NPC - Katadante Ironhelm's page

Katadante shakes the half-elf's hand, then beats his closed fist against his chest three times. "Done!" Turning to the lone guardsman that had quietly followed the commander back to the group, Katadante issues a command in the dwarven speech.

"PREPARE TO OPEN THE GATE!" the guardsman shouts. With that, a squadron of dwarves dressed in full plate armor adorned with rubies on their pauldrons mobilizes and stands shoulder to shoulder with shields at the ready. They march toward the grand doors, forming a phalanx that drives suddenly forward as the massive steel doors swing outward into a vast courtyard.

Katadante walks over Marcusic. "Try? I'd expect nothing less from you, Human. Besides, you'll likely not make it out of Oldtown!" With that final word, he slaps the horse's haunches and it bursts forward followed quickly by the others.

I'll hand wave Denenor a riding horse if he doesn't have one on his sheet.

As you breach the doors and enter a vast plaza, you immediately notice the night sky full of shining stars where you expected to see the brilliant sun as you had presumed it to be mid-day in the outside world. The dwarves slaughter several lumbering humanoids whose flesh has begun to rot. Then the smell hits you. A wave of nausea passes over your senses and you look to your surroundings. Thousands of corpses are piled about the plaza in mounds that reach heights of fifteen feet or more. A small lane between the mounds of dispatched undead leads to the far end and the road to Oldtown.

Fort check for everyone.

A surly dwarf comes lumbering up, clearly tired and spent from many days without sleep. His armor is bent and in need of repairs. Claw marks have scared his breastplate, but he holds his helm proudly and makes a wide grin as he approaches. "So, let me see then, who is in charge amongst you?" Quickly sizing up each of you, he turns to Thomas. "I'm guessing your the healer. You look the type. We're in pretty fine shape here with the priests of Mylesar." He beats his chest three times with a clinched fist. "But I certainly appreciate the offer." His eyes turn to Maddok, "You look beefy, son... what business did you have in the city? It's rough out there and we can't protect you."

"Most disturbing, indeed. I dunna know what Blood of Fire is, but it sounds like Dragon's Fire. And I've no clue who their muther is, but I'm sure she's even uglier than my cousin, Bryburl! Haha! Now, our font is sacred to our traditions and is part of our rights of burial. However, the goblins sent most of their reinforcements to take the alchemist's fire. We 'eld them off and drove them back beyond our halls. I dunna think they were focused on our crypt, but I'm glad you were hear to defeat them." Katadante nudges the body of the goblins with his foot. "They do seem to be growin' them larger, don't they..."

"The Emerald Guard took a large hit when we regained the Alchemist's Guild and had to be reinforced with the Ruby Guard. So, while we won... there won't be a feast tonight. There is still much to be done. Our guard on the lower levels have reported that the goblins have fallen back from the frontlines down there, ever since the battle. If you want to make for the catacombs and find a way to the Mountain Tower, tonight is probably your best bet. Grymdor will lead you as far as he can. I've asked him to return to us with a scouting report about what you find. Also, I've had some provisions left for you back in the temple with your other gear." Katadante bows low then thumps his chest twice with a clenched fist. "Thank you... May the gods protect you and should you fall in battle, may Jolnar embrace you with the welcome arms of a mighty warrior."

"So, I hear you did well... eighteen goblins, eh? And a couple of casters among them?"

Malthazir listens to the plans with a frown. "You sound unsure of this intel. Do we expect any undead down there along with the goblins? What about any other kind of enemies?"

"There have been no signs of undead amongst them goblins, nor any other creature for that matter. Could they have summoned or raised the undead? I suppose so, but that is not their way. They carry fire and ash along with their ill-forged steel. Most of them are pure warriors, but you may find a caster amongst them."

"I too thank you for your hospitality. I should be able to use those scrolls. I'm very pleased that so many of you survived the storm. It gives me hope for other communities. Do you believe it was because you are underground?"

Sorry if I missed any questions. I'm on my phone at times, and may inadvertently miss things. Poke me, remind me, smack me or otherwise get my attention. Thanks!

Retcon

"Aye, we think so. When the shaping happened the whole world was ripped apart and put back together. Anything on the surface seems to have been more at risk. Since we were underground, most of our damage occurred due to cave-ins and the collapsing of some structures. Although we did lose a number of men that were on duty outside of the gate on the Commons." Katadante replies to Niyut.

"From what Klagor and the other priests have been able to discover, the undead consuming the city is purely a result of a mortal's soul being sucked out by the rift while the body remains here on Malta... I suppose the same could happen if the body was sucked into the rift but the soul remained here... although I have no idea what that would do... these questions are probably more in Klagor's wheelhouse."

