Session 25
| ← Session 24 | Session 26 → |
| July 6, 2012 – Smash and Grab | |
- 11 Decitis 1444 - The exiles encampment
The Story
The party follows Trag as they elude the loyalist Blackirons through the tunnels on the way to the encampment of the exiles in an abandoned mine. Along the way Trag explains that they were exiled (or left of their own accord) because they disagreed with the direction Engmar was leading them. Merd is Engmar's only heir, but he was exiled when after he publicly disagreed with the decision to join Aqueda's forces.
Trag interrupts a meeting of dwarves, telling Merd that these were "the fellows that Fendig told us about." Merd is a red haired dwarf with a meticulously maintained beard with an axe at his waist. At Merd's inquiry, Oona introduces himself as a member of the Stoneforge clan. Merd gets a pensive look and lays his axe at Oona's feet and says that he hopes that someday the Stoneforge may forgive the grave offense done to them by the Blackiron clan. He goes on to explain that the dwarves meeting here are a shadow council representing the various clans, the actual council having been dissolved by Engmar. He asks Oona to join their council as the representative of the Stoneforge clan, Oona accepts and takes Merd's offered chair at the metaphorical table.
Merd explains that Aqueda offered something to Engmar to get him to side with Aqueda's forces in the war. However, Merd has no idea what this thing was that Engmar valued so much to join the humans in their war. Merd discloses that a black armored paladin of Morlander by the name "Sir" Tarce Mulrain comes and goes at his leisure, meeting with Engmar during these visits. He last left over a month ago with a contingent of dwarves, griffins and gargoyles. Their mission unknown to Merd, Trag could not find out from his contacts at the griffin's roost where he used to work.
Oona informs Merd, as he slams one of the siezed Blackiron throwing hammers on the table, that a group matching this composition attacked the castle in Canton City as a distraction that allowed another group of dark ones (dark halflings) and at least one changeling spy to try to kill king Carver.
Merd divulges that the exile's current activities have been mainly to sow discord in the ranks of the loyalist Blackiron dwarves, and to keep his group fed and armed. And to this end he asks the group for their assistance with a raid they have planned for tomorrow. A large raid of Blackiron stores to get food and weapons, but with the prowess that the group has shown they would be perfect to distract and waylay the guards while the raid is in progress. All agree to help the exiles and the preparation begins.
Norvaan asks for some dwarves to collect sacks of small rocks. Laphane helps collect mosses that can be burned to provide a thick smoke. Oona tries to collect oil to slow the pursuers but that is one of the items that the exiles are in most need of for lighting and cooking. Norvaan, along with some dwarves, hastily modify a broken ore cart into a heavy wagon to use in some fashion against the guards should the need arise.
The next morning the raiding party heads out of the hidden tunnels and begins the operation. At the exiles begin the heist the party moves into action to distract, hinder and divert the Blackiron guards. Norvaan starts the action by setting fire to a fabric boutique, followed by Laphane setting several piles of his signature moss ablaze to add more confusion. Oona manhandles the wagon/cart and pushes it into one of the first group of responders, scattering them. Meanwhile, Adran jumps on top of a storefront and surveys the situation; he spots a water tower that he begins to push over onto the loyalist dwarves. Norvaan climbs up the building and assists Adran, the deluge scatters even more dwarves. Oona and Laphane draw away groups of dwarves that are still streaming into the large market area. Oona uses a sack of the stones prepared earlier to elude capture, whereas Laphane uses his greater speed and dexterity to loose the dwarven tail.
The group rallies back together just as Trag, who is the commander of the exiles in this enterprise, arrives. Trag tells the party that the foodstuffs are being carried back to the caves, the next phase is to loot the armory. He directs the group to clear out the armory so they can make off with the weapons they need. The armory is guarded by 5 dwarves, with their captain being a particularly tough dwarf with a great axe. The ensuing battle was trying, Adran took the full brunt of the sentries first attack and Norvaan was knocked unconscious on two separate occasions. Laphane, unaccustomed to fighting underground and with his allies taking such heavy blows, found it difficult to sink his arrows into his target. Oona did his best to divert the guards attention to himself, but in their armory that was difficult.
After the conflict, Adran helped Norvaan get bandaged up as Laphane barred the front door to the armory. At this time a scratching sound was first heard coming from the back door.
Tune in next time to see what vicious enemy our heroes face this time. Same Keedrah time, same Keedrah channel.
Treasure Acquired
- Moss
- Rocks
mine cart with wagon wheels
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