Location: Gauntlgrym
after everyone has had some time for a reunion, Eldeth appears
- she welcomes Party to Gauntlgrym, passing out hugs
- she is here to escort Party to her father, who wishes to speak with them
- Skjorn impulsively asks if he's hot, and Eldeth (understandably) refuses to comment on the hotness of her own father
Eldeth escorts Party out of their guest house and into the streets
- as they walk through the Vault of Kings, she explains that this is where everyone lives and works
- she takes them all the way to the throne room, where King Bruenor Battlehammer II sits, and says, "Father, I have brought the adventurers."
- Mylz finally recognizes Eldeth as the little princess she saved many years ago from a drow kidnapping
- Party is shocked, immediately questioning her princess status and how they didn't know earlier
King Bruenor is friendly but serious, and asks Party to share their tale from Velkynvelve to Blingdenstone
- Party retells the story of their escape from the Underdark
- Party also shares all they know about the Demon Lords
- after all is said and done, King Bruenor says he will need to speak with his advisors before moving forward
to lighten things up, King Bruenor suggests taking Party on a tour
- he leads Party once again through the Vault of Kings, where the citizens are delighted to see him; he's clearly well-liked
- some people discreetly make faces at the drow, but are intimidated by the rest of the party, who are quite protective
they arrive at a station full of mine carts, which King Bruenor instructs everyone to hop into
- the ride is long and fun, as they travel deeper into the mountain
they arrive at the Iron Tabernacle, which King Bruenor describes as the spiritual and cultural heart of the city
- he walks Party through the tunnels filled with cathedrals, shrines, altars, and statues dedicated to many gods
- along the way, he describes each of the faiths, and stops at every one to offer respects
- some of them are in ruins or defaced
- Party passes by quite a few other dwarves visiting as well
- along the way, he describes each of the faiths, and stops at every one to offer respects
- King Bruenor explains that they've only recently reclaimed Gauntlgrym from a war with Underdark invaders, and they're still in the process of restoration
- there used to be priests here 24/7 to help those with spiritual needs
- there used to be priests here 24/7 to help those with spiritual needs
- he leads Party into the crypts, where many harmless ghosts wander about and interact with each other
- there are scholars attempting record a complete record of Gauntlgrym's families and connections to modern bloodlines from here
- there are scholars attempting record a complete record of Gauntlgrym's families and connections to modern bloodlines from here
lastly, King Bruenor takes Party on a shorter mine cart ride to the Great Forge
- it houses furnaces and anvils blessed by priests, and once upon a time the forge used to echo with the hammering and songs of a hundred smiths working at once
- now, there are only a few dwarves here with their apprentices, but they are still hard at work
- King Bruenor shows off the fiery pit in the center of the forge, where a whirlpool of magma flows in the shape of an eye
- it is powered by Maegera, an imprisoned primordial
King Bruenor personally escorts Party back to where they're staying and leaves them for the night