Aegon and the Troupe enter the Iron Throne’s mine and discover the miners to be slaves. They have provided the Troupe with a plan to flood the mine. Though they may not find Tazok here, they have agreed to stick yet another thorn in the Iron Throne’s plans.
30 Eleasias 1368
As we follow the mineshaft further underground, the rough uncarved rocks shift into cleaner cut flat stone. The wooden support beams become a thing of the past as we walk into almost flat walls. Some great architect or powerful magic is behind this construction.
The corridor opens out into a perfectly square room with a few weapons lining the walls. In the middle a table with two guards sitting in conversation. They grab their swords and shield as soon as they notice us and the clanging of steel echoes down the corridors.
I charge them, and Bashrik’s Hammer sends the power of lightning through their bodies. The others stay back and hit them with their missiles.
Keiria sends an arrow flying over one guard, straight past my neck and striking the guard behind me in the face. Kivan follows by hitting the other guard through the back of his neck.
They are dead. We pause for a moment, wondering if anyone else heard us. The door at the back of the room doesn’t budge, and we see no one coming down the corridor to our left. We listen and hear nothing except maybe the faint murmur of conversation coming from the corridor.
When we are certain we are safe, we decide to walk down the corridor. Keiria and Aura keep an eye out for traps. They find none, but we do encounter more guards.
Once again I lead the charge, holding them back. I miss one guard after Kivan pierces his skull with an arrow, and before I can even raise my hammer again, Kivan kills him too. I’m glad this Ranger is on our side.
This area seems to be a storage area, though it isn’t well stocked. Walls lined with empty weapon stands, rooms filled with crates containing nothing but dust. I wonder if our actions have caused supply issues for the Iron Throne.
As we rummage through the storage rooms, another guard runs out. His weapon remains by his side and he is clearly panicking.
Guard: Hey! You’re those adventurers. I… I give up. Please don’t hurt me; I promise I won’t scream. I don’t wanna dieeee! Oh, please let me live… just don’t kill me. Are you gonna let me live? Are ya, huh? Huh?
Aegon: Sure, we’ll let you live, just tell us everything we want to know.
Guard: I’ll tell ya everything, everything! My boss, Davaeorn, he’s on the fourth level. He’s the head honcho. Now are ya gonna let me live?
It isn’t a nice thing to do, but we can’t risk him informing others of our presence here.
Aegon: Nope.
Guard: You’re gonna kill me?! You bastards, I won’t go down without a fight. COME ON! Ya wanna piece of me?
Before he can draw his sword, Kivan looses the arrow he already had trained on him. Low supplies, and panicking guards. The Iron Throne may really be facing supply issues. Ironic given that they sabotaged the only other mine that could supply iron to the area.
There is a dead end here, but before we turn around I notice a strange crack in the wall. Kivan sees it as well. Aura confirms that there appears to be a secret door here, and after feeling around she finds the mechanism that unlocks it.
Behind it we find another corridor with carved walls and no details except for a few torches hanging on the walls. We follow it and hear the sound of bare feet slapping on the ground, followed by a snarl. A walking, rotten corpse ambles into view, claws protruding from its hands.
Though the ghast makes a valiant effort to charge and dig its claws into me, a blow from Bashrik’s Hammer sends it reeling, giving Kivan and Keiria the chance to take it out with their bows.
I reach down to search what is left of the corpse and find a horn coral gem tucked into its tattered robes. Nothing too valuable, but we can probably trade it for better equipment if we make it back to civilisation.
As I pass the gem to Keiria so she can store it in her Gem Bag, we hear another screech coming from the corridor ahead of us. Another ghast charges at us, ready to avenge its mate.
Though startled, we give it the same fate: lightning and arrows returning it to the planes of the dead.
The corridor comes to another dead end, but after feeling around the walls, we find another hidden door. Once again, Aura finds the mechanism that opens it.
Behind the door we find what appears to be a small set of prison cells. An old, yet surprisingly strong human is here, alongside an unarmed dwarf. The human approaches us.
Rill: You there, wait! Tell me I’m right. Aren’t you the mercenaries who’ve been causing the Iron Throne so much trouble?
There is no point in lying. He is unarmed, and so far the Throne hasn’t put up much of a defense.
Aegon: Yes, we are. How did you come by this information, you look to be one of the Throne’s slaves?
Rill: Good! My name is Rill, and I’m the de facto leader of the slaves here beneath the Cloakwood. I heard about you, because I’m always careful to listen to what the Blacktalons talk about. It seems that the lron Throne has placed a large price on the head of someone named Aegon, which would be you, I assume. Enough introductions, we don’t have much time. I need 100 gold. The captain of the Blacktalons on the first floor is not known for his loyalty to the Throne. If you give me the money, I’m sure I could bribe him to look the other way, while I escape with the rest of the slaves. After all, most of the Talons are going to be preoccupied with you. Well, how about it?
Kivan: A daring plan, my friend! Aegon, we *must* free these people.
