the Kyri Chronicles - last updated 22 Oct

[Plane Sailing]

Early the next morning they make their way to the dwarf market – two huge stone doors lead into a dark chamber filled with very low tables which have metalwork and jewellery strewn over them. There are quite a number of surly looking, stumpy folk wandering around, and a scattering of humans who tower over them.

As they approach there is a sudden altercation near the entrance. A human cries out “you cheating liar!” to one of the dwarves, who without a moments hesitation bursts into a furious rage and swings his axe murderously, gutting the man and then taking two more swings at the body for good measure. The most strange thing about the entire action is that nobody else seems to be taking much notice… The dwarf spits and rasps something in his harsh language then stumps off deeper into the marketplace.

“Touchy people” muses Trajan. “I think we had all better be on *best* behaviour”.

After a short time wandering around and getting the feel of the market place, Trajan leads them to the table of an artisan who is surrounded by stone carvings. Going down on bended to knee to observe the artworks, Trajan broaches a conversation, asking about Grishnak the king of the dwarves and explaining that they have a delivery to make to him.

The merchant warms to them, especially under Trajans delicate flattery, and introduces himself as Kazrak, a dwarven fighter and merchant. Business has been slow this week, so he proposes to cut his losses and take them underground to the dwarf city. He has connections with the royal family, and he should be able to arrange them an audience. Just as he is stacking his things away Dala notices some exquisitely jewelled masterwork daggers near the back of his stall, and decides to purchase one of them “for luck”.

Kazrak warns them that it will be a days march into the underdark to reach the city, so after a short break for them to purchase some food for the journey, they set off together.

It is eerie walking in the cold silence of the mountain passages. The light from their lanterns illuminates a sameness in the floor and the walls. Kazrak states with a hint of challenge in his voice that the dwarves have never bothered to spend the time putting proper carvings in these passages because they only lead up to the humans at Moradin’s Call. During the march Kazrak starts to tell them more about the dwarven temperament. Fierce warriors, loyal and full of honour is the way that they describe themselves. Their honour must be defended at all times, and under the treaty with Moradin’s Call (he is at pains to point out) the dwarf Trazkan was perfectly within his rights to cut down that human who levelled a deadly insult at his honour by calling him a liar. Apparently he can’t have been a local man, since all the local people “know how to treat us with respect, you understand?”. Another thing that they notice, although they don’t question it at the time, is that Kazrak only speaks with Trajan and Dala, not with Anne-Marie or Arilyn. They don’t think twice about it at the moment, as the monumental charisma of their two friends mean that they tend to dominate all conversations with other people anyway!

After many long hours of walking, they start to become aware of a rhythmic thundering sound coming from up ahead, and as they draw nearer the ringing like giant anvils being struck starts to mingle with the sound. Arilyn asks whether this is anything to do with the “Pipes of Air” which she has read about while researching Arkon the Stormlord. Kazrak raises his eyebrows in surprise and responds to Dala

“How interesting that someone from the surface should know something of dwarvish history. Indeed our city used to use the Pipes of Air to power our machines many centuries ago, but our agreements with some of the sources fell into dispute, and because no one could, no one could… go to that place there was no chance that it could be reinstated. That is why the kings grandsire created our waterwheels here. You’ll see them in a minute”.

 

[Plane Sailing]

They are now standing before huge, ornate iron doors. They are apparently covered with runes and there is a faint eldritch glow about them. Kazrak talks into a speaking tube in his harsh, barking language, and shortly after the doors glide soundlessly open – or rather, any sound which they might have made is drowned out in a complicated music of hammering, beating chimes overlaid on a thunder of water!

The doors open into a vast chamber, lit all around with glowing stones and torches, paved with stone smoothed by years of use. Huge building frontages are carved into the circumference of the chamber and in the centre a huge cataract of water tumbles from up above, turning scores of waterwheels of all manner of sizes. Many of the waterwheels are connected via belts or pulleys to other devices, or transmission systems which disappear into the cluster of buildings that reach up around the base of the waterfall. There are huge, slow turning wheels as well as small wheels that seem to serve no purpose other than to add musical ringing sounds at appropriate places within the overall rhythm of the sound.

Kazrak takes several paces into the chamber before realising he is alone – he turns to see the awestruck faces of the company, marvelling not just at the feat of engineering, but also the care that went into crafting the sounds it created too – something that seems to blend together the march of an army, the sound of industry and the laughter of small children into one coherent whole.

