While Jia muttered to herself about the unfairness of the whole thing, the others readied themselves for further explorations. The passageway to the west soon led to a room with a number of closed doors. From behind one came the sounds of conversation, goblin voices muffled by the thick wood.
“We'll set a trap for them.” Bakaan outlined the plan. “We will hide round the corner of the passageway, while Jia approaches the door. She opens the door, surprises the goblins, and flees back to us here. They will chase after her, and we ambush them.” Approving nods greeted this suggestion.
The plan worked flawlessly. Almost.
Jia approached the door while the others made ready for the coming combat. She flung open the door to the room, surprising the goblins inside. A quick glance revealed that the room was a torture chamber, with rack, cage, firepit, half a dozen goblins and a hobgoblin torturer with a red hot poker that he was using to demonstrate his butt-stroke technique.
Feigning a shocked face, Jia fled as fast as her little legs could carry her. She reached the safety of her companions and drew her weapons for combat.
At this point the plan fell apart. Not being quite as stupid as kobolds or as mindlessly aggressive as orcs, the hobgoblin torturer sent a couple of the goblins out to scout for traps. As soon as one of them spotted the party round the corner, they fled back to the relative safety of the torture chamber, leaving the adventurers with only the dangerous “frontal assault without mercy” tactic.
A battle swiftly broke out at the door of the torture chamber, but Jia's sword and strength pushed the goblins back into the room. Goblin sharpshooters opened fire on the party. Doomgrad was able to push into the room and attack the torturer, getting his attention and allowing Jia to get behind him and plant both her blades in his back.
“Jia! Hit him again!” shouted Bakaan. She did, and the torturer dropped dead with her dagger buried in his ear.
Gilee pursued one of the sharpshooters who retreated into a large cage in the corner of the room. Thinking she had him trapped, she followed behind him. However, the goblin darted past her through the bars, and slammed the door shut. With an ominous click, the lock shut fast. The goblin laughed at her in the cage, but was surprised when she thrust her longsword through the bars at him and skewered him. She pushed the dead goblin off the blade, and with a quick flex of her shoulders, pushed the door open, shattering the lock.
Doomgrad, meanwhile, was pushing two more sharpshooters down a passageway lined with cells. Although he was slowly whittling them down, their technique of stepping back each time he approached and shooting him was taking it's toll. It was only when additional magical aid arrived, in the form of Kaza and Eilonwy, that the outcome of the fight was finally decided.
A swift search of the room turned up a couple of interesting discoveries. Firstly, the hobgoblin torturer had been wearing a suit of magical hide armour, which the party soon took possession of.
And secondly, one of the cells was occupied.
Wednesday 29 October 2008
Saturday 18 October 2008
Keep on the Shadowfell: Session 10
Pale sunlight greeted the Blue Moon Company as they set out the next morning. Early morning fog had settled between the hills, and to the party is seemed that the landscape consisted of small islands floating on a sea of white.
Heading north towards the keep, following directions given to them by Valthrun, they followed a worn track, overgrown and disused. By mid morning the fog had been burned off by the wan sunlight and the landscape had change, becoming more forested. The track wound through the forest, and as they approached their destination, they began to see the ruins of rough stone buildings, perhaps farms or homesteads that had been settled around the keep.
At around midday, the track opened out into a large clearing in the middle of the forest. In the centre of the clearing stood the ruins of the keep. Fallen stone blocks, and ruined and burned timbers lay around in piles. The remains of one tower stood to the western end, and the largest pile of stones indicated the location of the central keep.
The party approached warily, looking out for attack.
“Kaza is cold,” remarked the wizard. The temperature had indeed dropped, and all the woodland sounds that had accompanied them on their journey here had ceased. Birdsong, the whirr of insects and the rustling of the breeze in the trees had vanished. An oppressive aura hung over the ruins.
“I feel as though someone is watching us.” Jia looked around, attempting to spot the hidden observer.
“Most likely it is the influence of the rift between our world and the Shadowfell that causes this feeling. It is to be expected,” replied Eilonwy. “Corellon grant me the grace to remain firm in this tainted place.”
A quick search of the ruins revealed the presence of a stairway leading into the bowels of the earth, and the party headed down. Ahead shone the light of lanterns. Jia crept forwards stealthily, her crossbow held in her hand.
