2023-04-11 Travel: Basaltthrone - Ghosts in Gallakor
Player Characters
- Malivette
- Balasar
- Val & Soonie
- Alystin
Summary
Val searched the Tarvinkor markets for something fireproof for her fire snake and found a few red dragon scales in a black market corner, but decided not to purchase them.
Val met a Murid woman selling copper bars in the market. The woman told her about recent rumors about ghosts, giants, and protesters all causing problems in the mountains.
The party took the road north toward the Smokewhistle Mountains. Along the way, a dwarven man transporting wood hailed them. They stopped to let him catch up, and he introduced himself as Lundgren. He asked to travel with them for safety, and they agreed. He told them about Gallakor's layout and his wood-shipping business.
The party traveled through the caves to Gallakor over the course of a few days. Along the way, they were attacked by umber hulks and a roper.
Alystin sent his imp familiar to explore some of the side caves in the tunnel, who became lost for a while. The imp, Zeke, was annoyed upon being resummoned back, as his master had left him in the caves alone for a while.
The party arrived at the mighty stone gates of Gallakor. They passed through a customs office, and Balasar was required to tag his spellbook for visibility. The party parted with Lundgren and set off into the large, orderly, cavernous city, beginning in the upper Haradome district.
While heading toward Wigdin's Hearth, an inn Lundgren had mentioned, ghosts suddenly appeared, scattering a frightened crowd. The PCs stepped in to help, fighting off the apparitions. A few commoners were killed by the specters, and Balasar was aged 30 years from a ghost's horrifying visage. Mal became possessed, so Alystin polymorphed him into a small turtle. Val turned into a giant ape to tank for the party. The PCs were victorious, and destroyed the phantoms as the city watch finally showed up.
Witnesses informed the guards that the party had saved them, and they were given a 200gp reward.
The party spent the night comfortably in Wigdin's Hearth.
Alystin was disappointed to find that the dwarves there did not want to gamble.
Balasar paid for a greater restoration at Margadin Temple to restore his forced aging.
The party departed Gallakor, heading toward the Rockhorse Mines.
In the main atrium of the Rockhorse Mines, a large squad of protesters shouted their complaints about their low pay. The party decided to pass it by and followed the tunnel leading to Basaltthrone.
On the road to Basaltthrone, the PCs encountered a woman leading a cage wagon containing a cave bear, a giant rat, and a cavvekan (bat-faced dog found in Subterranea). She said the cavvekan was heading to the butcher, while the others were simply being deposited in the caves a safe distance away from society. Alystin bought the cavvekan from her for 10gp. The dog was quick to trust him, and began to follow him.
The party approached Basaltthrone's grand iron doors. A guard checkpoint required an inspection, and Balasar convinced them to let him take his spellbook into the city.
Once in the warm, pyramid-shaped city, the party paid a dwarf boy to give them a tour. They learned about Basalt Keep and the Archestriforge at the top, as well as some of the esteemed magic item shops like Stonekettle's Pride.
They visited Stonekettle's Pride and saw the expensive legendary items for sale. They learned that about one such item is produced every month in the Archestriforge. They also visited the other magic shop, Baudry's Baubles.
Malivette requested an audience with the eight forgemasters that run the Archestriforge. His request was granted two days later. He stepped in to see the eight of them seated around its central lava-heated firepit. He explained that he needed a fire elemental in order to create his own spirit forge in Salmund. The forgemasters asked about his intentions; they did not want such a forge used against the Smokewhistle kingdom if war were to resurface between the two nations. Mal reassured them that he and his group, the Inkpot Gods, would do their best to ensure it was only used nobly. They allowed him to approach. Mal showed the ruby, poured the volcanic ash into the forge, and watched as a fire elemental lept into the ruby, allowing itself to be bound. Afterward, one forgemaster joined Mal outside of the upper walls, and chatted more casually with the party.
The PCs were given a 600gp reward for reporting the ghost situation in Gallakor, and for helping with it.
Mal began to construct a new spirit forge in Salmund.
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