The Pace Accelerates

Having bested the Bloodreavers and freed some of the Riverdown captives, the heroes discover from Chief Krand’s papers that the rest of the captured villagers have been sold to the dark dwarves of Clan Grimmerzhul.

Not knowing the location of the clan stronghold within the labyrinth underneath Thunderspire Mountain, the group decides to investigate a trading post run by the duergar in the Seven Pillared Hall. The “investigation,” however, quickly turns into a “confrontation,” as the heroes abandon initial attempts at finesse in favor of their usual heavy-handed approach. Amid the blood and wreckage of the now ruined trading post, however, the heroes manage to acquire a map leading to the Grimmerzhul stronghold.

Following the map, the party embarks on a long and bloody assault on the twin citadels housing the duergar clan. After numerous setbacks – including a defeat at the hands of a dark dwarven champion and his minions which leads to the temporary capture of the warrior, Yshven, and the wizard, Casval – and distractions – such as a battle with a false dwarven “king” and his hired human thugs – the heroes are able to reach the heart of the stronghold and face the Clan Leader, Murkelmor Grimmerzhul. In an epic battle, the four adventurers from Fallcrest once again prove triumphant: the diabolical duergar leader is slain, and several more of the enslaved villagers are freed.

But yet again, complete victory evades the heroes, as they discover two more of the captives have been turned over to a cult of demon-worshippers known as the Blackfang Gnolls. As the party seeks information on the whereabouts of this group, they receive a missive from an anonymous “friend” requesting a meeting which, they are assured, “will be to their benefit.”

Expectedly, the meeting turns out to be an ambush, orchestrated by someone named “Paldemar.” Soon after, the heroes learn that this Paldemar is a renegade from the Mages of Saarun. The Ordinator Arcanis, spokesperson for the Order, instructs the party to find Paldemar, and inflict upon the renegade the vengeance of the Order, by way of discharging their current debts to the Mages.

Using a map leading to a place known as the “Well of Demons,” supposedly the lair of the Blackfang Gnolls, and their only link to Paldemar, the heroes set out to perform this commission.

~ by mmphil on March 8, 2009.