"Honor is something that we, of course, understand all too well. And among our people, one way we show honor is to care for and support our allies. Especially those who have bled for us. As ye can see, Thurgrom here is badly injured. And this squirrel...is in fact our kinsman, Gage. Transformed by the magic at yer son's disposal. As a show of good faith, would ye lend yer hand in healing this ailments? And perhaps then we could speak of where yer son might be, along with whatever information and support honor allows ye to share about what might await us in this mission." Kragg intoned. His usually smooth voice sounding far more like a rock slide. The stone dwarf (a name far more fitting, in many ways) still spoke quite eloquently, for his words and mannerisms were forged over the course of a lifetime. While the dragon's words in no way assuaged his ill-will towards her, he was mature enough to keep those feelings compartmentalized. They were working for the greater good of Gold Peak, and personal animus would not stand between him and his duty.
With a single word and a flex of her wrist, the magic transforming Gage falls apart and the bard grows back to his own dwarfly size and appearance.
"A simple enough matter, that. As to my son- he must have departed to his stronghold to the south of town. Rest yourselves here in my grottos this evening, then, on the morrow when you have armed yourselves go and kill him and whatever few followers he retains."
"Wait on me tomorrow and I shall give you advice for the expedition."
"Yes, rest... we must..."
Tramontane is still too shocked by the beating to be of any use. A good slumber will help him settle his mind and body.
Gage gasps as he returns to his normal size and falls to the floor.
He pauses momentarily, face down, as he comes back to his senses and sorts through his recent memories. Hearing the Tramontane's reply to Xixital's words, he quickly rolls over and gets to his feet, straightening his traveler's clothes before bowing to the elf-looking dragon.
"Thank you, lady Xixtial."
Gage then, still bowed, looks to Kragg both for confirmation that it was time to leave... and to take in his new appearance.
After meeting with Lady Xixtial, Gage tends to the mynrughdaer's wounds, sending positive healing energy into the storm dwarf scion's body.
Thurgrom wakes with a start, looking around and panting. "WAA! What's going on?! Where are we?! Is everyone alright?!"
Gage steadies Thurgrom as they continue following one of Xixtial's servants to the resting place she intended (and no doubt making sure they don't visit any piles of treasure...)
"Uh- I was a squirrel. Not counting that trauma, I'm okay. Dvalin managed to keep Tawny from bleeding out, so she limped back with us. I just got done helping Tramontane out, but he seems a bit delirious still- I wonder if someone didn't poison him... hmmm... I wonder how... or when... uh anyway- uh... what was I explaining?"
Thurgrom steadies Gage as much as Gage steadies Thurgrom as they walk. "Thank you, Gage", the mynrughdaer pants.
After your interview with the dragon princess, you are led to a beautiful green grotto or park-- pools and fountains filled with the clearest water, fruit trees loaded down heavily with fruit, the moonlight wafting in from the skylight setting a strange blue or blue-green glow all about- the grotto is clearly a place of magical power.
"Out Mistriss invites you to eat of the fruit and drink of her fountains here as you rest and recover here."
Once in his resting place, Tramontane asks a servant whether he can have a bath and clean all the blood. When he removes his robes he discovers the potential cause of his headaches.
"What do we have here?"
Contrary to what one might expect, the plant doesn't react attacking. Tram smiles, not angry for her knows it's only doing what Nature has made it do. Actually, he notices the wounds where the vine was attached are closing faster than the others.
"A symbiosis, uh? Might work, what do you think?" he says, offering his wounded body again for his new friend to feed.
The servant refers Tramontane to a section of the grotto where a stream runs, appearing and disappearing beneath the ground.
Wearily Kragg found a place to lie down. He eyed Tramontane, recognizing that there was magic at work with the dwarf. The dwarf had fought well, but his injuries had been substantial. He wondered if the dwarf would ever throw a punch again like he used to? But he was not overly worried. Given his own connection to nature and the elemental planes, he could felt a kindred power at work.
The stone dwarf turned his attention back to himself, giving Tramontane some privacy. Kragg had enough of his own problems with borrowing from others. He closed his eyes and tried to reach the power that he felt within. It was there...he just had to figure out how to reach it. He tried to move the earth once more, but it stubbornly refused. He opened his eyes and concentrated, putting his mind towards the task of even making a pebble move. Sweat beaded on his brow and...he stopped, staring in confusion. He was looking *through* the ground, as if though it were crystal. He looked around, blinking and then shook his head. Everything went back to normal.
