Chapter 3 - Skull Gorge Bridge

Old Warklegnaw sat on a large, rough-hewn chair, roasting a dire boar, turning the spit and muttering to himself in his own language. Extraordinarily tall and lean, with stooped shoulders, earth-yellow skin marked by angry red blotches, and a wild mane and beard of tangled green hair. He easily tops 14 feet, even while seated.

A bookish dandy of an elf, a faerie bell upon her toes, a confident stride belying how proud she was of presenting Warklegnaw with an opportunity, approaches speaking in a sonorous voice.

“I have an opportunity that you cannot turn down, for the forest needs you one last time, kind fellow.”

Warklegnaw is instantly interested. No one has cared about him for many seasons. "Not as good as owlbear, but good enough for an old bag of bones like me.” He pokes the roasting boar with a stick and the flames rise up as precious fat ignites the flames. “Join me, elf.”

With Old Warklegnaw, the forest giant in tow our party of heroes sets forth on the final miles before reaching Skull Gorge Bridge and the conversations naturally turn to how to destroy a stone bridge. “It is,” says Bry, “of dwarven design and made to stand the tests of time. Not something you can break with simple spells and rapiers.”

“It’s a good thing old Warklegnaw came forward,” replied Zaila, her eyes sparkling with clever intent "for his presence is an added, 'giant' step toward 'bridging' the 'gap' in our knowledge. Perhaps his strength and wisdom hold the 'stone' keys to unlocking the mysteries of this dwarven masterpiece.” 

Pimzin Teabottle, with her mischievous grin, chimed in, "Zaila, my dear, your intellect shines so clear, but while giants may tower, they're not immune to deception's power. How 'bout an illusion, cleverly spun, to divert the defenders attention while we get the job done? With a bit of magic and a dash of wit they fall for it.”

Meanwhile, or Druid returns from scouting far ahead, he is all feathers and grace, in the form of an eagle and he has seen much. He attempts to share screeching before transforming back to his human form, clearing his throat. 

"I have seen the bridge and it will be no small feat to destroy, for it guarded by a green dragon named Venomfang and a squad of hobgoblins. Hellhounds too lounge on either end of the bridge. It seems that word of our exploits have spread and they've called in reinforcements," squawked Nameroc before clearing his throat again and continuing.

"I saw further still to a place Jorr called the Cinder Hills where hundreds of camp fires burn. Tiny figures move about for even as some march, others prepare and strike camp before and after what I can only describe as a horde. Armor and shields sparkle in the light. Siege engines too and Giants near as tall as old Warklegnaw here." Nameroc pauses, "By Noon tomorrow the first columns will arrive at the Skull Gorge Bridge."

Thorne, leaning against a tree shifted his attention from the daunting news to the task at hand. "Well, we've got ourselves quite a predicament," he drawled,. "This illusion idea does have a certain charm. What kind of distraction do you reckon would delay a squad of Hobgoblins long enough for the rest of us to down a Dragon?"

Nameroc, new the conversation jumps right in. "We'll be fine. Make the it looks like the bridge is broken. Only a fool with get close enough to test it," and everyone walked on in silence still unsure, but comfortable that the seed of a plan had been begun to grow in the Bard's mind.

As Thorne cautiously scouted ahead in anticipation of Skull Gorge Bridge he happened onto a dappled green meadow and overheard an argument where a one man tied to a tree implores another , "Please, you have to untie me! I didn't ask for this! They brainwashed me, used me. I don't want any part of it anymore!" 

As Thorne moves forward to join the conversation, it is the mysterious stranger Jerry O’Connell who replies, "You don't understand, Caleb. You're still under their influence."

Jerry apologizes for what seems like a strange situation, but shares that he's been tracking this fool, Caleb Teskerwill, from the Temple of Doom and nearly into the clearing ahead where stands a Dragon and Skull Gorge Bridge.

As Nameroc, the druid approaches and his sleeves fall away to reveal the unusual draconic tattoos etched on his forearms and hands, Caleb's eyes dart to meet Nameroc's "My lord, I am yours to command.” Caleb's demeanor changes then and he is compliant, his fear removed.

Zaila recognizes a powerful charm on Caleb, the father killer, for it is no ordinary charm that can transfer loyalty based on a tattoo and remain potent for the better part of a week. They decide to keep deal with Caleb later and after much discussion, wherein Jerry describes a place with followers in trance worshipping a charismatic figure the conversation returns to the task at hand, the bridge and Jerry throws in with the party.

