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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Wraithdrit" data-source="post: 883440" data-attributes="member: 10820">Session 7 - Log 1Fortress of TethyamarEleint 28th, 1372Late in the eveningHaving searched the rest of the caverns of the mines, the group assembled around their prisoner, a priestess of Bane. She awoke slowly and looked around, instantly assessing her situation."What would you do with me now?"Durgaden spoke first, "That depends on what you are willing to tell us. Tell us what you know, and we will ransom you back to your people."Tanerus smirked, "Minus all your goodies of course." The priestess frowned. They had striped her down to her garments that she wore under her armor, and tied her hands behind her back."Very well. I agree. What is you wish to know, I will answer as truthfully as I can." She looked between the companions.Durgaden was quick to ask, "What be ye doing here?""Administering to the needs of the followers of Bane.""And what were the Zhentarim doing here? What use is this place to you?" Durgaden saw he was going to have to be fairly literal. She said she would answer him, but that did not mean she would volunteer extra information."Command and control.""But you control nothing out here.""The desert road is something. The Zhentarim is split between east and west. Down the middle is Cormyr, we need a way to move troops and caravans from one side to the other, that road is the way.""Not any more it isn't!" Durgaden grinned."You think that I am the last that will come? Reinforcements are already enroute. You think we did not send for some after the first few attacks you made? You will lose these mines.""I think not! They are my mines now.""We will see about that."Will interrupted the debate, "Who has the axe?""What axe?"Durgaden sputtered, "The axe from the middle of town? Where is it?""The underdark somewhere I suppose. Kara sold it. She was meeting with someone, selling them something." The priestess shifted a little."To drow?" asked Will."I believe so, I wasn't directly involved.""We will be getting it back, along with the rest of what you stole from me mines." Durgaden huffed a little.The priestess looked at Durgaden with a scowl and asked, "Just who are you anyways?""The new owner of the mines!" Durgaden puffed up his chest."And your name...?" The venom in her voice was obvious."Durgaden, Durgaden Alepounder."She snorted, "Right. Are we through here?""I suppose. You try to escape and I will have no choice but to kill you.""Fine. You have my word, I will not try to escape. I will require sustenance.""You will have it."The companions locked her away in an officer's room, then settled down for the night. The gates were shut, and Tanerus had removed the cranks to make it harder to get in.Early the next morning a noise was heard from the front portcullis. The companions readied themselves and went to see what it was. A few humans in Dagger Falls militia uniforms and a large group of dwarves stood on the otherside of the gate.Durgaden called to them, "What do you want?""Durgaden? Its Gregor Stoutbeard from Dagger Falls, I come looking for Durgaden Alepounder!""Well you found him!" Durgaden motioned for Tanerus to fix the crank. "What do you want with me?""Let me in son, I've been riding all night and I'm sore as can be. I have something for ye." Soon the gate opened and Gregor and the boys moved inside at Durgaden's invitation. They made their way to the mess hall and readied some of the Zhentarim provisions."Mighty nice of them to stock the larders for you boys," joked Gregor."Here, here." Durgaden grinned, "But I have me own stout to go with!" He raised a mug, and the rest of the dwarves joined him. "So what have you for me."Gregor looked down suddenly, he was obviously not very proud of something he had done. He looked old, even for a dwarf. "I.. I uh, have a letter." He pulled an ancient worn letter from a pouch, it was tied by a string. It has obviously been read many, many times. "I was sent this by King Ghallin before the fall of the mines."Durgaden looked at Gregor. That would make him several hundred years old. Durgaden's father had lived here, and had left the mines sometime around the fall the mines, though Durgaden never really got the exact details. His father, Durgen Alepounder, had not been much on reminiscing on old times.Gregor sighed, "Well the letter, it explains it all." He handed the letter to Durgaden, and as Durgaden started to read it outloud, Gregor pulled an ancient wood box from his pack and set it on the table between him and Durgaden.Durgaden read the letter slowly, taking it all in, reading aloud as he did...Durgaden sputtered as he read the last few sentences. He downed the rest of his mug and croaked out, "Can I get some more ale?"When more had been delivered he continued reading...Durgaden lowered the letter and looked at Gregor.Gregor slid the box across the table. "Me and the boys wanted to help you, mate. But with your father's sins still in place, we couldn't. We figure after what you've done, its time that those sins be forgiven. That would make you the heir to Tethyamar. Our king." Gregor slid the bench out, and with the rest of the bows dropped to one knee.Durgaden opened the box as Gregor talked and saw a finely wrought helmet crown. The spines of the crown were inlaid with platinum. The helmet itself was made from adamantine. The chain coif built into it was mithril. Gems studded the masterpiece in various places. He sputtered, closed the box and watched as the dwarves dropped to one knee."Oh by the gods! Get up! Get up! Stop that." The dwarves quickly stood.Gregor grinned, "Long live the King!" The rest of the dwarves joined in the chorus and raised the mugs, shouting out salutes and cheers. Durgaden grinned a bit sheepishly, but hid it well enough. Durgaden's companions smiled and watched on as the dwarves celebrated.Durgaden stopped the rowdy celebrations and pointed at his companions, "You boys do as these fellows bid ye, just as sure as if it were me. None of this woulda been possible without them." Durgaden strode over to his companions. "Well we did what we set out to do, and I will reward as I promised."Tanerus nodded, "There is still the matter of the book."Durgaden nodded, "Aye, Will, you can study it all ye want, copy it, and all once we find it, but it will need to stay in Tethyamar."Will nodded, "I understand."Durgaden grinned, "And we will be needing to go after the items the drow have taken."Tanerus nodded, "I would bet they are all in one place."Amador nodded, "I would have to assume that is so. It troubles me that the drow have collected such an array of varying items. They are definately up to something."Gregor walked up. "M'lord, we will secure the fortress while you and your companions go after this book."Amador asked Gregor, "Do you know anything about this crypt of Thomas."Gregor shook his head, "None of us were involved in building it. Most of these boys are like Durgaden, one generation removed from those that lived here. I'm the exception, and as I said, I was not there when the crypt was built."Will nodded, "Then lets finish getting some rest and when we are ready, we will enter this crypt." All agreed and the plan for the next day was set.</blockquote>

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