The Westgate Campaign Chronicles - serial

[Carlo-One]

Inside the conjured hut, the party shed their cold, wet outer layers and took advantage of the magical torches inside to start warming themselves. Teeth still chattering, Shanni looked to Dermot to summarize for both Aerikoth and Rahnee the results of the exploration so far of the Hidden Peak cavern. As usual, the ranger cut right to the chase, describing the first level as not much but rock monsters, rats, empty cavern-rooms, and the occasional skeleton, with a portcullis and door going deeper. On the second level, he mentioned they had found the resting place of a white dragon, along with a few gems. In response to a question from Rahnee, Dermot clarified that the cavern with the dead dragon had naught but a few bones and some white dragon scales, along with the cold elemental guarding it. He then went on to describe the big hole in the center of the cavern with warm air coming out and handholds cut into the side of the lower-level pit. He concluded by mentioning they had exited the cavern when they thought something might be coming up the hole.

Helrud interjected, assuring them that there was no (live) dragon around, as he would have seen signs of it hunting in the area. The dwarf eagerly speculated that the hoard might just be there for taking, with the previous white and red dragon occupants of the cavern being dead. Dermot, Shanni and Darrow confirmed that they had killed all of the rock-like monsters and the elementals they had encountered in the cavern, along with some oozes. They also commented that the white dragon’s hoard must have been thoroughly looted or moved from its resting place, which puzzled them given the presence of the elemental.

Having absorbed all of this, Rahnee turned to Aerikoth and queried if the wizard had found anything special during his study of the surrounding ruins. In his usual emotionless tone, Aerikoth reported that the area had architecture from more than one culture, all being at least several hundred years in age. He said he did not recognize most of them, being unfamiliar with the lands they were in, but did note some Netherese runes on an old pillar making reference to a “deep mountain of fire” which Dermot interpreted as a volcano. As the wizard had mentioned previously, he also determined that the nearby dragon statue was that of a red.

Rahnee asked Helrud if there were any Ironhelm clan tales of an underground volcano. The dwarf said there were none that he knew of, but there were stories of a red dragon that once had ruled a kingdom in the mountains, which he thought must be the place where they were. Conversation turned back to locating the hoard, as Darrow wondered if it had been hidden in a secret area they had missed, or perhaps with a spell. Aerikoth confirmed that he would be able to detect the presence of magic in the cavern. Helrud, convinced that the hoard was located in the cavern, thought it must be buried at the bottom of the pit they had found.

Rahnee declared, with a merry smile, that unless her three companions were lying thieves and bandits and keeping the hoard to themselves, they had more exploring to do on the morrow. This prompted Helrud, apparently not getting the joke, to look suspiciously at Darrow, Dermot and Shanni. He then had to admit, however, that they could hardly be hiding that much gold, especially “scrawny” Shanni. The petite rogue pouted a little at this, but then joined the others in preparing to bed down for the night, although she first related the story of finding the bones of trapped people who had to eat each other. Rahnee, startled at first by the macabre situation, commented that it must be horrible to have to eat your friends. Darrow, ever practical, pointed out that who knew if they were friends.

 

[Carlo-One]

With that, Rahnee finished polishing the armor she had taken off and bid everyone a good night, with the Lady’s blessings upon all. Helrud had already drifted off to sleep and could be heard mumbling something to himself. The others found comfortable spots on the hut’s floor, improvising bedding and pillows – in Darrow’s case, a cloak and a bottle of ale – before quickly falling asleep as well. Darrow’s snoring proved to be little obstacle to that, as everyone had experienced a long, exhausting day in the cold mountains.

By early morning, most of the group had slowly roused themselves, with the exception of Shanni. She was mumbling something about jewels in her sleep and merely wriggled into a more comfortable spot in response to Rahnee softly calling her name. Aerikoth began discussing the defensive spells he would prepare for their expedition, prompting Darrow to advise that any offensive ones not be fire-based, given that whatever lived at the bottom of a volcano probably bathed in magical fire. The wizard acknowledged the wisdom behind the dwarf’s words, which Darrow, grinning, observed happened maybe once a tenday.

Rahnee pulled out some iron rations from her pack and offered to share, but Darrow declined and consumed a liquid breakfast of ale instead, belching loudly when done. Dermot was already finishing some jerky in his possession, then went over to wake Shanni, shaking her by the shoulder. The petite rogue suddenly jerked and rolled away, her hand going to her boot, before she realized where she was. Rahnee looked over to Helrud and asked if he was awake. The dwarf scout, sitting by the door, replied that he was just waiting for everyone else to get ready, not being used to lazing around warm huts in the morning.

