Dragonwings of Wrath

The Web of the Black Spider

Prologue : Missing Agent

Rumours of unsavoury goings on in Durringham have reached the Lord’s Alliance. Also, one of their own agents, Iarno Albrek, disappeared shortly after arriving in Durrinqham. Therefore Sildar Hallwinter, once a decorated Cavalry Officer of the Flaming Fists, has been dispatched to investigate, and if necessary, take charge. But a spy has already revealed this action to the real ‘ruler’ of Durrinqham, and Sildar is riding into a trap…

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1. Sudden Departure

After putting out of joint the noses of one too many officers, Ishtra found herself constructively dismissed from the Honoured Company of the Flaming Fists, by being sent from the city of Baldur’s Gate to the town of Beregost and the inn of the Red Sheaf. There she was to meet and help escort the expedition being led by the veteran captain, Sildar Hallwinter to Durringham - a village on the eastern borders and south of the Forest of Sharp Teeth. He had been tasked to go there in order to investigate the disappearance of Iarno Albrek, an agent of Baldur’s Gate and the Lord’s Alliance.

Also joining the escort was Şillic, a former enforcer of a criminal gang who had decided now was time to leave, and a Druid, strangely drawn by signs and portents to also travel east down the Were-Wood Trail. After travel arrangements for the morning were made, the Druid witnessed a messenger arriving to see the Captain, but not what was shared.

While the others turned in for the night, Şillic stayed up chatting with the locals in the bar. He lost a game of dice with a mysterious stranger who then gave him a vellum parchment. Later, after escorting one of the locals home, he was set upon in the darkened streets by two masked men. He skewered one with his rapier , and the other ran off. Wounded, Şillic returned to the inn where he was treated by the barmaid. The local watch were satisfied with his explanation, especially when they identified the dead mugger as not local. But Şillic had found another vellum parchment on the mugger’s body. In the relative safety of his room, he found both parchments had the same dire warning:
The heathen who dare to defy the dragons will burn when She arises again!

In the morning, Şillic, Ishtra, and the Druid found that Sildar Hallwinter and his squire had already departed and ridden ahead in response to the message he received. He left behind instructions that the others were to follow with reasonable haste. But what was the reason for his sudden departure?

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2. The Way of the Were-Trail

Ishtra, Şillic, and Thalic woke up to find that the Captain they were hired to escort, was missing. Sildar Hallwinter and his squire had already ridden ahead to Durringham in response to a secret message. Even as they prepared to follow, Two dwarf-brothers, a former man of the sea, and an elf of noble bearing – who was also related to Thalic – joined the group. Together they set of Eastwards from Beregost and out beyond Ulcaster Ruins. On the way, the wagon-master, Onan Daysun, let Şillic try his hand at driving the wagon-horses, and it didn’t take long before Şillic gained the knack.

As night and rain fell, the group arrived at the halfling town of Gullykin. Because of the weather, the inn was relatively empty that evening, save for some locals making tall drunken claims of old relatives meeting a red dragon in the nearby Werewood and living to tell the tale; and of a bejeweled dwarf who had passed that way a couple of months ago, boasting of treasure hoards, and drinking everyone under the table. During these pleasantries, Şillic slipped out to investigate what was in the wagon that they were escorting, while Dangar and Ishtra learnt that Sildar and his squire had barely stopped at the inn to rest their horses, eat, and then ride on again in great haste. But as everyone retired for the night, the suspicions of Dwarf and Elf got the better of the two sets of brothers. Attempts to spy on each others’ rooms led to an embarrassing confrontation in the upstairs corridor, and a very sleep-deprived and upset innkeeper!

Come the morning, the party set off again, along the Were-trail that passed to the south of the Wood of Sharp Teeth, and the fortress within known as Durlag’s Tower. Their crossing of the Firewine Ravine was disturbed by ghostly moans emanating south from the Bridge of the elven city – cursed and destroyed long ago. But as they crossed the dry river-bed, they also noticed three sets of hoof-prints that had ridden over before them – two sets together, and one apart. This experience made everyone alert and wary.

Which was just as well, for as the Were-Trail passed into the eves of the Werewood and into a cutting, ahead on the trail they saw the bodies of two dead horses, clad in the riding-garb of Flaming Fist Griffon Knights. The dwarf-brothers and Şillic dismounted and scrambled up the left bank, surveying the scrub bushes pock-marking the top of the cutting. Dangar climbed up on the right and Ishtra readied her crossbow from the back of the wagon. The ever-sharp eyes of the elves soon espied figures behind the bushes above the dead horses, and their warning was met with goblin-arrows. Both elf-arrow and cross-bow bolt missed their mark, even as Torek and Eulfgar charged the goblins. Vandar the Elf-Warlock cast faery fire, illuminating both the goblins – and Tordek who was also in the way of the spell – with magical blue flames. Eulfgar slew his goblin, but Tordek’s hammer only smashed shield, and his glowing arm was gashed by the other goblin in return.

Then there were more shouts and arrows from the other side of the ravine. Two more goblins rose from their concealment. As Ishtra reloaded her crossbow, Dangar leapt forwards towards their bush, lunging at one of the goblins. But the loose earth of the ravine gave way, he lost his footing, and he tumbled down onto the track.
The goblin bares his jagged teeth and snarls, even as he bends his legs to leap down to finish off the hapless human …

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3. Goblin Arrows!

Ishtra sees the danger Dangar is in and fires her reloaded crossbow at the concealed goblin. A growl of pain from the goblin confirms that the bolt stuck him high on the shoulder. Şillic tried to line up a shot on the goblin fighting the dwarves but before he can fire Thalek charges into the melee and smites the goblin with his Scimitar and kills it. Şillic switches his aim to the remaining goblin but waits for it to make its move. Without a target the dwarf boys loot the body and search around the ambush site, and Tordek takes the opportunity to heal himself.

The last goblin leaps from his cover intent on killing Dangar, this is the moment Şillic was waiting for and fires the arrow he had aimed at the goblin – striking him in the neck killing him instantly.

Some shouts from the dwarves alert the party to the gruesome sight of a human body hanging from a tree. As the group gathers to cut the body down Şillic recognise the body as Annan Harranhill, Captain Hallwinter’s squire. Tordek examines the body, and finding wounds, quickly determines that Annan was already dead before he was strung up.

Ishtra and Şillic return to the dead horses. Amid the tangled and beaten down grass they find bloodied soil and tracks. It is clear that a large number of goblins, up to a dozen, had dragged off two bodies in the direction of where the squire was found. Now that the trail has been found, it is clear that it continues and the tracks show that a large creature was with the goblins; and one of the “bodies” was alive and being “helped” along the trail.

A short team talk decides that the party will follow the trail to get back the captain; everyone agreed that he was the prisoner taken by the goblins. Tordek insisted that the squire should be buried properly. Vandar used the time to rest and gain back his spells, and Thalek planted a tree to mark the resting place of the squire. Onan Daysun was to stay behind and wait with the wagon.

Thalek led the party down the trail. Soon he waved a halt and pointed to a rope snare. To set it off or leave it “live”? In the end it was left alone, no point in warning any watchers that they were passing. In the lead again, Thalek soon found another trap, by almost falling into it! This time it was a pit. Şillic decided to move off the track not so far as to not to be able to see it but hopefully far away enough not to trigger any traps.

Soon the trail opened out in to a clearing. Ahead a cave mouth, stream exiting from one side. Thalek called a halt just at the edge of the clearing. Everyone fell silent and listened and looked. For some moments just silence, nothing, but then laughter, goblin laughter. It wasn’t from the cave. Somewhere off to the right in the trees. The party quickly organised to move up on the sounds – Dangar and Şillic to flank the position and silence it. As they approached Şillic trod on a twig hidden by leaves. The snap broke the silence and echoed across the glade. Goblin voices sounded in alarm and two heads looked out over some bushes. Ishtra reacted first and fired her crossbow. The bolt passed right through the goblin and lodged deeply in a tree leaving the goblin dead. The other goblin broke cover, heading for the cave. Şillic fired at the other and an arrow appeared in its back – the body sprawling in the dirt.

It was clear that the goblins were guards. Their rudimentary guard post was quickly searched and the game they were playing found, bones thrown at a target, empty wine gourds littered the site.

It was time to enter the cave. Thalek and Şillic lead the way – their dark vision enabling them to move in the darkness whilst the rest waited to be called forward. The stream burbled ahead to one side of the cave leaving a worn path on the other. As the gloom deepen growling and snuffling was heard deeper into the cave. As they advanced a side passage loomed ahead and soon it became clear that the growling came from the passage. As they neared the noise rose. If the noise grew much louder it would alert the creatures further into the cave. In the gloom they made out the shape of three wolves, fortunately tethered. Thalek would not have them killed but instead used food, and his Druidic charm to quieten them.

The others were called forward. Fortunately the wolves accepted them as friends of Thalek and remained calm and quiet. Thalek and Şillic advanced deeper into the cave moving with stealth and alertness. More guards were spotted: their loud whispers giving away their position on a raised platform that formed a bridge over the stream. Thalek and Şillic worked themselves silently into a position where they had a good view of the guards who were still unaware of their presence. Silently bows were nocked with arrows and aim taken. Arrows flew. Thalek’s arrow struck home and his target dropped to the floor. Şillic’s arrows glanced off the thick hides of the goblin. In response the goblin shouted, those who knew the goblin tongue would hear him shout “intruders”, raising the alarm. Thalek and Şillic fired another volley wounding the goblin still standing on the bridge.

In the distance the sound of rushing water could be heard. The stream rose and the water lapped onto the path. In the gloom a wall of water flooded down the cave. Şillic called out a warning to the group further down the cave and leapt for cover behind the rocks; gaining height above the rushing water. Thalek too used his elvish nimbleness to climb the cave wall above the water. Down the cave the others took shelter in the wolf den.

As soon as the flood subsided Thalek and Şillic took up positions again to fire at the goblins. The goblins shouted a warning that the intruders are still in the cave. The goblin that had been lying on the bridge got up and both readied their own bows and fire. One arrow sailed harmlessly over the head of Thalek but the other struck Şillic in the arm and lodged in the hard leather of his armour. In return Şillic fired an arrow back at the goblins on the bridge again striking his target squarely in the chest. Thalek, too, finds his target and the goblin topples off the bridge and falls into the stream.

Again the sound of rushing water comes from up the stream. Eulfgar had been making his way up the cave path was caught in a no man’s land of slippery path and smooth walls when the wave tore past washing him from the path and into the stream. Tordek, heart in mouth in fear for his brother’s life rushed back out of the cave and to find Eulfgar beached on the bank, thankfully alive.

The party re-gathers at the bridge. Şillic boosts Dangar up allowing him to scramble onto the bridge with his rope. The armoured dwarves scramble up the rope and are quickly followed by the rest of the party and only just in time. Ishtra had been watching the path below the bridge further into the cave and alerts the party that goblins were approaching. The goblins were clearly expecting the invaders to be on the path and failed to look up to the bridge. A volley of arrows and bolts fly into them. Thalek and Şillic uncharacteristically miss, but Dangar hits and kills a goblin, Eulfgar hit a goblin but the wound was shrugged off until Ishtra’s bolt finds him too and kills him. Tordek casts Sacred Flame, scoring a direct hit on a goblin, and frying it instantly. The remaining goblin turns tail and runs but the second arrow from Thalek buried itself in his back, pitching him forward, his body falls into the stream, washed down by the waters under the bridge and back down to the cave entrance.

Atop the bridge, the party can see a path leading in both directions. As the lower path beside the stream curved right the party choose to take the right-hand path which soon curved north and brought them all into a large cavern. Two large berms, now empty of water, ran along the far wall, both breached with tools. This was where the water surges came from. Thankfully the cavern was empty of goblins. An opening in the south west wall glowed with the orange of a hearth. Sounds also emanated from it, the snuffling of a beast and the talk of goblins but another gruff voice sounded too.

Thalek moved forward to take up a position near the opening. A crash came as Dangar once again stumbled over some invisible boulder as he moved toward the berms, fortunately not falling in. Ishtra paused looking for a place to fight from whilst cocking her crossbow and Şillic slunk into the shadows and prepared his bow. The young impetuous dwarves moved as one: with a dwarfish battle-cry screaming from their mouths, they charged into the next cavern. Şillic drops his head and wondered why he bothered to conceal himself – whatever was in the cave would never come out now, at least not whilst the brothers lived. But right now they needed rescuing…

Out of the cave boomed the gruff voice that was not goblin. Those that knew the words would understand that it said “who dares to disturb our cave”. Facing the young dwarves stood four goblins and a wolf. Further back in the cave, rising from his great seat, stood Klarg the Bugbear, the self-styled “lord of the caves”.

Eulgar’s charge took him into reach of the wolf and he brought down his sword on its back forcing a yelp of pain, Tordek swung wildly and found nothing but air. Two goblins moved in to attack Tordek but their blows found only air or his shield blocking them.

