B1E6 Easthaven
Kelvin’s Cairn: Entering the cave to slay mother and baby Yeti went against the Tiefling Donobis’ Ideals (born from evil does not make one evil); so, he reluctantly followed the others into the cave as healer not slayer. Echoes of a halfling’s whimper drew them around an ice-sheet bridge over a deep chasm. We continued past a pile of goliath bones and came upon a trophy room with wall niches that held the skulls of various beasts and humanoids to include Yanath’s (the dwarven ghost haunting Knott). All eyes turned toward the Tiefling as proof of evil, yet Donobis felt the weight of his own trophy necklace collection of Crag-Cat claw and other beasts’ claws he’d slain: did that make him evil?
We found the Yeti baby playing with a halfling as if he were
a toy. It scampered to its mother’s side when the group entered the Yeti lair.
The cornered mother with young at her side: of course she attacked.
Outnumbered, she eventually fell. Donobis could only watch in grief as Thokk
killed the baby too. Yanath recognized the rescued light-foot halfling (Perilou
Fishfinger) as a member of his mountain journey. Perilou described Yanath’s
demise at the top of the mountain.
Which is where we found a pair of blue leather boots on another frozen body with horns (Tiefling?). Mareshi claimed the potion (Invisibility) and spell book within the backpack of the dead caster (Astrix). Meanwhile, Knott collected Yanath’s headless body and built a funeral pyre (body plus skull) to send the ghost on its way.
It was a long, cold backtrack
to Caer Konig to return the magic lantern, then onward southwest to Caer
Dineval where we were welcomed by Speaker
Crannoc once again upon his throne. We cut across the frozen north end of Lac
Dinneshere to reach Easthaven from the east (9.5 hours), exhausted and in need
of rest (after drinks).
Easthaven:
the sign warned “Watch Thou Purse”: reminder the city founders were thieves who
made pick-pocketing legal (to a degree: only cheap items and small coins). With
a population of 750, human sacrifice was the city’s answer to appease the Ice
Goddess (Auril). Our names were added to the registered drawing now 3 weeks
away. We entered the Wet Trout Tavern.
“You here for tomorrow’s witch burning at first light (first borealis) in about
15 hours? She came here looking for the fabled city Nitheral. Hold her till the
sacrifice in 3 weeks?! Too dangerous and evil: she’s a Red Wizard of Thay! She
killed a couple she was supposed to escort somewhere. She’s now gagged and
restrained in the town stockade.” Per Knott’s surprise how they captured such
evil: “We were assisted by Avarice (Tielfing) who was accompanied by a wizard
in the company of kobolds.”
We pressed on through the middle of town and near the docks to the White Lady Inn for rest. The owner Master Renaldo (strong-heart halfling) inquired, “You here for the seance? We plan to beseech the White Lady of the lake to intercede for a woman who recently drown with all her wealth. Seems her dwarven husband was rowing across the lake when it tipped, dumping everything and everyone to the bottom. Get the drowned woman to confirm her wealth and where it lay so we can salvage. We’ve heard of possible caves in the area, where it was hidden.”
Next Day: We headed to stockade near Town Hall to see the
prisoner. The captain of the guards (Harlaga-half elf fighter) required
our weapons peace-bound. Harlaga recognized us per our actions at Caer Dineval,
“I have a favor to ask: men are disappearing on the lake. Superstition is the
Lady of the Lake is responsible. Perhaps you can confirm or find out what is
really going on.” We mention known Duergar in the area, “Their presence and
invisibility might explain your fears the ferry haunted and reports of items
moved. Let us talk to your prisoner who might tie events together.”
Near the stockade is a statue of Errtu
(balor demon from centuries ago). “Oh that. We hauled it out of the lake months
ago. Used wizards with telekinesis spells to haul it up.” We noticed the statue
chipped as if Duergar collecting the black-stone (chardalyn) bit by bit.
Dwarven footprints confirmed the theory of Duergar. Mareshi’s detect evil spell
confirmed it tainted and desecrated. Thokk advised, “Throw it back in the lake
if you know what’s good for you!”
We found the naked wizard with
hands tied and she gagged at the gallows. Harlaga ordered our weapons ready
when he allowed us to ungag her. She pitifully asked, “Are you someone I
forgot? Yes, I was looking for the lost city. They blame me for the eternal
darkness. Who is this Nass Lantomir you mention? Call me Dzaan. I
admit I murdered greedy people who wanted my wealth. The couple I’m accused of
killing (Averis and Thalan) came to thwart me. Astrix is a friend, now gone. If
I’d known Duergar were here, I might have employed them. The statue? A demon
who will rise in another 1,000 years.” Dzaan seemed to accept her approaching
burning. She ignored townfolk who came forward to touch her as if warming their
hands.
We pressed on to the docks and
found the ferry. Wary of Duergar didn’t make the fight any easier. They sprang
from hiding per their invisibility and grew in size to smack a lethal blow.
Knott and Donobis threw flour to reveal their tracks and position to allow
weapon hits. Soon only one remained who tried escaping as a mouse off the boat
and along the docks and into town. We followed the tracks that soon turned to
normal Duergar. He too was finally drawn and quartered and killed. And looted
of any possessions.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- The wizard (Vellynne Harpell) is in the company of kobolds!
- The wizard Averous and Vellynne seem to be connected.
- Who is the wizard Dzaan and why are so many wizards suddenly appearing in Ten Towns?!
Next Episode:
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