The Last Dwarven Outpost

## The Outpost

We head off toward one of the 8 Dwarven refuges left. These used to each be for the Dwarven gods, but most have fallen. Fable makes sure that the skellys won’t be a problem.

We get to the OUtpost. A little call and response for make sure we are who we say we are. THe walls are illusory. We head through. Many dwarves watch us warrily.

We meet a crotchety old wizard gnome, Frumpass. He doesn’t “recognize us” and refuses to take us to the city. With Magics, I assume.

Very few wizards left in the MItheril city. He is very sought after. He feels demeaned to act as a ferry to and from the city.

We are allowed entry “this once”.

Brexx and Akibeko mend his armor.

Fable sneaks up on Frumpass, how is stalling to be obnoxious. He catches her and says he is going to take longer now. She calls him on his BS. He tries to turn tables.

He insults almost everyone. AKibeko goes full tilt and tries to grab Frumpass as he emerges from the portal. Fable counterspells Frumpass’ mistystep. Then compels him to apologize.

He does NOT apologize. Fable drops the compel.

Akibeko grabs him and warns him not to continue his actions. Then tosses him at the guards. Fable counterspells him again. He hits the ground hard. Then Sera dimension doors him away.

AKibeko apologizes. Bart tells him how to act in the future.

Our guide says that there might be respect for standing up to Frumpass, but not to do it again.

Fable says she liked what Akibeko did in deep speech. AKibeko responds in deep speech. The dwarves go on defensive again. Fable soothes the fears.

Sera soothes Frumpass’ ego. And convinces him not to exact revenge. But he gets our damn names right.

## Into the the last city

Lots of guards. Lots of Yagis. Look more like mountain dwarves.

Large doors and encroaching towers with embattlements. Exquisite stone work.

There are signs for entry to and exit from the city. Lines of wagons and different folk.

We enter into an army area between the doors and the next set of huge doors. We give our details (names, and such).

Into the large open cavern. It stretches out beyond even darksight. Lots of stone work and structures built into the cavern. MANY guards, and many folks. Dwarves (majority), gnomes, humans, and children at play.

We are in the first layer. Farming, market, and businesses.

We stay at the Warrior’s Hold. Bustles and shouting from within. Roheg the proprietor.

Brexx heads off with our guide to secure rooms and food. The rest of us grab a table. Innkeeper is told we have helped the city and to be given the best of dwarven hospitality.

Our ghoul friend is amazed by the new place.

Sera heads off to hear about the Secret City from the Storyteller. Sera bribes the storyteller with food and drink to talk more.

### The Story of the Fall of Secret City - Otocksarin (In Dwarven)

Watched over by Dumaturin

* Deep treasures and deep secrets
* Patron of Shield Dwarves
* Watches over dead

A city of prosperity, protected from delving too deep. Helped push back many enemies, giants, durugar, mind flayers, the Mind Wars.

Sent others to help other cities. Started to delve deeper. They came across the Undead Horde. Ghouls lead them. SOme say they were intelligent. POured into the mines.

Brunith Stormmantle volunteered to stay behind to get the upper layers to safety. To get a chance to survive. THe earth shifted and enveloped the Undead Horde and crushed them and herself.

Sacrifice managed to leave and get out and survive. And thrive. To retake what once was lost. Learn from this, not fall to our own avarice natures.

City still held to this day by the Drow. Now may be the time to take back and reclaim the kingdom for the Dwarven people.

### End storytime

Lots of food appears! 10 Grubs, the size of small dogs. Fable and Akibeko, with Bart’s help, chew through 10 grubs. They are HELLA full.

Sera picks the bard’s brain and plies him with food and drink.

Akibeko discusses with Sera about using a name to avoid his prior outburst. He suggests Ugin (Water Child) in his language. Sera will think on a name before morning. IN exchange he will owe Sera a favor.

We bed down for the night.

Sera asks Fable why the Tenets of Longevity didn’t visibly affect her. Fable avoids eye contact and doesn’t really answer. Fable lies. This is not a great conversation….

Sera askes Fable to take off a ring. Fable doesn’t want to.

Fable uses her traveling library to look up fantastic beasts. Starts taking notes.

Sera goes to Bart’s room. Sera tells Bart Fable is compromised. Sera blames the ring. Bart wants to get that ring. Sera is concerned about damage done if they do that.

Bart sneaks into Sera and Fable’s room. He watches over her that night and sneaks out before they wake.

