5/10/2018 0 Comments A Sunken Citadelby Alistaud (Sarah C.)I Alistaud arrived in Verloren today. As the boat approached the harbor a small town became visible on the horizon. This town of Verloren is one of many Candini trading company's far flung outposts. The town proper is surrounded by solidly built wooden stockade. We were welcomed at the docks by a throng of trades people and villagers eager to board the ship. The once bustling trading outposts was a mere shell of its former glory. It had the appearance of a ghost town there were clearly more people leaving Verloren then entering.
I happened to be traveling with a pleasant young halfling by name of Sauliwag. He hailed from Summerport. Through some unknown misfortune he decided that Verloren needed his help. Not knowing anyone else in town we decided to head to the local tavern. The place was nearly empty the soul patron was sitting at the bar. We introduced ourselves to this very large orcish looking adventurer by the name of Nox. He told us a tale of a sunken citadel over run with goblins. A tale of a shadowy fruit salesmen and two lost adventures. I had heard these tall tales told in more places than I can count. I am a bounty hunter so I have little care for the creatures of the world. I listened intently hoping to catch a familiar name someone to bring in a new bounty. Nothing struck a chord, I was half listening when this Nox fellow presented a large dragon shaped key. I snapped back to attention. Sualiwag and I were now enthralled by his tale. Nox announced his intention to open a great dragon door in the citadel. He asked if we'd like to join him. Of course we jumped at the chance to join him on the quest. We wasted no time and were soon off on foot. Along the way Nox said the citadel was taken over by a group of kobolds. The kobolds were somewhat friendly to him because he aided them in the past. We walked several miles west of town on the main road. At this point a small foot path headed off in a northwesterly direction. We followed the trail until we came to a small house. This house was familiar to Nox and occupied by a local trader named Kelar. After a long days travel we decided to rest for the night at Kelar's home. Something appeared out of place. On further inspection the home was completely empty. It appeared that Kelar had folded up shop and left quite a long time ago. The only remnants of of his life work was a dirty floor and a hobble covered in cobwebs. We thoroughly inspected the empty home and determined it would be a good place to rest for the night. Sualiwag ever resourceful cooked up some fine tasting stew. I was most grateful to this kind hearted half man. We split the watch for the night and bedded down. The first two watches of the night were uneventful. I was on the last watch when I heard shuffling outside along the road. Looking out the window, I noticed that there a group of 3 Kobolds approaching the house. Sensing possible danger, I woke my fellow adventurers. We took up stations at the door and windows. Weapons made ready, we waited for the kobolds. Not knowing if these creatures were friend or foe we weren't going to take any chances. They came to the door and tried to push it open. We exchanged harsh words asking what was their business with Keller. They said he had left long ago and it was their house now. Finally a kobold of reasonable intelect named Lasen interseeded. She asked to approach and speak for her small hunting party. We decided it wasn’t worth the effort to quarrel with these creatures. Sualiwag cheerful as ever welcomed them in. He cleverly watered down the meger bits of leftover stew and presented it as a grand soup. His simple gesture opened an opportunity to develop a friendship with the Kobolds. Nox fired off several questions. Inquiring about Ustral (the queen) and Kobald named Meepo (the dragon keeper). Lassen's ears perked up at the mention of Ustral but a frown set upon her face when he uttered Meepo. They decided to stay with us till the early morning. Lasen offered to escort us to the kobold camp. Approaching the camp we discovered that the Kobolds clearly were no longer living in the citadel. They had taken up refuge deep inside the forest. Nox had previous encounters with these Kobolds and desired to see Ustral their leader. We approached the camp cautiously and by all indication there were between 20 to 25 huts. The Kobolds seemed to be living in rough hewn shelters of sticks, twigs, grass and leaves. Nox asked for an audience with Ustral. The head guard agreed but told us we would have to wait for her to awake. When Ustral awoke we were escorted to her hut. This one was the same rough construction but somewhat larger and maybe a bit grander by Kobold standards. Ustral emerged from her hut aided with a long staff. She eyed Nox and shouted out, I know you you're the one that lost Kaltrix. Nox clearly embarrassed began to question her on many topics. He asked to Ustral why she and had the Kobolds had fled? She said the citadel was basically left open and empty after a dragon escaped. She, added there is talk of some underworld presence that had come to claim certain areas. His next question was about where the goblins are? The third question was about a trader called Bellak the grower and seller of the forbidden fruit. The last ones was an inquiry about some lost adventurers. Ustral had no new information beyond what Nox already knew. She had fled the same day his adventuring team left for Sanctus. According to Nox much had changed in the 7 months since he had last ventured there. With the blessing of Ustral we decided it was time to go. The leader of the guard Zarshed was ordered to escort us to the