The next day we figured it was time to head out to the Windspeare Hills. The holding of Lord Firkraag, who reported he was beset by ogres and other monsters. This is not really far for us, about the same distance as the Umar Hills, but more south than east. And we’re remembering Nalia’s warning, Lord Firkraag does not have a reputation as a nice man or a good ruler. What this meant, we couldn’t guess.
Mostly ogres, of different sorts. There was also a wyvern. Very odd team-mates! But the worst of it was when we won our fight, the “beasts” all disolved into the forms of men!
Keldorn knew these men, they were members of his order, The Radiant Heart. He pointed out one, Ajantis had been his squire. Amyntor, Imoen and I had met Ajantis last summer near the Friendly Arm Inn! This was obviously some foul illusion magic, someone meant for our groups to battle each other. I could only pray for wisdom.
A man, Garren Windspeare stepped up to us and introduced himself. He had just witnessed our fight, he saw two groups of ogres tear into each other. When the fight ended, the illusion faded away revealing us and these fallen paladins. He suggested we all withdraw to his cabin so we could talk.
He suggested we should hold tight in his cabin while he ran off to Athkatla and explained the situation to the Radiant Heart, he knew he still had friends there. He only asked that we look after his son while he was gone for the next 12 hours or so.
To our further dishonor, the home was raided several hours after Garrin left. We slew all but one of the raiders, who teleported off with Garrin’s son. This is unbearable. It is obvious Firkraag wishes ill of me, or this team? Perhaps he’s working with Irenicus? We prepared to set out, we will need to search this area and see where this takes us. Garrin returned as we were ready to set out, he was shocked and grieved by what had happened. But he bore us no ill will, he knew Firkraag was the villain. We will find him.
The Windspeare Hills are quite rugged. There are few settlements, a small civilian population. We came across a group of young men battling Gnolls. I did a “Detect Evil” and they ALL were. Okay, armor will charge in to fight, overwatch will hold further back. I don’t want them to get mixed up with it when the young men turn on us.
And they did. There were no illusions this time. But after killing the gnolls we discovered the men were werewolves.
Later in the afternoon we came across something radically different. A beautiful little glade around a pond. We saw dryads, and detected no evil.
Imoen quickly checked the notebook, this is where Irenicus’ captive dryads had asked us to return their acorns. We met a couple Dryads right away, they accepted the acorns and can plant them. Their sisters will be reborn right here.
Not too far from here we found an overgrown and ruined temple, or at least the entrance to a temple that seemed to be in a hillside. On entry we battled a group of hobgoblins. Past the entrance, this seemed to be a large cavern. We fought more hobgoblins, kobolds, and some more powerful sorts of undead. Vile spirits. Fortunately, our experience with vampires has left us well equipped for this sort of fight.
There was a frightening deep crevasse within the cavern, and we heard something in the depths.
Something snorted in the depths. I have a feeling we’ll need to pay that a visit.
To another side of the cavern was a dressed stone corridor, and stairs going down. Which led to an ambush chamber. Like a castle gatehouse, but only dangerous from the sides.
The room beyond had guardian golems. Then more hobgoblins, orcs and a troll beyond. Obviously we’d found a major stronghold. We went down one hall that ran us into a large group of undead, mostly vampires.
I feel some pity for them. They are trapped by an evil energy that gives them a sort of immortality, and an insatiable hunger to destroy the living. But that insatiable hunger is now their doom. And their immortality is a lie, we have the means to end them.
Continuing on we fought more golems, a beholder and more undead. We had a little misadventure that involved fighting some efreeti, and a group of greedy adventurers.
And what a shock, another group of arrogant werewolves!
But the real prize was Garrins son was held in a cell. The lock was magically sealed. There were large ominous stairs off to a side, it seemed obvious to suppose a key must be that way. I apologized to young Taar Windspeare and told him we would be right back.
What do you find when you head down the large ominous staircase? Well, presumably whatever was at the bottom of that great crevasse.
Apparently, he had an unpleasant encounter with my father, Gorion, years ago. He still bore a nasty scar from that run in. Now, he announced this game was over. His mage lackey, was dispatched to run upstairs and kill young Taar.
Obviously we couldn’t allow that. We pursued him to the top of the stairs where we battled. We prevailed and secured the key. Then released Taar, and suggested he hold tight right here. We have an unfinished game to return to.
I had not faced a Red Dragon before. They are famously bigger, smarter than other evil sorts of dragons. And Firkraag was an accomplished mage too. We cast some prepertory spells, then rushed the beast. Imoen and Aerie held back casting anti-magic, to lower Firkraag’s defenses. While Skie lay down a lot of missile fire. Me and the boys crashed into him hard. A dragon is a terrible thing to get in close with. Even though we all had some sort of “giant strength” magic, the dragon has *mass*. Not to mention a huge fanged mouth, four clawed feet, large wings… and magic. Early in the fight, Firkraag swept Keldorn and I off our feet, sprawling us a ways back. And he breathed fire that did some hurt to most of us. Although I believe I was unconscious at that moment.
Like I said, Giant Strength is awesome, but he was still a big lizard.
We finally took him down, it was a whole team effort. Firkraag won’t play anymore cruel games with the residents of these parts.
He had a pretty big hoard too! Probably our single biggest take so far.
But then it was time to get Taar Windspeare back to his father. It is satisfying when we can make things right for people. Unfortunately, we have a sad load to take back to the Radiant Heart. It hasn’t been long, maybe some of them can be raised? Aerie doesn’t think so.
We got about half way back with what was left of the day.
“I think it saved my life!”
“Good as new.”
“That was the first dragon I’ve fought!”
“Amyntor and I fought a Green on our way to Dragonspear. Minsc and Jaheira were there. And Erato. You would have liked her. And Dyna… She’d be proud of you sis, you’re a good mage.”
Its somehow satisfying when you have to face such a powerful foe as dragon, to know you come away from it stronger than before.
Cromwell made an excellent suit of armor for us.
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