WEISSMACH LETTER #8
Town of Belneftekhim, Barony of Javam, Regan/Nevskia border
To His Lordship, the Viscount Wilfrick of Verbobonc,
We left our friendly farmers and continued north along the "Far Road," the last north-south artery before hitting the plains of Galmar.
Except we forgot the Plains of Galmar aren't filled with barbarians on horseback, ready to sack, pillage, and salt the fields of every town in civilized society.
Sometimes the dwarves and elves hate us too.
Some elves have a desire to stay near the icy wastelands of North. The name Wyrmnalians call their far north elves literally translates to "Snow Elves." And perhaps the "greatest" elven nation wisely stays in the taiga far north of the plains: Ilvabight.
Although, to live that close to the Galmar, I would surmise they are far more treacherous than the Agenmoor elves.
Somewhere within the vast, endless plains is the towering Citadel of Khurin Azur, a dwarven nation that withstands the barbarians by living vertically. The citadel's walls are close to impenetrable, and the internal buildings tower many stories, but as the dwarven population grows, it turns to its diggers to expand the nation downward and only then possibly outward.
But not all dwarves stay within the safe confines of the walls and tunnels of the Citadel. The human lands of the Weissmach are rich in ores and gems and the Purvmone are too simple scratching out a basic existence to tack advantage of the spoils of nature. Bands of dwarves leave the Citadel and strike it out on their own, mining prime locations, processing the ore, and making the dangerous journey back to Khurin Azur.
The Dwarves of Warka were such a group.
Upon reaching the town of Belneftekhim, our cleric, Celeste, asked us to make a side trek to follow up on a location that witnessed first hand the terrible nature of the elf Talanth Blackash and his marauding group of companions.
Right in the high hills bordering Regan and Nevskia was the dwarven mining town of Warka. Despite a desire to control the mines, the Baron of Javam could never assemble a force tough enough to conquer the 450 dwarves that settled there.
However, upon walking into the half-ruined remains of the town on our first visit, something in the area certainly was strong enough.
Celeste explained that this was yet another town that had recruited Blackash and his crew (including her), to help them with problem. Blackash took half the gold up front from town leader Karlis Blitzener, investigated part of the caverns, and then hastily split with their half-payment and any treasure acquired.
Celeste was despondent by the shape of the town. Like I mentioned previously, Warka was a town of sturdy houses that could hold 450 dwarves. Now what ruins remained protected barely 200.
Karlis Blitzener was still leader of the operation, but the state of affairs had him distracted, or at least distracted enough not to recognize Celeste. He admitted to hiring "some damn elf" and some humans to help clear out a particularly difficult part of the mine, but they ran off right after the started exploring. Perhaps they were the smart ones, because over the following week, large groups of miners, guards, and regular townsfolk were either struck dumb, or began to riot in the streets. Dozens were trampled by their fellow townsfolk, others fled in fear. Karlis could only suspect some strange pocket of mining gas created the pandemonium.
The surviving miners refused to go back into the mine, and the rest of the town had decided eventually to pack up and find a new area to build... but our group was welcome to investigate the mine (for free), so long as we didn't unleash any more of the "panic gas."
The particular mine in question wasn't a finished project of dwarven engineering like I had suspected. Rather, it was one that had been recently uncovered and still being explored and surveyed when trouble struck. Morag was happy to explain the difference between stalactites and stalagmites, but I still fail to see the difference. They're just rock formation the dwarves never had a chance to mine for the crystals hiding within.
Blackash, Celeste, and the minions appeared to have done a fine job clearing out numerous caverns, ransacking whatever treasure was there, and leaving whatever was worthless on the ground.
Outside of a strange encounters with stalactite/stalagmite looking creatures whose only meaning in life was to fall from the cavern roof and attempt to impale us, there was little to worry about except our footing.
Until I reached the last cavern... or so I will call it, for I will never venture into that area and into whatever lies beyond.
