nowbound

Part Eight - The Circle Of Drokhon - Crossed Hammers

Day dawned, cold and clear and a heavy frost rimed the rocks of the encampment. Trimus stretched and drew his cloak around him and went over to where Jodotha and Darkhawk were poking at a camp fire with sticks. They moved aside and let the mage sit beside them.
"We were discussing what to do with him." Jodotha nodded towards the soldier. "Can't kill him, Ako and Grenden's men won't let us. We were going to ask Ako if he could use his staff to heal him and then perhaps charm him into helping us or at least telling us where the Phoenix is."
"A good plan" Trimus agreed holding his hands close to the fire, "Here's Ako now let's see if he is willing."
The cleric did agree and so after telling Grenden what they planned they approached the prone figure of the soldier. Ako used the power of his staff to heal the man's wounds and then swiftly cast a charm upon him.
"How are you?" Ako asked quietly.
"I feel a lot better thank you" replied the soldier pushing himself up onto his elbows. "Wait, I recognize you, the Black Commander wants what is rightfully his. The skyship belongs to him."
"Actually" Trimus said softly, "It belongs to us, but please do carry on."
Ako gave Trimus a black look before continuing. "We had better get it to him then, where can we find him?"
"Glantri."
"Glantri's a big place, where in Glantri."
"We were headed for Graez that's all I know."
Trimus shook his head, he had never heard of the place.
"Thank you friend, we will send someone to fetch you when we reach Graez, you should stay here and recover your strength with these good people."
"I'd rather come with you."
"I'm sure you would" replied Ako firmly "But it would be better for all if you stayed here until you were fit and well."
"I am very tired still, I suppose you are right." Sighed the soldier and lay back down on his furs.

They left the camp mid-morning and continued in the general direction that they last saw the skyship and the pillar of smoke that marked the crash site of the Iron Fist's craft. As a final parting gift Grenden had given each of the companions a cloak made from the pelt of the ice wolves they had killed. This gift warmed both the heart and the body and all were sad to leave the company of the barbarians.

As they set out Trimus gripped the minotaur amulet and called Rintrah, not expecting to get a reply he was surprised to here his mentor's voice, faint and weak as it was.
"Where are you? You are very faint." Rintrah asked.
"Not sure Rintrah, northern Darokin I think, we were attacked by the Order of the Iron Fist and we have lost the Phoenix. We have been searching for it the past few days, though it seems much longer, in these snowy peaks. We have just discovered that the Black Commander, the leader of the Iron Fist wants the Phoenix, says he owns it. Do you know anything of them?"
"They are a group of barbarians employed by Glantrian wizards" Rintrah replied, "They often use items provided by their employers, I know little more than that, but if Colloran lets me get up for more than a few moments I will see what I can find out."
"You are recovering then?"
"Yes, slowly, thanks to Colloran. Are there any landmarks that would help me locate you?"
"Only a ruined tower guarded by a white dragon, we didn't get the dragon's name."
"Not much help, but I will see what I can do."
"It's good to hear you again Rintrah."
"You to Trimus, keep yourself safe."

