Push-ta trudged through the driving snow. The streets of Waterdeep were deserted. No one dared come out in this weather. But he had a job - find a jeweler and purchase one or more expensive gemstones.
He had walked a mile from the Yawning Portal to the Trade Ward through knee-deep snow and it was still coming down. None of the jewelers were open for business.
This was no good. He needed those jewels.
He looked in one of the shops. It was dark. No one was around. The door was locked. He knew the jewels were kept in a safe in the back. He looked up and down the street - absolutely deserted. He was completely alone and unobserved.
He picked the lock on the door and used a metal shim to remove the bar on the inside. He pushed open the door and quickly moved inside out of the snow.
He silently made his way to the back room and found the safe. He crouched and went to work. Soon the safe was open and the jewels were his for the taking.
He looked around. No one saw him.
He picked out only the jewels he needed and left behind a heavy bag filled with one thousand golden dragons - fair payment for the gem he took. He wrote a quick note on some scratch paper apologizing for any inconvenience. He closed the safe and locked the door on his way out.
CHAPTER 12
"THE MAUSOLEUM"
The Mystics of Trollskull Manor:
- Winterfire of House Silverspear - Chaotic Good Moon Elf Noble and Fighter. The daughter of elven diplomats, raised among dwarves.
- Etlenda, aka "Exile" - Neutral Good Eladrin Outlander and Paladin. Exiled from the Feywild and raised by wolves. While exploring the Feydark he crossed over into the Underdark and emerged into the Mortal World.
- Tempus Vegvisir - Lawful Good Human Trade Sheriff and Cleric of Helm. Husband and Father.
- Push-ta Tok - Neutral Half-Orc Former Smuggler and Rogue, secret member of the Zhentarim.
- Kem Hearthfire - Chaotic Good Half-Orc Former Gladiator Priestess of Gond.
DM- The Mystics of Trollskull Manor gain entry to the subterranean vault of dragons far beneath the city of Waterdeep. They must overcome deadly traps, devious puzzles, and a guardian dragon in order to find the embezzled hoard of Dagult Neverember, the corrupt and disgraced former Open Lord of Waterdeep in exile.
In the scene above, I was trying to set up a scenario whereby Push-ta could be a proper thief without fear of failure or consequence. Push-ta's player didn't take the bait. To my surprise, he left fair payment for the gems. I rolled my eyes and declared, "Worst thief ever!"
Old Xoblob's Shop
The rest of the Mystics of Trollskull Manor reviewed the remaining items required to open the hidden vault - an eyestalk from a beholder and a unicorn.
After some discussion about their various options -
DM - and, frankly, some over-thinking and over-planning on behalf of the players
- the remaining team bundled up and trudged through the snow towards the Dock Ward to visit Old Xoblob's Curio Shop. The shop was closed and dark but a light was on in the third story window. Tempus sent his familiar, Edward the Bat, to tap on the window and get Xoblob's attention.
The old deep gnome Xoblob opened the window. Purple smoke poured out and evaporated in the cold air. Xoblob's eyes were bloodshot and half-closed.
Tempus called up to him in an attempt to get his attention. The distracted Xoblob, for mysterious reasons, thought the voice was coming from his window sill. Xoblob was convinced that he was conversing with tiny invisible people standing on his window sill. Tempus managed to convince him to open the shop but Xoblob worried he wouldn't be able to safely transport the tiny invisible beings downstairs. Tempus explained that they would magically grow and become visible if he went downstairs and opened the front door.
Xoblob opened the shop. The hairless deep gnome wore plum colored robes and nine purple eyes were painted onto his cheeks.
Etlenda and Tempus requested a favor - they wished to borrow one of the eyestalks of the giant stuffed beholder suspended in the front window. Xoblob was hesitant but persistence eventually paid off. He agreed to detach one eyestalk so long as it was returned whole.
The Unicorn
"How in the heck are we going to get a unicorn?" inquired Tempus.
"Well, its a dwarven riddle and I know dwarves pretty well. It's probably not literal. We could probably use a statue of a unicorn." replied Winterfire.
