Session 72: Cross Continent

7am Marpenoth/October 30

General Summary

Eldred decided to take a different route while taking Vena out for their daily exercise. As the pair flew up and around the mountain to a much higher altitude where they saw a workshop outside of the mountain fortress. A makeshift sign was created out of a large plank of wood and written out in scrap metal "The Bent Treenail." He noticed their ship was here and undergoing repairs. The workshop was essentially a junkyard for any refuse from the Citadel as there is a massive opening into the side of the mountain that you can push junk into that is incinerated by the forges below.
Gathering the rest of the party, together they made their way up the mountain where the met to owner of the junkyard, Doleslaw Neveright. The tabaxi woman stands just above 5ft tall. Her fur is grey with age as you can see black and white streaks that are very patchy and matted all over her body. She wears long baggy pants but no shirt - instead a brown bandeau that was red long ago that covers her chest. You can plainly see her hairy rotund belly which has bits and pieces of food, sawdust, machine grease, and whatever crafting other supplies she has used recently.
Elister Noggins had decided to come along, having a personal interest in tinkering. Initially he and Doleslaw fought like cats and dogs (literally) however they found that their common interest and love of tinkering was enough for them to look past their differences and she was able to forgive him for stealing her junk that he used to create his construct, Theodore.
Bolivar helped mediate a work-release agreement between the two to pay off the costs of the supplies Elly stole. This considerably helped in the negotiating the final cost to repair their airship that came to 25,000 gp; including the installation of the Navigation Orb. Having the ship back fully operational, they renamed it the Dragon's Bane; in honor of the previous owner Delsaphine Rojas.  

Zephyr left a letter for Shane
500gp from Bolivar to Elly

After finishing up some lose ends in Citadel Adbar the party set out for the Dessarin Valley where they were to meet up with Willow's parents and ask them about the stories Vel had recently discovered about the Devistation Orbs. This time Diamonddust would not allow them to leave without her.

Back to Dessarin Valley

After making the continent trip in a matter of days in their restored airship the party arrived to the outskirts of Goldfields where Willow's parents resided.

There with fields all around, bordered only by the thick forests in the distance. All around you goats and deer graze in the radiant pastures. Touring around most of the fields runs a sandy road. Having been here only a few weeks ago Willow, you guide your party down this road which ends at a very modest abode but a cozy home nonetheless.

As you walk in between the hills that tucks away your parents home, you walk under a large beautiful floral pergola that you had helped your father build in your most recent visit home. Welcoming you like the morning sun you see a small farmhouse that is kept in pristine condition, just like the fields around it. Several tall silos in the distance hold silage, a rectangular pen for horse training flanks one side of the river at the back of the courtyard, and a large windmill can be seen over the rooftops, its blades going round and round in the wind. This farm has a warm and comforting feel to it, the beauty of the landscape only adding to it.

Having grown up in the same town of Daggerford, party learned that Vel's sister Clara has made quite the name for herself at the Temple of Mystra in Waterdeep where Alexandra served as the hand to the archbishop. Both of them have even been invited to the Castle Waterdeep on several occasions to dine with the Open Lord, Laeral Silverhand.
Willow's father, Heilen (brother to High Sorcerer Vaeril Rhuidhen) knows someone in Red Larch who may know more about the calamities happening in the Dessarin Valley. They were instructed to seek out Kaylessa Irkell in Red Larch whose family runs the Swinging Sword.

The party stayed for the evening, enjoying time with Willow's family including Beetle who had quickly grown a fondness for Diamonddust. When it was time for them to leave, Beetle had asked if Diamonddust could stay with them them. After giving an oath swearing to protect her, the half-orc paladin and her shook hands and agreed to let the bear stay behind.
In an attempt to remain discrete, the party left Dragon's Bane behind. The made the trip via horseback with horses gifted for Heilen. The two days of travel took them past Amphail, the hometown the late Willy Greenbow who had lost his life defending his farm. In return his farm was saved and they are to this day renowned for their legendary Greenbow Tobacco. Olga of course had to pick some up along the way.

Arrival to Red Larch

Named for a distinctive strand of red larch trees that were cut down when the village was founded, Red Larch is situated on a fertile patch of land on the western outskirts of the Sumber Hills, at a place where the Kheldell Path and the Cairn Road meet the Long Road. Despite its small size, Red Larch offers many fine amenities.
On the west side of the Long Road, just south of the inn’s stable yard, stands what looks like a grand stone mansion. Two wide wooden doors painted with the symbols of many gods stand open day and night. Inside is a plain chapel with a stone altar. The Allfaiths Shrine is a wayside shrine used by many faiths and owned by none. Priests shuttle out from Waterdeep in pairs for month-long stays. Each pairing includes priests of two different faiths arranged by Waterdhavian temples. The most frequent combinations are Sune and Selûne, Tymora and Lathander, and Tempus and Oghma. The visiting priests dwell in two simple stone rooms at the back of the temple. They bring their own vestments and holy items and take them away again when their duties end.
Their desired destination however was an inn. A three-story stone structure, crowned by a steep slate roof that bristles with many chimneys. A signboard juts out over the door, hanging from chains. It’s a ten-foot-long carved wooden scimitar emblazoned with the "Swinging Sword" in red paint on both sides. An inn yard with stables and outbuildings lies behind the building.
Upon making an entrance, it was mealtime. Here in the tavern the town gathered for a morning meal as the town priest, Brother Bondon prayed over their meal. The party politely waited for the concession of the prayer to enter. Here within the tavern the party met with the contact Willow's father advised they seek out, Kaylessa Irkell. As the morning passed and patrons began to leave the tavern she concluded, "I’ve heard many tales about fogs that persist in the Sumber Hills even in bright sunlight, and sudden gusts of hot wind sweeping west out of the hills where breezes have always been cold. There have been more violent sights, too, such as sudden bolts of lightning stabbing up from the hills into a clear sky. “Fell magic”. though I admits this was an opinion shared with me, and I've seen none of this myself. I have also noticed some Red Larchers looking both frightened and furtive, and tersely turning aside innocent queries."
When advised to speak with Brother Bondon and learn more about why these events may be happening, the party knew exactly where to find him. That afternoon after briefly questioning the dwarf priest who tuned out to be more of a drunk than a holy man they learned about the Stronghold of Tyar Besil and the Dwarves of Besilmer. The underground kingdom was located beneath the Sumber Hills and was overrun many years ago. After recent the unnatural disasters and calamities he suspects that whatever evil has taken root in the lost fortress has now awakened.
After mentioning the suspicious comings of goings and dealings of the town's wealthiest residents, which have recently coined themselves "The Believers", the party took Brother Bondon with them as they sought out to question this group of individuals.
While walking towards the town square the ground began to shake. With a look of surprise, the party watched a a massive sink hole opened up in the middle of the bustling town center, dragging many of the towns residents down below.

Citadel Adbar

Dessarin Valley

Report Date

06 Nov 2020