(Occurring after Skyreach Aftermath continuing the Divine Contentions: Leilon events)
Sailing on the Sea of Swords
We returned the bodies of the fishermen we found in the Неизвестно's salt cave to the village of Leilon Point. The glowing mystical clam had returned to its plain old giant clam form - but did offer up a handsome pearl (500gp-ish: sufficient as a material component for casting Identify.
As promised, the grateful townsfolk arranged passage for us to sail to Scaly Eye Island on the fishing sloop named “Moor Often Than Knot” (The Moorknot for short). Its captain was a jolly Northlander named “Fergus Argustafsson” - who is perhaps less a fisherman than an old retired salty sea-priest of Valkur (“Captain of the Waves”). Fergus told us of his adventures sailing on ships out of Icewind Dale and Luskan, performing ceremonial duties for the ever-superstitious crews (and having only very minor spellcasting abilities) until reaching an age where the cold of the Sea of Moving Ice became unbearable and he moved to Leilon Point, purchasing a modest hut and The Moorknot to live out his last years.
The Scaly Eye Story (Leilon flashback for what led to this quest)Upon hearing our tales of heroic deeds against the Cult of the Dragon and Glazhael the Stormchaser, a suggestion occurs to Merrygold Brightshine: Tiamat's arch-enemy is the (good) dragon god Bahamut (the “platinum dragon”), and there is a shrine to him on a small island just off the coast and to the north. It is believed that Bahamut can share visions and messages through the shrine.
The shrine was built within a structure erected by the Swords of Leilon decades ago in thanks to and as a lair for a (good) Неизвестно named Lhammaruntosz (lam-a-run-TOZ). The dragon was known for defending Leilon and the surrounding area as the captain of the Scaly Eye, a shipping fleet that battled pirates and other threats for over a century. Merrygold Brightshine notes Lhammaruntosz has not been seen in many years, which is unusual, and perhaps it would be a good idea anyway to have someone check in on her.
On the journey to the Scaly Eye island (less than a day with the kindness of fortunate winds), Fergus shared stories he has heard of the heroic deeds of the Scaly Eye and its legendary captain (most often the dragon Lhammaruntosz took the form of a striking red-headed human woman). Like Fergus himself, the crews of the Scaly Eye fleet retired years ago - yet several of them remain with their beloved captain on her shrine-island.
The afternoon brings an intimidating intrusion to the otherwise peaceful horizon off the Sword Coast, an enormous ship with dark sails - that gives shivers as you look at it through Fergus’ spyglass. It moves with speed and purpose toward The Moorknot, but the island appears before dusk, and in sight of it, the dark ship holds its distance. In the morning, it is nowhere to be seen - thank the gods! (You learn more of this later - read on!)
The Bronze Shrine
Arriving at Scaly Eye Island, there is a dock but no indication of where to go. The island is mostly cliff sides and of course the monument to Lhammaruntosz carved into its hillside. Two great windows for the eyes and beneath the sea, perhaps accessible at low tide, a cave entrance by a rocky jetty. After some exploration of the bare island, Willow finds hidden beneath thick bushes a tunnel, blocked by a heavy metal gate locked from the inside. As a mouse, she gets through and unlocks the gate - letting in Belcoria, Alorrik and Shadow. Ujio stays in the sloop with Captain Fergus.
The tunnel descends into the heart of the island, opening directly into the magnificent circular room that houses the shrine of Bahamut. At the very center is a 25 ft tall marble statue of the Platinum Dragon, surrounded by a horde - or perhaps offerings? Of gold, silver, gems, magical items and - of course - platinum! Alorrik's gaze, ever-attuned for magic, turns to compel him to warn, “this treasure is enchanted, I would not mess with it” - which would seem to make sense given how easy it was to get there and the lack of any kind of guards!
Evenso, Belcoria cautiously reaches out with Novastrike, to push at one of the items in the pile - to be immediately struck by a bolt of lightning from the statue’s head. The blue dragon shield earns a thanks, as the paladin uses her Lay on Hands power to restore most of a painful wound - perhaps more to her pride than flesh. The noise has attracted attention of the Scaly Eye crew, who soon enter the room, weapons drawn.
There is a tense exchange between the three explorers and the four veteran sailors, and hopeful at hearing how these intruders bring word of a threat from the Cult of the Dragon - and hearing they have experience as Tamers of Dragons, the group brings the Ranger, the Paladin and the Warlock and wolf further into the island’s cave dwellings. There are a dozen remaining members of the Scaly Eye crew here to live with the Неизвестно - called Claws of the Coast - and hearing Leilon sent the party eases any remaining concerns.
