Finally the elves hear Smallfang and for the first time they realize that the group is larger than they had first realized, adding a dragonborn and a gnome to the mix. T'an convinces them, very hesitantly, to lower a rope to them and haul them up. Once topside, Smallfang tells them that a group of, what he believes to be, cultists are coming towards them. Almost immediately, they hear the sound of a key being inserted into the door behind them. The door begins to open.
Trapped By Cultists
Arno rushes towards the door, preparing the arcane lock spell as he runs. Unfortunately, the little gnome's legs are not going to carry him all the way to the door in time. T'an runs past Arno towards the door, his stride not slowing even as he picks up the gnome by the collar and runs the gnome to the door. Arno's hands, already glowing with arcane power and outstretched before him, is able to lock the door before the door can be opened, as he is thrust by T'an at the door. But the peace is not to last. There is a little pause before the silence from the other side of the door is replaced with a loud hammering sound as if the door is being attacked with an axe. The door shudders and slowly begins to splinter.
The group moves back to the ledge to see if they can escape in that direction but all they see coming through the grey of the cavern is a large group of cultists coming towards them. Lithariel conjures a massive plant growth to slow their movements as vines and thick moss begin to fill their section of the cavern. Two of the cultists, who wear similar garb but with purple fringe on their black capes, jump and fly over the growth, landing in front of the group.
The elves there, tasked by the cult to guard the cavern, choose not to take sides but rather see who will win the battle. They do not want to risk the wrath of the dragon upon their families back in the villages of the Misty Forest. The group battles with the cultists and are having a rough time of it. The battle is then made worse when the sound of large movement comes from the caverns lake. A large green dragon emerges from the lake and takes to the ceiling clawing it's way towards the group of intruders.
For Dragon, Add Water
For Dragon, Add Water
As the dragon moves towards them, Smallfang is frozen in fear and is unable to assist his friends. The dragon breaths in, readies his poison breath and releases upon the group. Most are able to duck out of the way but Lithariel is hit, and hit hard. He drops unconscious to the ground. Smallfang who is unable to move towards Lithariel out of fear of the dragon is unable to heal him. The battle continues as cultists step over the prone body of the elf. T'an find himself often surrounded by cultists having to fend for himself.
From out of the darkness of the cavern comes a figure who yells at the conscripted elves as to why they are not helping the cultists dispatch the intruders. He approaches the magic plant overgrowth and dispels the magic and the hampering vines and flies up to the ledge. There he chastises the elves again and turns to Arno and releases a bolt of crackling energy towards Arno. They hit and the little gnome crumples to the ground.
T'an sees that his companions are dropping one by one and that Smallfang is unable to offer any aid as he stands frozen in fear. T'an decides to run and when T'an decides to run there is little to stop him. He runs straight off the cliff and hits the ground running. He doesn't stop until he reaches the waterfall. There he pauses to see if anyone else was able to get free.
The End Of The Party
Smallfang witnesses the cult leader drop Arno and then sees T'an flee the battle. This breaks the grip that fear had upon him and he runs towards Arno scoops him up and is able to run out the door that he had been guarding and past the two cultists he managed to kill in spite of his fear. As he runs out the door, the cult leader yells again at the elves and the elves fire a volley of arrows at the retreating dragonborn and he is able to get out the door and down the narrow corridor with only minor wounds. His good luck is to be tested again.
Smallfang witnesses the cult leader drop Arno and then sees T'an flee the battle. This breaks the grip that fear had upon him and he runs towards Arno scoops him up and is able to run out the door that he had been guarding and past the two cultists he managed to kill in spite of his fear. As he runs out the door, the cult leader yells again at the elves and the elves fire a volley of arrows at the retreating dragonborn and he is able to get out the door and down the narrow corridor with only minor wounds. His good luck is to be tested again.
A Holy Resurrection
While this is happening, Lithariel awakens in the dark caver with only the scrawny prisoners as witness. Lithariel hears the voice of a young women, perhaps the women that they had encountered in the misty forest not long ago. The voice tells her that she is saved only by his piety as she was the only one to give reverence and prayer to the ancient altar found in the cavern. She heals herself as best she can and flies towards the exit as a giant eagle.
