Session 28: The Dancing Shadows On The Wall Report

General Summary

The party was escorted to the caverns that the stone giants of Gracklstugh made their home. They had a meeting with Stonespeaker Hgraam, an old giant that seemed to be in charge. Oddly, he seemed to have a spark of recognition in his eyes upon seeing them. Regardless, he offered to recommend them for an audience with the Deepking, and told them that they would need at least three more in addition to his to get their audience. The one thing he asked as compensation was to return the giant with two heads to normal; the giant had only recently become that way, and he suspects some sort of magic is at work.
After, their Steel Guard escort took them back to their headquarters for "processing". The leader of the Steel Guard, Errde Blackskull, grudgingly gave them permits to reside in Gracklstugh as thanks for stopping the rampaging giant in the Blade Bazaar. Upon hearing of their situation, she offered to write a letter of recommendation for an audience with the Deepking, provided that they find a derro named Droki and get information from him on her behalf; or, even better, to capture him and bring him back to headquarters. She also sets up a meeting with the Keepers of the Flame, as the party needs to find one more influential group to recommend them an audience. After such a tiring day, the party gets some rooms at an inn in the Darklake District.
The meeting takes place next morning; a group of Keepers escort the party to meet with their leader. He welcomes them, but hurriedly shows them to another individual; a red dragon named Themberchaud. Themberchaud, known as the Wyrmsmith, is responsible for helping to keep the many forges of Gracklstugh lit, and has heard of the party due to their skirmish in the Blade Bazaar. After regaling the dragon with tales of their adventures, he asked them to find out what the Keepers wanted of them, and to report to him before reporting to them.
The Keepers, meanwhile, wanted the party to help them with a dire matter. As it turns out, Themberchaud is not the first red dragon the deep dwarves have made use of. Rather, they have a complicated process; hatch a red dragon, raise it and train it to make use of its abilities and fire breath, and then cull it before it gets too powerful to control. Themberchaud, however, is older than they usually let their dragons get, and the party figures out why: their dragon egg must have gone missing. The head of the Keepers, Gartokkar, admits that this is the case, having been presumed stolen by the thieves' guild, the Gray Ghosts. He begs the party to find their dragon egg and return it, and agrees to write them a letter of recommendation as thanks. He also reveals that they have a lead, and it's a familiar name; Droki, the derro that Errde Blackskull mentioned.
With special pins that give them authorization to do their investigations, a small team of party members makes their way to the derro slums in the West Cleft district. They are helped by a group of kuo-toa; the very same that the party bought fish from just before reaching Gracklstugh. As thanks for the party's help in getting them into the city, the kuo-toa show the party where Droki was last spotted; a fissure leading to a series of tunnels. Determined to find their quarry, they enter...

Rewards Granted

The group received permits allowing them to stay in Gracklstugh legally. A small section of the group also received pins from both the Steel Guard and the Keepers of the Flame; the former allows them to enter Laduguer's Furrow and the West Cleft District, the latter allows them to be in the Deepking District.

Missions/Quests Completed

Get 4 letters of recommendation for an audience with the Deepking

• Stonespeaker Hgraam: Find a way to return Rihuud to normal
• Errde Blackskull: Find the derro named Droki
• Ylsa Henstak: Discover how the derro are getting their contraband
• Keepers of the Flame: Find the missing red dragon egg
• (Optional) Report to Themberchaud before finishing the Keepers' quest

Campaign

Out of the Abyss (Oots)

Protagonists

"Crim" ??

Level 12 Tiefling Neutral Good Sorcerer 6 / Warlock 6
(Urchin)

/ 68 HP

Hestan Norixius

Level 12 Dragonborn (Blue) Lawful Good Warlock
(Outlander)

/ 87 HP

Jaaski

Level 8 Floof Chaotic Good Barbarian
(Charlatian / Berserk subclass)

/ 68 HP

Tanebi Dragonheart

Level 12 Aasimar (Protector) Lawful Good Paladin (Oath of Devotion)
(Acolyte)

/ 88 HP

Report Date

24 Feb 2020

Primary Location

Gracklstugh