The Ragath Mountain Campaign
The party checked into their rooms at Smelle's Inn and dumped their adventuring gear.
"Brot Gorit", mumbled Dagmar.
"What?" Jacen said looking confused.
"It's dwarven for that strange feeling you've seen something before," replied Dagmar.
They quickly left to run errands.
Jacen bought a wardog from Roka the animal trainer along with a leash and muzzle and then bought a masterwork short sword at the weaponsmith. Having through about it through his adventures, Jacen also went to the temple of Ehlonna to pledge himself to the faith. The head of the order, Folis, told him that it would be a great service to the temple to slay the green dragon in the swamps that has been terrorizing both man and beast. Jacen left a donation to the temple and received as gratitude two Cure Light Wounds potions.
Dagmar spent the time at Moradin's temple for prayers and received a vision of a white pony waiting for her. Recognizing this as an omen, she tithed the temple 750gp and in return received 10 Cure Light Wounds and one Cure Serious Wounds potions.
Xendra spent her time at The Dragon's Sword talking to Math about the adventures and looking for an inexpensive magical item. She finally settled on a Robe of Useful Items and asked what the magic shop might be interested in purchasing if she should run across it. Math confessed that he was running low on fire giant toes and needed a giant remorrah eel spleen for a spell he was working on and would pay well for either.
It was at this point that the party, including Triblet, rejoined Xendra and they told Math more details of their adventures while the old dragon stroked his golden beard.
"And then we finally made it back to town and made straight for you," concluded Xendra.
"Well, quite the adventure. These stones you carry are a serious burden for ones so young in this world-- be very careful with them," he said quietly as he scribbled out a note, "Take this to the College of Mages. This will let you use the library to learn about the Forge of Unmaking. You might want to talk to Alagon as well. He specializes in artifacts. Now I must bid you well as I'm leaving for the month to do spell research. Best of luck, and remember-- be careful with those!"
The party left under the blade of Antedore and headed for the giant white tower of the College of Mages. The guards stopped them and asked for their weapons. The party complied and were given the white robes of visitors. They entered the library and Dagmar and Triblet were escorted to the Artifacts section on the second floor by Balis, a balding grey-haired man with equally gray robes.
"If there is anything you need, I'll be there at the information desk or ask anyone else in gray robes," and gave them a wink.
Meanwhile, Jacen and Xendra went to the Necromancy section in the basement to find out what they could about Norda. There they found Balis once again talking to a hooded man in black robes with skeletal hands. Balis introduced him as Viza, the head of the Necromancy department. Viza was complaining that he had to stay at the College while Alagon attended the Kordian Tournament.
After a few hours, they reconvened and compared notes:
Dagmar started: "Around 700 years ago or so, the elven lords of Muun fought the forces of Vecna to the west. It was during this time that Kas betrayed and slew Vecna. It was rumored that the elves played a hand in this plot in hopes that Kas would be a lesser evil than had Vecna and his followers.
The Forge of Unmaking was made by the elves in the great city of Muun around five hundred years ago. The priests of Corellan Larethian had received an omen that they had been charged with destroying two artifacts: the hand and eye of Vecna. The prophecy of the Forge of Unmaking was kept secret from all but the priesthood and the elven king Malcore. The found two twin brothers born with the mark of the broken star that had been foretold. One brother, Caithen was trained in Dirole at the College and became a powerful wizard, the second, Collith, trained with the priest of Muun and became an equally powerful cleric.
When they both turned 100, they both returned to Muun as they agreed and sacrificed themselves in order to create two powerful artifacts that could in turn be used to destroy the last mortal remnants of Vecna. The artifacts were two identical hammers.
Around 270 years ago, the Eye of Vecna was recovered and the Hammer of Collith was used to destroy it. Immediately afterward, a huge meteor smashed into the city and everything was incinerated for miles around. The city of Muun disappeared from the earth and only a gray desert surrounds what was once woodlands. After a few years, rangers noticed that the desert was expanding and that strange animals roamed the desert that had never been seen before. The desert has become 20 miles wider in the last 100 years. Soothsayers belive the desert is being caused by a powerful demon named Blight who's very presence spreads death and decay.
Priests confirmed that an aura of evil eminated from the desert that became stronger as they ventured to the center. Several expeditions had been sent to seek the Forge, but all failed.
It was reported that water taken to the desert becomes poisonous and that carniverous birds circle the desert looking to kill any living thing that enters."
Xendra explained that they found out that Norda was a follower of the cult of Vecna and was obsessed with returning Vecna to his former power. The was expelled from the College of Mages for his rather unorthodox methods of recruiting fellow students. He left for the northern lands and eventually built an army from the hill orcs and legions of the undead he created. After his defeat at Jotsplat, the army against him constructed the vault to hold his remains so that none of his escaped followers could resurrect him.
Jacen also explained that Alagon was at the Kordian Games in Rega.
After their research at the library, the party was escorted by two Balises.
"Are you brothers?" asked Xendra.
They looked at each other sheepishly, "No, just a accident with a Clone spell."
The next day, the party awoke to the neighing of a pony below Dagmar's window. They quickly dressed and went out to find that the white pony was quite obviously only interested in Dagmar.
"This is Silverhoof," explained Dagmar and the warpony noded to each of them in greeting.
