Krimp, Devon, Nestor, and Mead have been in Old Timiro for over 2 months and still do not know where the Church of Dragonwright is located. Mead becomes discouraged and enlists in the Timiro army for work. Mead dies in accident during basic training a few weeks later. After the loss of Mead the group is determined to find the Church of Dragonwright or move on.
They find out that The Church of DragonWright is a large plain building has a that has an ornate archway as it’s main entrance. Krimp, Devon, and Nestor stand outside this structure that they had pasted several times during their stay in Old Timiro. Krimp is overwhelmed with excitement and rushes in with Devon and Nestor chasing after him to keep him out of trouble.
Inside is sixty foot high vaulted ceiling, no pews, large pillars line the walls, in-between each pillar is a stained glass window, and at the far end of the temple are three 40 foot dragon statutes. Each statute is of a different dragon, a black great-horned dragon with ruby eyes, an all white ice dragon with sapphire eyes, and a deep purple night-stalker dragon with obsidian eyes.
In front of each dragon there is an altar. The altar before the night stalker was covered in blood and being cleaned by 4 purple robed clerics. In the far left corner is a seven foot tall white candle in cased in a silver candle holder decorated with runes and other strange symbols.
A large number of people of differing races and social status fill this building clerics, monks, and priests/priestesses plus 12-15 in black/red robes, 12 – 15 in deep purple, and 5-6 in a white/light blue. The building is loud with the murmuring of this large group people talking, praying, debating, and chanting.
Before they can take it all in a priest approaches. He is a bearded human wearing a black Chasuble embroidered with a black rose on both front & back with roll collar. He smiles and says, “It is an honor to meet you I am Orban, High-Priest of Styphon the Invincible. Are you here to dedicate yourself to the most powerful of the Dragon Gods?”
Krimp blurts out, “I have come to follow Kym-nark-mar.”
The priest restrains a chuckle, “We all do in our own way, but…”
An elven woman with long dark hair in deep purple hooded robes adorning an gem incrusted dagger on her hip strides forward looking very crossed. “Orban, are you going to introduce me?”
Orban looks annoyed at the interruption, “Of course this Merimana, high priestess of…” again the elven woman interrupts,
“Zandragal, the dragon-goddess of war. All warriors belong to her household.” She smiles at Nestor.
Orban huffs, “Now wait just a minute these creatures were about to dedicate themselves to Styphon!”
Devon steps from around the two wolfen and says, “No, no. Actually we are just here for information.”
Merimana startled that she had not seen the fellow elf at first. “Your complexion… The Old Kingdom? Royal bloodline?” Her eyes sparkle at Devon.
The High-Priest of Styphon reaches out and grabs Krimp’s forearm, “Fine! But this one is mine!”
Suddenly a might roar fills the temple! The foundations of the building shake. The temple falls absolutely silent. All eyes turn towards a small white/light blue robed cleric that had been sitting in silent meditation and was now the source of the dragon’s roar. The small cleric begins to miraculously rise from the floor. His face is exposed and it is clear that he is a kobold. His eyes are wide but his normal pupils are replaced by glowing sapphires. He points to The High-Priest of Styphon and the voice of an ancient wyrm bellows forth, “Unhand my brother’s chosen!” He turns his gaze and points to Krimp “This mortal’s path will change face of the world, forever. Behold the Champion of Kym-nark-mar!” Krimp is petrified with astonishment. Orban and Merimana shrink away at the name of Kym-nark-mar. Lastly the kobold roars “I am Kormath and I have spoken.” The kobold gingerly floats to the ground, his eyes turn back to normal, and a single burst of puke fires from him as he falls on his hands and knees.
The kobold picks himself up off the floor as Krimp rushes over to him. The kobold introduces himself, in wolfen, as Wronski of the Golden Ear wolfen tribe and a citizen of the Wolfen Empire. Both Krimp and Nestor are taken aback by this unexpected greeting.
Krimp bombards Wronski with questions about Kym-nark-mar and the Church of Dragonwright. Wronski begins to tell Krimp in the best way he knows that Kym-nark-mar is not actively worship when an orc priest of Kormath pulls Wronski to the side.
The orc priest tells Wronski that the clergy of Styphon and Zandragal are already trying to overt attention from Kormath and Kym-nark-mar by whispering rumors of this miracle being a theatrical illusion. The orc priest urges the kobold cleric to take the wolfen out of the temple to somewhere safe.
Wronski takes the trio down several winding back alleys to ensure they are not followed. The reach a hole in the wall tavern called, Beggars Brews. This filthy room filled with mismatching tables, chairs, and stools is commonly occupied by homeless drunks and it is the only place that will serve slaves alcohol. It is not uncommon to see a busy goblinoid house slave rush in, slam a shot or even a pint, before dashing back out into the city on business for its master. Wronski has enjoyed this place from the days he and Hans lived on the street. Now he hurries his new friends in for much needed introductions and explanations.