### Brexx’s Vision

Dwarven feast. Lots of armored ladies. Brexx led to Hella!

AND ASKS, “AND YOU ARE?”

She tells him he has her attention. She pats his shoulder and gives him godly power washing!

## The next day dawns

Breakfast waiting for the council to call us. Kazmaga, Dwarven guide, comes for us.

We walk to the council chambers. Frumpass is still pissy.

The King of the city slumbers for 100 years. He is overdue for awakening by 25 years. When awake it is a time of prosperity. OUr guide is worried about the actions of the city and the length of sleep.

Council governs during the King’s sleep.

We wait in the antechamber before going in to see the council.

Overheard: Can’t wait to take on the MInd Flayer Enclave. Some think they should try to wake the king and look to defense. Lot of disagreement.

Sera speaks for the group.

The council asks to see the mismatch map of the city drawn by the enemies of the city.

The council discusses the items and maps. Confusion over the drow in fighting. Frumpass is still a butt.

Council thinks on sending a group to go investigate the Drow.

Elves asking for help with their problems and offer her guard to help with the Drow investigation.

Dwarves are a little hesitant due to Elvish history.

Elf preaches unity. Meh. (Ilsevele Miritar)

Kariss Kazin will lead the expedition. His guard, and the elven guard and us are going.

Before we leave

Akibeko goes to look for armor.

Fable and Bart go to study. Bart might be doing a bit of ring investigation.

Kariss comes out and Akibeko vows his warriors oath to Kariss to gain trust to get full plate. It goes well! Brexx and Akibeko get loaners.

The Elf Queen notices Akibeko’s new name and askes if he is a speaker of Truths. He is hella confused because he was told that the name meant fairness.

Akibeko (Cundo), Sera, adn Brexx go to get armor.

Fable and Bart go to study.

## Armor Time

The Armor mistress make Akibeko and Brexx strip naked. The mistress says she didn’t need for them to be naked. Akibeko is very displeased. Brexx is free as a bird and carefree.

Sera shines the mistress on to get the armor hurried.

We get dressed and leave.

Sera brings Brexx and Akibeko up to speed on Fable’s ring. Brexx and Akibeko are not sure what to do. We are sworn not to talk about it. Brexx may have a spell to help.

## Study Time

The librarian is happy to answer questions and gather information for Bart and Fable.

While they are searching for knowledge, Brexx, Cundo, and Sera go to cast a Divination Ritual. Brexx comunes with Hela. He asks for the significance of the rin. She says that curses are difficult to break. You need the right tools. When treated poorly it can lead to explosive results.

Brexx isn’t sure if he is strong enough to break the curse. We need more research.

Bart and Fable dive into books! Not literally.

* Drow: most revolves around Lloth the demoness, a demon lord and a goddess. She likes strife and intrigue. Her son, Vahruen, is a main rival for worship. He favors equality and males; she favors females. He wants to unify the Drow and other elves. Very elitist still. Lloth focused on her control. Multiple Drow cities around all fighting each other and this city. One city is independent of gods.
* Durragar: they believe they were dwarves who dug too deep and got enslaved by mind flayers. Experimented on. Then became different due to psionics. Feel abandoned by all other dwarves. Used to follow Abathor.
* Mind Flayers: INsidious creatures. Mind powers. Can cast without casting. INcredibly dangerous. Minions can have powers too.

Sera and Kazmaga discuss the armourer.

Sera asks for information on cursed items and breaking curses. Some items have nondetection placed on them to avoid detection. The can cause involuntary reactions from the wearer if it is discover or attempts to remove. Sometimes violent and unpredictable ways. Common way of removing is a remove curse spell by touching individual. Individual has to be unaware. Charming might suppress the curse for a moment, but it might be a contest of will.

We all gather for dinner. AKibeko is super worried for Fable. Fable is concerned that Akibeko is concerned. AKibeko cannot hid his concern. Brexx notices that Fable is suddenly more insightful about others. Akibeko calls it an early night. Before dinner. Completely normal.

Sera entertains. Well.

## LOTS OF PLOTTING TO DE-CURSE FABLE…

Akibeko sacrifices his armor to the Lady of the Waves to pray for protection for Fable and his friends. He is given  vision and a blessing.

## The next morning

Brexx casts the remove curse spell into Sera’s ring. Akibeko gives Sera his blessing from the Lady of the Waves.

Sera breaks the curse and Fable turns into something else… Yuan Ti?

Oh and the ring falls off.