The party agreed that they should head toward Rega since it was on the way to the Gray Desert in the west and they hoped to consult with Alagon as Math had suggested. They rode out early in the morning after buying horses for the rest of the party. The travelled for the day and camped off the road. They noticed many people were also travelling along the road apparently to see the Kordian Games as well.
The next day during their travels near dusk, the party was attacked by a group of bandits. The battle was short and the party quickly dispatched them. Their loot was 80 platinum coins and a well made scarab.
"Not a bad way to end the day," said Triblet.
Later that night the heard the clanking of armor coming from the west and they quickly put out their fire and hid the horses. The clanking grew nearer and suddenly stopped near them. One of the armed men called over to them.
"Stand up and identify yourselves," he said in a gruff voice.
Dagmar stood up holding her greataxe.
"Oh, sorry, we were looking for some bandits. They robbed some people a little while ago and stole something of value from Princess Naidi."
"I think we may have recovered it, we were ambushed by bandits earlier," said Dagmar as the rest of the party gesticulated for her to keep her mouth shut.
Dagmar handed over the stone scarab but the party kept the coins since neither the Princess not anyone else had reported them as being stolen. The party bid the patrol farewell and set up camp, set watches, and slept until the next morning when the returned to their journey to Rega.
The road became more overgrown as they started heading into the swamp. The tangled green of vines and mossy plants threatened to engulf the dirt and stone roadway in several places. It was during one of these sections that three screaming lizardmen suddenly ran from the underbrush on the right side of the road, crossed the road with only a momentary glance at the party, and tore into the tangled swamp on the left side of the road. By the time the fourth lizardman ran across the road, the party had their weapons out and Dagmar was able to wound one of them with a crossbow bolt.
As the party was getting ready to hunt down the wounded lizardman, a large green swoosh of a pursuing dragon surprised them. After a few seconds, Xendra sent her owl to keep an eye on the dragon which finally wheeled and headed for a grassy hill in the distance above the treetops when it turned once more and headed toward Rega. The party decided to head for the hill which they thought must be the dragon's lair. As they got closer they realized the swamp was turning into forest and slowing gaining elevation. Suddenly the tree cover disappeared and they crossed a grassy expanse between the forested area and the lone hill.
Suddenly they saw that the green dragon was heading straight for them from behind and that they wouldn't make it to the forrest before it was upon them. They quickly drew their bows and took aim as the dragon flew just over the trees and hugged the ground. The party fired when the dragon was at close range and the dragon breathed a corossive plume of gas over the party. The party fell to their knees choking and gasping and trying to breath. When the cloud finally cleared they saw that the dragon was beyond them and turning back for another pass and that Triblet lay dying on the grass.
Dagmar quickly ran to Triblet and lay her hands on his chest. Triblet wheezed and clutched his throat, but finally drew a breath just as the dragon raked Xendra with a claw as it flew by sending her whirling to the ground as arrows and bolt missed the wyrm.
Finally, the dragon settled on the ground out of bow range and shouted to the party, "here is the deal. Leave me one magic item of your choice and you may leave in peace. You have one minute."
The party quickly gathered together and decided they were not a match for the dragon who appeared entirely uninjured by the party. Jacen suggested that they leave the eye and the hand from the reliquary. They agreed and left it in the grass.
"Pleasure doing business, hope you come back soon," the dragon snickered as he watch the party head back to the road.
They continued down the road and after several hours of silent travel, they arrived at the bodies of the patrol they met the day before. Their bodies had been looted very roughly and the claw marks in the soft ground confirmed their suspicion that it was done by the green dragon they had just encountered. They continued along the road and finally arrived at Rega late at night where they paid the gate toll and entered the festively decorated city.
They checked into The Unicorn, a well appointed inn next to The Gladitorium and slept the night. The next morning they went to watch the games and found the place packed despite the 25 gold piece entrance fee. They watched several rounds of combat and eventually figured out the details. The gladiators chose their league, numbered one to eight and "open", pay the entrance fee of 100gp per league level (1000gp for "open") and if they win they keep both entrance fees and a quarter of the legal wagers.
The party watched several rounds and before the open round, Jacen went to place a bet. In the legal wagers line Jacen saw a gentleman in purple robes place a bet of 10 mithril coins and the bookmaker return a ticket to him and thank him, "Thank you Professor Alagon." He also realized that wagers in this line were out of his league so he returned to his seat with the party and related his encounter. The combat cultimated with a battle between Leggunis, a Paladin of Kord, and a tall figure in black plate mail. The combat was impressive with each showing mastery of the art of combat, but at long last the tall figure bested Leggunis to claim the day. Wagers were paid and the party sought out and followed Alagon to The Unicorn.
Once at the bar of the inn, the party quietly approached Alagon and asked if they could speak with him in one of the booths in private. He agreed and they related their tale of adventure under the Ragath Mountains. They each drank another pint of ale and Alagon leaned forward and asked to see the soulstones. After a few awkward seconds, Dagmar fetched the pouch from gear and handed it to Alagon.
"Very interesting," these red ones are very rare. I believe these can be dealt with."
The party stared in misbelief as Alagon took the diamond and smashed it against the table and it shattered into fragments. After everyone stood and reached for their weapons they realized that no smoke rose from the soulstone.
"That one was just glass with a false magic on it," stated Alagon, "are you sure this is the right one?"