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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Wraithdrit" data-source="post: 944687" data-attributes="member: 10820">Session 9Will remained quiet all throughout the night. He did spend some time using a well-placed wall of fire to melt through the ice on the dragon’s hoard, dispelling it the moment the ice was thawed. He also took some time to extract a few of the more intact teeth and claws from the dragon’s corpse. Amador spent the night in prayer over the bodies of his two fallen comrades. He had laid both bodies out in comfortable positions and anointed both bodies with holy oils and sprinklings of blessed seeds from the deep forest. All night he prayed to Corellan to allow his friends either an entrance back to the physical realm from the great gray plane, or at least some measure of peace in whatever afterlife they found themselves in. He was not quite sure where Mytrym’s soul would end up, but the half-drow had at least shown he was courageous and willing to stand with him and his companions even against the direst of threats.Tanerus spent the night sitting quietly by the small pool in the corner of the dragon’s lair. The sound of the water was enough to drown out the prayers Amador softly intoned. It was not that Tanerus minded the prayers, but they reminded him of what had occurred and the last thing he wanted right now was to think about the loss. Amador was strong, and Tanerus knew that in a few short hours both companions might be standing once again. Idly the halfling picked up stones off the cavern floor and tossed them into the water. The rest was welcome, even if the circumstances were not. Morning finally came and Amador prayed for another hour, feeling the powers of his god flowing gently into him. He finally stopped and moved to kneel next to Durgaden. He started the ritual that would return the king to life. He prayed long and hard, pleading with his god to guide Durgaden back. Finally his prayers trailed away. He swung his head to one side looking to Tanerus and Will. They could see the despair on the elf’s face. “I’m sorry my friends. His soul is content in the afterlife… Durgaden Alepounder Tethyamar is truly and forever dead.” He swallowed the lump in his throat and turned to Mytrym’s corpse. Will turned and walked away. His right hand held the Book of Eternal Flames tightly. He had what he wanted. He finally had it. But what was the cost? Had it truly been worth it in the end? Sure the book contained rituals and spells he had never even dreamed of. It also had new ways of making his existing spells more powerful. Durgaden was dead though. He was the King of Tethyamar. Now that he was gone, what would become of the fledgling nation? Will had hopes of seeing Tethyamar grow and become strong. His family could create a wonderful link between the dwarven kingdom and Dagger Falls. Now there was a good chance none of it would happen. Would the Durgaden’s dream of Tethyamar fall with him?Tanerus sat down beside Durgaden’s body. The halfling reached up and tucked a lock of hair behind his ear, nervously fidgeting, not knowing what to say or what to think. He had seen death many times. Companions had died in his arms, but nothing had prepared him for this. In just eight short days, this group had someone managed to come together against all odds and free Tethyamar from ancient evils and the blight of the Zhentarim. But now Durgaden was dead, and Tanerus was no closer to find the gnome’s treasure than he had been when he lost it. It was out always just out of his reach. A loud cough interrupted Tanerus and Will’s thoughts. They turned to see Mytrym sitting up. He was coughing up blood, blinking repeatedly and leaning heavily on Amador. Amador supported the half-breed’s weight, and then offered him a sip of water. “Easy Mytrym, the return from death can be a rough one. Sip this slowly.” Mytrym’s hands shook as he took hold of the water skin. He was a strange color naturally, but even that seemed pale now. Amador spoke soft words to Corellon. His hands glowed softly and poured healing energy into the drained paladin.Slowly the color returned to Mytrym’s features. He set aside the water skin and laid his own hands upon his partially healed wounds and aided Amador in healing them. He looked to Durgaden then to the others. He looked confused a moment, then the realization hit him. “He stayed in the afterlife.” He bit his lower lip then nodded slowly. “I’m truly sorry my friends. I know he meant a lot to you.”The companions had nothing to say. Finally Will broke the silence, “We should return his body to Tethyamar. We will take as much of this as we can.” He motioned to the dragon horde. With that the group set about loading up what they could. A liter was made for Durgaden, and the companions took turns carrying either end. The trip was slow and arduous, but soon enough the great underground gate of Tethyamar loomed ahead. Tanerus looked at the others, “I’ll go ahead and warn them… give me a few minutes.”Tanerus returned a few minutes later, followed by a small group of dwarves. Chamberlain Stoutbeard led the small group. His face was a bit pale, but his jaw had a determined set to it. The dwarves took over the carrying of the liter and chanted ancient dwarven songs as they carried their dead king into Tethyamar. Later that day Gregor summoned Amador. “We have a problem. The King died without naming any heirs. We need you to call upon his spirit.”Amador informed Gregor, “I know you worry about the kingdom, but don’t you think Durgaden went through enough? Leave his spirit at rest.”Gregor shook his head, “I can’t damn it. Without a named heir this place will fall apart. You have got to contact him!” Amador nodded holding his hands up in surrender, “Alright, I’ll do it, but just once. Make sure you know everything you need to ask of him before I do so.”Gregor nodded, “We just need to know who he wants to rule Tethyamar and what to do with his things. Oh, and then there is the book…”Amador nodded. Ever since they returned from the dragon’s horde Will had locked himself away in his room. He had come out only a couple of times, and each time he carried the book with him wherever he went. Will was even quieter now than he had been before Durgaden’s death. Amador and Gregor went to Durgaden’s body and Amador intoned the proper prayers to his deity. He spoke for a few minutes with the spirit then turned to Gregor to relate what he had learned. “The King’s wishes were easy enough to discern. You are to be crowned King. His possessions are to be used to aid the kingdom. In this case he wants anything we can use to help track down and stop the collector to be used as such. Anything else he wants turned over to you. The book can remain in Will’s possession as long as he serves Tethyamar. If he ever leaves the service of the kingdom, Durgaden wants the book to remain.”Gregor nodded, “So be it.”By the afternoon everyone had heard the news. The companions had gone through Durgaden’s things with Gregor, pulling out those items they thought they could use. The rest Gregor took for storage in the kingdom’s armory. Finally Durgaden’s body was laid to rest during a small ceremony led by Amador. He did not know much about dwarven tradition, but he followed the guidance he had received by Gregor as well as what could remember from his own teaching on dwarven customs and culture.Mytrym found Gregor in what he become the king’s study. “Your liege… can I have a moment?”Gregor looked up at the newcomer and nodded, “Of course…Mytrym right? What is it?” He had heard of how Mytrym had fought side by side with his king, and was willing to trust the half-breed till he proved that the trust was not warranted.Mytrym set a large bag on the desk. “I want this returned to you. It’s my share of the findings in the dragon’s lair. I think you and your people could benefit from it far more than I could.”Gregor looked in the bag and was a bit shocked. “This is a lot of money. Are you sure? We can certainly use it, but won’t you need some?”Mytrym shook his head, “I trust Eilistraee to provide for me. It is yours. Thank you for your time.” The paladin bowed, turned and walked out, leaving Gregor stunned and not really knowing what to think.A couple of hours later Will walked in on where Amador, Mytrym and Tanerus were discussing their next step. Amador looked up at Will, “Ah, there you are Will… we were thinking that in the morning we would return to finish clearing out the Aerie. That way Gregor could have it staffed soon and we would have a waypoint between here and the next step of our trip into the Underdark. What do you think?”Will looked at each one of them, and then spoke softly but clearly. “I’m not going with you. I’ve decided to stay in Tethyamar.”</blockquote>

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