The Age of Worms / A Gathering of Winds pt. 10 / Kith the 4th, 3593 CE / 3-12-23

Not By Choice has returned to the entrance of the Whispering Cairn after a harrowing but ultimately successful adventure. They have both retrieved the wayward sage Allustan Neff and Lulu's brother Taavi, as well as having acquired a fragment of the legendary Rod of Law. Having a chance to discuss for the first time the circumstances that lead them to seek out the sage, Allustan hears of the destruction of his house in Ludon as well as the battle with the dragon Dhorlot. But the wise sage deduces that slaying Dhorlot may have only been the beginning of Ludon's troubles, and he urges to party to quickly return him to town. Unfortunately, Allustan's instincts turn out to be correct, as the party flies towards Ludon in their enchanted wagon and sees that even more destruction has been visited upon the town center. The town square is littered with bodies, at the center of which stands an even more formidable dragon than the vile Dhorlot; his mother, Ilthane. She is holding a group of townsfolk hostage as Captain Tolliver and his militia men take up positions in nearby alleys, trying to find a time to strike that won't amount to suicide. As the horrified party looks on, Ilthane kills another villager in retaliation as she demands that Allustan Neff be handed over to her. But the incredibly keen sight of the ancient dragon spots the approaching wagon, and Not by Choice quickly descends to take up positions along the street and attempt to either negotiate or assault the black dragon. Lulu engages the beast in parlay, but a battle proves inevitable. As soldiers move in to aid the party, many are repulsed by the dragon's intense aura of fear. Nar uses her well of internal magic to once more summon a disintegration beam, blasting a hole through one of Ilthane's wings, while one of Nataliya's well-placed poison darts pierces one of the dragon's eyes. Despite these small advances, the outlook is grim, until Allustan, determined that no more should die in his name, calls out the dragon's attention, blasting her with a fireball. Unfortunately, his gambit results in a fatally crushing bite in the dragon's jaws. Having inadvertently killed her quarry in her rage, Ilthane sees that only more harm can come to her in continuing to battle with the powerful Adventurers, and calls out the name "Thalgaard," activating a spell that teleports her to safety. Meanwhile, the party rushes to the fatally wounded Allustan, who advises them that their only hope in stopping the Age of Worms now will come in form of aid from his and Eligos's former master, the Arch-Mage Manzorian. But Manzorian lives in the far distant town of Magepoint, and with Allustan's life force quickly fading, he tells them of one other whom he knows has been to Magepoint and could help guide them there: the famous Adventurer, Adrienne Kirk.