"Aye, I saw her with Klagor a couple hours back. They were headed towards down the Dragon Road. But I dunna know where she is now. As for the Crypt, it's a sacred place for sure. But, I wouldn't be nervous of any tomb robbers, we dwarves would no sooner bury a fine weapon with our brethren, then with all the riches in the world. No, you'll find no treasure there, nor will you find any traps. However, the spirits of our ancestors lie there, and that we canna have disturbed."

He looks up at the young human with a smirk, "The goblins, on the other hand... to the victors goes the spoils! That's the saying, ain't it?" The dwarf slaps Garidan on the back with a hearty laugh.

When the group is ready, Klagor leads them back to the Dragon Road and to a meeting hall on the far side. Thirty dwarven warriors clad in armor have assembled. Each has the same dragon emblem engraved upon their helms, but each bears a different crest upon their breastplate. Within each crest, a gem is set; either a ruby, a sapphire or an emerald. Four other dwarves clad in leather armor can be seen grouped together near the entrance to the hall. At the far side, you see Katadante talking with three of the warriors. He looks up, when Klagor enters the hall with the group in tow, and waves to the priest of Jolnar.

"ALRIGHT, LISTEN UP!" he shouts as the roar of the assembled warrios dies down. "For those of you who haven't been sent to the frontlines yet, the goblins have infiltrated the Eastgate from the North-Central Passage, and they have set up barracades just inside entrance. We know they have taken the Hall of Mourning and have likley entered the Crypt, but we don't believe they have breached the Alchemist's Guildhall. The route from Brimbor's Tower has collapsed, so our only option is to storm the North-Central Passage entrance." A look of anticipation can be seen amongst the dwarves with the mention of the battle ahead.

"Any questions? No. Good."

"The Diamond Guard has the goblins currently pinned down at the entrance. When the signal is given, the Ruby and Emerald Guards will storm the entrance from the West. You will be able to approach to within one hundred feet under partial concealment from the debris of the cave-in before you are exposed. Once inside, the Ruby Guard will go right to the Hall of Mourning, and the Enerald Guard will go left toward the Alchemist's Guild. You are to secure these locations as fast as possible.

As they are going through the entrance, the Sapphire Guard will come from the south with ladders to take the upper balcony. Your job is to clear the upstairs and link up with Ruby and Emerald. Each Guard will have their scout on site."

"Finally, the um... Outsider's will enter and follow the Ruby Guard. Once the goblins in the Hall of Mourning are engaged, the five of you," Katadante points to you and for the first time you notice that Elannaris is not with you, "will enter the crypt and secure it. Grymdor will be your scout."

"The goblins don't honor the ancient ways! No quarter will be asked for nor is to be given. Understood?"

A lone warrior steps forward, "Sir... what's the signal?"

Katadante smiles, "Master Dtukk has a surprise for these goblins! You'll know it when you see it. Now, form up and move out. We attack inside the hour!"

"Right then, meet me back on the Dragon Road in three hours time for a briefing. Get some rest, get some food, and say a prayer to whomever you worship." Katadante rises from the cot and gives the party a bow. "Until tonight."

He begins to lumber away when he stops suddenly and turns to look at Elannaris. His gaze is penetrating and the young elf recoils from his stare "I'm sorry, young miss. You remind me of a gnome I once knew... just the way you hold yourself... and the way you fidget with your hands... I... no,nevermind..." He bows even lower to Elannaris and departs.

"Well, lad, most of us have lived here all our lives and have no need for maps. So, I dunna think I can find ya a complete map of the Eastgate, but I can give ya a living map! HAHA!" the grizzly warrior laughs. "I'll send a guide with ya, at least as far as the lower caverns. Very few of us have every set foot down there. I wouldn't think that a map exists of that area. I can tell ya that at one time our ancestors built structures that deep, but we sealed off those caverns over two hundred years ago. No telling what ya will find down there. As for the Mountain Tower once you climb it back to the surface, ya'll find yourself within four hundred yards of the gate... and hopefully a hundred our more of our brethren to help you out."

He doesn't directly answer the question about scavenging as most of the inhabitants of the Eastgate survived. Only those that died in cave-ins or subsequent fighting with the 'nasties' have perished. There is little abandoned in the complex.

"We can set ya up with some rations and old Klagor here said he had some scrolls. I'll check with Dtukk, he may have something for you," he nods in Malthazir's direction. "As for wands, Dtukk has one of his own, but I'm afraid it'd take a dragon to pry it out of that dwarf's hand. HAHA!"

