Gadhewer's eyes light up and he shakes Heec's hand vigorously.
G: Please, come in, come in! Let's go down to the study where we can talk.
Gadhewer leads Heec to the study at the end of the room. It is a small, but cozy space, with bookshelves on all but one wall that is occupied by a large, multi-tiered desk. Gadhewer motions to a leather chair for a Heec and he pulls up a stool to sit. He looks around conspiratorially before speaking.
G: Mr. Irlaid. If you have spent any time around here recently, then surely know about the strange events going on in the mountains. What if I told you that those creatures who are currently thriving in the Crags are only one small piece of a much larger, and more dangerous, series of happenings!
I would say I believe what you speak! We came across a rather nefarious Moon Elf by the name of Fel in the mountains. He spoke of a lava deity, one we should fear and revere. Do you know of whom he speaks?
...Gadhewer takes Heec's uncomfortable silence as a cue to begin his story.
G: "There are legends, and I say legends although there is a preponderance of evidence once you really begin to search for it, that deep within the Crags near Mount Hotenow there lies the ancient city of Gauntlgrym. And really no one disputes that there was an underground city called Gauntlgrym that was built at least a few thousand years ago by dwarves. The inhabitants of this city were driven out by dark forces and then the accounts vary about who, or what, was in control of it and for how long. The question is does this city still exist and does it have anything living in it now? The city was completely enclosed in the mountains, with no known exits or entrances except for one, the front doors. They were giant doors that were said to be magically sealed and that could only be opened by one who was part of the bloodline of the dwarf clan who originally constructed it."
"Some believe that the whole city collapsed and was buried, but I would disagree simply because it was so massive that it would fundamentally have altered the shape of the Crags. Even if this happened hundreds of years ago, I still believe that the eastern Crags, and Mount Hotenow especially, wouldn't exist today. This means that in all likelihood Gauntlgrym is still intact and something lives there. Maybe nothing particularly intelligent or humanoid in nature, but surely there is some kind of cave ecosystem that exists underground. But that's not even the most interesting part!"
"You see, thousands of years ago people believed that a primordial titan of fire and lava fled from a war on its world and escaped to ours where it could sleep for countless millennia until it believed the conflict was over and it could return. Over many ages the lava that came from the sleeping titan hardened and created the mountains that we see today. They believed that was how the volcano of Mount Hotenow was created and why it would always be active. The myth is that the reason Gauntlgrym was built in the first place was to use the Primordial as an eternally burning power source for a massive forge where the dwarves could construct weapons of incredible might. Of course, this power source would be highly coveted and that's why Gauntlgrym supposedly fell."
"Let us pretend to believe these stories for a moment. That would mean there is a massive titan of fire is still sleeping under the mountains to this day. Now to a primordial a thousand years would be but a fleeting moment of time and there is no reason to suspect that will wake in the lifetimes of even a hundred generations from now. But, there are myths or histories that this primordial has stirred in its sleep before. Several hundred years ago Mount Hotenow erupted and almost buried Neverwinter in fire and ash. Some say this was due to natural forces because Mount Hotenow is still a semi-active volcano and some say it was from someone trying to wake the primordial for dark purposes."
"Let's continue to assume all of the legends are true. Then isn't it possible that the primordial moves again? Maybe it is simply stirring, much like you or I would turn over in our sleep, but even that could cause destruction for a hundred miles in all directions. Even more unlikely is that is simply waking up, which could mean the end of life on this world. Or what if..."
He pauses to heighten the dramatic effect.
"someone is trying to wake up the great titan who is known as...Maegera the Inferno!"
Results would vary on how effective this dramatic revealing would be.
Hmmmm... That all sounds rather fascinating, but in the 700+ years I've walked this realm, I've never heard of Maegera the Inferno nor have I heard of Gauntlgrym. But! It does sound daring and exciting! At the same time, from everything Fel told us, this sounds familiar but it sounded like he wanted to wake the primordial and become his initiate. From the way you make it sound, that's not a great idea. What exactly would you like to get out of this adventure? New residence in this forgotten city? Access to the forge? Perhaps the motives are more below the surface? More... paternal?
Gadhewer turns red all the way down to his stubby, little dwarf toesies.
G: "Ah, herm, I..uh...I...no...it's not...herm...I...I'm not...listen, uh, what you have to...It's more of a matter of...
He finally manages to compose himself.
