We open in our favourite Tavern, our party gathered around a table, tankards of Ale lubricate the conversation as they discuss their next move. The Council presented a number of options before them and talk turns towards a return to the rubble that was Skyreach Castle, in search of Rezmir's Dragon Mask. This seems to be a likely course of action until Finn pipes up and reminds the group of their complete failure to locate a missing backpack in a wide open space and that it is therefore extremely unlikely that they will be able to locate a small mask, in the midst of a mountain of rubble of a once flying castle, on the side of a freezing cold mountain. This seems to have the desired affect on the remainder of the group and they agree to pursue a warmer lead instead. Finn sits back with a look of relief, knowing that the majority of his own reasons for not returning to Skyreach's remains, was that the snow was rather deep and his legs are rather short and no man wants to be constantly teabaging the arctic tundra if he can help it.
As they settle back in their chairs a Waterdeep Guard enters the establishment and hands them a scroll granting them all special investigative powers in their search for the Dragon masks and the end of the Cult of the Dragon. Beef notices a Small Urchin Boy in the doorway and makes his way over to him. Bending over, the boy whispers in Beef's ear that he knows that he is looking for information on the whereabouts of Noska Ur'Gray and that, for a small fee, he will happily seek him out. Beef tosses him a gold piece and tells him to be careful as the boy scuttles out into the bustling streets.
Returning to the huddled party they discuss the other leads in their investigation and settle on pursuing Varran the White (although he may well be wearing robes of a different colour). They gather their things and head off to where their winged transport has been housed these past few days. Entering the stables and walking towards their mounts they notice a lot of relieved expressions on the faces of the stable hands. It seems they are pleased that their duties will now return to the care of less dangerous modes of transportation. Farraine and Finn leap into the saddle of their Wyvern, Beef and Lucien taking the reigns of their beasts they hear Sigrid utter the immortal words "I'm good at animal handling" as she approaches the Wyvern that once was ridden by Byron. They all turn to watch the inevitable failure and are a little disappointed when the Druid deftly settles in the saddle and pats the neck of the creature. It looks like their new companion is going to be very different to their previous experiences with Byron. A sense of minor disappointment passes on their faces as they take to the skies in the direction of Boareskyr Bridge.
Soaring onwards to mortal danger our intrepid heroes have a relatively uneventful journey to their destination, although on more than one occasion they do happen to notice the odd dragon shaped shadow moving amongst the clouds above. Fortunately they either do not see them or are not interested in them enough to investigate further.
After a number of days travel they finally reach Boareskyr Bridge and land near a tented town, where once again some rather reluctant stable hands are tasked with the upkeep of their Wyverns. With an alcoholics nose for inebriation they head immediately to the tented Tavern and Finn, like a compass attracted to the North, immediately makes a beeline for the barmaid and engages charm mode to extract information that may prove invaluable to their quest to find Varram. The Halfling's silver tongue works it's magic and he returns with a bounty of useful information that he conveys to the party that the next leg of the journey lies some 60 miles to the north east amongst The Serpent Hills. They finish their drinks and head off in search of Varran the White.
Nearing their destination the party notice a series of abandoned and ransacked tents close to the nearby cliff face and proceed to investigate further. Not wishing to stumble into a sticky situation as they have done in the past Binky the recurring Tressym, under Finn's guidance scouts ahead and for once has some animal company in the form of a wild shaped Sigrid. A couple of large statues appear to be guarding an obvious entry into the dungeon where a ladder lies propped against the cliff, leading up to a high ledge and a door. The two of them return to the party and give the all clear to the others. In ultimate Scooby Doo fashion, the group split up and look for clues, after all, front doors are not always the best way to enter an unknown castle or stronghold. They search the abandoned camp until Beef finally spies a crack in the lower wall behind the tents and Binky is once again called into action to investigate further. Binky's search is in vain as it appears the way forward is not only too small for our warriors to use, but there is also a window at the other end baring entry to the room on the other side. Alas it appears that on this occasion the front door is the best door, and the party make their way reluctantly to the ladder at the foot of the cliff. As Beef walks passed the statues there is the sound of grinding stone as they turn to face him and make a truly unforgettable speech, Beef replies that he is a seeker of knowledge and further instructions are given.