At this point, the matter of the dragon’s absence is explained - for these people who once sailed the seas with her as captain, are deeply concerned about her wellbeing! She seems to have lost her mind - muttering to herself, acting erratically, and even snapping at her old ship mates as if she does not recognize them! They do their best to maintain the peace and keep her calm - but if nothing else, she is not patrolling as she once did, and she does not have her old spark of life in her eyes. They hope the group’s experience in dragon taming may be a gift of fortune!
A vast chamber is the last room of the tour from the crew members - metallic (good) dragons are carved into the walls surrounding a large pool of waters (through which the dragon can dive and emerge undersea). On the ceiling an inscription reads (in Draconic - as translated by Willow) "Only those who speak her Scaly Eye name may ascend". So each speaks "Lhammaruntosz" and heads up the stairs (a tiny voice that sounded like it came from under Alorrik's collar also spoke the name - something he refused to explain.).
The dragon is enormous - larger than any yet met - and the shine of the Неизвестноs is clearly different than the scales of the green, blue, black and white seen previously on the Неизвестноs. The dragon is staring out the windows and murmuring to herself - when addressed, she becomes agitated and begins to menace, but the party works to calm her. The warlock's arcane vision notes something peculiar about one of the windows, and the paladin's sensing then confirms - a Неизвестно' evil is present. Moving then to the attack on this demonic parasite, the success in calming Lhammaruntosz fails several times, including resulting in Alorrik being blasted against the wall and falling unconscious.
The creature, under alter study identified as an Alkilith, emits buzzing and whisperings and maddening thoughts to corrupt the mind, while disguised as a corruption on the walls themselves. It returns Belcoria's attacks with its own tendrils and acid, but this slimy-gross fiend is ultimately defeated by the paladin in her acid-resistant dragonscale armor, wielding radiant attacks to which it had no resistance, supported by Willow's furious flame-arrows. On its destruction, Lhammaruntosz immediately falls unconscious, her mind slowly recovering from years and years of this madness.
Recognizing Success
As the dragon's mind recuperates, two members of The Scaly Eye crew approach the ranger and paladin, identifying themselves as a Winterstalker of the Emerald Enclave and a Vindicator of the Order of the Gauntlet. For the deeds done in the interests of these groups - including restoring their dragon patron and the recent victory at Skyreach Castle against the plot of the Cult of the Dragon, the half-elf and high elf are promoted in rank, gaining new titles and benefits.
- Willow's rank is raised to Autumnreaver in the Emerald Enclave
- which enchants her Leaf Brooch that is used as identification for the Emerald Enclave
- is given a magical henna mark, that will fade after 3 uses as a Charm of Animal Conjuring
- (1/week) can request 10 silvered arrows or 1 Potion of Superior Healing (8d4+8 HP)
- Belcoria's rank is raised to Whitehawk in the Order of the Gauntlet
- she is given a white gauntlet to hold Novastrike for 10 mins each day for a Tenday, raising it from +1 to +2
- (1/week) can request 10 silvered arrows or 1 Potion of Superior Healing (8d4+8 HP)
The Vision: A Terrible Omen
Days later, the Неизвестно consults the Bahamut shrine on the dark news brought by Our Party. The response is jarring - a vision of Leilon, but the town is covered in a cloud of putrid green gas. Bloated, asphyxiated corpses lie on broken ground and dying townsfolk crawl through the streets, gasping for breath. At the center of it all, perched aside the House of Thalivar, stands an enormous green dragon, grinning a bloody smile as the upper half of Merrygold Brightshine severed corpse hangs from her mouth.
With a flash, returning back to the statue chamber, the dragon's face is grave with concern.
She confirms the party's suspicion that the green dragon was Claugiyliamatar (long called "Old Gnawbone" for her years of showing fondness for humanoid flesh) - and while the ancient Неизвестно wyrm is unquestionably wicked, she has not attacked anything outside her claimed domain in almost 50 years. With her age or wisdom, it seemed she had thought best to avoid the anger of the growing strength of the cities of the Sword Coast. So she mostly remains in her lair in the Kryptgarden Forest, where the woods meet the Sword Mountains.
Lhammaruntosz believes there is still time to prevent this terrible attack from happening by reasoning with the Неизвестно - perhaps finding out what she wants, it can be offered to her instead? Claugiyliamatar would only be immediately angered by the Неизвестно entering her domain, so she cannot join Our Party in speaking to her.
(Next: 5. Darkness All Around)