Thalek steps into the cave and fires his bow at the bugbear and the arrow pierces its shoulder. Dangar finds his feet and advances on the distracted wolf and stabbed it with his rapier but his attack does not finish the beast – which whelps in pain and turns to snap at Dangar, but finds only air as Dangar dodges.

Şillic, realising that his place of concealment removes him from the fight, hastened to the cave and fired his bow at the bugbear, his aim was hasty and the arrow whistles past the creatures head. Then Vandar casts Eldritch fire and fries another goblin.

The third goblin closes with Tordek and smites him a wounding blow. Thalek steps up to Tordek and bless him with his healing arts. Şillic is amazed – an Elf aiding a dwarf?

Ishtra now steps in to engage a goblin cleaving him with her great axe, even as Klarg joins the fray. Swinging his huge morning star he brings it down crashing down upon Tordek who he reels back bloodied and dazed – without Thalek’s aid, he would surely have been killed by the mighty blow.

Dangar again faces the wolf and spears it with his blade once more, ending the vile beast’s life. Eulfgar smites his goblin and severs its head. Above the din of battle, Tordek raises his voice, appeals to his deity, and receives a surge of divine healing. Vandar consumed the last goblin with another blast of fire.

The last remaining target towered above his dwarf opponent giving Şillic a clear shot without fear of hitting his comrade. Taking careful aim from the dark shadows beyond the cave mouth he let fly an arrow which struck Klarg high on the torso and embedded itself deep within his armour. Fearing the beast’s next blow might kill the wounded dwarf, Thalek stepped forward drawing his scimitar and sliced at Klarg scoring the armour and extracting a crimson stream. Clearly pained, Klarg takes a step away from the eager blades of his enemies. Thalek challenges Klarg to lay down his weapon or forfeit his life. Klarg’s eyes swiftly travelled across the party and, however slowly a bugbear’s mind works, came to the conclusion that he would soon be dead if he continued the fight and threw down his weapon.

Şillic was already drawing back his bow in expectation of finishing off the beast and was aghast at the surrender, no not the surrender, the audacity of Thalek to offer it! It was this surprise that made him pause, too long to then continue with his draw, and lowered his bow.

But now it came to him that this opportunity would secure information that would save them time and possibly their lives. Stepping forward into the cave Şillic placed tension back into the bow string and pointed it at Klarg, “Where is the human prisoner? The one you captured on the road today.”
Klarg, caught unawares and surprised spluttered and replied “Yeemik has him.”
“Where?”
Klarg raised his hand and pointed vaguely “over the bridge”.
“You will take us there but first we have other business.” Şillic eased the tension in the bow and pushed passed the others towards the supplies stacked at the rear of the cave. Casks and boxes emblazoned with the Blue Lion emblem of the Beregost merchants lined the walls. Amongst them was a small chest. A quick check revealed that it was without traps and Şillic soon had it unlocked. His eyes glowed as they glimpsed coins. At first, in the flickering shadow of the small fire he thought it was gold but when a better light was brought over it was clear that the coins were mostly copper with a sprinkling of silver coins. Laying amongst the coins were two vials, they could be investigated further later, and a jade statuette with gold inset eyes. Picking it up and rolling it over Şillic valued it at 40_gp. It was rustic and crude workmanship but to a “collector” it might be worth more.

Tordek came over and challenged Şillic “you going to share that or keep it for yourself?”
Şillic turned his head to face Tordek and rose to his full height “what did you find on the goblins?” Disdain etched across his faced as he looked down at the Dwarf. “We need to decide what we can take and what we need.”

Şillic walked back to Klarg where the others were tying him up. He was surprised to see the group. Few wounds had been suffered but the spell casters had used up a number of spells. This was not an area of his expertise but he knew that a rest would probably do them some good. He had seen Vandar “rest” earlier and suspected that another one was due. He also checked his quiver. There more spaces left than he would have liked. He would need to find some arrows soon.

And then, they had to go and find this Yeemik and rescue the Captain – if he still lived…

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4. Big Trouble in little Durringham

“Vander, how long do you need to rest to get back any spells?” Şillic asked, fed up with the party standing around. He needed to learn the strengths and needs of this group, how else was he going to use them to best keep him alive!
“About an hour to get the simplest spells back.”
“And you others?”
Thalek and Tordek said that they needed a full night’s sleep to recover their spell-craft.

Next Şillic turned to the dwarves and asked about their wounds, he himself had only a minor scratch but Tordek was sporting several deep cuts despite the healing he had received. Eulfgar was also wounded. He put a brave face on it but it was clear that he was far from being fully effective.

“Does anyone have any healing spells left?”
“I’ve used mine up” Thalek replied.
Şillic turned his gaze onto Tordek. Finally the young dwarf mumbled into his beard that he had a healing spell available to use.
“Why don’t you heal your brother then?”
“I was saving it for when someone really needed it.”
“If you don’t heal him now you might not get the chance before he is dead. One more blow and he could be finished!”
“No” the young dwarf was adamant.

It took Şillic all of his control not to show the contempt he felt rising for this petulant young dwarf. A quick scan of the faces told him that he had the balance of the group on his side but also that Tordek was not going to change his mind. He had also noted the glint of hope in Eulfgar’s eyes at the suggestion of being healed, Şillic smiled internally for he had gauged the dwarf’s health correctly, but now that hope had seeped from him. Dwarven stubborn resilience had replaced it, a brave face but that wouldn’t do anyone any good if he was felled by the goblins guarding Yeemik.

“Right then we will take an hour to organise ourselves. Vander rest up” the rest of us can sort through this stuff” waving his arms in the direction of crates and casks. Tordek was heard to mutter something about fighter’s second wind after a rest trying to justify with-holding his spell. People had better things to do than respond to this pettiness, thought Şillic. Though he was pleased to see that someone had tied the hands of Klarg. There were some more questions he wanted to ask him before they moved on.

Whilst the others searched the crates and piles of clothing Şillic went back to the money chest, he could feel the eyes of Tordek on his back, another internal smile passed across mind. He could use this mistrust to his advantage such pride will come before a fall. The vials were where he had left them. Now he looked closer. The glass was clear and transparent, the flickering amber glow from the brazier didn’t help but Şillic made out a blue tinge to the otherwise clear liquid within them. More familiar with poisons, tasting and testing unknown liquids was not his thing. Maybe the spell casters might know something about them.

“So Klarg, how many goblins are with Yeemik?”
It took a moment for Klarg to realise that he was being spoken too, or was it the rapier point now placed at his throat, and then it was clear that thinking was not his forte. “Not many.” He announced with his dunce like wit. This was going to take time to get any information from him.
“This many?” Şillic showed him an open hand.
“More”
“This many?” showing both hands this time, tucking the rapier under his arm.
“Not so many.” Şillic knew now that Klarg was struggling with the concept of numbers.
“Who’s in charge in the caves?”
“Klarg’s response was a blank grunt.
“Who is boss?”
“I boss,” progress at last.
“What is Yeemik?”
“Klarg hate, nasty goblin not like Klarg. Wants to be boss.”
The interrogation had brought the others over now.
Danger offered “If you help us we will let you go free.”
Şillic shot his a dirty look as Klarg nodded vigorously, “Klarg help, Klarg want free”

Thalek started to reach for the rope around Klarg’s wrists but Şillic brought the flat of his rapier down sharply across Thalek’s fingers. 1The fire in his eyes silenced any protest from Thalek. For good measure and to end any discussion Şillic quickly looped his rope around Klarg’s neck. Klarg was passive, letting things be done to him. He might be slow but he was wise enough to know the consequence of protest.

The pile of clothes was a mixture of rustic and fine wear. Not so fine to be found in the royal court but would be enough for the merchants guild. Not good enough to weigh the party down with their bulk.

After the hour was up and Vander had completed he meditations Şillic showed him the vials. Vander said he would ponder them and give his answer later. The party formed up into an order of march. Thalek and Şillic again at the front a few paces ahead with Vander and Eulfgar next then Klarg with Tordek holding the rope that was around his neck much as a lead. Dangar was just behind with his rapier poised to dispatch Klarg if he tried anything and Ishtra held the torch at the rear.

They arrived at the bridge and the goblin bodies were eased off the bridge and slid or dropped into the water with a louder splash than Şillic had intended. Better that than a hapless dwarf tripping on them and falling into the river below. Fortunately, the sound of the river flowing also echoed through the caverns, covering the clamour.

Vander approached Şillic and asked for a vial. Unstoppering the vial and dipping his finger into the neck of the vial to get a drop of liquid onto his finger, to Şillic’s astonishment and, to his mind, reckless risk licked the finger and after smacking his lips he announced that he thought the vial was a healing potion.

“Eulfgar,” Whispered Şillic, drink this point to the vial in Vander’s hand. With some hesitation Eulfgar took it and downed the contents. His eyes shone with renewed vigour and the wounds began to close up before their eyes. With a deep breath Eulfgar declared he felt much, much better …

Motioning for the party to wait at the mouth of the new passage across the bridge, Thalek and Şillic continued along the passage. It curved slightly but otherwise continued in its general direction. After pausing to check the soundness of the walls and for traps and pits the scouts stopped to listen. Vague sounds up ahead revealed that their presence was as yet undetected. Moving stealthily forward they soon saw the glow of a fire reflecting off the walls. Taking care not to make a sound they crept forward until they could see the cave.

5 goblins were sat eating and drinking around a fire. Above them, further up on a ledge came the sounds of torture and mocking. Clearly surprise would only last so long and to rescue the prisoner before he was killed required more than just bows and arrows. There was only space for two human sized creatures to stand in the mouth of the cave. They needed an area effect spell. Thalek had none.

Şillic carefully made his way back to the group and explained what was needed. Vander now revealed that he had a sleep spell – “Great!” thought Şillic “why couldn't he have told us that before!?” Ishtra passed the torch to Tordek and started forward with Vander and Şillic. The dwarves and Dangar would remain back with Klarg. The heavy clanking of dwarf-armour would give them away before the spell could be cast.

Vander began his incantation, moving his hands in a hypnotic dance and muttering silent words. With a dramatic final gesture, he sent the spell against the goblins. Two of them instantly fell off their stools, asleep. Another stood up, bewildered by what had happened – only to be hit by an arrow from Thalek. Şillic had to push past Vander to fire, but had his arm knocked as Vander ducked out of the way, causing his arrow to fly wild and bounce off the cave wall.

Now Ishtra rushed into the cave with her axe held high. A sudden rage took her, and battle madness shone in her eyes. Eulfgar had managed to creep up quietly and now fired his crossbow. Thalek fired again felling another goblin even as Ishtra closed on the last one standing.
But they had not been fast enough to silence the goblins.

“Put down your weapons or he dies!” boomed a voice from the ledge above them. Shuffling forward, pushing Captain Sildar Hallwinter before him, was Yeemik.
“Harm him and you die” challenged back Şillic.
“You come this far to rescue him and you would see him dead?” cackled Yeemik, thinking he had the upper hand, “How long can you wait…?”
The sleeping goblins were beginning to stir.
Bows were still trained on the goblin leader as the goblins awoke, and got to their feet, drawing their weapons and facing the intruders.
“You can have him if you do something for me,” Yeemik glanced at his bodyguards to judge when they would be fit to fight for him as he played for more time.
“You are dead if you don’t release him now,” continued Şillic in his defiance. Eulfgar slid out of the cave to go back to his brother and Klarg.
“Go and kill Klarg and I will give this trash to you!” screamed down Yeemik.
“We have done that already, so release him before my arm grows tired.”
“Prove it! Bring me his head!”
“No! Release the captain – and you can go look for yourself!”

Ishtra found herself exposed, with 3 enemies circling around her.

The Goblin Leader made his move: contemptuously shoving Sildar off the ledge, Yeemik barked orders in the goblin tongue ordering his guards to attack. Helplessly, Sildar fell the 10 foot down. Too weak to break his fall, he hit the cavern floor with a thud, groaned, and lay still. Even as Yeemik moved swiftly and leapt from the ledge to the stairway down, Thalek and Şillic fired their bows. One arrow struck the goblin, but he laughed it off and charged the group by the cave mouth.

Ishtra brought down her axe on one of the foolish goblins that challenged her, her eyes still bright from the barbarian rage she had brought upon herself. The axe cleaved the goblin from neck to ribcage, gore spouting to the roof of the cave. The second goblin swung wildly at Ishtra but her fleet footed feet dodged the blow. In response, Ishtra’s axe arched high and down, biting into the flesh of the goblin – passing through the creature's hide armour even as knife passes through butter.

Yeemik reached Thalek, and stabbed at the elf with his rusty blade, causing Thalek to step back with a wince.

Şillic noticed a pool of blood spreading from under Sildar and shouted at Vander to go and attend him. This distraction costs Şillic the time to draw his rapier, even as a goblin closed on him, blade high, and wild grimace of hate on his face. The blade sliced down and bit into Şillic’s armour, rocking him back on his feet. This gave Eulfgar the space he needed to attack the goblin on his blindside, crashing his Longsword into the goblin, gauging open its rough hide armour.

