(June 12, 2005) Chronicler: Isaku
Month 5, Day 17, Year 1563 –
Hatori did some research on the ore mined by the yak folk. Apparently it was being mined for persons unknown in order to help re-forge the Blade of Fiery Might, a huge scimitar wielded by the efreet sultan (fire, lawful-evil). According to legend, the blade was stolen from the sultan’s throne room by a cunning jann rogue (neutral) with some help from the material plane. They shattered the blade and scattered the shards with the help of some powerful spirits, because of the blade’s power. The blade was certainly evil, but we don’t know the exact nature of its fiery powers, probably around +10 enchantment.
Hatori did some divinations to ask if looking for the people trying to re-forge the blade would help us find more shards of the Bloodwhite Stone. The answer was:
“Indeed, the Iron Fortress
Place of death and fire
Forgemasters under duress
Work for powers higher”
Hatori interpreted that answer as yes. Further divinations asking about the location of the Iron Fortress revealed:
“Iron Fortress of Zandikar
On the battle-plain of Kolyoral
In the land of Avalas
In the realm of the spirits”
Kolyoral may correspond to part of the Great Steppe. Perhaps Avalas is the equivalent of the Great Steppe?
Noku summoned two djinn (Air Elemental, chaotic-good), and Hatori gave them gifts of fine wine in order to ask for help getting to Kolyoral. They were pleased with the wine, and told us that Kolyoral is a place of metal and fire in the spirit world, but not a place that they favor as it is antithetical to chaotic-good. They believe there are some undead wandering around, some metal creatures, and some formians (ant warriors). They were able to give us directions to the edge of Kolyoral, and helped us get there faster by plane-shifting us to the spirit world, and cast Wind Walk on us all. Then they wished us well (“Have fun storming the castle!”), and returned to whence they came.
We soon arrived at what seem to be the battle-plain, judging by the battle sounds coming from a nearby ridge. As we got closer, we could see several dead ants, and one ant leader fighting 3 humans. The humans had an odd yellow glow (apparently from Dispel Law). We joined the battle and defeated the “humans”, who turned into slaadi (toads) after they died.
The ant leader spoke in the spirit tongue, and offered to take us to the queen who would reward us. The queen might also know where the Iron Fortress is. Abu loaded the dead ants into his portable hole, and we traveled for several hours to the ant hive. We entered a maze of tunnels, and eventually reached a large cavern where the queen sat.
Hatori introduced himself to the queen, and explained that we had helped the ants because he sometimes summons them into the physical world, and found them to be very helpful and orderly.
The queen told us that they are a somewhat new hive, and have lately been bothered by metallic spirit creatures. They seem to feed on metal, but also attack and eat worker ants, and make odd noises that can deafen others. The ants know where their lair is, but aren’t strong enough to defeat them. If we help defeat the metallic creatures, the queen will lead us to the Iron Fortress. The lair is about two days march away. We agreed to help.
Month 5, Day 19 –
During the second day of marching to the fortress, we encountered some other fiery foes: 6 hell hounds and 4 fire giants. We defeated them rather easily, and continued on our way.
We eventually reached the lair of the metallic cats. Our ant guide stayed back while we entered a sloping tunnel down to a cavern. After a somewhat noisy descent, most of the party gathered just outside the cavern entrance. Noku heard a noise off to the left and cast a Fireball in that direction, but didn’t appear to catch anything. Ashiko flew in and was attacked by the cat leader. She managed to retreat to a safe corner, while Zenako and others engaged the big cat. There were four smaller cats in the pack, and we eventually defeated them all.
We found a message inscribed on a piece of scrap metal. It thanked Tavarus (leader of the cat pack) for allowing the use of the steel predators, and was signed by Imperagon, Lord of the Iron Fortress of Zandikar.
We collected a ring from the dead cat leader, and headed back to the ant hive.
Month 5, Day 21 –
We arrived back at the ant hive and reported to the queen.