(Picks up from: Dungeon & Dragon)
The master illusionist Dzaan held in the jail of Termalaine, accused of recklessness if not murder of a group of beloved adventuring gnomes who had done several good deeds for the towns of Lonelywood and Termalaine. Dzaan, already under suspicion for (a) being from the Arcane Brotherhood and (b) Thayan, was further called a liar and hiding crucial information by a resident seer of Termalaine, Vedda Starsprit, was placed in irons and gagged, held while his story and fate would be considered.
His story does seem far-fetched, whether he is concealing more or not:
- Dzaan hires the gnome party called the Gnoobz to assist him in an expedition, departing from Termalaine last month (Alturiak).
- The party somehow ends up fighting a "contraption" (which he likens to a golem-machine) at a location he claims he cannot give, other than roughly east of Kelvin's Cairn.
- Dzaan and the artisan-gnome Spellix are the only survivors by the time the contraption is disabled - the other three gnomes have been killed.
- Dzaan and Spellix are in terrible shape and exhausted, and would have died except for being found by a goblin patrol.
- The goblins take them back to their fortress, called Karkolohk - but on the way, Dzaan gets enough power to alter their minds and Spellix is disguised as a heroic goblin chieftain.
- Spellix convinces the goblins he has come to lead them, as Chief Yarb-Gnock (means "ever-gnawing" in goblin).
- Yarb-Gnock has Dzaan released, carrying a message to Tarmalaine of a truce / joining forces to deal with this Red Yeti problem (see: The Red Yeti).
- But Yarb-Gnock would like to be rescued from this position, does not know how long he can keep up the disguise.
With the head of the Red Yeti, a group can gain an audience with Yarb-Gnock and attempt to assess the truth of Dzaan's story.
Result
Zaknalimar, Alyks Askaria, and Sudon take the head of the enormous Red Yeti up winding trail on the northeastern side of Kelvin's Cairn to the goblin fortress called Karkolohk. The head is brought ceremoniously on a Tenser's Floating Disk, as learned by Alyks from Astrix's spellbook. Enormously curious at the site of the beast's head, and knowing the "suicide mission" Dzaan was sent to suggest to the townsfolk, the goblins in the ambush canyons and watch towers allow the group entry to the fortress unharmed.
Hung as a sort of decoration against the wall of the inner courtyard, Alyks was very surprised to see something she had only read about in the histories of The Netheril, a magical-machine called a Shield Guardian. The thing was in bad shape, and clearly ancient and damaged, but a very out-of-place sight.
Brought before the goblin chieftain, a (sloppy) dinner is served and the goblins sent away for a private audience - where the party confronts Yarb-Gnock in disguise and hatches a plan with Spellix Romwod to escape. Alyks turns Spellix invisible and she and Zak employ Minor Illusion to spoof the chief's orders to open doors and such (Zak handling the visual, Alyks the voice). The ruse works well until reaching the courtyard, where a goblin witch named Manafek sounds the alarm, seeing through the illusions. (Note - Dzaan was a master illusionist - why did he not do all this but even better?)
The escape is successful, but only after significant magics are brought against the army of goblins assembling to respond to the alarm.
- Alyks uses Sleep on Manafek and the courtyard goblins (only the worg-rider attacks, engaged by Zak.)
- Sudon blots out vision and attacks from half the fortress with a Hunger of Hadar sphere.
- Alyks opens the main gate with a Knock spell and all begin to flee to the mountain pass.
- Sudon pulls archers from the towers with Thorn Whip, while Alyks bombs a watch tower with Fireball.
During the return to Termalaine, Alyks takes down notes on Spellix's story of the fate of the Gnoobz hired by Dzaan. (Read in the Gnoobz note).
(Alongside: Meanwhile)