G: "I do so long to go and see if the great city of Gauntlgrym still stands. My pursuits have always been on the more academic side, something my father doesn't attach much importance to. Although some pursuits would definitely assist his business, such as a new type of fuel source I've been working on that burns longer and hotter than the charcoal he uses for the forges now. But this is definitely an esoteric pursuit. It's purely for the sake of historic and scientific discovery. Though maybe someday Gauntlgrym could be resettled if it remains inhabitable. "
"I know travel in the Crags is particularly dangerous these days, and I wouldn't say I have any, uhhh, practical adventuring experience. Not like you!" He adds hastily. "But to see those ancient halls built by our kind. To stand in the great forge and know for sure whether the primordial is real or not. Can you imagine?"
"Either way, someone will have to go to the Crags and deal with those goblins. And from the way it sounds with what this elf was doing, that will lead them to Gauntlgrym one way or the other."
And say we do go to the Crags and clear out the goblin infestation to the front doors that could or could not be magically sealed. Do you know of anyone that shares the same blood with those that constructed the city?
G: "I do not. The Delzoun clan were the ones who built the great city, but their bloodlines started to disappear after the fall of Gauntlgrym and if any remain today I'm not sure if even they would know from whom they descended. Also, there aren't any clear paths marked for how to get to Gauntlgrym. They goblins most likely control the entrance to the caves, but who knows how to get to the doors within the caves. But still, isn't it exciting!"
So, if I understand correctly, you want us to go to the Crags and locate a door, that's whereabouts are currently unknown, where the only way to unlock it is to find someone of the ancient bloodline, which we know of no-one that is, to find a primordial being, whom we can't awaken, to locate a city, which may or may not be there, so the dwarves may live long, prosperous lives in the mountain?
G: "That's exactly right! I'm glad to hear you are as excited about this prospect as I am!"
He looks a little shy.
G: "I would be happy to give you some additional guidance when you are ready to go. I know that I would probably slow you down on the actual trip, but I'd bet my beakers that no one has more maps or knowledge of the area than I do. Of course if I came...uhhh, nevermind. It's probably not feasible, you're right."
One of the two terms of my agreement for this adventure was your participation! I'm glad I don't have to talk you into it! The other stipulation is this: I'm in need of shinier, more powerful nunchaku. My current set is fine, but they're a bit worn and not exactly reliable. If you're able to craft me a more durable, not necessarily more powerful, however welcomed that would be, we will depart! What say you, Gadhewer?
The dwarf positively beams at Heec when he shares the news.
G: "Oh I can't wait to go on my very first true adventure! I have so much to complete around here." He is looking frantically looking around his library before turning back to Heec. " Wait, did you say as soon as I make a replica of your nunchaku then we can leave? I'm only a novice at actual blacksmithing! A dabbler, really. it will take me days to complete that! Oh, I need to make measurements of your current pair. I will probably have to modify an ingot mold to a cylindrical shape, but I think I can...yes, that should do the trick. The tough part will be
He leaves the library talking excitedly to himself then pokes his heard around the partition.
G: "I would need to ask, ummm...for a few gold pieces after the project is complete. I will need to expend some materials and will need to provide replacements for my father's business."
Gadhewer looks confused, uncomfortable and a little sad.
G: "Oh, uhh, herm, ummm...if it's a problem to pay I, uhh...I guess I don't mind covering the cost...I, I can't really say at this time but I would probably only need five gold or so...I'm sure that's quite a bit around these parts..."
Don't speak another word! Heec hands him 5 gold pieces. Adventuring has been good to me. Hopefully, it'll be good to both of us! Send for me when the nunchaku are finished. Take care, Gadhewer!
Feeling better than he did before, Heec heads to the Boffing Badger Inn for a drink to celebrate both the previous and impending adventures. He sits at a table away from the bar merely wanting a moment to catch his breath.
Tae opens his eyes slowly from his meditative state. He is famished! He wonders if Shae has wandered to the Boffing Badger yet? He heads that way overly nervous but definitely eager to see Shae. He walks into the bar without knocking.
Tae opens the door to the inn without knocking and almost runs into another patron who is carrying a beer to a corner table. The human male looks like a worker who is unwinding from a long days labour.
M: "Whoah! Steady there lad, you almost spilled my ale! You should give a man a heads up next time."
After that close call stemming from brash action, Tae surveys the inn but doesn't spot Shae.
Heec surveys the room but does not see Marta. It is mostly filled with laborers this evening and Heec hardly recognizes anyone. Apparently the community leaders are busy with other things. Most likely related to the War Council.
Tae acts incognito to some enigmatic end...
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Gadhewer's eyes light up and he shakes Heec's hand vigorously.
G: Please, come in, come in! Let's go down to the study where we can talk.