At the bottom of the stairs a chamber opened out, the roof held up by four thin pillars. Passages led away from the other three cardinal points, and to the south, between the pillars, Jia saw a goblin. Leaning against the wall, his spear held in the crook of one arm, he seemed not to see her as she crouched in the shadows.
She slowly raised her crossbow, closed one eye, sighted along the bolt and took careful aim at the side of the goblin's head. Drawing one deep breath, she slowly let it out halfway, gently squeezed the trigger, felt the kick as the bolt was launched...and watched as it soared over the goblin's head and clattered off the wall above him.
Instantly alert, he gripped his spear in both hands, and looked about for threats. He didn't see the rogue as the rest of the party ran down the stairs and into the room. Bakaan, brave leader that he was, ran across the room at the goblin, and failed to see the tarpaulin that was stretched out on the floor between the pillars. Dyed the same colour as the stone underfoot and sprinkled with dust, the tarp was designed to defeat those who charged recklessly into the room. As Bakaan ran onto the sheet, the thin threads that connected it to the pillars snapped, and he plummeted to the bottom of a hidden pit, landing with a bone jarring crunch. He pushed himself to his feet, only to be assaulted by a horde of large rats that flowed from holes in the pit walls. Sharp biting teeth began to attach themselves to the exposed parts of his flesh, and he yelled in pain.
Above him, the rest of the party found themselves in combat with more goblins. Sharpshooters opened fire with crossbows with surprising accuracy, while goblin warriors took up covering positions. Jia, Kaza and Eilonwy exchanged ranged fire with the sharpshooters while Gilee and Doomgrad attempted to get into cover. However a sharpshooter in a flanking position down one of the side passage also opened up, forcing them to crouch where they could to avoid the withering crossfire.
Kaza decided that their situation was desperate, and she once more summoned forth the ball of spitting fire that had defeated Irontooth. This she sent down the side passage to scare away the flankers, allowing Gilee to push forwards in an attempt to get at the other sharpshooters. Doomgrad also ran down the side passage to get at the ambushers.
Down in the pit, Bakaan was suffering from the continued rat assault. Bleeding from dozens of small wounds, he swung his sword at the rats, and although some fell dead, their furry companions continued to bite and chew. The combination of the pain of the bites, and the shock of the impact at the bottom of the pit conspired against him, and he fell into unconsciousness. Unimpressed, the rats continued to bite his prone form.
Fearing for the brave Tiefling, Eilonwy and Jia sprang into action. Swiftly tying a rope around the nearest pillar, Jia began to climb down, while Eilonwy bathed the bottom of the pit in holy fire, scorching many of the rats and healing Bakaan of some of his wounds.
Doomgrad and the flaming sphere had driven off the sharpshooter who had been flanking the party, and chased after him down another passageway. As he did this, Gilee fought her way down the passageway toward the main group of goblins, her sword a tide of iron that pushed the goblin warriors backwards.
Jia arrived at the bottom of the pit and her arrival attracted the rats who began to attack this new threat. She looked in horror at Bakaan's blood soaking the stones.
“Oh, Gods, he's dead!” she thought, ”And I never got to tell him that I-”. However at that moment, Eilonwy's healing magics brought Bakaan back to consciousness. Within seconds he was on his feet and had climbed up the rope with an almost superhuman speed. Jia found herself alone at the bottom of the pit, facing a horde of rats, while the fallen warlord was alive and safe at the top.
“Oh, arse!” she exclaimed.
Gilee defeated the last of the goblin warriors and ran forwards into the room where the sharpshooters were located at the same time that Doomgrad and the blazing sphere surged in from the side passage. Met with a furious rain of highly accurate crossbow bolts, Gilee was badly injured. Eilonwy, following up from the room with the pit was forced to expend more of her magics to heal the wounded warrior.
The arrival of Doomgrad, Gilee, Kaza's flaming sphere, Eilonwy and Bakaan spelled disaster for the remaining goblins, and soon the sharpshooters were dead.
Behind them, Jia pulled herself from the pit, muttering under her breath.
Heading north towards the keep, following directions given to them by Valthrun, they followed a worn track, overgrown and disused. By mid morning the fog had been burned off by the wan sunlight and the landscape had change, becoming more forested. The track wound through the forest, and as they approached their destination, they began to see the ruins of rough stone buildings, perhaps farms or homesteads that had been settled around the keep.