MetaGame Spoiler Inside
The dragon who has given chase after T'an is atop the trees ringing the pool of water outside the cave, while T'an has hidden himself among the trees. They both watch as Smallfang and Arno emerge from the water. The battle continues and the group finds that they are now aided by two awakened trees that Lithariel has summoned. Now that they have the better numbers and as the dragon continues to take hit after hit, the dragon looks towards T'an and promises revenge in the future.
The dragon takes flight but his injuries prevent him from flying high enough and T'an is fast enough to keep up with the dragon and continues to fire arrow after arrow at the dragon. Moving fast among the trees and firing continuously at the dragon finally rewards T'an with a howl of pain from the dragon and the vision of the dragon crashing down into the trees.
The others catch up and each take their treasure from the body of the dragon, in the form of teeth, scales and horns. Then they settle into Arno's conjured protective hut to recover from their battle. They sleep the sound sleep of victors.
Cleaning Up The Cultists
In the morning they decide that it is time to clean out the cavern, both of cultists, prisoners and treasure. Moving swiftly and sure back they way they had already been they move into the cavern and soon find the now dwindled cultist force resting in their quarters. They make quick work of their deaths, even though one of them got the drop on them by emerging from another room.
In the morning they decide that it is time to clean out the cavern, both of cultists, prisoners and treasure. Moving swiftly and sure back they way they had already been they move into the cavern and soon find the now dwindled cultist force resting in their quarters. They make quick work of their deaths, even though one of them got the drop on them by emerging from another room.
T'an moves directly to one of the wall tapestries and pulls it aside. There behind the tapestry is a hidden door. Moving inside they find the cultist and end his leadership. Lithariel chooses to knock him out instead of outright killing him. Once unconscious he is strongly bound.
MetaGame Spoiler Inside
Inside the cult leader's hidden safe room they find writings in a journal. In the outer room Smallfang has discovered a chest and deciding to forgo any need for lock picks he smashes the chest. The chest is not strong. It's lock smashes open easily perhaps because that is not its main defense. As Smallfang opens the chest a needle-like dart shoots out. Smallfang reacts just in time for it to miss his head but he does get hit in the shoulder and for the next long while his arm flops useless at his side.
Searching the rest of the cavern, they decide to return to the ettin cave, only to find nothing of value and have to escape only by pitting the argumentative ettins against themselves. T'an, hearing the ettins arguing previously, is able to convince one of them that the others are "touching his stuff" and the ensuing ettin argument, and resulting fight, allows the group to slip away unnoticed. Lithariel then transforms into an octopus in order to search the small lake and discovers a passageway under the water. It emerges into a vast cave which has been emptied of most of its treasure. Lithariel gathers what he can and rejoins the group. They retrieve the prisoners and set back towards the village.
The Fall Of Neronvain
There at the village, the return of the prisoners is greeted with much joy and fanfare. But as they move their own prisoner, the cult leader, past the elven population the group hears whispers of shock and the name Neronvain, voiced over and over.
Lithariel leads them to the prison quarters where they forcefully question the former cult leader. They learn little but what they learn is:
- The cult has now moved most of the necessary treasure to the Well Of Dragons where it is needed for the ritual
- Now the focus has shifted to prisoners for sacrifices
- The dragon mask that he had has already been taken to the Well Of Dragons
- Neronvain believes there is little they can do to stop the ritual now
Believing they have learned all they can, Lithariel approaches the cult leader and kills him with a dagger through the throat with the angry whisper of "traitor to the king".
The Long Road Back
The Long Road Back
After a much needed rest the group acquires a couple of horses and a rickety cart. A much nicer cart had been lent to Lithariel but that one had seemed to go up in flames some time ago. Smallfang decides to ride in style and conjures his war horse instead. They travel for a few days back towards Waterdeep.
After a long days ride they move off the road for the evening. Arno begins his process of conjuring Leomund's Tiny Hut but before he is able to complete the ritual the noise of something very large moving through the trees interrupts the peaceful night.
Dum dum dummmmmmm
MetaGame Spoiler Inside
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