Thalek and Yeemik traded blows but neither could strike past the guard of the other.

Vander poured the contents of the last vial down Sildar’s throat; his limp body a convulsed and gasped and breathed again.

The last goblin underling now turned to face Eulfgar, his blade ringing against the chain surcoat that protected Eulfgar – a fateful mistake that exposed his back to Şillic who finished him off with a skewering strike of his rapier.

Yeemik missed again as he swung wildly. But Thalek who now brought down his scimitar to end the goblin's accursed life.

“Dangar! Tordek! Bring Klarg forward” called Şillic. A few moments later they appeared from the passage.

“Tordek, any chance of you using that healing spell on me. That goblin almost did for me” Şillic asked. To his utter surprise Tordek began the incantation and power surged over Şillic’s body sealing the wound and giving health back to him, had he miss judged this young dwarf?

“Where does this one keep his treasure” pointing at the heap that was once Yeemik.

A moment of glee at seeing the corpse of his enemy, instantly transformed into fear of what was about to happen as Klarg read the blood lust on the faces of the victorious party. “Up there I guess,” motioning with a nod of his head.

“Yes I suppose he would.” Şillic started off for the stone cut ledges that served as stairs to the upper chamber. Tordek motioned for his brother to follow Şillic, “go with him I don’t trust him.” Eulfgar nodded and followed Şillic. Thalek, too, climbed the stairs with them, having his own reasons for wanting to search the cavern. Meanwhile, the others searched the lower cavern, but found nothing. Vander continued to attend Sildar, who was drifting in and out of consciousness.

In the upper chamber they found a rudimentary bed against a wall, somewhat larger than those in the lower chamber – clearly Yeemik’s. Barely hidden, a small pouch lay under it. Şillic picked it up and weighing it quickly in his hand emptied it onto the bed. 15 silver pieces and 3 golden teeth lay on the threadbare coverings. A swift scoop of his hand had them back in the bag. Eulfgar’s intent gaze had not gone unnoticed and with practised distraction the purse was dumped into Şillic’s pocket, Eulgar unaware of where it had gone. Elven eyes had scanned the walls and there were no other hiding places. The three returned to the lower chamber to re-join the others.

Tordek instantly quizzed Eulfgar about what was found “Just a pouch with coins” was his reply. “Where is it?” he demanded turning his head sharply in Şillic’s direction.
“Here in my pocket!” Şillic said slowly drawing the pouch from his pocket.
“What did you do with the chest?”
“Nothing, I told you to sort out what we needed and what we should take”
“I haven’t got it!”
“What!!! You left it behind?” The look of incredulity on Şillic’s face mask the myriad of thoughts going through his head, which he shook and turned his back on the hapless dwarf.

Meanwhile Dangar and Thalek were standing beside Klarg. Klarg was still unsure of what fate would befall him. He became even more worried when Dangar took out a knife.

“Can we trust you?”
“You trust Klarg, Klarg good, Klarg want live.”
Dangar sliced the ropes binding his wrists “go.”
Klarg still looked bewildered. Was this a trick? Was he free? “Klarg is free?”
“Yes, go quickly.”
Klarg needed no more telling and shuffled off. Just then a whole load more questions came to Şillic’s mind. Oh well he thought.

Ishtra picked up the unconscious form of Sildar and slung him over her shoulder. The party made their way back to Klarg’s cave half expecting to find him there but he had gone. The chest was still there. Eulfgar picked it up and Şillic placed Yeemik’s pouch into it. To watch Eulfgar you would think that he carried his first born!

A quick once over convinced everyone that the pile of clothes and goods weren’t worth the extra effort to carry back to Onan Daysun and the waiting cart – assuming nothing had befallen him during the wait. But their fears were groundless, and they found Onan waiting for them where they had left him.

“Where’s his armour and cloak?”

At first nobody knew what Onan was asking but eventually it dawned upon them that Captain had be stripped of his outer clothing and mail and was just in his gambeson undershirt. His armour hadn’t been in Yeemik’s cave, nor in the pile of clothing in Klarg’s. It wouldn’t have fitted any of the goblins. It hadn’t been in the cave.

Unfortunately Captain Sildar was in no state to answer any of their questions. It took great effort for him to speak when he finally came around: . “…Iarno Albrek …wizard sent by … Lords … Baldur’s Gate … Durringham … disappeared … months ago … not … heard of … since … Sent … to find … what … happened to him … Got … surprising … letter from … Iarno … Asked … come quickly … did so … ambush! “ he swooned again.

The journey to Durringham was uneventful and finally the small hamlet came into sight as the rutted track emerged from a wooded hillside, and they caught their first glimpse of Durringham. The village consisted of a collection of simple log buildings , some built on old fieldstone foundations. More old ruins – crumbling stone walls covered in ivy and briars – surrounded the newer houses and shops, showing how this must have been a much larger settlement years ago. Indeed, that settlement had been destroyed by werewolves from The Wood of Sharp Teeth. Now, decades later, hardy settlers from Baldur's Gate and Beregost had returned to reclaim the ruins and rebuild. It was now home to farmers, woodcutters, fur traders, and even prospectors drawn by stories of gold in the hills around the Redwaters.

Most of the newer buildings were set on the side of the cart track, which widened into a muddy main street of sorts, as it climbed towards a ruined manor house on a hillside at the east side of town. More of a castle than a house, it was there that the last Lord of Durringham had taken his final stand against the werewolves, long ago.

Most of the newer buildings were set on the side of the cart track, which widened into a muddy main street of sorts, as it climbed towards a ruined manor house on a hillside at the east side of town. More of a castle than a house, it was there that the last Lord of Durringham had taken his final stand against the werewolves, long ago.

The cart finally drew up in front of a large stone building. Above the door hung the sign of a red waterfall. The window shutters are all closed, but through the gaps, they could make out some light, and the sound of a flute and violin can be heard.

Onan approached the door and knocked. The music stopped. Silence.
A few moments later, the door opened part-way, revealing the bald red face of a tall man.
"Who are you, and what be you wanting?" he said in a gruff and suspicious voice.
“We are the party sent from Beregost by the Flaming Fists and we want lodging and a meal.”
He glanced at the captain, opened the door fully, and motioned the party in “you had best get that cart around back sharpish, no need to draw attention to it.”

Onan and Ishtra helped carry Sildar off the cart into the Inn, “I’ll drive the cart around back,” piped up Şillic. Eulfgar jumped from the back of the cart and made for the doorway, still clinging to the chest as if his life depended on it. The others trooped in after him. The flutist and violinists resumed playing, and the few people in the room return to their talk and drinks.

After parking up the cart behind the tavern, Şillic returned to the bar room. The dwarves had ordered ales and were happily quaffing them. Vander, showing the dignity of a noble, claimed a large free-standing chair, sat down on it, and put his feet up. Ishtra, on the other hand, curled up in a corner, her back to the wall, with her knees up under her chin. Dangar and Thalek were talking to Toblin Redbrew the landlord.

Tordek’s interest was absorbed on the chest. The tension in him to divvy up the coinage was all consuming. The chest sat on the table in front of him.

The musicians were elves – a brother and a sister – and they played in the small stage area at the end of the large room. But Şillic had no liking for “Fey-Folk Music”, and moved through the room to join Dangar and Thalek.

“Have our rooms been arranged?” Şillic asked, assuming that is what the conversations had been about. “What rooms?” Toblin interjected, surprise over his face.
“We are the group sent by the Flaming Fists to escort the wagon from Beregost.” Confusion etched Şillic’s face, reflecting Toblin’s surprise. “Didn’t they send word ahead? A rider came to Beregost and called the captain away, early, and we rescued him from the goblins that captured him.”
“Interesting story – but nobody told me about this 'Cap’in' .”
Dangar carried on undaunted by Şillic’s arrival “You were saying about the Red-Daggers?”
“Shh, not so loud!” the music picked up in volume as Toblin motioned to Dangar to lower his voice, “People might be listening.”
“What’s going on?” Şillic tried to catch up, “is this to do with people hurrying home as we came in?”
The music grew again in volume. “Yes, there’s been some trouble. They call themselves the Red-Daggers and they have roughed up some people, but the mayor has done nothing. Everyone knows where they hang out – at the Sleeping Giant.”
“Is that why the Flaming Fists sent Captain Sildar?” enquired Dangar.
“I know nothing about that. Captain you say?” A glimmer of light penetrated the mind of Toblin, and for a moment, his eyes brightened.
“Look we are tired and travel worn,” Şillic insisted in his most convincing manner. “We just want a meal and rooms for the night. The Flaming Fists must have sent word in preparation. I am sure we can settle this when the Captain is up to it in the morning.”
“But business has not been good since the Red-Daggers came!” protested the Innkeeper. “It won't be long before I will be forced to sell-up and leave!”
Thalek added the weight of his personality to the negotiations. Finally, backed into a corner, Toblin gathered his wits and motioned for his wife.
”Trilena! Meals and rooms for our guests. Elsa serve these good people with ales please, quickly!”
Dangar turned to Onan, as he reappeared from helping the captain to a bed upstairs.
“Onan, where were you to deliver the provisions?”
Onan fumbled in the folds of his travelling cloak and extracted the bill of sale. Unfolding the soiled parchment he read “Linene Graywind at the Lionshield Merchants Coster”. He smiled, clearly pleased with his elementary education reading skills.
“Any chance of delivering our goods tonight?” Şillic enquired of Toblin as he drew ale from a large cask.
“Not now. Linene wouldn’t want the attention it would cause – too many eyes about. Best leave that till the morning. She’s feisty enough; and the Red-Daggers generally leave her alone – but there’s no reason to draw attention, is there?”

At the mention of the Red-Daggers again, Şillic seemed to be in favour of going to pay a visit to The Sleeping Giant immediately. Eulfgar and Tordek both raised their eyebrows at this seemingly foolhardy suggestion – suspecting that Şillic was enamoured of the idea of these Ruffians, and actually wanted to join them! Dangar and Thalak, however, were in favour of waiting until the morning, and carrying out a bit of investigate work first, before attempting such a direct confrontation.

A young boy scurried into the Common Room, keen to listen to the musicians. But Toblin shooed him to the side. “Pip, if you're going to be in 'ere, you must not get in the way of all the guests!”. The boy found a place, and sat down on the floor.

Elsa soon had tankards to the dwarfs. Clearly she was accustomed to the proud folk and had served them first before they could grumble. Embolden by the first few gulps Tordek had his hands in the chest, and the clinks of coin against coin could be made out above the music of the musicians.

“Do you have many Dwarves hereabouts?” Şillic casually asked having noticed the manner of the serving girl.
“Oh yes there are a few in the village, Gristle Gristlebeard is over at the Sleeping Giant. How she puts up with the Red Daggers at her place I don’t know… There's the blacksmith of course, Hardryn Rusthammer. Elmer Barthen, who runs the Provisions store, and a few other families too.” At the mention of dwarves, Eulfgar and Tordek got up and came over. “Any dwarf travellers pass by recently?” Tordek enquired.
There was one a few weeks back, must be two months now. Now what was his name? Well-dressed fellow, wore gold chain necklaces. Looked important.” He rubbed his chin first, then tapped his temple. “Gun-something Rockstar, nice armour too!”
“Gundren Rockseekeer?” asked Eulfgar.
“Yes that’s it, you know him?”
“In a way. Where did he go?”
“How would I be knowing that? A private gentleman, kept to himself at least with me. He paid to stay a week, lodged for a few days, and then one evening he didn’t come back. Well I held the room free for him, but he didn’t return to finish his stay. Some say that he’d moved off. He kept bragging about being able to find gold, and he certainly wore chains of the stuff. Maybe he went to find some more?
“He was on good terms with Barthen who runs a Prospector's Provisioning Store.
He might have said something to the blacksmith, too. He had some things made and they were in here one evening together, telling many a fine tale and quaffing tankards of my best ale. You ready for another, young sir?”
“I’m fine thanks,” replied the young dwarf, much to Toblin’s surprise and disappointment. Turning to the others he added, “We have counted the coins and taken our shares.”
Bemused looks spread among the others. “Really?” was the only verbal response, given by Şillic.

Finally the meal was served and Onan appeared again. He had already fed Sildar a broth prepared by Trilena when they first arrived. Onan reported on the Captain's state, that he was still drifting in and out of lucidity, and muttering and mumbling. He hadn’t been able to get anything coherent from Sildar beyond repeating what he had already said.

Sildar and Annan had been ambushed, that much they knew, and caught in a hail of arrows. Annan had died in the battle, but Sildar had only been wounded. Inexplicably the goblins had kept him alive – though maybe only for their sport once back in the caves. Nothing more could be got from him about his armour, which hadn’t been in the cave – another mystery to solve.