The other adventurers pulled on their outerwear and prepared to sally forth from the hut, as Aerikoth began studying his spells. The wizard mentally unlocked the door to the conjured hut and his companions moved out into the daylight. Overnight, it had been snowing, but the weather was currently clear for them. Darrow and Helrud got down to business changing the color of the snow, while Rahnee and Shanni moved off for some privacy.

A short while later, Aerikoth departed the hut and joined the others by the grate entrance, declaring he was prepared. Darrow, bending down to open the grate, warned them that the transition from the metal rungs to the ladder below was tricky and a little slick, which Shanni seconded. Rahnee asked Helrud if he were going with them; the dwarf was now enthusiastic about the idea. Darrow confirmed that he should be the first one down and clambered down the rungs. Rahnee attempted to impose some discipline on the expedition by listing off who should follow in what order, with Shanni being next, but Helrud had already started down after Darrow called up that he was safe. The rogue slung her bow over her shoulder and followed the dwarves down, after which Rahnee carefully descended, then Aerikoth and finally Dermot.

 

[Carlo-One]

Once all had reached the cavern floor, it was decided that Rahnee should stay by the ladder and guard it, to protect their only escape route. Dermot then took the lead as the others moved into the cavern complex, advising them to keep a weather eye out. Aerikoth asked to be informed when they wanted his protective spells to be cast. Dermot thought it best to first see if any creatures were down there.

The group soon reached the site of the broken-down door and the two gray render corpses, which Aerikoth spent a moment studying. Dermot observed that the portcullis blocking the way to the level below was closed again; Shanni reminded him that she had removed her spike on the way back up. Darrow, who was happy to see that no hostile creatures were slavering at the portcullis, said he would go over to the far pressure plate. Shanni this time deferred to Dermot to jam the portcullis mechanism once it was raised, while she moved onto the nearer plate. The portcullis raised as before and the ranger immediately spiked it open.

There was some confusion over what was happening, due to the distance and darkness in between the chamber with the pressure plates and the portcullis area. After some shouting back and forth, Helrud relayed that Dermot seemed to have disappeared past the entrance, so they all descended to the next level, joining the ranger, who had scouted ahead. Helrud stuck close to Aerikoth, deeming it the most sensible place to be, and marveled at the extent of the cavern as they made their way to the edge of the central pit on the lower level. The dwarf asked the wizard if he had seen anything like the place and was surprised when Aerikoth answered in the affirmative, stating that the dwarven clan’s deep delves were similar to these underground warrens. Helrud said that he had not been there himself, of course, and Aerikoth advised against trying to visit them.

Darrow, Dermot and Shanni meanwhile were trying to locate the spot along the pit wall with the handholds, which were difficult to see in the gloom. Dermot eventually spotted them and Darrow suggested they wrap a safety rope around a nearby pillar. Aerikoth started down into the dark pit while Helrud wiped his brow, commenting at the hot air coming up out of it. Darrow wondered if it were a volcano, explaining to Shanni that it was where the earth opened up and hot rock from below bubbled to the surface; the dwarf had not seen one himself, but had heard tales.

Shanni asked who would be first down, prompting her, Dermot and Darrow to all look at each other. After some hemming and hawing, Dermot asked Aerikoth if he had any spells to see what was down there. The wizard answered in the negative, indicating that most of the ones he had memorized involved protective magic. Cursing, Darrow told the others to rope him up and he would go down first. Shanni pointed out that he might clank in his armor, but Darrow just joked that anything underground should know not to mess with a dwarf.

Dermot rigged their two ropes together with a slipknot, at Helrud’s prompting, and one end was secured to the nearby pillar by Shanni while the other was wrapped around Darrow’s waist in case he fell. The dwarf commented that he had always wanted to climb down a bottomless pit into a pool of molten rock, then hoisted himself over the side and began descending using the carved handholds. Before he disappeared from view, he told them that one tug on the rope would signal that he was safe and two would mean to pull him up quick. Dermot acknowledged this, but also advised Darrow to do his best to climb up on his own if needed, since there was no way they could pull him up unaided.

