Upon exiting Wave Echo Cave, Count Alistair received a series of communications from Halia Thornton on behalf of the Zhentarim. He was glad to receive a welcome letter which alluded to many of the benefits now available to him, but more perplexed to receive three additional tasks, none of which he felt he could complete. Both Nezznar and Iarno were dead, so the capture orders for those two were impossible to fulfill. Alistair cast these aside and spent some time pondering the assassination order against Harbin Wester, townmaster of Phandalin. This was to be a test of his loyalty to the Zhentarim, something he could not simply ignore. It also carried an implied threat against his own life should be fail at the task.
Nobody was particularly interested in venturing to the depths of another cave so soon after escaping the last one. Lo Risten had often spoken of her desire to purify Thundertree. So, the group decided to make the long journey north to Lo Risten's former home. A great green dragon had taken up residence in the town, and she longed to prove herself a legend by slaying the mighty beast. The entire party was in high spirits after their many successes. Though tales of the might of dragons were clear, now was the time to grasp hold of fate. They would kill a dragon.
But first, as they traveled, the party was set upon by a wild owlbear, hootscreeching at them with pure bloodlust. Unprovoked it came, furiously charging out of the cover of the woods to slake its hunger on our heroes' blood. Alas, hearing its terrifying screech fill the sky, Lo Risten calmly drew her bow and nocked an arrow to take aim at the foolish creature. With lightning reflexes, she fired arrow after arrow into its stubborn hide, pegging the creature with sixteen cruelly accurate shots before the mighty beast dropped to the ground and moved no more. It never even made it to the road.
After this, the journey was uneventful. The group arrived in Thundertree, rested and prepared to test their combined might against the fabled strength of dragons. At Lo Risten's prompting, they made for the abandoned tower near the center of town where Lo Risten knew the dragon had taken its residence. The tower of Shulkith Traeban, a wizard she could never forget despite her age and the intervening years. It was he who had stayed behind to save the people of the town during the great calamity of Mount Hotenow's eruption. It was he who had ushered her own family to safety during the chaos. It was his memory now defiled by the dragon.
Without delay, preserving every ounce of their strength, the party moved swiftly and quietly to the tower, slipping into its attached cottage and making final preparations to rush the damnable beast. At Avina's command, Holly threw open the door to the tower and they all moved to rush in. They were unprepared for the searing acid blast that met their onslaught. Venomfang's dragon breath overwhelmed their party, instantly killing Lo Risten, Vilkas, and Seraphina. Count Alistair staggered back and Holly dove to protect the stumbling Avina as Venomfang reared his head to make his finishing blows. Just seconds before they all met their end, Count Alistair drew out The Fates and reversed their decision to open that door.
As Holly reached to open the door once more, Count Alistair sprang into action, pulling her hand away and frantically motioning for the party to remain silent. They stammered for a second as their forward momentum had been suddenly interrupted.
"Stop!" Count Alistair mouthed urgently. "We just died when we opened that door."
Lo Risten made a face at Alistair, motioning impatiently.
"I changed our death by using The Fates!" Count Alistair exclaimed in a strained whisper. "If you open that door, the dragon breath will destroy us!"
The entire party instinctively took a step back.
"We need a better plan."
"We should draw him out." Lo Risten suggested, motioning toward the exit door. According to what Count Alistair said, the dragon was just waiting for them to proceed. How long before the beast opened the door to the attached cottage itself and showered them with its deadly breath? Silently, they backed out of the cottage, choosing instead to take up positions around the tower. Seraphina moved to the northern edge and Lo Risten climbed a nearby tree. Vilkas grabbed Avina's arm and whispered in her ear.
"Aren't you an expert with masonry?"
"Yes." Avina replied, looking shocked and confused. Holly stood dutifully by.
"Tell me, is there a weak spot in the wall of this tower - some place where the structure may crumble if placed under pressure?"
Avina's eyes brightened at the thought and she turned to examine the stonework carefully. Count Alistair backed away a few spaces and watched for any movement from the tower. At last, Avina pointed to a section of the tower along its southwestern rim and about fifteen feet off the ground. Vilkas immediately snapped his fingers, causing a sphere of thunder to explode between the stones at the spot indicated. Rock and masonry flew from the impact, and a wide section of the tower collapsed open, yet the rest of the structure stood fast.
"Swift death to you who have wronged me."
Lo Risten's intonation was answered solemnly by her Oathbow with its customary "Swift defeat to my enemies" and immediately four volleys of arrows made a deadly arc over the rim of the tower. Venomfang roared within, thrashing about as each of the arrows found their mark.
Vilkas acted quickly, casting web into the tower and entangling the great reptile within his own stronghold while Avina threw a handaxe at the serpent through the giant hole in the wall. Holly followed suit, hurling her javelin.
Outside, Seraphina suddenly burst forward, sprinting up the side of the tower and cartwheeling over the top to drop onto the dragon's back within! She rammed her shortsword between its scales and Venomfang surged upward, trying to break free of the web out into the open air. His efforts were in vain. Count Alistair charged into the tower, confident Venomfang would no longer attack at the door. Standing beneath the beast, he threw his javelin into its hide.
Again, Lo Risten launched a volley of arrows at the dragon, misjudging her aim and piercing Seraphina instead. Avina pointed to another spot on the wall and Vilkas snapped another explosion, hoping to collapse the structure onto the bucking dragon. Alas, more stone showered forth, but the tower stood fast. Holly threw another javelin to join Seraphina's relentless stabs.
