Varian's report from the Dinga Hills - 0.3.7 agf

The Paladin of Vauna

Sarrin, a follower of Vauna, came to the guild injured and begging for help in saving his party. They were travelling around the Dinga Hills but had been caught in an ambush. Six adventurers took up Sarrin’s quest vowing to help the paladin save his friends. Together using Sarrin’s horse and cart the group headed for Dinga Hills but were unfortunately caught by an injured Wyvern. The group dispatched the creature quickly enough but during the fight they lost sight of Sarrin.

They managed to follow the man’s tracks through a small forest from the road. As they went Lady Layla reported feeling an eerie, shadowy presence settle around her and a buzzing in her ears, but as quickly as it appeared it vanished. The group pushed through the forest until they reached the foot of the Dinga Hills to find a huge, ornate metal door in the face of the mountainside and in front of it Sarrin was sitting on a stone throne smirking with five people bound in stone at his feet – one of whom looked remarkably similar to Sarrin.

‘Sarrin’ apologised for the duplicity but thought taking the identity of the paladin would simplify bringing them here. When asked what he wanted them for ‘Sarrin’ informed the group that he’d been watching the guild for a while now – deeply unhappy with their actions. However, since the loss of the World Tree had weakened them, he was able to tolerate ignoring them for a time, but their actions across Elanora have started impacting his plans, and those of his allies. He had to step in. ‘Sarrin’ offered the adventurers a deal, as an honourable man: that if they get through his little dungeon in two hours, they could keep whatever they found, the hostages would be released & he would share some information the guild would want. The adventurers agreed but when asked about the purpose of the dungeon he just laughed saying it was a practice run. The group headed in.

The dungeon looked like segments of a noble’s mansion with polished wood floors and ornate paintings on the walls, but much of the rooms were heavily altered. The group traversed the dungeon fighting a green dragon in a large bedroom turned marshy woods, a water elemental in a flooded library, salamanders in a volcanic study and even a spectator and mimics.

Investigating the dungeon they found advanced books on necromancy and conjuration and three scrolls. The scrolls were reports written to someone called Ralston but weren’t signed. The first was the gleeful report of Adran Lunawatch death to a blue dragon. Investigating the report they could tell that it was a few weeks ago. This greatly upset Lady Layla in particular. The second reported Breac Sunfist's plans to head up to Mt Rhillaine with some adventurers. And the third was very carefully worded explaining their failure to infiltrate the guild hall and spy on Lady Wintergreen – there were scorched handprints on the parchment.

The group made their way through the dungeon and got out safely after some close calls. The hostages were already freed and just getting up from the ground badly wounded. While ‘Sarrin’ was nowhere to be seen on his stone throne lay four sealed scrolls – one addressed to Breac Sunfist, one to Lady Wintergreen, the third for Lady Layla III and the fourth to Varian.