Last we left our heroes, they were being escorted into Winterstall by Gluzzer Steelstone and his squad of dwarven guards, along with a newcomer that had also been outside the gate. As they are brought through the wall, the city of Winterstall stretches out before them.
Winterstall is a city with nowhere to grow, hemmed in by their large walls, the buildings had no where to go but up. Rickety wooden construction, a hodgepodge of reclaimed material built overtop of artfully designed stone buildings. The citizens are in a similar state; worn, ragged, use to fighting for their space and supplies. In the center of the city is a large, broken tower, a constant reminder of the damage wrought by the Uncrowned King. All through the city grows a drooping white flower, a strange glimmer of light in a dirty and worn down land.
As the Derailers are led through the streets, a crowd begins to gather and follow, leering and curious. They are brought to the outside of a pyramid-like structure. After a number of knocks at the door, an obviously inebriated dwarf comes out, flanked by two females. Introduced as the Governor, He is perturbed at the interruption, but immediately interested when the group is brought to his attention.
Introductions are made and mostly ignored. The Governor calls for his advisor, Grygarn Grumbleboot, a scrawny dwarf with a wormy disposition. “The Games” are mentioned and the crowd reacts positively. Noticing Steelstone’s reluctance to hand them off to the advisor, Wander divinely suggests to the Governor that Steelstone should interrogate them first. Ignoring the Advisor’s protests, the Governor instructs Steelstone to escort the Derailers to a holding cell.
In the process of discussion, Ryker’s prowess with the bow is doubted. In an uncharacteristicly bold move, Ryker proves his skill by shooting through a window at a dwarf sent to fetch supplies for the games. Ryker is promptly separated from his weapon, tied up, and carried the rest of the way. Havayla instructs Aurora to leave, and there’s a gasp as the unicorn vanishes from sight.
In the prison, they are locked into separate cells. Ryker, Wander, and Nathan on one side, Havayla, Arunak, and the new stranger on the other. Steelstone dismisses the guards and explains the situation: They need to leave, now, or they will be killed. He can give them 8 hours. All previous outsiders that he hasn’t been able to get out immediately are put in the arena for games. IF they manage to survive, they are welcomed to the Governor’s house and never seen again. Winterstall is for the dwarves and no one else. There is a generational grudge against the other cities for their failure to help during the onslaught by the Kolikreti, the Uncrowned King.
Questions are asked, namely, where did Zay go? They are told that she is a dwarf, so was take elsewhere. The group also learns that Steelstone was Brolin’s brother. They ask about the flowers, which appear magical. The flowers were a gift from a merchant years ago. Strongly encouraging them to use the window of escape he can give them, Steelstone leaves and discussion begins. They learn that the stranger’s name is Valrick and he’s a collector from the Asteral Plane. Wander and Arunak remember that Yevin spoke of a strange people he saw and surmise that Valrick is of a same or similar race.
While all of this is happening, Ryker is acting agitated, claiming that Wander wants him gone and that Nathan wants to take over the group. Arunak starts reaching for Havayla through the bars, claiming there’s a spider climbing up her back. Ryker brakes out of his bonds and his cell, but is confronted by guards coming in. He climbs onto the ceiling, still yelling about leaving and Wander challenges him to put his actions where his words are. Using his cloak, he teleports into Wander’s cell, grappling her from behind. Expecting this, she pins him against the wall and casts Restoration. Mind cleared, Ryker regains his senses, just as the cell is filled with dwarves.
Melee and chaos ensues. Havayla casts the hut, but it isn’t big enough. Arunak is still chasing a spider. Wander attempts to use calm emotions, but it just makes the dwarves calmly work together to take the renegades down. They surmise that the flowers are what’s causing the agitation.
Now Ryker AND Wander are tied up in their separate cells and there are guard posted. Nathan goads the dwarves into unlocking his cell and barrels headlong into a fight, restarting the chaos. Ryker escapes again and works to unlock the other cells. Havayla yells out for everyone to close their eyes and lifts up the eye patch to look at the dwarves. One shrugs off the fear, but the other flees out the door, screaming in terror. Finally having enough of the chaotic buffoonery, Valrick snaps his fingers and everyone is suddenly in the woods, almost a mile outside the city.
What now? Zay is still in the city and there is something going on there that is making everyone crazy. They need to go back in, but how? And how do they avoid coming under the influence of those flowers? No wonder all the dwarves are so aggressive. Various ideas are bandied about when there are suddenly distant shouts; the dwarves have found them. In a split second decision, Wander grabs Ryker, Arunak, and Valrick “We’ll go back for Zay. I can get us in and out.” Ryker tells Havayla to run back to the ship and Nathan offers to create a distraction. With a pop, the 4 adventures disappear as Nathan and Havayla begin running in opposite directions.
Wander, Ryker, Arunak, and Valrick appear in the ethereal plane, one step off the material plane, still able to see and traverse, but not interact. As they start back to the city, Wander lets them know that she can cast this one more time to get them out of the city, but in the meantime, they can travel through walls and will not be seen by anyone. She apologizes for forcing Valrick along, but he seemed like he had useful skills if they found themselves in a jam.
Once in the city, they follow the crowds to a gathering around gallows set up in the city square. The Governor is pontificating about dwarven power and might, along with disparaging the governments of Hearthollow and Riverband for their previous abandonment. He speaks of going to war and the vast force being built in the city. Zay is trying to reason with him, but he is unwavering and orders her to be hanged. Arunak and Valrick notice an elf watching the proceedings at a distance.
While the 2/3rds of the Derailers discuss their plans, Steelstone runs into the scene, getting the Governor’s attention. He informs him of the Derailer’s escape and quietly states that all the guards are outside the wall, chasing the escaped prisoners.
Plan decided on, everyone gets into place. Aruank gets close to Zay, who has been led up onto the gallows. Ryker flanks Steelstone, Valrick keeps an eye on the elf, and Wander places herself behind the Governor. Wander then drops etherealness, casts restoration on the Governor, and promptly cast etherealness again, bringing everyone back into the ethereal plane.
The Governor and Steelstone are in shock, but the Governor is suddenly speaking and reacting with much more clarity. Ryker explains the situation while Arunak notices the elf leave the city square. He follows, trailing unseen behind the suspicious figure.
Seemingly dazed from sudden soberness, the Governor is willing to talk, but would rather do so at this home. He leads them through the door, past multiple chambers, and down into a dungeon hall. He’ll talk, but not in the ethereal plane. The Governor wants to be behind closed doors and won’t start any discussion until then. He’s fidgeting with his scepter, seemingly coming to grips with his newfound clarity.
Arunak is messaged and he informs them that the elf he followed is in disguise; it’s actually one of is family members, either an unknown brother or his father. He tracked down their hideout and is coming back. Oh and the Governor’s advisor was working with him, so they found a mole in the Governor’s inner circle.
Upon his return, Wander drops etherealness. The Governor instructs Steelstone to stand guard while he opens a door, using his scepter as a key. He walks into a dark room, followed by the Derailers, and he locks the door behind them. As the team takes in the room, the Governor’s demeanor changes, “Babe, I brought you dinner!” There’s a growl and rattle of chains from the far side of the space. A chimera slowly steps into the light, swaying in mimicked movement to the Governor’s swinging of the scepter.
And that is where we left the story. Will they be able to defeat the Chimera? Is the Governor actually working with the Crimson Eyes? How many times will Nathan make the guards lap the city in their chase? We’ll find out next time…