(Following the "downtime" after Jarlmoot: Circle of Thrones and building from Dwarven Aspirations)
Strange Reunion
To practice her newly-learned spell Sending, Alyks Askaria checks in on h'Rothgar, who had split with the party just before the misadventure at the Northlook Tavern in Bryn Shander
(see Unwelcome in Bryn Shander).
Alyks to h'Rothgar (25 words):
Greetings, friend h'Rothgar, we have learned much about the everlasting winter mystery. Might we meet with you in Bryn Shander or Easthaven and catch up?
h'Rothgar to Alyks (25 words):
Moradin be praised, friend Alyks, I must warn great danger will soon come to Ten Towns. Come to Easthaven. I will try to meet you. Beware of Duergar Grey Dwarves.
The exchange leads to assembling the team for its first visit to the odd town of Easthaven. Travel is fairly swift (about 8 hours) on the road between Bryn Shander and Easthaven is paved, though still snowy, unlike all the other roads and paths previously explored. Easthaven is about half the size of Bryn Shander, but the fastest-growing of the Ten Towns. Almost immediately one peculiarity stands out - signs and diagrams on the streets and within shops and taverns clearly warning "Watch thy pouch!" (which is explained as a warning regarding the town's tradition upheld from the town's founding centuries ago by retiring professional thieves from a land far to the south: pickpocketing is legal here!)
The plan is for Thor (Dex's cat familiar) and Loki (Alyks' raven familiar) to search through the town and spot the heavily-armored dwarven cleric h'Rothgar, then lead him to where the party will gather for a meal and drinks and swapping adventure stories.
Feeling deserving of a bit of luxury with the hard work and recent successes in gaining gold and silver coins, the locals (Phantom, Aelar, and Agaric) unanimously recommend eating at "Banrock’s Mithral Pot", a tavern famous even outside Icewind Dale. Visitors from as far away as Baldur's Gate come here to try Banrock’s pottage, which the dwarf cooks in his signature pot. Running the tavern is a labor of love for Banrock, who could retire on the value of his mithral cookware alone, but the plump, ruddy-faced dwarf would rather spend his days cheerfully bustling from booth to booth chatting with travelers. His longest-standing customer is a wizard from Blackstaff Tower in Waterdeep, who comes to the tavern every solstice to renew the wards that protect the kitchen against thieves—and, of course, to sample the pottage (stew).
The tavern’s common room is striking, with distinctive dark wood paneling and cozy booths to wait with mouth watering for the food whose scrumptious smell tantalizes from the moment the doors open. Additionally, a sense of confident security can be felt, supporting the story told of the Blackstaff wizard's warding protections. The (expensive) food does not disappoint - it is warm and hearty and worth every coin. The atmosphere is light-hearted and respectful - the customers here do not likely suffer the hardships of most all of the other townspeople the group has met, who struggle day to day.
The corner booth is beside two large iron-paned windows without any hint of a draft, and tinted to offer privacy. Despite this, a scrawny and ragged-looking crow persistently taps the glass during the appetizers. A waiter shoos away the nuisance before returning to serve the main course. As the group enjoys the leisurely main course, an equally starved-looking alley cat stares in with an expression surely paired with sounds of a growling stomach, becoming even more exasperated as the party eagerly orders dessert and savors it with no hurry, continuing to wait on h'Rothgar.
Soon after finally departing the feast, the lanky cat defiantly interposes itself in the party's path, following a tiny roar with sarcastic "Well I hope you enjoyed yourselves" comment spoken in a perfectly duplicated voice of h'Rothgar. At least some in the party feel a sudden pang of guilt, having just unintentionally tormented their friend and traveling companion. The cat insists the group find a room in an inn far from the town's frozen wharf, and then within the safety and privacy of its rooms - stories are shared.
Dark Depths of the Duergar (Day 5)
The Dwarf's Tale: h'Rothgar shares what he has experienced with the Sewer-side Squad as told in Dwarven Aspirations and works with the wizards to sketch the map of Sunblight Stronghold from memory. The dwarf-in-cat indicates urgency as he has only 4 days after this one to ride the creatures and guide the rescue party. The party forms a plan and makes haste on the rescue expedition south to the Spine of the World mountains...
