Heading deeper into the fort the party discovered that the tunnels where the ghouls had come out of extended inwards. It seemed they had been dug by hand and did not match the constructed nature of the rooms they had been in prior. While it was quite short the party was able to slowly make their way further in, gagging at the foul air and various carrion that lay around. Finally the tunnel opened up to reveal a ghoul warren, a room that looked like it used to be a shrine for Abbathor, judging by the desecrated symbol of Moradin on a small shrine at the very least. Looking around, Siax found a small lock box that contained some coins and a healing potion. The only way forward from where they were was up a narrow staircase so they ascended, finding themselves back on the second floor but now on the south of the balcony that overlooked the main hall.
Turning around a corner they encountered what had been but a glimpse so far, a Banshee. The elven woman was spectral and hovered a few inches off the floor. Amazingly when the party approached her and spoke she answered, specifically when Siax spoke in Elvish. She was hostile and full of anger, mostly at herself and the hell she was trapped in. As the party tried to reasure her that they could work together to figure out a way to put her at rest however she snapped, her mouth extending horrifically as she started to scream. Thankfully, forewarned of the scream that killed and turned the Dwarfs of Axeholm, Pine was quick to act and remove all sound from the area. Thus the scream went from deadly to harmless. In desperation the banshee flew through the wall and away, wanting to be left alone.
Pursuing the way she went Idris opened a door only to be confronted with two hideous mounds of flesh that lunged at him. The numerous mouths on them constantly gibbered but thankfully Pine's spell was still ongoing and no one could hear what madness these things were saying. They were finally dispatched but not before they melted and distorted the very walls and floor, it's consistency turning akin to wet clay as long as these creatures were alive.
With no sign of the banshee the party turned back to investigate the various rooms that were in this side of the fort. The first one they found had two heavy sealed doors that, from Zenari putting her ear on the one of those, contained multiple ghouls. Leaving that one well alone the party tried the next door only to be rebuffed by the banshees voice. Since she had fled the opposite way Idris theorized that it may have been a second banshee, perhaps one of the mother and one for the daughter but there was no way to confirm that so they left that door alone aswell.
Finally, the party entered the third room, finding a well appointed chamber with a stone-framed bed complete with moldy mattress standing in the middle of it. On a rotten table they found another one of the voice crystals. It seemed the worshippers of Abbathor used these things quite regularly. Listening to it, while Siax stood guard at the door they heard a voice tinged with excitement which ran contrary to the screams that could be hear in the background of the recording.
Interesting. It is clear now that the wench turned into a banshee. I have heard of such tales, of elven women so overcome with grief that they mutate into such monsters. This may be a great opportunity. If I am able to retrieve the heart of the banshee and enclose it in something she cannot pierce - a cage made by the bones of the daughter perhaps? Not only will she stop this foolish attack but also have to serve my will forever more.
As the recording was playing Idris investigated the chimney, unfortunately provoking a flock of Stirges, massive mosquito like creatures. to stream out and attack him. Thankfully Pine and Zenari were able to kill them quickly, even going to the extent of burning their nests away. The blast of Pines attack had knocked the back of the fireplace off, revealing a secret room. Small and only containing a large chest. The chest did not have a traditional keyhole but instead had a perfectly circular indentation. Guessing that the chest was trapped the party left it alone for now and conferred about what they knew.
Focusing on their mission of clearing this place out for the villagers of Phandalin, they decided to open the heavy sealed doors. Doing so, revealed a horrifying sight, about twenty of the ghouls crammed in the small room, erupted out as the door was opened. Idris attempted to keep it closed but one of the creatures, this one seemingly sentient ordered the others to behave more tactically and they were able to overwhelm him, streaming out of the room to bite and attack the others. One by one the ghouls fell but the sentient one, the tatters of clothing on him and the heavy ring he wore marking him as having been someone important, was dangerous, striking deadly blows mostly directed towards Idris. Finally, Zenari projected an illusion of chains around the creature. It believing that they were real it relented and instead mocked the party. Idris told the others to spare him as he wished to interrogate the creature.
It seemed happy to talk, informing them that the banshee was a mother who had come to plead for the release of her daughter. The daughter had been imprisoned as the person she had been visiting Axeholm with, a bard known as Dalran Breezeholden, had stolen an artifact from the Dwarves, a thing called the arc stone rumored to be able to heal any ailment and turn anything into gold. He had fled into the night but the gaurds had captured his paramour and they intended to starve and torture her for the bards location. If that was not forthcoming then they would settle for her suffering and death.
The dwarves refused to release her and imprisoned the mother when she attacked them in an attempt to rescue her child. They placed the two in nearby cells so the mother could listen as the daughter starved to death. This is what is suspected to have turned the mother into a banshee. The ghast, for that's what it was, informed them that it had placed the heart of the banshee in the chest in it's room. The voice crystal there would provide enough information for them to use it to entrap her if that's what they wished to do. He dismissed their attempts at freeing her and told the she deserved to suffer. Idris took off his head with a swipe of his sword.
As they took a breather Idris attempted to give away the dagger he had found in the Shrine of Savras, finding that he was unable to do so. No matter what he did the dagger would appear sheathed at his belt in moments. At the same time Pine tried to see what he remembered about the Arcstone and the King of Axeholm. While the Arc stone's abilities matched fables of items called Philosopher's Stones (and an exceptionally powerful example of one) he had not heard anything specific about one being in these lands.
However he remembered tales about King Durgrim Stoneheart from his travels. A dwarf known as the King and Commander of Axeholm Keep he was a devout worshipper of Abbathor, the god of greed, and he believed that wealth and power were the keys to success. Durgrim was a shrewd and cunning leader who transformed Axeholm into a prosperous center of trade and commerce. Under his rule, the once isolated fortress became a bustling hub where merchants from all across the realm would come to trade and do business with the dwarven kingdom. Durgrim was known for his sharp business acumen and his ability to strike lucrative deals, which greatly enriched the coffers of Axeholm. Despite his effective rule in matters of trade and commerce, Durgrim was also known for his cruelty and ruthlessness. He ruled with an iron fist, using harsh tactics to maintain control over Axeholm and expand his wealth. He would often exploit the resources of the surrounding lands and use the local orc tribes as labour to fuel his growing empire. Durgrim's thirst for wealth and power led him to delve into dark and forbidden magics. He sought out ancient tomes and tapped into dark arcane knowledge, delving into the depths of the Underdark. It is unknown what he found there but since then he became known as Durgrim the Black, a feared and respected figure. That is, until Axeholm went quiet, the doors sealed for centuries.