"Xoblob, do you have a unicorn statue in your shop?" asked Etlenda.
DM - asked the players to roll a d20. If they rolled low, no. If they rolled high, sure why not.
The gnome looked around confused and patted his pockets, "No, I don't think so."
"Do you know where we might get one?" pressed Etlenda.
DM - another d20.
Xoblob rubbed his bare chin, "Hmmm. Not that I know of. What were you looking for again?"
Tempus threw up his hands, "This is useless. I personally know the Blackstaff. Maybe she can summon one for us?"
Etlenda held up his finger, "Wait, I have a better idea. My contact with the Emerald Enclave is nearby. They may be able to help us."
Etlenda led the party down the street to Phaulkonmere, a great walled villa in the Southern Ward. There he was greeted by the dour druid Melannor Fellbranch.
They asked Melannor if he could summon a unicorn. He admitted that it was beyond his power, but not beyond that of the lady of the Phaulkonmere estate - Lady Jeryth.
Melannor led the party into the courtyard of the villa. The courtyard had been converted into an arboretum with a glass ceiling. The entire courtyard was filled with trees, plants, shrubs, vines, and vegetation from across Faerun. Birds flittered about. Small reptiles and mammals crept about in the undergrowth.
A disembodied voice spoke directly into the minds of all those present, "Greetings visitors! Melannor, who have you brought me today?"
Melannor introduced Etlenda, one of her agents in the Emerald Enclave. Etlenda, in turn, introduced his companions. The disembodied voice introduced herself as Lady Jeryth Phaulkonmere.
Etlenda asked if Lady Jeryth could summon a unicorn that they might borrow. Lady Jeryth laughed. That power was beyond even her capability.
Etlenda then asked if maybe she could at least create a stone representation of a unicorn. She asked why they might need such an odd thing.
Etlenda explained the situation, telling her about the stolen money, the secret vault, and their quest to keep the money out of the wrong hands. Etlenda said they would make sure that the stolen money was returned to the proper authorities in the city. But the vault protecting the treasure could only be unlocked if they produced expensive gemstones, the eyestalk of a beholder, and a unicorn.
Lady Jeryth laughed, "That sounds like a dwarven riddle! Your cause seems noble and just. Yes. I will make for you a stone unicorn."
A nearby standing stone, four feet high and covered in moss and ancient carvings, began to twist and reshape. It soon took on the shape of a stylized unicorn carved in rough moss-covered stone.
"You may take this gift. I look forward to hearing of the outcome of this quest."
Etlenda gave his sincere thanks.
Tempus and Winterfire together hefted the stone and carried it back out into the snow.
"Where to now?" asked Kem.
"Well, we're supposed to meet back up with Push-ta at the Yawning Portal at dusk." said Etlenda.
The Yawning Portal
The Mystics reunited with Push-ta at the Yawning Portal. There they discussed their further plans.
They decided to find and enter the mausoleum that very night. Winterfire knew that her bond with the Stone of Golorr would prevent anyone from benefitting from a good night's sleep so they decided to pack as much into the day as possible.
They were concerned by the warning from the Stone that the treasure was guarded by a gold dragon and that the dragon would only relinquish the treasure to Dagult Neverember or his authorized agent.
They considered finding some way of somehow making contact with Dagult Neverember and becoming authorized agents. They reviewed what they knew about the one agent they had encountered - posthumously - the gnome Dalakhar who had died in the fireball blast on his way to their house. Dalakhar had come to them at the recommendation of Dagult's son, Renaer Neverember. Could Renaer be the key?
As it happened, Renaer was carousing in the Yawning Portal that very night. They called him over. The Mystics rescued Renaer from the hands of Zhentarim kidnappers and the wealthy playboy was happy to see them. Renaer was the one who told them about his estranged father's stolen treasure and the missing Stone of Golorr. He was friendly and gregarious. He greeted them warmly.
They quickly arranged to move into a back room for privacy. There they told Renaer that they had located the vault and the stone. They asked him how they might become agents of his father.
Renaer was offended. He had not spoken with his father for nearly ten years and had no interest in his father's dealings. He spent as much time as he could away from his family estate because it was crawling with his father's spies. There was no way he would put any of them in contact with anyone related to his father!