The Bard's Gambit: Zaknalimar will lead a troupe of performers offering to entertain the Sunblight-Muzgardt festivities. He can employ a Bard magical "Magnificent Performance" to give the other performers (even if amateur) his own exceptional skill (+9 Performance). This will provide both a means to enter the fortress via the mountain pass as well as a distraction to allow others in the party to sneak down to the dungeon to free h'Rothgar and Vellynne Harpell. (And perhaps find their gear as well.)
The Godmother: The matriarch of the Muzgardt Clan is reputedly shrewd, calculating and from h'Rothgar 's recollections far more interested in commerce (trade - in particular the export of the clan's famous Darklake Ale) than in conflict, let alone conquest (it's all "bad for business"). She runs the clan not unlike "the mafia" - with ruthlessness, but also sensible focus. This leads h'Rothgar to believe she would not be supportive of the mad scheming of Xardorok and his plans for the Sunblight Clan to attack the Ten Towns.
Tools and Talents:
- Sneaking: use of Invisibility and magic such as Familiars (Thor and Loki), Clairvoyance, Disguise Self, and Eerie Token from the wizards.
- Unlocking: use of Knock by Alyks or Shatter by Zak or strength by Phantom.
- Mobility: Misty Step (Dex), Fly/Raven Queen's Blessing (Sudon), animal riding (h'Rothgar), and Wall/Ceiling Symbiote Walking (Phantom).
- Escape: (Mobility options) plus Zak has the Warden's Harper's Pin which can do the group teleport to Bryn Shander.
Provisions and Planning (Day 4)
The team purchases the needed supplies for the expedition, including dogsleds, food, costumes, and climbing gear over the course of the day. Easthaven has proven a reasonably adequate location to find the gear and assemble the plan. While the others are haggling with merchants and pulling things together, Alyks and h'Rothgar attempt to reach Grandolpha Muzgardt through him tying himself to the raven Loki as knowing her and having casting ability for Sending - but through Alyks' casting.
To Grandolpha: Grandolpha Muzgardt Matriarch, minstrel at door brings Xumina's son, who implores your ear, Xardorok's intentions are false, chardalyn horde suspicious, please help, Darklake must flow.
From Grandolpha: Well met friend, Muzgardt Clan well aware of dire situation. Assessing options. Turncoat Sunblights will help. Speak "Darklake must flow". Sunblights now expecting minstrel troupe.
Plans: Across the Ice (Day 3) and Arrival (Day 2)
The weather is neither helpful nor uncooperative as the expedition sets off early in the day. The journey will be just over 15 miles to reach the climb to the mountain pass, crossing icy river flows of the Redwaters twice. Camp is pitched as Day 3 ends and a frigid wind cuts down from the mountains. Day 2 begins with a still and clear morning aurora, up the slope to reach the "front door" to Sunblight Stronghold mid-day. h'Rothgar will have the remainder of this day and all of the next until sometime just before dawn the following day (Tarsakh 29th), when his spirit will return to his body in the dungeon.
(All) Escape Plans/Backup where to meet if separated?:
- (Zak) Warden's Harper's Pin (group teleport to Bryn Shander)
- (h'Rothgar) Into Underdark? (passage from dungeon level)
- (Sudon) Fly / Raven Queen's Blessing
- (Dex) Misty Step / Vortex Warp
Distraction / Entertainment Plan: Zak as self, Dex (Disguise Self) as Drow: music / storytelling / performances (enhanced with Bardcraft, Magnificent Performance, Rockstar). h'Rothgar as spider companion to Zak. Odin-familair as (blue) bat.
Invisibility (scroll for Aelar) + (Alyks-cast spell for Phantom, Alyks, and Sudon) - spy / seek out dungeon to find h'Rothgar's body.
(Next: Sunblight Stronghold )