Events+of+Zarantyr+19-21,+998+YK

=**Events of Zarantyr 19-21, 998 YK**=

Unfinished Business in the Mountains
Meanwhile, back in New Cyre, a scout detached from the Muster came back and reported a possible cave entrance in the western face of the Northern Seawall Mountains, amost due southwest of New Cyre, along the path the fleeing Dark Hand Goblinoids were taking.

Tanar d'Tharashk, assigned by his employer Prince Oargev to follow up, starts looking for adventurers once he realizes he missed the group he'd worked with the past two weeks. Needing a small group, the Half-Orc finds most of what he needs at a small pub near the town square: Alfred, a local Bard; Brakenmore, a Human Rogue from far-off Q'Barra; and Thomas, a Wizard from Aundair. Together with two soldiers from the just-finished Muster, Tanar gave them their mission, a small stipend, riding horses and a credit from the militia's quartermaster.

As the group is about to leave for the mountains, they are joined by a Human Druid from the Eldeen Reaches, a Warden of the Wood called Nina, and her Wolf companion. Tanar had also recruited her sight unseen, based on the reputation the Wardens have throughout Khorvaire. The party of six, all on riding horses, quickly made their way along the increasingly well-worn path to the Murnie Homestead, reaching it by nightfall. A small team of guards kept watch as five Kobolds -- the associates of Chok'ma -- worked to set up a lift elevator in the well leading down to the Dragonshard mine below.

The next day, with slightly warmer temperatures, the party made good time to the foothills, following the path made by the Goblins retreating from the battles in and around the mine and nearby ruined monument. From the northwest, a winter storm was approaching, reaching the party just as they reached a valley between the foothills and the northwestern-facing edges of the northern Seawall Mountains. Finding shelter in a narrow cave, they were able to shake off the effects of the blast of cold and snow. Off in the distance, at a higher elevation reachable by a steep zig-zagging footpath, was their apparent destination -- a crack in the rock face far bigger than the cave they'd found.

Morning came, and they decided to push on along the narrow valley until they reached the path. However, at one particular chokepoint they were attacked by two white-furred brutish creatures, smart enough to wield masterwork greatclubs, and their two "pets" -- small-sized winter wolves like those the Goblin invaders had used (cold breath weapons and all). In the fight, nearly everyone was hurt, one horse died and the others fled and had to be rounded up afterward. The fight had drained both casters of their best spells, so they decided to retreat back to their cave to rest up, heal and store the horses.

Nina examined the two dead winter wolves, and found that both bore a House Vadalis brand on their right hind leg.

Murder on the Sharn Express
On the Lightning Rail traveling from Starilaskur to Wroat, the party had come upon two dead passengers. Old dead Cyran was called Gilson Moab, according to the Identification/Traveling papers he had, which had been made 15 years ago in Eston, Cyre.

Dead Bard, a //Khoravar// (Half-Elf), was traveling with brand-new papers, made in Starilaskur with a proper Sivis notary mark, under the name Terb Fendurrin and indicating Brelish citizenship. The leather cover of the papers had an embossed rune -- the same four-triangle pattern seen elsewhere.

The Orien security chief for the train was cooperative, thanks to Colden's intervention and Stend's Diplomacy. Moab was heading to Sharn; Fendurrin was getting off at Wroat. Both had coach seating and no checked baggage.

A Dagger receovered frm the Redcaps' stash registered faint traces of magic, as if Prestidigitation had been used to clean it. This may have been the weapon used to carve the letters in Moab's body.

Anyway, Fendurrin's papers included an artist's sketch of the bard, which Faye (someone, anyway) used to inquire in Wroat to see if anyone knew him. Turns out an Innkeeper had hired him through a House Phiarlan intermediary to entertain.

Fendurrin, using the stage name "Tago of Eston," was booked to perform at the Magebred Rat Inn as some sort of favor to the Phiarlans. Apparently, he was more of a comedian than a musician, and his new "act" was rumored to be some sort of edgy comedy bit about The Mourning.

"Smart kid, but not very wise," the Halfling Innkeeper said, dismissively. "I did my part -- that particular debt between Ghallanda and Phiarlan is paid."

As for cause of death, it appeared Fendurrin, or "Tago," had clocked himself with his own oversized guitar, staggered back into the ninth car of the train, and was set upon by the Redcaps, who left the slash marks that finished him off. No idea who had opened the crate containing the Warforged Charger, only to reclose it. Charger had a green crystal on its forehead, covering its ghulra mark...that may have been how the Kalashtar controlled it when it attacked. How it was made invisble is unresolved. Whether the Charger's attack was connected to Diizina's presence (see below)...also unresolved.

Chance Meeting and Assassination Attempt
Lightning Rail arrived in Wroat, and during the layover an attempt was made on the life of a Brelish noble and member of Parliament. Baron Curzon ir'Dorn (who had been on the train in a private car) was meeting with Captain ir'Kemble in a tavern on the rail station grounds (franchised by House Ghallanda on a House Orien enclave), when a Kalashtar unleashed a controlled Warforged Charger (think of a Warforged Dire Ape) on them.

The Charger scattered furniture and bodyguards like toys, but was prevented from completing its task by Crest, a mysterious Knight. The others didn't intervene because Draco was too busy pimp-slapping everyone's favorite Barghest, Diizina. Somehow the evil outsider had followed the party all the way to Wroat, and was in the bar in Goblin form when Draco confronted him (thinking he was just a Goblin). Hilarity ensued, but the Barghest proved no match for the BeastBlood...and soon fled via //Dimension Door//, on fire and near death. //Blink// failed, //Levitate// failed (Stend made a staircase for Draco using Stone Shape), //Crushing Despair// failed...only thing that worked was //Charm Monster// on poor Chok'ma, who attacked Dashiell and had to be subdued.

The Kalashtar used a crystal wand to fire cone some Orien guards, and tried five //Mind Thrusts//, only one of which got by a PC's Will Save. He quickly fell in melee, then Draco dove through a window to stab the Warforged Charger, finishing it off (it had already been hit seven times in earlier rounds) and looking like a Big Damn Hero in the process.

But Faye probably wants to know about the two bodies...later. Baron Curzon, in thanks for the party saving his life, gave Dashiell a Dragonmark scepter (aka the Pimp Cane) and offered his residence in Sharn to the rest for as long as they needed to stay there.