Truth and Consequences

18^th Day of Harvester, C.Y. 592

The morning after our conversation with Yahira, the Moradin High Priestess, we set off for the Hall of Odenkor.  It was once a gathering place for the Khannenhelms and Thangeddins, but since their falling out in the last century, the hall was rarely used.  In fact the Khannenhelm's attempts to pass through the hall were met with no success.  Apparently the Thangeddin's defenses were too strong.

We entered the hall, and we were attacked almost immediately.  There were two slaughterstone eviscerators and another construct that appeared to be of similar construction, but we were unable to identify it.  There were also four kobolds, which were able to fight invisibly.  The battle was not terribly difficult, and the kobolds were not able to mount an effective attack.  They attempted to flee down the passage to the northern redoubt, but Vannay blocked them with a force wall.  They ended up going down the passage to the Thangeddin home.

We split up at this point, so we could get more accomplished.  Delvanos, Safadin and Victor went down the hall to the northern redoubt, while Vannay, Uthgar and Creden went towards the Thangeddins.

Along the way to the Thangeddins, we found a young sorcerer dwarf named Glorim.  He said that something terrible had happened in the Temple of Abbathor.  Most of the Thangeddins were hiding out in the mines, while Ragnok led the warriors to assist the Khannenhelms at the northern redoubt.

We entered the temple and found a gruesome site.  Five priests of Abbathor were sitting in the pews.  Each of their throats was slit ear to ear by a large claw.  They appeared to have not put up a fight at all, and their facial expressions were one of surprise.  The altar in the center had a jeweled dagger and piles of coins.  Behind the altar was a tapestry depicting a cave with rich veins of gold.  At the back of the cave was a large dwarf in leathers and furs.  He was fat with piggy-eyes and sallow skin.  Vannay and Creden identified him as Abbathor the Avaricious.  Along the top of the tapestry it read, "Wealth was created for those crafty enough to take it."  The bottom of the tapestry read, "Greed is good, as it motivates the possession and holding of all that is precious."

Behind the tapestry was a grid with ancient dwarven characters.  A force wall blocked contact with the grid, but Creden realized the large stylus was able to mark the open grid boxes.  Vannay understood the nature of the puzzle, so the whole group began working on solving it.  Creden was able to complete the puzzle.

While we worked the puzzle, we spoke more to Glorim.  Creden noticed that Glorim was being less than truthful about his involvement in the temples more evil aspects.  Vannay suspected that the auras on the dwarf concealed things we should know, so he dispelled the auras as Creden and Uthgar moved in for combat.  Some fast talking prevented a bloody end to the conversation. 

Glorim eventually admitted that he was not a dwarf at all, but a silver dragon bent on killing the White.  His mother, Lithlorianis, had been slain by the White, when Glorim (now Lothirlondenex) was still in the egg.  Suspicions were still a bit high, but Vannay seemed satisfied that Londenex was being truthful.  Vannay recalled reading about Lithlorianis in his studies of the White prior to our arrival at Mount Odenkor.  Vannay asked Londenex to resume his natural form, but the dwarf/dragon refused to "put on a show for humans".  A few more questions about silver dragons satisfied our group that Londenex was who he claimed.

We opened the puzzle door and found a long hallway with two large statues in the antechamber.  At the far end of the hallway was a giant diamond set into the floor.  Vannay noticed that it radiated powerful auras of all schools of magic.  We decided it must be the Arkenstone, which was the major point of strife between the two clans of the mountain. 

One of the two statues in the antechamber became animated, and it said that we were not allowed in this dwarven holy place.  Another statue nearer to the Arkenstone also animated and attempted to dispel our protections.  Vannay's extensive knowledge of the planes led him to understand that these two beings were in fact dwarven ancestors, who act as guardians and advisors to the priesthood, and they are able to inhabit the statues of the temple.  We would rather have not fought them, but they seemed unwavering in their defense.  Uthgar was particularly conflicted, but he decided that attacking the statues was not a problem.  He would not attack the ancestors in their natural form.  The ancestors refused to attack Uthgar as well.  Creden was able to deal significant damage to the statues, and Londenex used a prismatic ray on one of them after he teleported into the middle of the hallway.  Vannay summoned a celestial dire bear and a greater air elemental, and they both dealt a fair amount of damage.  Vannay also used a wish to dismiss one of the ancestors back to the Mounting Heavens.

Just as the battle looked to be winding down, we were shocked by the actions of Londenex.  He pulled a scroll out of his belt and said, "Now we will usher in Hammerfall.  I did not lie to you.  The White did murder my mother, and he is my father."  Londenex then cast the spell on his scroll, and a green ray crackling with energy reached out and hit the massive diamond.  The Arkenstone was utterly destroyed.