 

[Carlo-One]

Darrow carefully and steadily used the handholds to descend the side of the pit, pausing only briefly when he reached the slipknot tying the two ropes together, in order to gauge how far he had traveled. Dermot and Shanni kept hold of the rope on their end and played it out as the dwarf kept going, until finally it went slack and they felt a single tug on it. His companions at the top of the pit were relieved and also curious; in response to simultaneous questions from Aerikoth and Shanni about the distance, Dermot indicated that the rope length had been fully played out.

After a short debate, it was decided that Aerikoth should go next, in part because the wizard in any case lacked the physical strength to help support the others, should something go wrong. Darrow, after some delay and tugging back and forth, untied the rope from his waist and it was hauled back up to be fitted around Aerikoth. Somewhat regretfully, the wizard mentioned that he had not prepared a spell that would make his descent much easier. He stowed his staff in a magical bag and moved to climb over the rim of the pit as soon as Dermot and Shanni had signaled they were ready with the rope. Just as the wizard began descending, Helrud exclaimed that he thought he had heard a noise, but then said it was nothing.

Aerikoth did his best to climb down the face of the pit, carefully looking and reaching for each handhold. Shanni was distracted enough by Helrud’s comment that Dermot told her to go take a look, as he was up to the task of anchoring the wizard’s descent. Helrud wondered if it might be Rahnee, coming to find them, but then dismissed the idea of her abandoning her post. As Shanni strung her bow and moved off, Helrud picked up the rope slack, trying to be helpful. He commented that the wizard was almost as light as a feather as the rope went slack and Aerikoth untied it. Expressing his eagerness to see the hoard for himself, Helrud brought up the rope and tied it around his waist as Shanni returned. The dwarf then started descending the handholds, leaving Dermot and Shanni up top. He reached the bottom, undid the rope and pulled on it to signal that he was down.

After a bit of discussion, it was agreed that Shanni would go next and Dermot would be the last. As she attached the rope around her waist, the ranger joked that if anything happened while he was climbing, he could just jump and figure out something on the way down; she gave a lop-sided grin in response. The petite rogue, to her own surprise, made the descent down the pit wall relatively easily, although she had to stretch for the handholds, which were placed far apart for someone her size.

Seeking some additional insurance against a fall, Dermot looped the rope around some rock outcroppings, but lost about ten feet of length in doing so. The ranger tied the free end of the rope around his waist and then climbed down using the handholds, finding them easy enough to use, but ended up about ten feet above the bottom as the rope reached its full extension. He undid it from around his waist and clambered down the remaining distance, joining the others a short distance away.

Shanni had lit a torch by this point and everyone was standing around, in awe of the piles and piles of gold in view. Hot gusts of air periodically blew at them from the far side of the cavern, although the source was not yet visible. Darrow exclaimed happily that he was up to his waist in treasure, while Shanni knelt and dug her hands into the coin piles, which extended as far as they could see in the torchlight. Aerikoth, having been occupied placing spells of protection on the others, offered to do the same for Dermot as he arrived. The ranger asked if there was a fight in the offing, to which the wizard was noncommittal, saying that he at the very least wanted to be prepared. Once spells had finished being cast on Dermot and then on Aerikoth himself, the party was ready to further explore the bottom of the cavern and its mighty treasures.

 

[Carlo-One]

Starting from the eastern end of the hoard chamber, they moved slowly west, with Dermot in the lead. A dim orange glow was visible ahead and the ranger confirmed that it was a river of lava bounding part of the western end of the cavern, the heat increasing exponentially the closer one got to it. Darrow got close enough to see it with his own eyes, then joined the others making their way along the side of the chamber, towards its southern end; the north end was sheer rock. As they clambered over and through the gold piles, Shanni grabbed fistfuls of coins with each step.

A rock-hewn corridor led south, but the chamber at the end of it was blocked by the image of a large mouth. It shouted a query in an unfamiliar language as the party approached, which at first dumfounded Dermot and Darrow, but Aerikoth then recognized it as Draconic. The wizard informed them that the magical mouth wished to know what were their orders from the Master.

Shanni, her pockets bulging, initially stayed silent as Darrow shrugged and recommended telling it to stand down. Dermot thought this would be a good idea, as the mouth repeated its query and then said an additional phrase, which Aerikoth interpreted as “Trespassers will be punished.” Shanni then brightly suggested they tell it that they were there to move the gold, as the Master had a new home, and that he had given them one of his scales as proof.

