As the late afternoon light started to fade, the group decided to take advantage of the chaos caused by their attack on the goblin patrol in the forest to sneak into down undetected. Most of the goblin forces were in the north of the town and a column of troops was preparing to head into the forest.
After navigating towards to the south of the city, the group crossed silently into the city and headed towards the remains of the library in search of the slaying stone. Sticking to the shadows and avoid goblin patrols, they happen across a lone kobold near column of troops was preparing to head into the forest.
After navigating towards to the south of the city, the group crossed silently into the city and headed towards the remains of the library in search of the slaying stone. Sticking to the shadows and avoid Goblin patrols, they happen across a lone Kobold near the library collecting junk with his mechanical hounds. Sensing a threat that could not be passed by, they attacked from the shadows quickly. As the party quickly overcame his hounds, the Kobold splashed a toxic oil over some of the party causing a Anhkeg to erupt from beneath the earth and attack. As the giant beetle grabbed Cage with its mandibles, the Kobold hoped to make his escape, but was quickly cut down. With assistance from the others, Cage summoned the full power of the dark demonic forces that torment him and killed the creature.
The party made their escape to an abandoned building to recover from their wounds and to remain hidden. While standing guard Zoltan spied a goblin on patrol being grabbed by an orc and carried away down a dark ally. It seems the Party weren't the only strangers in down.
Carrying on with their plan, they headed towards the library and, with a combination of magical cunning and ruthless steel, gained entry. One of the scrolls provided by Treona suggests that there was some trace of the Slaying Stone here. Further exploration of the library saw the party come across a makeshift alchemist laboratory hiding a group of goblins. The group burst into the room and quickly dispatched the goblin guards thanks to getting the jump of them. The goblin alchemist hardly had enough time to summon a gray ozoo like creature before suffering the same fate as his goblin guards. The ozoo fell quickly after, thanks in part to a well placed beaker from Thangobrind's sling.
Using the scroll to further explore the library, the party made their way to an abandoned wing of the library where they discovered the remains of a wall panel cast aside to reveal a hidden alcove. The panel and the alcove featured large claws marks and large, brassy scales littered the floor. Bookshelves were also pushed aside, consistent with a large beast having moved through the area.
After examining the scales and recalling his study, Gabriel revealed that they most likely belonged to a brass dragon. There creatures make their lairs in warn areas and prefer dry and arid environments, though sometimes make exceptions. They often have a merc the library collecting junk with his mechanical hounds. Sensing a threat that could not be passed by, they attacked from the shadows quickly. As the party quickly overcame his hounds, the Kobold splashed a toxic oil over some of the party causing an Anhkeg to erupt from beneath the earth and attack. As the giant beetle grabbed Cage with its mandibles, the kobold hoped to make his escape, but was quickly cut down. With assistance from the others, Cage summoned the full power of the dark demonic forces that torment him and killed the creature.
The party made their escape to an abandoned building to recover from their wounds and to remain hidden. While standing guard, Zoltan spied a goblin on patrol being grabbed by an orc and carried away down a dark ally. It seems the this group weren't the only strangers in down.
Carrying on with their plan, they headed towards the library and, with a combination of magical cunning and ruthless steel, gained entry. One of the scrolls provided by Treona suggests that there was some trace of the Slaying Stone here. Further exploration of the library saw the party come across a makeshift alchemist laboratory hiding a group of goblins. The group burst into the room and quickly dispatched the goblin guards thanks to getting the jump of them. The goblin alchemist hardly had enough time to summon a gray ozoo like creature before suffering the same fate as his goblin guards. The ozoo fell quickly after, thanks in part to a well placed beaker from Thangobrind's sling.
Using the scroll to further explore the library, the party made their way to an abandoned wing of the library where they discovered the remains of a wall panel cast aside to reveal a hidden alcove. The panel and the alcove featured large claws marks and large, brassy scales littered the floor. Bookshelves were also pushed aside, consistent with a large beast having moved through the area.
After examining the scales and recalling his study, Gabriel revealed that they most likely belonged to a brass dragon. There creatures make their lairs in warn areas and prefer dry and arid environments, though sometimes make exceptions. They often have a mercenary streaks and tend to be talkative, though always thinking about their own self-interest above anything else. He also noted that brass dragons also refuse to converse with anyone who exhibits rudeness or disrespect.
Armed with this new knowledge, the group decided to explore Kiris Dahn further and headed silently through the night to the Houses of Revel, the former city temples. Finding the temples abandoned but desecrated, Gabriel began reconsecrating the temple of Bahamut with help from Genevieve, while Cage, Zoltan, Lexonius and Thangobrind went off in search of the slaying stone and headed into the temple of Sehanine.
However the temple of Sehanine was not abandoned as the adventurers first thought. After their eyes adjusted to the light, they noticed a small figuring trying to hide from them. After reassuring him they meant no harm, he introduced himself as Kiris Hoyt, the rightful heir to the Kiris title whose family had abandoned him when they were fleeing the city. His fine clothes now covered in dirt and filth, he confessed to living alone in the temple keeping out of sight of the goblins. When asked about the dragon, he confirmed that he had seen signs of a brass dragon flying across the city at night and that he had overheard some goblins saying that the dragon had dug lair somewhere in the city.
The conversation then turned to the Slaying Stone. Before Hoyt could finish his story, a cry when up and a raiding party of goblins entered from both the north and south of the temple. Surrounded, the party turned to face their attackers with Zoltan using powerful magic to put a number of goblins to sleep while Cage and Thangobrind lined up ready to strike.
To the surprise of all concerned, Hoyt was struck by a crossbow bolt and began to transform into a fearsome half man, half rat creature who attacked those nearest to him in an uncontrollable rage. While Lexonius ran down the temple to take care of the goblins closing in from the south, Cage and Thangobrind traded blows back and forth with the wererat. Zoltan used his magic to keep the rest of the goblins at way. Gabriel and Genevieve ran to their friend's defence to join the fray and helped tipped the balance in favour of the party. After a brief but violent struggle, the battered body of Kiris Hoyt, human once more, and a dozen goblins lay dead around them.