DM - it also led to some spectacular logical gymnastics when the players made the case "if the treasure can only be relinquished to his father or his father's agents - then could Renaer make them one of HIS agents?"
I, as Renaer, said, "I don't follow. I am not my father. I want nothing to do with my father. How would me making you one of MY agents make you one of my father's agents?"
Their case deflated, "Yeah, it doesn't really make any sense. Never mind."
"So, when are you going to find the treasure?" asked Renaer.
"Tonight," replied Tempus.
"Oh. Well. I'm not doing anything else tonight. Do you mind if I join you?"
The team looked at each other and considered the offer, "Yeah, sure. Why not?"
The City of the Dead
The Mystics of Trollskull Manor, along with their friend Renaer Neverember, donned their armor and weapons, covered themselves with winter cloaks, and trudged through the night snow to the City of the Dead.
They stopped at the closed gates of the cemetery while a guard summoned Sir Ambrose Everdawn, guardian of the City of the Dead.
Renaer asked, "Ah, so the vault is hidden under an old mausoleum. Classic. Which mausoleum?"
Etlenda replied, "The Brandath family."
Renaer became suddenly serious and stared intently at Etlenda. The color drained from his face as his usually carefree grin became a stern grimace, "Who did you say?"
Etlenda looked at Tempus, wondering what he said wrong, "The- Brandath family?"
Tempus said, "Is something wrong?"
"Are you kidding me right now? No - are you for real because this isn't funny."
"Oh, right." murmured Winterfire, suddenly making the connection.
"What is it?" said Etlenda.
"That's my mother's family mausoleum. My mother is interred there. My jack-ass father hid the entrance to the vault where he stashed his stolen gold beneath my mother's grave."
"Oh! That makes sense." said Tempus.
Etlenda said, "Well, according to this map of famous mausoleums and graves I bought last tenday, the mausoleum should be located-"
"I - KNOW - where - my - mother's - grave - is!" said Renaer through clenched teeth.
"Look, I'm sorry. We didn't know." said Tempus, compassionately.
"I knew, but I forgot." whispered Winterfire.
A moment later, Sir Everdawn arrived. Entrance into the City of the Dead was forbidden after sunset. Etlenda and Tempus explained their mission. The cemetery guardian made an exception for them and allowed them to enter.
DM - Etlenda's player was so proud he remembered he purchased the map of celebrity graves way back in Chapter 7.
The Mausoleum
The City of the Dead was beautiful covered knee-deep in snow. The light of hovering driftglobes gave the place a serene glow. They approached the ancient mausoleum of the Brandath family. Massive oak trees, barren of leaves, surrounded the marble structure.
As they approached, the oak trees spun around, twisting and creaking, their bare branches making a soft shuffing sound. The oak tree near the entrance presented a wooden face.
It spoke, its voice raspy like bark, "Beware, intruders. It is after dark and only those of Brandath blood are welcome here! Begone!"
Renaer stepped forward and removed his hood to show his face, "It is okay. I apologize for the late hour. I have come to pay my respects. They are with me."
"Very well, young master Renaer. You may pass. Might I add, Your mother was a lovely person."
DM - The treant added, "Well done. You have successfully bypassed this encounter."
Renaer opened the locked entrance and the team stepped inside out of the snow.
The mausoleum floor was decorated with the crest of the Brandath family. There were four sarcophagi. The two raised sarcophagi contained Renaer's maternal grandparents. The other two contained his mother and his aunt. He paused to consider his mother's resting place.
A set of stairs in the back led down.
"Where does that go?" asked Tempus.
"Into the catacomb. Eventually, the remains up here will be moved into a niche down there to make way for others up here. I never go down there. I don't think anyone has ever gone down there."
Etlenda nodded, "Okay, everybody form up. Ready? Let's go."
The Catacombs
Etlenda led the way down the stairs into the subterranean catacombs. As his foot landed upon the bottom step, he saw a small magical flash, like a visual "pop", followed by an explosive burst of arcane fire.
