Session 24
| ← Session 23 | Session 25 → |
| June 22, 2012 – The Road to Vondar | |
- 9 Decitis 1444 - Arrival at dwarven outpost of Barrier
- 10 Decitis 1444 - In Vondar
The Story
As Adran scouts ahead on his swift horse the remainder of the party travels on the 'borrowed' ox drawn wagon heading to the dwarven city of Vondar. Not long into the trek Laphane spots 5 horsemen in apparent pursuit. With encouragement and brute strength the ox is spurred onto enough speed to leave Norvaan hanging on to the back of the wagon as it is steered off the road. Enough of a lead was garnered to allow for an impromptu ambush of the pursuers.
As they enter the clearing the pursuers are recognized as the same troops that were captured and interrogated outside the previous town. The ambush proves successful and the last of the troops reveals that this group was searching for the whereabouts of the group that was dispatched. The troops horses are rounded up and the ox drawn wagon is shooed down the path to a nearby farm.
With the improved travel speed it is just two days to the dwarven trading post of Barrier. Oona convinces the guards at the pass leading to Vondar that he is returning from a mission with his band of mercenaries, a story bolstered by the stolen Blackiron surcoat he is wearing. Only a half day's travel finds the party in the dwarven cavern city of Vondar.
Oona receives deference from the townsfolk encountered from the moment they entered the city. After establishing rooms at one of the inns, Oona sets out to an adjacent tavern to acquire information to aid their mission. He is able to pick up some grumblings from the commoners about the direction Engmar Blackiron, the battlemaster of the dwarven armies, has set them upon. However, the Blackiron markings he is wearing cause the commoners to become uncommunicative in his presence. A quick conference with his companions in their rooms leads to a different tactic: the whole group will head to a different tavern to get the feel of the town, with Oona in unaffiliated attire.
Several rounds into their plan the group overhears similar grumblings from a few of the tables. Oona decides to take a couple of pitchers of ale to the table with the loudest griping. He sits with the group in the darkest corner of the bar. Oona 'imitates' a drunken slur to agree with the sentiments he heard from them. At their request he introduces himself as Oona Blackiron, a black-balled member of the Blackiron clan. Shocked reactions are followed by an almost whispered "Your kind should say in the caves". Their group then leaves en mass, prompting the bartender to ask Oona to leave the bar because he scared away his loyal customers.
The party then spend some time staking out the entrances from the city and listening for any rumors of interest. As one of the entrances are checked out a group of town guards become suspicious. As the guards approach and start demanding questions Laphane and Norvaan duck down around a natural tunnel. Oona stays to confront the guards with Adran at his side. A dwarf appears from a secret doorway in the tunnel and in a harsh whisper asks Laphane and Norvaan what they are doing drawing all this attention then directs them to move towards the other entrance - help is coming. Meanwhile the guards are ordered to capture the party. About this time Laphane and Norvaan, following the tunnel, are dumped back into the same area a few yards from Oona and Adran as well as the half of the guards that didn't pursue them into the tunnel.
Just as the fight begins a bevy of semi-organized dwarves charge out of the side tunnel and aid the party in fighting off the guards. After the confusion dies down the party is lead into the caves these dwarves came from. There Oona is approached by one of the 'loyal customers' from the tavern. He introduces himself as Trag Blackiron, an exile from the Blackiron clan. Trag explains that the Blackirons that railed against the direction Engmar took the dwarves were exiled and fled deeper into the caves. Oona introduces himself as Oona Stoneforge, which elicits a surprised reaction and Targ says "Merg will definitely want to talk to you."
Treasure Acquired
- None
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