With the spider invasion at least temporarily halter, it was decided that Darius and his companions would return to dealing with the Troll problem while Johd and Tristian would see if they could learn anything more about the Bald Hilltop and what had transpired there.
Ekundayo and Harrim joined them in the field. Ekandayo because of his knowledge of local trolls and their movements, and Harrim for his knowledge of dwarven ruins in the area. While searching they came upon an old, abandoned village with a strange well. A well with a sealed top that fairly reeked of malevolence.
Disturbing the well three evil wisps to fly out and attack them with lightning!
Angelique communed with the spirits to see what had happened here. It seemed a love triangle gone wrong had resulted in a young dryad being cursed and turning into a malevolent being know as the Scythe Tree, with the rest of the village either trapped as spirits or having fled long ago.
The key to releasing the curse would be destroying the Scythe Tree. Not an easy task – as it had many long, slicing branch-tentacles and was surrounded by poisonous fumes..
But in they end they got close enough to hack it down, releasing the dryad spirit and ending the curse.
After more several false and/or confusing leads, they eventually came to an old dwarven stronghold overlooking a wide area from a hilltop. As they approached they were met by a large troll. A large, enthusiastically smiling troll who seemed eager to converse….
The troll gave his name as “Jazon”, and welcomed them to “Trobold”. Jazon claimed that Trobold was a peaceful kingdom of trolls and kobolds, who only wanted to be left in peace. He claimed Tartuk had taught him to speak Common, and that King Tartuk and King Hargulka asked that “borba” (humans, elves, etc) stay away until they were ready to meet. He said that Tartuk had protected the trolls from fire, and in return the trolls had agreed to ally with the kobolds.
Darius replied that he was the ruler of the nearest “borba” kingdom, and so he wished to negotiate with Tartuk and Hargulka. Jazon seemed confused. He had been told not to allow any “borba” to approach, but he was not told what to do with “borba kings”. Finally he agreed to take Darius to see Hargulka.
Jazon escorted them past a large assembly of trolls and kobolds in the stronghold courtyard, and into the main keep. Inside they met a large, armored troll who clearly appeared to be in charge. Hargulka took one look at Darius and then punched Jazon in the face. “Your orders no Borba!”, he growled, sending Jazon whimpering and running away.
Hargulka then glared at Darius, proclaiming that Tartuk had made the trolls immortal, and now they were better, stronger, and smarter than any “borba”. Darius quipped that acid still worked perfectly fine… and the other trolls hissed. Hargulka snorted, ordered his henchmen to kill them all, and wandered back down the hall – smashing over a dwarven statue on his way to prevent anyone following.
They quickly dispatched Hargulka’s henchmen, and then began looking around. Harrim seemed particularly incensed, believing the state of the stronghold reflected Torag abandoning his followers. He made snide comments about Torag’s power and loyalty at ever once-proud feature they passed. Darius wondered if Harrim was trying to convince the others… or himself.
Before long they came to a large former banquet hall, with weapons and detritus strewn about. Ekundayo hissed at a large axe on the wall. “I know that axe! That is the axe of Kargadd! The beast who slew my wife and daughter! Be prepared!” He was clearly seething and Darius was concerned for his ability to approach battle with a clear head.
When they entered the hall, they were approached by two small trolls. Children. Who wanted to know if they were going to kill “Daddy”… Ekundayo had his bow raised and aimed, and was clearly struggling between his desire for revenge and the recognition that – troll or not – these were children. Darius gave him a hard look, and he slowly lowered his bow. Allowing the troll children to run away.
Shortly thereafter, however, Kargaad himself appeared. Roaring and thundering with a pair of trollhounds in tow. Ekundayo would *not* be merciful this time.
The battle was tough. Kargaad was huge and his trollhounds menacing. But between Angelique’s and Darius’ curses, Maha’s and Kwon’s weapons, and Ekundayo’s bow they ultimately brought the huge troll down.
Ekundayo stared at the corpse for a long time, gave it a good, solid kick – venting his rage and frustration… and then said simply “done”.
They fought their way through the Trolls in the keep, until they made their way to the lower level. They met Jazon again in a large guardroom, but he refused to fight and walked away – saying that Hargulka had betrayed the principles of Trobold.
Finally they found Tartuk and Hargulka in a large room with a dwarven Anvil of Torag – a gift from Torag used by dwarves to forge magical arms and armor. And Tartuk was using the Anvil to brand a troll!
Hargulka congratulated them on their arrival, eager to tear them apart – but Tartuk stopped him, wanting parlay. He asked Darius “Why are you slaying us? Why attack our home?” Darius responded, “You attacked my people, I defend them”. And continued, “How long Tartuccio, can you keep pretending?” Tartuk hesitated at the name, momentarily confused, and then angrily responded “You know nothing!”. He began casting a spell on Hargulka, who roared “Death! Kill!” and the fight was on!
When Hargulka died, Tartuk slumped down – and surrendered. Darius demanded once more “Who are you? Really?” The kobold sighed and claimed to both remember… and not remember.. the gnome Tartuccio. He remembered sending… something… through a portal to the king of Pitax. He remembered Tartuccio’s death. And some unknown power had brought him back. But not as he had been. Instead he had been brought back as what he pretended to be. He remembered Tartuccio… and despised him. He claimed that Tartuccio had been a meserable fool – but as Tartuk he had been a leader. He had mattered, and others had mattered to him. He had created Trobold as a home for kobolds, and turned a blind eye to Hargulka because they needed the trolls protection. He thought together the kobolds and trolls could build something better. Now… he just wanted to go away. He was tired of killing, and tired of death following in his wake.
Darius stared at him long and hard… and then released him. This was no longer Tartuccio – not where it mattered. And whatever his mistakes, he had been trying to build something better.
As they turned to leave, Harrim stood staring at the Anvil. “Once I dreamed of working on an Anvil like this…” He glared, angry, saying it was unnatural and wrong for such a symbol of hope to still be working in the sorrow and suffering of the abandoned stronghold. He suddenly struck the Anvil with his fist, a mad rumble of laughter echoed through the room, and the Anvil collapsed.
Among the shards of the broken Anvil Darius saw a glimmering red stone – shimmering with heat. Harrim reached down to take it… and then handed it to Darius. Defeated. “I shouldn’t have come“, he sighed, the anger draining out of him. “For now I just wish to be left alone”.
Outside the stronghold they met a number of Kobolds. Upon being told the fate of Tartuk and Hargulka they set off to find Tartuk. Jazon the Troll was dejectedly wandering the outside of the stronghold as well, and similarly decided to search for Tartuk. Perhaps there would yet be hope for “Trobold” in the future…
Back at the capital, Tristian, Jhod, and Linzi were theorizing about the spider invasion. It seemed Bald Hill bore a curse. And though it was once again dormant, it was not gone. It would return again. They estimated 6 months before it erupted again – and they could not say what form that would take. Linzi suggested simply razing the hill to the ground, but they others doubted that would help. And it might even make things worse given they had little idea how the ritual stones atop the hill and the curse interacted. The best they could do is keep watch, prepare, and investigate every lead they could find.
Author’s Notes:
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