SKT Session 5 (10/4/22): Saviors of the King

Multiple dwarven guards greeted the party as they approached. After hearing the party explain the assassination plot against the king, the dwarves explained that the adventurers would be allowed within the city as long as all non-dwarven members wore coverings over their eyes.

"Only the dwarf may proceed without a blindfold."

Cleverly disguised as a dwarf, Kimberly was the only party member allowed to proceed with sight. Delsephine, who was previously following the party, seemed to have disappeared into the shadows. Dhrys, tailing the party, saw that she entered the front gate through a discreet tunnel and observed the appearance of her contact: a feminine presenting drow.

The party was led into the citadel by two guards. Following closely behind, Dhrys saw other dwarven guards start following behind the blindfolded party. They were led down a series of tunnels and hallways, past some openings and gathering areas, and finally down a darker passageway. Dhrys crawled up the wall and onto the ceiling of the cavern as it shrunk down into a less vast hallway. The guards moved with the party into a room and shut the door behind them.

"I'm glad you came to us first... you almost messed up our plan."

After hearing this, the party took off their blindfolds. They were in a storage room, surrounded by angry-looking dwarves. Revealing themselves to be the assassins disguised as dwarven guards, the dwarves (possessed by yakfolk) attacked the party. Battle raged inside and Dhrys moved to join the fray, but found the door barred. Shortly after, however, more guards arrived, seemingly tipped off that something odd was afoot.

Some of the possessed dwarves were slain, but the combat quickly came to a close once the real guards made it inside. They commanded everyone to cease fighting, re-blindfolded them, and brought them to be judged by the king.

"Prove to me you are not the true intruders."

After some arguing back and forth and failed attempts to oust the real assassins, Lucien cast zone of truth, forcing some of the possessed dwarves to remain silent when asked whether or not they were truly dwarves. This was proof enough for the king, and the possessed dwarves were taken away to have the intruding yakfolk expelled from their bodies.

"Thank you for thwarting this attempt on my life. I have not properly introduced myself. I am king-"

As the king tried to express his gratitude, his words were caught. It seemed he was exposed to the zone of truth as well. One of his advisors quickly spoke up for him, introducing him as King Harnoth, son of Harbromm. The king then thanked them all once again, provided them with some items as thanks, and ushered them out of the room. The items included small mithral shields with the crest of Citadel Adbar on them, as well as a letter of recommendation handwritten by the king.

As the party left, Dhrys stayed behind, lurking in one of the corners of the ceiling in the room. He had entered unnoticed and listened in to the interaction between the king, the possessed dwarves, and the party. He heard the king apologize to his advisors, saying he forgot he was in the zone of truth and didn't realize the effects it would have on him. They commanded him to quiet and urged him to not mess up again. With that, Dhrys began to sneak back out of the citadel.

Leaving the citadel, one of the real dwarven guards gave the party his belt as a token of his gratitude. With further research, the party later found this to be a belt of dwarvenkind. Lucien would later put it on and grow a full beard.

Back on the airship, there was a quick, heated exchange between Delsephine and Dhrys, where the rogue asked the cult leader what her business was with the drow.

"My business relationships are to be kept confidential. I would expect you to want the same, Dhrys."

Dhrys pressed further, but Delsephine walked away, frustrated. As the party began to settle in after a long day, the airship pressed on towards Lyn Armaal.

Once near the Evermoors, the party could hear the roar of a dragon, loud and clear, coming from somewhere nearby. Some of the party was keen enough to sense something odd about these roars. They were roars of pain. After some discussion, the party decided to fly the airship towards the roars.

Pressing on for a while, the party began to see something in the sky. Getting closer, they saw a castle with blue peaks atop a large white cloud. It was at this moment that the roars ceased. The party decided to continue to approach.

They decided to land the airship on one of the castles lawns; particularly, the one with a massive chessboard. Exiting the airship, they were greeted by a young, fit cloud giant adorned in green robes with golden baubles, wearing a theater mask made of marble and ornate bracers made of brass.

"I am Castellan Cressaro. The countess would like to speak to you. Follow me."

The cloud giant held open one of the massive doors to the castle, beckoning the party to enter.