Session 27-A: Out of the Ashes

## Key Plot Developments

Themberchaud, the Wyrmsmith of Gracklstugh, immolates the once-proud city of dwarves. Glyn and Misu, having recently sworn loyalty to the Deepking in his hold, prepare to attack the dragon. The Deepking breaks his honor guard into three groups; he, Misu, and Glyn assume command of the separate regiments. They exit the hold and face the dragon.

The dragon strikes powerful blows against the dwarves, quickly burning and devouring the duergar armies. Glyn's regiment, acting cautiously, survives. The Deepking, pushed to the limit, takes desparate action. He uses his cloak to teleport onto Themberchaud's back and begins to slam into the dragon with his arcane-empowered warhammer. Javelins are thrown, Themberchaud is hit, and the dragon (with the king on his battle) is forced closer to the ground. Misu fires hellfire crossbow bolts at the dragon, the king attacks it, and Glyn hides.

Themberchaud throws the king from his back, but the wounded monarch is able to teleport a second time. He then swells in size, becoming a substantially heavier burden on the beast. Themberchaud, wounded, retreats into the lava surrounding Gracklstugh. The king decides to move the fight away from the city and towards his hold, where he can create a bottleneck and limit Themberchaud's mobility.

The Deepking, retreating to the entrance of his hold, lectures Glyn on hiding during the fight. Misu wants to put the duergar into her bag of holding (which also houses Lemon) so she can quickly throw them onto the dragon's back when he reappears. Lemon exits from the bag; duergar enter. Themberchaud re-emerges far more hastily than the goblins expected--he locks eyes with the Deepking and completely incinerates him, the bag, the duergar within, and Misu's other accoutrements. The king's hammer and cape survive the dragon's fire.

Glyn rushes to the cape and hammer. The hammer, speaking in a low, devilish accent, promises Glyn power and glory if Glyn will promise his soul. Glyn rejects the offer and throws the hammer to Misu instead.

Lemon hides. Misu speaks with the hammer; it can hurl its victims into the Nine Hells. She can also use the cape, which allows her to teleport. The surviving honor guard is overcome with dragon-fear, but Glyn and Misu prevent them from fleeing.

Themberchaud sucks in the king's ashes and declares himself the new ruler of Gracklstugh. Misu and Glyn use the king's cloak to teleport onto the dragon and begin smiting and bludgeoning him. The dragon, greatly wounded by the two of them working in concert, attempts to flee into the lava. Misu and Glyn jump off his back in time not to be immolated. Misu fires a hellfire bolt--a critical success! Themberchaud is slain and his soul is sent to hell. The battle is won, but Gracklstugh is greatly damaged.

Misu and Glyn finally remember Trix; they instruct the remaining Stone Guard to find him. Aware they have created a power vacuum, Misu wants to restore order to the city. The Stone Guard, Keepers, and prominent councils are all but gone; only the king's inner circle and the king's daughter (Olga Steelshadow, a "wee child of 188") remain.

Misu suggests relying on the devilish hammer's deals to rebuild the city, but Glyn isn't okay with souls being sold. Misu says the Steelshadows have a long-running deal with the devils, so it wouldn't have to involve others. She then challenges Glyn's loyalty to the Dark Prince.

Glyn pivots away from Misu and decides to convince the king's inner circle to follow him. He gives an inspirational speech about rebuilding. Then, he orders Misu to leave the city. Glyn, winning a battle of charisma, persuades the inner circle. Misu is forced to return the Steelshadows' hammer and cape. Glyn is now the warden of Gracklstugh.

Misu, on the way out, sincerely warns Glyn that Ichabod is suing Trix for damages. She also warns Glyn to NOT go to hell as a result of that lawsuit; she is concerned he may inadvertently let in Nicholas Ice Cream. Lemon asks who he should go with. He wants to speak with "Extra-Dimensional Spacey" in the bag of holding, but it's destroyed. Lemon is persuaded to stay by Glyn.

Misu leaves alone. She goes to Themberchaud's lair, noting that the dragon egg has been smashed. She steals the dragon's gems.

Glyn, a goblin alone in a Gracklstugh on the verge of collapse, is saddened that Misu was unable to grow beyond what he says as her devilish penchant for deception. He is happy, though, that he can stop the duergar from hurting Miss Anna's grove. Nobody can find Trix or Shuushar. Lady Harmond Redmane tells him that a non-duergar cannot hold a seat in the Steelshadows' inner circle, so she will assume the role of regent (until Olga is ready to lead). Glyn, however, may serve as an advisor on the rebuilding effort.

Glyn finally reaches out the the Dark Prince. The extraplanar patron praises him for his tremendous victory. They talk about giving everyone in the city one of Glyn's crystal necklaces as a "sign of unity." Glyn, the Dark Prince says, can make the sun shine in the Underdark.

## Memorable Quotations

**Deepking;** We're going to put that damn dragon back in its pit and seal it away.

**Themberchaud:** You will all burn!

**Deepking:** I'm going to wallop this beast right in the back!

**Themberchaud:** You think I'm only fire? I am more! I am the volcano! I am the storm! I eat brimstone itself!

**Themberchaud:** Well, hello, little bird.

**Flametongue:** You there! Hi. I think we've both in a bit of a pickle. What say we help each other out? Do me a solid and use me to send that thing to hell.

* **Lemon:** Oh! This is so warm. Is this hell?
* **Misu:** No! Hell's much better than this.
* **Lemon:** Oh, boy. I can't wait to go to hell!

**Themberchaud:** Fools! Bow before me or burn.

* **Themberchaud:** No! I am death incarnate!
* **Misu**: Go to hell.

**Dark Prince:** We're going to make the sun shine down on Gracklstugh, my boy. Phenomenal, Lord Glyn!

**Glyn:** Misu...just when i was starting to trust you. I have no choice but to cast you out of this city. I can't have you here, trying to sway the minds of the people into selling their souls!

**Glyn:** We can make this city great again!

* **Lemon:** So that was a dragon?
* **Glyn:** Yeah.
* **Lemon**: Huh. Seemed kinda weak. Can I have an almond?