Session 17: Into the Dragonfen

General Summary

As the party began to leave northwards into the Dragonfen wasteland, they first noticed that they were missing a member. Julian had gone to prepare his horse, forcing the party to wait for him. Whilst waiting Apieros and Aurora started to talk about the gnome following them and the possibility of finding out more information right there in Belham. Thus they decided to stay behind to do some research. When at last Julian joined them, they left without their Ranger and Wizard. They wandered into the barren fields of the Dragonfen and realized they had no plan on where to search for the dragon. Ravojhan then sent Bert flying up into the air to give him a better view of their surroundings. As the Dragonborn's eyes blackened and he saw through the eyes of his familiar he noticed the mountain range on the far northern edge of the wasteland. He also noted the river following the easter edge and the flooded quarry from where smoke could be sighted. Remembering the baroness' words about kobolds having nested there and also remembering their reverence for Ravojhan, the party decided to go there.   When they arrived and ventured down into the quarry, Julian found a multitude of kobold tracks leading in and out of the caves around the quarry's edge. The party entered the caves and after approaching an opening from where they could hear noise, Trinky felt a warning from her dagger. Thus they sent Ravojhan ahead. The warlock promptly tripped on a wire set out by the kobolds. Upon further investigation, Trinky found that the tunnel had been thoroughly trapped. Thus they decided to call the kobolds to them. Ravojhan made a call in draconic and the creatures swarmed to them, grovelling at the Dragonborn's feet. The party asked them about the location of their dragon master. One of them, who seemed to be their leader and referred to Ravjohan as Lord Geldoth, took the lead and begged to follow them.   After exiting the quarry and walking up into the wasteland, the kobold pointed out a hill in the distance as the lair of their master. The party then began their trek towards the hill, followed by a contingent of kobolds, who constantly sniffed about the party's bags and riches. Except for their Lord Geldoth. when they had walked for a few hours, Julian and Trinky noticed a green cloaked figure following them. They asked Ravojhan and the kobold about it, to no avail. Ravojhan then ordered the kobolds to spread out and search for this figure, leaving only the leading kobold. After yet another hour of travelling they finally approached the hill, and Trinky's dagger ordered a halt. The confused kobold who had been skipping along inquired as to why. It turned out that the kobolds had littered the area around the hill with traps, to keep their master safe. It apparently had expected the great noble knight Geldoth to see these on his own, but would gladly point them out for them, leading them safely through the field.    When they reached the hill and found the cave entrance to the dragon's lair, the kobold urged them to continue without it, and after some questions revealing how dangerous this being was, it scurried away. The group decided to once again send Bert ahead to scout the area for them. Inside they found a giant cavernous hall, carved out with acid. Around and in between the pillars, made to look like trees, a vast treasure had been hoarded. Among the gold, silver and gems, a vast amount of books and scrolls could be seen as well. Deep in this hall they saw the massive shape of a green dragon, sleeping on this treasure. The party decided to quietly enter the lair. When they made it into the giant hall, they wished to give the dragon the ring as safely as they could. Thus they gave it to Bert and sent him ahead once more. As soon as the small dragon entered the large hall, an alarm system went off, waking the dragon. The gargantuan green dragon rose from its sleep and curiously approached the pseudodragon.    As he approached Trinky and Quinny tried to hide, but as the goblin dove into a pile of gold, a goblet fell from the pile, banging against the stone floor and gave them all away immediately. The dragon noticed them, but first grabbed the ring before addressing them. As he grabbed it, his eyes went stark white for a few seconds before he came to. He then asked his visitors to approach. The dragon thanked them for their service and offered them all a reward for their trouble. To Juilan he grabbed a necklace of prayer beads. To Quinny he grabbed magical leather armour. To Trinky he grabbed one of his own teeth, and in the palm of his hand remade it into a magical dagger. He then turned to Ravojhan who received the magical ring that they had delivered.    The Dragon then shrunk into the form of a dwarf with green strokes in his long blonde hair and beard. He introduced formally himself as Aeteperax and addressed Ravojhan, explaining the shared story of their ancestors and how the Geldoths had been the generals of the dragons. He then offered him this position once again. Ravojhan carefully declined, stating that he currently had other allegiances and business. The dragon instead offered them a job. He explained how and why his grandmother became imprisoned in the way she is. How she suffers as the chains keep her forcefully alive as her body decays. He asked them to find the descendants of the dwarves that bound her and fetch the final rune, which would be engraved into the chains to once and for all free her. He told them that the only connection to these descendants that he could find was the Aeducan family in Freywharf, the Scaelorian capital. The party carefully agreed.   They then asked about the green cloaked figure, and the dragon told them about how his kind was exiled to these wastelands and the green cloaked Dracuine Scultoti are rangers who watch over him, preventing him from leaving. And now that they know that the party has associated with him, they may face problems with this order. The dragon offered them an escape, by distracting the rangers and giving them access to a tunnel he made directly to Belham. Before they left Trinky and Ravojhan asked Aeteperax if he could lift the curse on Ravojhans legs, which he could. The party then left through this tunnel. After walking for several hours, they found the end of the line. A hidden door behind a painting leading into the basement of the Wise Piper Inn. There they found a study filled with books and scrolls, and on the floor a mat with the picture of five differently coloured dragon heads in a circle. There they also found the surprised looks of the Innkeeper Talia Orem, as well as Aurora and Apieros.