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Session 101: Anvilhold

General Summary

The Crew defeated Zodgilla and made it to Anvilhold. There, they met Lord Creighton Anvilbender, and learned various things about the darkness below. Soon, the Iron Council would be meeting to determine whether to keep the tunnels sealed, or to unite the Mror Holds and arm for war.  

Dead Lizard

  • Bagan managed to digest the rest of his questionable empanada, and the Crew defeated Zodgilla in quick fashion. His body dissolved into a black ichor that made the river run dark.
  • Frisian went to get more coffee. He found plenty of it, but also found Burg dead of a heart attack. Cranny was rather undisturbed at the news, and even somewhat happy. N'nchyk offered to cremate his body, and scattered his ashes into the river.
  • Continuing along the path towards the Mror Holds and Anvilhold, the Crew saw in the distance to their left a distant warcamp hugging the Ironroot Mountains. Between N'nchyk's hawk familiar and Dooturr's invisibility, it was determined to be a large Droaamic warcamp.
  • It was a currently stationed caravan-fortress, powered by a small fleet of monstrous beasts. Within were many typical Droaam denizens, including gnolls and ogres.
  • The Crew took note of it, but proceeded forwards into Anvilhold.

Anvilhold  

  • The Crew entered through the secondary entrance of Anvilhold. One of the guards recognized Bagan, and let him in warmly.
  • Ashpin noticed that the guards' armor was similar to his own, though they said they put it on the same as any old suit.
  • Lord Creighton Anvilbender, Bagan's father, was in the middle of the Ember Vaults, hammering away at a shield. He looked focused, but as if he was trying to distract himself from something.
  • When he was at a good breaking point, Bagan tactfully interrupted, to a roar of delight from his dad, embracing him in a big hug. He immediately announced to the cavern that his son was returned, and that a feast should be assembled. Multiple dwarves began hurrying about to get it started.
  • In the meantime, Bagan introduced his friends. Ashpin made a particular impression on Lord Anvilbender, who noted that his armor was undeniably of Anvilhold make, and that it was well-worn. Lord Anvilbender launched into several stories about the various scratches and scrapes on his own set. As Ashpin said, "Unmarred armor is the mark of a knight untested."
  • Bagan was eager to discuss what he had returned for, but his father brushed him off, telling him to save it for the feast.
  • While the feast was being prepared, Bagan gave the Crew a tour of his home. This included the Riven Market, where goods were for sale, and the main quarters of the Anvilbenders, where they would be staying.
  • Finally, the feast began. There were breads, and cheeses, and stews, and ale aplenty to go around. Lord Anvilbender gave a rousing speech celebrating his son, setting the tone for the festivities to come.
  • Lord Anvilbender ordered a special brew for the nodding Frisian that made him quickly pop awake and very aware of his surroundings. 
  • N'nchyk had been relegated to a pulled-up stool at the high table, even though a spot had been reserved. It was soon made apparent who the seat was saved for, as Linette entered, to the cheers of many dwarves, the tentacles of a mind flayer hanging from her belt.
  • There were many brawls throughout the night. N'nchyk encouraged Viribus to enter the fray, but the latter said he was certainly above such brutish activities.
  • Bagan learned that his mother, Lady Alisa Anvilbender, is currently leading a force of Anvilbenders, hunting a group of Jhorash'tar orcs that have been harassing their caravans.
  • By the end of the night, many dwarves were either indisposed or retired. Bagan finally began to discuss what he had returned for - his vision from the mirror in the Library of Korranberg.
  • Lord Anvilbender was indignant at Bagan's story. A mirror? From a library? He said Anvilbenders are steelforgers, not librarians. And pish posh to visions and prophecies - last night, he'd dreamt he was the Queen of Aundair. What of it?
  • He knew there was a darkness below - but even if they broke through, there would be none stronger to fight it than dwarves within their own territory.
  • And that was exactly what the Iron Council, the governing body of the Mror Holds, was meeting soon to decide: whether to reopen the tunnels, or to unite the Mror Holds in militarization. Lord Anvilbender was firmly of the mind to unite the dwarves and arm for war. The caravan would leave in two days, and the Crew was welcome to come.
  • N'nchyk had an idea that he ran by Bagan first - to use Deep Speech, and see if Lord Anvilbender recognized it. He said a few phrases, and was immediately banished from the hall by a furious Lord Anvilbender.
  • The feast quickly died out after this.
  • Retiring to their quarters, Linette briefed the Crew on what she had found below. The primary denizens of the tunnels were aberrations; the most she’s ever seen. N'nchyk asked if they seemed to adhere to any one domain, but she said she didn't notice such a thing. She was nearly overwhelmed, and fighting these threats is what she does. From what she could tell, they were not trying to expand, they were trying to protect. There were portions of the ancient dwarven empire, with treasures and riches within, that the aberrations had made no attempt to claim.
  • She recommended the Crew consult with Loremaster Thordral Chainbeard to get details on the ancient empire below.
  • Ashpin asked if any of the other Dusk Watchers were present in Anvilhold. She said they weren't, as she thought it prudent for as few non-dwarves to enter as possible, though she had the ability to call more if needed.
  • Meanwhile, Bagan went to speak with his father. The Lord's door was guarded by two dwarves familiar to Bagan who had orders that he was not to be disturbed. Taking this into consideration, Bagan knocked anyway, and eventually made entry. Lord Anvilbender yelled that the guards' pay would be docked.
  • It was not unusual for Lord Anvilbender to have a tankard in his hand, but it was unusual for him to be as drunk as he was. His own tankard was similar to Bagan's, as it refilled itself with ale.
  • He told Bagan details of Dallas' fate - that he had watched as his mad son spoke words in a tongue all too similar to the one N'nchyk spoke that night. He had never seen any of his sons frightened, let alone to that degree. The night Dallas died, he held him, both of them knowing a fear they had never known before.
  • Bagan said he should forgive N'nchyk. When his father asked how, he was at a loss. Perhaps, then, he would have to forget.

