Session 7: First Step Report

General Summary

Therendor 14th, 998

After bickering for some time, Sandy and Sylrieth go to the Blacksmith to acquire the battleaxe he had purchased previously, while the party, not realizing that the two had left, leaves for Dragonswatch Castle, taking a carriage to their next destination. Several hours later, the duo realizes that they have been left behind and elect to try and meet them at Dragonswatch Keep.  

Therendor 17th, 998

The first group arrives at Hillgfar and, seeing a shortcut, decide to go through the Grave Waters, making their trip shorter. The second group also arrives at Hillsfar and comes to near the same conclusion, though Sandy had to convince Sylrieth to go through.  

Therendor 18th, 998

The first group comes upon a small hut that appears to be inhabited with no sign of the inhabitant. After looking around for a bit, they come across a sturdy looking boat that they could use to traverse the Grave Waters. Leaving some money and a note, they take the boat and continue their journey. After a few hours, the other group arrives in the same spot as well as the note left behind. Not knowing what to do next, a swamp hag appears, telling them to go away. Sandy explains the situation, to which the had appears to then recognize them, letting them know that their friends took her other boat. She then brings out a brand new looking boat, allowing them to use it to cross.  

Therendor 19th, 998

The first group arrives on the other side and, just as they leave the boat, it vanishes, likely back to the hut. They then make their way to Dragonswatch Keep.  

Therendor 24th, 998

The first group arrives at Dragonswatch keep. Sparhawk becomes nervous at the sight of the dragon skulls decorating the walls, as well as the "trophies" adorning the half-burnt gatekeeper. They try to gain entry, but he does not allow them to do so, deeming them unworthy to enter. They try to convince him to let them in, but they are continuously refused until he gives them a task. He tells them that a group of undesirables have been causing trouble for the people of Iyesgarth and Ekras that need to be dealt with. They agree, and make their way to Iyesgarth. The second group arrives several hours later, having nearly the same discussion with the gatekeeper.  

Eyre 2nd, 998

The first group arrives at Iyesgarth and begins their investigation by going to the Adventurers Guild and asking around. They eventually come across an adventurer who had seen where the group's hideout is and agrees to lead them to it. Several hours later, the second group arrives and also goes to the Adventurers Guild to ask around. They are told that they left with an adventurer to the spot, so they follow suit.  

Eyre 5th, 998

The first group arrives at the cave and begins looking around. They then hear loud screaming coming from the cave, followed soon after by a quick thud, then silence. The party looks in the entrance, seeing a group of Half Red Dragons moving around inside. They are all able to go inside without being detected until they trigger a spike wall trap, which injures them all. This alerts the dastardly group, and they initiate combat. The second group, seeing the first enter the cave, they run quickly run after them, trying to get their attention. As soon as they enter, the two trigger a trap door that takes them below the cave.

The two awaken in blackness, unable to see anything. Sandy lights a torch to reveal that they're both in a cell with two others: a human and a goliath. They intriduce themselves as Alfred, a polite wizard who had been waiting for their arrival, and Thumur, a moody Ranger with a bad temper. After attempting to open the gate leading out of their cell, Alfred reveals that he could melt the lock, which aggrivates Thumur, as they could have used that to escape sooner. Once out, they find a Fairy and another human locked up in the cells next to them. They both politely ask to be freed as well, which they gladly do, seeing that they'll need all the help they can get. Suddenly, a shifting can be heard behind them as something begins to awaken.

They all turn around to see a Gorgon stand up and begin to chase them, which they respond with running to the nearest room, which contained a group of Kobolds and a Half Red Dragon. After defeating them, they start to decide what their next move is when the Gorgon appears once again. It then proceeds to chase them until they get to a possible exit. They try to open it, but there appears to be some sort of spell on it, which prevents it from opening. Thumur mentions that, when he was originally captured, there was an Ogre saying that he was responsible for this whole thing and praising his self imposed intelligence. They begin to look through each room until they came across the Ogre, who began to monologue about how he was responsible for them being there and that they could not defeat him. Before he could finish his speach, the Gorgon crashed through the wall, impaling the Ogre and killing him. After quickly searching for the key to the exit and not finding it on the Ogre, they begin to flee again.

Bobby, the other human wizard, theorizes that they can use the Gorgon to break open the gate, thus allowing them to leave without fear of being chased by the Gorgon. In an act of self-sacrifice, Bobby uses himself as bait for the Gorgon, which is successful, forcing the creature to charge at him, which barely misses him, and into the gate. A loud bang echoes through the dungeon as the Gorgon is flung backwards, showing no sign of damage toward the exit. They then deduce that they must slay the Gorgon in order to leave. Once the beast is felled, it opens up to reveal a key, which they then use to leave the dungeon. One after another, each of the characters vanish to some unknown place, and both Sandy and Sylrieth end up falling from the ceiling of the cave and onto the rest of the party, finally reuniting them.