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Cautious Adventurers, Welcoming Knights
Cautious Adventurers, Welcoming Knights
After excavating the graves, the party cautiously approached Feathergale Spire. Feathergale Spire rose from a pillar of rock high into the air, the tallest point for miles. Built from white limestone and embellished in marble, the spire resembled a gleaming sword, piercing the sky.
The gatehouse faced the opposite cliff, its drawbridge the only apparent point of entry. Tall, wide windows encompassed the bottom level of the tower, absent only upon the gatehouse side.
A circle of open stalls rung the tower's foundation where it met the rock. Above each stall, the sculpture of a hippogriff in flight leapt from the tower's base.
Beneath Feathergale Spire to the east, a wide gusty canyon yawned through the hills.
A gap of twenty feet seperated the ledge where the path ended from the closed drawbridge on Feathergale Spire. The space between the cliff's edge and the gatehouse dropped several hundred feet to the bottom of the canyon. Near the ledge, a brass bell hung from a wooden post. LiKi yanked on the bell's chain, sending a high, clear note across the chasm.
A small window near the gate opened up, and a smiling woman dressed in gleaming armor called out, "Welcome to Feathergale Spire. How can we assist you?"
The party told her that they were looking into strange phenomenon in the Sumber Hills, and that they might have information she would be interested to hear. "Then you need to talk to Thurl, the lord commander of my order. Please, come in. But be careful! That is quite a drop, as you can see." The drawbridge slowly lowered, chains rattling and creaking, and the party walked cautiously into Feathergale Spire and were led by Savra up the central stairs.
At the apex of the tower, the stairs terminated at a round stone gazebo that continued upward in a needle-like minaret. Beyond this enclosure, a small lawn grew upon the top of the tower. Four paths paved with white stones pointed in the directions of the compass, each path ending in a pointed stone crenellation. At the pinnacle's edge the party saw a spyglass on a tripod, pointed downward. This drew our bard Leopold's attention.
The party meets two new characters
The party meets two new characters
The cheerful knight, Savra Belabranta welcomed the party and escorted them through the front entrance hall and up the central stairs to the Pinnacle of Feathergale Spire.
Thurl Merosska
Atop the tower, they made the acquaintance of Thurl Merosska. The commander of the Feathergale Knights is a well-built human male in his early fifties. Embossed feather patterns ornamented the plates of his armor, and his kingly cloak boasted a feathered mantle. He smoothed his white-blond hair into place, then bowed low before the party as if he were only a lowly courtier.
"Welcome to Feathergale Spire, retreat of the Feathergale Society. I am Thurl Merosska, the lord commander.
Recognizing Kahntun's affluent bearing he showed respect for his fellow noble. Kahntun informed Thurl that he was in fact heir to the Marquee of Vassa. Thurl mentioned that he fought alongside Kahntun's grandfather during the siege of Castle Perilous and that the heir of Belorch the mighty would always find a welcome with the Feathergale Society. However, he warned Kahntun that he should expect some level of prejudice from the more provincial inhabitants of the Dessarin Valley. "Old hatreds die slowly in formerly besieged lands."
Seeing the subtle pin worn by both Kahntun and Alexander, Thurl added, "and I see I also have the honor of being in the company of two brave members of the Order of the Gauntlet, an important organization to be sure. Welcome, welcome all!"
As the party spoke with Thurl, one Feathergale Knight patrolled the skies on a giant vulture, and another stalked around the grassy areas surrounding the gazebo.
LiKi and Leopold questioned the commander, trying to be subtle and keep their business their own. Thurl answered their questions earnestly, and the party learned the following information:
- The Feathergale Society is an elite group of aerial-mount enthusiasts from Waterdeep. They use the spire to escape the tedious intrigue and plotting at court.
- They are doing their duty for the realm and keep a close watch over Red Larch.
- They enjoy hunting and hawking.
- They are expert riders of hippogriffs, giant vultures, and other aerial mounts.
- They also learned quite a bit of history (see below).
