Episode 11 - Clan Battlehammer

Having arrived safely back in Caer Konig our heroes made their way to the Northern Lights Inn where Aldrick and Grom proceeded to make their way inside and presented the recovered lantern to the sisters Allie and Cori who were overjoyed at its return, even Cori's scowls seeming to soften somewhat. With drinks poured, Grom and Aldrick began to recount the tale of their encounter at the Duergar outpost. Using his Mage Hand Aldrick made quick work of replacing the lantern to it's rightful place above the Inn's door. Armed with information about the other recovered items Tor and Shayde set off to Frozenfar Expeditions to reunite them with their owners. 

With drinks and warm meals as their reward and beds for the night out heroes enjoyed a restful evening at the Northern Lights where they were also able to speak at length with Town Speaker Trovus about the threat of a Duergar invasion and this "doom that soars on dragon wings". Aldrick beseeching the townsfolk to be extra vigilant and at the first sign of trouble to take refuge behind the walls of Bryn Shander. 

Retiring to their rooms for the evening Aldrick took out Dzaan's book of poetry to read, to see if he could somehow decipher the illusion placed upon it. To his surprise and excitement when he opened it up, the poems where gone and in their place were pages filled with incantations relating to all manners of spells, many of which were beyond Aldrick's current level of understanding, but which he would endeavour to master over the coming days.

In the morning, the party set off across the frozen wilderness towards the Dwarven Valley. The weather was fair and they made good time. As they approached a scouting party lead by Orek intercepted them. Revealing himself, Grom conversed with his kin and they were happy to admit them entry to the Valley whereby they could meet with Brand the current leader in charge of the mining operations. 

For Grom it was good to be home amongst his Kin. The heat from the forge, the smell of soot and sweat and Dwarven Ale. Roasting meats and the cheerful song of his kinsmen as they went about their work. Even Aldrick and Shayde found themselves more at ease. Tor studied these shout sturdy folk and their community for what it meant to be more than just warriors. Lessons she would take with her back to her own people if she ever got the chance! 

Our heroes were given comfortable lodgings and refreshments while they waited for an audience with the Dwarven leader Brand. When the time came Grom was sent to fetch the others and lead them to a great feast hall where long benches and tables were set with all manor of delights like roasted reindeer, bread and cheeses alongside plenty of ale and Dwarven brandy. Aldrick, Shayde and Tor were introduced to Brand and another Dwarf named Kalervo who Grom seemed to be very well acquainted with. 

Before the feast started, Grom got up and turned to those assembled to acknowledge the loss of their kin, Barthoum Hammerhelm and Ubok. With fists hammering on the sturdy oak tables, boots stomping the flagstone floor and flagons of ale being drained by the dozen, the collected dwarves celebrated the lives of their fallen kin.

During the feast, Aldrick spoke at length with Brand about his exploits since arriving in Ten Towns, often singing the praises of their guide Grom. When at last it came to the subject of the Duergar the assembly as one went quiet, almost silent, listening with baited breath, watching for the reaction of their leader. Brand, who had been in a jovial mood, laughing and joking, became suddenly angry and ill tempered. 

"We do not speak of those twisted grey bastards within these halls!" Brand exclaimed. "Those evil c@#ts have no place among decent folk and I'll hear no more about it!". Aldrick looked across the table at Grom who gave a stern glare back. "Brand, you must listen to what Aldrick has to say" implored Grom. "We have come to learn of terrible plans being hatched by those evil grey bastard c@#ts, and it will not do to ignore it!" "Arggh very well, but only because you are one of us!" 

At this Aldrick, got up from his seat and proceeded to pace up and down the hall recounting everything that had happened from to their first encounter in Easthaven to the outpost at the base of Kelvin's Cairn. The supposed plans of Xardorook Sunblight and his search for Chardalyn that had lead to confrontation with two of his sons, Durth and Nildar and their demise. At the conclusion of Aldrick's impassioned speech he urged Brand of a course of action to take control of the outpost and use it themselves as part of a defence against what Xardorook Sunblight was planning. Thinking this over Brand agreed and had Thodin take a scouting party to the location Aldrick had described. As a result Aldrick gained some inspiration too!