The blast caught everyone. Etlenda and Kem helped everyone reform and regroup. Etlenda said, "Okay. Wasn't expecting that. Change of plan. Push-ta, you go first and check for any more traps."
Push-ta said, "Renaer, could you maybe join me up front? This is your family crypt."
Renaer squinted, "Its very dark. How can all of you see without torches or lanterns?"
Tempus said, "Hold on. I can take care of that." He said a prayer and touched his palm to Renear's forehead. Renaer could suddenly see through the darkness.
"Amazing!" Renaer joined Push-ta at the head of the column.
They moved forward slowly down the passage. Push-ta carefully examined every flagstone and stone block as he advanced. Niches in the wall held ancient stone sarcophagi.
The passage turned right. Ahead of them the passage was collapsed while a side passage led to the left.
Push-ta reported the development, "Looks like a dead end ahead."
Tempus said, "I have an idea. I'll wager that collapse is an illusion."
Push-ta held up his hand to interrupt the road warden, "Hold on. Let me try something." He carefully advanced towards the collapse and nudged it with his boots. "Just as I thought. It's an illusion."
"Good thinking, Push-ta!" said Etlenda. Tempus glared at the eladrin.
The Three Keys
Beyond the illusory collapse was an ancient stairway leading down. The stairs turned back on itself over and over as it descended hundreds of feet beneath the surface. The stairs eventually led to a set of massive adamantine doors of dwarven manufacture with no hinges.
A brass plaque on the doors bore an inscription in dwarven.
Push-ta asked, "Can anyone read dwarven?"
Etlenda turned, "Winterfire?"
Winterfire replied, dryly, "Well, I was raised among dwarves in a dwarven freehold, so no. Sorry."
"What?"
"Of COURSE I can. Hold on."
The plaque read:
THE THREE KEYS. BRING THEM FORTH
The team presented their items before the door - the eyestalk of a beholder, gems valued at 1000gp, and the statue of a unicorn.
The doors parted, sliding apart and disappearing into the walls.
The Riddle of the Doors
They entered into a large hall with a high arched ceiling, at least 90 feet tall. Six massive pillars supported three crumbling bridges that crossed the room from left to right sixty feet above. Rubble lay on the ground.
Twelve more adamantine doors lined the walls at ground level. Each set of doors was marked with a different dwarven pictogram:
- Orc
- Wealth
- Power
- Kin
- Clan
- Mead
- Children
- Rock
- Beard
- Laugh
- Luck
- Song
A plaque on a nearby pillar contained a poem in ancient dwarvish script:
Doors abound, doors all around.
Beyond is danger or treasure found,
Approach to answer, open to speak,
Our greatest love hides what you seek.
"Oh, easy," said Etlenda, "What do dwarves love most?"
"Clan," said Winterfire.
"What? No, Kin!" argued Etlenda.
The rest of the team each had different opinions but eventually everyone came to agree with Etlenda - everyone but Winterfire who continued to insist the answer was "Clan".
"Let's open both doors and see who's right." said Etlenda.
Etlanda and Tempus opened the doors labeled "Kin" revealing a corridor beyond. The team entered carefully and quickly learned that the corridor also connected to the next door - "Clan".
"Hey! You were both right!" said Tempus, helpfully.
They far wall contained a fantastic mosaic fresco decorating the wall behind a set of stairs ascending to the next level.
"I don't like it. Up seems like it should be the wrong direction," muttered Push-ta.
The Hall of Moradin
The emerged at the top of the stairs in a long hall. The right hand wall was decorated with more mosaic frescoes. The imagery told the tale of Moradin - chief god of the dwarves - creating new dwarves out of black metal and diamonds. A section of the mosaic at the far end had collapsed, exposing cracked and crumbling rock.
Three exits on the left led to the three crumbling bridges in the large hall.
Push-ta approached the crumbling wall and noted several large cracks large enough to wedge one's fingers into. He carefully examined the cracks and poked his fingers into one.
Suddenly a viscous black pudding-like substance poured out the crack and onto Push-ta. Push-ta reeled in horror as the amorphous black substance burned his skin with acid. The pudding poured onto the floor where it formed itself into a muddy protean mass.