Climbing the ladder our heroes are greeted with a large foreboding door, which they wisely check for traps before opening and walking through. Finding themselves in a large room with a mosaic on the floor of a frighteningly fierce looking chimera, Beef walks towards a door on the other side of the room where the word SAFE has been etched in chalk. There's an ominous sound as the mosaic begins to move and the Chimera transforms into the third dimension and battle begins. Unleashing it's first attack the majority of the party manage to dodge the ferocious attack of the beast but alas Sigrid takes the attacks full force and is immediately knocked to the ground and lies unconscious. Beef swiftly reacts and sends a hellish rebuke at the winged creature hitting it squarely in the torso, it howls in pain. He then goes to his trusted Eldritch Blast and predictably misses both of his shots. As the bard stands cursing his fingers Finn steps forward and with powers anew send a sickening ray at the creature, inflicting a critical amount of damage in his single shot before once more retreating to the shadows. Lucien follows up with another attack, again causing massive damage to the monster before taking heed from past experiences and retreating behind cover. Farraine enters the fray and unleashes a flurry of attacks, striking blow after blow on the creatures hardened porcelain skin. With the Chimera distracted Finn leaps from the shadows and unsheathes his new poison dagger jumping up onto its neck he plunges the blade deep into its pottery flesh and it crumbles beneath him in a pile of tiles.
Beast slain the party gather their thoughts and for the first time notice that Sigrid is lying in a heap on the floor. Beef rushes over and helps the Druid up, in her first encounter with her new friends this was probably not the first impression she was hoping to make. Moving through the SAFE doorway the party tend their wounds and emerge in a room containing a well, a bucket and a basin perched on a ledge on one side of the room. Beef once again takes the lead and promptly sends the bucket down the well to collect some water which he then tips into the basin before pulling on a lever on the far side of the room. There is an ominous gurgling sound as the water drains from the basin, the party wait in anticipation as the sound slowly fades, eyes darting this way and that, alert to any danger that may be forthcoming. Alas, nothing appears to happen so they retreat back into the other room where another doorway presents itself. The doorway bulges ominously. Finn announces that he has a cunning plan, using his newly acquired grappling hook the party ascend to the balcony opposite the door waiting for the halflings next move in what they hope is relative safety. Casting the hook toward the door, Finn tugs with all his might, the door bursts open and a mountain of rubble cascades outwards over where our heroes would have been standing. With a wry smile Finn bids his friends to make their way back down.
Despite the doors now being open, their way remains barred by the rocks that cascaded down and so they begin to make their way down a corridor. Beef leads the way in an unfortunately brash manner, stepping on a seemingly innocent tile he hears a click and a massive boulder of skulls and bones tumbles towards him. He sprints down the corridor but is unable to out run the rolling terror and it smashes into his back in a cloud of ivory. Beef is shaken but not mortally wounded and as he applies some much needed bandages the rest of the party cautiously walk down the corridor to join him.
Sigrid and Finn find a door leading into a dusty and dishevelled library, it appears thieves may have been here some time ago as books and scrolls litter the floor. All of a sudden a ghostly apparition appears before Sigrid and asks for aid in retrieving Diderius's stolen scrolls. Sigrid agrees and she and Finn return to the remainder of the party as they spy yet another door ahead. Entering another mysterious room they are confronted with another large stone statue. It appears the group must place an offering at the foot of the stone giant before they are granted further access to ruins. Laying some silver coins amongst the historic offerings of others a door off to the side clicks open and a series of stairs are revealed. Finn sends Binky off ahead, the stairway opens into a large room with a group of 6 Serpent-like beast stood behind a table at the far end of the room. As the party members prepare for another battle Beef decides that he will use his secret weapon...words, and he climbs the stairs, enters the room and simply bids the creatures a friendly hello.
To the party's surprise this seems to work and the creatures explain that they have no problem with the group continuing through the door behind them, they have merely been given instruction to kill whatever comes out of the room on the opposite side. Beef, despite his encounters with the bone ball and all of the other traps the group have so far encountered, walks up the stairs and opens the door, figuring that if something does come hurtling out, these creatures will at least be on his side. His plan works, kind of, because nothing comes out of the room. Moving back into the room the party walk behind the creatures and open the door behind them walking through and into yet another room. Here they notice a large pool at the western end and a tomb towards the back. Inspecting the tomb further the group hear a strange voice speak the words "Yuan-ti have taken the one called Varran beyond their portal in the northern wall. Be prepared, for I shall open the way to peril."
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