After finishing their meal, the group decided to mingle with the rest of the small crowd of locals, and see what else they could discover about Durringham, and the Red-Dagger menace. During a break in the music, Dangar took the opportunity to speak with the minstrels, complimenting them on their skill with the instruments, the harmonies they played; and to find out a bit about them. He discovered their names to be Antannia and Netannia. They had come up from Greenest to Durringham, seeking new audiences for their music and songs. But what they had seen of the Ruffians had been enough to make them want to leave soon and head elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Thalek was talking with Narth, an old Farmer, who mentioned that Sister Garaele, who tended the Shrine of Luck in the centre of the village, was often hassled by the Red-Daggers. However, she seemed to be more than capable of taking care of herself. But then, a month ago, she went off for several days. When she returned, she seemed wounded and exhausted, and was tended to by Trilena until she was well again. But she wouldn’t say anything about what had happened to her, save it was nothing to do with the Ruffians.

The most disturbing news was that from Trilena herself – and that was about Thel Dendra, a local basket-maker. He had stood up to the Red-Daggers a week ago when they came by his shop and leered at his wife. There had been an alteration in the street that several folk saw. Then the morning after, the Dendra house was found broken into, and both Thel and his family had disappeared. It was rumoured that the Red-Daggers had taken them – but no-one either witnessed or could prove it.

And so, as the evening grew late, the musicians made their encore, and the remaining locals finished their flagons, and retired for the night – though none walked out to the street alone. Packing away their instruments, Antannia and Netannia, made their way upstairs to their beds. They were now alone, save for the Innkeeper clearing away the cups and crockery left behind. Ishtra suddenly got up and, without a word, headed for the stairs. The others decided to follow her lead and turn in for the night.

Coarse laughter from outside the inn awoke Şillic, Dangar, Ishtra, and Thalek. Keeping back from the window, they drew their weapons. Thalek carefully peered out. Coming down the street came a group of drunken men in Red Cloaks. They didn’t stop, but continued on down the street, staggering their way like those sodden with drink. After awakening the dwarves to warn them of what had occurred, the group decided to take it in turns to keep watch.

Thalek was deep in thought when his watch was suddenly disturbed – the candle, dimly flickering in the room, suddenly went out. But he was unperturbed by this – for his elven eyes were accustomed to the darkness of the midnight forest, and could still see quite well. He re-lit the candle, and continued his meditations.

In his mind he became a rat, scampering over the roof of the village, keeping his eyes and ears open, and his nose twitching, for trouble. But nothing disturbed him, not even an owl.

In the morning, the group gathered over breakfast to plot their next moves. The Dwarves set off to see Hardryn Rusthammer, the Blacksmith. Meanwhile, Danger, Şillic, and Thalek would go instead to see the Mayor. However, Onan reminded them that there were supplies in the wagon that needed delivering first. And so the two groups went their separate ways, leaving Ishtra back at the inn to keep watch. Since their arrival in the village, she had hardly spoken. The others wondered – was this was something to do with the sudden and violent rages they had witnessed back in the goblin caverns? Anyway, she seemed content to stay behind, so they left her, sitting alone again in her adopted corner, as Pip mopped the floor clean from the muted revelry of the night before.

And Vander? No-one had seen him at all that morning. He had taken his own room, and had not opened the door when Toblen knocked on it. Maybe he was still deep in some fey-magic trance – or maybe he had simply overslept?

---

5. Red-Dagger Showdown

The sun dawned bright and fresh after the evening rain the night before. Vander did not come down to the eating hall for breakfast with the others. It was noted but everyone assumed that he had wizardry things to do, so no-one was overly concerned. After breakfast the groups separated into their tasks.

“We’ll go the blacksmith first” announced Eulfgar. I feel that I should have another hammer – just in case we meet skeletons, perhaps he can give me one.”

Onan was keen to get his delivery made. He set off with Dangar, Thalek and Şillic to the Lionshield Coster, to arrange the delivery of the goods to the proprietress, Linene Graywind.

Hanging above the front door of the modest building was a sign shaped like a wooden shield with a blue lion painted on it. There was also a sign on the door that read: “No Red-Daggers here”. As they entered, they were greeted with a very icy, Northlands-accented “Well, what do you want?”

It didn't take long for them to find out that, to their surprise, they were not expected; and it required the bill of sale to convince Linene that she was to take delivery. Onan went to get the cart whilst the others stayed and quizzed the proprietress about the Red-Daggers. How was it that such an obvious target had not been raided? Her response that “they wouldn’t dare!” would not wash with the party and they pressed harder for more information, but none was forthcoming. Even the suggestion that she was paying for “protection” was brushed aside with an angry retort.

Onan soon returned, though he drove the wagon warily up the street to them. Ishtra was also with him. It didn’t take long to get the barrels and sacks unloaded. Linene paid Onan the fee agreed in the bill of sale, it also included the 70_gp owed to the group as escort. Şillic made a mental note to speak to Onan about that! Onan quickly left and returned to the Redwaters Inn, leaving Ishtra with the others at the Lion shield Coster.

The group stayed on and chatted to Linene. She had little further to say about the Red-Daggers beyond what had already been heard, except she let out a complaint about not having had a delivery for so many months from Beregost.

“What were you expecting?” enquired Dangar.
“A consignment of clothes and dried food stuffs.” She replied.
“What sort of clothes?” injected Şillic, already sure of the answer.
“Some fine wear for the gentry and some good quality workman’s clothing.”
“Can you describe any of the items?”
That’s easy” she replied, “it would be in creates marked with the Lionshield.”
“What does that look like?” asked Ishtra.

By way of answer Linene just pointed upwards to the sign hung above the doorway – with the blue lions head on a shield badge that the group had so recently seen in the goblin cave on many stacked crates. Şillic saw coins before his eyes and, trying to be offhand about it, enquired “what would it be worth to you if that consignment could be recovered?” The wry smile on Dangar’s face revealed that he, too, had thought of the goods in the goblin cave.

Wistfully, not believing that it would be possible or ever happen, Linene started to do some mental calculations before she gave them a reply. A deal was struck: they said that they would keep an eye out for such goods and return them to her if they came across them.

Thalek reminded them that they had intended to go to see the Mayor that morning. On the way over Ishtra opened up: “I looked in on the Captain. He still looks week but hopefully he is on the mend. He is still messed up over the attack. I couldn’t get anything further from him.
“I got talking to Pip though. He has a friend, Carp. Pip is very worried about him. Carp saw something in the woods, Red-Dagger men coming out of a tunnel in the forest. Now he is too scared to leave his house in case the ruffians saw him and recognised him. Perhaps we could visit him to find out more?”

The dwarves approached the ramshackle building that stood for the blacksmith’s forge. From inside the shed can be heard the repetitive measured din of a hammer striking metal. The red fire glow of the hearth silhouetted the bent figure of a stocky dwarf hard at work. Showing due respect for their elder Eulfgar and Tordek waited for the smith to look up and notice them.

Hardryn Rusthammer finally stood up from his work and looked in their direction “Morning lads. What can I do fer yer?”

Now that they were here the dwarves stood silent, speechless, for a moment but Tordek gathered himself quickest. “We got in last night and were told of you and the other dwarf folk hereabouts,” still unsure about how to broach the subject of his uncle. “How’s business with you?”

“Oh don’t get me talking about that, you’ll be here all day. A bad lot those Red-Dagger chaps. Business has dropped right down since they showed up. Not many carts have been through of late and fewer still riders needing their mounts shod.”

“Banditry is the problem. Them Dagger-lads ain’t got it to stop carts and wagons coming in. They just happened to come in at the same time. No! something else is a-foot, too. I would offer to support the mayor if he had a mind to do something about it but he won’t. Scared he is. Counts his pennies and that’s all, no spine.”
“We don’t get many Dwarves passing through. Most of us came when we resettled the village. Though there was one come by a few month back. A bit too showy to my mind. He should have kept his gold to himself rather than flaunt it, especially with those Red-Daggers about – asking for trouble he was.
“He seemed to get on with Elmer Barthen over at the prospector’s supplies well enough, they had much in common. Always talking about digging in the rocks and such.”
“Oh really!” was all the boys could say, not wanting to reveal that Gundren was their kin, and so embarrass the older dwarf.
“Actually we think it's time someone had a word with these ruffians, said Eulfgar. “Do you happen to have a throwing hammer?” A quizzical look came over Hardryn’s face.
“Just happens that I do,” he replied, regaining his composure and reaching up to a rack of tools-cum-weapons. “I would take my own hammer to them, if the other villagers would but support me. I am no hero – but I will gladly help anyone who can drive out the Ruffians once and for all.” His hand found the hammer, and he gave it to Eulfgar, who weighed the weapon in his hand. Though it was light, the head of the hammer was of solid well-wrought steel.
“That should do you. I admire a bit of spirit in a lad – take it with my blessing.”
They then asked for directions to Barthen's Supplies, but as they were leaving, they saw a robed figure hurrying up the street towards them.

Vander suddenly woke up in a cold sweat. There was a loud rapping on the door. A female voice: “Excuse me sir? are you awake now?”
The voice was that of Trilena Redbrew.

Throwing his clothes on and grabbing essential gear, Vander hurried downstairs – the others have already gone. Trilena insisted that he eat something, and while he did so, both she and her husband, Toblen, tried to answer his questions about the plans of the others. “The Dwarves were talking about visiting the Blacksmith, while the others were going to see the Mayor. But a few moments ago, that one called Onan came back to get the wagon, and then went with that red-haired woman to meet the others at Linene Graywind’s Lionshield Coster.”

Vander left the Inn, and looked up and down the street. Then he saw the Dwarves emerge from a ramshakled shed. He dashed over to them.

“What happened last night?” Vander asked, slightly out of breath.

A sharp retort came from Tordek “We got really drunk and learnt about our cousin,” clearly showing distain for the elf.

Vander got the hint that he was unwelcome. “So, where are the others?”

Again Tordek snubbed him with a curt reply: “They went on to the Sleeping Giant Tavern.”

Composing himself with his noble air in the face of this brutish dwarven rudeness, Vander, asked “Are you going to join them?”

This time, with snooty disdain, Tordek dismissed the elf: “No, they can look after themselves.”

Seeingly oblivious to the offence his brother’s behaviour had caused, Eulfgar added, “We are going to see Elmer Barthen at the Prospector’s Supplies store.”

Vander, having the social wit to know when he wasn’t welcome, and thoroughly annoyed about it, strode off in the direction of the Sleeping Giant Tavern.

The Prospector’s Supplies was a small store on the edge of town just before the sprawling area where many of the miners had pitched up single room cabins. Some care had gone into the building as it looked a tad smarter than many of the other buildings in the village.

The buildings door led into a small open area with a serving table much like a bar across the room dividing it into two unequal parts for beyond the desk was shelving running back into the building with every prospecting device imaginable that and small independent miner could ever want. Behind the desk was a short fellow, bald head, with thick white sideburns, bedecked in his work apron, rummaging amongst a box of tools that sat on the desk.“Good morning, fellow brave folk!” he greeted them as he looked up taking in the armoured dwarves. “What can I do for you this fine day?”
“We are told that you were friendly with our uncle Gundren Rockseeker” ventured Eulgar in an inquiringly conciliatory tone (for of course he was speaking with a fellow-dwarf).
“Ah yes, fine chap. We had many a fine night at the Redwaters. Full of stories he was. Sometimes I wasn’t sure if my leg was being pulled, I dare say it was, sometimes.”
“Do you know what his plans were and where he was heading? Eulfgar continued, feeling that information would come in torrents from the loquacious fellow.
“Well there you have it. I don’t rightly know. I don’t think he had a chance see. I warned him that some people might take his stories wrong, and think he had more about him than he did. It wasn’t long after those Red-Dagger fellows started arriving, that he went. Not so much as a ‘by your leave’, which was odd.
“I told the mayor that he wouldn’t just go off without a word. But the mayor wanted to stick his head in the sand and denied there was anything to it. Personally I reckon those Red-Dagger men did for poor Gudrun on account of his gold. He said he knew where a mine should be put. I hope he’s been clever and not spilt all his beans without care to himself, else they might decide he’s no more use to them. No, but I reckon they took him. The ruffians often hang out at the Sleeping Giant. I don't know why Gristle serves them – other than money perhaps? Still, the locals now avoid it”

Incensed at this news the brothers looked to each other and said in unison “Let’s go bash some heads.” They turned and left the building and marched quickly down the same side-street that Vander had taken earlier.

It wasn’t long before they saw him ahead – confronted by four grimy figures wearing red cloaks.

Dangar led Şillic, Thalek and Ishtra over to the village hall, a sturdy stone built building with a pitched wooden roof. Beside the front door hung a long-disused notice board. Still attached to the board fluttered a piece of paper in the breeze. The large wooden door stood barred against them. Not one to be thwarted, Şillic crashed the pommel of his rapier against it and brought forth grumblings and complaint from the other side.

The door open and a well-dressed Halfling, Althan, stood before them. “We want to see the mayor!” Şillic announced as he stepped inside, brushing Althan aside. The others followed him in. At the end of the hall sat Harbin Wester, the Mayor, behind an oversized desk covered in carefully stacked piles of papers, pen poised in his hand as he looked up to see what the disturbance was.