He took a deep breath and moved on. He held out his right hand and focused on it, trying to make a weapon out of stone. It was an old trick, and one that had served him well. Once more nothing formed. He felt frustration, then, as nothing happened. A realization hit him, that he was going about it wrong. He was trying to influence what was around him, as he was used to. So instead of looked at his hand and he imagined an axe. He focused on the concept of an axe. And, in horror, he both saw and felt his fingers merge together, turning his hand into an axe blade, made out of stone. The only thing that kept him from panicking was that he could feel familiar elemental energies at work. That, and he now knew what was happening. He had channeled the elemental power into his eyes and had seen through the earth. He had channeled it into his hand and had turned it into an axe. There was one more logical step.
Kragg got up and walked around, pacing as he thought threw what he was about to do. He was wary, having just seen the horrible cost of pushing himself too far. But they were going to fight a dragon! A dragon! One that he had been unable to even scratch the last time they had fought. He had to know what he was capable of. He took a deep breath, and looked around.
"I am about to attempt something. Please, nobody be alarmed."
He sat down and closed his eyes. The dwarf turned his attention inwards, focusing on the elemental energy within. He traced the energy, following it as one might follow the tributary of a river, following it back to its source. He did this until it he could feel the connection. The connection to the elemental plane of earth. It felt...like home. It felt right, as if though it was where he belonged. The dwarf calmly let the energy flow into him. Feeling it course from the tip of his head down to his toes. He didn't try to shape it. He let it move naturally, like gently flowing water, until he was filled.
When Kragg opened his eyes, he was no longer a dwarf. Now, he was an earth elemental. He looked around, marveling about how *different* the world looked. How different everything smelled. He looked down at the ground and walked...into it.
Kragg vanished into the ground, going in as if though it were liquid. Once submerged there was no sign that he had ever been there. He was gone. Once underground Kragg just stood there, calmly relaxing. He found it impossible to put into words the feeling. He decided, though, that this was what Khazuk had always wanted from him. She had wanted him to understand and appreciate his powers. To not use them as a crude tool to dig tunnels and expand minds, but to allow it to be a part of him. He just wished that she didn't have to die for him to learn that lesson.
While did not want to leave the comforting embrace of the earth, he knew that duty demanded. With some reluctance he swam up, earth parting before him and returning without a trace. The earth recognized kin. The elemental was once more in the grotto, his feet on the ground. He looked around at his comrades, and reluctantly closed his eyes. The power was not something to be fought. It was not something to be feared. It was as natural as he or they. Kragg felt the energy infusing him and gently guided it back to its source. He felt the elemental power of earth return to whence it came, going back to the planes. And as it did so, he transformed back into himself. White beard and calcified skin and all. He felt...empty. As if though something was missing, though he could still feel it there within him. Waiting to be called upon. It would take some time to master these skills, but he was confident that he would do so. Given time and patience he would learn about both the energy within and himself. It would not be forced or misused...he had learned his lesson in that regard. With a sad smile he sat down and sighed. He still owed Khazuk a funeral. He resolved to do so, and when he did to properly thank her for all that she had done for him. But more important than that, he wanted resolved to live his life in a way that would make her gifts worth their cost.
Gage, oblivious to the depth of Kragg's transformation and his new journey towards self mastery, quirks an eyebrow and asks "what do ya understand? And how'd you do that?"
Eating and drinking your fill of the water and fruit of the grotto, then resting for the evening you awake the next morning refreshed- more than just refreshed. The magic of the grove has healed you of all your injuries, and provided you the effects of a hearty feast- a Heroes' Feast even!
Shortly after rising, the servant gnoll returns to lead you once again to the chamber of Mistriss Xixtial.
She is seated, as you have come to expect, upon her throne of golden coins, though this time, your eyes are immediately called to the axe laid at her feet-- what can only be Storm's Edge!
Gage's eyebrows rise high when he lays eyes on the axe.
"We thank you for your generous accommodations, lady Xixtial." Gage says as he bows. He decides to wait for her to speak before rising again, pretty sure that's what 'waiting on Xixtial' means.
Hm, still can't help but think a little squirrelly...