Wronski explains to the group that the Church of Dragonwright is loosely united. That the two dark dragon gods, Styphon and Zandragal, out number to Kormath, the one active good dragon god. The return of Kym-nark-mar could even the scales. Because of this Krimp is not safe and they should stay in hiding for a few days. Wronski tells the group that there is a safe place to hide....
They reach the manhole that leads down into the sewers and Wronski first home in Old Timiro. Nestor is not pleased with the situation but goes at the pleas of Devin and Krimp. Not long after entering the sewers, Nestor discovers some graffiti that references vampires. Nestor becomes very on edge and asks Wronski to hurry them to “where-ever they are going”.
As the alcove comes into view, the group can hear the sounds of combat coming from inside. They rush to see what is happening. In the middle of what was Wronski and Hans’ apartment is a tall thin woman covered in small scales with bright yellow snake eyes wearing exotic clothing and holding a board sword. She is surrounded by four growling men with the heads of lizards! Each of them wearing leather armor, wielding primitive clubs, and carrying large sea turtle shells for shields.
Krimp only sees a woman in danger! He charges and pins on of the lizard-men to the wall with his spear. Devin flings his stones into the group of creatures. Nestor smashes the head of one of the lizard-men as the snake-like woman cuts down another. The fourth lizard-man is captured.
Wronski, unsure the snake woman is just an innocent victim, begins to interrogate her. She is very evasive with her answers. Eventually Hans is mentioned. The snake woman states she came here seeking Hans. Wronski tells her Hans is dead. She seems puzzled and demands to Wronski describe Hans to her. He explains Hans was a good man that took care of the poor of the city and tried to avoid violence at all cost. She says “Then the Hans I knew died years ago.” Wronski asked who the Hans she knew was. She said, “Hans BloodAxe, the Assassin of The Empire of Sin, the Plunderer of the Yin Sloth Jungles, the Scourge of Old Kingdom Mountains, and the Terror of the Northern Hinterlands. Not the dwarf you knew.” Wronski told her of Hans’ death at the hands of demons and his warning against violence. The snake woman stood still expressionless as her clear membranes blinked over her yellow eyes.
Nestor turns to the captured lizardman and demands he explain himself. He tells them that undead have infested the lower levels of the sewers and have driven them from their territory. He goes on to say, this snake woman is a thief and a liar. The yuan-ti female makes no rebuttal in her defense to the lizardman’s charges.
Ruminski asks the yuan-ti why she was looking for Hans. Reluctantly, she tells them of a death cult in the Old Kingdom Mountains that is attempting to raise the Old Ones. She tells them that she and Hans had gone into mountains years ago on an expedition. She knew his experience in mountains would ensure success against this death cult. Ruminski offers the assistance of the group. The yuan-ti first scoffs at the offer and then says, “You are replacement for Hans BloodAxe, but it would be better then going on my own. I accept.”
Nestor stands up and says, “I can not leave until this undead menace is defeated.” Ruminski turns to the yuan-ti, “Can you help us with this before we leave?” The snake woman looks annoyed but nods in agreement. The lizardman agrees to help them if they swear to destroy the undead invaders. Nestor swears the undead will be destroyed.
They decide to go back up into the city to obtain supplies. By this time the shops of Park Side have already closed. The only shops that are open are on Palace Side. But it is a long walk and time is of the essence. The yaun-ti suggest breaking into one of the closed shops. Nestor back up the idea and tells Krimp and Rominski that they can leave money for whatever they take. The team agrees to break in to save time but leave money for the supplies and damages.
They find a small general store and they enter through the back door. They gather a lot of supplies and are calculating how much to leave when the shop keeper burst through the door that leads to his apartment above the store. The shop keep is carrying a heavy crossbow in each hand and his two large guard dogs launch ahead of him barking and snarling at the party. The heroes run from the shop tossing the sack of coins to pay for the items and damages.
Devin calls upon the energy of water and blankets the alley in thick fog to conceal their retreat. They can still hear the dogs behind them. Suddenly they hear the rattle of the yaun-ti’s jingling broad sword, a yelp of pain from each dog, two thuds hitting the ground, and then silence. The heroes are shocked and fear that the yaun-ti has slew the shop keeper’s dogs. Silently the yaun-ti slides up next to Devin and whispers gratefully, “Well played.” Devin is too embarrassed to tell the snake-woman that it was not his intention to kill the dogs.
They return to the sewers and prepare for the long descent into the lower leaves.
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