Etappe 6: The mountain road
9 augis
After spending the night in San Raffaele the party picks up Roagda from the monastery for the last part of their journey to Tur-Inan. The road into the mountains is well mended by the dwarves. With the normal activity of carts shifting cargo between the harbor in San Raffaele and the city ceased, the coach can make even more rapid progress.
Halfway during the first day the party meets an oncoming battalion of Tur-Inan soldiers. They learn that the battalion is on its way to Monferrato to aid an earlier dispatched contingent. The zombies met by the party have attacked the city.
A horsed messenger passes the party the next morning. From this dwarf they learn that the ship with Gornak Vuurvuist's body has arrived in the harbor during the night and that he is now being brought to Tur-Inan via the same road they are on. Hendrik tells the messenger how they are responsible for the dead of the king's second son and that they are invited to attend the funeral by Arfell, Gornak's older brother.
The third day is rather uneventful. An occasional cart going to San Raffaele is passed. A stone bridge, crossing a small river 40ft below, brings the road to another, more serious mountain.
Ambushed
Around noon on the fourth day, when the coach passes a collapsed piece of mountain wall, the road is blocked by a few boulders. Gaius spots some movement and warns his companions. While the others are exiting arrows hit the coach and some PCs. A band of hobgoblins charges from the slopes of the mountain. Gortof and Dorfur rush towards the welcome entertainment while Hendrik inspires his mates with his voice. Gaius and Roagda return fire from afar. The other passengers stay in the coach, armed with 2 crossbows and swords. When the two sides clash Roagda switches to his kukri. Gaius stays on top of the coach shooting at the archers. He suddenly spots a small group of hobgoblins approaching him from the barricade. Gaius moves away from the coach to keep distance but the leader of this group follows him while the others start to attack the coach.
Meanwhile the other brawlers try to outmaneuver each other. Hendrik takes some hits from the captain and his lieutenant, but the inspired Gortof trips them, leaving them prone. With their leaders gone the remaining hobgoblins try to flee but the party is merciless. One of the dying creatures is healed and interrogated. The tribe, smart enough not to meddle with the dwarves of Tur-Inan, has lived in an isolated region of the dwarflands. Not long ago a 'large monster from below' (The hobgoblin's common is very poor, and fear and terror probably has clouded its judgement. Every monsterlike aspect mentioned is confirmed.) has destroyed the tribe's lands. Desperate and hungry the small remaining band hoped to find a meal with this bold ambush.
With the current danger subsided the party does an unpleasant discovery. One of the two horses was killed by the hobgoblins. And the boulders, dropped from above, still block the way. While the dwarfs clear the road, the others search the hobgoblins for clues and possible treasure with some good fortune. With 1 horse remaining the party decides to ease the burden of the coach by walking alongside it. In this formation they expect to reach the city the next day.
Hunter and prey
While crossing the valley that leads to the entrance into Mount Tur-Inan Roagda spots a strange blue creature rummaging through the bushes. Suddenly however a giant mantis jumps from a nearby bush, grabbing Gortoff. The PCs turn their attention to aid Gortoff when the large blue creature takes a hugh leap, attacking the mantis. The mantis is quickly killed by the party and the creature that then growls a terrifying howl at the party while defending and dragging the mantis' corpse. they take no chances and kill the creature too.
Finally in the mountain tunnel the party reaches the gates of Tur-Inan late in the afternoon. After explaining their intentions the PCs are admitted into the city. A wooden elevator brings Pantar's Eagles to the city of the fire dwarfs deep under the vulcano.
After spending the night in San Raffaele the party picks up Roagda from the monastery for the last part of their journey to Tur-Inan. The road into the mountains is well mended by the dwarves. With the normal activity of carts shifting cargo between the harbor in San Raffaele and the city ceased, the coach can make even more rapid progress.
Halfway during the first day the party meets an oncoming battalion of Tur-Inan soldiers. They learn that the battalion is on its way to Monferrato to aid an earlier dispatched contingent. The zombies met by the party have attacked the city.
A horsed messenger passes the party the next morning. From this dwarf they learn that the ship with Gornak Vuurvuist's body has arrived in the harbor during the night and that he is now being brought to Tur-Inan via the same road they are on. Hendrik tells the messenger how they are responsible for the dead of the king's second son and that they are invited to attend the funeral by Arfell, Gornak's older brother.
The third day is rather uneventful. An occasional cart going to San Raffaele is passed. A stone bridge, crossing a small river 40ft below, brings the road to another, more serious mountain.
Ambushed
Around noon on the fourth day, when the coach passes a collapsed piece of mountain wall, the road is blocked by a few boulders. Gaius spots some movement and warns his companions. While the others are exiting arrows hit the coach and some PCs. A band of hobgoblins charges from the slopes of the mountain. Gortof and Dorfur rush towards the welcome entertainment while Hendrik inspires his mates with his voice. Gaius and Roagda return fire from afar. The other passengers stay in the coach, armed with 2 crossbows and swords. When the two sides clash Roagda switches to his kukri. Gaius stays on top of the coach shooting at the archers. He suddenly spots a small group of hobgoblins approaching him from the barricade. Gaius moves away from the coach to keep distance but the leader of this group follows him while the others start to attack the coach.
Meanwhile the other brawlers try to outmaneuver each other. Hendrik takes some hits from the captain and his lieutenant, but the inspired Gortof trips them, leaving them prone. With their leaders gone the remaining hobgoblins try to flee but the party is merciless. One of the dying creatures is healed and interrogated. The tribe, smart enough not to meddle with the dwarves of Tur-Inan, has lived in an isolated region of the dwarflands. Not long ago a 'large monster from below' (The hobgoblin's common is very poor, and fear and terror probably has clouded its judgement. Every monsterlike aspect mentioned is confirmed.) has destroyed the tribe's lands. Desperate and hungry the small remaining band hoped to find a meal with this bold ambush.
With the current danger subsided the party does an unpleasant discovery. One of the two horses was killed by the hobgoblins. And the boulders, dropped from above, still block the way. While the dwarfs clear the road, the others search the hobgoblins for clues and possible treasure with some good fortune. With 1 horse remaining the party decides to ease the burden of the coach by walking alongside it. In this formation they expect to reach the city the next day.
Hunter and prey
While crossing the valley that leads to the entrance into Mount Tur-Inan Roagda spots a strange blue creature rummaging through the bushes. Suddenly however a giant mantis jumps from a nearby bush, grabbing Gortoff. The PCs turn their attention to aid Gortoff when the large blue creature takes a hugh leap, attacking the mantis. The mantis is quickly killed by the party and the creature that then growls a terrifying howl at the party while defending and dragging the mantis' corpse. they take no chances and kill the creature too.
Finally in the mountain tunnel the party reaches the gates of Tur-Inan late in the afternoon. After explaining their intentions the PCs are admitted into the city. A wooden elevator brings Pantar's Eagles to the city of the fire dwarfs deep under the vulcano.
Parent Plot
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