Darrow peered past the mouth and along with Shanni noted the presence of a large, iron man-like figure standing in the chamber beyond it, which Darrow recognized as a golem. Dermot readied his weapons, given that combat was a possibility; the ranger observed that if this chamber was guarded, that meant the gold was not the most valuable thing down there. Meanwhile, Aerikoth had been having an exchange in Draconic with the magic mouth, neglecting to translate it for his companions.

After Shanni demanded to know what was being said, the wizard glanced at her briefly and told her that he was attempting to ascertain the purpose of the voice and the metallic construct, which had been set there to guard and challenge. Shanni then asked if he had told it they were there to move the gold. Without answering her, the wizard resumed speaking with the magic mouth. Darrow chimed in and asked the wizard to give a heads-up if he thought they would be fighting the iron golem. Aerikoth had another exchange in Draconic, then told the others to be patient, as he was attempting to ascertain whether they would have to use violence at this time. This provoked Shanni into doing a jig of frustration, as she looked back and forth from the gold piles to whatever might be in the new chamber, past its guardians. (As occurred with his extended study of the ruins in the area above the cavern, the wizard appears fascinated by what he has found and to be wrapped up in his own thoughts and experiments, rather than being concerned about the others with him. Understandable for someone of his intellectual curiosity, but also potentially dangerous. --C)

The wizard further explained that the magic mouth was still following the orders of its master to protect this area from all who were not the master. Dermot, who was getting creeped out by the mouth, suggested that Aerikoth get rid of it, if possible, by hitting it with some magic. As the wizard resumed speaking in Draconic, the ranger rummaged in his pack, pulled out a tripwire and some spikes, and began setting them up on the ground and making ready for combat. Shanni pulled back a little to position herself more strategically.

After a while, Aerikoth ceased talking with the magic mouth and turned to the others, explaining that it was a programmed mechanism that only reacted to a limited range of responses. The wizard said he thought he had convinced it they were not enemies, but could only hypothesize about what the correct response would be to have the guardians either deactivate themselves or ignore the party. Shanni suggested again that he tell it to deactivate or, per Dermot’s suggestion, that Aerikoth shut it down with his own magic. The wizard turned back to the mouth and spoke to it, then informed the others that it had not understood his statement that it no longer needed to guard the area. As Aerikoth started up yet another exchange with the magical apparition in Draconic, the petite rogue became increasingly frustrated at her inability to understand what they were saying, looking back and forth between the two, as the party failed to make further progress.

 

[Carlo-One]

Just as Aerikoth started explaining that the magic mouth was limited in its responses and had been placed there by the red dragon Edullisufanxar, which had dwelled there long ago, everyone was distracted by a loud thump from behind them. Dermot said it sounded like it had come from the northeast, near to where the handholds were placed in the cavern wall. He told the wizard to keep trying and went with Darrow to see about the noise. The dwarf let out an exclamation when he saw it was Lady Rahnee, lying on her back on the cavern floor and looking dazed.

As Darrow bent over to examine her, Rahnee asked him why he looked sparkly. He told her that it was either Aerikoth’s magics or the fact she had hit her head. Dermot, concerned, told her to take it easy and asked how far she had fallen, while Darrow asked her the sum of two and four, in order to check her mental faculties. In response, she groaned and managed to get up on her hands and knees. Shanni and Helrud then came over and saw Rahnee, the dwarf scout remarking that she looked kind of banged up and not so happy to see them. Dermot admitted that it was a tricky climb, as Rahnee was complaining about her critical climbing failure. The ranger said it was worth it, though, as Helrud eagerly talked about gold beyond their dreams. Dermot helped Rahnee up and then led her over to the huge gold piles, to see for herself.

Aerikoth was still jabbering with the magic mouth, as Helrud put it, when they walked back over to the southern stone corridor. As they brought Rahnee up to date on their discoveries, Aerikoth further expounded on having read about the red dragon Edullisufanxar in the Ironhelm library, it having laired in the region centuries ago. Helrud referred to it by its popular name “The Burning Blaze”, saying he never could pronounce the name in the fairy stories. As the others explained that the magic mouth so far had not done anything except warn them, Rahnee asked if anyone had tried to pick up any of the gold yet. Darrow answered no, while Shanni carefully maintained an innocent expression.

