Wulfram told of how they had trained the escaped slaves to fight for their new freedom. He related how the new trainees and the townsfolk bravely defended the city walls against hordes of hobgoblins and monsters.
The dwarves nod solemnly as Wulfram recounts the stand at Longshadow. Thramirra gets up and sits down on your side of the table to better hear the details as the shaman wraps up the story.
"And that brings you to the start of your journey to Kraggodan," she says. "How did you ever find out about the backdoor to our citadel?"
As you begin the story about the valley of Aloi and the morlock tunnels, Hikal asks numerous questions about the dwarves ruins there, seeing potential for future restoration.
Wulfram cast a spell to take on the appearance of a morlock. He cast another spell and prepared to play the part of the treacherous Iuwlas.
While the finest points of the Dwarven architecture just barely slips Rogar's mind, he still does his best to emphasize the architecture as he relates his tale, telling of how they first tried to befriend the Morlocks as they explored the caverns, but upon slaying the Naga and revealing its nature as nothing but an imperfect copy, the creatures betrayed them, and forced them to fight their way out and into the Long Road. He also explains how the Naga's journal pointed them towards Kraggodan as it described stealing the Onyx Key from their vaults.
The discovery of the naga’s notes on reaching Kraggodan raises concerns among the Synod members, who wish to know how Zanathura ever learned of the Sky Citadel’s accidental back door. They pay close attention to Rogar's story, and remain interested as you transition to the tale of your journey along the Long Walk that lead you to their doorstep.
Wulfram supported Rogar's account with his bad amateur acting. "These surface-dwellers have slain the World Serpent! Avenge her! Slay them all!"
The dwarves are suitably impressed by your journey through the Darklands. The time has come to finally present your case, telling the Evenhanded Synod what you need from Kraggodan.
In preparation for his appeal to the Synod, Wulfram recited a prayer to make his allies more eloquent. He read through his notes one last time, trying to calm his nerves.
Now that the story of their journey had been told, it was time to tell them why they had come. The shaman stood before the assembled Synod and spoke.
"We have made the difficult and dangerous journey to Kraggodan to ask for your help. The Ironfang Legion has invaded our lands and enslaved our people, aided by a powerful dwarven artifact stolen from you! Their villainy knows no limits, and they would trample all free peoples under their iron shod feet. Their agents have instigated an attack on this very Sky Citadel, and used the diversion to penetrate your vaults and steal a vital part of your heritage, the Onyx Key!"
"We would be grateful for any assistance that you can offer in our fight against the Ironfang Legion. But more than anything, we need to learn more about the Onyx key, and its relationship to the artifact that we know as the Stone Road, so that we may stop the Legion from using it for their vile purposes. I am appealing to you for your help, so we can find the Onyx Key and return it to you, it's rightful owners!"
The dwarves are silent for a few moments after Wulfram finishes his request. "Well, you've given us a lot to chew on," Prince Gorm says. "We'll need to deliberate for a bit on everything we've heard." The other members of the Synod eye the copious amounts of food and drink left on the feasting table and nod eagerly.
You are escorted back to your quarters to wait for the council members to render their verdict. After an hour or so, the Synod summons you back to the feast hall. Karburtin stands and clears his throat. "After much deliberation, the Evenhanded Synod has decided to lend its full support to you and your cause. Kraggodan will do all in its power to aid you in your fight against the Ironfang Legion. We will grant you access to the Reliquary of Ascension so that you can investigate the theft of the Onyx Key and hopefully find proof that it was the Legion, and not Molthune, who stole our sacred artifact. Such proof could eventually lead to a truce with Molthune, freeing up our resources to fight directly against the hobgoblins. The Synod is prepared to offer you a reward of 20,000 gp for the recovery of such proof."
Gorm presents you with an adamantine ring capped with a stone sigil of the first clan to settle the Sky Citadel of Kraggodan. "This sigil will open the vault and quell some of the dangers contained within. Royal Archivist Lightbrand has agreed to lend his services to you to craft magic items, so long as you agree to pay the cost of materials. And I will issue an edict to smiths of Runesmith Alley to provide you a 15% discount on all purchases made from them."
Eustoma hides behind Wulfram and does a happy dance. Then she steps around him and tries to look dignified. "Thank you sirs and ladies. We'll do our best to find the proof of what I know to be true. The Hobgoblins stole your key not Molthune."