“The mayor? Well that would be me then.” Harbin stated. Şillic continued to march up to his desk. “And what is the meaning of this intrusion?”
Şillic verbally laid into him straightaway. “Are you supposed to be in charge of this place?”
“Wh… Who are you to talk to me like that?” Stammered Harbin, as he rose from his chair in a vain effort to meet Şillic's challenge.
“The escort the flaming fists hired to bring in the supply wagon. We were ambushed by goblins on the road and rescued the Captain taken prisoner by them.” Clearly warming to his role Şillic continued. “And when we get here we find the place overrun by hoodlums, the villagers terrified to go out and you doing nothing!”
Şillic sheathed his rapier, put both knuckles on the edge the desk, and leant towards Habin's face. “What are you doing about these Red-Dagger people?”, Şillic demanded, baring his oversized Half-Orc incisors to add to the menace he wanted to exude.

The mayor, Harbin Wester, was both flustered by the threat, and taken aback by this affront to his office. Puffing himself up in his own importance, the mayor tried to blag his way out of the accusations the party leveled at of his incompetence and lack of action.

Harbin’s spluttered defense and protests revealed that he had done nothing (save make a few ineffective “protests”), had planned to do nothing, and his strategy for getting rid of the Red-Daggers was to wait for them to leave. The Mayor was afraid that any real action would only provoke the Red-Daggers into reprisals. Şillic demanded to know about the village militia and constabulary but apparently there was none.

“Then nominate us as your constabulary and we will deal with it”
“No. That will not do! First we would need a properly-organised ballot of the villagers, and all voting procedures to be followed properly. That cannot happen for another few months yet. Now I must insist that you leave this instant! Good day, Gentlemen!”

Halfway towards the Sleeping Giant tavern, Vander saw a gang of four grimy red-cloaked men waiting for him. All of them stood there, watching the elf, with the hands upon the hilts of their weapons. One of the men spat on the ground. “Time for you to move on, stranger. Give us your gear, and get out of the village before we beat you and your friends out like rabid dogs!”

Back in the Village Hall, Şillic was now really infuriated. He resorted to his now well-practised intimidation routine. It did not take long for the cowardly Mayor to back down: the group became the self-appointed militia and constabulary of Durringham.

“Sounds like we also need a new mayor!” exclaimed Şillic. “What are your chances of re-election with things the way they are?” A short pause then, “Maybe I should stand.”
“But there won’t be an election for several months!”
“Sooner if there was a vacancy.” Şillic’s smile again showed his orcish incisors as his hand slide with deliberate flourish to his rapier.

But before any more could be said, they were interrupted by the sound of clashing weapons coming from outside.
“What's going on?”, exclaimed the Mayor, throughly worried.
Ishtra swiftly moved to a window. “It’s the dwarves!” she warned, already heading to the door.

One ruffian already lay on the ground writhing in agony, his cloak singed and skin crisping after flames had sprung from Vander’s hands. The Dwarves arrived, flanking the elf on either side, and with weapons in hand, quickly sized up the situation. The suddeness of their arrival gave Vander another chance. More Eldritch Fire leapt from his hands: the singed clothing of the fallen man charred, his flesh crisped, and his body writhed even more before the fire consumed him totally – leaving an ashen heap where the hapless ruffian had been.

Eulfgar rushed in with a bull-charge, and smashed another ruffian in the face with his shield, sending him sprawling to the ground. Tordek faced off two ruffians, parrying both their weapons with his warhammer.

Rounding the corner of the village hall Şillic called for everyone to stop fighting – but either he was ignored, or his voice was lost in the bloodlust of battle. Dangar dashed into combat, arm outstretched, rapier ready; catching one ruffian unawares – and skewered him. The ruffian staggered back, surprise and death etched upon his face. Thalek ran forward and transformed himself into a giant spider and charged at the sprawled ruffian lying at Eulgar’s feet. The sudden-change startled the ruffian, absorbing his attention. Terror drove him to dive away from the stinger that Thalek brought down where he lay moments earlier. This act of preservation was momentary as Eulfgar used the distraction to decapitate him.

Flame again erupted from Vander’s hands directed at another ruffian, but the effort to miss Tordek also meant the ruffian was missed. Ishtra now moved behind the melee, swinging her axe at the ducking ruffian, gashing his arm.

The last two ruffians turned to run-away. Tordek swung his warhammer but missed the retreating ruffian, but Şillic, having caught up with the others, thrust his rapier at the wounded ruffian, piercing his back- blade erupting from his chest. Ishtra swung her axe again aiming at the Ruffian’s legs and caught him in the leg. The Ruffian cried out, his run curtailed.

Spider-Thalek then shot a web at the staggering ruffian, bringing him down in an entangled heap. Tordek his rage built to full force snarled questions at the trapped ruffian. The intimidation of Thalek’s snapping mandibles is more than the wretch can take and he spills answers to Tordek’s questions. “What have you done with Gundren Rockseeker, my uncle?”
“The rich dwarf dude, jewels and chains an’ stuff. Yeah they took him to the goblins, not me though I never wanted to touch him.” More words fell from his lips as Tordek, incensed, snarled more questions, terror mounting in the ruffians mind. He revealed that the red daggars had made their lair in the old manor house and were led by Shard-Staff – a wizard possessing a crystal staff of power.

When Şillic came across to assist Tordek the ruffian’s terror peaked and he fainted. Perhaps the last straw was the rapier point at the throat. Tordek huffed at this interruption, feeling that he was doing quite well without Şillic’s “help”.

Without a ruffian to torment, Spider-Thalek turned to the corpses of the two dead ruffians consuming them, leaving just their cloaks and gear. A few shards of flesh and gore dripped form his mandibles. The third, so charred as to be unrecognisable, was ignored; spiders don’t normally cook their food. His meal finished, he transformed back into the familiar shape of the Druid. “Well, I've disposed of the bodies”, he said. “though they were a bit tough and stringy”. The others just looked at him. Ishtra had turned her back to this and not for the last time wondered whether she had wound up with "the dirty half-dozen".

“Let’s get this one back the Mayor’s office.” Said Şillic as he grabbed the thick strands of web and started to drag the comatosed ruffian, not caring about the damage the cobbled street might do to him.

Once inside the hall Şillic deposited him on floor in the middle of the room. Harbin Wester was back at his books. Althan was attending to him carrying some papers to the large desk that seemed to be Harbin’s perennial station. Having dragged the ruffian halfway across the lobby, Şillic dumped him unceremoniously on the floor.

“What have you done?” Shrieked Harbin. “You will bring those vile chaps down on our heads. I told you not to start anything with them. You should leave the village now before you make it worse!!!”
“Too late for that. They shouldn’t have picked on Vander here,” said Şillic gesturing toward the finely dressed noble elf.
“You know too much about what they will do.” Turning to Althan Şillic added “Do you have a cell to lock this ruffian in? I want to talk to him when he wakes up.”
Althan lead them through the building to where two cells stood, Şillic had reclaimed the ruffian from the floor and dragged him along behind him. He pulled up a chair and reached into a box on a high shelf and retrieved a small brass key. Still without speaking he made his way to the cell door and unlocked it and pushed it open. Once the ruffian was inside and Althan had locked the door Şillic held out his hand for the key: “Is that the only one?” Althan hesitated, “The key. Now!” Another practised look shot toward the halfing who now complied and placed the key into Şillic’s hand. The key was quickly secreted into his tunic and Şillic announced “I’m ready for a drink – the Sleeping Giant anyone?” The others eagerly assented – not so much for the drinks (welcome though they would be!), but because they all saw the need to act before the other ruffians were aware of what they had done.

The Sleeping Giant was a ramshackle, dirty building at the east end of town. Certainly, its swinging low double-doors have seen better days. Dangar suggested a quick reconnoitre of the outside of the Tavern building before they took action. They found that the Tavern was a free standing two storey building with dormer windows on the upper floor. A couple of out buildings and lean to abutted the main building but, they were empty of people.

A plan was hatched.
Thalek, back in spider form, climbed up the side of the Sleeping Giant and entered through an open window. The room contained a short but wide bed; and the dresser held items clearly belonging to a female. The Druid returned to human form. His instructions were to wait for the sound of combat downstairs. He used his human hands to open the room’s door, that led onto a broad landing.

Together, Tordek and Eulfgar strode under the porch and entered the tavern through the wide double swing doors. Inside was a room with a few small round tables, wooden chairs, and a bar area with wooden stalls. Behind the bar was a short, scowling beardless dwarf.

A large gang of Red-Cloaked Ruffians were sitting on the chairs, lounging around, drinking and playing cards. To the side, a short figure with a top hat was playing on an old wooden piano, oblivious to everyone in the room, including the dwarves.

The chatter in the bar room fell silent. The seven Red-Dagger Ruffians rose from their seats – only the sound of the piano, played by the Halfling, continued.

The tallest of them, leered at the dwarf brothers, then sneered: “Here’s a couple of the puppies! Looks to me like the little runts! What do you want, puppies? Come here to bark at us? We’ll soon cut your tongues out!”

Eulfgar called out in a loud voice: “Barman, SEVEN jugs of your best ale please!”. Outside, the others heard the signal – and now knew the number of foes they faced within. Dangar and Ishtra pulled open he swing doors for Vander to enter. The Dwarves parted, enabling the Warlock to stand between them. He raised his hands… Two ruffians slumped down in sleep across the table in front of them. Şillic stepped to the side of Vander and shot at the third ruffian, but his aim was hurried and the arrow thunked into the far wall. Ishtra charged in and at this ruffian, slicing his abdomen in half with her battle axe. On hearing the sound of weapon-play, Thalek transformed himself into a wolf, and charged down the stairs to maul the hapless ruffian.

Eulfgar, spurred by the leader’s insults, crashed his shield into the face of the ruffian and sent him sprawling to the floor. Dangar acrobatically leapt across the table that blocked his way to the leader. But even as he struck downwards with his rapier, the ruffian rolled out of the way – but straight into Eulfgar's out-thrust longsword, that speared him to the floor.

Dangar’s leap left him exposed to attack by a two-sword wielding ruffian whose flailing attack sliced open the ex-Pirate's leather armour. Another ruffian, sensing the danger from the Warlock, swung at Vander whose dodge barely escaped the glancing blow. The last ruffian challenged Tordek but swung too high – just how low is a dwarf’s head…?

Şillic slipped past Vander, jabbing his rapier into the off-guard ruffian who howling in pain, staggered into Vander's sword-swing. He, too, crumpled to the floor.

During all this commotion, the music continued to play, though now and again, the halfling looked over his shoulder with a worried face, and quickly returned to the piano.

Wounded, Dangar disengaged from his fight by rolling back across the table he had nimbly leapt before. But the ruffian had other ideas, and leapt across the table to catch Dangar again with a nasty stab. Danger gasped in shock, also rolling off the table to the floor.

Ishtra, crashed her axe into the head of the ruffian attacking Tordek. Freed from his foe, Tordek hurried to Dangar, turning him over and placing his hands upon the wound. The air fissioned with energy; the wound closed. Dangar opened his eyes.

Şillic sensing the ruffian that had wounded Dangar was standing on the table beside him, thrust his own rapier upward, through the leather armour – the point emerging through the top of the ruffian’s chest.

Wolf-Thalek turned upon the slumbering ruffians, goring open their throats with tooth and claw. The showdown was over.

At that, the halfling finally stopped playing. He got down from his stool, made quickly to the bar, jumped on a stall, grabbed a bottle stilling on the bar, and poured himself a stiff drink. He lifted his head up, and down it went. Meanwhile, the stout dwarf landlady, Gristlebeard, came around the bar to the table where some of the ruffians had earlier played cards. “Lordy me!!!” she muttered. She quickly scooped up the pile of coins still lying on the table. ‘Long overdue payment for all the hassle they’ve caused me!’, she said with some satisfaction. “Can’t say I’m not pleased though. Bad for business those…”

Her voice trailed off as her eyes beheld the wolf, fresh from its kill, transform back into the shape of the Druid. She recomposed herself. “Who are you gentlemen then?”

“We are the newly appointed village militia.” Replied Şillic. “Just received our commission from the mayor.”

“Well I be thanking you then. It ain’t much but I was about to prepare lunch for this lot, you are welcome to it.”

We’ll accept you kind offer madam.” Thanked Şillic and with that she whisked herself away as quickly as she had come, heading for the pantry. The dwarves had already begun frisking the dead ruffians and the party had soon completed the job. Nothing on any of them gave them any clue as to the size of the band but the few copper coins recovered from them were a welcomed reward for such ‘entertainment’.

Over the meal, plans were made for a foray into the bandit liar for later that night once everyone had a chance to rest and spells prepared. Over the meal Şillic revealed to Vander, Tordek and Eulfgar that Linene at the Lionshield Mercantile was offering 15_gp for the recovery of the missing goods that hadn’t arrived over the last few months. He explained that her description of the goods matched those that they found in the goblin cave and proposed that they spend the afternoon fetching them. The chance of more gold particularly pleased the brothers and they made preparations to retrieve Onan’s cart.