Tempus sent a fiery bolt into the mass while Push-ta reactively attacked with his crossbow. Kem called down divine flame with little effect. Etlenda drew his shortbow and sent an arrows into the substance from a distance. Rennaer drew his rapier and pierced its thick hide.
Winterfire raced to Push-ta's side and attacked the black pudding - lightning arced from her fingers and splayed over the quivering mass. The lightning seemed to heal the substance, repairing tears and punctures in its thick skin.
The rest of the team continued to attack the creature as it lashed at them with ropy pseudopods. Every close attack resulted in a splash of burning acid.
Winterfire drew her sword and slashed at the mass, cutting into two.
"That did it!" she declared.
"No! Wait!" warned Etlenda.
The two halves of the mass reformed and continued to attack - now there were TWO!
The team continued to attack with crossbow, short-bow, hammers, rapiers, and sacred flame.
The acid pseudopods hammered Winterfire and Tempus, damaging their armor with each hit.
Winterfire fought desperately against the black stuff. She slashed her sword across it again, once more splitting it into two. NOW THERE WERE THREE!
"Sorry!" she said.
"Dammit, Winterfire! Stop helping it!" shouted Tempus.
Winterfire was near death so she retreated from the amorphous thing. Kem said a prayer of healing to bolster her.
The constant barrage of strikes and missiles from the rest of the party was soon enough to rupture the thick skins containing the acid pudding and the things collapsed into dead piles of burning goo.
The Hammer and Anvil
The three crumbling bridges each led to an adamantine door. Each door bore a dwarvish pictogram. The first depicted a dwarvish god with large round eyes rimmed with fire. The second bore the symbol for - the meaning was ambiguous and could read "knowledge" or "secret". The third bore a divine symbol of a hammer and anvil.
Push-ta carefully crossed the crumbling bridge to the hammer and anvil. Part of it gave way behind him but he managed to keep his footing. The door was stuck closed. Tempus made his way across the bridge, causing another section to collapse behind him. Together the pair were able to force the door open which gave an magical "Pop!" as it did so, breaking the spell that kept it closed.
Within was a large iron anvil covered with cobwebs. The walls were adorned with mosaic murals depicting dwarven smiths at work. However, this room was no forge. Dwarvish runes were inscribed on the anvil and on the walls. Winterfire was unwilling to chance the crumbling bridge and cross over to help translate.
Kem managed to cross over the bridge to help investigate the room. She looked at the wall and concluded that this was a holy place. She noticed that the hammer wielded by the dwarves in the mural was a real hammer embedded in the wall. She withdrew the hammer."This HAS to be struck onto the anvil, I mean, it's GOT to!" she said.
"Okay, hold on, let us get out of the room in case its a trap," said Tempus. Tempus and Push-ta withdrew from the chamber.
She struck the hammer onto the anvil and the sound echoed through the underground chamber like the peal of a bell. Kem felt invigorated - inspired - ready to take on anything!
They left the chamber and returned across the bridge to rejoin the others.
Old Fire Eyes
Push-ta went to the first door, the old with fiery eyes. This door opened with no effort. Inside he found a metal trap door in the floor. A ten-foot statue of an intimidating dwarf stood behind the trap door - his bulging eyes wreathed in flame. He bore an axe which he held pointing downward toward the trap door. His eyes glared as if daring anyone to open the door.
Push-ta, with an abundance of caution and paranoia, used a minor magical cantrip to run rope through the pull-ring on he door, tying it into a knot. He then ran the rope around the statue's neck to act as a fulcrum. He grabbed the rope and pulled with all his might - but the door would not budge.
Push-ta got onto his hands and knees and crawled towards the trap door. He held out his hands to see if he could feel any heat from the metal. He could not. He gently touched it.
Beams of fiery radiance shot forth from the statue's eyes, burning Push-ta. The half-orc screamed in pain but told the others to stay away - he'd figure this out.
He looked for a way to turn the statue around but its base melded with the stone floor - it could not be turned. He then took off his armor and his undershirt and draped the shirt over the statue's eyes. He nervously reached out and touched the trap door again - but nothing happened. Covering the statue's eyes prevented it "seeing" his transgression.
