A New War
More information was finally found regarding The Black Hand, a situation similar to the one the party first encountered the cult. Multiple missing people in a small mining village southwest of Jotun. However, before the party could go investigate, they had a detour in the form of a familiar face. Fletcher Lumyar-Beren had made his way to the capital, and hopefully, with the party's help, could get a meeting with The Valarian Council to try and get funding for the production of his invention, firearms. After displaying the first of his successful firearms, a small hand cannon he calls a pistol, the council is quick to offer a deal to the Half-Gnome inventor. Gilthur Kraghammer, the dwarf ambassador of the council, explained the dwarf capital city New Mazzelheim has the means to mass produce these weapons. And so Fletcher's dream may become reality, the party accompanied Fletcher to the dwarf capital to see him off, before traveling to the location of their investigation.
The Party arrived at the mining village and investigated, leading to an old abandoned mine further west. Finding a Gnoll War Band had taken residence in the mine, the party fought through the hordes until they reached the deepest part of the mine. Finding a human priest among the Gnoll, the priest seemed to communicate and command the Gnoll, so the party treated him the same as they did his bestial followers. Raiding the priest's "office", the party found a journal, describing not only the man's descent into madness, but the calling from a dark master, to perform a ritual deep within the Mineral Peaks.
After informing the council of their findings, the party raced once again towards New Mazzelheim, the city being nestled into the Mineral Peaks. The Dwarf Clans of the city helped try to point the party in the right direction, and when the party found the potential spot for the ritual, they learned how dangerous the ritual could be. Multiple Gnoll War Bands had gathered in the mountains, in horror, the party learned the Bands planned to invade New Mazzelheim in conjunction with the ritual, to baptize the ground with the blood of their victims, and call forth their vicious master. Realizing this was bigger than just they could handle, they contacted Lance, who promised to send whatever aid they could, and informed the Dwarves of New Mazzelheim. A plan was made, the Dwarves would meet the war bands head on, while the party went to stop the ritual. With the sounds of open warfare echoing behind them, the party traveled down into the cavern, the walls decorated with gruesome images, cities sacked by gnolls, murders, acts of cannibalism, violent actions all in service of the Demon Prince, Yeenoghu, Prince of Butchery, patron of Gnolls. The party reached the bowels of the cave, a massive, open cavern, decorated with more images in reverence of the Demon Lord, and a massive black altar. Two more priests of Yeenoghu, along with higher ranking Gnolls fought with the party, the priests transforming two common hyenas into massive demonic creatures, Shoosuva. After a bloody conflict filled with paralytic poisons and a final banishment spell, the ritual casters and their body guards fell. Fearing for the safety of the dwarves outside, the party rushed back out of the cave, to find the Gnolls decimated, and...frozen. Vysander had somehow reached the battle to assist, some of the dwarves looking in awe at the council member. The party returned to New Mazzelheim to rest, and gave a proper report to Vysander. Hearing this Vysander decided to return to Jotun immediately. After leaving the tavern the party was staying in the dwarves of New Mazzelheim shouted in awe as a massive Silver Dragon flew north over the city...
Parent Plot
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