This time, the journey to the cave was uneventful. Flies and other insects buzzed around the decomposing corpses, but otherwise it was how they had left it – including the goods. But outside the entrance to the cave, they found fresh tracks: goblin feet. One set led into the cave, the other back out again and into the undergrowth. Someone had seen their work.

When they returned with the goods, Linene, true to her word, though somewhat disbelieving her eyes, paid Şillic a pouch of coins. As she handed them over, she added that she had some special items that might be of interest. Not everybody she said were privileged to seen some of her “special” items – and certainly not the ruffians. She led the group to the back of her storeroom where she kept her armoury. Various weapons and armour were displayed either against the wall or hanging up. Ishtra instantly took interest in the selection of shields. She soon selected one and paid for it. The rest were more circumspect and said they would be back once they had decided what they would need.

When they had all returned to the Redwaters Inn the dwarves were asked about their morning since they had been very quiet about it all day.

Tordek, rather sheepishly began, “We were mugged by the blacksmith. He took all the coins we got from Klarg’s cave.”
“Really?” Voiced Şillic. “So what is that chest shaped object you have been carrying in you backpack all day?”
His bluff called Tordek came clean that he had been “Joking”. The raised eyebrows and telling looks from the others clearly told him that his days as party treasurer were numbered, if not over.
“Okay, so we went to see Hardryn Rusthammer at the smithy it looked pretty run down but you knew he was there because you could hear him working. We got him talking but he was rather concerned at the drop off of work lately, not many wagons had arrived recently. Well he told us his guess at banditry but we stayed stum about the goblins. He didn’t seem to think it was the Red-Daggers. From what he said his run-ins with them they seemed too cowardly for that sort of stuff. He’s itching to take a hammer to their heads but won’t act alone. He wants the other villagers to rise up with him!”
“Finally we got him onto Gudrun. He reckoned him a bit too flash, unwise to flaunt his wealth, especially with the Red-Daggers around. Anyways he suggested we visit Barthen who runs the Prospector's Provisioning Store. So we went off there.”
“I guess that was when I turned up,” added Vander. “The landlady woke me up and I rushed outside and saw them at the blacksmith’s. I asked them what happened after I went to bed but they said they were too drunk to remember.” He snorted. “Then I asked them about where you guys had gone off to and they told me you went to the Sleeping Giant.”
“I challenged them about helping out but they said they didn’t care! So I hurried after you. Or so I thought…”
“You could have handled those goons!” sneered Tordek.
“Oh Yeah!” Vander ended with mocking disdain.
“Well anyway. We goes over to see Barthen. His shop is full of mining kit, shovels and picks and stuff. He remembered Gudrun. He thought he was too full of himself.”

Eulfgar picked up the story “He reckoned that them Red-Daggers had somethin’ to do with Gudrun’s disappearance. He blamed the Red-Daggers for a whole load of stuff. Making it hard for everyone to earn a living, shaking down business-folk and the like.”
“Anyways, I told Tordek that we had better got over to the Sleeping Giant. Fortunate that I did because that’s when we caught up with Vander getting hassled by the Red-Daggers. When they saw us coming they got right nasty and started mixing it.”
“Is that a new hammer?” Asked Thalek, now back in human form. “I don’t remember you having that yesterday.”
“Hardryn gave it me. Well asked for one and he gave it.”
Şillic then recounted the story of the “agreeable” meeting with the Mayor. It was the most merry round of drinks they that had for a long time…

---

6. Ruffian Reprisals

After the showdown in the Sleeping Giant Tavern, Dangar and Ishtra visited the Alderleaf family and persuaded Carp to show them where the secret entrance to the Red-Dagger hideout. But as they returned from the wood, they saw the torches of a large band of Ruffians coming down the hill from the Old Manor, intent on revenge.

They fled back back to the Redwaters Inn to warn the others. The party detoured through the village to the south (with Şillic stopping off at the Village Hall for some ‘unfinished business’), and then swung North to the Manor Road so as to come up behind the ruffians. This time the villagers of Durringham had rallied to fight, and in the battle the Ruffians were caught between the defenders to the front and the party to their rear.

The party then took the opportunity to explore the Old Manor ruins, and found a door leading down into a basement. Suspended over a cistern in Spider-Form,, Thalek espied a satchel hidden under the waters. It contained clothes and two vials, one which was identified by Vandar the Warlock as a healing potion. But as the party explored the barrels stored in the basement, they alerted a group of Ruffians who had been on guard in the next room…

The Ruffians were soon slain, and the party continued to explore the hideout. Down a wide passageway, they saw some bronze doors, which both Dangar and Ishtra made for – only to find the floor give way to a pit-trap. Fortunately, they were both able to grab the pit-ledges and were rescued. After working their way around the pit, the party opened the doors…

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7a. The Search for Shard-Staff - Part 1

After smashing and incinerating their way through skeleton sentinels, the heroes searched the stone coffins in the room. The dwarves found and told everyone that they had found Platinum Signet Rings in each sarcophagus. Şillic was so shocked by this honest revelation, that he tripped and fell against the door he was examining, which flew open, depositing him clumsily on the floor of the room beyond it – and right in front of the surprised Ruffian Guards.

The others charged in and the ruffians were quickly overwhelmed. Soon, the prisoners they had guarded were freed: they were the missing wife and children of Thel Dendrar – murdered by the Red-Dagger Ruffians for daring to stand up to them.

A further corridor opened onto a storeroom in which the heroes found a stockpile of weapons and armaments. But then their progress was foiled by a seeming dead-end. Eventually, half-a footprint was found leading into a wall – revealing the presence of a secret door. They passed through this, with the rescued family following behind. The storeroom beyond led to the north end of a natural cavern, rent down the middle by a dark crevasse from which came the repugnant smell of rotting decay.

Strange sensations mingled with murmurings in the mind, revealed that they were not alone… for indeed in the cavern lurked a ragged creature, with a baleful eye that gleamed out through the darkness with a malevolent gaze that could rot the flesh of a victim. A vicious fight followed in that grim cavern. Even as it fought back, the Nothic looked at Şillic and shook the minds of everyone with a mental scream of “MURDERER!!”

The group gathered together to see what it was that they had slain. Thalek and Ishtra were still separated from the others by the crevasse. the others had earlier crossed it via a wooden bridge to the north. But when Ishtra was about to set foot upon the southern bridge, her Barbarian Senses warned her that something was not right. Indeed she found the bridge had been rigged so that too much weight would plunge the wooden struts down into the crevasse. Then Thalek the Druid walked up to the very edge of the crevasse and looked.

The bottom of the crevasse was not too far down. But on the crevasse floor below his feet, amidst a pile of bones, he saw the remains of a half-eaten body…

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7b. The Search for Shard-Staff - Part 2

After finding the half-eaten, murdered body of Thel Dendrar, the group pushed on to seek out Shard-Staff and finally bring him to justice. After a vicious fight with three Bugbears (that saw some atrocious bow-fire by Dangar!), and then a further skirmish with drunk Red-Dagger Ruffians, they finally came across workshop where a magic Potion of Invisibility was being prepared. Vandar the Warlock soon guessed that the red potion he still had, from the satchel previously found hidden in a water cistern, was the same Potion.

After killing his rat-familiar, the heroes entered the wizard’s room to find that his Bodyguards were alerted, and Shard-Staff himself had fled through a secret door. They quickly overcame the bodyguards, and found that the secret door hadn’t quite closed properly. Vander swallowed his potion and went through the door in pursuit.

In a chest, the Dwarves found necklaces and jewellery belonging to their kidnapped cousin, Gundren Rockseeker. A letter was also found on the desk that read as follows;

Lord Albrek, my spies in Baldur’s Gate tell me that strangers are due to arrive in Durringham. They are no doubt Agents of the Lord’s Alliance. They are also a threat to our plans. Capture them if you can, kill them if you must. Don’t disappoint me.
(The Letter was signed with the symbol of a spider, stylised in black.)

Others in the party also wasted little time in going off in pursuit. They were hampered by not seeing anyone, but the sounds of running led them back through the large cavern, down another secret passage, to emerge once again in the cellar room with the water-cistern. But they found the cistern-waters polluted with blood running from the lifeless black-robed body of Shard-Staff, lent over the cistern edge. His throat had been cut. The Warlock also stood there, knife-blooded, his potion-spell broken by this violent act…

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8. The Spider’s Web

They found the cistern-waters polluted with blood running from the lifeless black-robed body of Shard-Staff, lent over the cistern edge. His throat had been cut. The Warlock also stood there, knife-blooded, his potion-spell broken by this violent act. “Why?”, Şillic, dumbfounded, asked.

Vander finds himself deep in a forest. As he moves through the trees, he comes across a glade, pulsating with power. Within the glade are many Creatures of the Fey dancing in a ring; and in the middle of the ring, a Lord and Lady. They turn and look directly at him, as if inviting him to join them… But even as he steps forwards, he suddenly finds himself walking into thin, but strong, black, sticky string. he struggles, but it somehow wraps around him more and more… Then a dark black shape scuttles towards him, eight-legged with four bulbous eyes. Its mandibles snapping together, extended towards the helpless and struggling Vander… it attacks!! Vander suddenly wakes up, finding himself back in his room in the inn. There’s a loud rapping on the door. A female voice: “Excuse me sir? are you awake now?”

Freed from the Red-Dagger Ruffians, the village has noticeably changed. Sildar Hallwinter has won the support of the people, and though there were protests from Mayor Harbin, and opposition from the proprietress of the Miner’s Exchange, Halia Thornton, all outward signs of discontent were silenced when Onan produced a Letter of Authority from the Lords of Baldur’s Gate, appointing Sildar as the new Lord and Protector of Durringham. Meanwhile, the heroes are hailed for their key part in the town’s liberation, and a celebration is held in their honour at the Redwaters Inn.

Before the festivities Ishtra found a merchant that was selling anything to the heros at half price and bought some fine clothes to wear. She also had a bath brought up her room at the Inn. At the festivities she offered to dance with each of the six men but only Vander accepted her offer.

During the festivities, Şillic notices the mysterious stranger that he’d previously met in Beregost. The stranger immediately leaves, and Şillic follows… Outside, footsteps are heard running off up the street northwards. The Cloaked Stranger climbs on the horse, and then rides out of the village into the night, only for the horse to be blasted by a fireball from Şillic. In wolf-form the stranger runs into the forest. Also in wolf-form, Thalek pursues – but not far inside the tress, the shape-changer becomes a Giant Bat and escapes.

When the heroes realise that in order to search for the Black Spider, they must venture out from Durringham, Qulline Alderleaf suggests that they seek out Reidoth the Druid. Mirna Dendrar also asks if they can visit Thunderbranch to recover her heirloom. Meanwhile, Sister Garaele, the young elven cleric, has become somewhat friendly with Vander. She reveals her failed quest to Coneyberry to find and bring a gift of a silver comb to a Banshee named Agatha, and so enquire her about the whereabouts of the spellbook belonging to Bowgentle the Mage.

Finding the town short of horses, the heroes shoulder their packs, and head west out of Durringham, towards the Redwater Fells. On the way, Ishtra decides that it is time to try out her newly-gained powers to see through the eyes of other creatures. Some of the group stay back with her, while the others continue ahead.

After much prancing and mumbling, Ishtra places her hands upon the blackbird currently at peace in the Druid's gentle hands. Ishtra closes her eyes and speaks more words that are incoherent to her small audience. Then she stops, backs away; the bird flaps his wings and takes to the air.

Ishtra sits down on a fallen tree-stump, closes her eyes again, and begins to speak:

“The bird is rising, up and up and up. To the left the forest extends uphill and for miles and miles. But ahead the forest is gashed by ridges and hilly peaks. I see the river cutting its way through the highlands like a shining blue ribbon, from the high peak crowned by a ruined tower to the left, down several waterfalls, until it drops into a lake. From there it flows onwards towards Greenest in the South. Another track follows it.

“Coming up the southern track, I espy a group of travellers, walking wearily, pulling wagons by hand. On the other side of the ridge, I see smoke rising. There are packs of wolves roaming, but far away. There’s a hill encircled with a great ring of stones, rising from the ground like silent sentinels. Wait! There’s a tall figure among the stones, looking out upon the plains below. He is robed in red. He’s looking up at me – has he seen me? He's turned his back, and is walking back to the centre of the stones. It’s going dark. The spell has ended… there is nothing more.”

They continue on to catch-up with the others…

---

9. Wanderers and Hunters

In their search for the lair of the Black Spider, the group have ventured out among the Redwater Fells – a group of hills and ridges that cut a gash into the forest known as the Wood of Sharp Teeth. The Redwater River, that gives its name to the region, cuts its way down the rocky heights via a series of rapids and waterfalls. The heights themselves have their own names: Harpy Heights, Old Owl Well, and Wyvern Tor – reminders, perhaps, of former inhabitants that once dwelt upon them. There is also evidence, too, of ancient peoples who once marked the hills as their own. But who they were, and where they went, perhaps only scrolls buried in the haunted ancient library of Firewine Bridge can tell.

