Chilling Adventures in the North

"Doesn't bother me," the duergar shrugs. "Better you attempting to take him than I."

Qinfaren Insight on the duergar to see if he seems reasonably honest: 18  

(Assuming that 9 doesn't provide anything resembling insight).

Qinfaren nods and goes back out into the hallway and goes across the hallway to the doors on the northside. He opens them a little to take a peek inside.

Qinfaren peers into the next room. This rectangular room has two sets of double doors, one to the north and the other to the south. A brazier of glowing-hot coals stands in each corner. In the middle of the room is a low stone table, on the top of which is an illustration that looks something like a map.

Qinfaren waves at the others. "Seems empty."

He heads inside and takes a look at the map.

Looking at the map, Qinfaren sees that it is an accurate depiction of Ten Towns and the land surrounding it. Mounted to the top of a thin iron stand is a six-inch dragon figurine carved out of chardalyn. The figurine is a miniature version of the dragon that was spotted earlier.

A leaver on the side of the table is spotted from this position. Although, it is not certain what the leaver does.

"What have you found Qinfaren?" Bjorn asks entering the room.

Qinfaren points at the suspended dragon.

"I think this is where the Sunblights have been plotting to destroy Ten Towns."

Qinfaren goes over to the lever and takes a closer look at it. He looks back at the map and the dragon and pulls the lever.

     "Are you sure you should do...  Oh, you did that!" Bàn says and takes a subtle step back...

Upon pulling the lever, the dragon figurine begins to fly around the map of Ten Towns on a preset course.

"Do we reckon that is the flight path of the real chardalyn dragon?" Bjorn asks as he peers over Bàn's shoulder.

"Maybe," Qinfaren says.

He then looks at the 'flight plan' to see what route the dragon was going to take.

"Though if it is, it doesn't help us right now."

Qinfaren turns to check the doors to the north and listen for noise (Perception: 15  ). If the doesn't hear anything he'll open those doors and take a look inside.

     Bàn still has interest in the map and the piece and the path.  Does the pieces do a full circuit and then stop?  Does it repeat the same circuit if the level is pulled again?  What happens if you put your hand out to stop the circuit?  Is it possible to remove the miniature from the board?  If it's not doing a full circuit does it seem like maybe it's showing a real time location?

     "But why is this here, I wonder?" Bàn questions.  "Seems an odd place to just put a showy piece if it doesn't do anything or...?"

Qinfaren observes that the figure flies to Dougan's Hole, followed by Good Mead, Easthaven, Caer-Dineval, Caer-Konig, Termalaine, Lonelywood, Bremen, Targos, and then finally Bryn Shander. It completes it's journey by returning to Sunblight and stopping there.

Then when he listens at the door, Qinfaren hears nothing from inside. After opening the door, he finds another room. Braziers heaped with glowing-hot coals heat this chamber, which contains a large stone bed covered with soot-stained furs, its head against the north wall. In a shallow niche above the bed is a bas relief of a giant, scowling duergar clenching its teeth. At the foot of the bed is a flat-topped iron trunk sealed with a bulky padlock. A stone door is set into the western wall.

"Well, this could just be the war room," Bjorn says. "The map might just allow Xardorok to plan his attack with the dragon. Still, if that's also made from chardalyn, we best leave it alone."

(Are you waiting for me?)

(Completely missed post #4433)

Qinfaren takes his staff and with two hands smashes one end down on the padlock (roll? Attack: 17 Damage: 4  )

     With Qinfaren focusing on destroying the padlock, Bàn takes the opportunity to try to swipe the dragon figure and pocket it.  Why not? he thinks to himself.  Will need a keepsake if we get out of this alive...

Qinfaren strikes the padlock with his staff, but whilst he hits the lock, he only manages to bend it.

Bjorn walks into the room after Qinfaren, "What have you found over there?"

Meanwhile, Bàn's attention turns to the chardalyn figure. With minimal effort, he breaks the figurine off its stand before sticking it in his pocket.

Qinfaren shows the padlocked chest to Bjorn.

"Maybe there's something inside about what they have planned," Qinfaren ventures, then stands to the side to let Bjorn have a swing at the lock.

Bjorn strokes his chin, "Maybe. On the other hand, it could just be junk. At any rate, let me take a look at it."

Bjorn then takes a swing at the lock with his hand axe.

(Attack: 17 Damage: 5 slashing damage.)

Bjorn strikes the lock and breaks it. Then he carefully opens the trunk. Inside the iron trunk are a pair of dwarven sandals carved out of obsidian, a quilted smoking jacket with 50 gemstones embroidered in it, a malachite beard comb set with seven red garnets, a hookah made of platinum and star sapphire, and a rolled-up leather scroll.

"Hmm, looks like a few treasures," Brjon says over his shoulder. "Should we take any of it?"

Qinfaren nods.

"We should take all of it," Qinfaren says. "That dragon is going to cause a lot of damage and the people will need to rebuild."

He then unrolls the leather scroll to see what it is.