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(Following: Sky Battle of Giants and Dragons )
The Party Divides
Concerned that there may be dangerous politics involved with the Council of Waterdeep, and that the Black Wyrm Mask will be tracked down by the Cult of the Dragon, it is decided the mask must be hidden or destroyed if possible. Alorrik has found some magics in the Red Wizards’ library that will allow him to place the mask far beyond the reach of the Wyrmspeakers (and the Council) on another plane of existence - but he needs portal magics.
Alorrik is able to work with Belcoria and Willow to connect the summoning tower in Skyreach Castle with the menhir stone circle portal at the lodge in the Greypeak Mountains near Parnast. (Where the party first boarded Skyreach.) Realizing the Mountain Lodge would be abandoned with both Rezmir and Talis the White (Kasterel) now gone, Belcoria decides it will become their new base of operations and headquarters!
And so the party splits into two groups: Belcoria, Willow, Ujio and Alorrik take the portal to the Mountain Lodge while Yeet Longshade, Tallon the Tall and Mon-Kei stay with the cloud giant’s flying castle to confer with the powerful Sword Coast alliance in Waterdeep.
Mountain Lodge
A bit over ten miles travel from the town of Parnast, in the Greypeak Mountains lies the lodge once owned by Priestess of Tiamat Talis the White , a so-called “purple robe” of the Cult of the Dragon. With the death of Talis, the lodge is claimed by Our Party. The Kobolds and cultists have long gone, and a simple local franklin named Baldric Trueheart has eagerly taken on the role of groundskeeper and caretaker of the Greypeak Mountain Lodge.
The lodge is fairly defensible as a structure - very sturdy and raised, an entryway with arrow slits, a magical tapestry to escape (or easily hunt), and a clear view of all the approaches up the mountain from the second floor windows. For our party of Yuir-marked travelers, the menhir on its grounds provides fast travel to the other menhir and other connected magical gateways. Alorrik begins to study the Yuir marks and how they are used in hopes of developing the same himself.
Belcoria, Willow, and Ujio spend a tenday with Baldric cleaning up the place (which includes freeing prisoners in the basement - two of which stay on as guards/grounds workers - a married couple of Hill Dwarves named Grofundlia and Stanlee.) Meanwhile Alorrik negotiates a solution to the Black Dragon Mask problem - both casting it from this plane and using its power. The mask itself is sent to the outer plane of Gehenna, which lies between the (lawful evil) Nine Hells and the (chaotic evil) Abyss - neither dominated by devils (Tiamat's allies) nor the demonkind.
With the aid of Alorrik’s Warlock patron (who he refers to as The Philosopher King) a permanent magical protection called Hallow is placed over the lodge and its grounds. With these protections, the Greypeak Mountain Lodge serves as an excellent safe haven for the party, away from enemies and troublemakers, while also being easily accessible through the menhir portals.
See also: Mountain Lodge
Touching Down
Blagothkus picks up a family friend Unknown lord in the mountains near Waterdeep before approaching the landing spot north of The City of Splendors (Waterdeep). In response to the messages sent to the Watedeep Council, a Griffon Rider Cavalry squadron meets and escorts the castle to land to at a fortress for the Lords’ Alliance forces, who take on the prisoners.
Quickly boarding Skyreach are forces to secure the horde - under the command of an archmage named “Wintermute” and a high paladin of the Red Knight named “Gloriana Keenblade” a number of warriors and a dozen accountants will oversee the just return of the stolen treasures to their rightful places. (There seem to be fees and such involved, of course!)
Saying goodbye to Blagothkus, wishing him well, the party heads to the city of Waterdeep with an appointment to meet with the Council of nobles. Skyreach castle is seen in various places over the next month, redistributing the stolen treasure and goods, then returning far to the north to join the giants in the mountains called the Spine of the World.
The Road to Waterdeep
Before arriving in the City of Splendors, Yeet, Tallon and Mon-Kei must contend with a gang of bandits - but just before the carriage is ambushed (at a bridge over a deep chasm, tucked between cliffsides), the Rogue, Barbarian and Monk have a most unusual encounter!!
Their minds and senses distorted by what they later understand to have been an Emerald Dragon, it would seem these “gem dragons” (who stand neutral between the good “metallic” dragons and the evil “chromatic” color dragons) are aware of the actions of the Cult of the Dragon - and satisfied after learning that the Black Wyrm Mask was to be hidden rather than given over to the city lords, the group is permitted to continue.
While not reporting this encounter to the Council itself, Yeet Longshade confers with one of the High Harpers and learns that gem dragons are rare to the point of being considered myths - and Emerald Dragons even more so, it would seem - so reclusive and avoidant, this encounter is quite remarkable. That they are watching the events unfold with Tiamat is both concerning and perhaps reassuring they may be willing to help.
Waterdeep
Ahead of the meeting with these kings and nobles and high-ups, there are three ceremonies of gratitude recognizing the continued contributions of Our Party to the causes of the factions. For Belcoria, Willow and Ujio (and perhaps Alorrik?) word is sent out to find them where they may end up for the same (see 4. The Scaly Eyes and 7. Against Fate ).
Mon-Kei is promoted to the rank of Stingblade in the Lords Alliance (the same as Sildar Hallwinter) with benefits:
- Signet ring can be used to open the armories of participating towns in times of emergency.
