Something Wicked This Way Comes

1st-2nd of Nightal, Year 1489 (New Moon -20/19)

Bastion Turn

• The follower of Lathander who sought sanctuary at Lonelywood#The Pick and Pint (formerly Ramshackle Inn) paid the Crew 100GP.
• Sahnar relayed the news that Speaker Oarus Masthew of Termalaine wrote to them on 1st Nightal saying he ordered militia to clear mine, they refused; that speaker election held in Good Mead was open to all residents on 5th of Nightal; and that Council of Speakers would meet in Bryn Shander on 7th of Nightal.

Rest of outpost

• Crew interrogated Goblin Boss and made him promise to provide weekly reports of intelligence on the happenings among the goblins and duergar. Transcript below.

Interrogation of Goblin

"Heh… You wanna know what’s what? Fine. I talk.

We goblins always lived on the surface, scraping by at the edges. Life’s tough there, but we make do. Been raiding travelers heading through the Spine to Ten-Towns forever. It’s what we do. Wasn’t until the Everlasting Winter that things started to change.

Yarb-Gnock—he’s our chief now. Took over after old Blim-Sprank choked to death on a mountain goat tongue. Stupid way to go. Yarb-Gnock, though, he had big ideas. Built us a proper stronghold in the mountains. Karkolohk, he calls it. Ain't a goblin word, but he likes the sound of it.

Then the orcs started showing up, looking for shelter. Winter was hard on them too. Wasn’t easy, them and us getting along, but we made deals—meat, furs, in exchange for a place inside the walls. Uneasy, but it worked.

Then came the duergar. About a year back. Wanted more of the surface. Normally they stick to the Underdark, but with so little sunlight, they got ideas. Their chief, Xardarok, had a plan: wipe out Ten-Towns, keep what’s left for goblins, orcs, and duergar. Yarb-Gnock liked that idea. Said it was time we took more for ourselves.

The plan? Simple. Xardarok’s building a dragon—made of Chardalyn—up in his fortress. When it's done, it'll burn the towns, tear through whatever’s left, and then we go in. Forty, sixty goblins. Couple dozen orcs. The duergar? Who knows—hundreds, probably. They got other things too—spore servants, ogres, big nasty creatures.

Far as I know, neither Yarb-Gnock nor Xardarok are dealing with Auril. But they sure like her winter. Makes things easier for 'em. Less sun, less trouble.

The invasion? It happens when the dragon’s ready. Soon, maybe. Slowed down a bit, though. Weapons we stockpiled turned out to be junk. Garn the Hammer found out. Duergar didn’t like that. Tried to kill him. Not sure if they managed.

That’s all I know. You gonna let me go now, or…?"

Retrieved and Returned

• Crew explored and looted remainder of Duergar outpost, including recovery of items stolen from Caer Konig. List below.
• Crew discovered and defeated Duergar spore servants.
• Crew returned to Caer Konig and returned stolen items to grateful villagers before setting out for Good Mead.

List of Stolen Items Returned

• Magic Lantern
• Lewd poster of deep gnome female
• Garden gnomes made of glass
• Assorted small mirrors
• A bucket of shiny rocks
• Woodcarver's tools
• Navigator's tools
• Fishing tackle
• Potion of healing

Good Mead Part I

• Crew learned that Shandar Froth is running against Olivessa Untapoor for Speaker of Good Mead because old speaker was slain by giant who stole the week's production of mead.
• Crew tracked the giant to a lair.

Loot

• 100gp ~ taken from follower of Lathander
• Javelin of Yeti Slaying ~ taken from Duergar Outpost Armory
• Stolen objects from Caer Konig ~ taken from Duergar Outpost Barracks
• 2x chardalyn stones ~ taken from Duergar Outpost Office
• 24gp ~ taken from Duergar Outpost Office
• two letters ~ taken from Duergar Outpost Office
• blankets, rations, rope ~ taken from Duergar Outpost Barracks
• 2x climber's kit ~ taken from
• 4x mess kit ~ taken from
• tuft of yeti fur ~ taken from Chwinga
• Sending stones ~ taken from Sahnar
• Liquidated loot (250gp): 4x war picks, 4x chain mail, 2x steel shield, 9x javelin, blackiron blades