Settling them in a stone Circle of Contemplation (“other dwarves won’t try to challenge you to test their mettle if you are here”), Kazrak leaves them to see if it is possible to make an arrangement to see the king. While he is gone, Arilyn reminds them of her desire to get up into the mountain tops, because the fabled Door in the Air is supposed to be somewhere near here – the semi-permanent gate into the plane of elemental air which would lead to the dwelling place of Arkon the Stormlord, who lost his life in there mountains many, many years ago. The others agree that they will pursue this possibility with the king, especially in the light of those arrowhawks which were terrorising Moradin’s Call when they arrived.

An audience with King Grishnak is arranged for the following day. Kazrak informs them of some of the niceties of the meeting – they will be expected to leave their weapons with the door guard, don’t take umbrage at being treated with suspicion, and really, really don’t offend the king. He is nowhere near as easy going as “good ‘ole Kazrak”, because he never gets to meet many people who aren’t dwarves.

The audience goes well, especially with the presentation of the statuettes made in Bridlerest. Seeing the king, Dala can’t help but notice the strong family resemblance between the figurines and the present King. At one point Anne-Marie offers a helpful observation in the conversation and the king turns frosty eyes on Trajan.

“You’re property seems out of control. Would you like its tongue removed?”

“No sire” Trajan replies quickly “I’ll beat her myself later”. He grimaces at Anne-Marie and Arilyn who take the hint and don’t say anything else for the duration of the audience. Suddenly the meaning of Kazrak always talking to the menfolk in the company becomes clearer – and he hadn’t thought to mention this basic social structure to them! Males!

The king closes their audience with a summary note of thanks for delivery of the statuettes, and grants them permission to venture up the stairwell of fear to reach the mountain peaks.

“Perhaps you can solve the mystery which has kept the stairwell closed to our race for so many centuries. Kazrak can guide you there”.

There is an almost imperceptible twitch in Kazraks expression of honourable devotion to his liege, and those more perceptive than the company would have noticed a sudden bead of sweat trickle down by his ear.

 

[Schmoe]

This is great stuff! Wonderful descriptions, and good role-playing. Can't wait to hear more

 

[Plane Sailing]

Your wish is my command!

 

[Plane Sailing]

It is going to be a two day trek through the tunnels to reach the stairwell of fear, so they load up with a suitable supply of dwarven hard-tack and water before setting off. The first few hours of walking are through relatively well travelled and well lit regions, with many side tunnels, all beautifully carved. Apart from the strange looks they receive from the dwarves they pass by, the journey is as easy as any they have undertaken.

By the afternoon, however, the corridors have become far quieter. They rarely see beetle-hauled wagons or guard dwarves, and side tunnels or rooms become rarer too. Kazrak announces that it is time for an evening rest, and they gladly sink down to hot meal and a snooze.

Starting off early the next morning (is it morning?), after Arilyn completes her spell preparation and Dala his meditation they follow deeper into the mountain. They have not been travelling long when they are alerted by a clicking, clanking and buzzing sound from a doorway a little further up the corridor.

Suddenly four small metallic spidery creatures burst forth from the room. Three silvery ones dash towards the party with fierce little saws buzzing where their mouthparts might be. A golden one hangs back and unleashes a bolt of lightning which sears into the party. Trajan and Kazrak leap in to engage the creatures, while Anne-Marie tumbles behind them to attempt to flank them – without success as it happens. It seems that whatever one of the creatures knows, they all know. The silver constructs alternate firing small darts with striking with their razor sharp saws – but despite their cunning and power, the little clockwork horrors are soon destroyed. Kazrak has been quite badly hurt, but none of the others have sustained serious damage. They bind up Kazraks wounds, wait for a couple of hours, then head on.

Kazrak is still limping slightly from the wound he took, and inadvertently reveals that the harsh dwarvish language is ripe with expletives. Trajan does his best to charm the dwarf and learn some of the basic rudiments of their tongue; surprisingly Kazrak agrees.

By mid afternoon on the second day, they are aware of a flow of air moving past them and into a large space ahead of them. Kazrak breathes out the words softly “the staircase of fear”.

Broad stairs spiral up around a central column that must be fifty feet across. The walls are carved with the faces of dwarves, all crying or screaming. Kazrak seems to be torn between staring brazenly at the faces and turning his gaze away from them.

“None of our people have ventured here and returned in generations” whispers Kazrak. “None”.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Trajan asks Kazrak whether he would consider taking the risk of staying alone at this place in the stairwell to secure their rear. He correctly reasons that for the aggressive and honour-bound dwarves, being unmanned by some kind of magical fear would be the worst imaginable disgrace. Building on the friendship he has developed with Kazrak over the last few days he is able to persuade him of the importance of that particular task, and Kazrak agrees.

Trajan then starts up the stairwell, with Anne-Marie, Dala, Arilyn and their respective familiars.

