After receiving daily updates saying, "The smelters are at work. They will find the truth." on the morning of the 20th they were brought out of their cells to meet Idnerth and another dwarf of noble bearing with a familial resemblance, Idnerth’s well-dressed cousin, Gurhyr.
"You are to be released,” they said. “The Shining Axes will muster. But you must leave the Holdfast- immediately." They released the Daring Friends from their cells and escorted them out of the Hold. “Idnerth, what of the traitorous shifter Miha?” Balthasar asked. “Any news or developments of the Red Hand?” "When the Zadkgrda led our Hkzahl to apprehend my fa—the Mnhrskrazi, it had already left. It had left behind the Durzha I had seen, a speaking stone. It is paired to the one we found on the.. sisters in the crypt." Gurhyr, smaller but more outgoing than his cousin, spoke up, "The Dokaz tell us that the horde nears your town of Talar. It grinds slowly, like bolguz along a debaz, but it is equally unstoppable." He smiles at Idnerth, who seems in dour spirits. "All things move, the cracks open way to new jar'akh." Idnerth shot him a look, saying "Best the cracks not open too wide for strak ja'ada." "Ah cousin, you are grag... Yet you bring d'harak as zadkgrda- they know not the Kruk." Once they left the Dwarven Holds, Camwise cast Sending to Teyna the Lion of Brindol, and learned that the eggs were safe. Dameron cast Sending to Kagdwynn: “Just leaving Dwarf Holds now. The problem has been resolved and the Shining Axes are mustering. Heading to Brindol now. Where are you?” Kagdwynn replied: “We heard of your plight. Gave advice for Holdfast Council, what little it meant. Headed south road, east, through Hillwatch and Prosser.” Cawise cast scrying on Ulwai, learning that she was riding some sort of scaly blue creature in the midst of a horde of hobgoblins, goblins, and bugbears. She was writing a dirge about a cunning and fierce goblin. That night the Daring Friends camped in the outposts outside the North Hold. The next morning, Camwise cast Scrying on Lyrk, learning that he was waiting with half a dozen other goblins to in ambush a large beast. Camwise cast Sending to Lyrk: “This is Camwise, your patron. Slay the best! I will come to join you.” That night the Daring Friends camped on the road to Talar and Dauth. On the morning of July 22, Dameron awoke with a jerk and recited the words of a Premonition he had of a village at night with flames flickered when growling words said, “Then the night-demon, The old dragon, discovered the hoard-joy Unguarded, unprotected, a worm’s want. The serpent stole in, the furious flamer Who seeks barrows, the naked slayer Who flies by night, sheathed in fire. Earth-dwellers desperately dread this dragon, Who guards heathen gold in earth for eons. His unused gifts bring him no good.” Scarred scales from bloodied past are veiled by belighted jewels upon her chest. She is the devourer, and she flies for Doom.” It was a rainy evening when the Daring Friends saw the flickering flames from Dauth ahead. They heard screams of terror coming from town. As they rushed to the town, Camwise cast Clairvoyance and saw three villagers bound in a small enclosure guarded by an ogre and a hobgoblin. Entering the town, Gruffudd cast Pass Without Trace and the Daring Friends quietly approached the raiders and their prisoners. A horn blew and the hobgoblins spotted us. Dameron was hit by four arrows from the back. Camwise with hit with an arrow. A Redspawn Firebelcher emerged from a burning building and belched fire at Balthasar. Camwise cast Slow on the enemies. Balthasar slashed into the Firebelcher, stunning it. Gruffudd cast Call Lightning, blasting a sharpshooter. A hobgoblin blade bearer engaged Dameron, trading blows. Jaervellios hit a sharpshooter with his dancing saber. Dameron blasted the Bladebearer, Belcher, and the ogre with a Lightning Bolt. Sharpshooters hit Balthasar and Gruffudd with arrows. Camwise cast Thunderbolt on the Bladebearer, Belcher, and a sharpshooter. Balthasar slashed into the Belcher, stunning it again. Gruffudd used Call Lightning to blast the Bladebearer and kill the Belcher, which exploded into Balthasar and Dameron and killed a nearby sharpshooter. The captain hit Dameron with a javelin. Jaervellios dropped a sharpshooter. Dameron engaged the ogre and blasted it with a Lightning Bolt along with the captain and the squad. Sharpshooters hit Jaervellios with four arrows. Camwise hit a sharpshooter with Vampiric Touch, healing Jaervellios and Warding himself. Advancing, Balthasar slashed into the captain. Gruffudd hit a sharpshooter with Call Lightning and cast Healing Word on Jaervellios. The squad emerged from the building and smashed Gruffudd. Dameron healed his companions with Mass Cure Wounds. A sharpshooter hit Gruffudd with an arrow. Camwise hit the squad with a Fireball and hid inside a nearby building. Balthasar cut down the captain and engaged the bloodied squad. Gruffudd hit the squad with Thunderwave as they smashed into him. Jaervellios hit the squad with arrows. Dameron hit the last sharpshooter with a Scorching Ray from his Circlet of Blasting. The sharpshooter fired a flaming arrow into the air and hit Gruffudd with another. Balthasar slashed into the squad, leaving only four hobgoblins standing, which Gruffudd blasted to pieces with Thunderwave. Jaervellios dropped the sharpshooter with an arrow. Gruffudd cast Mass Cure Wounds while Dameron and Camwise tried to rescue the prisoners. Sensing how terrified they were, Camwise cast Detect Thoughts. He determined that a dragon had been there, terrifying them. As the dragon’s wings became audible, the source of their fear became apparent. The Daring Friends took cover and prepared themselves. While Balthasar waited for the huge creature to land, Camwise cast Slow, rattling the dragon. Dameron positioned his Spiritual Weapon. From cover within a house, Jaervellios shot the dragon with an arrow. Abyxrla breathed fire and Blathasar, Camwise, and Jaervellios, and released a terrifying roar. Having climbed to a roof, Balthasar leaped off, tried to use his Gaze of Conviction on Abyxrla, and threw spears toward the dragon, but they were magical spears he had taken from the Ghostlord and they halted in mid-air, transformed into spectral wraiths and flew at Balthasar! Camwise used Slow on the dragon, who slowly flew up, and moved north to join Dameron. Dameron hit the dragon with a Lightning Bolt and withdrew farther north. The Spear Wraiths swarmed around Balthasar and stabbed him. Gruffudd used Call Lightning to blast the dragon. Abyxrla cast Wall of Fire around Balthasar, Camwise, and Dameron. Shouting to the villagers to flee, Balthasar destroyed a Spear Wraith and slashed into the second. Camwise cast Arcana Eye to search for a place to hide or escape, pointing out nearby cellars. Abyxrla flew above the clouds, spitting fire from above. Moving toward a cellar, Dameron cast Chill Shield on himself. Gruffudd opened his Eversmoking Bottle, and everyone looked for a place to hide and escape. It was quiet save for the occasional beating of wings and collapsing buildings. After half an hour, Camwise saw her fly away with his Arcana Eye. The Daring Friends—along with the three survivors—hunkered down for the night.
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