Episode 21: A Ray of Sunshine.

Aldrick, Shayde, Grom and Tor wrapped themselves up against the cold. The light and warmth of the temple dissolved as they stepped back out onto the dimly lit streets of Bryn Shandar. Nemeia and Halfdan would not be joining them on their visit to the Dwarven Valley. Grom and Tor readied the sleds and they loaded their packs and equipment. In a few hours they would be sharing foaming mugs of ale in the warmth of Battlehammer Hold. 

The Dwarves of Clan Battlehammer welcomed Grom and his companions. It had not been long since their last visit but they had much news to discuss. Thane Brand, his infectious good nature and thunderous laughter made a joyous reprieve from the daily struggles up on the surface. As was customary a fine feast was put on by the Dwarves for their guests and each took it in turn to recount stories from their travels. Zhentarim Agents, Elemental Ice Monsters, Arcane Brotherhood, Verbeegs, Winter Wolves but no more encounters with Dueragar. 

Thane Brand informed the party that good progress had been made cleaning up the outpost on the far side of Kelvin's Cairn and that it was now fortified by a garrison from Clan Battlehammer. In between bouts of jokes and laughter there were also moments of contemplation clearly visible on Brand's face, especially when Tor spoke of not being part of a Clan. To that Thane Brand exclaimed that those present were honorary members of Clan Battlehammer to much cheering and banging of mugs and fists on tables. 

As late afternoon turned to evening and the revelry slowly subsided, Tor presented 4 wolf pelts as a gift to the dwarves. In return Forgemaster Kalervo presented Tor with a Goliath sized breastplate forged from black Chardalyn. Grom too exchanged his worn and beaten armour for a new shiny breastplate, but not one forged of Chardalyn for it's very existence was a bitter reminder of the conflict that had clansman fighting clansman just four years before and that had claimed the life of the last leader of the Dwarven Valley, Dain Stokely Silverstream. Baerick Hammerstone's rebellion was quashed and the Dwarves lead by Stokely with their allies marched on the Tower of the Ice Witch Hedrun and her Tribe of the Bear allies. With the aid of other adventurers The witch was defeated but Dain Stokely fell in battle. 

Aldrick also took the opportunity to present the strange purple crystal to the Dwarves. Explaining it's discovery in the Termalaine mines alongside a fossilized elongated humanoid skull. Even the oldest among the Dwarves, Graendel Granitefist, one of the original dwarves who fled Mithral Hall with Clan Battle-hammer and resettled in Icewind Dale could not remember ever seeing such a thing but the skull and the ancient magic only furthered the idea that these were somehow artifacts linked to the fallen Netheresse empire. Aldrick would spend much of the evening pondering on this, staring for a time at the crystal trying to fathom it out, trying to recall all he had learned in his studies. 

And so our four brave adventurers retired to their rooms for a long rest, feeling safe knowing that the Dwarven sentries posted throughout the mine complex would be guarding them as they slept. The warmth of the forges soothing away the endless cold from the surface. Tor spent time rearranging her hides and furs to accommodate her new armour, attuning to it and learning that not only would it provide better protection from weapons but also from magical attacks. Shayde also spent the evening before sleep attuning to the short sword that Skath had passed to her when he freed her at the Luskan Arms. She would treasure such a blade and it would be a solice to her that she would carry a part of her former lover with her. She meticulously cleaned and polished the blade before slipping it under her bed and falling asleep.

Ever the light sleeper and always alert Shayde was woken from her dreams in the early hours of morning by a pulsing pale light emanating from her belongings. Slipping her hand between the furs that formed her bed, Shayde grasped the blade and slowly slid out of bed and crept silently across the stone floor to the source of the mysterious pale blue light. To her surprise it was coming from the "Locket of Lost Lovers". Taking the locket in her hand she noticed it emitting an unusual warmth. Upon opening the locket to her shock and surprise she suddenly could hear the voice of Skath. Like an echo in her mind. Although Skath's voice knew it was Skath and that he was speaking to Shayde, there was confusion. Unaware of his death or indeed where he was, was this his soul communicating from another plane of existence!? It suddenly gave Shayde hope that Skath was not completely lost and that one day they may still be reunited. Tears of both sadness and joy streaked down her cheeks. Would Fate bring them back together someday!?

Everybody rose the following morning to the regular hammering sounds of the forges and mines as they echoed throughout the Dwarven Valley. A hearty breakfast was enjoyed and the sled dogs were also well cared for. They would have a hard day ahead for our four adventurers would head out across the frozen wilderness for the "Black Cabin". A well known landmark as Grom had pointed out standing aside the River Shaengarne north of Maer Dualdon. Built by a ranger of the north centuries ago, before the founding of Ten Towns and who's name was long forgotten. The cabin was a place of refuge for those seeking shelter from the harsh winds and blizzards sweeping down off the glacier.

The 4 of them stowed their gear and packed the sleds. A few final farewells and they were on their way once more. The weather was fair and the dim light proved enough as the dogs drove hard. The cabin was reached around mid day. As the sleds left the surrounding forest the cabin loomed into view. Built on stilts it sit sat high above the now frozen river, on a small inlet. 

Snowdrifts butted up against the stilts and rickety ice covered steps clung to the outsideside of the structure leading up to a wooden walkway that ran around the building. Grom and Tor parked the sleds and huddled the dogs together with their food. Once the dogs had settled and eerie quiet only punctuated by the knocking of the door at the top of the steps each time the wind gusted gave the party a sense that all was not as they had hoped to find it. Grom called out in his loud gruff Dwarven tones, "Macreadus! Macreadus! Anybody here?!". No reply came from the cabin. "I don't like this", Grom exclaimed. 