With the talking done it was time to get on with the feasting and drinking and the evenings entertainment that consisted of our four adventurers undertaking a strength challenge whereby they were given hammers with which they had to smash rocks. After a shaky start (everyone bar Aldrick rolling 1s) three out of four managed to successfully complete the task much to the delight of Brand, who would constantly erupt into laughter whenever one our heroes referred to him as "Lord" Brand. 

Our heroes spent the evening in the Dwarven Valley waking the next morning nursing sore heads. Taking the day to rest up and recover, Aldrick spent most of the day copying what spells he could from Dzaan's spell book into his own. Shayde, practised her swordplay and kept a close watch over Aldrick. Tor spent much of the day in quiet contemplative meditation while Grom sought council with Kalervo in the forges as they sought to discover the properties of the Chardalyn that had been retrieved from the Duergar outpost, Grom once again apprenticing to his teacher. Having learned that it is indeed malleable like metal Grom asked the "Master of The Forge" to produce a breastplate sized for Tor as she wouldn't accept armour made from metal, to which Kalervo agreed saying it would take around 5 days to make but should be possible.

In the morning Thodin had returned with news that the Duergar outpost had been secured and a garrison was stationed there. "You guys sure made a mess of things in there" he commented. "And what were those mutated fungal creatures?". Grom was only to happy to fill Thodin in on some of the finer details of their encounter including zombie ogres, myconid spore servants and the like.

A hearty Dwarven breakfast and our band of adventurers made ready to continue their journey onwards to Termalaine. The weather had turned however and an hour into their journey a blizzard swept in. Making it slow and hard even by dog sled they pushed on. Having rested the dogs the strengthening blizzard was relentless and out heroes had little choice but to turn the sleds into a make shift shelter of sorts and hunker down and wait it out. Huddling with the dogs to keep warm. With howling winds and visibility reduced to just 30ft it was only Tor and lookout with their keen senses that picked up a low growling sound being carried on the wind. 

Alerting the others to the unknown threat the party readied themselves for what may be heading their way. It was a large hungry polar bear ambling towards them across the snowy landscape their scent strong in its nostrils. Not wanting to just kill this majestic creature Shayde reacted the quickest, crossing the short distance to get within range she proceeded to throw a net over the creature restraining it. She was then able to use her bonus action to dash back away from the polar bear. Tor drank another potion of animal friendship and tried to calm the beast to let it know they meant it no harm. Unfortunately the bears hunger was to much and it shrugged off the Druids attempt to calm it before using it's actions to break free of the net. Grom stepped forward to throw another net but in the howling gusts missed. Seeing the Polar bear about to rampage Aldrick saw no choice but to attack and launched a fire bolt straight into the snarling bear before moving out of range. 

Unknown to them two crag cats had also stalked up upon the sheltering heroes and we're now within reach of Shayde and sprung to attack. Shayde retailiated with her short swords before disengaging and retreating back towards her companions and the polar bear. Tor seeing the crag cats as a bigger danger cast spike growth catching both easily within it's area of effect.

The Polar bear lunged forward to take a bite out of Grom. Aldrick had circled around the sleds to take cover amongst the few sparse trees that stood like frozen skeletons and launched a Chromatic Orb of fire damage managing to roll a natural twenty. With a swirling ball of fire exploding the polar bear erupted in flames, burnt fur and flesh sinking into the fresh snow until extinguished by the still raging blizzard. 

The crag cats moved through the now difficult terrain taking damage as the did so with one of them managing to get into striking range of Grom. Taking the hit Grom used his reaction to strike back at the large creature felling it instantly. The remaing Crag cat edged closer now thinking that the dead polar bear may make an easier meal only to be met by Tor's magically imbued quaterstaff. A whack across the big cat's skull sent it plunging down into the snow. 

Our four companions regrouped and set off once more, bracing the blizzard which started to subside as they reach the outskirts of Termalaine, arriving at the Eastside Inn.

And so our session ended with our heroes arriving at their next destination. Another blinder which brought into play some additional game mechanics like the blizzards and a good amount of role play introducing some new NPC's in the Dwarven Valley. Can't wait for the next session.