to Even'star and rest, I think we deserve it. After all, people will sing the praises of the Company of the Wolf for many ....

...

... oh, crap. Did anyone read this? Glamerdrung bound the serpent ... what Serpent? The Naga? The black dragon? Or perhaps MORE dragons? Why did the build the ziggarut? To draw you from below ... I think they're planning on bringing the Fanged Goddess back to this place... and with her many, many serpents... including dragons.

And they're also amassing an army... I think they plan on brining back their goddess and the serpents and then wage a great war on Cormyr. THAT'S why the Zhentarium are involved.

This is very, very bad. We have to stop them... NOW!

 

[Van Dyksun]

Ah, a show of that vaunted intelligence! Very good analysis, Bronn. I can't help but fear that you are right. It seems that we need to destroy this ziggurat. I could give an orc's ass about most of Cormyr, but I wouldn't look forward to living in a land with more of those things about.

Someone should take that other potion (the one you didn't identify) and use it in a last resort, just in case the appearance isn't what you think it is, Bronn.

Okay, if the Coil were seeking to bring the fanged goddess from below (and I think we're safe to assume that they weren't referring to the deepspawn, as much as I would like that to be the case), then what is Nightscale's connection? Looking to get a dragon lover or kin to join it here in the abovedark?

Hmm. That gives me an idea.

 

[Tom Cashel]

Velm:
"You are many things, wizard...but stupid is not one of them. Interesting find. Does this mean that Glamerdrung bound the Fanged Goddess into a prison? Are the goddess and Meerschaulk one and the same?

"Snowcap, don't forget--as the supra-genius told us--Nightscale is a she. And we've got the severed head of her offspring."

 

[Bronn Spellforger]

Van -- I must say, disgusting as that is, you may have a point there about Zandrus's head. So we have the ability to severely anger the dragon if we need to. Good to know.

I find it hard to believe that even Glamerdrung could bind a goddess... but maybe this isn't a true "goddess"... just a powerful serpent who fancies herself as such.

As for Nightscale, I think she may worship this goddess as well.

But we need more information! I wonder if this Ootogolah could tell us... or perhaps Legend Lore on this disk we have? Or the Ziggurat? Stone Tell within the dragon's cave? I don't know.

But they've had two full days to discover that we've lit the crown of fire and destoyed the deepspawn. My guess is that whatever their plan is, they're pushing up the timetable a bit. Let's regain our spells and get out of here... and begin making our way towards that cave off the river.

 

[Tom Cashel]

DAY THREE--29 Eleint

(Everyone who needs to, may pray for or study their spells.)

Velm:
"Snowcap, come with me...I want to check out the Throne Room at the top of the stairs."

Van and Velm creep from Gorm Gulthyn's hall and up the long staircase. All is silent. The slaughtered corpses of trogs and serpentine abominations in the throne room have begun to decompose.

You listen at the stone door...

"It sounds like solid earth," Velm grunts incredulously. "Help me pull out these spikes."

With the discarded weapons scattered about, you pry the spikes free (eight of them are still useful...the others are bent out of shape and ruined). As you pull the door open, a shower of small rocks, dirt and a cloud of dust plume into the chamber.

When the dust clears, you see that the way out is clogged with rubble and slabs of fallen stone.

"Let's tell the others," says Velm. You return to the Hall of Gorm Gulthyn.

 

[Bronn Spellforger]

Crap! That's bad. Well, now we know what that rumbling was!

Well, remember there is another way out. Remember the tunnels under the deepspawn's lair? Where do they go? Of course, we'd have to swim for it.. into scummy water. Maybe that wouldn't work.

Depending on how deep this cave in is, I might be able to get us out with my art.. blasting is always fun.

Also, Cara can shatter stone!

And, of course, Sieta and I both have dimension door spells at hand. I could get us all out... but then I would have used up all my high-level spells for the day, it would be good to rest afterwards.

So no problem getting out of here ...