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Kragg looked at Gage and thought for a moment, unsure of how to put his experience into words. With a serious look on his face he said "Just as the flame purifies gold, so too do our travails strength us. I understand myself better than I did before." He finished, hoping that was clear enough. "Sorry. I don't think that I'm making this any easier for ye if you decide to make our trip into a saga. If ye do, I don't think that many dwarves will believe it."
------
With his wounds healed and his belly full, Kragg regarded the Queen warily. He didn't know what to expect from this gambit, and looked to the others to see how they reacted.
"I believe the axe you sought when you first came to speak to me is this that lies before my feet- is it not?"
"Do you even have a member of your group who is. . . worthy to wield such a weapon? My research tells me that Storm's Edge can only truly be possessed by one of the purest spirit, a paragon of the Storm Dwarf principles-- is there one of you who would consider yourself worthy? If so, let him step forward."
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"Do you even have a member of your group who is. . . worthy to wield such a weapon? My research tells me that Storm's Edge can only truly be possessed by one of the purest spirit, a paragon of the Storm Dwarf principles-- is there one of you who would consider yourself worthy? If so, let him step forward."
The mynrughdaer steps forward, resolute. "I am Thurgrom Thunderhammer, scion of Clan Thunderhammer, and mynrughdaer of the dwarven people. I claim Storm's Edge for myself and for the protection of Gold Peak!"
Thurgrom kneels down to grasp the artifact.
When Thurgrom grasps the axe, he feels the connection with it immediately. . . he knows he was meant to wield this weapon, to use it to bring the battle back to the foes of Storm Peak.
Storm's Edge
This +3 Moonsteel Dwarven Waraxe becomes a +5 Holy, Shocking Burst, Thundering Waraxe when wielded by a Storm Dwarf Paladin, Mynrughdaer, or other lawful good divine caster.
In addition, while wielded by such a bearer, Storm's Edge will bond with its owner, gaining the called ability, and depending on the level of the wielder casting the following spells (Caster level equal to the wielder's character level, using the wielder's spellcasting ability to determine the DC).
5th level-- call lighting 1/day
10th level-- storm step 1/day
15th level-- chain lightning 1/day
20th level-- storm of vengeance 1/week
This incredibly rare metal is made from fragments of the Chaos Moon. Before the Moon Fell, it was only to be found by journeying to the Chaos Moon itself and forging the blades there, but in recent times it is available in the rare fragments of the Moon which fell to Kesperex.
An item made from Moonsteel costs an additional 1000 gold per lb of metal involved in its construction.
Moonsteel automatically by passes the damage reduction of all Lycanthropes, creatures with the shapechanger subtype, and counts as Chaotic for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction.
Weapons forged of Moonsteel retain a reddish hue, and shine when drawn in moonlight- illuminating a 10 ft. area with a reddish light (as dancing lights, but anchored on the object).
"Very well. Take the axe with my blessing. . . take it and go to finish what you started with my son. He has fled the city-- he will be in his lair to the South of here- it is a two day journey by land, but I can send you there, when you are prepared- I will deposit you just outside the entrance to his caverns."
Tramontane bows before the Queen.
"Your Majesty, please allow us to expose a doubt" he says. "We, or at least I, have never had contact with such a majestic and dangerous creature. Is there anything we need to know?"
Despite the conversation happening around him, Thurgrom is lost in the holding of a true storm dwarf artifact of legend. The mynrughdaer murmurs to himself on and off, "By the Gods...By the Ancestors..." To Thurgrom, it would seem that all the pain and suffering he's experienced on the battlefields has lead to this moment, and he is grateful.
"My son is a spellcaster of. . . average abilities, and he can breathe lightning to such a degree that you will be most desirous to avoid it, but he is most fearsome, perhaps, in physical combat. He will do his utmost to prepare himself before your arrival- to harden his skin even further than it ordinarily is with magic. Other than that, what is there to know?"
"He may still have some of his defenses- who is to say what he has squirreled away within his cave? Ages past he had some obsession with clockwork, and you know of course of his Blackwater Tribe- though I believe the majority of those he had here in the city. Oh, and I suppose he may still have his chamberlain with him- some elf wench he took up with on our arrival from the stars."
"As to the contents of his secret lair-- I will renounce any further claim on his horde; you may keep what you find there, should you survive- for this time he shall surely not retreat."
"Thank you, Lady Xixtial. You are very gracious. I believe we're all ready to depart." Gage says with a bow, then he looks to the others for dissent.
