Session 30: "Be careful what you look for...." or "Well it's not a Womble burrow!"

 24^th day of Firemoot, Towerday

The group arrived in Phandalin mid-morning. They headed to the Stonehill Tavern but were amazed when told that all the rooms were taken. Daran Edermath said he could put the group up in his large barn, if they didn’t mind the chickens or the old rooster.

Sildar Hallwinter had left the following message with Daran Edermath for the group:

“The dragon that besets us is not the first to threaten this region. Between here and Neverwinter lies the barrow mound of a warrior whose magical dragon-slaying sword helped fell a green dragon terrorizing the High Road a century ago. Rumor has it the sword 'Dragon Slayer' is buried there too. Retrieve it, and let the sword be its own reward!”

25^th day of Firemoot, Wineday

Daran Edermath agreed to help Bandur with his training to parry with his weapon.

Today was a day for getting things done.

Fargrim and Bandur headed for the blacksmith to see if he could repair their damaged armour. He told them he couldn’t start for a few days as he had work on. The blacksmith would start to work on Fargrims’ chainmail on the 27^th.

26^th day of Firemoot, Thunderday

27^th day of Firemoot, Fireday

Blacksmith started work on Fargrims’ armour.

28^th day of Firemoot, Swordsday

29^th day of Firemoot. Saintsday

30^th day of Firemoot, Lastday

Fargrim collected his armour in the morning. Blacksmith started work on Bandur’s armour.

1^st day of Firewane, Moonday

2^nd day of Firewane, Towerday

Bandur collected his armour from the blacksmith at mid-day.

 3^rd day of Firewane, Wineday

4^th day of Firewane, Thunderday

5^th day of Firewane, Fireday

6^th day of Firewane, Swordsday

7^th day of Firewane, Saintsday

8^th day of Firewane, Moonday

Bandurs training came to an end.

Fargrim advocated to search out Dragon Barrow Hill and try and obtain the Dragon Sword of Lady Tanamere Alagondar, which may be valuable in fighting the White Dragon.

The group would split, Fargrim would lead, Ardan, Bandur, Brutus, Hagnulf and Uthal to find Dragon Barrow Hill. Daran believed it lay to the north of Phandalin between the road to Neverwinter and Neverwinter Woods. Dove, Heimund and Lionel would remain in Phandalin gathering more information and training.

9^th day of Firewane, Towerday

Fargrim, mounted on Skane, lead the other 5 from Phandalin in search of Dragon Barrow Hill.

10^th day of Firewane, Wineday

An uneventful day.

11^th day of Firewane, Thunderday

After a quiet night of rest, the group approached a large hill, roughly some 30ft high. They could observe large stones, 7 in all, standing atop the hill. As they approached Hagnulf shouted a warning as a Centaur approached, hands raised.  

“Greetings, I mean no harm. My name is Xanth. Who leads here?” The Centaur spoke in a firm voice.

“I speak for the group, what do you want?” Fargrim addressed the Centaur.

“Then I give fair warning. I have observed ghostly glimmering lights atop the hill, mostly at night. However, I have need of aid. Orcs led by half Orc Shaman are gathering in the woods of Neverwinter. I have need of assistance in clearing them out. They are based around a place called the Circle of Thunder”.

“At present we are in search of something else. That said, we would be glad to give you assistance in the near future.”

“Then I will bid you farewell. Seek me out at Falcons Hunting Lodge, I am there or near abouts mostly.”

“We will try and get there as soon as we can”. Fargrim replied.

With that the Centaur waved and departed back towards Neverwinter Woods.

The group returned to the task at hand. Ardan brought forth his familiar, flying high he observed through its eyes that the hill was in the shape of a huge dragon. The standing stones like its backbone. However, the Owl would not fly directly over the hill and refused to do so. Splitting up they searched around where the ‘head’ of the hill was. Hagnulf couted around the base of the hill. Bandur and Brutus moved up the right-hand side of the stones. Ardan stood off to one side of the hill. Fargim rode Skane to the top.

Bandur swung round, Brutus had disappeared. Searching around he fell, crying out. Fargrim moved to that side of the stones. He saw nothing. Ardan came running up the hill. Fargrim dismounted and looked around before he too fell and disappeared. Uthal now there found a depression in the grass, tied a rope around the stones and jumped in, landing on stone steps that curled round and down. It was Ardan jumping into the hole that took Uthals feet from under him and they both bounced round and round coming to a halt at the bottom. Hagnulf descended carefully and assisted the others regaining their feet.

They were in a passage carved out of the rock. They headed east into a short passageway which gave out into two exits to the south. Uthal and Hagnulf entered the eastern entrance as Fargrim moved in behind. Brutus and Bandur entered by the western entrance.

Uthal and Hagnulf were struck by a Gelatinous Cube monster, Uthal becoming engulfed as Hagnulf dodged backwards. Fargrim let fly and arrow. 

Hagnulf and Brutus moved towards a 2ft wide tunnel leading out of the west wall. Uthal using his barbarian/Goliath strength burst out of the cube and moved into one of the entrances. The group retired back towards the spiral staircase. Hagnulf and Brutus had entered another chamber. On the floor was the skeleton of a horse a rotting saddle nearby. Hagnulf moved to check around the horse skeleton to see if there were any saddle bags. As he reached down and touched the skeletal remains, they moved. Hagnulf stepped back. The bones gathered and rearranged themselves as the skeletal horse stood up. It moved forward and nuzzled Hagnulfs hand. He knew instantly he had formed a bond with the skeletal horse.

(TBC)