That Time Xylarthen Joined the Team and they Decided to Enslave a Dragon
Back in Clargarser, having escaped the Nightmare world of Shagast, the members of the team (still living) join some fellows in the tavern. This includes Nupo the Gnome, Fablong (the former Corpse Worshipper), and the wizard Xylarthen. All three of whom are suffering some pretty serious PTSD with a dash of survivors guilt for Fablong (as his fellows who attempted to rescue him were all killed in the process).
The surviving party members - Theodora (gnome magic user), Cade (human fighter), Ves (human magic user), and Ember (elf magic user and fighter) - mourn the loss of their compatriots. Sven, Larchmont, Belray, and Princess Consuela Bananahammock. Lister, who lost much of his power has disappeared for the time being and PlumBear (née PlumBob) has wandered off into the woods to be one with nature and come to terms with his new form.
Zander Scuttletoes remains huddled in his ditch hiding from the world and his feelings.
Theodora has sold the circlet of teleportation to Xylarthen as she could not use it. But is wearing the ring of defense which brings her armor class from 9 to 6! The potions and scrolls were divided among Ves, Ember, and Theodora. Ves and Theodora also spent some time and money crafting two scrolls and learning a spell from Xylarthen.
Ves still has the ring that allowed them to see only bones/skeletons and it is undetermined if they can actually see again? Or if they’ve just gotten good at the whole X-ray vision thing. (DM - thoughts?)
Ember is new to Clargarser and excited to meet new people. The first person the group meets in a thief named General Hux who happens to be offering free rides on his mule, Mulam Driver, to those drinking in the bar. Theodora shows interest but Ember begins a conversation with a group of elves. They are incredibly old, pale, almost translucent. They speak an older form of elvish and tell the party they were awoken with the god Nodens.
The temple of Nodens is suddenly a bustling place. And many local residents have stopped wearing their skull masks and have switched to sleeping caps instead. (Nodens is a god of sleep/night.)
The team arranges to buy potions which will allow them to enter others dreams the following day, at the temple.
The party has begun to converse when they hear a disruption outside the tavern. It is a large party of Dwarves beating their shields and chanting at the center of town. The party goes to check it out.
They manage to catch some of the chanting in common. The dwarves have come from their mines in the mountain, which has been infiltrated by an acid spitting dragon. It has stolen their treasure and killed many dwarves.
It is also spawning monsters that have taken over their mines and passage ways. Killing even more dwarves and making their tribute to the dragon even harder to find.
A snake wyvern is mentioned that eats its fill then sleeps as well as a filching frog that lives in a magical pond and has a hoard of gems and magical items.
It’s a bad situation really. One the group thinks they can help with. First, for a treasure payout and magical items. Second, they hope to ensnare the dragon and keep it as a pet/weapon.
Theodora invites the dwarves back to the tavern, which is now selling ale as well as hard alcohol! And hot snacks! The adventurers then proceed to ply the dwarves with strong drink and entice them into playing cards (Clargarser Rat Screw). Once they are all drunk (which cost the group a considerable sum of gold) the party agrees to terms. They will be allowed to take all of the treasure and items that they can carry.
The party declares they will leave the following sunrise (two days). Theodora convinces Xylarthen to accompany the party. It doesn’t take much convincing. He doesn’t really want to be alone at such a time.
Three dwarves, strong and able bodied, are assigned to accompany them to direct them as well as help fight. They are Eorglor, Bardak, and Klaus and all are second level fighters with war hammers and shields.
The adventurers depart with their potions and provisions. Mulam Driver the mule and Bart the dog join the party as they make their way to the mountains.
Once the mines are in sight the party notice a creature high above in the sky, dark with leather wings, and realize it is the dragon. Xylarthen suggests a few members sacrifice themselves so he can move the rest to safety with magic. This idea is rejected. The dwarves suggest the proverbial back door.
As the party enters they find a narrow, dark passageway. Theodora casts dancing lights and thus there is light but after a short time the lights dim and then vanish.
Xylarthen casts a spell to permanently light General Hux’s torch which provides them a decent amount of light. Bart the dog pauses, growls, and then runs forward, ahead of the party. Theodora runs after him and the rest of the group follows.
They quickly come upon the bodies of a couple of dead dwarves who are being devoured by three carrion crawlers.
Ember immediately throws the dancing sword out, hitting one of the monsters. Cade rushes forward with the magic hammer (which had once belonged to Larchmont) but is hit and knocked unconscious before he can use it.
In the melee Xylarthen as well as one of the dwarves is knocked unconscious and in the end, Theodora and Bart fend off a number of attacks and ultimately deal the killing blow to all three crawlers.
The team must wait 3 hours in the tunnels for their compatriots to wake up. And once this happens they move on and come out in a room filled with veins of iron ore and garnets. There are also gold rocks on the group. They immediately set to picking up as much of this as they can, reminding the dwarves that this was part of the deal they struck with their leader. It is also decided that this is a good place to take a break and figure out their plan.
So until next week!
Theodora
