Session 08: "The Doomgrinder II"
General Summary
The Ratcatchers now rested, make their way to The Doomgrinder. When they arrive they are met with the decaying ruins of an ancient windmill. As they sneak their way to the other side of it. The Ratcatchers carefully examine the door making sure of no traps. Finding none Axto takes the lead and opens the door. One of the first things to be noticed is a small treasure pile in the far corner. However before the group is able to collect it they are met with a Green Dragon Wyrmling named Verdantia. She declares she is the Queen of the realm and the Ratcatchers must bow to her. Axto manages to anger her though by poking fun at her castle. The Ratcatchers manage to kill her, alouth Axto does end up taking a poisonous dragonbreath head on. Fedi patches everyone up while the rest of the party searches the treasure trove. The find some gold, along with a weapon potency rune. A good haul indeed.
The Ratcatchers spend the rest of the day traveling back to Cragmire. Very little of interest happens on their way back thankfully so it ends up being a safe and mundane trip. Arriving back at Cragmire the party spends the rest of the evening at The Feral Dog listening to rumors and telling tales of their Dragonslaying capabilities.
The next morning they do their daily preparations and grab breakfast before heading to Allustan Neff's Residence. Hear they learn that the worm they had found is part of a greater plot. These green worms can infect somebody and turn them into mindless zombies bent on killing anyone in their path. Allustan has through his research pinned that a temple below Dourstone Mine is the source of this evil. He instructs our Ratcatchers to seek out Balabar Smenk who is a rival of Ragohin Dourstone. As they coppermine is surrounded by a 10 ft wall with multiple mercenaries patrolling its ramparts. Allustan believes by seeking out and allying with this rival would be our Ratcatchers best solution.
The Ratcatchers now with a goal in front of them go to speak with Balabar Smenk. They find themselves face to face with a merchant who is quite grandiose. The Ratcatchers attempt to get them on their side to get into the mines but it quickly becomes apparent Balabar is on edge about something. With hardly any effort on our Ratcatchers' end they manage to make him crack. They learn Balabar Smenk is allied with Ragohin Dourstone by coercion. Balabar is in charge of getting whatever supplies the Dark Temple needs be it food or tools. Balabar claims that they killed his second in command in his own bed to show they meant business. He claims that the Ebon Triad are behind the Dark Temple. Axto knows that this cult is made up of Vecna, Baphmet, and Lolth cultists whose goal is to merge their dark gods into one Overgod.
Balabar offers the party the chance to get into the temple by acting as his proxies in delivering the next shipment of supplies to the Dark Temple, doing so they will be able to walk right into the main hall of the temple. The party agrees to this and for now return to The Feral Dog where they hear more rumors amongst the populace. They also find some work for the afternoon and get a couple of silver in their pockets. Easily enough to cover their rooms for the night.
Notes
Rumors Heard
- The old Orc Druid Nogwier is rumored to be one foot in the grave, they are always preaching about maintaining the natural order and all that. Nogwier and his followers at the Bronzewood Lodge only preach however. But I have heard his successor plans on being more heavy handed. Hopefully it doesn't cause anymore problems we are barely getting by as it is!
- You hear of the Cult of the Green Lady? Apparently their first leader Nohrtan disappeared in mysterious circumstances. The current leader Amariss and the flock refuse to acknowledge it. I bet something afoul is a foot!
Report Date
15 Mar 2024
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