The Phandalin Chronicles

Rekuberk will move to take the hat if no one else does. He will spend the next few moments adjusting it on his head until he is satisfied with the feel of it on his head. He will mess about with it but will then stow it once he realizes it is no more then a somewhat dopey looking hat or at least when he wears it.

"Thank you for your gifts and your hospitality Your Majesty" replies Krom to the Gnome King. "As Rhogar already said some warmer clothes and climbing gear should be more than sufficient in our next endeavor." The dwarf thinks a few seconds and then adds "If I may ask, I would gadly try a keg or two of your beer before facing the dragon."

Krom will then examine the amulet carefully and says  "If nobody wants this, I will take it for a while."

"We will set to work right away" says Dabbledob.  "Come to our workshop where we first met and we'll measure you and get to work."

You are quickly measured and the gnomes get to work on the clothing.

After about an hour the butterfly wings on Rhogar's back and the lights around Krom's head disappear.

That evening a large feast is prepared to celebrate the healing of the king's mind and the freedom from the shape changer. Krom is free to sample as much if the beer as he desires and is left satisfied.

It takes more than a day to prepare the clothing as the gnomes had to make clothes much larger than they normally would to fit the bigger members of the party.

The dawn of the next day comes and you are each outfitted with cold weather clothing. The gnomes also supply 2 climbing kits.

The gnomes gather to see you off and wish you luck in defeating the dragon.

Kazri thanks the gnomes for their hospitality and bid them farewell. "Well, gentlemen. I guess this is it. We finally get to meet this dragon and hopefully put an end to it."

(OCC: We going to pay the dragon a visit now right? Also, did anyone take the amulet?)

(OOC: Krom wanted the amulet, Chip is eyeing the wand, Chill took the Pole, and Rekuberk nabbed the wizard's hat. Rhogar wouldn't argue against the end result of this split, so unless Kazri wanted a contested wish for the amulet, it can go to Krom.)

From the moment Rhogar had lost his wings, the Dragonborn had been inconsolable and sullen for the remainder of the evening. Even if his fellow dragonborn Chip sought to lift his spirits, the loss of wings was just too much. Occasionally someone might catch him off on his own, sitting and muttering to himself about things like "Am I not worthy?" or "Did I do something wrong?"

Even if its later explained to him what happened, the Dragonborn seemed either determined to believe otherwise, or just plainly still found himself to blame for not having been able to keep the manifestation. Nevertheless, come the following day he climbs into the back of the carriage with his head hanging low, and yet willing all the same to fight the dragon. "... We will end it." He speak up eventually, and with a more determined set to his face. "And when we do, I will drink deep of its blood, and regain my lost gift. This I swear." 

(OCC: Sorry, I must have missed it. Amulet belong to Krom.)

"This is it my friends" says Krom as the group leaves Gnomegarde, "we will soon face the Dragon. Let's steel ourselves for the upcoming battle."

Krom then walks next to Kazri and places on her hand the amulet that the gnome king gave to the group "I have studied this lass, this may help us indeed finishing the Dragon. Invoking the power of the amulet will allow you to strike true with your Dragonslayer sword. You can invoke its power only once a day, choose the right timing."

After the mid-day break, Krom will renew his prayers of Aid on the whole group.

(OCC Krom will cast 2 Aid at 3rd level on the whole group)

Chip would try to help Rhogar with the loss of his wings... giving him a pat on the shoulder and trying to reassure him. "Well... what if those wings were supposed to be just a taste of what you can expect later on? What if you are not quite ready for wings yet... but because you are doing so well.... you were given the gift temporarily as a sort of... preview.. to what you can expect in the future." Chip would say with a smile. "I mean... look at your head... You have obviously gone through some changes already... I am sure the wings will come one day as well. Just keep the faith and before long ya might have wings and even a tail!" The brass scaled dragonborn would say with a smile. 

Chill also tries to comfort Rhogar.

"They were butterfly wings, not mighty dragon wings.  They did not suit your nobility nor your strength.  Be thankful for the opportunity you had to enjoy flight.  As Chip says, maybe one day you will have true wings."

Kazri receives the amulet from Krom. "I will use it well Master Krom. Thank you." She then turns to Rhogar. "Worry not Mr. Nimbatuul. Provided that we are able to deal with our quarry, I have a feeling that we still have much adventuring to do. I hope that we are all able to witness the day you get your true wings." Kazri tries to improve the mood of the company while riding on Serenity.

Rhogar scoffs. "Brother Vixix would not tease me so, and I am not so prideful to not accept the boon that were the wings before. Brother Vixix is no true dragon, for which the Nimbatuul's are thankful. So, why should it be that the boon necessitate wings of the ilk?" He asks, but promptly snorted and rolled over to face away from the others. "It matters not. It is clear to me that I have failed in some way. But in devouring that dragon, I will prove myself yet... or be made to accept yet there is more to atone for." He states with finality.