The broad, shallow steps are easy to climb, but as they ascend the stairwell they become slightly uneasy. There is a continual feeling that something is looking over their shoulder. From the corner of your eye it looks like there is some movement in the eyes of one of the stone-carved dwarves… a quick check reveals that it is mere stone, but still…

What is almost worse is that there is a noticeable change in the carvings of screaming dwarves – now all of the dwarves are shaved, faces portrayed shorn of all hair. It looks quite disturbing and unnatural. As they trudge up the stairs pondering these things a sudden blast of fear washes over them all. Trajan stands unaffected, and Anne-Marie and Arilyn are buoyed up by his steadfast presence, but Dala suddenly screams and starts running down the steps as quickly as he can, screaming like a little girl.

In a flash, Anne-Marie starts off after him, and with the aid of her magic boots quickly catches up. Shouting at Dala makes no difference so she quickly trips him, grapples him and pummels his head into the stone paving, rendering him unconscious. Draping him over her shoulder, she makes her way back up the stairwell to the others.

Arrk the raven flutters around distractedly by his unconscious master, obviously concerned with his bruised head. Anne-Marie steadies Dala on his shoulder and they continue up the winding staircase.

Having climbed for nearly an hour, they notice another step-change in the carved dwarven faces lining the stairwell walls. The portraits are now much cruder, especially at the edges. Nonetheless there is a disturbing hyper-realism about them. It puts the company in mind of faces pushing through the rock as if pushed against fine silk. The expression on the faces, such as can be read, seems even more horrified and full of despair.

Shrugging, they press on round the corner… and a horrific wailing sound crashes down around their ears, as if the throats of a thousand imprisoned dwarven souls are uttering cries of intense desolation! The sound batters at their wills, their sense of self, even their very life… Arrk and Zeph collapse instantly to the floor, Anne-Marie’s knees quake but she stands firm and Trajan is like a rock in the centre of the noise. The sound of Arilyns scream is lost amongst the horrific cacophony…

Trajan rushes to Arilyns’ side. Her life is almost gone, and only a whisper of her soul remains. As the cry from the rocks fades away, Trajan Calls upon Asura’s power like never before and he pours life into her still, cold, form – and it is enough. She coughs, and then starts breathing again, yet chilled through to the bone.

Meanwhile, Dala awakes. Unconscious throughout the wailing noise, he was unaffected by its evil magic. He sits up and looks around puzzled at the strange silence he feels inside his head. It is as if a part of him is missing. “Arrk?” he calls out. Then he spies the crumpled mass of feathers lying just a few feet further up the stairwell. He crawls over, and with unexpected tenderness gathers up the frail form.

“Arrk? C’mon me old mate, come round” he whispers.

“There’s fresh tasty treats for you… I’ve been saving them… special…”

Dala dissolves into tears, curling over the tiny body of his dead familiar, friend and soulmate...

 

[Plane Sailing]

I'd just like to say mucho kudos for the player of Dala during this session. I've not captured it as well as I should, but he acted the part of Dala so genuinely distressed about the death of his familiar that I actually got a little choked up (!)

Good man.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Arilyn slowly comes round, and similarly feels the aching loss of her misty companion. Zeph, too, has been slain by the magical attack. She looks angrily over at Anne-Marie, whose macaw still flutters near the duellist. “Why has my familiar died and your parrot survived!”. Anne-Marie wisely holds her peace and says nothing.

Dala uses a summoning spell to call Boswell the Lantern Archon to him. He directs the attention of the ball of light to a small box in which the body of Awk lays. “Transport this back to Mithril Manor, Boswell” he commands. “Place it in my study, with this note indicating appropriate an burial.”

“As you wish” responds the Archon, and it ducks down, touches the box and vanishes, along with the miniature coffin. Scant seconds later Boswell returns. “It is done”.

After dismissing his summoned servant, Dala turns to the others and indicates that he is ready to continue. They are nearly at the top of the stairwell, and they can hear a distant rushing of wind. One more turn past the strangely carved bald and tortured faces leads them to a large chamber, sheathed in marble. On the opposite wall there is an archway beyond which they can see sky. In the middle of the chamber is a pedestal, with a large glowing gem on the top. Nothing is visible in the room, so they step inside – and as they do so a ghostly figure materialises above the pedestal...

 

[Plane Sailing]

Quick question - do you think it makes most sense to continue the storyhour in this same thread, or start a new thread?

One of the things I'm wondering is whether a great big thread might put people off starting to read it...

Should I go to part IV when I get back into the ToEE (which is in play at the moment)?

 

[Darklone]

Well, I always think starting another dungeoncrawl is worth a new thread