moi

The Mothers settled in to Conath痴 Inn for the night. They took the time to formally accept Siosiann and Kurtalla into their ranks. After reviewing the charter, it was decided that a new set of items which displayed the tree symbol of the Mothers were required for each of them. They enquired the next morning of a craftsman from the barkeep, who informed them that Beonir the smith was well thought of. The Mothers journeyed there and asked for five items to be created to seal the new party:

Kurtalla � a ring
Siosiann � an amulet
Gaspode � a belt and buckle
Fonesca � a belt and buckle
Jito � a cloak clasp

This the dwarf readily agreed to do, taking specifications of materials from each individual. He also asked them what the symbol indicated and once they mentioned The Mothers of Invention, Beonir said that he had met Bert Anvilfist. He said that Bert had been in Citadel Adbar and then in Citadel Felbar learning all that he could at the forge and from the rune priests of the dwarves. Apparently he had mentioned something to Beonir about the indignity of levitation combined with boots and ropes. Since the Mothers were in a shopping mood, they also asked Beonir for a recommendation for a mage who could identify items for them. Beonir suggested that they visit Iyin, his cousin and he gave them directions to his abode, which was near one of the exits to the underdark. The Mothers bade farewell to the smith, promising to return in two days to collect their badges.

The passages in the depths of Adbar were claustrophobic and well patrolled. The Mothers saw a gateway which presumably marked ones of the limits of the underground citadel, but they turned off just before they reached it and went up a narrow tunnel in the rock. The doorway that they came to was of stone and it was closed to them with no apparent mechanism. When they knocked a mouth appeared above them from the stone and asked them their business. When they replied, the stone rolled back to reveal a thin, bald, beardless dwarf. Iyin greeted them with cynicism and humour, but they won him around with talk of a quandary, the items that they knew were magical but did not detect as such. He looked at these pieces and stated that he could do nothing with them and that their best chance of success lay in talking to the keepers of lore. He took the other, more mundane, magical items from them and said to come back in a day. When quizzed on lore keepers he suggested the clergy of the dwarven pantheon, but he told them that there was no high priest, rather three senior clerics. The Mothers thought Thorik Veldun was the one thought most likely to have the knowledge they sought as he was the rune priest. Storn Unhammer and Tace Bladebite were the spiritual and military clerical advisors respectively.

Soon the Mothers found themselves conversing with Thorik. He was a rather more conventional, heavily bearded, dwarf, though his clothing was covered in runes of all types. When he discovered their connection with Bert he became very helpful, but he did not have any knowledge of the wands that they had found with the naga or the fire giantess. He did offer a route to Cormyr to the party, once he had heard about their forays with the giants, though they had to swear an oath on the altar in the temple not to reveal its secret. He said that there was a portal in Citadel Adbar that opened in Cormyr and that they could utilize it. When the topic of Gamm Ironcrown came up, Thorik was most interested to hear news of him. He told them about his curse, whether it was bound to Gamm or to his axe, he was not sure. The Mothers thanked him for his offer of passage but said that they were not yet ready to leave the Citadel as they were waiting on the items that they had ordered or left to be identified.

Iyin welcomed the Mothers the next day as they took back possession of their items along with his explanation of how they would work. The Mothers seemed especially impressed by the Iron Horn. Thanking the dwarf, the Mothers went back to the smith Beonir the next day and collected their accoutrements. They proudly put them on before returning to the temple to talk to Thorik. When the priest realised that they were ready to depart he told them that a certain Roryn Stoneshield would meet them on the far side and to give him a scroll, which Thorik handed them. He also warned them to have their charter ready for inspection.

Thorik led them on a spiralling stone ramp, further down into the citadel’s depths. A room that was guarded by four heavily armoured dwarves contained a glowing stone doorway. It stood in the centre of the chamber, carved with runes that they could not decipher. Without further ado, Thorik indicated that they should step through. The transition was very similar to that experienced when using the cubic gate, not unpleasant exactly, but uncomfortable. Certainly no hint of the darkness of the transfer they experienced when using the giants’ chain. On the other side another squadron of dwarves was waiting, and the aforementioned Roryn was summoned to greet the Mothers by one of them. This stern, humourless dwarf, checked the scroll and their charter and immediately ushered them out of the room and out of the building. He left them with only another warning not to reveal the secret of the portal.

Kurtalla and Gaspode soon found a merchant selling horses, and Kurtalla’s skill picked out the best of them. Gaspode’s skill was obtaining the lowest price. They mounted up immediately and took Calantar’s Way leading to Hilp, Immersea and then Arabel. The journey took three days. When they arrived they went straight to the Weary Knight Inn and stabled their horses.