Marpenoth 11th - Ambush in the Temple

Along the trek back home, Marina had filled them in on what had been happening since they had been gone:

Quote :

“I’m not sure, but I think that Sertanian guy you rescued at Rivenroar was the first one to tell Evan about one of those relics. Maybe it was the sword? I’m not sure. Anyways, Sertainian and just about everyone else in the valley has been working on that damn Temple of Helm. Evan keeps saying that a community must have the temple done first if we want to survive in the mountains.”

“That kid you rescued, Thuran, has been a wealth of knowledge, according to Mayor Droverson. Kid knows all about “The Organization” in Cholnudon. Droverson kept asking him about that Captain Kremmel. You’d have to ask the mayor what he learned from him.”

“I don’t know if they were friends of Gravaar or what, but two orcs showed up at the front gate last week looking to join. Evan was fuming mad and he told them they should thank their,” Marina pauses trying to remember the exact words, “dirty, heathen, whores for a mother” that he didn’t kill them on the spot and instead let them go.”

“The president, er, interim president, has had to step up the patrols the last few weeks. All of us professional hirelings; myself, Troy, Delek, Kelser, everyone, has had to go along with the patrols. I guess there has been a lot of fear of gnolls lately. I haven’t seen any myself. But I guess better safe than sorry.”

The heroes arrived back to Rock Hammer late in the evening and saw many changes over the last month. Work on the Stone’s Throw tavern had begun, and the Temple of Helm was complete.

Marina escorted them to the temple where Sertanian awaited them. He informed the heroes that the ceremonial sword recovered from Rivenroar that was taken by Thar and the orcs from their attack on Temel, asked for them by name.

As he showed the sword to the heroes, the weapon spoke:

Quote :

Without warning the temple is filled with a woman’s weak voice, “You have come, by heroes, but my thanks must be brief. I am Amyria and I have summoned you here from great need. I know it must seem strange to hear me speak, but I assure you that this form is only temporary. It is for that reason that I beseech you for aid.”

“Decades ago, a race of manostics born of the Elemental Chaos established a fortress in the Nether Mountains. These were the githzerai, who lived secretly in their remote outpost before suddenly vanishing. Their Fortress of Graystone was well hidden, and remained uninhabited for long years.”

“Some months ago, Fortress Graystone was invaded and claimed by a pack of gnoll mercenaries calling themselves the Wicked Fang. Their leader, a sadistic follower of the demon lord Yeenoghu, has begun to send his raiders out into the Silver Marches and beyond. In recent weeks, this gnoll chieftain Fangren has managed to open a conduit of power to Yeenoghu’s realm in the Elemental Chaos. He plans to claim some small fragment of the demon lord’s power, transforming himself into a exarch of the Beast of Butchery. It was the creation of this conduit that awoke me from my age-long slumber.”

“If Fangren completes his ritual, demonic forces will have gained a foothold in the mortal realm. More importantly, that conduit to the Elemental Chaos can be manipulated through a ritual that I will provide to you. This is the boon that I pray you grant me. Bring me to Fortress Graystone and free me from this prison.”

Just then the heroes were ambushed by attackers who lobbed in pots of burning oil. The Lords of Rock Hammer quickly dealt with the attackers and the fire just in time to see the heavily-armed Gilgathorn nod to them before disappearing into the crowd.