Session 15: Reminiscing, Riding, and Reuniting

The group checked the area with the drakes and fed them some of the kobolds they have just killed before leaving the area. On their way Rahl and Mitzu fall into a trap that causes some minor damage and Rahl to be confused for a minute, before continuing on to the next area where they found an open area covered in guano and some scattered dead bats on the cave floor. To the north there is a shear drop about 15 feet into a pit that has a strong foul odor. It has clearly been used as a refuse pit by the residents here. Rahl connects this smell to that of a troglodyte like what attacked them earlier in the cave. There were some shiny glints of medal or something in the pit. They decide to avoid this area. Tanaelia also notices a spear with a pitted blade near some stairs going down the area to the east.

She sees that at the bottom of the stairs there is a curtain of thick leather strips. She notices frost along the bottom and sees the glint of metal in the leather. Going down she notices that there are large fish hooks coated in what seemed to be poison.

The party investigates the area behind the curtain, using the worn spear to push the curtain out of the way and avoid it. Inside they find that it is unnaturally cold inside. There is a strong smell of old blood in the are with several dried puddles scattered about. There are four floor-to-ceiling columns with chains strung between them like clothes lines and animal carcasses strung from them gutted and skinned and hung here to preserve, some of it fresh and some a bit older. Searching around they find that there seems to be a slight breeze coming from somewhere and find a hole about the size of a soccer ball in the wall where it meets the floor with icy air blowing from it. Jameak focuses his senses and using blind sight can tell that it goes about five feet before curving back up for at least another five feet and towards the east. The party debates on searching for where the cold air is coming from, but decides to leave the meat locker be for now and look through the rest of the cave.

Continuing on back through the bat cave Rahl realizes this is the same are he wandered into with Durgat and fought some stirges when first entering the cave.

Realizing that they searched most of the cave, they decided to leave and head to Elturel and meet Leosin as he requested and get their reward, stopping by Greenest on their way.

Upon arrival at Greenest, Mitzu and Jameak stay outside with the dragon egg because they worry about the villagers' reactions to it. Taneaeli walks inside with Rahl and Nivek and is greeted by Governor Tarbaw Nighthill, who thanks them profusely and asks them what they've learned. Before they go he informs them that Leosin has purchased a horse for each of them along with all of their tack and gear to help them make it to Elturel quickly.

Around this time, Tanaelia and Rahl realize that Nivek isn't with them. Assuming that Nivek has went to visit his home and family he asks Governor Nighthill where Nivek's house is and heads off in that direction with the intention of seeing his home and meeting his family. Tanaelia takes one of the horses and a large burlap sac to put the dragon egg in back to Jameak and Mitzu. When Rhal gets to Nivek's family's farm he finds the remains of a burned buildings and an abandoned farm. He notices signs of lightning burns in some of the remains. After looking around some he walks around behind the ruined house and finds Nivek standing over the graves of his family. They talk and get to know each other more as Rahl learns more about Nivek and his past. After a while they head back to meet up with the rest of the group.

Not waiting any longer the group gathered the horses and headed for Elturel. Along the way they crossed the Chionthar River and stopped at the city of Berdusk where Tanaelia's twin younger brother Arreus was currently staying.

Upon arriving to Berdusk they found a city much larger than the village of Greenest and stopped inside at the Traveler's Rest Inn. Tanaelia chatted with the barkeep who she knew from before and asked if he knew where her brother Arreus was. He replied that he hadn't seen him in days, but that he was probably holed up in the city library.

Heading into the library they asked the receptionist who quickly put away the book he was reading and answered that Arreus was on the second floor in a private study looking into basilisks. Seeing that most of her brother was hidden behind a stack of books on the desk he was using, Tanaelia snuck up on her brother and startled him causing him to fall out of his chair and knock over several books before embracing his sister in a hug. They started catching up a bit, Tanaelia grilling her brother on taking care of himself and past relationships and Arreus ushering them outside before Rahl was too rough on any books he was looking through, and they told him about the egg and asked him if he wanted to take care of it. He was hesitant, clearly not knowing what he was going to do with a dragon egg, but when the request was reframed as an experiment of nature vs nurture of a black dragon and if they are always evil, he agreed and said they could store it at his place for now and that his friend, Nes, could help him move it if needed.

The party then went back to the Traveler's Rest and rented a private booth while they drank and ate and told Arreus about the last few weeks.