Thurgrom looks away from Storm's Edge and nods in agreement to Gage, words still escape him.
Dvalin bows to the Dragoness: "You are just and generous, mylady. Do you desire for us to retrieve anything - as a proof of our deed, perhaps? Or will you know when it is accomplished?"
Rubius grins happily when Tawny, Gage, and Thurgrom are restored to their proper forms. Then he absolutely beams when Thurgrom receives the great weapon worthy of his honor.
When the princess makes her proposal, he nods thoughtfully to himself and asks "How big is this place? Is he going to have a bunch of chambers each with servants guarding them so we get worn out before reaching him? Or will we be in the thick of it immediately? And do you know if he likes traps?"
"I do not know the exact layout, or what he has done with the place- but I would expect several chambers with a variety of defenses."
”So long as it is natural stone, I can scout this place out fairly effectively.” Kragg offered. ”I can move through the stone and report back on what I find. While I do so though, we should figure out how to handle the arcane defenses of our foe. His spells will likely tip the fight in his favor unless we can remove them.”
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"I'm able to dispel magic... when I'm feeling myself." Gage offers, uncharacteristically bashful.
"Anyway, it sounds like we can figure out the rest on the footstep of our foe. Perhaps we should set out now?" He adds hastily.
When you are ready, Xixtial casts a teleport spell, and you find yourselves about a half mile from the entrance.
Once near the enemy compound, Tram gathers all his friends. "Just a minute, I would like to grant you a blessing."
Dvalin first does a small invocation granting himself greater resilience.
Then he joins the circle Tramontane called for, and after the Oracle did it's work, speaks up himself: "One more moment...this is not the first wyrm our kind battles...in the spirits that ascended to dwell in the very core of Gold Peak, there is much to learn about combat against their kind. Let me share the wisdom of our clans in regard to wyrms as passed down from these spirits..."
"Uh, maybe if we sneak up on something, I can convince some of them to go home?"
Gage then produces small drums, flutes, horns, and guitars for everyone.
"Think posing as a traveling band might help?"
previous Spells, HP, bardsong etc
73/83-10 HP
20/20 Normal Arrows
20/20 Silver Blanched Cold-Iron Arrows
160/160 Silver Blanched Cold-Iron Arrows (in a sack in the haversack)
10/10 charges for Alitharlkian "Ali" the blood angel (in tablet o' doom)
10 unhealable damage (resets to Ali's current charge after rest)
Ali's powers/prices:
* she knows some things, basic waifu function requires 1 charge per day
* interface with the ship:
* * 100/100 charges of fire elemental summoning remaining
* 4 charges => cast Prayer CL 7th
* 2 charges/missile => cast a modified Magic Missile (identical except dealing lightning damage instead of force damage)
* 10 charges => Manifest: the Blood Angel manifests into the physical world for 1 minute
Extraordinary Abilities
. 1/1 uses/day Lore Master (take 20 on any knowledge check)
Supernatural Abilities
. 8/8 uses/day Silver Tongue (swift; +5 to Bluff to lie; DC 18 CL check to magically force truth or detect lies)
. 1/1 uses/day War Chant ("while chanting" +2 rounds; All allies within 30'; +1 Morale to Attacks, Fort saves, Will vs fear, and to skill checks to ride or march into battle; Allies moving in formation and performing no other actions may move +10')
Bardic Performances:
. 27/27 rounds per day (SA or MA to start); Countersong (Su, aud) [30'; language-dependent], Distraction (Su, vis) [30'], Fascinate (Su, aud, vis) [enchantment (compulsion), language-dependent, mind-affecting; DC 20 will], Inspire Courage (Su, aud or vis) [language-dependent (if aud), mind-affecting; +2 morale vs charm & fear; +2 competence to attack and damage], Inspire Competence (Su, aud) [30'; language-dependent; +3 competence to a kind of skill check], Suggestion (Sp) [SA; enchantment (compulsion), language-dependent, mind affecting; DC 20 will]
Spells Known
. 4th (2/2/day) Dimension Door, Wall of Sound
. 3rd (4/4/day) Dispel Magic, Fear (DC 18), Haste, Tiny Hut
. 2nd (5/5/day) Glitterdust (DC 17), Heroism, Invisibility, Pyrotechnics (DC 17), Silence
. 1st (7/7/day) Cure Light Wounds, Disguise Self, Feather Fall, Grease (DC 16), Silent Image (DC 16)
. 0 (at will) Detect Magic, Mage Hand, Mending, Open/Close, Spark, Summon Instrument
”Once we are just out of sight of the place, I will take on the form of an earth elemental. Then make me invisible, and I will scout the area out as best as I can.” He planned to move through the cave system, looking through floors, walls or ceilings as needed.