When asked who built the impressive Feathergale Spire, Thurl mentioned that it was one of four "haunted keeps" in the Sumber Hills, remains from former civilizations. Then, as Thurl and her friends listened on, LiKi made use of her considerable store of knowledge, contributing the following information:
A History Lesson
A History Lesson
The Dwarven kingdom of Besilmer
Most people who live in the Dessarin Valley have no idea of its long history. Old-timers nodding sagely by the hearths of the local taprooms sometimes observe, "These lands, they have old bones." Most locals have no idea of how right they are.
Some truly ancient ruins in this area go back to the days of the first great elf kingdom. The earliest realm with known ruins is the shield dwarf kingdom of Besilmer, which was founded nearly six thousand years ago in -4430 Dalereckoning (DR). Its existence is so far back in the mists of history that only a handful of non-dwarf sages (and nerds like LiKi) have even heard of it. Most people of the Dessarin Valley don't know of Besilmer at all, but they are familiar with two of its works: the engineering marvel known as the Stone Bridge and the crumbling ruins known as the Halls of the Hunting Axe.
The realm of Besilmer was something rare: a dwarven kingdrom built on the surface, with its strength measured in fields and pastures. It prospered for a time, but was plagued by trolls and giants.
The underground city, Tyar-Besil
The dwarves were obliged to build a stronghold underground, carving out the fortress-city of Tyar-Besil a century after Besilmer's founding. Unfortunately for the dwarves, the realm collapsed after its king died in battle. Most of the surviving dwarves sought safer lands. The dwarven city beneath the Sumber Hills was abandoned by -4160 DR.
An artist's depiction of the orc raiding that has plagued the Dessarin Valley for thousands of years and which put an end to the Dwarvish Kingdom of Besilmer. In more recent times, orcs lead by the powerful Uruth Ukrypt have played a big part in the Orcfastings War, and both the First and Second Trollwars. Ukrypt's minions even held Waterdeep for a time, and destroyed the Mine of Phandelver.
The Knights of the Silver Horn
Tyar-Besil slumbered in darkness for many long centuries, occasionally discovered and occupied by monsters or ambitious miners, only to be abandoned again. It came to light again in 893 DR, when a group of adventurers who called themselves the Knights of the Silver Horn discovered the ruins. Over the next six years they returned again and again, eventually founding strongholds of their own to safeguard the hidden entrances to the sprawling dungeon.
The knights had some success in clearing small domains in the wild Sumber Hills, but only a few years later the powerful Uruth Ukrypt arose nearby, and the Dessarin Valley became a battlefield once again. Trouble followed trouble, and by the year 942, human settlements in the Dessarin Valley had been all but wiped out, and the Knights of the Silver Horn were no more. Their strongholds crumbled into ruin and became known in later years as the "Haunted Keeps."
The current wave of settlement in and around the Dessarin Valley began after 1000 DR (almost 500 years ago), coniciding with Waterdeep's growth from a warlord's stronghold into a major city. The first small outposts that woudl grow into places such as Red Larch and Triboar were carved out of a wild and untamed land. People resettling the Dessarin Valley found the remains of the "kingdoms of old" scattered here and there throughout the area. One of which is the reclaimed Feathergale Spire, which brings us back to the events at hand.
A Feast and a Call to Arms!
A Feast and a Call to Arms!
Thurl listened attentively to LiKi's recounting of history. It was obvious that much of this was unknown to the old lord commander. He complimented our gnome for the depth of her knowledge of history, adding "it appears that there is more than meets the eye in this prodigious party. It is an honor to make your acquaintances."
The party was feeling more comfortable with Thurl, so they asked him about the dead soldier they found with feathers attached to his cloak. Thurl claimed that he knew one of his knights, Areebus Cual, was overdue, but was hoping that his fellow nobleman was just attending to matters elsewhere. He shook his head sadly. "It doesn't surprise me. Great evil lurks among these hills. Depraved cultists led by wretched monsters. But let us speak of such matters after the feast has warmed our blood."
