Dragonlance Chapter 9 The Floating Tomb
Dragonlance Chapter 9 The Floating Tomb
Arriving at the West Warrens the party were surprised to find fields of wheat, mushrooms and pens full of goats. It seems the Klar clan were very good at farming and kept all those inside Thorbardin fed.
Having rested at a small farm the party traveld to the life-tree of they Hylar the next day. This was a giant stalactite that grew down to the surface of an underground sea. Boats attached to cabels took people across to the base and they climbed many levels up.
Outside the council chamber Armen instructed everyone to put weapons into a large box as the life-tree is a sacred meeting ground between the clans and battle is not allowed. Goldmoon is unwilling to leave her blue crystal staff and thus remains outside.
Entering the chamber the party see the nine thrones of Thorbardin. The larger central throne is empty and one of them, that used to be Flint's Neidar Clan, has been broken. Of the remaining seven seats only six are occupied. Armen makes an impassioned speech which is interrupted by Raelgar Ironface, Thane of the Theiwar but eventually the heroes are allowed to talk.
Flint explains the situation but there is no real evidence of Dragons and most of the Thanes seem to think they do not exist except it seems for Tufa, Thane of the Klar, who reacts with shock about hearing Dragons have been killed. Flint talks about the soul of prince Grallen in the helmet and told the council they had a way for the Dwarfs to speak to their god again since all the Priests, being the smallest clan, had died during the Dwarfgate war.
The party are asked to wait outside while the council debates the matter. Tasselhoff, with the aid of Raislin, sneaks back in having been turned invisible. He listens for a while to the arguments but cannot understand the dwarven language. He does notice Tufa talking to some of his underlings who then leave the chamber and head out of the Life-Tree on some unknown task.
After an hour they were called back in and told that Krothgar of the Theiwar would accompany them to the Valley of the Thanes to lay the prince's soul to rest and in exchange for a way to to Reorx again the refugee's would be allowed safe passage through Thorbardain.
The next day they travelled through the Valley. Flint spent a little time looking at the tomb's of his ancestors before they found the statue of Grallen on the shore of the lake. Placing the helmet on the statue allowed the prince to go to his final resting place but before he left he told Flint the secret of how to enter the Tomb of the High Kings.
On the otherside of the lake was a broken arch. Once this was reconstructed everyone was able to step through and found themselves on a floating fortress above the valley. It has been obscured by the clouds before. Searching around the party found a sleeping dwarf by a fountain. He claimed to be Rathkar, the lost hero, who how just place King Duncan in his tomb. Unfortunately he had misplaced the magic hammer. Everyone started looking around for it but it was not nearby.
Looking out at the view Caramon noticed black dots moving on the mountain. Focusing on them he realised an army was decided the slopes into the valley, almost as if someone has sent a signet for them to attack! Convinging Krothgar he must go back and warn those inside Thorbardin while they stayed with Rathkar to look for the hammer was easy. He set of immediately while the rest tried to get the confused Rathkar to remember where he had been.
Following him around everyone heard a gong ringing but they were not sure where. Flint prayed in the shrine of Reorx and was rewarded with a set of prayer beads. Eventually a strange circluar room was founds with a trapped floor. Tass has a rope attached to him and tried to work his way across. Half way though the rope magically unwound and fell on the floor dangling into a hole!
Flint realised that Rathkar had been mumbling arcane words and when confronted he admitted he was the guardian and agreed not to hinder, nor help, them find the hammer. Flint, Tass and Raislin climbed to the next level and found who the clang on the gong was actually the hammer swinging on a chain. Raislin dispelled the magical barrier but when Flint grasped the weapon its Ego was powerful than his and took control.
The rest of the party had to dash back the way they had come to meet the others as they descended the steps. As they all met up a large shape of a red dragon could be seen flying towards them. Even being controlled by the Hammer Fling agreed that returning to the battlements would be a better position to face the beast then spread out on a staircase.
On the battlements stand an old flagpole with a tattered flag of Thorbardin. Below is a plaque praising Huma search for lances the last line of which read "with Hammer would he forge wyrm’s doom". Looking at the old flagpole Caramon realised it was actually a Lance he called this out to Riverwind as the dragon approached.
In a hissing roar, the dragon spoke “So Old One, you consort with my enemies! More, you hide behind their puny form! Step aside; they killed my mother and are mine!”
The Guardian, for you suspect he is not really Rathkar, smiles “Begone, Pyros puny child of Ember. Do not tempt my anger. Do you desire death so?”
Pyro's lips curl in a cruel snarl. “No, Old One! It is you who tempt fate! I know the Oath; the power of your word binds you! Not even the terror of the dragonlance could bind one so well. Come, Evenstar, show these puny mortals what company they keep or has the Council stripped you of your pride, too?”
The Guardian, Evenstar, face clouds with anger; he turns to the heroes saying “Pyros is right; I may not interfere but he cannot use his dragon breath while you stand with me.”
Pyros bellows, “Prepare to die!” and circles round ready to attack.
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