citadel. Heading in a northwest direction we came upon a large ravine.This is where Zarshed parted company clearly scared to venture further. There was a thick rope hanging from a large tree. It that allowed us to descend into the river gorge. A second rope hung on the other side of the gorge allowing us to ascend. We followed along a hunting trail about a mile until we came to a large watchtower. The ruin was abandoned long ago. It was the landmark Nox was looking for. As we approached the tower we noticed that it sat on side of a large seemingly bottomless gorge. We walked along the edge of the gorge for nearly a mile until we came to a stone pillar. The stone pillar marked the beginning of a large stairwell down into the gorge. Although the stairwell collapsed eons ago there was a rope tethered to it. We descended the rope until we reached a large landing. Once on the landing we descended 2 dozen flights of stairs until we reached the opening gate of the citadel. The entrance to the citadel was indeed left open. It appeared there was a large pit trap at the opening. The trap was sprung and covered over with large planks. Nox embarrassed, admitted the trap had been activated the last time he visited the citadel. We ventured in determined to locate the dragon door. The first door on the left opened into a long hallway. At the opposite end of the hall we came to another large door. The second door had a huge dragon carving over the archway. This must be the dragon door. Nox produced a dragon key he gained as a reward from the Kobolds. With a click of the lock the door opened as did we peered inside. A long hallway lay in front of us. This hallway had a dozen niches carved into the stone walls. The last niche on the right contained a glowing crystal orb. Sualiwag decided to pocket the orbs. When he lifted it I was suddenly confronted by the feeling of something fiendish or undead. We search the left niche at the end of the Hall. Although I could detect the presence of a fiend he was not visible. We called out and tried to make contact. You there, we know your present. If you don't reveal yourself now, we will bring you to your end. The fiend replied back, there is no cause for alarm. He stated he was locked in this room. The fiend added I wish to go on my way, there is no need to fight. We determined he wasn’t a threat but I maintained a watchful presence on him. At the end of this grand Hall there was another doorway. We successfully forced open the door. This doorway opened into a chamber. The interior of the chamber was empty except for a large red marble dragon statue and a large stone sarcophagus. Determined to open the tomb my fellow paladin and I pushed with brute strength. We were able to push the lid open. We peered inside, a large dead creature with the robes of a priest was contained within the sarcophagus. No sooner did we open it when that sense of the undead struck me. I knew this creature was my enemy. The huge vampire priest rose and attacked. Sualiwg stood away from the action and cast a spell aiding Nox and I. The creature arose and attacked. His second strike grazed my shoulder. Nox and I immediately struck back. I used my pike and Nox swung his sword and we quickly overwhelmed the beast. Striking several blows we achieved a overkill leaving him in a new state of dead, deader, deadest, deathness. The beast was vanquished and sent home for the judgement of his gods. We proceeded to inspect the room, searching for any treasure. With further investigation of the tomb, brushing away centuries of dust revealed a inscription. It read “He who lay here do so with honor to protect what has passed to the beyond”. Detailed inspection of the sarcophagus revealed a false floor. Again, Nox and I using our combined strength and pulled up the false floor. Below there was a narrow chamber. The chamber that opened into a narrow tunnel no greater than 4' tall. We let Sualiwag go 1st as he was clearly the one best suited for these small spaces. He quickly scurried off. I entered next and crawled on hands and knees. I had a chuckle watching Nox trying to squeeze his rather large orcish ass through the passageway. The two large paladins followed this tiny half man. The tunnel continued for approximately 100 yards until it opened again into a another small chamber. We came to a trapdoor in the ceiling of the of the second chamber. Pushing the door open we came to what appeared to be a temple. This inner shrine contained more script that identified it as the burial place for a priest who's body had long since gone. We walked about the room and only detected the presence of that familiar fiend who followed us from the long Hall. I was inspecting the tomb and detected a loose mortar joint within a large stone wall. Nox used great force and all his strength to dislodge a stone. Then a large section of the wall appeared to move before him. A door in the wall opened and I was grateful for alternative exit. We were relieved to be out of the temple. During the walk back to the Kobold camp it was decided this tomb might be a good stronghold for Ustral to regain her Kingdom. We will return to clear the rest of the citadel. Until then, Ustral can secure a small place for the Kobold to return. We decided to head back to camp to collect our bounty. Once in camp we told Ustral about the Chamber and the security it would provide her. She thanked us, saying if we return again to aid her she would reward our efforts.
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AuthorThe journal entries here are provided by the active player characters participating in the Detroit Marches. Archives
July 2018
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