Our adventurers rightly assumed that the note they found contained directions to find where Amanitas had been taken. Making their way across town, they found a secret entrance in the side of a concrete building. Not knowing the "knock" however, they resorted to brute force. Chode, using his "scout" skills gave the lock a go with his set of lock-picks. He was unsuccessful, though. Venting his frustration at failing to pick the lock, he leveled his shoulder, let out a guttural yell, and slammed into the false door. The force of his shoulder check was enough to snap the metal mechanism which held the door shut, blasting it open in a cloud of dust.
A cacophony greeted them in the room ahead.
"That man has a foul mouth, puts my mother to shame," quipped Chode.
His mirth was short lived, as two trolls caught our party a bit off guard, not having properly prepared their spells as they normally were won't to do. The battle was hard fought, stinking clouds were cast, flaming vials of oil were tossed, and many bled from the claws of the massive trolls. In the aftermath, Avrilenne, Krevish, and Chode Hammer all lay unconscious. Steve Nash, one of the parties clerics, tended to the wounded while Augustar and the mages investigated a side room where they heard the mysterious man's insults continuing, unabated.
They opened the door to a large, bearded Northman chained to the wall. "Alright you sons of filthy fishwives, now you've really gone and done it! I'm going to squish your lungs right out through your... Oh." The man paused as he realized these were more likely his rescuers than tormentors.
"Oi!" he said, "Don't just stand there all bleary-eyed. The brilliant magic-user for whom I work, Amelior Amanitas, is in great danger!"
He continued, explaining that his captors revealed their plan to take him up river to Everlund, than from there to Llork, and on to Zhentil Keep. He introduced himself finally as Erek, saying the Zhents were furious that Amanitas had discovered their plans, and no doubt he was likely to be tortured. "We've got to find him before they leave Everlund, or we won't have a chance. There are so many routes to Llorkh they could travel, we must find him quickly!"
There was no disagreement amongst the party. They agreed to travel to Everlund as soon they had rested and recuperated.
 |
| I saved both these guys' lives, yet they still feel the need to take and hide a secret stash. |
Traveling downriver from Silverymoon, the party found Everlund was in bad shape. The older parts of the city were overrun with undead, and the local shops had all been completely looted by bandits and thieves. Augustar's instinct was to try to do what he could to help this poor town out, but unfortunately there were more pressing matters afoot. Within a stable that was almost abandoned, they found the entrance to the Zhent's secret hideout. I say almost abandoned, because the stable was occupied by a formerly living horse, being munched on by owlbears. The massive creatures, some mad mage's experiment, were the size of grizzly bears, with the beak of an owl to boot.
The hideout was occupied by many more owlbears, along with Zhentarim soldiers that were training them using harsh methods, whipping them into a frenzy when our party happened upon them. Penetrating the hideout, they came upon an old fellow in chains.
Not wanting to see anyone's arms ripped off, they waded into battle! This time, our party was prepared, using their spell arsenal to their advantage. Many of the owlbears fell to the nauseating poison of stinking clouds, and the Zhent warriors were frozen still by divine magics. With the party standing victorious amongst the carnage, wiping their weapons and searching the bodies, Erek rushed to free his employer.
Upon his release, Amanitas had quite the long-winded speech for our party members. They quickly summarized for him what they knew about the Zhent's plot. "What was revealed to you by the Banites is correct," said the wizard, "I learned most of what I know from an escaped slave, one who was a servant to the Zhentarim general Vaalgamon. My further investigations have only confirmed how imminent the danger truly is. You see, though most of the story has been lost in time..."
Amanitas went on to describe four statuettes that had been crafted in the ancient city of Ascore. They were powerful artifacts used in the defense of the city, one was keyed to each of the cardinal directions. The city fell into ruins, and the statuettes were scattered across the Savage Frontier. The Zhentarim had dispatched general Vaalgamon from Zhentil Keep to collect the missing artifacts. They beleived that with them, a safe passage could be opened through the Great Desert. Thus removing the only land barrier to the Zhentarim sending massive armies into the Savage Frontier. Amanitas had cast many divinations to determine the locations of the statuettes, but all he had been able to uncover were vague riddles from his otherworldly contacts.
"If you obtain the four statuettes, take them to Ascore," he continued, "I created a special item myself, which when combined with the other artifacts, will turn the Zhentarim's perceived victory into crushing defeat! However, this can only be accomplished in the plaza at Ascore."
He reached into his robes and retrieved a small, square card. Runes were embossed upon it, and it appeared to be made of a thin layer of metal. "This isn't it..." he said, acting a bit absentmindedly, "I suppose you should take it anyway though. It's one of my latest inventions," he perked up a bit, "I call it the Card of Counting, the vaults in the Frontier, know how to use it, it will allow you to treat any vault in the cities of the region as one and the same. Well, that's it! Good luck to you, may your path be easy to walk. Come visit me in my home in Secomber from time to time."
"The magic item?" Augustar said urgently, "There was an item you said it was important we have?"
"Oh my... yes, of course." The wizard mumbled.
The ring now safely in their hands, Amanitas and Erek bid the party a fond farewell (or a gruff nod in the case of Erek), and they all made a hasty retreat from the dangers of Everlund.
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