B1E15 The Beacon

Donobis (Tiefling paladin, Bill), Mareshi (human Cleric, Tony), Draggo (Dragonborn Barbarian, Brian), Thokk (half-Orc Warlock, Duane), Knott (Firbolg Druid, Matt), Fabian (1/2 elf Bard, Goeff)

Enroute to the southern beacon of light near the Spine of the World, we came upon more tribesmen of the Bear Clan that plodded along as if in a trance. We cast “Hold Person” on the last member and took him captive. Casting aside his chardalyn axe, his charm/curse removed, we learned the light was like a beacon calling them forth. The chardalyn even tainted their reasoning such that the chief ordered the women and children sent into the cold at the mercy of the Ice Dragons. Gunthokk was willing to join our cause to silence the beacon and free his tribesmen. Thus, we followed his tribe at a distance and soon watched them enter a large fortress (thousands of years old) carved into the mountain face.

We explored the exterior without finding other entrances. Thus, we too approached the gate as if in a daze. A female voice called out “What brings you?” Long pause before Fabian answered, “The beacon.” The gates opened and even the interior portcullis raised, allowing us to enter unto a long narrow hallway. The walls and doors were made of stone with metal hinges. Snoring to the left implied soldiers. An open area offered an iron-cage elevator, but a fog breathe in the corner suggested an invisible Duergar to dissuade our further inspection till we knew more of the forces inside. Another open room included a shaft from where the beacon light intermittently pulsed up and out a 2^nd story window.

Skipping a locked door, we proceeded to the adjacent unlocked door that offered a bedroom with a trunk flanked by braziers. Upon entering the empty room to ransack the chest, 2 poisoned darts ricocheted off Thokk’s armor who was also being attacked by the mimic chest. We heard the scramble and saw the tiny Duergar (hidden under the bed) slip out thru a mouse hole. While Donobos and Knott aided Thokk, Mareshi returned to the locked door where he suspected the Duergar escaped. A female voice from inside called out, “I smashed the small Duergar for you.”

With the mimic eliminated, we joined Mareshi who was talking to Grandufo Musguard (Queen of the Underdark). She offered, “Seems we have a common foe. The tiny duergar was the son of Zardarok who has grandiose plans to takeover Ten-Towns and the above ground lands. Even thinks I’d join him as his paramour. The light? To draw his slaves enthralled by the chardalyn to be sacrifices in his ritual to call forth a dragon. I can offer my loyal duergar to aid you in stopping his plans. The Bear Clan tribesmen have already been sacrificed in the furnace below, accessible by that elevator you saw. My men will descend by another elevator further west.”

But first we checked Zardarok’s room that held a diorama of Ten-Towns with a toy dragon suspended above that flew back and forth per manipulation of strings. Such detailed plans! Thokk broke open a trunk that include a few treasures. But more important: a leather scroll case that held a parchment with a series of 8 sequences of three numbers. Some kind of code.

We descended via the elevator and were ushered onward by two of the queen’s men (after we correctly answered, “Whose side?”). 4 Quaggoth (guarding 3 doors) threatened till we involved the queen’s men to lock them up. Knowing we needed to go west, we opened the 3^rd door: 2 Duergar attacked. And 2 more Duergar came forth from the 1^st door! It turned out the 1^st and 3^rd doors opened to arrow-slit chambers to protect the 2^nd door passage further into the fortress.

If the Duergar didn’t sound an alarm, Donobos’ use of his Thunderous Smite announced our presence! Which explained the forced that appeared from the center door: Duergar in the rear prodded forth an Umberhulk with 3 Rust-Monsters in the lead! Donobos’ new armor was being eaten! Knott’s cast Moonbeam drove the Umberhulk burrowing underground which allowed the rest of us to deal with the manageable threats with weapons and spells.

As Donobos chased the wounded Duergar (to stop his report of events and our force), the others eliminated the Rust-Monsters and even the Umberhulk. But there was little time to regroup and heal when Donobos returned with his own report, “I found the forge were 13 Duergar, 6 more Quaggoth, and 3 undead Duergar await. Did I mention the dragon has already been called forth?!”

Next stop: Dealing with the forge forces!

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