Having defeated the banshee that Jet’Laya’s sister became, the Troupe now looks to plan their next move. With their new ally, they now look back toward the Iron Throne, and toward Baldur’s Gate.
14 Eleint 1368
We take the note that Lennan gave us to Otho in the Thunderhammer smithy. While initially dismissive, he takes our commission and turns out to be quite the talkative dwarf.
Otho Truehammer: Hello there…hehe… If yer looking to buy some armor or weapons this is ole’ Thunderhammer’s place. I’m just visitin’.
Aegon: Actually, I believe we are here to see you. I was told to bring this letter to Otho Truehammer, the master smithy. That’s you isn’t it?
Otho Truehammer: Why, yes it is. Let me take a look at that letter if ya please….Oh yes, it’s from my good friend Lennan. He told me that a group of adventurers would be stopping by to see me. I owe my elven friend a favor, so I agreed to make this weapon for you. I don’t really know the reason behind it, but Lennan was very specific that it was to be a finely balanced mace crafted from the finest iron that I could find. Sometimes Lennan knows about things that will happen, before they happen…if ye understand my meaning. Heh…elves, Lennan is a good friend but sometimes I don’t understand all that hocus pocus…gives me the hebeejebeez…no sir, I’d take a well crafted hammer or mace over magic any day…But enough of that, ye didn’t come here to listen to me go on all day. I’ll get started on yer weapon right away. It should be ready in five days time. I’ll have it fer ye then.
Five days to occupy ourselves with something, but what? Kivan is eager to continue our pursuit of the Iron Throne. Tazok is still alive, as is my father’s killer. Perhaps it is time for us to go north, to the city of Baldur’s Gate. We leave the smithy to plan our next move, only to be interrupted by Dawn Priest Blane.
Dawn Priest Blane: Excuse me, but are you Aegon?
Aegon: Yes, am. How can I help you? .
Dawn Priest Blane: I‘m Dawn Priest Blane, from the Song of the Morning Temple. One of the Morninglords from the Temple wishes to speak with you. He’s waiting for you at the Burning Wizard. ,
Aegon: Why does he need to talk to me?
Dawn Priest Blane: I don’t really know, I just clean the floors at the Temple.
Aegon: Okay, I guess we will go see him. .
My name must be getting around town if I’m being summoned by the priests of Lathander. Jet’Laya insists that we go, as it is her duty to help her god whenever she can. It may only be a small detour, so we go to the Burning Wizard to see what the Morninglord wants. As soon as we enter the tavern, he rushes to us with urgency in his eyes.
Morninglord Jarent of Lathander: Hello, you must be the party of Aegon.
Aegon: Yes, that we are. How may we help you?
Morninglord Jarent of Lathander: I am Jarent, Morninglord of Lathander, and I seek your help in taking care of a problem. You see a young Forest Dragon has recently been on the move south of here. This dragon attacked several villages south of the Cloudpeak Mountains and began moving north. It raided one of our temples during one of these attacks. Among the temple valuables it carried away with it was a most holy relic. It is very important that this relic be returned and that is what I am asking of you. Will you help?
Aegon: We will do as you ask, honorable sir. Tell us where we might find this vile beast so that we may give the bards new stories for their songs.
Morninglord Jarent of Lathander: In the name of Lathander, I thank you! The dragon was last seen in the mountain area to the east of the Nashkell Mines and moving this way. I dare say that if it makes it to Nashkell or Beregost the circumstances would be devastating. It must be stopped. As I said, it’s a young dragon, but dangerous none the less. I will be here when you return.
A dragon? We only killed a few wyverns and now they want us to take on a dragon? I don’t know why they believe me to be the one for this quest, but I have been through a lot more than most since I left the Keep and lost father. If they are summoning us they must believe we can defeat the dragon. I hope, at least, that my visions will help to prevent our demise.
No sooner have we left the tavern are we accosted by a panicked nobleman.
