HotDK 33: “Negotiating with Talis”

Availing yourselves of Talis’ apparent hospitality and use of one of the bed chambers in the lodge to discuss among yourselves her offer of information in exchange for making her rivals within the Cult of the Dragon look foolish (or dead – dead works too), you manage to not only decide to hear her out but get a much needed short rest.   She’s not exactly friendly, not is she hostile. The closest she comes to a threat, if you can even call it that, is telling Rargir it’s lucky for him that his grandfather wasn’t known to hunt white dragons.   She explains that there are five “Wyrmspeakers”, the leaders of the Cult – Severin the Red (the main leader), Galvan the Blue, Neronvain the Green, Rezmir the Black, and Varram the White. The last two, of course, she hates tremendously. Rezmir she considers a fool, and Varram is her direct rival for the title of White Wyrmspeaker, which she feels is her right. It’s very clear she favors that species of dragon by her reverence when she speaks of them, not to mention the décor in the lodge featuring paintings of them. She also suspects Varram of having lost what she first calls “the mask”.   When pressed, she reveals that there are five Dragon Masks, one for each chromatic dragon species. These are powerful artifacts that allow the wearer to commune with that species (Varram, she says, foolishly thinks he can control white dragons which is what makes him an idiot). Hence, of course, the title of “Wyrmspeaker”. Combining all five – well you can only imagine the implications knowing the Cult’s newfound fanaticism for Tiamat.   She also reveals that the Cult has been amassing an enormous hoard of valuables in a Cloud Giant’s flying castle. This castle is (or was) docked in the nearby town of Parnast. This is where Rezmir most likely has gone, although Talis has not seen her in a while. The castle’s purpose is to haul the valuables to their ultimate destination. Talis is not sure if the castle is still there or when it is supposed to leave though.   Since time is of the essence and the difficult terrain will make the five-mile hike to Parnast take a good ten hours, you decide to leave immediately after gathering some resupplies on food for the journey. Talis also teaches you a few hand gestures and phrases that Cult members use so you can have a way into the castle. (you knew these already, but she doesn’t know that).1 As you depart, Talis comments, “Oh, I just noticed he’s not with you anymore. Give Arynor my regards when you see him again.”   Other than coming across a group of three Ogres in the woods, the journey to Parnast goes well. You arrive at the outskirts of the town about three hours before dawn.   The village has a few dozen houses and a small square, with buildings that include a tavern, a stable, and a shrine. In contrast to this rustic burg stands a mighty ice castle half hidden in a fog-shrouded ravine: walls stand forty feet high, huge narrow towers loom upward— one of blue ice, one crumbling— and all of it is built to a scale for giants. Wisps of fog hide much of the castle’s detail, but you see two statues standing just before the enormous gate.