As they were about to begin their descent into the tower, Leopold asked Thurl if he could take a look through the spyglass at the pinnacle's edge." Thurl said he would definitely allow it in the future, but at the moment they were monitoring a situation in the valley and the device could not be disturbed. Leopold made a note of the fact that the spyglass was pointed down, toward the north-eastern edge of the valley.
The party attended a feast and got to brag about their heroism to a very attentive audience. Clad in the finest garments of velvet brocade, the knights feasted at a curved table in a great hall, where twin hearths blazed. Thurl Merosska sat the head of the table. "Honored guests, tell us of your adventures! Let us aid you in any way that we can!"
Several initiates attended to the guests at the feast, keeping utterly silent as they went about their duties.
Several loud, boastful (and increasingly intoxicated) knights grabbed handfuls of food from a myriad of platters. Apparently these noblemen and women were not above letting loose with new friends. Savra and Thurl were also in attendance at the feast.
At the feast, the following happened:
- The party drank.
- Toasts were made in honor of the guests.
- Many questions were asked. The knights wanted to know what great deeds our adventurers had accomplished.
- The party spoke of their deeds in and around Phandalin.
- The party spoke of their deeds in Red Larch, including the "Beleivers" conspiracy, the "Bringers of Woe," and the seeming manipulation by the earth cult priest, Larrakh.
- Leopold caught Thurl muttering to himself, "are they yet so bold? If they could infiltrate Red Larch . . ."
- Believing that actions spoke louder than words, LiKi brandished magical flame, sending it flying around the rafters and returning to her hand from whence it came. This display of power shocked and awed the knights in attendance.
- The knights drank.
- The party and the knights drank together.
- Leopold performed several songs (a flutist had recently departed their company and they were eager for entertainment).
- Kahntun asked if this bard was named Harold Greyspear by chance. Alexander noticed a few knights tensing up, but denied that it was.
- Leopold noticed this and asked what they knew. They ignored him, but seemed deep in thought.
- The party asked if they knew where any of the other keeps were located. The knights claimed that they did not.
- The knights claimed to know nothing of the missing caravan from Mirabar.
- The knights knew of no entrance or basement that would lead to the lost city of Tyar-Besil.
Suddenly the doors to the great hall flew open and a sentry from the pinnacle shouted, "Manticore! It's on the move!"
At this announcement, the Feathergale Knights rose as one, the feast before them unfinished.
"We should take this opportunity to slay the monster," Thurl exclaimed. From his finger he removed a feather-patterned, golden ring set with a garnet, and held it aloft, proclaiming "a prize for the one who brings me the beast's head!"
Hippogriff rides!
At this, the party was escorted to the base of the spire. A circular landing surrounded the central shaft of a spiral staircase. The landing was piled with supplies and bales of straw. Radiating from the landing were twelve stalls with straw-covered floors. A harness, riding crop, and saddle hung in each stall. Swinging wooden doors capped either end of each stall, one leading from the tower to the stall and the other from the stall to the open air.
LiKi squealed in delight. "They're so cute!! Can we ride them?" She was unable to maintain her typically stoic self in the face of this opportunity.
"Of course!" replied the knight whose duty it was to tend to the magnificent animals. He introduced each of the party members to their mount, gave a quick tutorial, assured them that the hippogriffs knew the the Sighing Valley well, and suggested that they let their mounts do all of the work. At this, they mounted their steeds and plunged into the air surrounding the tower, climbing to catch up with the four Feathergale Knights who, upon their own giant vulture mounts, were already in pursuit of the manticore.
By land or by air, engaging with the legendary manticore can be a deadly encounter.
Here's what happened in the fight:
- The party of Feathergale Knights found the manticore almost immediately.
- It turned to fight, injuring each of the knights who then fled.
- Kahntun and Leopold had some trouble getting into range of the beast.
- LiKi and Leopold punished it with magic: firebolts and magic missiles respectively.
- The manticore fired a tail spike, injuring LiKi's mount. She tried to steady the beast, but failed. Without her direction, the Hippogriff charged straight toward the manticore, enraged.