Kivan is right, and we have the gold to spare. The free slaves may be able to help us take down the Throne after we have destroyed the mine.
Aegon: Here, take the gold you need, and get yourself and the others away from here as soon as possible.
Rill: Thank you! Thank you so much. I wish you well, and hope that you can bring an end to this stinking operation.
We tell Rill the secret passageway will lead him back to the surface. As he steps through the secret door, he turns to us before leaving.
Rill: Thanks again! And good luck!
Now we can rest assured that the slaves will make it out before we flood these mines. I’ve gotten so used to killing over the last few tendays, it’s nice to be able to save lives for once.
We turn to the dwarf, and he tells us a tale of how this place came to be, and how he ended up imprisoned here.
Yeslick: I don’t know who you are, but I’m glad to see you nonetheless. I canna be done with this place soon enough! I don’t fancy the look of you, but if you be against the Throne you’ve my best blessings. In fact, I’ll do you better than blessings. This mine was once my clan-home, and after that my clan-tomb. We breached a riverbank over a hundred years ago and most of us died. A few survived, but we left the mine flooded as a monument to the dead. I got trade-work at the Iron Throne smithing, but I then told my “friend” Rieltar about my old home. They chained me up and tortured the location out of me, and now my home feeds the Iron Throne and their evil plans. I’d sooner destroy it again than have the Throne use it so! Here are directions to the lower levels. They plugged the hole to the river, but knowing hands can loose it again! Flood the blackguards out! I must leave, I can bear the sight of this place no longer. I’ll black a few eyes on the way out though! Clangeddin’s might be with you!
Gameplay Note
I’m not sure why Yeslick didn’t join the party here. I don’t remember him having any Alignment or Reputation requirements, so maybe it’s down to a mod?
After dumping this information on us, he follows Rill through the secret tunnel. This explains how well the walls have been carved down here. This is dwarf architecture. They respected the Nature that destroyed the mines when they decided to leave. The Iron Throne clearly doesn’t, and that’s why the local druid factions want to see this place destroyed again.
The door on the other side of the cells is locked, of course. Keiria uses her skills to pick the lock.
The door opens into a room with a stairway leading down to our left, and a corridor leading to our right. There is a table here where two more guards would be sitting, had they not heard us picking the lock. They are ready for us, but we are always ready to fight them.
As I rush into the room Kivan kills one of them. The other yells out, and more guards start pouring in from the corridor.
We wound the second guard, but around the corner comes their leader. A mage, protected from missile weapons, among other things. Dynaheir yells that we need to get close and disable his magic. He prepares a spell, and I attempt to Dispel his protections.
My spell works, and the mage’s defenses fade away. But it triggers a Spell Sequencer, causing the mage to turn Invisible. I’ve only ever heard of these emergency spells; this is the first time I’ve seen one used in action.
One of the archers hits Dynaheir in the shoulder and she lets out a scream as she stumbles back. Wounded, she reaches for a Potion of Healing with her remaining good arm.
Branwen kills the guard that was attacking me, freeing me up to move toward Dynaheir’s attacker. As a mage, she isn’t the hardiest so likely won’t survive a second arrow. We have to kill her attacker quickly.
Kivan sends an arrow straight through a Blacktalon’s heart. The mage reappears from the other room. This time he has Mirror Images and is protected against low-level magics. He casts a spell that puts Aura to Sleep. The Weave appears to be favouring him in this battle.
There are more guards in that other room, I know it. I decide to test that theory by pulling out some scrolls from my pouch. The first one I use sows Chaos in the guards, causing them to become confused, unable to tell friend from foe. Unfortunately the mage resists my spell.
The mage also attempts to give Keiria a Feeblemind, but she is able to resist the effects of the Weave. Perhaps it isn’t against us this day as I previously thought.
Dynaheir drinks a Potion of Speed so she can get out of trouble if more arrows fly her way. Branwen calls upon Tempus to grant her Divine Might. She screams that the power of her god is better than anything the Weave can deliver.
I attempt to use my scrolls to give the mage a Feeblemind, but he is able to keep himself under control no matter how many scrolls I use.
That’s when the mage finishes a spell and I find his eyes staring into mine own. Through my own eyes. Right into my mind. I find myself turning around to face the others, lifting my hammer. I don’t want to… no. I do. I want to kill them.
The others keep their weapons trained as they retreat, leaving Aura behind. Branwen holds me back as I swing Bashrik’s Hammer and it collides with her shield. I don’t understand. I don’t want to do this. But I can’t stop myself. They must die.
Aura awakens and Branwen calls to her to run past as she keeps me busy. Aura manages to make it past us and rejoins the others. They retreat back into the secret passage, Branwen holding ground with the might of her god behind her.
Evenually, I’m able to stop myself from following them, but I still feel the urge to kill them. From behind me I can hear guards fighting with each other, confused by the magic I used earlier.
I am stuck. Confused. Paralysed by my mission to save the Iron Throne. No. Not that. What am I doing here?
All I know know is that the invaders must die. I wait for them to return. I will kill them and protect the Iron Throne…