At around midday, the track opened out into a large clearing in the middle of the forest. In the centre of the clearing stood the ruins of the keep. Fallen stone blocks, and ruined and burned timbers lay around in piles. The remains of one tower stood to the western end, and the largest pile of stones indicated the location of the central keep.
The party approached warily, looking out for attack.
“Kaza is cold,” remarked the wizard. The temperature had indeed dropped, and all the woodland sounds that had accompanied them on their journey here had ceased. Birdsong, the whirr of insects and the rustling of the breeze in the trees had vanished. An oppressive aura hung over the ruins.
“I feel as though someone is watching us.” Jia looked around, attempting to spot the hidden observer.
“Most likely it is the influence of the rift between our world and the Shadowfell that causes this feeling. It is to be expected,” replied Eilonwy. “Corellon grant me the grace to remain firm in this tainted place.”
A quick search of the ruins revealed the presence of a stairway leading into the bowels of the earth, and the party headed down. Ahead shone the light of lanterns. Jia crept forwards stealthily, her crossbow held in her hand.
At the bottom of the stairs a chamber opened out, the roof held up by four thin pillars. Passages led away from the other three cardinal points, and to the south, between the pillars, Jia saw a goblin. Leaning against the wall, his spear held in the crook of one arm, he seemed not to see her as she crouched in the shadows.
She slowly raised her crossbow, closed one eye, sighted along the bolt and took careful aim at the side of the goblin's head. Drawing one deep breath, she slowly let it out halfway, gently squeezed the trigger, felt the kick as the bolt was launched...and watched as it soared over the goblin's head and clattered off the wall above him.
Instantly alert, he gripped his spear in both hands, and looked about for threats. He didn't see the rogue as the rest of the party ran down the stairs and into the room. Bakaan, brave leader that he was, ran across the room at the goblin, and failed to see the tarpaulin that was stretched out on the floor between the pillars. Dyed the same colour as the stone underfoot and sprinkled with dust, the tarp was designed to defeat those who charged recklessly into the room. As Bakaan ran onto the sheet, the thin threads that connected it to the pillars snapped, and he plummeted to the bottom of a hidden pit, landing with a bone jarring crunch. He pushed himself to his feet, only to be assaulted by a horde of large rats that flowed from holes in the pit walls. Sharp biting teeth began to attach themselves to the exposed parts of his flesh, and he yelled in pain.
Above him, the rest of the party found themselves in combat with more goblins. Sharpshooters opened fire with crossbows with surprising accuracy, while goblin warriors took up covering positions. Jia, Kaza and Eilonwy exchanged ranged fire with the sharpshooters while Gilee and Doomgrad attempted to get into cover. However a sharpshooter in a flanking position down one of the side passage also opened up, forcing them to crouch where they could to avoid the withering crossfire.
Kaza decided that their situation was desperate, and she once more summoned forth the ball of spitting fire that had defeated Irontooth. This she sent down the side passage to scare away the flankers, allowing Gilee to push forwards in an attempt to get at the other sharpshooters. Doomgrad also ran down the side passage to get at the ambushers.
Down in the pit, Bakaan was suffering from the continued rat assault. Bleeding from dozens of small wounds, he swung his sword at the rats, and although some fell dead, their furry companions continued to bite and chew. The combination of the pain of the bites, and the shock of the impact at the bottom of the pit conspired against him, and he fell into unconsciousness. Unimpressed, the rats continued to bite his prone form.
Fearing for the brave Tiefling, Eilonwy and Jia sprang into action. Swiftly tying a rope around the nearest pillar, Jia began to climb down, while Eilonwy bathed the bottom of the pit in holy fire, scorching many of the rats and healing Bakaan of some of his wounds.
Doomgrad and the flaming sphere had driven off the sharpshooter who had been flanking the party, and chased after him down another passageway. As he did this, Gilee fought her way down the passageway toward the main group of goblins, her sword a tide of iron that pushed the goblin warriors backwards.
Jia arrived at the bottom of the pit and her arrival attracted the rats who began to attack this new threat. She looked in horror at Bakaan's blood soaking the stones.