Gadhewer leads Heec to the study at the end of the room. It is a small, but cozy space, with bookshelves on all but one wall that is occupied by a large, multi-tiered desk. Gadhewer motions to a leather chair for a Heec and he pulls up a stool to sit. He looks around conspiratorially before speaking.
G: Mr. Irlaid. If you have spent any time around here recently, then surely know about the strange events going on in the mountains. What if I told you that those creatures who are currently thriving in the Crags are only one small piece of a much larger, and more dangerous, series of happenings!
I would say I believe what you speak! We came across a rather nefarious Moon Elf by the name of Fel in the mountains. He spoke of a lava deity, one we should fear and revere. Do you know of whom he speaks?
Gadhewer's eyes almost bug out when Heec mentions the lava deity and speaks in a hushed tone.
G: So the myths are true. Settle in Mr. Irlaid, because I have much to tell you about....
...Gadhewer takes Heec's uncomfortable silence as a cue to begin his story.
G: "There are legends, and I say legends although there is a preponderance of evidence once you really begin to search for it, that deep within the Crags near Mount Hotenow there lies the ancient city of Gauntlgrym. And really no one disputes that there was an underground city called Gauntlgrym that was built at least a few thousand years ago by dwarves. The inhabitants of this city were driven out by dark forces and then the accounts vary about who, or what, was in control of it and for how long. The question is does this city still exist and does it have anything living in it now? The city was completely enclosed in the mountains, with no known exits or entrances except for one, the front doors. They were giant doors that were said to be magically sealed and that could only be opened by one who was part of the bloodline of the dwarf clan who originally constructed it."
"Some believe that the whole city collapsed and was buried, but I would disagree simply because it was so massive that it would fundamentally have altered the shape of the Crags. Even if this happened hundreds of years ago, I still believe that the eastern Crags, and Mount Hotenow especially, wouldn't exist today. This means that in all likelihood Gauntlgrym is still intact and something lives there. Maybe nothing particularly intelligent or humanoid in nature, but surely there is some kind of cave ecosystem that exists underground. But that's not even the most interesting part!"
"You see, thousands of years ago people believed that a primordial titan of fire and lava fled from a war on its world and escaped to ours where it could sleep for countless millennia until it believed the conflict was over and it could return. Over many ages the lava that came from the sleeping titan hardened and created the mountains that we see today. They believed that was how the volcano of Mount Hotenow was created and why it would always be active. The myth is that the reason Gauntlgrym was built in the first place was to use the Primordial as an eternally burning power source for a massive forge where the dwarves could construct weapons of incredible might. Of course, this power source would be highly coveted and that's why Gauntlgrym supposedly fell."
"Let us pretend to believe these stories for a moment. That would mean there is a massive titan of fire is still sleeping under the mountains to this day. Now to a primordial a thousand years would be but a fleeting moment of time and there is no reason to suspect that will wake in the lifetimes of even a hundred generations from now. But, there are myths or histories that this primordial has stirred in its sleep before. Several hundred years ago Mount Hotenow erupted and almost buried Neverwinter in fire and ash. Some say this was due to natural forces because Mount Hotenow is still a semi-active volcano and some say it was from someone trying to wake the primordial for dark purposes."
"Let's continue to assume all of the legends are true. Then isn't it possible that the primordial moves again? Maybe it is simply stirring, much like you or I would turn over in our sleep, but even that could cause destruction for a hundred miles in all directions. Even more unlikely is that is simply waking up, which could mean the end of life on this world. Or what if..."
He pauses to heighten the dramatic effect.
"someone is trying to wake up the great titan who is known as...Maegera the Inferno!"
Results would vary on how effective this dramatic revealing would be.
Hmmmm... That all sounds rather fascinating, but in the 700+ years I've walked this realm, I've never heard of Maegera the Inferno nor have I heard of Gauntlgrym. But! It does sound daring and exciting! At the same time, from everything Fel told us, this sounds familiar but it sounded like he wanted to wake the primordial and become his initiate. From the way you make it sound, that's not a great idea. What exactly would you like to get out of this adventure? New residence in this forgotten city? Access to the forge? Perhaps the motives are more below the surface? More... paternal?
Gadhewer turns red all the way down to his stubby, little dwarf toesies.
G: "Ah, herm, I..uh...I...no...it's not...herm...I...I'm not...listen, uh, what you have to...It's more of a matter of...
He finally manages to compose himself.