Listening to Malthazir's talk of an alliance, he stops a moment and looks at the dwarven cleric, raising a eyebrow. Klagor eyes narrow as though he's listening to Katadante tell him something. Finally, the cleric nods at Katadante. "Since the "Shaping", the dwarf makes imaginery quote marks with his hands, "we've had three major collapses inside the Eastgate. The last one happened about two miles from here. Waves of goblins have been attacking out of the ruins. The Shaping must have moved a colony of them very close to us. We are mounting an offensive tonight against them. They have cut us off from our alchemists' supplies... and more importantly... our crypt. We could use your talents with this raid. Help us and we'll supply you as best we can."

After the group recovers from their injuries, Katadante comes striding into the temple. He speaks briefly with Klagor, who points out where he has set up your beds. Katadante nods, and the two dwarves approach.

"Well then... so, ya say that Alaquendai has sent ya on a mission, did he? I'm glad to hear that the old buzzard is still alive after the calamity that has befallen upon us! I won't ask what he has ya doin'... I know wizards can be a bit secretive... but he obviously sent ya 'ere for a reason. To help us or to go beyond us? Cause if ya tryin' to get through the mountain pass... well, ya have a challenge before ya."

An acolyte approaches the group and gives Katadante a drink which he gladly takes. The old dwarf looks around a moment, then picks out a spot on one of the cots to sit before continuing. "Ya see, when the world was ripped apart, it's opened up the surface to a great many beasties that have lied buried deep within the world since it was formed. I've just now seen terrors that I'd never imagined, not even in my darkest dreams."

"The Dragon Road, which passes beneath the mountains, canna be taken... at least not straight away. About halfway through, the tunnel collapsed. We've tried to make our way through the lower levels of the Eastgate, but, well... that is where we found the nasties! I have a whole legion of men about four levels below us, holding them off for now. I can get ya to the fifth level... to a service tunnel... it leads to some of our supply vaults and beyond. From there, you'll need to make yer way through the lower caverns until ya find the footings of the Mountain Tower. That tower will take ya back near the surface and the exit of the Eastgate."

"Bah! We'll hold'em off!"

Katadante looks to the north and points to a balding dwarf. "There's Klagor. He'll take you below and patch you right up. I shan't be long."

Turning his attention back to the defenses, Katadante shouts orders for the gate to be open and his foot soldiers to attack. "Destroy them all!"

Across the chamber, the balding dwarf waves for you to follow him and then turns to exit down a wide passage leading north out of the main causeway.

"Dtukk will take out most o' them, and my warriors will finish off the rest! Besides, ya look a little battle weary... we've called for the priest. He'll take you to the makeshift infirmary that'd be setup in the Temple. When I can spare a moment, I'll come talk with ya."

As he speaks a bright red glow from the vaulted ceiling illuminates the area. Looking up you see the underside of a walkway that leads into the outer-wall above the entrance. The glow grows in intensity and seems to travel toward the entrance. As it moves along, you see the upper walkways and balconies more clearly. Dozens of dwarves scamper about above you, then you hear Dtukk shout, "FIRE!!!" As the glow disappears into the outer-wall, you hear several of them roar in delight.

You can quite easily guess that the walkway above is actually a chute delivering a large quantity of alchemist's fire to be poured from the dragon's mouth engulfing anything that may try to approach.

"DTUKK, How many breathes do we have left?"

"Secure the Gate! Crossbowman to your slits!" Katadante begins shouting orders. Dwarves of all ages can be seen scrambling about the main passage. "Dtukk! Is the Dragon loaded and ready?!"

"I'd suggest movin' inside quickly. Where there's a few o' them, there's bound to be more."

"ALRIGHT!" The helmed dwarf reappears at the window. "Ya can come inside... but no funny business! I 'ave two hundred warriors in these halls that will tear ya limb from limb if ya try anythin'."

Slowly, the great doors to the Eastgate open and a lone dwarf strides confidently from the opening, followed by a squad of dwarves armed with crossbows. While the soldiers take defensive positions guarding against more undead approaching, the dwarf approaches.

"Greetings! I'm Katadante Ironhelm, Commander of the Dragongaurd and Defender of the Eastgate. You arrival is unexpected but welcome. Let's get this cart movin' before more of them undead arrive. They ARE expected!"

"So... who are ya? And how'd ya survive?"

Valjoen_KC's cleric here!

Updated my crunch and added a little background info... I'll write more tonight if possible.