“Oh, Gods, he's dead!” she thought, ”And I never got to tell him that I-”. However at that moment, Eilonwy's healing magics brought Bakaan back to consciousness. Within seconds he was on his feet and had climbed up the rope with an almost superhuman speed. Jia found herself alone at the bottom of the pit, facing a horde of rats, while the fallen warlord was alive and safe at the top.
“Oh, arse!” she exclaimed.
Gilee defeated the last of the goblin warriors and ran forwards into the room where the sharpshooters were located at the same time that Doomgrad and the blazing sphere surged in from the side passage. Met with a furious rain of highly accurate crossbow bolts, Gilee was badly injured. Eilonwy, following up from the room with the pit was forced to expend more of her magics to heal the wounded warrior.
The arrival of Doomgrad, Gilee, Kaza's flaming sphere, Eilonwy and Bakaan spelled disaster for the remaining goblins, and soon the sharpshooters were dead.
Behind them, Jia pulled herself from the pit, muttering under her breath.
Thursday 16 October 2008
Keep on the Shadowfell: Sessions 8 & 9
The next morning, the group were up bright and early, intending to make an early start. Over breakfast, they discussed their adventures.
“Kaza feels more capable this morning,” began Kaza. “As if she's become more powerful overnight.”
Gilee nodded in agreement. “I also feel that way. It's very strange.”
“Not really,” commented Eilonwy. “Over the past few weeks we've defeated dozens of kobolds, completed quests, and killed a dragon. We've survived ambushes and we've travelled far into danger. These experiences will surely have an effect on us. We have learned many lessons, some of them hard and painful. It is only natural that we will begin to feel more capable, more powerful.”
“More healthy,” said Doomgrad.
“More skillful,” said Jia.
“More able to gauge the flow of battle,” said Bakaan.
“Indeed.” Eilonwy looked round at her companions. “So, now that we've reached a new level of competence, is anyone up for collecting more kobold ears?”
After breakfast, the party set out once more in the direction of the kobold lair. The air was cold, and a thin mist lay over the foothills, but they were unassaulted as they approached. Ahead, they could hear the sound of the waterfall that the kobold lair was reported to conceal.
Leaving the rest of the party some distance away, Jia crept forwards, moving stealthily from one patch of cover to another. A small stand of trees provided her with a satisfactory hiding spot, as she cast her eyes over the scene.
About a dozen kobolds were in a small clearing in front of the waterfall. Mist from the crashing water obscured the area, but Jia could see that there was a dark entrance behind the waterfall itself. Loading her crossbow, she motioned for her companions to approach. Once they were in position, she took careful aim, slowly squeezed the trigger, and watched as the bolt flew wide of the mark.
Her companions ran forwards to defend their isolated rogue friend, but none of the kobolds had heard the buzz of the bolt as it flew into the sky. However, their ability to hear the approach of Doomgrad in his plate armour was much better. Rapidly marshalling their superior numbers, they had surrounded the paladin, and one kobold had managed to thrust his spear at the wizard.
“Kaza is unprotected!” she cried. “The kobolds have got into the pocket!” Her time of danger soon passed, as Gilee swung her blade with vigour, cleaving kobold to left and to right. With Eilonwy's magical assaults, the kobolds soon found their numbers greatly reduced.
One skirmisher to the rear, seeing the devastation being caused amongst the ranks of the lizard creatures, shrieked, “Irontooth must be told!” and fled between rocks in the cliff face.
Presently, the kobolds were defeated, and the group immediately set to the grisly task of acquiring a pile of ears. After a few minutes, they had collected the ears, and, covered in kobold gore, proceeded into the secret entrance the kobold skirmisher had fled into.
Immediately they realised that the kobolds had used the time to rally their defences, and here, in their lair, they had the advantage of knowing the terrain. Dragonshields blocked the party's way, and behind them stood skirmishers and a goblin wearing a chain mail shirt and wielding a large axe. A large tusk protruded from his lower jaw, almost reaching to his right eye. This tooth was covered in iron, and it became obvious to the adventurers who he was and where he got his name.
Gilee and Eilonwy headed round to the waterfall, hoping to flank the kobolds. However, unbeknownst to them, a horde of kobolds, led by a wyrmpriest, had the same plan. The kobolds burst through the falling water, and began to concentrate their attacks on Eilonwy. Gilee, aided by Jia who came up to assist, began to fight their way through to the cleric, who was doing her best not to die.
