LogFellowship - The Clockwork Prince-Jason-5

Game log for the 2025/12/21 session of Fellowship - The Clockwork Prince, as taken by Jason

With several members of the Fellowship unmounted by the storm at Gastamor, we're making slow progress toward the Frosthelm Beshar. We wolf down some rations and put our legs to use. On the second day of marching, we're in the foothills, and everything begins to get steadily steeper. Late one evening, we're making camp when Gregory stops, his ears perk up, and Tanis hears the howl of Vargs.

Tanis listens and thinks it's a full pack. He doesn't think they're under any outside influence, they're just animals who smell prey. Varg packs like to take turns sprinting while other members of the pack lope along, exhausting the prey. Bulgarath suggests finding a spot where we can make a stand, and Vestrum suggests that if we were backed up against an outcropping or something else he could tunnel through, he could get us all out the backside. Vestrum spots a ravine that we could follow up to where it and another drainage channel intersect, then double back down to where the ground is steepest. The vargs would be coming downhill at us, but we'd be impossible to flank.

Bulgarath hands the dwarf something that looks like charcoal, and asks him to take it to that defensible point, while the harbinger goes back up the hill. The rest of the fellowship form a defensive array.

Bulgarath does a convincing imitation of an easy target for the vargs, then conjures a river of burning red ash heading down the ravine, keeping the vargs from approaching. They yelp and pace back and forth in front of the river of ash, but they can't cross. That holds them all afternoon, and then we start a campfire from the burning ashes. It's an unpleasant and restless night, but somewhere in the hours of darkness, the vargs give up and depart.

We march uphill, and another day later, we see a peak with a dwarven watch tower on top. Vestrum stands where he can be seen clearly and bows toward it. THe dwarves blow a horn, and Vestrum counsels the party to wait and see what's to come. The locals are in a pissy mood and declare that the halls of King Azadar are closed to foreigners. Cousin Hannar demands the right of hospitality, while Vestrum points out that there's been peace between the dwarves and Tarsyna for centuries, and it would be rude to keep the heir to the throne of Taryna waiting on the doorstep. The sentries come closer, Garia shows them her royal seal pendant, and they reluctantly allow us in.

The interior of the halls is dark, but soon we get to areas lit to facilitate hospitality. It takes an hour or so to get to where the tunnels open up to a cavern, lit by light wells shining on crystals. In the center of the cavern sits a massive hexagon tower, which can only be reached by a long bridge, which can only be reached by a long staircase full of switchbacks. There are dwellings in the cavern walls, terraced downward. This place would be miserable to even ponder attacking.

We wait in a sort of antechamber for a while. A side door opens, and a dwarf enters, who greets us as friends and guests. He introduces himself as Baron Ugnor. Vestrum introduces the party, and the Baron invites us all to share a meal. We accept, there's a crashing sound, and enormous double doors open. A guard tell us that the King will see us now, and the Baron takes his leave. We are brought into the royal presence in the audience chamber of the great hall. The hall is huge, gorgeously lit, and full of guards and VIPs, including some humans. As we pass, one of the humans kneels as Geria passes.

Vestrum is on point and bows to King Azadar. Geria nods, Baldric salutes, Raatma makes an awkward bow, and Tanis and Bulgarath nod. The King's voice sounds like he gargles with road salt. The Kingdom prepares for war, and they'd welcome Vestrum's help awakening the Colossi. The King asks Geria for news of Tarsyna, and she reports her father's fall under the influence of the Clockwork Prince. The King reports that his last emissary was not even allowed to meet with Geria's father, and had to meet with Lord Adder instead. The King is talking about open war with Tarsyna, which seems like a lot. Vestrum doesn't sense a trap for the fellowship, but something here isn't right.

We dine with the dwarves, and the food is plentiful, though the cuisine of the dwarves is meant to keep body and soul together and nothing more. They do not understand cooking as a fine art.

After eating, Vestrum follows up on the request to see the Baron, and we're all led to his hall. The Baron quickly introduces his subject: he does not see why the Frosthelm should move against the human kingdom. He thinks the King wants to make his mark on the war before dying, because when he passes, the will be a succession council. In time of war, the King's oldest son, captain of the King's guard, would almost certainly be the choice, but the Baron doesn't think Prince Gaznar would be the best ruler. The Baron offers his hospitality as long as we need it, and encourages us to accept the King's as well.

We rest and recover.

The human who bowed to Geria in the hall (Davik) pays a call on us, and pledges his sword to her. He had despaired of ever being able to return home; serving her is more than he hoped for. He offers to act as her bodyguard. Davic's squire Basner will become Geria's new servant.

During recuperation, Bulgarath has a private chat with Geria. He has foreseen doom (as per usual) and asks her what she fears, when this is all over. She thinks it's not over until her father is returned to himself and rules a free Tarsyna. He warns her that no such thing might be possible, and that she must remember that choices made out of fear can be made to serve the Clockwork Prince.