Trimus tucked the amulet inside his robes and smiled. With Rintrah on the mend they may be out of these icy wastes faster. Looking up he noticed that the others had pulled ahead a little and he hurried to catch up. As he got closer he heard a yell as a crevasse opened up and swallowed Darkhawk.
"Darkhawk!" called Ako looking down into the darkness of the chasm. "Are you all right?" Quick get a rope, Jodotha tie it to that boulder. Cain, can you climb down?"
"No need", replied the mystic pointing to the figure rising from the chasm, Darkhawk had called upon the power of his blade to fly him out of the chasm. Dints and scratches on his armour bore testament to his fall.
"I landed on a rocky outcrop thirty or forty feet down" explained Darkhawk, "let me fly you over, it's the safest way."
Shortly after crossing the chasm Jodotha paused and pointed to the west, "Ice wolves approaching, I don't think they are fooled by our cloaks."
Six of the beasts dashed across the snow, their wide fury paws barely breaking the wind-hardened crust of the snow. Attacking with their icy breaths and sharp teeth and claws the beasts wounded all before Trimus cast magic missiles and lightning bolts into them. Still they came on, Jodotha was hitting more times than not with his crossbow but the creatures' thick pelts protected them from some of the damage. Then Ako was knocked down by the largest of the wolves and didn't get up. Trimus cast a lightning blot that speared two of the remaining beasts and rushed to the aid of his fallen comrade while Darkhawk, Cain and Jodotha finished off the others.
Cursing his ice stiffened fingers Trimus pulled bandages and herbs from his pack and bound Ako's wounds. Enough life remained in the cleric for Ako to clutch his staff and call forth a powerful healing spell. Thus restored he used much of his remaining power to heal most of the party's wounds.
"There is a cave in the cliff to the east, we should rest up, at least we should pause for a bite to eat." Jodotha shielded his eyes and pointed to the cliffs that rose up like a wall from the flat snowy plains.
The rogue went ahead hiding in the patches of shadow cast by boulders and rocky fingers that stretched out from the cliff face. He ducked into the cave and emerged a few minutes later looking slightly perplexed.
"It's not a natural cave, or at least it isn't totally natural" he reported, "There is a large double door set into the back of the cave with dwarven runes carved around the frame."

The others joined Jodotha as he returned to the cave and studied the doors set into the northern wall of the cave. Made from heavy timber, bound with bronze they appeared to have survived the elements surprisingly well. Carved into the wood was a pair of hammers, crossed. From one stylised flames blossomed while zigzags of lightning came from the other.
"The runes read, 'KHENZAAR 3rd Stone in the circle of Drokhon'" said Jodotha after a few moments, "Who Khenzaar is or was and what the circle of Drokhon is I have no idea."
The rogue then checked the door for traps and listened but could hear nothing but the beating of his heart. His attempt to pick the lock failed.
"I don't think it is trapped but it is locked, Trimus do you have a knock spell handy?"
Trimus nodded and cast the spell upon the door, after this Ako was able to swing the doors open easily. Beyond was a wide corridor leading north. They started along it and behind them the doors swung shut with a loud thud and a magical spark seemed to run along the seam between them.
"I hope you have another knock spell or we don't have to leave in a hurry." Muttered Darkhawk as he realized what had happened. Trimus just shook his head.

After thirty feet or so the corridor widened into an alcove containing rusty weapons, war hammers, maces and axes, dwarven made from the size and quality.
"Grabthroat would have loved these" Trimus mused, picking up one of the axes.
The mage then looked around for tracks in the thin layer of dust coating the floor but he wasn't able to find any tracks or signs to indicate who or what still dwelt in these chambers.

The passage ended after another sixty feet or so in a rounded archway decorated with dogtooth carving. A stairway curved downwards and to the east in a gentle spiral. Jodotha went down first, taking his time checking for traps and for anything that might catch out the unwary. When he returned some time later he signaled that all was safe on the several hundred stairs that made up the stairway.
The foot of the stairway led into a corridor that led east for a short distance before a short flight of stairs led through another decorated arch into a square chamber at the centre of which stood a bronze statue of a giant nearly three times the height of Trimus.
Ako and Darkhawk moved into the room and were surprised when the creature stepped forward and swung a massive fist in the fighter's direction. Waves of heat billowed off the creature as it moved. Ako hit the creature with his mace and Darkhawk followed suit but as his blade broke the creature's skin gouts of fiery liquid spurted out. Trimus drew a wand and blasted the creature with a cone of cold but this did less damage than he expected. Darkhawk was knocked to his knees by a blow from the brazen beast so Trimus cast a mirror image spell upon himself while Cain moved in and struck with his bare hands. Jodotha contented himself with shots from his enchanted crossbow, the shafts vanishing into the fiery interior of the creature while hot liquids leaked out from the punctures. Darkhawk transformed himself into the Celestial Knight and blasted the creature as Trimus summoned an ice storm the combined effect was enough to fell the giant.
"A bronze golem" Ako said as he stepped around the rapidly cooling construct, "Very unusual."
Darkhawk changed back to his normal form and he and the others searched the room but found nothing aside from a scattering of dwarven bones.
"We need to rest up, we are injured and I have used many of my spells." Trimus suggested sitting against the wall of the chamber. "Who knows what else we might find down here."

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