Kaza, sensing that the battle was turning against the adventurers, brought forth her most powerful magics, and conjured a sphere of roaring, spitting flame amongst the ranks of the kobolds. As the flame scorched the kobolds, Bakaan and Doomgrad swung their weapons with mechanical precision, felling the kobolds as a woodsman would fell a tree.
Irontooth now entered the fray, swinging his axe in wide arcs. At the same time, the wyrmpriest emerged from the waterfall, and added his considerable magical prowess to the efforts to kill Eilonwy. At that moment, however, Gilee and Jia were able to engage the kobolds surrounding her and she was able to escape.
Inside, Kaza's flaming sphere was causing mayhem in the ranks of the kobolds, many of them falling dead from the punishing flames and searing heat. The sweat of concentration was seen falling from Kaza's forehead, as she concentrated on the incantations that kept the sphere under her control. With a final fiery blast, she caused the sphere to engulf Irontooth, and he fell to the floor.
“Kalarel and Orcus, prepare my way, I come to your dark embrace” he whispered as he lay on the cave floor, and died.
Outside, the remaining kobold minions had been dispatched, and Eilonwy, Gilee and Jia closed on the wyrmpriest. He screamed defiance, but to no effect. Within the space of a few seconds, he lay in the stream, his blood staining the waters red. The kobold threat was defeated.
The party explored the now empty cave, and found signs of a sudden exit. The female kobolds, the young and the elderly had fled through a passage in the back of the cave which emerged some way into the hills. The tracks leading further into the hills were soon lost in the dust and dirt.
Back in the cave, the party found that Irontooth the goblin had carried a small silver key. This they were able to match to a sturdy wooden chest they found in what were Irontooth's quarters. In this chest they discovered a significant sum of gold coins, well over 400, and a magic suit of dwarven chainmail, which they quickly decided would suit Gilee, though it would need some size alterations made to the next time they were in Fallcrest, what with her being a tall human woman, and the armour being fitted for a short fat dwarven male.
Also in the chest was a message scroll.
“Irontooth,” the message began. “My spy in Winterhaven suggests we keep an eye out for visitors to the area. It probably does not matter. Soon I shall have the artifact from the dragon's grave, and with it I shall be able to open the rift fully.
“Once I have achieved this feat of magical prowess, I shall await with great eagerness for the servants of Lord Orcus to join us. Then shall the bothersome town of Winterhaven serve as food for Lord Orcus' table.
“You have served me well, and in doing so you have served Lord Orcus well. Great rewards will be yours in the days to come.
“Kalarel”
Eilonwy looked up at the others after reading out the scroll. “Well, it looks like we've confirmed that this Kalarel chap is in the area.”
They returned to town to receive a heroes' welcome. Villagers came out to cheer once the news was revealed about the end of the kobold menace. Lord Padraig was also excited to hear of their exploits, but was less pleased to hear about the presence of an Orcus cult in the area.
“Valthrun may have more information for you on this,” Lord Padraig said when he had heard the story. He called for the old man who had accompanied him to the inn when Eilonwy had first introduced herself.
Valthrun the Prescient, the town's sage and scholar did indeed have more information.
“The ruins of Shadowfell Keep to the north of town hold a secret known to few people. Many years ago, scholars and mages from Suzail discovered a portal to the Shadowfell, the elemental plane of Shadow. A keep was built over the keep, to defend it from those who misuse it, and to prevent the denizens of the Shadowfell from coming into our realm.
“The keep was given into the care of a knight of the Purple Dragons, Sir Keegan. He moved here with his family and his retainers, and settled here. However, the influence of the Shadowfell had an effect on Sir Keegan. One night, he killed his wife and children, and slew his most trusted advisors. He turned on his own troops and it was only once he had killed many of them that they were able to force him deep into the passages under the keep where they dispatched him.
“This was the end for the keep. None would stay there any longer, and soon it was deserted. An earthquake a few years later destroyed the upper levels, but it is rumoured that the lower levels still stand and that Sir Keegan's ghost searches the passages for his slain family. Goblins and other foul creatures are also rumoured to live there.
