Th entrance to the underground city of Turvaamalinn lay but a few days north of White Rock, through well travelled roads through the snow mountains.
Inside they were met by a woman named Kara Wisehead – a priestess of Pakri (Goddess of Law). She told them that the Central Clans were currently in a state of uncertainty, as the previous House leader had died without a clear heir and new one needed to be elected. Several prominent clan heads were politicking to replace him, and she was charged with overseeing the election. But a series of chaotic situations were preventing a final selection. The Central Clans could not commit to a vote for the Pact of the Claw until their own situation was settled and they had a new leader. She asked Roland to speak with the two candidates currently running, and see if he could help resolve the situation. The main issues were:
– Bandits were raiding some of the Lower City mines and preventing the workers from safely excavating.
– Some tunnels were becoming blocked up with ice as the lava-driven system normally used to heat the Lower City was malfunctioning,
– Workers tasked with bringing supplies in from the trade entrances to the Lower City were rumored to be disappearing.
– A caravan bringing the final Elector – Gilmar Goldentongue of Clan Goldentongue – had not arrived as expected and it was unknown what had happened to him.The first candidate – Brodir Steelheart of House Perlevinn – was a gruff and ill tempered man relaxing in an opulent garden. He seemed offended by having to talk to them at all. He was completely dismissive of the problems Kara had discussed. He had sent soldiers to investigate the tunnels, but they had not returned and he had made no effort to follow up on the situation. He seemed to believe it was all “dwarf business” that would sort itself out without their interference. On their way out Falcon dubbed him “The Jack of Asses”.The other candidate was Valdi Boldhand of House Ettiven. He appeared similarly unconcerned with the various issues below, and far more focused on the politics of becoming House leader. He seemed to believe all the troubles would melt away once he was elected and had a free hand to ordered them solved. He was at least more polite than Brodir, but as they headed to the lifts leading down to the Lower City Falcon dubbed him “The Earl of Emptiness”.In the Lower City, they found lower class housing with tunnels leading to mines and tunnels. Many areas were blocked with collapsed rubble and ice blockage. The workers told them that the quarry had been sealed off due to attacks from bandits, areas were collapsing and freezing due to the malfunctioning heating system, and workers outside were being attacked by “peak horrors”. And none of the clan leaders appeared to be making a serious effort to resolve anything. Roland promised they would do what they could to figure out what was happening.While the quarry entrance was locked and blocked with rubble, Kat spied a small opening high up the cavern wall. She was able to climb up to it and let down a rope for the others, so that they could bypass the obstruction. The investment in Boots of Spider Climbing had proven itself once again.While exploring the quarry tunnels they were ambushed by dwarven bandits, leading to a running pitched battle. Upon defeating their foes they found evidence that Lord Brodir himself had hired the bandits, intending to frame Lord Valdi for the disruptions! But they would not bring this evidence to Kara until they finished investigating. They had had too much experience with Sorak infiltrators and false leads by now.
Arriving at the well leading down to the Lava tunnels, they found that guards from House Ettiven had destroyed the elevator down! And would not explain beyond it being “House business”. Fortunately the workers were able to show them a hidden alternate route down.Below they found huge rows of basalt columns surrounding carved lava canals… which were currently empty. And Soraks were attacking dwarven guards below! They immediately jumped in to help. .The injured guards told them that Soraks had blocked up the lava inlets, preventing them from supplying the central heat generator – which fed hot air up through a ventilation system in the lower city. They would have to clear the blockages and then restart the system. And the guards warned them that there were more Soraks and “other things” prowling the tunnels. The first blockage had been guarded by the Soraks they just defeated, and the guards showed them how to clear the blockages. .As they explored, Tess noticed a hidden passageway. Inside they found a clandestine heat generator supplying the Gardens of House Perlevinn. Perlevinn had been clandestinely siphoning from the heating system to keep their Garden warm! Perlevinn mercenaries attacked to prevent them from reporting the discovery, and after their defeat Rolan destroyed the device.Further exploring to find the blocked lava inlets, they were attacked by Soraks and Demons led by a monstrous Hezrou demon with a ghastly foul stench. Defeating it and its retinue proved a formidable challenge, but they were up to the task. They found and cleared the second blockage nearby, and another lava canal began to flow.Further in the tunnel they found another of the strange, pulsating demonic crystalline growths. At this point they realized that they had discovered one near every single Clan stronghold. It seemed highly likely that these were related to the Pact of the Claw.Approaching another blockage area they found… dead Soraks? Before they could investigate further they were attacked by a huge stony Golem. Apparently some of the original dwarven defenses were still active. Unfortunately they were still forced to destroy it in self-defense as it considered them to be intruders. Being essentially a huge ambient rock it was not terribly susceptible to rapier or sword. Fortunately it was still vulnerable to arcane firepower. Afterwards they were able to clear the third and final blockage.With all lava inlets now flowing, they operated the controls to restart the heating system. Unfortunately however, opening up the lava flows had blocked off their way in! They would have to find another way out.