The heroes made their way down to where the river entered the Redwaters Lake. There they found along the shore some shacks part-buried into the hillside, and evidence of recent encampment. A rustle in the grassy embankment above them – they were being watched…

…By a group of Halfling Prospectors, who had a shared obsession with finding gold in the Redwaters and making their fortune. They were quite friendly, if perhaps somewhat tiresome, but they were willing to talk and the adventurers found out much from them: that back in Durringham, Halia had designs on replacing the ineffective mayor, and that Hobgoblin Warbands were roaming the Fells, possibly looking for something – or someone. They also recounted how the dwarf, Gundren Rockseeker, would often spend time with them when he was out prospecting himself, and would be most generous with his supply of beer – though he usually ended up drinking most of it, collapsed in a heap, and made such a snoring noise all night that any wild creature roaming about would have taken fright and avoided their encampment. One of the Prospectors, Podo Brockenburough also claimed he had seen a tall Red-Robed figure walking up the track from Greenest.

The party continued on. They were climbing up the track to the circle of stones on Harpy Heights, when a flight of arrows revealed the ambush above them. The Hobgoblins attacked. In the fight, Droop the Goblin who had been rescued from Shardstaff’s Bugbears, showed unexpected courage in stabbing a hobgoblin and so vindicating the Dwarf Brothers’ care of him. After the fight, the heroes made their way to the stone circle on top of the hill. There, in the midst of the ring of ancient stones, they found several pits – and evidence that some THINGS had climbed out of them.

With the Sun setting, the group made camp. But during the night, as the moon rose, those on watch were disturbed by wolf-howls that got ever closer. Rousing their comrades, the party prepared themselves even as they heard the wolves on the slopes below, gorging themselves on the hobgoblin-slain. They readied their weapons…

All except Thalek. In a crisis of conscious, the Druid has left the group, and has taken himself off to the altar stone, leaving the others to fight off the wolves without him…

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10. Rocks and Bones

After the wolves, that had attacked them during the night, had fled, Ishtra saw a bright flame, as if from a fire, coming from the top of the rocky height to the North. However, the party decided to continue on with their journey to Coneyberry to find Agatha the Banshee; and then onto Thunderbranch in search of Reidoth the Druid. Back in Durringham, Qelline Alderleaf had suggested that Reidoth may know something about the whereabouts of The Black Spider ’ a shadowy figure who seems to be behind a goblin ambush, the Red-Dagger Ruffians, and the kidnap of the Dwarves’ cousin, Gudrun Rockseeker.

On their way through the rocky pass, the heroes espied an orc ambush. However, the orcs underestimated the ‘travellers’, and the fight was not long. The last orc mentioned something about a ‘chief’ before succumbing to its wounds. As evening fell, the party made it to the edge of the ruins of Coneyberry, but rather than stay there overnight, they forded the river and found a dell on the other side that helped to conceal their camp.

During the night, those on watch could discern lights up on the hill that was now behind them. But that was not the danger that attacked them that night. Fortunately, the combination of Şillic’s ‘early warning’ trap, the sound of large feet crossing the ford ’ and the Ogres’ inability to not argue ’ alerted the heroes to the coming of the Fell Brothers.

There was no further disturbance that night, despite the lights on the hill. In the morning, the heroes ventured into the abandoned village that had been seldom visited, since its destruction by the werewolves from The Wood of Sharp Teeth, several decades ago. But as they began to explore, a sudden storm blew up from the east, covering the sky in darkness, and pelting them all with heavy rain. Even as they found shelter of sorts, above the lightning and black clouds, there came the roar of some creature flying overhead.

Just as suddenly as it began, the storm passed. Outside the village, the heroes found a narrow path that led into the trees of the Werewood. The way twisted and turned through the thick dark forest until eventually it opened into a clearing. There they found a ramshackle dwelling, and there also was Agatha.

Their audience with the Banshee over, the heroes have returned back along the path and are back outside Coneyberry. Further up the main track to the east is Thunderbranch…

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11. Venomfang

The party finally made it to Thunderbranch. But just as they were approaching the abandoned settlement, from behind and above them, swooped a large green flying shape, breathing obnoxious fumes.

The young dragon, Venomfang, was playing them for sport. After forcing everyone to dive left and right, it passed over and seized wild livestock before swooping back up and flying on the stone tower that dominated the village. Even so, on finding Reidoth the Druid, he warned them that they would not be able to leave in safely unless they could somehow drive Venomfang from his lair. Facing the choice of fighting the Dragon out in the open, or in a confined space, the heroes chose the latter. With Reidoth leading, they set forth…

After a fight with Giant Spiders on the way, the heroes followed the path up the hill to the tower, when they ran into a group of Black-Robed and masked men – Dragon Cultists. Favric their leader used honey-coated words to persuade the heroes into working together to talk with the dragon instead. In disgust at this suggestion, Reidoth walked off.

Though suspecting a trap, the heroes accompanied the cultists as together they entered the Tower – and the Dragon’s Lair. There, Favric invited Venomfang down from the top of the Tower, and the Dragon came. They were indeed betrayed – for Favic offered the heroes to Venomfang as tribute. So began a desperate fight for their lives…

Eventually, the heroes prevailed, the Cultists were all slain, Reidoth returned; and the Dragon was driven from the tower, and threatened revenge as he leapt into the sky.

Concealed among Favric’s robes they found a thin black casket containing a rolled parchment of vellum. Written in blood-red ink was a familiar threat: The heathen who dare to defy the dragons will burn when She arises again!

Later, they found that Reidoth did not know who the Black Spider was, nor his lair. But he did know that he was now the Right Hand to King Groll of the Cragmaw Goblins. He also told them there were a tribe of Orcs on Wyvern Tor who had encroached on what King Groll considered his territory.

Further, he mentioned that before he came to Thunderbranch, he’d seen a Red-Robed figure up among the Stones of Harpy Heights. But he also cautioned that those known to wear such robes are the cursed Necromancers of Thay…

---

12. Nightwalkers

Following their fight with Vemonfang, and the Cultists who tried to prevent them from driving off the Dragon, our heroes took shelter and stayed for the night with Reidoth the Druid, who warned them that the town was still haunted.

Their sleep was disturbed by sounds of slow rhythmic footsteps, and moans coming from outside Reidoth's dwelling. As they glimpsed through concealed gaps in the door and shutters, at first, all they could see was darkness, but as their eyes adjusted to the little light there was, they could make out shapes of misshapen creatures moving down the streets...The house was besieged by the zombies, but by Sunrise, all the night walkers had gone.

After breakfast, the group left Reidoth, and decided to explore the ruins in the hope of finding the old Herbalist shop that had belonged to Mirna Dendrar's family, and the heirloom hidden inside. After house-to-house battles with both zombies and twig-blights, they finally found the place, and the Gold Neckless with the Emerald pendant.

But instead of leaving the town, the group decided to explore further. They came to the barracks where more zombies waited – this time the armed and armoured former soldiers of the town garrison. The fight was long and fierce – especially since zombies struck down tended only to to get up again to continue the attack.

Finally, victory was won, but time had been wasted, and it was already passed noon. Somewhere, out among the fells, or hidden away in the Werewood Forest, the Black Spider still lurked. Though his webs had been torn, still he brooded – and it doesn't take long for webs to be mended.

---

13. Well of Bones

Now the party made their way back from Thunderbranch, finding the camp they had made outside Coneyberry, and the half-eaten ogre carcasses still lay in the river. As night fell, the lights from the orc-sentries on Wyvern Tor appeared again. But that night's danger did not come from there. As the camp-guards looked outwards, bat-like creatures swooped in and fastened themselves upon those sleeping…

When day broke, shaken somewhat by the Stirge attack, the adventurers continued their journey Northwards. The few clues they had pointed to finding a Red-Robed figure somewhere among the fells, and a mysterious bright flame that Kered had seen a few night earlier, coming from the top of the rocky height known as Old Owl Well to the North. Making their way over the broken rocky slope between Harpy Heights and Werewood Forest, the heroes saw a sudden rising of black crows ahead of them. As they crested the next rise in the ground, they found before them remains of dead orcs, goblins and hobgoblins lying where they had been recently slain, disfigured by weapon and crow alike. A check of the bodies revealed that they had died fighting each other, and that they had already been looted by whichever group had survived the skirmish.

Eventually, they made it to the Redwater River, and followed it North until they came to the foot of the jagged rocky hill of the Old Owl Well. Above them, cresting the hill, rose the walls and crenellations of an ancient fortress, whose name had been long forgotten. Thalek invoked his Druid powers. Taking the form of a Giant Spider, he ascended the steep slopes to scout ahead. On reaching the top, he found a gap in the wall led into a courtyard, in the middle of which, next to the ancient well, was a red circular tent. He returned to the others, who made their way up the precarious slope to investigate. But even as they entered the courtyard, Ishtra's Barbarian senses caused her to turn her eyes to the sudden rattling coming from the ancient tower. From its dark doorway, a score of skeletons issued out to surround the group.

Even as battle was joined, the tent entrance-flap opened, and a tall red-robed bald but tattooed sallow-skinned man emerged the tent, demanding “And what is the meaning of this intrusion?” He made firm movements of his hand, and immediately, the skeletons stopped moving.

The heroes were of course very wary of the Necromancer, especially since Vander sensed his powers were beyond their own. Fortunately, the Exile from Thay, Rath Modar, seemed more in the mood to share knowledge with people who could actually talk in conversation, rather than his tongue-lacking servants! He said he was interested in historical research, and seemed to know quite a bit about dragons. They asked him about the Black Spider. The sharp-eared noticed that he muttered under breath “That stupid, ambitious and foolish meddler!” before he finally answered:
“His name is Nezznar, a bitter exile from the Drow. A Dark Elf full of more ambition and spite than is good for him. I believe he lives in a castle somewhere in the forest down there, (he pointed down the hill). You may go and find if you wish, but I have better things to do. He does not bother me, and I do not particularly want to bother him.”

Before he left them, he also revealed what it was he had been searching among the ruins for: he held up a strange, twisted Green mask, Dragon-like in shape.

“Maybe we’ll meet again…assuming, that is, the Dragons do not return first…”

He cast a portal in the air and walked through it. The portal closed behind him. All the skeletons collapsed into heaps of bone.

With night closing in, the group made camp among the ruins. This time, nothing disturbed their rest. Şillic the Half-Orc climbed to the top of the ancient tower. Though he could see little in the dark gloom, from not far away he could hear cries, wolf-howls and the din of battle; and far to the south, an orange glow far beyond Harpy Heights and Wyvern Tor.

When morning came, the group quickly descended the hill towards the edge of the forest that Rath Modar had pointed to the evening before. The sound of voices soon revealed Hobgoblins approaching through the trees. With a quick ambush, the heroes dispatched the Hobgoblins, and followed the path deep into the Werewood.

The path twisted and wound its way through the dark Forest. Every so often, strange noises and howls could be heard coming from within the Werewood. Some far away; some unnervingly close. Too close – Direwolves leapt out to front, rear, and centre, with the narrow path making it awkward to fight.

When the last wolves fled, the heroes treated their wounds, and continued on. Finally, the trail emerged out of the trees and at the foot of a low barren hill, upon which stood the crumbling towers and ramparts of an aged castle…

---

14. The Lair of The Black Spider

Behind their adventures to rescue Sildar, the street-fights in Durringham, their hunt for Shard-staff, and their quest to find what had become of Gundren Rockseeker, there seemed to be a web of deceit, weaved by a Black Spider. Now their quest had finally brought them to a large clearing deep in the Werewood, and at the foot of a low barren hill, upon which stood the crumbling towers and ramparts of an aged castle…

To the side of the clearing, A large corpse hung from a tree – the sorry remains of Klarg the Bugbear. A rough wooden sign was nailed to the tree with the word “TRATOR” (sic) written on it in clumsy red letters. Seeing this finally freaked out Droop, the goblin who had been accompanying them since they rescued him from Shardstaff’s Bugbears. He clearly used to live in the castle – probably a runt of the tribe – and he was terrified of returning. The dwarf-brothers tried to calm him, but it was no good: he kept babbling on about King Groll being BIG, Groll’s pet had sharp teeth, that Fat Yegg the Cook used to beat Droop, some goblin called Lhupo was a priest, Lhupo also had pets, the Goblins were bullied by “Big Goblins”, Targor led the bullies, and about a “a Big Beast in a Tower”.

Droop then fled back into the wood, though Şillic tried to stop him with a Fireball. The flames missed Droop, but hit and set a tree alight. This alerted the Entrance Guards. With nothing for it, the dwarf-brothers took the direct approach again and led the charge…

After surviving arrows and killing the goblin guards guarding the way in, the party made it inside. At first the group split up. Eulfgar and Tordek blundered into a tripwire, but quickly dodged out of the way, also pushing Dangar away from the falling masonry. The others found a store room, and among the barrels they found the sword, blooded surcoat, and armour of Captain Hallwinter. The next room held a group of Hobgoblins, but deft weapon-handling, magic, and elf acrobatics from the Druid swiftly put paid to them.