Rogar accepts the ring with the dignity he felt it was worth, thanking them for their aid and enjoying the feel of powerful Dwarven craftsmanship humming around his finger.
Rogar took advantage of his allies' Tongues spell before he would have to return to Common for them to understand, "Indeed. We will find your proof and return to you the information we both desire. Shall we go in the morning, once we're all rested?"
Wulfram replied, "We will not disappoint you. We shall find and return the Onyx Key to Kraggodan."
After purchasing more gear to assist you in the coming challenges and resting overnight, you head down to the Reliquary of Ascension. It stands past the gateway of Vault Way, conveniently close to the passage that brought you to Kraggodan. Presenting the Sigil of Kraggodan unlocks the mighty adamantine doors, granting you access to the ancient repository.
The vast entry hallway stretches from south to north for roughly a hundred feet before abruptly stopping at a cave-in. Collapsed ceiling and stone block the path of what was once a far longer hall. Immense, eight-foot-wide stone pillars bedecked in glowing lights and rune-etched plaques reach up to the ceiling some sixty feet above.
The plaques here are memorials carved from marble in the Dwarven language. Each describes one family's journey, victories, and tragedies during the Quest for Sky.
An eerily lifelike statue of an armored dwarven women frozen in shock stands near the southern entrance. Four side passages lead out of this cyclopean hall: two to the west and two to the east.
1st: Bless, Cure Light Wounds x2, Liberating Command, Open Slot
2nd: Barkskin x3, Delay Poison, Open Slot
3rd: Cure Serious Wounds, Daylight, Dispel Magic, Magic Circle against Evil, Open Slot
4th: Blessing of Fervor, Divine Power, Freedom of Movement, Greater Magic Weapon
5th: Overland Flight, Quickened Divine Favor, Open Slot
6th: Mass Cure Moderate Wounds, Open Slot
7th: Heal
Wandering Spirit: Battle
Wandering Hex: Battle Master
Before they entered the Reliquary of Ascension, Wulfram cast several spells on himself and the animal companions.
"It looks like she's been petrified!", Wulfram warned. He uttered a prayer and scanned for magic auras.
"You think there's a creature down here that can do that to us?" she looks around carefully.
Wulfram replied to Eustoma, "I don't know; it might have been a magical trap. I could meditate and memorize a spell to turn her back to flesh, but maybe we should consult with the the local authorities before doing so."
Wulfram does not detect any magical auras in the area.
As you are looking around the vault, there comes an eerie moan. A translucent apparition emerges from the statue, what seems to be the ghost of the petrified dwarf! She sobs softly.
"Beware! You will find naught but death and despair in this place. Horrid aberrations have taken over the vault, vile monsters from the depths of the earth called gugs. And at the center, a deadly medusa, betrayed by her masters and lashing out at any who draw near. ''Twas she who left me in this sad state! But alas, as stone I must remain. I have been away from dwarven society for too long. I would have no place in it now.
"But you can help my restless spirit. Destroy the gugs infesting this vault, then bring the other dwarves down here. Let them see the depth of the crimes that wicked Molthune has perpetrated against them!"
Roger scratches his head, ”If ye are this statue, how are ye also a ghost? Ah thought ye Hart’s be dead to be a ghost?”
The ghost sighs. "I know not. Whatever the medusa did to me seems to have cleaved my soul from my body. While my flesh is stone, my spirit lingers here as well, bound to my statue."
”How long have ye been stone?” Rogar asks.
Wulfram spoke to the ghost, "Who do I have the honor of speaking to? I am Wulfram of Phaendar.
"With some preparation, I can turn your body back from stone to flesh. If there is a sufficiently powerful cleric in Kraggodan, it's possible you could be resurrected, if that is your wish."
"I am Bellachal Dergik, paladin of Trudd. I have lingered in this vault for years, but have grown to accept my fate. Please, do not attempt to restore my body. It would only waste resources better spent on purifying this place of the evils that have taken over. Perhaps after the gugs are dead, I will conisder returning to the world I have left behind..."