Oddly taking the point for once, I worked my way through a tunnel, torch in my hand, until it emptied into a huge cavern.
Inside was an impressive pile of coins on the floor. Atop that was not one, but TWO DRAGONS! Not just two silvery dragons, but three of their recently hatched younglings playing on the parents like puppies on their mother.
I've been told afterwards that I may have had a chance to parlay with them, but my first thought of dealing with a pair of full-sized dragons protective of their young was to immediately turn around. The others saw my face and followed suit. I waited until we arrived back in Warka to tell them what I saw.
Karlis was almost relieved to hear of a dragon, much less a family of them. He assured us the dragons meant no harm, or else dwarves would have been disappearing to feed the young. As dwarves live two or three times as long as a human, he felt it best to block off the cavern for now and send scouts out occasionally to see when the dragons would leave. He assumed at least the parents or the offspring would fly away, if not both and dwarves could start mining in that area again.
For our troubles, Karlis let us stay for a week, re-provisioned us, and provided a few dwarven trinkets as tokens of appreciation. Andrei was particularly smitten with the bone scroll cases with felt-lined hidden compartments for gems.
Having finally reached Regan, we turn toward the setting sun, for a vile hub of crime and deception, the last known location for Talanth Blackash:
The Free City of Nokasit... or Nauzlanti to the natives.
Yours in Service,
Elsderth Greyhawk
Sage of the The Order of Merit, Former Sellsword - Extraordinaire
Wielder of the Legendary Betrayer.
Freigraff of the Totenlinden of Amberstoll
Certainly NOT a Dragonslayer
DM Notes: Dungeon #16 is back again with the Dwarves of Warka. This one I know the party participated in, did not parlay with the electrum dragons and decided to escape, leaving an antagonized pair of dragons to leave their wrath on the town. Their enfeeblement and confusion abilities would be enough to send the town into a minor frenzy. Two well placed fireballs set the town into a panic, with no one questioning some oddly placed scorched marks.
Actions have consequences. Not finishing adventures agitate whatever foes are left and NPCs are forced to suffer.
Next: #31 The Gran Duchy of Regan
Town of Belneftekhim, Barony of Javam, Regan/Nevskia border
To His Lordship, the Viscount Wilfrick of Verbobonc,
We left our friendly farmers and continued north along the "Far Road," the last north-south artery before hitting the plains of Galmar.
Except we forgot the Plains of Galmar aren't filled with barbarians on horseback, ready to sack, pillage, and salt the fields of every town in civilized society.
Sometimes the dwarves and elves hate us too.
Some elves have a desire to stay near the icy wastelands of North. The name Wyrmnalians call their far north elves literally translates to "Snow Elves." And perhaps the "greatest" elven nation wisely stays in the taiga far north of the plains: Ilvabight.
Although, to live that close to the Galmar, I would surmise they are far more treacherous than the Agenmoor elves.
Somewhere within the vast, endless plains is the towering Citadel of Khurin Azur, a dwarven nation that withstands the barbarians by living vertically. The citadel's walls are close to impenetrable, and the internal buildings tower many stories, but as the dwarven population grows, it turns to its diggers to expand the nation downward and only then possibly outward.
But not all dwarves stay within the safe confines of the walls and tunnels of the Citadel. The human lands of the Weissmach are rich in ores and gems and the Purvmone are too simple scratching out a basic existence to tack advantage of the spoils of nature. Bands of dwarves leave the Citadel and strike it out on their own, mining prime locations, processing the ore, and making the dangerous journey back to Khurin Azur.
The Dwarves of Warka were such a group.
Upon reaching the town of Belneftekhim, our cleric, Celeste, asked us to make a side trek to follow up on a location that witnessed first hand the terrible nature of the elf Talanth Blackash and his marauding group of companions.
Right in the high hills bordering Regan and Nevskia was the dwarven mining town of Warka. Despite a desire to control the mines, the Baron of Javam could never assemble a force tough enough to conquer the 450 dwarves that settled there.