Fortunately, with the lava flowing once again a previously iced-in exit to the mountains outside had melted enough for them to pass. Outside they found a wrecked caravan wagon and an injured guard huddled nearby. She said she had been with the Goldentongue caravan when it was attacked by “monsters”, and she had run to the entrance to seek help – but found the way frozen over. She came with them to show them the way to where the Goldentongues were under seige.As they came around an icy bend, they saw huge furry beasts throwing rocks down at dwarves huddled behind a ring of overturned caravan wagons. They were doing their best to fend off the monsters with crossbows, but it was clear they were losing the battle. Roland and the others immediately lept into action!The largest of the beasts took an immediate dislike to Falcon, but he soon cut it down to size.Gilmar Goldentongue thanked them for the rescue. Upon learning the true reason his caravan had been unable to enter the Lower City entrance and had thus been susceptible to attack and the elements he expressed dismay that the city had been so poorly managed. He had half a mind to throw his own name in for Clan Leader, and Roland encouraged him to do just that. They accompanied him back to the main city once the blocked tunnels were fully defrosted.They immediately escorted Gilmar to the Temple of Pakri for the Election. Kara directly asked them to testify all they had learned before the Electors. Roland revealed how House Perlevinn had been maintaining an illegal heat siphon, and how Brodir had hired bandits to harass the Quarry workers and discredit Valdi. But before Valdi could be too pleased, Roland *also* testified that House Ettiven had been infiltrated by Soraks but Valdi had been so neglectful in his oversight that he hadn’t even noticed his own guards sabotaging the Lower City heating system. Neither had made the slightest effort to fulfil their duty to keep the tunnels clear and operational. Kara thanked them for their testimony, and then asked them to leave the Temple for the resulting discussion and vote.
Afterwards they learned that, as expected, the other Electors had agreed with their assessment and chosen Gilmar as the new Leader over either of the politicians who had been jockeying for the position at the expense of the Clan’s safetyWhen they returned to White Rock City, they once again checked in with Violet and Gorm to see if they had learned anything new. Apparently they had both come to the conclusion that the “Guardian” was a weapon of some kind. The Speaker of the Pact was supposed to gather the amulets – the Claws – and assemble them with the Guardian. This then gave the Speaker to ability to power the walls of the Ice Palace – by channeling his or her own life-force through the Guardian. They claimed that this was an uncomfortable but not permanently harmful process. Unfortunately they still had no idea what the Guardian actually was and where it might be found. And without a new infusion of life-force the Palace was fading and letting demons leak into Solasta…
But for now all they could do was set out to the Western Clans to secure the final vote, and hope that by the time they returned Gorm and Violet would have better lead for them.
3 responses to “Solasta: Trouble Under the Mountain”
atcDave
Its fun to see more of this!
I was a little disappointed that most obviously obnoxious of the dwarves was indeed the biggest villain. But Roland’s assessment of the Dwarves seems completely fitting and fair.
There seems to be a more big and epic battles, not unusual for D&D game design. It helps the feeling of nearing a climax build nicely. On balance, I like how politics seems to play some role in the Solasta adventure all the way through.
The Western Clans gets even more wild and wooly. Lots going on there that I’m still contemplating how to represent – and I haven’t even finished playing through it yet. Like an attempted Sorak assault on an Elven tree city. Good times.
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