- (1/week) can receive Potion of Superior Healing (8d4+8 HP) or 10 silvered ammunitions from city garrisons if in stock
- As displayed by Sildar earlier, "I’m in charge here" (You can now issue simple orders to City Watch and City Guard members with a rank of Lieutenant or lower like letting you through certain guarded areas as long as they aren’t working for a higher-ranked member at the moment. While following your orders, these members’ lives lie in your hands and you may be punished if harm may come their way.)
Tallon the Tall is promoted to the rank of Whitehawk in the Order of the Gauntlet,
- he is given a white gauntlet to hold Hew for 10 mins each day for a Tenday, raising it from +1 to +2
- (1/week) can request 10 silvered arrows or 1 Potion of Superior Healing (8d4+8 HP)
Yeet Longshade achieves the rank Brightcandle in the Harpers
- and his Hood of Disguise is given additional advantages against detection,
- (1/week) he can receive Potion of Superior Healing or 10 silvered ammunitions) from a cache if available
- A magical mark is drawn on his arm that allows you Freedom of Movement requiring only a thought to use (mark fades away after 3 uses).
The Council of Waterdeep
There will be an ongoing scorecard that expands as events unfold to determine who will support what in the battles and challenges ahead against Severin Silrajin and the other Wyrmspeakers, the Red Wizard of Thay Rath Modar and their allies.
The party is carefully questioned about the fates of the Purple Robes (Rezmir, Talis the White and Frulam Mondath), the Red Wizards (Rath Modar and Azbara Jos), and of course the Black Dragon Mask. There was definitely an expectation that the mask would be turned over to the Council - and several of the council seemed to be angered and disappointed with the response that the party had taken it onto itself to dispose of the dark artifact.
The Council does not volunteer any information to the party regarding the Cult of the Dragon and its leader Severin the Red Wyrmspeaker, only thanks them for their courage and duty and offers them rooms for as long as they like at a safe and comfortably posh part of the city.
Leilon Point
Belcoria, Willow, Ujio and Alorrik take the menhir to the Place of the Unicorn, then to Leilon to meet with the Town Council. Leilon has continued to rebuild and in the many weeks since leaving, the progress under the impatient drive of Grizzelda Copperwraught is notable. Even the House of Thalivar now has four full walls! The town has not experienced more than the usual drama since you left, and so far the relationship you brokered with the Lizardfolk has worked well - they share information and join forces when enemies threaten, which has also taken pressure off the cowardly Sergeant Hazz Yorrum.
Hearing your tales of your heroic deeds against the Cult of the Dragon and Glazhael the Stormchaser, a suggestion occurs to Merrygold Brightshine: Tiamat’s arch-enemy is the (good) dragon god Bahamut (the “platinum dragon”), and there is a shrine to him on a small island just off the coast and to the north. It is believed that Bahamut can share visions and messages through the shrine.
The shrine is within a structure that was built by the Swords of Leilon decades ago in thanks to and as a lair for a (good) Unknown named Lhammaruntosz (lam-a-run-TOZ). The dragon was known for defending Leilon and the surrounding area as the captain of the Scaly Eye, a fleet that battled pirates and other threats for nearly a century. Merrigold notes Lhammaruntosz has not been seen in many years, which is unusual, and perhaps it would be a good idea anyway to have someone check in on her.
Asking about a ship to take you to the island triggers a heated argument between Sergeant Yorrum and Valdi Estapaar (sent by Lord Neverember to oversee the fishing and docks). The issue seems to be Yorrum’s stubborn reluctance to send a patrol in response to a plea for assistance from the farming and fishing village of Leilon Point, which has been a crucial supplier of food for Leilon during the rebuilding.
Several days ago the Leilon Town Council received the urgent message from Leilon Point’s leader, Marciano Belta, requesting soldiers to help defend the village and drive away “violent shark people” who have been raiding the area. The paladin, ranger, fighter and warlock of course make for the village with haste and meet with Mr. Belta, who directs them to a salt cave on a nearby beach - that had been investigated by some brave fishermen who took up arms to help in the matter (but they never returned).
Sahuagin Lair
A fierce battle between our high elf, two half-elves, human and a wolf versus a number of what are later learned to be called “Unknown” (shark people) results in successfully destroying what was in the process of becoming a small temple to whatever deity these things might worship (most likely Umberlee). The heads of the fishermen were found on spears just inside the cave mouth.
The creatures were led by a high priestess and three elite “blademaster” guards, with dozens of others in training. A giant glowing clam embodied the center of the dwellings, perhaps some kind of altar. Pools within the caves were full of hungry baby sharks.
The violent fireball cast by Alorrik at the encroaching group of sahuagin emerging from the cave’s pool, was lucky to have also disrupted a ritual being conducted by a circle of sahuagin priestesses animating the bones of a giant shark to send into the battle as a horrific flying undead monstrosity!
(Next: Into the War Pit ) and (Next: 4. The Scaly Eyes )
Oogway joined up with Our Party in the Candlekeep. See C. Bane of the Kraken.
This humanoid-turtle (Tortle) had been a captive of the Candlekeep for many years, serving to pay off a late fee for a book he had (without authorization) "checked out".
Plea: "I'm a slow reader."
Worse, the enchantments of the book had been drained in the process of his apparently successful use of it to contact an entity he calls "Great A'Tuin" - who has become his warlock patron.
Oogway is evasive in sharing his past, but it seems he comes from far to the south, perhaps even beneath the Chult peninsula, if not from another world entirely - for his kind are essentially unknown in the lands of the Sword Coast. He keeps a familiar named (add-this) that most closely resembles a Unknown.
