The group uses magic, cunning, and quite possibly the smartest of street smarts to navigate Gracklstugh from the Darklake Docks to Hemeth's manse. Successfully maneuvering around patrolling guards, and those posted on rooftops, the group successfully arrives at the large compound, where they're greeted and allowed entrance through the gates. Clearly Hemeth's men, or perhaps his father's men, had noticed their presence.
Walking up to the estate, the great double doors swing open wide, and you're met yet again with a beckoning glare, giving away the urgency of the situation. You all realize that you're welcome home party is likely not going to happen. At least not just yet. In through the hallways and around a few corners, you're led to a large hall that looks familiar. It's where you all met over a feast of succulent meats and perfectly ripened fruits. Now you're met by Hemeth and his father, who at once rise and meet you with a great sigh of relief.
Hemeth - "You've come back to us, friends! We are grateful to Moradin for what we had hoped would be good fortune." He moves towards each of you to grasp arms in and welcome you back. "First let us sit and hear of your stories-..." He pauses. Noticing that there is a Derro of suspicious look, and fitting of the description he understands Droki to have. "I see you've found your quarry, did ya?"
“We sure did, your dudeness!! But we hit a bit of a snag when trying to interrogate him. He went into some sort of coma and we need some more info from him. Do u have access to any healers that can keep their mouths shut about their work? We also came across a mad alchemist in the tunnels who may or may not have been partying with the grey ghosts. Any idea what they r all about?”
Hemeth - "The Gray Ghosts, did you say?" He strokes his mighty impressive Dwarven beard. Then, casting an eye back towards his father, he continues. "They have an underground network of spies and assassins that work in secret and for unknown ends. If they're involved, it's surely not for the good of the people." Turning his attention back towards the unconscious Droki. Raising a hand and snapping his fingers, two previously unseen Duergar house guards appear from practically thin air and offer to take the barely living body. "In fact, I know such a 'healer'." The way he says the word “healer”makes you think there’s an obvious hint of sarcasm.
“More importantly I fear a great evil has sprung up from a water vortex beneath the docks. We barely escaped from it. From my deduction of the situation It crumpled the bones of Droki as we were attempting to interrogate him. I don’t know how long the safety of this town will last.”
Lord Holderhek - "What you speak of was foretold to us by a seer...1 year ago to this date. If what you say is to be believed in the most dire of ways, then you should all be grateful that you escaped with your lives. If that seer is to be worthy of his title...then I pray for Moradin's strength for what's to come in the days ahead..." he says in a serious and deep tone.
"Its mighty good to see herself and ye father Hemeth. Those carverns are treacherous. Aye, we brought this one back for some assisted questioning. He claims to be working to save the city from demons...throwing shade and doubt on Mistress Ysla and the captain of the Guard. We figured yeself and yer father be knowing the machinations here better than us...wait ye beard is looking regal Hemmy! Are ye using a new beard oil..(he subconsciously touched his matted tufts of beard). I be needing to see ye barber at some point.
The evil my son speaks of... is bad. To say bad is an understatement. It attacked me mind when I probed for evil in that cavern. And it sits below the city. Me mace was aching to battle it, but I fear we were not prepared as of yet. But it's a force we shall be needing to deal with...
Lastly, while in that blasted lair we came upon a proud duergar who had a affinity for gardening fungi. I talked to him and found him to be of the forged of the same steel as yeself in his dedication to his work and pride. We set him free and I may have directed him here. Figured his botanical skill with fungal varieties could add some value to your spirits and ale. Did he show up? " he asks hopefully
Lastly "ye got a drink or an ale for a thirsty dwarf and his companions?"
Hemeth - "Aye he did. To be fair, he didn't have much of a credential to go off but his word...and that ye sent him. Had he not said ye sent him, surely I'd have turned him away. He rests. Surely you'll have his gratitude. And we'll see what work his hands can do around here." Solemnly, he paces around the dinner table. "Sit. Fill your bellies. Rest your souls. Once again, I fear we have much to discuss."
Hemeth takes the first note and Lord Holderhek takes the second (written in infernal).
Hemeth - "Take this to the captain of the guard. Gorglak is a warrior of the Stone Guard. I'm sure Errde will find this information...valuable."
Lord Holderhek - "This letter speaks of a Demon Lord by the name of Graz'zt. It also mentions...the Deepking!" Hemeth's father now carries a look of great concern and frustration. Turning to his son, he says "Hemeth...we must accelerate our timeline."
Lord Holderhek - "With a heavy heart, I ask of you all to consider the facts that we've gathered thus far. Demon Lords, some that a couple of you have actually seen in person, and others that we have reports come in with gruesome details are subverting our world to their own dark desires. Our own city is held hostage by corrupt and secretive organizations that lurk in the shadows. And this note...written by someone with first-hand knowledge of that corruption and it's demonic relation." He takes a deep sigh before his next words, which you can tell he chooses very carefully. "We believe that our once fair and just Deepking is under the influence...nay, under the control of the Demon Lord Graz'zt. He must either be saved to save our city. Or destroyed before he lets our city be destroyed."
As gremryl drinks his ale. He also has a shot of duergar whiskey next to his drink. Its been a tough few days.
"The path to the light is often laid out not in a straight line, but with zigs and Zags, twists and turns. I have said it before, moradin put me on this path to rid the world of the evil attempting to corrode and destroy it. "
He throws back his shot "I cant free my family only to let we roam free. I'd be freeing them from one prison and caging them in the furnace as we say back in adbar. My mace and shield will be there wherever this table goes. If ye Deepking can be saved then so be it.. never trusted the lot but I've learned. So, maybe ysla can give us more info?. I've no love for your guards, no offence but we can go to them to. Or we go back into those blasted tunnels and find, visit and have words with these Grey ghosts. By words I mean my mace speaks on me behalf."
