Session 23: The Battle of Grom’s Brin

Joe searches the remains of the attackers, and finds a note that reads “let no one pass” in draconic. The group then gathers wood from the surrounding forest, which Grombrin shapes into a new cart. They travel on, while Vica wanders off to do some hunting, intending to rendezvous later.

Further down the road, the unseen attacker returns, shooting Elric in the shoulder. Vojta and Grombrin blast its direction with frost and fire, annihilating a swath of forest, but the unseen attacker keeps shooting. Vojta transforms into a wolf and tracks the attacker down with his superior hearing, finding that it’s a wood and steel construct dragon that shoots bolts from its mouth. Elric then reveals his magical abilities by blasting it with a thunderous wave of sound, shattering it into many small pieces. Grombrin recognises the design as being created by his friend Grubsnik, and suspects it was bought or stolen from him.

They travel on and spend the night a few hours away from Moradhin. The next morning, they meet a group of exhausted dwarves travelling in the opposite direction. They explain that Moradhin is under siege from the dragonborn, and their group is on their way to seek reinforcements from other dwarven settlements. They also confirm that the attackers at the bridge were likely mercenaries trying to stop reinforcements from arriving. The group keeps watch while the dwarves rest, then continue towards Moradhin.

When they approach Moradhin, they see the surrounding fields burned and covered in dragonborn army camps. Vojta and Joe place magical obscurement on the group, and they pass through the dragonborn territory unseen. Grombrin guides them to a hidden mine entrance, through which they enter the city. Grombrin leads the way to the heart of the forge, while Joe lingers behind to sell the Wand of Fear to a merchant for 8000 gold worth of gems, and another prospective 2000 if they survive the siege.

At the forge, they meet Grombrin’s friend Gorat, who tends to the molten core of the mountain. He explains that the dragonborn suddenly laid claim to Moradhin, and started the siege when they were denied. Much of the dwarven army was destroyed by powerful spellcasters, and those mages are now working on breaking the city wall. The group discusses, and all agree to help Grombrin in pushing back the dragonborn – Vojta out of loyalty to Grombrin, Joe for the recognition and the 2000 gold that still awaits him, and Elric because he respects the birthright of the dwarves. Grombrin intends to assemble the leaders of Moradhin, to discuss a retaliation strategy, but before he can do so, chaos erupts as the city wall is breached.

They rush to the breach, where they find the dwarven and dragonborn armies already engaging. Suddenly, a huge red dragon crawls through the hole in the mountain wall, then flies over the dwarven forces towards the civilian quarters of the city. The dwarves try to hold the line against the dragonborn army, while Grombrin’s group chases down the dragon. They follow it onto a higher plateau of the city, overlooking the battlefield below. The dragon sees them coming and breathes fire at them. The others take cover, while Grombrin charges through the flames. Grombrin fights the dragon alongside Trojka the Stormbear while Elric envelops the beast in a raging stormcloud, but most of their attacks fail to pierce its scales.

Joe tries to sneak up on the dragon, but falls prey to its supernatural senses. It corners Joe and is about to eat him, when Vojta transforms him into a giant yeti. Joe briefly holds the dragon off with a barrage of thrown rocks, but the dragon soon flies over him and breathes fire on Vojta, breaking the spell and returning Joe’s normal shape. Vojta is nearly killed, but Grombrin stabs the dragon in the flank, giving Vojta a moment to escape. Elric then approaches and unleashes an overwhelming torrent of lightning onto the dragon. The dragon turns on Elric, but Vojta now turns Grombrin into a giant yeti, who interposes himself. The dragon tries to fly over Grombrin to reach Elric, but Grombrin makes a devastating strike at its underside from below.

The wounded dragon flies into the air and flees, back out of the hole in the mountain wall. Grombrin, returning to his normal form, walks to the edge of the cliff overlooking the battle and unleashes a battlecry, showing the forces of Moradhin that they defeated the dragon. Joe also uses his magic to conjure a giant middle finger towards the dragonborn army. Below, the dwarves are emboldened, and the dragonborn are forced to retreat, refortifying their position outside the city gate.

As the situation in the city calms down, Grombrin and Vojta use their magic to assist in tending the many wounded soldiers. Having grown suspicious, Elric asks them what their true goals are, and Vojta explains their quest to stop Cerebarieth. While the others rest, Grombrin sets out to assemble the pantheon of dwarven leaders and discuss the next step.