However, upon walking into the half-ruined remains of the town on our first visit, something in the area certainly was strong enough.
Celeste explained that this was yet another town that had recruited Blackash and his crew (including her), to help them with problem. Blackash took half the gold up front from town leader Karlis Blitzener, investigated part of the caverns, and then hastily split with their half-payment and any treasure acquired.
Celeste was despondent by the shape of the town. Like I mentioned previously, Warka was a town of sturdy houses that could hold 450 dwarves. Now what ruins remained protected barely 200.
Karlis Blitzener was still leader of the operation, but the state of affairs had him distracted, or at least distracted enough not to recognize Celeste. He admitted to hiring "some damn elf" and some humans to help clear out a particularly difficult part of the mine, but they ran off right after the started exploring. Perhaps they were the smart ones, because over the following week, large groups of miners, guards, and regular townsfolk were either struck dumb, or began to riot in the streets. Dozens were trampled by their fellow townsfolk, others fled in fear. Karlis could only suspect some strange pocket of mining gas created the pandemonium.
 |
| Karlis Blitzener |
The particular mine in question wasn't a finished project of dwarven engineering like I had suspected. Rather, it was one that had been recently uncovered and still being explored and surveyed when trouble struck. Morag was happy to explain the difference between stalactites and stalagmites, but I still fail to see the difference. They're just rock formation the dwarves never had a chance to mine for the crystals hiding within.
Blackash, Celeste, and the minions appeared to have done a fine job clearing out numerous caverns, ransacking whatever treasure was there, and leaving whatever was worthless on the ground.
Outside of a strange encounters with stalactite/stalagmite looking creatures whose only meaning in life was to fall from the cavern roof and attempt to impale us, there was little to worry about except our footing.
Until I reached the last cavern... or so I will call it, for I will never venture into that area and into whatever lies beyond.
Oddly taking the point for once, I worked my way through a tunnel, torch in my hand, until it emptied into a huge cavern.
Inside was an impressive pile of coins on the floor. Atop that was not one, but TWO DRAGONS! Not just two silvery dragons, but three of their recently hatched younglings playing on the parents like puppies on their mother.
I've been told afterwards that I may have had a chance to parlay with them, but my first thought of dealing with a pair of full-sized dragons protective of their young was to immediately turn around. The others saw my face and followed suit. I waited until we arrived back in Warka to tell them what I saw.
Karlis was almost relieved to hear of a dragon, much less a family of them. He assured us the dragons meant no harm, or else dwarves would have been disappearing to feed the young. As dwarves live two or three times as long as a human, he felt it best to block off the cavern for now and send scouts out occasionally to see when the dragons would leave. He assumed at least the parents or the offspring would fly away, if not both and dwarves could start mining in that area again.
For our troubles, Karlis let us stay for a week, re-provisioned us, and provided a few dwarven trinkets as tokens of appreciation. Andrei was particularly smitten with the bone scroll cases with felt-lined hidden compartments for gems.
Having finally reached Regan, we turn toward the setting sun, for a vile hub of crime and deception, the last known location for Talanth Blackash:
The Free City of Nokasit... or Nauzlanti to the natives.
Yours in Service,
Elsderth Greyhawk
Sage of the The Order of Merit, Former Sellsword - Extraordinaire
Wielder of the Legendary Betrayer.
Freigraff of the Totenlinden of Amberstoll
Certainly NOT a Dragonslayer
DM Notes: Dungeon #16 is back again with the Dwarves of Warka. This one I know the party participated in, did not parlay with the electrum dragons and decided to escape, leaving an antagonized pair of dragons to leave their wrath on the town. Their enfeeblement and confusion abilities would be enough to send the town into a minor frenzy. Two well placed fireballs set the town into a panic, with no one questioning some oddly placed scorched marks.
Actions have consequences. Not finishing adventures agitate whatever foes are left and NPCs are forced to suffer.
Next: #31 The Gran Duchy of Regan
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