Court of the Troll King

 The 11th day in the 4th month 1372

Again the heroes delved deep beneath Tandis keep seeking the missing knight. Visefrin's mighty auguries guided them once more to the 6th deep where they fell under wicked ambush by many trolls. The heroes were betrayed by a captive wretch and the trolls fell upon them from all sides. The foul horrors fought savagely but were outdone by sword and spell. Into a star-shaped chamber the heroes charged and beheld a gleaming gem upon a marble podium. This once grand room had become the stronghold of a great troll; the Court of the Troll King was a terrible thing to behold, yet again the heroes prevailed. They drove the King and his foul mistress below and commanded them to carry news of the heroes' victory to their masters.

The heroes claimed the star-shaped stone that shone with brilliant light. It was a medallion of great power that could be used to read the minds of men. This, they were told by the troll, was the prize sought by the golden-robed sorcerer. 

The heroes turned back, leaving Jean to his uncertain fate. The hydra again accosted them as they made their way toward the Court of Chaos, but a boldly summoned stirge was sent to cover the heroes' retreat, and Taran's haste spell sped them toward the daylight beyond.

In the following days Visefrin once more communed with the mighty gods of Law.

Here are the questions of the bishop and the answers given by the unknowable divinities:

Does the man in the golden robes want something in return for Jean?

Yes, he has long desired the star-shaped medallion.

What is guarding the lost canticles?

Mighty behemoths that cause the earth to stir and stones to sway

What powers does the crusader's armor possess?

None that are not known to you already. Seek also the crusader’s helm and shield to gain the armor’s true power

Into the Dark

 4th day in the 4th month 1372

The heroes delved into the dungeons beneath Tandis for the first time in months. They sought Jean of Manglian, the missing knight. Visefrin communed with the gods and learned that Jean was alive, but held captive by one in Golden Robes. 

Into the fifth deep they trod and went further down into the 6th level. There they met the shade of an ancient wizard who posed to them a riddle, promising riches if they were correct and death if they weren't. They gave an incorrect answer and were enveloped by a wicked blast of ice that killed Taran and several hirelings. Thankfully, the mighty Visefrin restored life to the magic user. 

They abandoned their query and returned to the court of Chaos. A massive 7-headed hydra burst into the chamber as they made their escape. 

In the downtime that followed Sybael petitioned the lord for a homestead. Throy told the elf that if he were to distinguish himself at the coming tourney, the lord may grant him such an honor. 

Wellborn made good progress in fabricating ink suitable for scribing magic scrolls. All that was needed still was the medium, likely the ink of a giant squid. 

Heironymous continued work on the potions distilled from the blood of the Frost Giants.

The Journey Home

The 15th-28th day of the 3rd month 1372

The heroes bade farewell to the elves of Tanglewood and returned to Kronstadt. There, they made contact with the sellsword, Valdimar, who promised to take them to a glittering castle full of treasure—for a price. Fidlthid paid the man, and off they went into the high mountains. There, they found a bridge spanning a great chasm and the massive glittering castle beyond.

On the bridge, they battled large wolves whose breath was magic ice, and they made their way into a courtyard where two massive frost giants rose from beneath large snow drifts. After a tense parley, the heroes were taken into the hall before the Frost Giant Jarl. 

Filthid returned to the Jarl his dagger which he had previously purchased from the wretch, Syral Mora. Taran's honeyed words afforded them favor among the giants and as a reward, the Jarl allowed them to climb the high tower to meet his wife, Runa, a seeress. 

The beautiful Runa inhaled deeply from her burning brazier of herbs and gave her auguries. She said that the men of the Dunlands were to war with one another, that the elven couple would have a child, that many enemies were poised to strike from the shadows, and that the futures of Sabira and her child were shrouded in darkness. 

The giantess also intimated that she was unhappily kept in her tower by the Jarl, and one of her husband's thanes, Hrolf, would gladly overthrow the Jarl.

The heroes returned and spoke to Hrolf and he agreed to challenge the Jarl if the heroes would join him in battle. Hrolf issued his challenge and the battle was on. The heroes slew the Jarl as Hrolf and his man battled the other thanes. In the end, Hrolf made Runa the queen of the household, Runa gave the heroes her earrings of emerald and gold, and Valdimar (who had been caged for attempting to steal) was released. The heroes had made a powerful ally of Runa, who agreed to make more auguries in the following year's winter. 

The heroes traveled west and at the mouth of a pass, they saw a great ruined city of tumbledown stones. Within they met frightened wretches who made their home among the ruins. It seemed these people were troubled by other denizens of the city and wished someone to aid them. This the heroes promised to do when summer arrived. The heroes returned to Tandis some days later. 

Bishop Visefrin inquired about the knight who had descended into the dungeon. Sir Jean and his men had gone below weeks before and had not been seen since. Boraint also told Visefrin of a ruined temple, known only as the Forest Temple. This place was rumored to contain The Lost Canticles, a folio of powerful prayers lost to the faith. Boraint believed he knew the location of this ruined temple. 

Herionymous took to his laboratory to begin work on some new magical concoction and Wellborn saw to his household. 

Taran entered Tandis village armed with charm spells. She sought information about any enemies that may have been embedded among the villagers. The imminent arrival of the Court of Love, the many new building projects, and visiting pilgrims had all contributed to an increase in population. At the Inn of Ill Omen, she made contact with several members of the local demi-monde. They reported strange men and one pointed out a small serpent sigil carved into a table where they had been sitting. The informants did not know where these men were staying, but claimed they were likely to return.