“If this Orcus priest is in the area, he must intend to open the portal to the Shadowfell and unleash Orcus's hordes of undead on us.”
This story of grim death and destruction was greeted with silence. Eventually, Lord Padraig spoke. “Lady Eilonwy, you and your companions have freed us of the kobold threat. Now I must ask that you to save us from this new threat. I regret that I am unable to send troops with you, but our forces are small and will be needed here. I have faith that I can place the survival of Winterhaven in your hands. You must travel to the Keep on the Shadowfell. This is our most desperate hour. Help us, Blue Moon Company. You're our only hope.”
“Kaza feels more capable this morning,” began Kaza. “As if she's become more powerful overnight.”
Gilee nodded in agreement. “I also feel that way. It's very strange.”
“Not really,” commented Eilonwy. “Over the past few weeks we've defeated dozens of kobolds, completed quests, and killed a dragon. We've survived ambushes and we've travelled far into danger. These experiences will surely have an effect on us. We have learned many lessons, some of them hard and painful. It is only natural that we will begin to feel more capable, more powerful.”
“More healthy,” said Doomgrad.
“More skillful,” said Jia.
“More able to gauge the flow of battle,” said Bakaan.
“Indeed.” Eilonwy looked round at her companions. “So, now that we've reached a new level of competence, is anyone up for collecting more kobold ears?”
After breakfast, the party set out once more in the direction of the kobold lair. The air was cold, and a thin mist lay over the foothills, but they were unassaulted as they approached. Ahead, they could hear the sound of the waterfall that the kobold lair was reported to conceal.
Leaving the rest of the party some distance away, Jia crept forwards, moving stealthily from one patch of cover to another. A small stand of trees provided her with a satisfactory hiding spot, as she cast her eyes over the scene.
About a dozen kobolds were in a small clearing in front of the waterfall. Mist from the crashing water obscured the area, but Jia could see that there was a dark entrance behind the waterfall itself. Loading her crossbow, she motioned for her companions to approach. Once they were in position, she took careful aim, slowly squeezed the trigger, and watched as the bolt flew wide of the mark.
Her companions ran forwards to defend their isolated rogue friend, but none of the kobolds had heard the buzz of the bolt as it flew into the sky. However, their ability to hear the approach of Doomgrad in his plate armour was much better. Rapidly marshalling their superior numbers, they had surrounded the paladin, and one kobold had managed to thrust his spear at the wizard.
“Kaza is unprotected!” she cried. “The kobolds have got into the pocket!” Her time of danger soon passed, as Gilee swung her blade with vigour, cleaving kobold to left and to right. With Eilonwy's magical assaults, the kobolds soon found their numbers greatly reduced.
One skirmisher to the rear, seeing the devastation being caused amongst the ranks of the lizard creatures, shrieked, “Irontooth must be told!” and fled between rocks in the cliff face.
Presently, the kobolds were defeated, and the group immediately set to the grisly task of acquiring a pile of ears. After a few minutes, they had collected the ears, and, covered in kobold gore, proceeded into the secret entrance the kobold skirmisher had fled into.
Immediately they realised that the kobolds had used the time to rally their defences, and here, in their lair, they had the advantage of knowing the terrain. Dragonshields blocked the party's way, and behind them stood skirmishers and a goblin wearing a chain mail shirt and wielding a large axe. A large tusk protruded from his lower jaw, almost reaching to his right eye. This tooth was covered in iron, and it became obvious to the adventurers who he was and where he got his name.
Gilee and Eilonwy headed round to the waterfall, hoping to flank the kobolds. However, unbeknownst to them, a horde of kobolds, led by a wyrmpriest, had the same plan. The kobolds burst through the falling water, and began to concentrate their attacks on Eilonwy. Gilee, aided by Jia who came up to assist, began to fight their way through to the cleric, who was doing her best not to die.
Kaza, sensing that the battle was turning against the adventurers, brought forth her most powerful magics, and conjured a sphere of roaring, spitting flame amongst the ranks of the kobolds. As the flame scorched the kobolds, Bakaan and Doomgrad swung their weapons with mechanical precision, felling the kobolds as a woodsman would fell a tree.
