Dragonlance Chapter 2 Enter the Draconians

Chapter Two: Enter the Draconians.

Having spent a pleasant evening in the Elven treetop village the party were surprised when a blind ancient elf came out for breakfast and starting saying the priest of the old god should be killed!  Tanis and Raislin talked to him and he told them Qualinesti had been forced to join with Istar under threats of destruction from the Kingpriest and they would never be subjugated again.  The views of this 400 year old elf who had lived through the cataclysm seemed at odds with the stories of the great empire that had united the world in truth and light.

Travelling east the party reached the old road bridge the only decent crossing over the white rage river for miles.  Looking south towards New Port Caramon spotted smoke on the horizon.  Changing their plans the party headed off to investigate.  They were ambushed by strange lizard like creatures who walked upright.  Raislin blasted several with a burst of fire in response to which two of the creatures leap into the air and, with wings unfolding from their backs, glided down behind him to attack the Wizard.  It seemed these strange foes can fly as well!

The next surprise cames for Riverwind and Flint as they killed the creatures.  Rather than dropping dead the lizard bodies petrified trapping weapons inside the stone carcase.  Fortunately Flint was able to grab the sword from one of the defeated scouts and the party quickly finished off the rest of them.

A single cart come from the city went past the occupants shouting at them to flee as fifty foot flying demons were destroying the city!  Travelling on they found a vantage point to look down at the city of New Port.  Half of it was burnt and five large ships flying multicolour banners were unloading more troops; perhaps as many as 500 soldiers.  Then two large shadows passed overhead and great flying beasts with red scales landed on the beach.  Each had a single rider on their backs.

Everyone decided it was time to flee back to the bridge and get to Xanadu as quickly as possible.  Pushing on into the night the party travelled across the plains and into the mountains.  Finding some dwarven ruins that looked like a good spot to camp but was actually the lair of an Owlbear and her cubs.  Quick thinking Riverwind was able to talk the mother down and feed them some rations.

Eventually the party reached the swamp on the other side of the Eastwall mountains.  Scouting showed some ruins further east.  As they travelled three carts were found sunken into the swampy waters.  They looked to have only been abandoned recently.  Inside were several dead plainsmen and manacles where others had been kept.  Riverwind buried the dead and found tracks showing about a dozen more had been taken further on foot.

It was almost night as the travelled approached the first few ruins where they could see more of these lizard folk worshiping a giant 20' tall winged effigy.  Wanting revenge for their dead kin Riverwind led the attack.  This time rather than turning to stone the flesh burned off the creatures and their rib cage exploded into a shower of deadly bone shards.  Goldmoon called upon divine power to heal Flint and Caramon of the wounds they received.  Finding no prisoners in the encampment the party rested for the night so they could continue in the light.

Riverwind gets double crits with both arrows two battles in a row!

In the morning it was possible to see another small hillock with a pool of water on top as well as a section of the city near the cliff edge where there is a well and a couple of old buildings still standing.  Investigating the pool first Riverwind sees the eyes of a strange crocodile like creature looking out of the pool at her.  Speaking to it she finds out there is a brood of them left in the water by their mother and they were recently fed.  Given the creature talks of Riverwind smelling like food she surmised the other prisoners have been used as feed these creatures!

Riverwind and Tanis sneak forward into the open plaza to investigate.  As they do scrapping sounds are heard inside the well.  The two of them quickly hide as the dragon emerges from its lair!  The dragon fly's around as if looking for something and then dives backdown into the darkness of the well. 

Entering the temple the party finds a statue of the goddess Mishakal and a voice speaks to them talking about the disks of the gods that are being guarded by the dragon below and the prophet needs to recover them in order to create medallions of faith which will allow men to once more channel the power of the old gods.  Praying at the status Goldmoon is rewarded as divine power refreshes the party.

Searching the nearby rooms the party finds three more of the lizard creatures.  They quickly kill two and integrate the third.  Its name is Grey-12 and these creature are called Draconians.  About fifty of them are here guarding an ancient relic that kills anyone who touches it.  They are part of the five armies of the High Dragon Lords who are conquering Krynn.  He also mentions there is an elevator built by the Aghar at the bottom of the stairs to get up from the ruined city below.  There is also an ancient scroll of protection in a hidden compartment.  Goldmoon casts this before it crumbles to dust.

In the next room are four Aghar Dwarves scratching away at the murals on the walls looking for gemstones.  They want to give these to Thane Highbulp so he can pay the dragon to leave.  They seem quite stupid, not like the brilliant Aghar engineers Flint has met in the past.  They talk about having got board waiting to go down in the elevator and wander up here to explore.

Leaving Tasslehoff to look after these four and the prisoner everyone else descends four flights of stairs to look for the elevator.  At the bottom they have been told to go right to the elevator but Riverwind points to the left passageway as been familiar.  At the part end the floor has fallen away but is easy enough to jump over.  The party finds themselves in a crypt with a ghostly guard who is waiting for his relief.  A quick thinking Riverwind says they are the next shift before he attacks.  Thank them for ending his 350 year wait the ghost fades away.  Searching the sarcophagus of the entombed Kingpriests three magical weapons and six magic rings are found.