The Summons, March 2000

March 2000

The Birthrite Ceremony

King Galar, King of the Gruskan Dwarves, announces that he'll be giving a Birthrite ceremony for his son, Thorluck, and various nobles and country representatives are duly invited. We meet in Llanmir, and travel together (except Tiriel, who somehow makes it across, alive, by herself). On the way, the party is approached by a clan of Sundered dwarves for help. It turns out that 2 years ago, all their women were kidnapped by Laranthug (previous Goblin King), fell in love with him and are deeply unsatisfied. The Cheif's daughter kidnaps her little brother in return for a ransom, to escape the town. We find him, get the truth, and a lot of silver. We travel up to the halls of Clan Stonebeard, followed by a goblin army and a huge storm.

At the Birthrite Ceremony, Sir Corwen duels with a barbarian Vlen Vlice (just because he's a barbarian) and has to be resurrected (as an elf) by Silanus. War breaks out as the goblins invade - Sir Corwen, Count Kael and lady Brangwen kill Nardik, and Skarra creates a fire elemental to battle a growing wall of ice. At the end of the battle, Galar is killed, Vindalf mortally wounded, and the crown stolen - the halls are on the edge of collapse. We discover the crown is disintegrated by a crack troop of what appear to be Laranthug's Goblins. Our prty is asked to find the responsible person and bring them to justice. Nardik's dead body said he was ordered by Prince Hafdark, whom no one has heard of.

We travel back to Nagthul head, by the sundered dwarves, ring the bell with the sign 'DO NOT RING THIS BELL', and are transported to a Storm Giant's castle, where we meet Janil, and Laranthug. Laranthug turns out to be Whiteflight, and placed on probation by Janil, he is allowed to go free. We go to the Goblin halls, and battle with Neshtil, his pet greater demon, and win. Laranthug takes over as king, and we depart for the dwarved clanholds. There, using the age old technique of kill first, then question, we discover Prince Hafdark is the sundered son of Thorgrey, Galar's missing younger brother. He used Trennog, a minotaur, to cast the spells. The dwarves apprehend him.

Duke Vindalf recovers, and will be crowned regent, until Thorluck is old enough. We are thanked, and invited to the postponed Birthrite ceremony, in a month's time. Returning home, we take both the dwarves appreciation, and the message from Laranthug that from now, the goblins will become peaceloving creatures of culture.....