Iron Council Assembly

  • The next morning, Bagan and N'nchyk both pulled the other aside. They had both had troubling dreams before. Bagan heard thousands of dwarvish voices, of something called the Nhurat Khazuun, and spoke of Bagan's blood and the Soulforge. The Soulforge was a legend among almost all dwarves, a powerful forge forgotten to history, capable of immensely powerful crafting.
  • N'nchyk said Ymot'Zeg had come to him last night, telling him he was not free - and that she could see N'nchyk when he sleeps.
  • Bagan purchased some armor at the Riven Market.
  • The Crew, led by Linette, went to visit the Loremaster. The Anvilbender clan was not one for history or books, so their library was solely maintained by the Loremaster, and was rather small.
  • He told them what was known about the dwarven empire that was discovered below, called Nhurat Khazuun, "Breakers of Unforged Chains" in ancient Dwarvish. 
    • There was significant evidence of demonic influence. Thordral suspects some kind of fiendish pact taken by the entire race. It could be interpreted as cultlike, but they can infer long-term stability.
    • There were remnants of an ancient war. The players and purpose is still unclear.
    • Recovered evidence of magical crafting — ability to craft arcane items, perhaps imbuing fiendish power, or refined crafting techniques that results in arcane emanations
  • And, he told Bagan with great weight, the Soulforge was real - the Anvilbenders had found it. Dallas, who shared blood with Bagan, had died trying to get to it.
  • The next day, the caravan for the Iron Council assembly departed. The journey would take about six days total, traveling on trade routes and established paths to Krona Peak.
  • N'nchyk was placed in the rear caravan, alone with four dwarves who were curious how he got on the Lord's shit list. They were somewhat impressed hearing how he did it. They continued teasing and prodding, until he turned into a frog and swam in a tankard of their ale, much to their delight.
  • Frisian, Viribus, and Dooturr were in the second caravan. A dwarf made a sly remark about Dooturr's enjoyment of returning to the aboveground.
  • In the front caravan was Lord Anvilbender, Bagan, and Ashpin.
    • The Lord spoke to Ashpin about Linette, respecting her strength and ferocity in battle. She had been kept busy in Anvilhold, and even humbled some of the men in the tavern fighting pits.
    • He recounted a tale of the Anvilbender line to Bagan: "You ever wonder why we carve our clan name into the haft of our axes, Bagan? Those aren't just ancestors. They're the ones who still fight beside us. Your great-grandfather Gruthan held the pass at Stonevein Hollow against a warband of ogres. When the last of his shieldmates fell, they say he shouted the names of our line, one by one, as he stood his ground. Dagrin. Kotra. Gelmund. Hurin. Each name he spoke gave strength to his arm. When they found him later, there were twelve ogre corpses around him. Gruthan said he saw them—our kin, clear as day, shoulder to shoulder with him, like the old days of the mountain legions. Said he felt his mother’s hand on his shoulder when his knees buckled. When I fight, son, I see them all — Anvilbender blood remembers. Our clan is deeply connected to all who came before us. When we take up arms, our whole line takes it with us. That’s why you don’t fight alone, even when you're the last one standing. Remember, you're never the last, Bagan. You're just the next."
    • He also shared memories of Dallas with Bagan - his fondness for the warhammer, taste for sour ales, how he was both the first of the boys to walk, and the first to break a bone.
  • Three days passed. As the caravan traveled, Bagan and N'nchyk continued to have similarly concerning dreams.
  • While the caravan was at rest, Ashpin had a "psychic premonition" about something that lie ahead. Lord Anvilbender glanced at Bagan to see if this was normal and true, who nodded. Ashpin, N'nchyk, Viribus, and Frisian went ahead to deal with it.
Report Date
28 Jul 2025
Primary Location
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