Session 37: Khag Todur Report

General Summary

The party now before Khag Todur try to seek entry in hopes to get access to the Under Road. They are immediately halted by the dwarven gate guards. They ask the party why they have come to their city when winter is upon them. As the party explains they are looking to seek passage in the Under Road the guard informs them that they will need to get permission first. However he suddenly notices the two elves that are with the party. Ganbold and Elitessa. Their attitude suddenly becomes much more hostile and demands to know why the elves have come to the city. Ganbold tells them, Diala is their mistress and to direct questions to her. The guard asks Diala and is not overly convinced. He agrees to allow the party entry into the city if the elves pass questioning within a zone of truth spell. Both elves pass given they have no allegiance with the Hodo Empire army currently.   As the group enters they are directed to leave their carriage at a parking area where their oxen will be tended to, they don't want to wagon to be moving around the city and clogging up the streets after all. They also have some guards escort the party. As they don't want the elves to have free roam of their city. Once they manage to make it into the city proper, they are approached by a large group of guards who order the party to meet with Clan Lord Motoud Woldgrog. He has already learned of the parties entrance to the city and wants the party to visit him. Given the large amount of guards, the party decides this would work given they would need his permission to enter the Under Road.   As they enter the palace within the city they find themselves in a well crafted, carved from solid marble throne room. Jewels of all shapes and sizes are embedded within the walls of the palace. The Dwarf who sits on the throne before the party demands to know why they have come to Khag Todur. Rothgar spins a tale of how they have come on request of the adventurer's guild to relive a party who are coming from the Vimor Empire. However the Dwarf on who sits on the throne Clan Lord Motoud Woldgrog, sees through the lies spun. He figures the reason why multiple Dragonborn would be wanting to try their luck in accessing the Under Road would be the fact Sanctuary is currently being besieged by a large army of undead. Rothgar is quite surprised to hear that Lord Woldgrog would even have this information. He is even more surprised to hear it is an entire army of undead. Lord Woldgrog sympathizes with the Dragonborn and offers them a deal. Save his own city.   After asking what the dwarves of Khag Todur are in need of, they are told one of their most profitable silver mines has been besieged by demons they past few days. Any guards who have been sent in have either not returned or have made it back but with inflictions of the mind. Lord Woldgrog asks the party to head in, clear the mind, don't take anything that belongs to the dwarves. In exchange he will give them a place to rest that night along with food, and even permission to travel the Under Road. The party agrees knowing winter travel in the mountains would be outright dangerous. They spend the night in a comfortable room and sleep well.   The next morning after having their morning meal, they are visited by a few royal guards who will guide them to the mine. At the entrance of the mine is a group of guards all pointing their spears towards the door in a ready position. They report no fiends have come through and remain within the mine. The party pushes their way in ready to face whatever threat is before them. At the bottom of the stairs they descend they find themselves at a crossroads with 2 doors, the party chooses to open the left door first, inside they find a bunch of small red hued demons snickering to themselves. As the party initiates combat they soon find these demons have the ability to cast Tasha's Hideous Laughter. The party manages to kill one of the fiends, however the Cackler it is called has the last laugh as it dies. Anyone who fails to resist their innate abilities ends up taking psychic damage. The group manages to clear out the room.   They quickly push into the room across the hall. Within are multiple Jovacs. A fiend that enjoys dark places, and hunt in packs. The group quickly finds whenever they are injured they release a dark pulse of necrotic energy harming all those within 10 ft of them. Jorin ends up taking the brunt of this damage as he blocks the door and does not allow any of these creatures into the hallway where the rest of the party awaits. Jorin is slowly whittled away at and is badly wounded by the time the party manages to defeat all the Jovacs within.   They party quickly heals up using spells and pushes further into the mine. The next room is a central area with a large dwarven statue, three paths split from this room. A path going east towards what appears to be a mushroom cave, a path that goes north and has another crossroads with a door. Lastly to the west it leads to a passage that turns north, but also has a low hanging part of the cave. A tight squeeze to the bigger members of the party, but passable. The party decides to head north and enter the door there. Inside 2 demonoid dog like creatures standing on two legs and wielding greatswords, and a single woman with black feather like wings, wearing plate and wielding a greatsword herself. The party charges forwards. The group they find is not as tough as their earlier encounters but these three demons prove to be well seasoned combatants that have strange powers. Teleporting, and breathing fire mainly.   The party defeats these fiends and heads back to the door going south, they head west and begin to explore the network of mine cart tracks, they find a few dead ends but manage to find a passage that leads towards what appears to be a feast hall. However they are ambushed by a group of bat like demonoids who stand as tall as a regular Human. They take the party by surprise...