To Hemeth, "It seems Droki, may yet have knowledge that could shed light on these matters. I prefer to remain in his presence for the healing and interrogation if there are no objections."
Hemeth - "I'm sure ye have the stomach for it, Mr. Black. Feel free to watch, but please do respect the 'healer's methods. She's quite effective in her own right." he says.
The two House Guards take Droki's body and walk out of the great dining hall.
“ do your father and ye be trusting the captain of the guard? The one black mailed us into tracking Droki. I’m eager to leave the city. But something doesn’t seem right. I know we haven’t interrogated him yet, but do you think droki should we should be turning him over? Me halfling senses tell me that we must tread lightly if I’m to leave this city in one piece.”
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Elmo steels himself and nods to Grem.
Make haste!
Stealth roll: 11 +10
The group uses magic, cunning, and quite possibly the smartest of street smarts to navigate Gracklstugh from the Darklake Docks to Hemeth's manse. Successfully maneuvering around patrolling guards, and those posted on rooftops, the group successfully arrives at the large compound, where they're greeted and allowed entrance through the gates. Clearly Hemeth's men, or perhaps his father's men, had noticed their presence.
Walking up to the estate, the great double doors swing open wide, and you're met yet again with a beckoning glare, giving away the urgency of the situation. You all realize that you're welcome home party is likely not going to happen. At least not just yet. In through the hallways and around a few corners, you're led to a large hall that looks familiar. It's where you all met over a feast of succulent meats and perfectly ripened fruits. Now you're met by Hemeth and his father, who at once rise and meet you with a great sigh of relief.
“We sure did, your dudeness!! But we hit a bit of a snag when trying to interrogate him. He went into some sort of coma and we need some more info from him. Do u have access to any healers that can keep their mouths shut about their work? We also came across a mad alchemist in the tunnels who may or may not have been partying with the grey ghosts. Any idea what they r all about?”
“More importantly I fear a great evil has sprung up from a water vortex beneath the docks. We barely escaped from it. From my deduction of the situation It crumpled the bones of Droki as we were attempting to interrogate him. I don’t know how long the safety of this town will last.”
"Its mighty good to see herself and ye father Hemeth. Those carverns are treacherous. Aye, we brought this one back for some assisted questioning. He claims to be working to save the city from demons...throwing shade and doubt on Mistress Ysla and the captain of the Guard. We figured yeself and yer father be knowing the machinations here better than us...wait ye beard is looking regal Hemmy! Are ye using a new beard oil..(he subconsciously touched his matted tufts of beard). I be needing to see ye barber at some point.
The evil my son speaks of... is bad. To say bad is an understatement. It attacked me mind when I probed for evil in that cavern. And it sits below the city. Me mace was aching to battle it, but I fear we were not prepared as of yet. But it's a force we shall be needing to deal with...
Lastly, while in that blasted lair we came upon a proud duergar who had a affinity for gardening fungi. I talked to him and found him to be of the forged of the same steel as yeself in his dedication to his work and pride. We set him free and I may have directed him here. Figured his botanical skill with fungal varieties could add some value to your spirits and ale. Did he show up? " he asks hopefully
Lastly "ye got a drink or an ale for a thirsty dwarf and his companions?"
Hemeth - "Aye he did. To be fair, he didn't have much of a credential to go off but his word...and that ye sent him. Had he not said ye sent him, surely I'd have turned him away. He rests. Surely you'll have his gratitude. And we'll see what work his hands can do around here." Solemnly, he paces around the dinner table. "Sit. Fill your bellies. Rest your souls. Once again, I fear we have much to discuss."
“We also found this note in the alchemist lair. It speaks of a plot to kill Werz Saltbaron by Gorglak. What can you tell us of these gentlemen.”
Leon hands the note over to the Holderheks
“Do you know anyone that can read this as well?”
Leon hands over the note written in infernal
Rowland will position himself near Droki to aid in keeping him alive and with the group if needed.
Hemeth takes the first note and Lord Holderhek takes the second (written in infernal).
Leon takes the note back from Hemeth and waits for Lord Holderhek to expand on his concerns.
As gremryl drinks his ale. He also has a shot of duergar whiskey next to his drink. Its been a tough few days.
"The path to the light is often laid out not in a straight line, but with zigs and Zags, twists and turns. I have said it before, moradin put me on this path to rid the world of the evil attempting to corrode and destroy it. "
He throws back his shot "I cant free my family only to let we roam free. I'd be freeing them from one prison and caging them in the furnace as we say back in adbar. My mace and shield will be there wherever this table goes. If ye Deepking can be saved then so be it.. never trusted the lot but I've learned. So, maybe ysla can give us more info?. I've no love for your guards, no offence but we can go to them to. Or we go back into those blasted tunnels and find, visit and have words with these Grey ghosts. By words I mean my mace speaks on me behalf."
To Hemeth, "It seems Droki, may yet have knowledge that could shed light on these matters. I prefer to remain in his presence for the healing and interrogation if there are no objections."
The two House Guards take Droki's body and walk out of the great dining hall.
to Hem,
“ do your father and ye be trusting the captain of the guard? The one black mailed us into tracking Droki. I’m eager to leave the city. But something doesn’t seem right. I know we haven’t interrogated him yet, but do you think droki should we should be turning him over? Me halfling senses tell me that we must tread lightly if I’m to leave this city in one piece.”