The wizard stated that the mouth was following its master’s final instructions to guard the chamber. If they wished to continue on, he believed they would have to destroy the iron golem guardian which loomed in the corridor behind it, in the absence of knowing the particular commands that governed them. The party – including Darrow, for once – was reluctant to face the golem in combat unless absolutely necessary. Aerikoth tried once again to talk to the mouth and said he was going to tell it their commands were to continue into the master’s area, unless anyone had a different suggestion. Shanni pointedly said that she didn’t know what Aerikoth had been saying until then, so was a bit stuck for suggestions on saying anything different.

The result of the next brief exchange between the wizard and the magic mouth was, as Aerikoth put it, intriguing. He said it would allow them to inspect the area, but warned them not to touch anything of the Master’s. This stoked the party’s curiosity and prompted Shanni to be the first to go down the corridor to the guarded chamber, although she was sure to carefully edge around the large magical construct. Dermot called out to her to be careful, as there might still be traps. Aerikoth meanwhile had moved only a little further down the corridor and was raptly studying the iron golem. Rahnee stayed with him as Dermot, Darrow and Helrud hurried to catch up with their petite rogue companion.

 

[Carlo-One]

The wizard, after some prompting from Rahnee, eventually tore himself away from examining the still-inert iron golem and joined the others in the secondary treasure room. Several chests, which Darrow had identified as being of Underdark construction, were lined up in a row against the far wall. Rahnee and Shanni both checked for traps, but found nothing – other than the obvious killer golem one, as Dermot pointed out. Shanni started babbling about opening just one chest to have a look, but was sharply rebuked by Rahnee, who said she would get them killed before they were ready. (I am uncertain whether this was a grammatical slip of the tongue by the Waterdhavian noble, or perhaps an inadvertent reflection of a hidden death wish. --R) Helrud declared that the gold would be good enough for him, although he - along with the others - was forced to wonder what was in the chests.

The party fell to discussing how the iron golem could be defeated. Darrow pointed out that the iron hide would be difficult to pierce, but Dermot was willing to try; the ranger said that it was metal, but they were stone, thanks to Aerikoth’s defensive spells. The wizard indicated that he could summon a beast to help fight, but also warned that he understood from his studies that the golem would have a poison attack and significant reduction to damage inflicted on it. Furthermore, it would be immune to any magical attack, which disappointed Shanni, as she had hoped that the wizard could melt it with acid or zap it. Rahnee, after multiple tries to catch “Aeri’s” attention, finally got the wizard – bemused by her unexpected use of a nickname - to cast his remaining defensive spell on her.

Dermot, who was looking back down the corridor at the stationary iron golem, gave Shanni the go-ahead to open a box, if she was ready. He leveled his crossbow at it as the diminutive rogue bent over the left-most chest and moved to unlock it, her stoneskin protection vanishing as she did so. Rahnee interjected, wondering if they could rest there prior to opening anything, but Shanni had already lifted the lid in front of her. (The lure of treasure evidently proved too much for Shanni, although it seems Dermot's curiosity had been fired as well. The normally cautious ranger became ready to take a deadly risk, even more so than others in the company. It seems the sheer scale of the dragon hoard affected all of their minds in various ways. Something I must ponder further, should I find myself with companions in a similar situation. --C)

She expressed disappointment at only finding some potions, as Helrud eagerly queried what was in there. The rogue continued opening chests, finding a fine suit of magical armor in the next one, then nothing but rotted clothes in the one after that. The fourth proved to have several potent-looking magical weapons, including a dagger and magic swords, which Helrud eagerly craned his neck around Shanni’s shoulder to see.

Dermot called over to Shanni to ask if there was anything in there that could kill a metal golem. Still inventorying items, she told him there probably was, without raising her head from the chest. Darrow, who had been watching the corridor opening with Dermot, then cried out that the iron golem was coming. Dermot just had time to say “ah dang” before it was upon them.

 

[Carlo-One]

The charge of the iron golem brought it into the secondary treasure chamber. The party scattered to combat it as best they could, as it released a cloud of foul-smelling gas into the air. Darrow hefted the ancestral Clan Ironhelm axe Haelgrim and immediately closed with the huge construct, his blade cutting through its surface with every swing. In contrast, Rahnee's weapons and Aerikoth's magic were ineffectual, while Shanni and Dermot tried to use special ammunition in their weapons to damage their enemy's iron hide from afar.

After seeing Darrow take a few blows, Helrud got out his battleaxe and engaged the iron golem from behind, successfully distracting it. The dwarf scout was struck hard in return and he quickly limped off, circling away from the construct. Darrow's axe continued to swing, however, and the golem soon was nothing more than a pile of unmoving parts on the ground.