(Ooc: Rhogar's pity party aside, on to dragon home!)

You set out travelling NE following the western edge of the Sword Mountains.  As the day progresses the travel becomes more and more difficult as the terrain gets worse.  It becomes more difficult to find a path for the the wagon to cross and eventually you reach a point in which the land is too rough.  Trees grow too close together, rocks and boulders, some the size of houses, are strewn across the landscape.  It also is getting colder, though neither Chip nor Kazri notice due to the gear that they have.

Ahead Icespire Peak looms in the distance and beyond that lays Icespire Hold, lair of the white dragon.

But you can go no further today.   A decision must be made as the cart cannot continue and you wonder how much longer you will be able to keep riding the horses as well.

Camp must be made and a watch set, these are dangerous lands.

2

"Seems like we need to keep the horses here. If it were possible I would say that we find a place to keep them safe." Rekuberk says as he crosses his arms and looks up towards the mountains. His hand instinctively goes to the hilt of his Greatsword.

"That will be difficult no matter how it's done." Rhogar admits, and with a snap of his fingers, Ghorar appears hovering at his side. The moment the cold hits her, she dives into the Bronze's hood, much to his surprise, and soon to be chagrin. In the brief moment anyone has to see her, her form is oddly different. Gone are her butterfly wings and transformative tail, leaving her far more draconic in appearance. A side-effect of the whatever weird magic that affected the gnomes affecting her?

"Hmph. Yes, I know. It's rather nippy. But, it is not going to get any better, and -- No, you can't go back. Yet. Just... You've endured worse." Rhogar says to Ghorar, and receives in turn a threatening stinger wave about near his eye. "Caution, little one. Please.... Where were we? Ah.. right. The horses. Let's find a nice copse of trees with the carriage, and leave them plenty of feed. At least, that is my suggestion. After we've rested we can decide tomorrow. BUT, either way, I'll take third watch with Ghorar."

Ghorar's new appearance(for the curious):

"I fear that if we leave the horses, they will be become food for wolves or some other monsters that prowl this part of the mountain." says Krom trying to shake off some of the cold.

"Still we have no other choice but to leave them as we can not proceed further with the cart. Hopefully, we will be able to find a good spot for them tomorrow morning, if we find a place that it is already partially covered, I could craft a couple of metal slabs to further close or protect them. It will not work against intelligent monsters, but wolves may have an hard time to enter." As he speaks, Krom, murmuring a prayer to Moradin, checks around the group a suitable place for protect the horses and make camp (Perception 10 + Guidance 3 ).

"As for the watch, I will take the second one."

(OOC If I find a suitable place for shelter the horses and make camp, I will craft with Artisan's Blessing 2 metal slabs and try to use them as make-shift cover/shelter for the horses/camp)

"I will take third watch with Rhogar.  I like the dark and it suits me.  We should have left the animals behind and traveled on foot.   Now we are stuck with the possibility that we lose these animals to whatever else lives in these mountains.  We know orcs have but were they all driven out by the dragon? What about trolls, giants or wolves?  These mountains can't be empty." says Chill as he pulls his jacket tighter. "I've never felt temperatures this cold before.  I'm beginning to miss my jungle home.  When this is done I may head south again to warmer climates."

"We can only pray that the horses will be ok, and hopefully Master Krom's plan will work as well. I will take the first watch." Says Kazri as she remove her belonging from Serenity, and leave them on the wagon. She then pets the horse's mane, and casts Speak with Animals. "I am sorry my friend, unfortunately you will not be able to follow us further tomorrow. Master Krom will try to create a cage that hopefully will keep you safe."

"If you can speak with the horse, why not tell it to head back out of the mountains, or back to town, or just away from here so it isn't in direct danger from whatever lives in these mountains?"  Chill asks as he looks up at the peaks, certain there are caves and the like they cannot see.

Chip would jump out of the back of the cart and straighten his clothing. "Well.. I suppose it is going to be a nice hike going forward..." He would say with a forced smile. "Maybe we should have left the cart and horses with the gnomes..." He would add as he scratches his brass scaled chin. "oh well I suppose. Once we are rich and famous we can buy new horses if we need." he would add as he pulls out his lute and strums a few notes before preparing to set off... After hearing Chill's suggestion he pipes up.. "Yeah! Tell them all to head back to the gnomes.. we can write a note and stick it to the horses letting them know that we will be back for the later." The dragonborn would add as he slaps the tabaxi on the shoulder.

Kazri thinks for a moment. "I think Mr. Chip is right. Having the horses and the wagon wait for us at Gnomengarde might be a more sensible solution to our dilemma. If we are all in agreement, I can ask them to head to the gnomes in the morning when we are ready to head to the top of the mountain."

(OCC: I rather Kazri communicate with the animals now, while spell is still up, and not spend a slot on the next day. If DM permits.)