G: "I do so long to go and see if the great city of Gauntlgrym still stands. My pursuits have always been on the more academic side, something my father doesn't attach much importance to. Although some pursuits would definitely assist his business, such as a new type of fuel source I've been working on that burns longer and hotter than the charcoal he uses for the forges now. But this is definitely an esoteric pursuit. It's purely for the sake of historic and scientific discovery. Though maybe someday Gauntlgrym could be resettled if it remains inhabitable. "
"I know travel in the Crags is particularly dangerous these days, and I wouldn't say I have any, uhhh, practical adventuring experience. Not like you!" He adds hastily. "But to see those ancient halls built by our kind. To stand in the great forge and know for sure whether the primordial is real or not. Can you imagine?"
"Either way, someone will have to go to the Crags and deal with those goblins. And from the way it sounds with what this elf was doing, that will lead them to Gauntlgrym one way or the other."
And say we do go to the Crags and clear out the goblin infestation to the front doors that could or could not be magically sealed. Do you know of anyone that shares the same blood with those that constructed the city?
G: "I do not. The Delzoun clan were the ones who built the great city, but their bloodlines started to disappear after the fall of Gauntlgrym and if any remain today I'm not sure if even they would know from whom they descended. Also, there aren't any clear paths marked for how to get to Gauntlgrym. They goblins most likely control the entrance to the caves, but who knows how to get to the doors within the caves. But still, isn't it exciting!"
So, if I understand correctly, you want us to go to the Crags and locate a door, that's whereabouts are currently unknown, where the only way to unlock it is to find someone of the ancient bloodline, which we know of no-one that is, to find a primordial being, whom we can't awaken, to locate a city, which may or may not be there, so the dwarves may live long, prosperous lives in the mountain?
G: "That's exactly right! I'm glad to hear you are as excited about this prospect as I am!"
He looks a little shy.
G: "I would be happy to give you some additional guidance when you are ready to go. I know that I would probably slow you down on the actual trip, but I'd bet my beakers that no one has more maps or knowledge of the area than I do. Of course if I came...uhhh, nevermind. It's probably not feasible, you're right."
One of the two terms of my agreement for this adventure was your participation! I'm glad I don't have to talk you into it! The other stipulation is this: I'm in need of shinier, more powerful nunchaku. My current set is fine, but they're a bit worn and not exactly reliable. If you're able to craft me a more durable, not necessarily more powerful, however welcomed that would be, we will depart! What say you, Gadhewer?
The dwarf positively beams at Heec when he shares the news.
G: "Oh I can't wait to go on my very first true adventure! I have so much to complete around here." He is looking frantically looking around his library before turning back to Heec. " Wait, did you say as soon as I make a replica of your nunchaku then we can leave? I'm only a novice at actual blacksmithing! A dabbler, really. it will take me days to complete that! Oh, I need to make measurements of your current pair. I will probably have to modify an ingot mold to a cylindrical shape, but I think I can...yes, that should do the trick. The tough part will be
He leaves the library talking excitedly to himself then pokes his heard around the partition.
G: "I would need to ask, ummm...for a few gold pieces after the project is complete. I will need to expend some materials and will need to provide replacements for my father's business."
Gladly! How much do you need?
I hate you so much... Heec whispers to no one in particular...
Gadhewer looks confused, uncomfortable and a little sad.
G: "Oh, uhh, herm, ummm...if it's a problem to pay I, uhh...I guess I don't mind covering the cost...I, I can't really say at this time but I would probably only need five gold or so...I'm sure that's quite a bit around these parts..."
Don't speak another word! Heec hands him 5 gold pieces. Adventuring has been good to me. Hopefully, it'll be good to both of us! Send for me when the nunchaku are finished. Take care, Gadhewer!
As Heec leaves, Gadhewer waves goodbye with the handful of gold. He then drops them and they scatter in all directions.
Feeling better than he did before, Heec heads to the Boffing Badger Inn for a drink to celebrate both the previous and impending adventures. He sits at a table away from the bar merely wanting a moment to catch his breath.
Tae opens his eyes slowly from his meditative state. He is famished! He wonders if Shae has wandered to the Boffing Badger yet? He heads that way overly nervous but definitely eager to see Shae. He walks into the bar without knocking.
Tae opens the door to the inn without knocking and almost runs into another patron who is carrying a beer to a corner table. The human male looks like a worker who is unwinding from a long days labour.
M: "Whoah! Steady there lad, you almost spilled my ale! You should give a man a heads up next time."
After that close call stemming from brash action, Tae surveys the inn but doesn't spot Shae.
Heec surveys the room remembering Junea had mentioned them needing to talk to Marta.
Tae spots Heec checking the room and finds a chair in the corner out of Heec's immediate sight.
Heec surveys the room but does not see Marta. It is mostly filled with laborers this evening and Heec hardly recognizes anyone. Apparently the community leaders are busy with other things. Most likely related to the War Council.
Tae acts incognito to some enigmatic end...