Session 21: The embassy Report

General Summary

The carriage moved quickly through the streets of Keralon’s Truesilver district. The spring sun has already set beneath the horizon and the district’s wide avenues were scarcely illuminated by magical lanterns. Riverfront mansions, each more majestic and luxurious than the last, were visible outside of the carriage’s left window. Nidhog marveled at the similarity of these buildings with those in cities such as Deepnesse and Esterdelle, over 2000 miles away. Sure, the people of Keralon shared some history with the August Empire, but it had been millennia since they went their separate ways. He could not help but contrast it to the architecture of Vilemar, where he grew up. Most of these mansions were larger than entire city blocks in that city, and even Leara’s compound was far removed from the wealth on display here.   The sound of music in the wind was the first sign that they were nearing their destination. The carriage passed through a large cast-iron gate onto a long private road heading towards a patch of land wedged between the Lorerun river and the foot of the southern cliffs of Palace Hill. A dull and square keep had once guarded access to Palace Hill during the city’s first centuries. Now it had been transformed into a magnificent mansion and the embassy of the dragon Velora Morenthene. Half a dozen new buildings surrounded the remodeled keep, adding stables, a garrison and housing for servants to the grounds. A line of fine carriages waited patiently on the last stretch of road that led to the main entrance of the embassy. Nidhog could see guards next to the main entrance, proud dragonborn warriors in full plate armor with sword and shield at the ready. Even now it was strange for Nidhog to see other dragonborn. Growing up, he had been the only one owned by Leara and although he had met many others throughout his long life, he had never quite gotten used to them.   A short while later the line of carriages had progressed, and it would soon be Nidhog’s turn to make his way into the gala. He closed the curtains of the carriage window and placed his hands on his knees. Focusing inward, Nidhog could feel the demonic energies gathering within the embassy. Part of his own soul instinctively reached out for them, and he had to force it to stop. He did not want his presence revealed.   It took Nidhog only a minute or two to reach inside and find the ember of demonic flame that burned within his soul. He imagined layers of dark shadow enveloping the flame, trying to snuff it out. While it would not die, it did shrink, and he could feel his appearance changing in response. He knew his horns and fangs would shrink and the aura of sulfur that often surrounded him would disappear. The gifts that came with this fiendish corruption would also be inaccessible to him, but he had other powers to rely on if necessary.   Nidhog had barely finished his meditation when he felt his carriage come to a halt in front of the mansion. His servant opened to door and offered him a hand as he descended. The man, a lumberjack named Ronald, had only recently been turned, but was proving to be an excellent manservant. It took some doing to remain inconspicuous. Entering the party without being announced had required Nidhog to charm the master of ceremonies and the arrival of a powerful fey ambassador complicated his mission in that she would easily be able to see through his illusions. Thankfully there were no other complications. Obviously, there were other ploys afoot. A group of young knights were honored and later disappeared from the party altogether, clearly involved in some scheme. At the same time the draconic ambassador and his guards became weary and nervous.   Nothing interfered with his own reason for attending the gala, however. He could feel the build-up of energy as some cultists attempted to summon Durzal, but as predicted, they failed. In the aftermath of the failed ritual, it was not hard for Nidhog to join the guards as they cleaned up the dead cultists. Among the ritual components Nidhog found what he was looking for, a scroll with information on contacting the demonic general.   His mission completed, Nidhog used his magic to turn into a cloud of mist to easily escape the mansion. As he floated over the ground of the embassy, he could see the group of young knights searching the stables and barracks. Further north he could sense the build-up of more energy. It felt oddly familiar, a dark power he had not sensed in almost a century. Suddenly Nidhog realized what was happening, what someone was trying to accomplish. As quick as his current form allowed, he continued south. Part of him wished the young knights good luck in finding and stopping the threat that was growing beneath the city. He too had faced the evil they were heading towards and it had changed him forever.