From the door across from the Hobgoblins room, they heard strange mumbling and chanting. Entering they found a shrine of robed goblins, in which the elf-brothers felt uneasy. Again another fierce fight that saw the lead goblin ‘priest’ wildly lunge, slip and fall across the altar – only to have Şillic vault over him and the altar to the other side…

Once the goblins were slain, the heroes attempted to cleanse the place by decapitating the grotesque wooden idol. By this act, the minds of the elves cleared. The group left the shrine, passing through one of two curtained doorways that led into a large hall.

As they looked around that dark, echoing room, from hidden alcoves high up in the gloom, two large tentacled creatures dropped silently down behind them…

---

15. Deceit and Treachery

One Grick landed behind Ishtra, the other tried to entangle Eulfgar and Vander. But none of the tentacles could get a hold of them. The others spun around. Eulfgar struck at his assailant, but missed, and then the grick caught and wrapped around him, though its beak was thwarted by his mail. Danger rushed to aid him and, with one blow decapitated the the beast, freeing the dwarf. The others surrounded and slew the second grick.

As they studied again the hall, especially looking to see where the gricks had come from, it dawned on Tordek that the hall was part of the shrine, and that it was not goblin-made. All the defaced decor was reminiscent of a Chapel of Men, once dedicated to gods of Good. Meanwhile, Şillic checked out the brazier between the curtained doorways, and was surprised to find hidden away a gold figurine wrapped in red cloth. He passed it to Tordek.

The group decided to risk a rest. Finding that the west door opened onto the pile of masonry that had nearly claimed the dwarf-brothers near the gate, they secured the east door. They were fortunate for not a single goblin came to investigate. Maybe the goblin inhabitants had received instructions to not interrupt the goblin priest at prayer?

As the others relaxed, Tordek began some chanting of his own. He touched the statue, and in that moment, it was revealed to him that the figurine had limited power of divination. He asked of it the one question that was important to him:

“Where is Gudrun Rockseeker, my cousin?”
A thought appeared in his mind: “In a room behind a locked door“
Tordek smirked at this typically enigmatic and unhelpful reply.

Continuing through the east door, they entered into a corridor with more piles of fallen masonry on either side. Movement was heard to the north. Exploring that way, they found a bedraggled, older dwarf, with a familiar face looking worse for wear.

“You’ve found me at last! I’ve being trying to escape for ages – but they haven’t found me yet! Come! Let us get out of here!”

Tordek was unsure: Was this really Gudrun? Where was the locked door? “If you’re really my cousin,” he challenged, “then what is my mother’s name?”

The dwarf backed away. Looking into the suspicious eyes of the heroes, he knew the game was up. With a snarl his shape changed to that of a deformed, twisted grey humanoid – a Doppelganger.

With his deceit stripped away, he was still no match for them in a fight. When he finally collapsed, momentarily he became the cloaked stranger whom Şillic had diced with so long ago in Beregost, then the uncanny likeness of Şillic, next a leathery giant bat, before returning to a lifeless grey humanoid stretched out upon the stone floor.

Near-deceived, the heroes decided to be more wary than they had been since entering the fortress. Across the corridor was another door that Silic put his ear to. He heard the unmistakable deep gravelly voices of hobgoblins who had been alerted to the noise of a fight, but who mistakenly put it down to ‘goblin antics’. The heroes readied themselves, and went in. There were indeed five hobgoblin guards, stronger, tougher, and better-armed. Remembering the terror and distress in Droop’s eyes, Ishtra became enraged and charged in, swiftly decapitating one, and slicing in half another. One hobgoblin tried to run north shouting “we’re being attacked!”, before Vander’s Eldrich Blast fried him. Even so, Eulfgar was set upon by two of the guards and was wounded before, they were also slain.

There was one door south, but it was clearly the east door to the north that they wanted. Listening to that door, Şillic heard enough: One fierce low voice, and another voice: smoother, more noble, and yet sly. They seemed to be in a discussion about how they might stop the heroes from thwarting their schemes, that the loyalty of Targor the hobgoblin was suspect, and what to do with “the Dwarf”.

They readied their weapons. Şillic used Mage-Hand to open the door, and it swung wide open. Within the room a robed armoured bugbear sat upon a makeshift throne. To his left was his pet Direwolf, around the room upon either side were Hobgoblin guards. And to his right: a dark robed dark elf, clutching a twisted staff – Nezznar, the Black Spider! He raised his staff, and thick blackness covered the room, impenetrable even to infravision.

But this did not stop Thalek pull back his elf-bow and shoot at where King Groll had been. A surprised cry from the Bugbear revealed the Druid had hit! The direwolf leapt out of the blackness, but was confused to find that the hero in front was a dwarf – the beast sailed over Eulfgar’s head to land in the midst of the party. Vandar was knocked over. But the others made short work of the wolf, even as hobgoblins followed behind

Together, and supported by the others, Eulfgar and Ishtra held the Hobgoblins back. A bugbear’s command: “Back away you fools!”, and the surviving guards retreated into the blackness. The darkness lifted, but as it did, darts of magic leapt out at Eulfgar and Ishtra. Eulfgar winced in pain.

Ishtra and Eulfgar charged in, followed by the others. The Barbarian laid into hobgoblin guard to the right, Thalek, and Dangar also leapt in, firing arrows.

But they weren’t just dueling with goblins. Tordek summoned a Spiritual Weapon to attack KIng Groll. but the dark-faced, dark-cloaked Drow raised his hands. Another Dart of magic struck the Dwarf, and he lost concentration: the Magic Sword disappeared from whence it came. The Black Spider raised his hands again. More darts leapt out to hit Eulfgar. Now in serious pain, Eulfgar, collapsed to his knees. “NO!”, Tordek cried. Nezznar smiled, and raised his hands again.

Suddenly, blasts of twisting green-tongued fire hit him in the chest, and with a cry the Black Spider fell back. Vandar entered the room and advanced towards him. But Nezznar was not yet beaten. He got up, then reached out to palm-hit the Warlock. The Elf cried out in turn at the sudden shock of power.

Tordek, meanwhile was locked in combat with King Groll. Dangar ran to assist him even as Thalek held the other hobgoblin at bay. He struck out, a forwards lunge and sudden back-strike catching the bugbear off-guard and hitting the brute full in the chest. Surprised and stunned, King Groll staggered back. But even as he did so, his form shimmered.

The remaining hobgoblins were startled to see this unexpected change over their leader. They were distracted, and their fight-fury left them. Şillicilic saw his chance. slipping through the confusion, he reached Nezznar; driving his rapier into the back of the Dark-Elf. The Black Spider, spluttered, turned to his slayer and cursed:

When the Queen comes, you will burn … you will ALL burn… !!

The Drow convulsed and collapsed to the floor. Tordek smashed a blow to Groll’s head and the bugbear was also brought down. It shrunk, becoming smaller, grey and lifeless – another Doppelganger! The shocked Hobgoblins tried to flee; but the heroes’ blood was up, no mercy was shown, and they were swiftly cut down.

One of the dead hobgoblins had a key to the locked door on the left had side of the room. Eulfgar grabbed it, staggered to his feet, and joined Tordek at the door. They opened it.

The door opened into a small room. There on the floor was a dwarf, bound and gagged, and looking in pretty bad shape. It was Gudrun Rockseeker. The Black Spider had heard about Gudrun’s many boasts, and had him kidnapped so that the location of his ‘gold find’ could be wrung out of him. Gudrun had been beaten many times, and had been given barely enough food and drink to live. But he had said nothing, knowing that to do so would have made his life of no more use to his captors.

“Interesting!” exclaimed Vander, studying the papers on the desk. He pointed to a map. “This is a map of a region south of the Redwater fells. It shows the lands around the town of Greenest. Some of the towns and villages have been circled in blood-red ink: Denning, Appleton, Wellingwood – and Greenest itself. I wonder what it could mean?”

Meanwhile, Şillic found another parchment now lying on the floor. Glancing at the mystical writing, he smiled and slipped it into his cloak. He would have a good look at it later.

One more door to check. They returned to the hobgoblin’s guard room. As they neared the southern door, they could all hear scratching and growls of a beast behind it. Opening the door revealed a very angry Owlbear which was soon put out of its misery. But in the room the beast had been imprisoned in, they found the half-eaten corpse of a very large person. The remains of its clothing revealed it to be the remains of the real King Groll.

Aided by his Doppelganger servants, Nezznar had worked his way into the trust of the King and ruler of the Cragmaw Goblin tribe. But Groll’s trust had been misplaced and the King was assassinated. His body was quickly disposed of by throwing it to the imprisoned Owl Bear. One Doppelganger then took on the form of King Groll, and so through this deception, the Black Spider had gained control of the Cragmaw Goblins.

It was just as well that the heroes realised the depths of Nezznar’s deception, for as they were leaving the castle, there came the bellowing of a great warhorn and a warband of Hobgoblins emerged from the path, and were not pleased to see them. A confrontation looked inevitable, and though Eulfgar had recovered somewhat, he raised his sword expecting one last fight – hoping to slay enough so that the others could escape. But then a big Hobgoblin stepped forwards. “I am Targor – why are you here?”.

Şillic seized the chance. Suddenly it was good to have orc-blood in him! He told of the Black Spider’s treachery and the murder of the King. It seems that Targor must have already had suspicions of the Drow, for he as good as believed Şillic’s explanation. Ordering his hobgoblins inside to investigate, he turned to face Şillic again:
“Go now – but if I find you have been lying, I will hunt you down…“

---

Epilogue : Unfinished Business

And so the heroes headed back to Durringham. As they made their way back down the Redwaters, Gudrun’s condition visibly improved, and soon he was walking unaided. One evening, the Dwarf-Brothers finally asked him what they had been wanting to find out for so long – what had happened to their parents? Gudrun put down his ale.

He told them he not present when their parents went missing – but he had a good idea why. Apparently, during a prospecting adventure among the Graypeak Mountains deep underground, they’d found a strange blue mask, twisted in the likeness of a Dragon’s head. He warned them to leave it, but they took it anyway. He suspected THAT was the reason why the dwarf village was attacked, and the disappearance of Mordreth and Izäk.

Finally, they returned to Durringham. Much had changed, not least that the village was now occupied again, this time by a regiment of cavalry, bearing the livery of the Flaming Fists. They had come to secure the village, and to drive away the orcs currently encamped on Wyvern Tor, and so open the way again down to Greenest. Saluting, they escorted the heroes straight to Captain Hallwinter. He eagerly received them into the house and that currently served as his headquarters. Motioning them to sit, and ordering drinks for them, he sat behind his desk and listened to their long tale without interruption.

When they finished. Captain Hallwinter was silent. then he spoke:

“If all that you have said is true, then I fear that there is more at stake than a wretched Drow Exile building his own petty kingdom. The map you recovered from the castle confirms this: in the last few days, refugees have arrived from the south, saying that the villages of Denning and Appleton have been attacked and destroyed by unknown assailants. If the attackers were NOT servants of Nezznar, then WHO are they? Who were they working for – and who was Nezznar working for? Indeed, who is this ‘she’?

“I would hazard to guess there’s a link between this ‘Black Spider’, and that of the Dragon cultists, though what it is I cannot say. It is known among the Lords of the Sword Coast that the Cult of the Dragon has been more active of late in the north. But their rituals are for raising DEAD dragons – yet you give me a tale of Cultists trying to woo a live one…

“And this red-robed Necromancer of Thay, this Rath Modar! Where does he fit into it? I cannot believe it was mere ‘history‘ that he was interested in! That he knew who Nezznar was and what he was up to, it is plain. So why reveal him? Could it be this Black Spider overstepped his mark? This I do know: If the Deathspeakers of Thay are involved, then that cannot be good for Faerun. Something is stirring – but we still do not know what it is!!”

Sildar sighed, reached down behind his desk and pulled out a large bag. He tossed it to them. “Here is much more than we originally agreed: 500 in gold - you have earned it.”

The heroes were also warmly welcomed back at the Redwaters Inn. Gudrun wasted no time reacquainting himself, though those who had known him found him to be far less loose with his tongue than he’d been before. Meanwhile, the group found their own table to sit around and relax. And even the dwarves were weary.

Şillic suddenly woke up. “That’s it then!” said a satisfied Tordek. Two piles of coins and other treasures now lay on the table, the pile nearer the dwarves a little smaller.

“You’re planning to leave?”, Ishtra exclaimed.

“Yep!” said Eulfgar. He leant forwards across the table. “We’ve found Gudrun, but dwarves do not like unfinished business. We are leaving with our cousin tomorrow for Greenest and Berdusk; and then Northwards – we WILL find our parents.”

Şillic turned to Dangar. “And you're going with them?”

Danger rocked his chair back on two legs and then back. “Sure! Further East suits me fine! And…”, he exclaimed, grabbing some of the gold. “I have new wealth to spend…”