Storm King's Thunder

Additionally, it’s worth noting that Crownsguard and Horse are pulling the cart into town.

 Boris the draft horse can be found, very agitated and wary, in the stables by the inn.

The White Hart Inn is a place of rest. It’s characteristic ambience of a well-kept hunting lodge is dark and relaxing, and is likely why the two lodgers that came in earlier have chosen it to recuperate from their wounds. They seem to have retired to their rooms. The innkeeper, a little man named Avgar Filroy, is behind the bar. His normal courteous nature is absent; he is avoiding eye contact while washing his dishes, which float from his hands to be dried and then placed back on their shelves and racks by unseen hands.

Angel, you Aasimar friend, is treating his two mastiffs to some snacks as you enter. 

“Was that thunder I heard a minute ago?” He asks you. “And who are you?” He asks upon seeing Crownsguard for the first time.

“That is correct. I hit a skeleton giant with my hammer, which caused an explosion. I am surprised it is still functioning. Normally, I am more efficient than this. Hello! I am Crownsguard, your collaborative, combative companion.”

Marav steps in, Steele sits on his shoulder bloody, but his eyes are sharp. Marav has his bow drawn and aimed at Crownsguard. "Explain why you were grabbing Ink?" He shakes his head a bit seeing the rest of the party with Crownsguard and lowers his bow slightly. 

//And for the record, Marav can take a long rest. :) He hasn't slept in a while.//

Crownsguard’s head turns around 90 degrees to see Marav, “Hello! I am Crownsguard, your collaborative, combative companion. I was attempting to grab, User: ‘Pointy Ears,’ in order to evacuate him from the premises according to the orders of User: Dwarf, which were to protect him. I do not suggest shooting me with arrows. They are largely ineffectual. I would suggest taking advantage of my slow reflexes, as I am wood and metal. Thank you for asking. Has my answer been satisfactory?”

Ink sighs as he takes a seat. 

"Don't worry, Marav - he's just an overprotective golem or construct... I'm not quite sure actually. Where did you come from, Crownsguard? Who built you? How'd you end up in this town?" 

“I am from Netheril. I am the failed result of an arcane experiment in planar magics. Because of this, I was decommissioned until recently.  The Order of the Gauntlet located and reactivated me. Since then, I have been wandering from town to town, doing exactly what I did with you all... except with better results thus far. I may need to recalculate my approach.”

"You are of Netheril? How old are you? How long did you sleep?" 

“I am...” Crownsguard looks unfocused, “I am not sure. My memory regarding my age is hazy. I saw odd things during my sleep, perhaps that distracted me.”

"Gnomish  work if ye  ask me. Ah'm  Flint. 'Ere's  Ink an' Rip, an' that's Marav  an' Angel yonder. Ah'd  say we're off our path a bit so ta  speak. Need some information 'bout Rip's kin an' headin' fer points east when we found this den o' undead with this town under thrall."

“Names registered. Hello, Flint, Ink, Rip, Marav, and Angel. Thank you for assisting me in eliminating the undead. I am sorry for allowing you to be injured. It appears that removing the infestation from this town is beyond my full capabilities. I have completely exhausted my reserves.”

"No, not gnomes - Netheril is an ancient human civilization.  The remnants can still be found here and there. Silverymoon herself uses magic, mythals, pioneered in Netheril. But I digress - as far as I know the only thing left of Netheril are ruins and the Anaurach desert."

"Well, we've been investigating giant activity - basically  we learned that the Ordning has been broken, still not sure what that means, but it has been driving giants into the world and causing trouble. Cloud giants seem to be collecting magical artifacts, the fire giants want to build some kind of weapon, and stone giants have been clearing the landscape of humanoid settlements. We're not sure what the hill and frost giants are planning. Rip's hometown was cleared by stone giants but not before its people kidnapped by a barbarian tribe. We stopped in this town in search of information, but were sidetracked by four wights - one of which who still lives - and whatever undead thing is controlling all that you saw today."

“Correct. A large amount of magic was practiced during my construction. I do not think that much of it was as nice as I am.  Noted. Thank you for the information. Rogue giants and undead. Has the world become more dangerous? I feel like it has become more dangerous.”

"Aye, might be at that. Rip, ye  got the most at stake 'ere, what's ar  next move?"

"well we stirred up a hornets nest of undead here, it would be morally reprehensible to leave the village without clearing out the nest. I'm tapped out and hurt, and come sundown i fear the undead may attack. It pains me to say it, but my children will have to hold out a little while longer. Ink, do you think we might be able to get those uthgarde (idk how to spell it) to help us fight these things? they seemed to have no affection for the undead."

“Question. Is there not a more strategic way to handle the attack? They seemed to hold the advantage because we were broken up. If we were to initiate a surprise attack, then they may not be able to retaliate. My capabilities provide me with the ability to turn undead. Additionally, I have enough magic to provide one powerful spell.”

"As fer  me, ah dunno  what help ah could be today. Me warhammer  is heavy in me hand, and Moradin  has'na  more blessin's  fer  me. Ah'll go where ye  need me, but Ah'll be better off come th' morn." //str  -7, max hp -16, no spells//

“Is time of the essence? It would seem wise to perhaps use the remainder of the day to scout the fortress, then engage them in the morning. However, that is only my assessment. I am designed to protect and serve, but I am not equipped to generate possible outcomes. Additionally, did you say there is another wight? Perhaps we should locate it as well. Four against one seems like favorable odds.”

"Regarding the Tree Ghost tribe we ran into, they were more impressed that we took down the wights we had than anything. They were the ones to tell us that if we wanted to find the Red Tiger clan, our best bet would be to find Harshang near the Nether mountains. They didn't say much else about the wights outside of they being a stabilizing force. I don't think we should depend on their help."

"Crownsguard, you are right in a way but it was an unfortunate circumstance. We had spent the better part of the morning INSIDE the keep battling the wights and a bodak, directly. We were able to take down two more wights and the bodak leaving one that got away hiding somewhere in the keep. Nearly tapped we continued our hunt but couldn't find it, instead battling some spiders and shadows. We came to the foyer for a short rest before resuming our hunt. Marav took the opportunity to search the grounds for secret passageways inside and out, Rip left to see what a couple of new visitors to town were about. During that time when we were spread out is when we were caught off guard by that force of undead. We were honestly surprised, I think, and I no longer think it's just a wight - I've never heard of a wight being able to wield such necromantic power."

"We've been here for about a day, if that, yet it feels like over a month."

;)