- As the knights, led by Sir Robin the brave, were running away, they witnessed LiKi unleash a massive fireball, inflicting terminal damage on the monster; what's more, her delicate spellcasting compelled the otherwise recklessly-spreading flames to avoid her allies completely.
- Kahntun and Leopold finally arrived and delivered slashing attacks that opened the badly-burned beast from collarbone to sternum. At this, it plummeted lifeless to the ground below, disappearing into the thick fog that blanketed the valley floor. The party flew beneath the fog in search of the fallen beast.
The party flew around for a bit, then located the remains of the fallen manticore near a high rocky plateau in the center of the canyon, along the northern banks of a river that cuts through the canyon bottom. The wind moving around the plateau keened and moaned, altering its pitch with the force and direction it took.
They landed and dismounted. Their mounts waited dutifully, but wearily. They seemed unsettled upon the valley floor. Leopold and LiKi went about removing the remaining massive talons on the manticore's forepaws. LiKi was able to obtain one and Leopold two pristine talons.
Alexander skillfully removed the beast's giant head, and stuffed it in a bag.
Suddenly Leopold was struck by an arrow fired by hidden attackers. He howled in pain. "What the fuck!?" Apparently they were not alone. They scanned the valley but were unable to determine where the arrows were coming from, even as others narrowly missed them.
They wisely scurried to their mounts and took flight, and returned to the stables at the base of Feathergale Spire.
A Secret Admission and a Farewell
A Secret Admission and a Farewell
The party entered the great hall triumphant, throwing their quarry's head upon the table. The knights all stood and applauded. Thurl removed his ring and reached out to Alexander. "No no! It would not be right. The dread powers of our Sorceress are responsible for this kill. I am continually reminded that LiKi is not to be fucked with!"
"So it would seem," Thurl Merosska added, handing the ring to our innocent looking forest gnome. The party partied some more and got pretty drunk celebrating with the knights, finally they retired to guest chambers on the third level of the spire. They rested. In the morning, LiKi was visited by Savra Belabantra, the cheerful knight who commanded the gatehouse. She was delighted with the character's deeds and confided in LiKi that the Feathergale Knights have a secret mission to master elemental air and annihilate Waterdeep's enemies. She offered to meet with Thurl to request he recruit them into the Feathergale Knights. "We grow in power every day and will soon reveal ourselves as the true protectors of the realm. He will make it so." LiKi assumed that "he" was Thurl and listened, carefully concealing her surprise (and misgivings) at this newly-emerged zeal. Savra told LiKi that a gang of pirates from another "haunted keep" had been agitating her society. If the party could dispatch these foes, Thurl would no doubt initiate them. Unfortunately she was unaware of where their hideout, Rivergard Keep was located, but suggested that the party ask around in Red Larch or other surrounding settlements. LiKi kept it to herself, but thought this "Rivergard Keep" might be a good lead to follow up on. Perhaps these "pirates" had something to do with the missing caravan of dwarvish nobility from Mirabar.
As they were making their farewells. Leopold suggested that since the animals seemed to like them so much that Thurl might gift the party four hippogriffs. But Thurl gracefully denied him. It made sense. The party knew nothing about caring for such animals and it takes considerable time, money, and effort to train them. It wouldn't be right to forsake the sizable investment the Feathergale Society has made in these animals. "But! I'll tell you what, you can borrow them! One of my knights will accompany you to wherever you choose and return with your borrowed mounts!" The party cheered. They descended to the stables and prepared for their trip. But before they left, Alexander checked the flooring on this bottom level. He thought he could discover an entrance to Tyar-Besil below, but was unsuccessful.
TLDR:
TLDR:
- The party met the Feathergale Society and exchanged info.
- They got to fly around on hippogriffs and slay a manticore.
- They were secretly asked to deal with "pirates" at Rivergard Keep in order to further prove themselves worthy of membership into the Feathergale Society.
- Nobody knows where Rivergard Keep is.
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