Aldrick sent Lookout to do a flyby of the cabin. The owl's keen senses being able to see through the open shuttered windows. Aldrick going into his familiar and relaying what he saw and heard to the others. Grom went to set some traps at the edge of the treeline just incase some hungry wolves, bears or something worse should happen to pick up on their scent. Aldrick could see that the cabin was indeed ramshackle and sections of the wooden floors looked in need of repair. A reminder to all that they should tread lightly. Lookout found a hole in the roof and flew into the cabin to perch among the rafters. In this room at the back of the cabin Aldrick caught a glimpse of charred skeletal remains and scorched walls and floor. Lastly there was a metallic object on the floor near the remains that looked like a gyroscope. This must be Macreadus. 

With no other signs of life Aldrick snapped out of his trance and spoke, "I suggest we go in and investigate what has happened". They all agreed. Aldrick cast "Mage Armour" on himself, the rest grabbed what they needed from the sleds and Shayde lead the way. Despite the clear damage to the stairs what remained was solid and Shayde easily managed the 5ft leap to clear the missing section and help her companions. One by one the ascended to the wooden walkway. 

Grom pushed the flapping door open wide with his axe and called out again, "Anybody home!!", to which came the sound of silence. As Grom, Aldrick and Shayde slowly and cautiously entered the cabin they were startled by movement. Not a creature or a person. But a thing. There in front of them was some sort of animated broom. Moving around the room sweeping the floor. As they got nearer it stopped and then started again as they passed by. A most curious contraption. They thought best to ignore it for now while they sort to determine what had happened and who the remains in the next room belonged to. 

Aldrick cast "Detect Magic" taking his time to cast it ritually so not to use up a spell slot. The spell enabled Aldrick to see that the peculiar sweeping device was imbued with an ancient type of magic similar to that of the purple crystal. 

Shayde and Grom made their way around the room to each of the doors. They were both unlocked. Grom pushed the door open and ventured into the adjacent room. It appeared to be some sort of library/study with a desk and bookcases. Grom investigated the documents strewn across the desk. He found Macreadus' journal, blueprints for a mechanical device, various books on tinkering and a letter from Copper.

Shayde pushed open the door at the the far end which opened into some sort of makeshift workshop. A bench up against the side wall and another against the far wall were littered with tools. The floor creaked as Shayde gingerly crept across the floor making room for Aldrick. Aldrick cast "Detect Magic" again as a ritual. This time the room filled with different auras of magic. The metal ringed object clanking away by the singed skeleton gave off a powerful aura of Raw Magic as if it contained all the different schools of magic in one. There was a cloudy amber stone on the work bench that also gave of a similar aura and a gold amulet hanging around the skeletons neck that emanated abjuration magic. Amongst the debris was also the charred remains of a hefty tome titled "Magical Wonders of Netheril". Aldrick could also feel a presence in the room. As if they were being watched but nothing showed up so he tried to put the feeling out of his mind as they concentrated on these finds. Could it be that he had found the first ancient artifacts from the lost city?

Tor had remained outside the cabin. Treading carefully she moved along the exterior wooden walkway to the corner of the cabin. From here she had a good view towards the edge of the forest. The sled dogs had remained quiet as they huddled together to keep warm. Tor gazed at the sky. It was only early afternoon but the Rime of the Frost Maiden cloaked everything in it's endless twilight as the sun never rose above the horizon. Soon it would be getting dark again.

Inside the cabin Grom and Aldrick puzzled over the blueprints and the journals. Macreadus' last entry had detailed that he would be testing what he referred to as the "Summer star". Copper's letter said "Three maybe better than two", what did this mean. Shayde threw the amber and the remains of the book to Aldrick who surprisingly caught them both with ease. She removed the amulet from the skeleton and picked up the clanking gyroscope before very carefully retracing her steps around the creaking floor that felt like it would give way at any moment. 

Placing the objects on the table Aldrick cast "Identify" on them in turn. The amber was in fact a "Netheril Thermal Stone" and the amulet an "Amulet of Health". With some good arcana check rolls Aldrick was able to decipher the runes and also to work out that what copper was referring to was that the "Summer star" needed a third metal ring to produce the magic field to contain the weather controlling spell. And so they set to finding the materials required which they were able to do so and Grom with his smithing skills rolled high enough with Aldrick's help (19 and 20) to be able to craft a third ring, engrave the runes and align them. During this process it became clear that the material at the centre of the "Summer star" was in fact more Chardalyn. 

And so, with the third ring in place one of the party needed to attune to the device. Aldrick had no slots left for attuning so Grom tried but nothing seemed to happen. Aldrick once again felt the presence as if being watched and then more surprising felt that his robes were being tugged. More surprisingly still Aldrick watched as letters started to form in the soot on the walls as if being written by a finger. C......A........S........T........E........R

Tor who had come to join her companions said that she would try. Picking up the "Summer star" and walking outside Tor held it up to the sky and prayed to the Earth Mother Theleya and tried to attune. A surge of raw magic as if the very weave itself rushed through her as she attuned to the "Summer star". Placing it in it's pedestal on the decking the rings began to rotate and spin, getting faster and faster until a beam of pure white light shot out from it directly upwards towards the sky. Gradually the dark peeled away and a piercing blue sky was unveiled and the warmth of the sun was felt on the faces of our four heroes. 

And just as Tor began to think of the wonder of this device she failed her constitution save...........and she heard that voice in her head again. The one she now knew all to well. The shrill scream of the "Frost Maiden". And as the sky overhead continued to brighten a dense freezing mist rolled towards them from the distant horizon engulfing the forest as it sped towards the cabin. Danger was coming. 

To be continued.................