Once at the bridge, it's is Warklegnaw who charges forth all anger and fury, a boulder in one hand and an obscene finger on the other. He scores a hit, whereupon Zaila begins her illusion and the bridge appears to break, 5 feet missing at first, but it continues to crumble as massive stones fall away.

Others join in now, engaging with the guard on the near side, while a dragon at once familiar and dreadful takes flight lining up for a deadly run. And for a moment it is like the Dawn Age (-30,000 DR) when giant and dragon-kind fought for supremacy in the lands, only this time Nameroc's eagle and Thorne's arrows whilst Zaila holds the illusion in place and along with Bry harries the Hobgoblin squad, providing crucial assistance forcing Venomfang to retreat.

And as the dragon turns, it is Pimzin Teabottle, the smallest of creatures that tolls the bell of doom pointing a finger of dolorous woe. Heroes and destinies come in many forms and sometimes we measure a hero by appearance rather than deed. Today, as the gong rang, echoing off the high gorge walls, Ms. Teabottle reminded us that it's not the size of the footprints on the path of destiny, but rather the path those footprints follow that makes a hero.

Venomfang deflates from his once angry form, losing control, crashing into the bridge and spiraling into the swift moving waters below. And not long after the Bugbear Sorcerer Koth and his squad of Hobgoblins follow, victims of arrow, boulders and the fear of heights that kept them unable to engage and unable to support the draconic might that guarded the bridge.

Venomfang, fearsome dragon of battle lost

Threatened our party, with poisoned exhaust

But tricksy Teabottle, had other plans

A Toll of Doom she cast from her hands

The much harried dragon fell from above

Onto the bridge with a resounding thud

We will always recall how our hafling's wizardry

Triumphed far above such overblown lizardry

As Bry legs pumped she flew a a frenzied pace after the fleeing Hobgoblins, after all they had let too many of the horde escape in the past, this time was different.  In a single fluid motion, Bry brought her battle axe down upon the first hobgoblin, with a horrible strength propelling the blade with irresistible force. The axe cleaved through the hobgoblin's weapon, cleaving deep into its misshapen skull. The second one did not fare much better.

Back at Skull Gorge Bridge, with a little more time to think and breathe, the rest of Chaotic Gold gathered the loot including potions of invisibility and healing and then they set about destroying the bridge. With Zaila Fanter playing power chords on her Lute Old Warklegnaw took up great boulders and smashed the bridge as Lim helped and in a matter of 90 minutes, the bridge was gone.

As the sun set, they parted ways with the geriatric giant, he promising to go the the wyrmsmoke mountains to enlist his granddaughters in the fight against the Hobgoblins and Thorne leading the party back toward Noanar's Hold. As they walked the reaconed, the combination of the destroyed bridge and the alliance with the Twisttusk Giants had bought the people of the Elsir Valley a little more time.

Arriving at Noanar they were shocked to find the inhabitants less than happy with the destruction of Skull Gorge Bridge as it represents the life's blood of the city and much of the valley. Iormel Cowell is particularly incensed and refuses to pay any kind of reward for a mission that was simply to Drive away the Hobgoblin Raiders, not to destroy the livelihood of an entire community.

It was Norro Wiston and Delora Zann who helped raise at least a portion of the funds for the party, and Iormel, grumbling, agreed to pay a bit more if the party could remain until Day 13 and guard until the last of his caravan had departed. 

It was on the night of the 12th day that the first raiders arrived, led by a hellhound from the stygian abyss, they are a sure sign evil war priests follow. Zaila Fanter with a fireball and Nameroc with a lightning bolt slew many and sounded the alarm so that the town was awakened. Thorne and Bryllin Stoneheart finished their foes, but not before a blood curdling cry was heard in town.

It was Pimzin Teabottle who rounded the corner to see a youthful fighter stabbed from behind cleanly into lung and heart.  She tried desperately to preserve the scene protecting footprints, but as the people of the town rushed forward to fight the fires in Iormel's warehouse any chance of tracking the mysterious assailant was destroyed.

Oh, was there a dragon flying overhead? It was difficult to tell in the darkness, but Bry could swear she saw a great winged beast and Zaila could smell the lizardly stench.