The party, particularly Helrud and Shanni, were jubilant at the prospect of now-unopposed looting. The petite rogue quickly went back to the treasure chests to finish seeing what was in them. After bandaging himself, Darrow turned to pay attention to the treasures, along with Dermot and Rahnee; Dermot suggested they make a pile of everything in the center of the chamber, to better organize it. Aerikoth meanwhile was silently studying the remains of the construct. Dermot called to him to help identify the magical items from the hoard. The wizard responded, but first stooped and picked up several small pieces of the iron golem.

Shanni and Rahnee took the lead in emptying the chests and placing items on the cavern floor to be examined. Shanni remarked that the non-magical garments had not survived, as Rahnee pulled out some rotted clothes from one chest and dumped them. She then took out a suit of full plate armor, which she said appeared was only enchanted to low levels, although it was well made. Helrud came over to take a look, but quickly lost interest when he saw the armor was not meant for dwarves. The dwarf scout, disappointed, observed that was mostly the case for the other items they had found, as well; there was not even a good axe.

Aerikoth began looking at the collection of weapons, first picking up a dagger and divining that it dealt additional cold damage, along with having what the wizard termed a decent level of enchantment. Shanni waved the short sword she was holding and told the others it had cold magic as well, also being very sharp. The wizard then examined the long sword, which he said was a very nice blade and likely better enchanted than what the others currently possessed. Helrud stroked his beard and expressed curiosity as to why there was so much cold gear in the hoard of a red dragon.

Next to be organized was the collection of boots; Dermot remarked that he had the impression the dragon liked shoes. The ranger pointed out ones that appeared to be elven made, which Shanni said were also very light. Helrud interrupted, pointing to a brazier and asked what it did, Aerikoth replying that it summoned fire elementals. The wizard finished examining another short sword, which he said would require further study, due to the level of its enchantment. Helrud eyed it and remarked that it looked more dwarven-sized.

Shanni rummaged in the potions they had found and brought up one she thought might help Aerikoth identify the short sword. The wizard drank it and then studied the weapon again. After a short time, he arched one eyebrow and displayed, uncharacteristically, a slightly impressed expression.

 

[Carlo-One]

As Aerikoth continued to examine and admire the heavily enchanted short sword, Dermot brought up the subject of dwarven law and asked if the Ironhelm clan would have a claim on the hoard. Helrud stated matter-of-factly that the hoard was on clan lands, so it would claim the right to judge its disposition. Specifically, a dwarfmoot would be called to decide it. Shanni protested that they were the ones who had found it and Rahnee went even further, saying that when the Clan stood beside them to fight to the death then yes, they would have a claim, otherwise no.

Helrud, in response, rather shortly pointed out that he was the one who had led them there. Dermot tried to placate his companions, as Rahnee acknowledged that Helrud had taken the risks along with them. Somewhat mollified, the dwarf scout observed that there was plenty for all of them. In response to a question from Dermot about collecting a few “mementos”, Helrud stated that since the gear was not made for dwarves, there would probably be little demand for it. (The party manages to avoid a major falling out among themselves, but only by ignoring whatever legal claim the clan might have until later and grabbing whatever they want in the meantime. Of the two Ironhelm clan members with them - whom Rahnee chose to ignore in asserting the party's property rights - Helrud, as we shall see, can be satisfied by allowing him a piece of the hoard, while Darrow is not inclined to argue the matter. To be fair, it all works out satisfactorily in the end...at least for the adventurers. --R)

Aerikoth set the enchanted short sword down, remarking that it was an impressive weapon, but he warned it could only be wielded by certain individuals. Shanni eyed the sword but Helrud was the first to pick it up, frowning after taking an experimental swing. Shanni curiously asked Aerikoth if it needed you to learn how to use it in some way. As the wizard was explaining that it required someone to have knowledge of the ways of shadow, Helrud dropped the sword, saying that it felt wrong to hold. Shanni then picked it up, declaring it hard to hold, as if it wasn’t really there.

Attention turned back to the collection of boots, which were identified as dragon slippers – prompting a guffaw from Helrud – boots of elvenkind, and gargoyle boots. The dwarf scout thought the dragon slippers might actually fit him, so he tugged off his boots and put them on, saying there were a little big but they still fit. He declared that he felt like nobody could knock him down now. Aerikoth noted that the gargoyle boots would allow the wearer to cast a stoneskin spell on themselves, which Rahnee thought would be handy for Darrow.