"Then we shall clear the vault as fast as we can, Bellachal!", Wulfram told her. After a pause, he asked her something he had been wondering about, "If your statue is here, does that mean than whatever turned you to stone is nearby? We would rather not be taken unawares. Anything that you can tell us about the monsters and hazards in the Reliquary would be most helpful."
"The medusa still lurks at the center of the vault. The gugs control the rest of it. There are ten in all, lead by a terrible sorcerer. You must eliminate them to make the Reliquary safe once more."
"You mentioned Molthune. Did you see people from Molthune with your own eyes?" Eustoma asks the spirit.
"We'll the clear the vaults for you."
Wulfram said to the others, "We're going to have to move slowly and carefully; we don't want to blunder into any traps!" He moved cautiously towards the first opening on the north wall, looking for trigger mechanisms as he went.
"I didn't see any Molthuni personally, but at times I hear the medusa's ranting and raving from deeper within the vault. She curses the soldiers who enlisted her help to steal from the dwarves of Kraggodan, only to betray her and imprison her in the vault's depths. Surely she could bear witness to Molthune's heinous crimes! But beware her glowing eyes, lest you suffer the same fate as I!" Bellachal says.
Wulfram doesn't find any traps on the way to the opening, but he can hear deep growls and the shuffling movements of several large creatures from beyond. The burrowing of some immense creature has linked these three separate chambers into one. A vast mural of symbols adorns the western wall.
Two monsters crouch by the mural, noisily crunching on bones and detritus. When they notice Wulfram's light, though, they turn and raise to their full 16-foot height. These towering menaces have horrible, vertically aligned mouths and arms that split at the elbows into twin clawed hands. They bellow a challenge and move to attack!
Wulfram flew over to the side and hurled a fireball between the two horrific creatures.
*Oh man, those things are UGLY! Burn them!*, Pele declared, before vanishing into Wulfram's pack.
While Rogar doesn't recognize the creatures, he can tell that they aren't friendly, and reacts accordingly, sending a stream of metal at the closer of the two.
As that strikes, he breathes in and out again, directing with his other hand a boulder that crashes against the far wall.
Eustoma casts Bloody Claws on Sia. Can anyone tell what they said?"
Sia moves up and bites at anything left out of the pit.
Sia's jaws snap shut on empty air as the gug pulls back from the giant wolf. One of them avoids the worst of Wulfram's fireball, but Rogar quickly finishes it off with a powerful blast of metallic shards! Karla opens a pit beneath the remaining gug, but it manages to leap to the edge. Nik'o rushes in, dodging the thing's lashing claw, and bites the gug, grabbing a hold of the monster.
Howling in anger, the gug bites and claws at Nik'o. Fortunately, the cat's enhanced defenses keep her safe from harm.
Two more gugs emerge from the northernmost chamber. Bellowing with fury, they rush forward to engage Nik'o.
Rogar puts out his hand, summoning metal from the air itself and sending it blasting off at the closer of the new gugs.
After that, he focuses on whichever one seems the most injured, trying to bring it down, be it Nik'o's or the one he just hit.
"If Nik'o can ge' clear," Rogar says to Karla, "Ah can blast all o' them at once. Bu' ah don't want ta hurt 'im."
Wulfram recited a prayer and moved up beside Nik'o, ready to attack with his spear.
Sia steps next to Wulfram, and bites at the Gug.
Eustoma moves in and sends a Flame Strike at the gug in front of her.
Sia's jaws snap shut on empty air again. Eustoma calls down a flame strike, scorching the two newly emerged gugs. As Wulfram blesses the party, Rogar finishes off the nearest gug with a powerful metal blast! A quick follow-up torrent of earth batters the gug Nik'o is grappling. Nik'o brings down that gug with a flurry of fangs and claws, then backs off a bit at Karla's command.
The lone remaining gug lunges at the cat, trying to tear her apart with its claws. Three claws hit, one scoring a critical wound, and the beast latches on to Nik'o's flesh and rends it apart!
With only one foe left standing, Rogar, instead of going for an area attack, does the opposite, focusing both blasts on the last monster.
Rogar's pair of blasts tears through the final gug, sending it sprawling in a bloody heap on the ground.
Searching through these rooms reveals a cleft in the wall of the northernmost vault. Inside, you find 561 gp, three diamonds with bright orange interiors (worth 400 gp each), and a horn of battle clarity.