Khûm – Chapter 3

“Spring of 68. Second Age. Truethrone.
It’s beautiful.”
 – Beholder's Log, Hemson 23 68 2A

Awed by the sight of Truethrone, the Menagerie was led, slack-jawed, into the Guest City. As they crossed the bridge, Makem the Mumbler was confronted by a dwarven cleric of the Mystriarchy, the secretive dwarven church that opposed Dûnya Dragonbane and wielded outsized influence over the kingdom. Talking their way past the incensed priest, they crossed the Commons, caught sight of their hated rival the Iron Word and were established in their Guest House. No sooner had they arrived that a stone statue announced that Queen Dûnya would meet with Chimera for dinner tomorrow to discuss the contract.
Loosed upon the Guest City, the Commander's Tent resolved to explore the dwarven capital. Umber goes drinking at the Hall of Many and, egged on by the dragonslayers, eventually butts heads with Trix, a high-ranking mercenary in the Iron Word. Griffon stayed on task and cased the Topaz Quarter for rumors about they were to slay. Remorhaz made time with Willow, commissioning their dwarven contractor to redesign the courtyard for archery practice. Mouse went shopping and encountered the bizarre dwarven custom of khovrakod or giftsgiving.
In their turns, each of the mercenaries did spend some time coaching the nervous Chimera about her upcoming meeting. To make matters worse, Yorgos of Nyre, Commander of the Iron Word, arrived her to escort her to the meeting and their bad blood was immediately rekindled. Gathering at the Hall of Many, they were escorted to the queen's private dining chamber and there met Dûnya Dragonbane – none other than the dragonslayer who egged Umber into a fight with Trix the following evening. With a mischievous wink, she ushered the two mercenary commanders into the room and shut the door behind her.
Separated from her officers, Chimera argued it out with Yorgos over who should get the lucrative dragon contract. They went back and forth, Yorgos even arguing that the queen should hire both companies, but Dûnya played things close to the chest and did not reveal her intentions. When she excused both, she was about to announce her choice when clerics of the Mystriarchy stumbled into the room, announcing that a vote from the Peer Congress denied Dûnya the funds to finance this expedition. There will be no dragon hunt, they declared.

Campaign: The Menagerie
Game Date: Hemson 23 – 24, 68 2A
Starting Point: Truethrone
Player Characters:

• Griffon
• Mouse
• Remorhaz
• Umber