Rubius nods. "Yes, Kragg should check it out. I can summon some earth elementals to go with him but I'm not sure that would help. They're not very sneaky."
"Yeah, let's hang a little back to avoid sight of the gate guardians." Gage agrees as they approach the dungeon.
As the others work their expertise, Thurgrom quietly searches the perimeter for any ambushes until the group is ready to move out.
Kragg came back to the group, and in doing so rose out of the floor, coming out like a swimmer would emerge from a pool. Once back on solid ground he intoned:
Then, realizing that he was still not in his native form, he shifted back to his dwarven form.
"My apologies. I must apologize, for moving underground is...very much different than walking. It is somewhat hard to tell, with any exact certainty, where things are and how they connect. But what I have learned is this. There appears to be only a single entrance, which we stand before. There is an underground river heading north, but I cannot tell if that is another way in or out. The complex, such as it is, is roughly in a U shape. There are clockwork constructs guarding it, and at the end of the complex there is an elf sitting on a throne. The complex connects to a much larger cave, in which there lies a dragon. I did not dare take more than the quickest of looks at either the dragon, or the elf, for they can likely see through simple invisibility. As we go in, I think that it would be best for us to take the finished complex first, in it's entirety. When we face the dragon, we do not want enemy reinforcements coming in from the rear."
Gage frowns. "No chance of charming any of those, then. Why don't I sneak in there and see if I can't blind a few to start us off?"
previous Spells, HP, bardsong etc
73/83-10 HP
20/20 Normal Arrows
20/20 Silver Blanched Cold-Iron Arrows
160/160 Silver Blanched Cold-Iron Arrows (in a sack in the haversack)
10/10 charges for Alitharlkian "Ali" the blood angel (in tablet o' doom)
10 unhealable damage (resets to Ali's current charge after rest)
Ali's powers/prices:
* she knows some things, basic waifu function requires 1 charge per day
* interface with the ship:
* * 100/100 charges of fire elemental summoning remaining
* 4 charges => cast Prayer CL 7th
* 2 charges/missile => cast a modified Magic Missile (identical except dealing lightning damage instead of force damage)
* 10 charges => Manifest: the Blood Angel manifests into the physical world for 1 minute
Extraordinary Abilities
. 1/1 uses/day Lore Master (take 20 on any knowledge check)
Supernatural Abilities
. 8/8 uses/day Silver Tongue (swift; +5 to Bluff to lie; DC 18 CL check to magically force truth or detect lies)
. 1/1 uses/day War Chant ("while chanting" +2 rounds; All allies within 30'; +1 Morale to Attacks, Fort saves, Will vs fear, and to skill checks to ride or march into battle; Allies moving in formation and performing no other actions may move +10')
Bardic Performances:
. 27/27 rounds per day (SA or MA to start); Countersong (Su, aud) [30'; language-dependent], Distraction (Su, vis) [30'], Fascinate (Su, aud, vis) [enchantment (compulsion), language-dependent, mind-affecting; DC 20 will], Inspire Courage (Su, aud or vis) [language-dependent (if aud), mind-affecting; +2 morale vs charm & fear; +2 competence to attack and damage], Inspire Competence (Su, aud) [30'; language-dependent; +3 competence to a kind of skill check], Suggestion (Sp) [SA; enchantment (compulsion), language-dependent, mind affecting; DC 20 will]
Spells Known
. 4th (2/2/day) Dimension Door, Wall of Sound
. 3rd (4/4/day) Dispel Magic, Fear (DC 18), Haste, Tiny Hut
. 2nd (4/5/day) Glitterdust (DC 17), Heroism, Invisibility, Pyrotechnics (DC 17), Silence
. 1st (7/7/day) Cure Light Wounds, Disguise Self, Feather Fall, Grease (DC 16), Silent Image (DC 16)
. 0 (at will) Detect Magic, Mage Hand, Mending, Open/Close, Spark, Summon Instrument
Four clockworks guard the first entry chamber.
Armed with the information Kragg brings back, you approach the large, presumably locked, stone door.