He donned his armor and tried once more to open the door - but no amount of strength would cause it budge.
He called Tempus over the bridge. Tempus joined Push-ta and was appraised of the situation. Tempus cast a spell to open the stuck door. The metal door popped out of its recessed niche in the floor, revealing nothing but stone floor.
After checking to ensure that the stone floor wasn't another illusion, they returned across the bridge and shrugged.
Dumathoin's Secret
The center bridge had already collapse, leaving only a fifteen foot gap that one had to leap across. Everyone in the party made the jump easily except for Rennaer - "I don't think I can make that one. How about I just wait here for you guys?"
Etlenda forced open the stuck door with another magical "pop!". Within were four suits of rusted plate armor sized for a dwarf. Each faced the center of the room. A plaque on the far wall read, in dwarvish:
"A secret never before told will part Dumathoin's lips."
"Easy," said Etlenda, "Someone has to tell a secret. Who wants to go first."
Push-ta raised his hand, "I've got one." He stepped the center of the room, "I have a secret tattoo."
Nothing happened.
Etlenda, Tempus, and Winterfire looked at each confused. Winterfire said, "Uh. So? That's not a good secret."
Etlenda said, "Right. You've got to do better than that."
DM - I stepped in and said, "Yeah, that's weak. You need to reveal a real secret - something they don't know that will affect how they think about you."
Push-ta, a little defensive, said, "Okay! Okay! Here goes."
Push-ta took a deep breath.
"The tattoo is a black winged snake - a mark of my affiliation with the Zhentarim."
The stone floor parted, revealing descending spiral stairs. Winterfire happened to be standing on that spot and tumbled down a few flights, hitting her head. She called up, "I'm okay!"
DM - The players, who knew all this, exclaimed in fake shock and alarm, "What? Oh no! That can't be possible!"
Etlenda expressed concern as they descended the stairs, "Wait, you work for the bad guys? For Manshoon?"
"No! No!" said Push-ta, "You see, there are two factions within the Zhentarim. One wants to help us - they're good guys. Manshoon's factions are renegades - they're trying to disrupt everything. My faction is trying to stop Manshoon and his faction."
As they descended, Winterfire telepathically communicated the knowledge of Push-ta's affiliation to the Stone of Goloor.
The stairs descended at least a hundred feet deeper and emerged into a hallway to the left and right. The left hallway ended in a right turn. The right hallway ended in a left turn. They chose the left.
Barok Clanghammer
The party emerged into a massive hall with a thirty-foot high vaulted ceiling supported by columns. Shafts of magical sunlight shone through glass panels in the ceiling.
Kem pointed out, "That can't be actual sunlight. It was not even midnight when we came down here, plus we're hundreds of feet below ground, and the floor of the bridge chamber should be directly above that ceiling.
The walls of the chamber contained twelve ten-foot by ten-foot niches. Two of the niches on the far wall were piled with treasure - one with gold and the other with a smaller pile of gemstones.
They head a clacking noise of wood on stone. An ancient dwarf with a mane of golden hair and along golden beard appeared from behind one the columns. He was dressed in long robes and bore a tall staff. The top of the staff split into two tines, each tine coiled around the other. Each tine ended with the carving of a dragon - the two dragons appeared to be fighting each other.
Etlenda muttered, "Ah huh."
The wizened old dwarf spoke, his voice carried through the chamber as if amplified by his own echoes, "Greetings! My name is Barok Clanghammer. Who might you be? "
Etlenda spoke on behalf of the group, "Sir. We apologize for intruding." Etlenda introduced himself and the others.
The dwarf stroked his beard and smiled, "I wasn't expecting anyone. As you can see, the place is a mess. Perhaps you should come back later, after I've tidied up a bit."
DM - I told the group they could try to reason with the dragon, lie to the dragon, or fight the dragon. If they chose reason - they had to succeed at three Persuasion skill checks before two failures. Lying required three Deception skill checks before two failures. And fighting was fighting.