The last of the items to be examined was a magical lantern, which the wizard told them revealed and purged invisibility as far as its light reached, with unlimited uses. Darrow thought that would be very useful, as Dermot cracked that it was a light for the paranoid. As a demonstration, Aerikoth picked up the lamp and activated it. Helrud, unimpressed, said that he didn’t see anything invisible. The wizard acknowledged that a better demonstration could be made and asked Rahnee if she would oblige. As Rahnee took out a ring and placed it on her finger, Shanni said she would go and check the other treasure room, to make sure everything was all right. The petite rogue’s departure was ignored by the others, as they watched Rahnee slide the ring on her hand and turn invisible, then promptly be rendered visible again by the lantern. Rahnee laughed and said that they should make sure to point the thing in the other direction, whenever she was sneaking around invisible somewhere.

Shanni returned after a short while and joined the others in divvying up the magical items. Rahnee picked up the longsword and went through some stylized combat motions with it. She graciously asked Dermot if he would benefit from it, after mentioning that her own sword was barely magical. The ranger, equally gracious, said his own sword was decent if not as great, then told Rahnee to take it. She then suggested the elven boots for Dermot and the gargoyle boots for Darrow, both of whom were pleased with their selections. Shanni interrupted, as she thought the others had said they had to give the hoard to the dwarves. Helrud replied that the clan wouldn’t care so much for the magic doodads, as he put it, and wouldn’t want the elven things around anyway. Darrow affirmed that the gold from the hoard would be what interested them the most.

Helrud and Shanni both already possessed what they wanted, which left the cold magic short sword and dagger, along with the brazier and lantern. Shanni encouraged Dermot to take the weapons, since he was able to fight using both of them and would get in close to their enemies, unlike her. Aerikoth claimed the remaining items, since no one else had expressed an interest. After they had stowed their new gear, Darrow hummed a happy tune as everyone trooped back to the main hoard chamber. This time they ignored the magic mouth, which was still spouting warnings in Draconic, save for a final exchange with it by Aerikoth.

 

[Carlo-One]

As the party passed the gold piles, Shanni longingly ran her hands through the coins, wondering if any of them would be missed, but then said she was willing to bet that the dwarves would shake them by their heels when they were back in the Ironhelm citadel. Darrow chuckled, pointing out that whatever they took out, they’d have to climb back up with. They reached the pit wall and decided that Darrow would be last, so the others could help him up as needed. Rahnee nagged Aerikoth to come along, as Dermot readied himself to be the first to attempt the ascent, with his new boots of elvenkind.

The ranger made his way up, dexterously using the handholds with no problems. Shanni was next, roping herself for safety, but also not having any issues on her climb. Aerikoth dismissed the bear he had summoned earlier with a wave of his hand and ascended without difficulty, although the effort left him gasping for a little while after. Rahnee then encouraged Darrow to go next, so the dwarf stowed his gear and started up, using the handholds. After a few feet, however, he slipped and lost his grip, tumbling to the ground with a crash. Cursing and grumbling, the dwarf dusted himself off as his companions winced at the fall. On his second attempt, he seemed to be fighting the handholds as he climbed, eventually muscling his way to the top.

After Darrow was safely up, Rahnee stowed her weapon and shield and tackled the ascent with aplomb, in contrast with her earlier descent. At this point, Shanni was the first to realize that Helrud was no longer with them. The petite rogue recalled that he had gone on ahead while they were in the treasure chamber. Rahnee remarked that it was fortunate they no longer needed him to mark their trail. They assumed that he had gone before them to bring news of the hoard to his clan.

Dermot suggested they make tracks back to the citadel. Aerikoth volunteered the use of his teleportation spell, but Darrow pointed out the wizard would need three of them to take everyone and their gear. Aerikoth admitted to having only one prepared, and pondered the usefulness of having three such spells memorized for future such situations.

The party made their way without incident to the surface, expressing their exhilaration as they finished climbing the ladder up and reached the open sky. At Rahnee’s suggestion, Dermot checked for any fresh footprints, but they had left too many earlier for any new ones left by Helrud to be noticeable. Making their way back along the trail, they came to the boat by the stream, where Shanni spotted some fresh tracks, made by footwear bigger than dwarven size. At first they thought someone else must be in the area, but Shanni recalled that Helrud was wearing his new boots from the dragon hoard. The five adventurers then made the boat ready to cross over the swiftly flowing water.