Session 33: Dwarven Problems Report
General Summary
Arriving on schedule to find their army camped at the base of the old Gryphon Aviary, Aria and the others would get a report from their scouts and commanders. The Dwarves were digging in having spotted them and restoring what defenses they could. They found the Dwarves were well armed, in what looked like ill-fitting elven armor, likely plundered from the aviary. Aria would sigh and settle into her command tent, dispatching Aelorna to go and treat with the dwarves, "They may leave, be sold, or die....their choice...." Aelorna would give a bow and depart with a grin, enjoying such missions. Bahzel and Isenara would accompany her as she ascended the mountain towards the old Aviary. An old dwarf using a massive pick as a walking stick would hobble his way forward in ill-fitting scale armor. Aelorna would introduce herself, "I am Aelorna, the voice of Aria, Of the House of Nytraven, scourge of the dead, Mistress of Tirnaethren, and the Speaker of Winter." The Dwarf would wave a dismissive hand and just grunt, "Thaldrin" as he settled unceremoniously down upon a rock. "Mistress Aria give you three options to obey her commands....depart these lands and leave all that you have found here, surrender and be sold into bondage, or die upon her soldiers spears....she cares not which method removes you from her domain." The Old dwarf would hrumph at this, but speak, "Well we would very happily leave but this land sank so far down it no longer holds any connections to the deep....we dont have the food or supplies to face the dead of the wastes to the West, nor do we have a boat to travel across the sea." He would fold his arms and stare at Aelorna. "These problems are not of our concern, if you wish to be slaves again we can arrange that, you can brave the dead or we can save you the trouble and bleed you out upon the mountains rock." Thaldrin would strike the butt of his pick axe on the stone, "I offer an alternative.....I will turn over the keys to this place, all of its treasure, and its precious things intact, AFTER your mistress delivers us safely from your lands....you are rid of us, you get all that we found here, and you do not risk us destroying the precious treasure within." Aelorna would seem surprised but amused, "I was not authorized to negotiate such, I shall take your message back to my Mistress." The Dwarf would give a simple nod and start to hobble back inside as Aelorna turned to descend to their camp.
Aria would glower at this news, "They wish to barter with that which is already mine?" Aelorna would shrug, "It seems so...." Aria would turn her head to Daereth, "Can we not just slay them and be done with it?" Daereth would frown, "They have the defensive advantage and good armor, even if ill fitting, they will not be trained soldiers....It would be a slight advantage I think to our men, if we can thin them with volleys of Bolts, we should prevail easily, if our bolts do not sink home, the fighting will be grueling but I believe we would prevail." Isenara would speak up, "Daereths assessment is true, but I worry about the dwarves comment of destroying whats within, perhaps there are some eggs still of the old hatchery?" This would cause a murmur thru her council as the prospect of Gryphons at their disposal was of keen interest. Aria would sigh, "Offer them safe passage to the nearest Free City Port, but I want to know whats inside first, Zaelith, Malakar, go back with here and find out exactly what we are bartering for." Returning that evening, Thaldrin would begrudgingly allow the two to enter, leaving their weapons behind. He would show them the armories, the saddlery, likely enough gear to outfit two squadrons of Gryhpon Cavalry, as well as the hatchery where one such incubator were sustaining 4 Gryphon Eggs and many others held petrified eggs, Zaelith and Malakar speculated could be revived. With the terms struck, the dwarves would return all the arms and armor, lock the Aviary and would follow under escort to Arias ship the Storm Wraith which remained in the River awaiting her return. Instead laden with dwarves it was decided the Army would march home while Aria and her companions cleared the Chimera Den found by Grikz and Seleste.
Entering the caves, the stench of undeath was heavy in the air, Malakar would experience his tremor sense for the fist time and note one such beast was to the west. Moving carefully and swiftly they would navigate the narrow passages and ambush the undead Chimera. Its dragon head would rear and deliver a devastating Acid blast at first, Malakar taking the worst of it before the others descended upon the many headed abomination. Grikz with them would start loading various odds and ends into a strange wide barreled gun, sending a blast of shrapnel at the creature. Aelorna in the back would look over her shoulder and frown, "Another's coming...." as she quickly gave way so as not to be its primary focus. Aria would spin filling the cave behind them with a thick snow storm which slowed the undead beast. As the first Chimera fell, Bahzel would turn to face the newly arriving creature shielding Aria and the others. Defeating the second, Talindra would tend to Malakars wounds before the others pressed on to the right. Grikz, Aelorna and Malakar however went left, each path circling to a larger cavern which seemed to hold 2 more regular Chimeras and one Matron. With swift action both groups converged and dispatched one Chimera. Now however, Malakar and Bahzel would be knocked unconscious while Zaelith, Daereth and Talindra would be gravely wounded in a crossfire of dragons fire and acid from the two beasts. Aelorna would step into heal Daereth who kept his feet before the two Chimera however the battle had suddenly shifted in the undead predators favor.