Etlenda, bolstered by his companions, explained their quest - honestly and openly - and asked the "dwarf" - for although the disguise wasn't fooling anyone Etlenda played along - if he had seen a dragon named Aurinax with whom they had come to speak.
DM - Open and honest and respectful. Make a Persuasion check. Since the other's are helping, Etlenda made the check with Advantage. 24 on the first roll!
Barok said he was a good friend of Aurinax and explained that the dragon was bound by oath to defend the treasure against anyone who would come to take it. He warned Etlenda and the others against attempting to steal the treasure for such duplicitous action would displease Aurinax greatly. Barok explained that the dragon would only relinquish the treasure to the Open Lord Dagult Neverember or those sent by Dagult Neverember. The oath was sealed with a powerful gift and the dragon was bound by that oath.
Etlenda, with Kem's assistance, made a persuasive legal case that the gold was stolen from the city of Waterdeep - it never belonged to Dagult Neverember and therefore never had the authority to ask the dragon Aurinax to guard it.
DM - Good logicla point. Make another Persuasion check with Advantage. 22 on the second roll!
The dwarf rubbed his long beard thoughtfully. He countered that, by that same logic, they had no authority to take the gold themselves.
They explained to the dwarf that they wished only to return the gold to the ruling council of Waterdeep - where it belonged. There it would be lawfully returned to the city's treasury. This was a fact on which the dragon and the dwarf could rely for Etlenda was incapable of telling a lie.
DM - Another good tactic. Make another Persuasion check with Advantage. 22 on the third roll!
Aurinax Revealed
The dwarf laughed. He stepped back and raised his hands. He became engulfed in pillar of golden light and transformed into a massive golden-scaled dragon.
"Behold mortals! The ruse is broken. I am in fact Aurinax the dragon! You have convinced me that my pact with Dagult Neverember was based on false pretenses. My obligation is nullified. You may take the golden portion of the treasure. But leave the gems to me as recompense for my decade of inconvenience. Likewise, I will retain the Dragonstaff of Ahghairon. Dagult was a fool to bargain with it. Now it is mine. You may take the gold - but you must return it to the Lords of Waterdeep as you promised."
A Hoard of Trouble
The team looked upon a massive heap of gold and wondered how they would transport it back to the surface.
"I've got an idea," said Tempus, "I recently borrowed a magical Helm of Teleportation from the Blackstaff. Let me use it to teleport to her and ask for her help."
"Good thinking!" said Etlenda.
Tempus concentrated on teleporting - the helmet disappeared but Tempus remained.
"Was- was that supposed to happen?" asked Etlenda, confused.
Tempus rubbed his head, "Uh. No?"
Aurinax said, "Oh, didn't you know? This entire vault is magically warded against scrying magic or teleportation magic. The ward probably disrupted the helmet's teleportation."
"Dammit," cursed Tempus, "It was a one-shot item."
"Sorry," said the dragon apologetically.
DM - I laughed and laughed. it was kind of mean of me. But the helmet was a free item on loan as part of his faction reward. He always knew that it would teleport home if it were used. I couldn't resist the joke.
Winterfire said, "Okay, how's this? Lets fill up any bags we can. Tempus and I will go back to the surface and get help to move the gold."
Thus laden with bags of gold - representing barely a handful of the huge pile of gold coins before them - the pair returned to the broken bridge. They lowered the bags with rope down sixty feet to the floor below. They leaped across the gap and rejoined Renear. They told their friend what had transpired below.
The trio returned down the stairs and picked up the bags. Etlenda, Kem, and Push-ta watched from the top of the bridge as the other three made their way towards the entrance to the chamber of doors.
Suddenly six figures emerged from the entrance. They were led by a cloaked figure with a clawed mechanical hand - Manshoon! With him was the failed actor, Agorn Fuoco, and the former pirate, Vevette Blackwater. Behind them were three burly goons.
Vevette saw Push-ta standing on the bridge, smiled, and gave a little wave.
The cloaked figure withdrew his hood, revealing a sullen young man with black hair and ash-gray skin. Agorn said, "See Manshoon? I told you! They'd lead us right to the treasure!"
To be Continued...