Meanwhile, Venomfang gathered his strength and surged against the webbing, but it was no use. The magical substance held fast like adamantium chains. More arrows flew forth from Lo Risten's bow, peppering the dragon's hide with wounds as Avina joined the fray, casting sacred flame upon the dragon. Vilkas unleashed his witchbolt at the beast, abandoning his plan to bring down the tower. Holly threw yet another javelin.
As Seraphina continued driving her blade into the dragon's hide, suddenly Venomfang stopped struggling. His rippling muscles went slack within the webbing and the dragon fell before them, dead. Within the tower, they found a meager hoard, doubtless only one of many, but enough to enrich their travels.
From this point onward, it was but a small matter to cleanse the town of its remaining infestations. The party had the unexpected pleasure of revealing Venomfang's untimely demise to a misguided group of dragon cultists who had been attempting to win the great serpent's favor. They also discovered the druid Reidoth, who had been working to restore the town from the many blights which had resulted from the volcanic eruption. He shared no new information, but served to confirm the importance of the party's inquiry into the Tresendar project. This was the only loose thread remaining before our heroes could at last declare real peace had been won for the struggling town of Phandalin.
Nobody was particularly interested in venturing to the depths of another cave so soon after escaping the last one. Lo Risten had often spoken of her desire to purify Thundertree. So, the group decided to make the long journey north to Lo Risten's former home. A great green dragon had taken up residence in the town, and she longed to prove herself a legend by slaying the mighty beast. The entire party was in high spirits after their many successes. Though tales of the might of dragons were clear, now was the time to grasp hold of fate. They would kill a dragon.
After this, the journey was uneventful. The group arrived in Thundertree, rested and prepared to test their combined might against the fabled strength of dragons. At Lo Risten's prompting, they made for the abandoned tower near the center of town where Lo Risten knew the dragon had taken its residence. The tower of Shulkith Traeban, a wizard she could never forget despite her age and the intervening years. It was he who had stayed behind to save the people of the town during the great calamity of Mount Hotenow's eruption. It was he who had ushered her own family to safety during the chaos. It was his memory now defiled by the dragon.
As Holly reached to open the door once more, Count Alistair sprang into action, pulling her hand away and frantically motioning for the party to remain silent. They stammered for a second as their forward momentum had been suddenly interrupted.
"Stop!" Count Alistair mouthed urgently. "We just died when we opened that door."
Lo Risten made a face at Alistair, motioning impatiently.
"I changed our death by using The Fates!" Count Alistair exclaimed in a strained whisper. "If you open that door, the dragon breath will destroy us!"
The entire party instinctively took a step back.
"We need a better plan."
"We should draw him out." Lo Risten suggested, motioning toward the exit door. According to what Count Alistair said, the dragon was just waiting for them to proceed. How long before the beast opened the door to the attached cottage itself and showered them with its deadly breath? Silently, they backed out of the cottage, choosing instead to take up positions around the tower. Seraphina moved to the northern edge and Lo Risten climbed a nearby tree. Vilkas grabbed Avina's arm and whispered in her ear.
"Aren't you an expert with masonry?"
"Yes." Avina replied, looking shocked and confused. Holly stood dutifully by.
"Tell me, is there a weak spot in the wall of this tower - some place where the structure may crumble if placed under pressure?"
Avina's eyes brightened at the thought and she turned to examine the stonework carefully. Count Alistair backed away a few spaces and watched for any movement from the tower. At last, Avina pointed to a section of the tower along its southwestern rim and about fifteen feet off the ground. Vilkas immediately snapped his fingers, causing a sphere of thunder to explode between the stones at the spot indicated. Rock and masonry flew from the impact, and a wide section of the tower collapsed open, yet the rest of the structure stood fast.
"Swift death to you who have wronged me."
Vilkas acted quickly, casting web into the tower and entangling the great reptile within his own stronghold while Avina threw a handaxe at the serpent through the giant hole in the wall. Holly followed suit, hurling her javelin.
Outside, Seraphina suddenly burst forward, sprinting up the side of the tower and cartwheeling over the top to drop onto the dragon's back within! She rammed her shortsword between its scales and Venomfang surged upward, trying to break free of the web out into the open air. His efforts were in vain. Count Alistair charged into the tower, confident Venomfang would no longer attack at the door. Standing beneath the beast, he threw his javelin into its hide.
Again, Lo Risten launched a volley of arrows at the dragon, misjudging her aim and piercing Seraphina instead. Avina pointed to another spot on the wall and Vilkas snapped another explosion, hoping to collapse the structure onto the bucking dragon. Alas, more stone showered forth, but the tower stood fast. Holly threw another javelin to join Seraphina's relentless stabs.
Meanwhile, Venomfang gathered his strength and surged against the webbing, but it was no use. The magical substance held fast like adamantium chains. More arrows flew forth from Lo Risten's bow, peppering the dragon's hide with wounds as Avina joined the fray, casting sacred flame upon the dragon. Vilkas unleashed his witchbolt at the beast, abandoning his plan to bring down the tower. Holly threw yet another javelin.
As Seraphina continued driving her blade into the dragon's hide, suddenly Venomfang stopped struggling. His rippling muscles went slack within the webbing and the dragon fell before them, dead. Within the tower, they found a meager hoard, doubtless only one of many, but enough to enrich their travels.
From this point onward, it was but a small matter to cleanse the town of its remaining infestations. The party had the unexpected pleasure of revealing Venomfang's untimely demise to a misguided group of dragon cultists who had been attempting to win the great serpent's favor. They also discovered the druid Reidoth, who had been working to restore the town from the many blights which had resulted from the volcanic eruption. He shared no new information, but served to confirm the importance of the party's inquiry into the Tresendar project. This was the only loose thread remaining before our heroes could at last declare real peace had been won for the struggling town of Phandalin.