| Session Date | April 3, 2021 |
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| Base XP Gained | 682 |
| Player Notes | ZZ's Notes |
Back in the Dwarven city of Kazakh, the parity decided that they would take a long rest. The time would allow their spellcasters to do some much-needed research prior to resuming their adventures. As they ate breakfast in their quarters, their old friend Dimbul the Dexterous popped in, just as ugly as the last time they'd seen him (i.e. most of his face was acid and fire scarred in the extreme, his beard little more than a few misshapen tufts, great long welts across his skull from a Mind Flayer attack, nearly a foot shorter than the average dwarf, etc). His enthusiasm was as boundless as ever and he expressed a desire to adventure with the party once more. Nali also visited, inquiring about the aprty's adventures and discretely asking how Floi had been doing (he had not yet seen him).
Iban, in addition to subduing the shortsword Rat Slayer to his will, periodically used his crystal ball to check on Lord Solen (he was typically in a wooden structure of some sort, in the company of the woman they'd seen previously). He also looked in periodically on Finz the escapee (underground with others), Vorlissa (also underground, apparently adventuring, and as surly as ever), Astraharsis (unable to see her at all), and Fasanorn the Brigand Chief (with a force of his folk in the wilderness).
The wizards all researched different spells. Knar focused on Cone of Cold, Amadin on Minor Globe of Invulnerability, and Iban tried for Strength. These would take many weeks, with Knar's research taking the longest (14 weeks) and eating up a good chunk of the summer. Extra time was spent copying spells and writing scrolls.
The non-wizards were not idle this entire time. At one point, the party was informed by Nali that a force of humanoids from the Giant King were lurking not far from the now-collapsed entrance to the Warrens of Zagash/Eburnean Vaults. The party was given command of a company of 40 Dwarves, and set forth to wipe out the spies. With Dimbul to scout ahead, the party split into two forces, seeking to take the enemy in a pincer. To the west, Bel and ZZ took half the force while east was Thunderfist and Mordecai. The humanoids were surprised and a sharp fight ensued. Bel blew the Horn of Valhalla to add to their forces, as well. The party focused on the chief enemies, a stone and a frost giant. Dimbul even managed to backstab the former. The fight did not last long; the giants fell rapidly and the remaining bugbears and ogres broke and fled. The battle won, ZZ directed some of the Dwarf soldiers to mount the heads of their enemies on spikes as a warning to further incursions into dwarf territory.
Returning to Kazakh, Nali was pleased with the rout of the spying enemy. Bel, Thunderfist, and Mordecai were commissioned as sub-alterns in the Dwarf army, while ZZ was promoted to lieutenant. After the spell research was complete, the party opted to return to the Manston region to find and explore the dungeon they'd learned of in the letter in Lord Solen's study. With some luck, they hoped they might find him there, as well, and finally kill him.
OFF STAGE: (this was an odd session given the long "break"). The following information trickled in during this time. Not long after returning to Kazakh, you learned that the Giant King had begun his attacks against Manston along a wide front, Fighting was vicious, but the Giant King was simply too powerful for the humans. Despite a few minor victories, the forces of Manston were driven back towards the city. Reports are sketchy, but apparently there was some sort of treachery at the end and the city was taken with little fighting. Now, the city is under the control of the Giant King. Apparently, Lord Alcibard, once the military commander of the city, is now "Governor" under the authority of the Giant King. An ambassador (the frost giant Jarl Vostok, once again) has come to the Dwarves to proclaim the "eternal friendship" of Gulliveg for his "brother king," Therrin II. Trade is to be opened/resumed immediately with generous terms for the Dwarves. The message delivered, the frost giant left without answer from the Dwarf King, who is said to be most concerned by these events.
DM NOTE: It was not my intention to play things out this way, but the inability to play Chainmail the past year (like I'd long intended) really put a damper on things! Anyway, this (sort of) truce should allow the party to do some dungeon exploring in the interim. I do recommend caution when "behind the lines." If you change your objectives, let me know.