Irontooth now entered the fray, swinging his axe in wide arcs. At the same time, the wyrmpriest emerged from the waterfall, and added his considerable magical prowess to the efforts to kill Eilonwy. At that moment, however, Gilee and Jia were able to engage the kobolds surrounding her and she was able to escape.
Inside, Kaza's flaming sphere was causing mayhem in the ranks of the kobolds, many of them falling dead from the punishing flames and searing heat. The sweat of concentration was seen falling from Kaza's forehead, as she concentrated on the incantations that kept the sphere under her control. With a final fiery blast, she caused the sphere to engulf Irontooth, and he fell to the floor.
“Kalarel and Orcus, prepare my way, I come to your dark embrace” he whispered as he lay on the cave floor, and died.
Outside, the remaining kobold minions had been dispatched, and Eilonwy, Gilee and Jia closed on the wyrmpriest. He screamed defiance, but to no effect. Within the space of a few seconds, he lay in the stream, his blood staining the waters red. The kobold threat was defeated.
The party explored the now empty cave, and found signs of a sudden exit. The female kobolds, the young and the elderly had fled through a passage in the back of the cave which emerged some way into the hills. The tracks leading further into the hills were soon lost in the dust and dirt.
Back in the cave, the party found that Irontooth the goblin had carried a small silver key. This they were able to match to a sturdy wooden chest they found in what were Irontooth's quarters. In this chest they discovered a significant sum of gold coins, well over 400, and a magic suit of dwarven chainmail, which they quickly decided would suit Gilee, though it would need some size alterations made to the next time they were in Fallcrest, what with her being a tall human woman, and the armour being fitted for a short fat dwarven male.
Also in the chest was a message scroll.
“Irontooth,” the message began. “My spy in Winterhaven suggests we keep an eye out for visitors to the area. It probably does not matter. Soon I shall have the artifact from the dragon's grave, and with it I shall be able to open the rift fully.
“Once I have achieved this feat of magical prowess, I shall await with great eagerness for the servants of Lord Orcus to join us. Then shall the bothersome town of Winterhaven serve as food for Lord Orcus' table.
“You have served me well, and in doing so you have served Lord Orcus well. Great rewards will be yours in the days to come.
“Kalarel”
Eilonwy looked up at the others after reading out the scroll. “Well, it looks like we've confirmed that this Kalarel chap is in the area.”
They returned to town to receive a heroes' welcome. Villagers came out to cheer once the news was revealed about the end of the kobold menace. Lord Padraig was also excited to hear of their exploits, but was less pleased to hear about the presence of an Orcus cult in the area.
“Valthrun may have more information for you on this,” Lord Padraig said when he had heard the story. He called for the old man who had accompanied him to the inn when Eilonwy had first introduced herself.
Valthrun the Prescient, the town's sage and scholar did indeed have more information.
“The ruins of Shadowfell Keep to the north of town hold a secret known to few people. Many years ago, scholars and mages from Suzail discovered a portal to the Shadowfell, the elemental plane of Shadow. A keep was built over the keep, to defend it from those who misuse it, and to prevent the denizens of the Shadowfell from coming into our realm.
“The keep was given into the care of a knight of the Purple Dragons, Sir Keegan. He moved here with his family and his retainers, and settled here. However, the influence of the Shadowfell had an effect on Sir Keegan. One night, he killed his wife and children, and slew his most trusted advisors. He turned on his own troops and it was only once he had killed many of them that they were able to force him deep into the passages under the keep where they dispatched him.
“This was the end for the keep. None would stay there any longer, and soon it was deserted. An earthquake a few years later destroyed the upper levels, but it is rumoured that the lower levels still stand and that Sir Keegan's ghost searches the passages for his slain family. Goblins and other foul creatures are also rumoured to live there.
“If this Orcus priest is in the area, he must intend to open the portal to the Shadowfell and unleash Orcus's hordes of undead on us.”
This story of grim death and destruction was greeted with silence. Eventually, Lord Padraig spoke. “Lady Eilonwy, you and your companions have freed us of the kobold threat. Now I must ask that you to save us from this new threat. I regret that I am unable to send troops with you, but our forces are small and will be needed here. I have faith that I can place the survival of Winterhaven in your hands. You must travel to the Keep on the Shadowfell. This is our most desperate hour. Help us, Blue Moon Company. You're our only hope.”
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