Lord Norby Boozluck: Oh my! Did you hear the terrible news? A dragon is running loose through the streets of Nashkell!! Someone must stop it before it makes it to Beregost! I’m packing my stuff right now and heading to my Auntie Nora’s in Baldur’s Gate!
It’s already in Nashkel? We don’t need to say anything. We must make haste if we are to save the town. Tazok, and the Iron Throne, can wait.
We move as quickly as we can. Who knows what state Nashkel will be in when we get there. Jarent said it was a forest dragon. Why would a forest dragon approach a human civilisation?
Though we make haste, we still have to fight our way south. A pair of ghasts tries to consume our flesh.
Gibberlings believe their strength in numbers will help them.
And hobgoblin bandits forget that we are the ones that took down the Chill.
All of this fighting has left us exhausted. We need to get to Nashkel as quickly as we can, but we won’t be able to help if we cannot even raise our weapons. We have no choice but to set up camp. We agree to keep moving as soon as the new day begins.
15 Eleint 1368
We set up camp near the main road in the hopes that we would be safer from the wilder creatures of the night. We rest until the night is darkest. When we wake we follow the path toward Nashkel.
After several hours we find ourselves moving through what was once a hobgoblin camp. Very little remains of it now, having been looted by animals and passers-by. Then I feel myself falling down, stone fists breaking bones and crushing my skull. Visions again. Something deadly is waiting for us in the night. I warn the others to be ready. I spot a heavily armed woman waiting for us.
I waste no time in conjuring a Web to trap our assailants. The woman draws her sword and runs at us. Flanking us I see a giant man of stone, a golem. We cannot let this construct hurt us.
Realising our arrows and sling bullets will only bounce off it’s stone skin, we pull back and draw our melee weapons. The stone golem punches me in the gut and I immediately cough up blood.
I fall back so I can heal as the others chip away at its stone frame. Jet’Laya uses her last Potion of Healing, only for the golem to deal a crushing blow to her chest.
Jet’Laya retreats as well and the golem swings its fist around, striking Aura and knocking her to the ground. If we don’t destroy this thing quickly one of us is bound to die.
Kivan manages to pierce the golem’s chest with his Dragon Spear. It scratches some markings carved inside the construct and it ceases to move.
Shar-Teel and I turn our weapons on the warrior helping the golem and she is cut down before she can hurt any of us.
Before we continue down the path, we take some time to heal ourselves. I’m hoping any allies these two had are still trapped within my Web.
We walk down the path to find another warrior within the Web I had conjured. We draw our bows and slings.
He is unable to do anything as arrows embed themselves into him. We find a second warrior within the Web and give him the same ending. The Web returns to the Weave and we set about searching the bodies for any clues as to who these people are. That is when I notice something in the tree above and am able to avoid the dagger that is thrust toward me.
Kivan quickly pulls his bow and the arrow flies straight through the assassin’s neck. We hold for a moment, wary that there may still be others.
When we are sure we are safe, Kivan tells me that he has learned how to better utilise his weapons after slaying the stone golem.
Gameplay Note
His Breath Weapon and Spells Saving Throws are improved by 1. His THAC0 is reduced by 1. He gains 3 Hit Points and 1 point of Lore.
With a stone golem helping them they must have been more than just ordinary bandits. We search the bodies for any clues to why they may have attacked us. Among their effects we find a Strange Potion of Healing, the History of Amn, a book I have read already, as well as a Potion of Rage that Kivan takes, and an Emerald. We also find a Rainbow Obsidian Necklace that looks like it could be worn by royalty.
On the would-be assassin we find a letter addressed to someone called Aranor. Another bounty on my head?
It’s not a bounty, but it also doesn’t explain this party’s motivation for attacking us. Perhaps we can pay a visit to this Cearwin and get more answers. If he is still alive, that is. The town must be destroyed by now, if it isn’t still under siege. I look to the others. I don’t need to say anything. They understand.
We start running south. We start running toward Nashkel.
