A Surprising Discovery

Kaldmont 12 990AC
 
I picked through the wide assortment of gems we have now for an idea I had for Rhiannon. I took them to the Jeweler and asked about making them into a hairpiece for her. He had a great idea to use the gemstones for flowers. As before he asked me more details then I really know so I really just need to trust his judgment on what works best. He also asked how many coins I wanted to use for the metal. I wasn’t sure so I pulled out a small handful I thought would be enough. He initially said that would work but he also asked for one of the golden leaves I had kept. That seemed very fair to me. He would work on some sketches which he showed me before I left Melinir which looked wonderful. I really need to figure out gifts other than just jewelry though. I suppose the manor is a large one but I do need to work on some furnishings. That will need to wait until after this latest excursion into the north.
 
After making preparations in Melinir we headed to Kleine. The journey was uneventful which was a nice change of pace. It seems we can’t do anything without getting embroiled in something going on in the rift. When we got to Kleine that’s when the whole mission started to take on a life of its own. It immediately got out to the townsfolk what was going on and they all wanted in on the attack. Dram was asking me what to do but I had no idea. Once our clan agreed to a plan that was the plan. Others didn’t just do what was not best for the clan. Dram tried to help settle them down but it was to no avail.
 
After that fiasco then the dwarves arrived. It seems they had the same idea as the people of Kleine and brought around thirty of their warriors. This was no longer just a tactical strike to cut off the head of the beast. This was going to be a full on assault. Prince Elladin showed up with our small host that was agreed upon before and was a bit taken aback by the change of plan. He sent word back to Silvercrest for more of the clan to join. Bryon was leading the humans from Melinir and wanted to get word back to his Father about the change in plans. That was easy enough as I needed to send Melwin to Melinir anyways to send a note to Rhiannon. I asked him to write out his note briefly and I would send it with Melwin and ask Rhiannon to deliver it.
 
With that all the groups settled into their own. The dwarves and humans started drinking and having a big, loud party. I spent time among my clan finding out that they had spotted gnolls and hobgoblins heading to the meetings. I did forget to mention the dwarves said they ran into Orc tracks of a large group, likely fourty or more that were heading to this gathering. They thought this odd as each group was only sending delegates. I’m not sure what to make of that but I am no general. I’m sure our Prince, the dwarven warmaster and Bryon will figure out the best strategy.
 
The dwarves and humans stayed up late into the night drinking. I spent time writing this and thinking of the future. We needed to get the passage back to the outside world open again. Not just for the wine Rhiannon and I like but for the sake of everyone. I would definitely like to visit some of these places outside the rift as well and meet some of my other kin. I know Rhiannon would like new audiences to play for as well. It just seems like we keep getting sidetracked into all these other issues around the rift. Reading my words you must think I sound like a human being so impatient. I suppose they are rubbing off on me a bit. In that time Melwin returned with two notes, one from Rhiannon and one from Valum to Bryon which I promptly delivered.
 
Kaldmont 13 990AC
 
The next morning was not a pleasant one for the humans. Apparently they had tried to drink like dwarves and, well, that’s just not possible. It took longer than we would have liked for everyone to get up, moving and ready to head out. Even once we did, the discipline of the humans is very lax. I do not doubt their hunters but for a stand up fight against the evil races…i’m not sure how they would fare. I did read of the Legions of Thyatis and it sounds like they have a very professional standing army. So the ability to do so is there.
 
It took quite a bit of time and changes in our direction to head to the meeting place. More of our clan showed up in the morning and we met more men from Melinir on the way. For the human hunters bragging it was the elves leading the way and avoiding any patrols or other groups we didn’t want to come across. They may know the land slightly better but an elven scout cannot be beat, well very rarely. After some time we came up to the first challenge. Well I would really call it a challenge I suppose.
 
The scouts had found a large depression that had some old ruins in it and two caves. It seemed that the evil races had also indulged quite a bit as well and some were fast asleep outside the caves, ogres and orcs. The dwarves quickly went in and crushed those. The dwarves also chose their cave they were going to go in and clean out leaving us with the other one. The humans were ordered to not go in unless there was an emergency and my kin would rather leave it to others. Which left our group and a handful of humans to help cover us.
 
These were gnomish ruins overtaken by goblins. Immediately Durbin triggered a warning alarm alerting the cavern to our presence. Dram and Durbin made quick work of the creatures. We ran into another small group which Dram and Durbin again were able to handle. The next group was much larger and almost snuck up on the humans guarding our rear. They came riding in on wargs but they had chosen their battlefield poorly and the humans made quick work of the wargs. The problem was there was a mass of goblins coming in behind them. Now was my time to assist. I pulled wisps of mana and spread it out over a great area in the goblin horde and turned it to ice on the floor. Then I pulled more into the area and transformed it into the obnoxious gas. I could hear and see the Princess in a non approving stance but these were evil races and needed to die.
 
With them handled there was movement in another corridor and it turned out to be the goblin leader, his lackeys and an owlbear! I had heard of them before but to see one in person was a bit terrifying!. I didn’t need to worry though as Dram and Durbin made quick work of it and then the leader as well. Following through to their quarters we found some old gnomish covering up entry ways. In a small tunnel off where the leader slept was a trove of treasure including a beautiful ruby and two sapphires. The two sapphires would make beautiful earrings (I know, I said something other than jewelry!) and a large ruby. We grabbed what we could as we didn’t know if we would be able to make it back and back tracked to a doorway we hadn’t checked yet behind us.
 
Opening the door there were gnomes being kept prisoner! The goblins overran this area a hundred years ago, I cannot believe there are still gnomes here! We quickly assisted them and they warned us of a nasty goblin who wore gnome skin as clothing. We had slain quite a few goblins so it could have already been dead but it wasn’t. We found that one and killed it in the forge where it was forcing two other gnomes to work. Another room held something similar and once we showed our faces the gnomes rose up and killed their captor. We explained quickly what was happening and they were worried about the women and children in the other cave. We assured them not to worry, 30 dwarves were clearing that cave out as we speak.
 
Things really got interesting here!