Abecoste backed away, apparently not inclined to follow us, though she did not attempt to impede us. The small chain from the vampire’s neck indeed was very powerful. The party voted to cast Legend Lore ivory strips formed into a rectangle and an item to sacrifice. We decided to sacrifice Kyril’s +1 Staff. We sliced some ivory with the Sword of Sharpness from tusks found in one of the mountain giant’s treasure chests.

Pippen really wanted to return to the Hall, did not want to head downstairs. Pippen and Grastic met up again.

We heard from Pippen that Abigail was very proud of that 4-sided statue and devoted to it. We headed down one level (to level 6?) to the 4-sided statue and planning to return, presently, after having drained the aforementioned statue of some of its treasure.

The Dwarven Stronghold In The Mountains#

The dwarves were not part of the training fiesta, so they did what bored dwarves do. Drink. And drink some more. The Halfmoon Inn barkeep just fed them breakfast and ale when they awoke and came down, lunch and ale a few hours later, and dinner and ale 5 or 6 hours after that.

We re-entered the ugly dwarf’s head, intent on exploring the underground complex before heading back to Westkeep and then onward to the Hall. Unsure where to go first, we hung out in the entry and discussed our options.

We decided to head to the far northern end of the complex where the ceiling had collapsed. Examining the heap of rubble, we noticed that he hallway was not totally closed off. Cathal and Gonchar found a tunnel through the rubble. It was too small for one of the humans to fit through, though the dwarves may be able to wiggle through. Clearing the rubble by hand would be a major excavation project.

Since our attempt to rest had been disturbed by the Grimlocks, we were still a mess. Kyril cast dispel magic on Flint to bring him back to his usual short size with no apparent effect. Cathal took a pull from Seamus’s mug, getting back 8 hp (31/67). Cathal bound everyone’s wounds.

Having let Legola return to his repose, we decided to rest in the unique Dionysian bar, heal and regain some spells. We head skittering rocks to the north and a low, indistinct moaning to the south. Not all of us heard it.

We continued uphill. Encountering a web, Gonchar’s Flame Blade made short work of it. His Flame Blade illuminated tentacles ahead, hanging from the ceiling to the floor. The tentacles seemed to emit no heat per infravision. Mouths on the tentacles dripped ooze.

Menka spoke with Aesil about gaining access to the mirror she kept somewhere in the tower. She was far less than interested in providing access and was neither concerned with events far to the the south nor with the visions provided to the priest by the messenger of Thoth.

Seamus wanted to skin two of the huge wolves and take their pelts. Given our haste he decided to wait for the return trip. The cavern continued west then turned sharply north. It was misty due to the increasing cold and the hallways seemed to be well and recently traveled.

The party stood in a room with doors in the north and south walls and another on the northern end of the east wall, the same door we entered through. Charred ice ogre corpses lay strewn about, reeking of burnt hair and flesh. Kyril’s control temperature was still in effect, fending off the cold for those within its 10’ compass. Outside of that 10’ range it was bitterly cold. Seamus didn’t seem to mind the chill. Antifreeze and all that.