With the decision made as to what to do next, each person seperated into their own group. Yacob and Nym took it upon themselves to catalogue and identify the magical items, with the help of Breslin, all the while talking to the two about the place and it's wonders.

Turbalio, Johnathan, Sonori and Dezuk searched the library, noting any useful tomes and scrolls

The rest, Followed By Zell and Karbuil, searched the keep from the bottom to the top.

The bottom floor was pretty much storage and a feasting hall and kitchen. The second held small rooms from a single room to one that would suit families, enough to easily hold a decent sized clan. The items in each room varied from personal objects like jewelery (Most metal was rusted beyond repair, but some small stones were found), shreds of rotted materails, like wood and clothes and beds made of stone.

The third floor and the fourth were work areas....the third held a forge and anvil which were ong cold, the only items of worth were smithing tools that were made of mithril that stood the test of time. There was also a sealed room that held many a magical material.....pretty much materails for any spell known to the group and some they didn't know. An alchemy lab with class that was smashed was home to some foul smelling  mould.

The floors above were destroyed beyond repair and couldn't even access them.

The Group in the library found many a tome of crafting of magical items, dwarven and general lore and other topics. Johnathan, knowing Kell's interest, saves two books on smithing, one of general items, the other of armor. Johnathan himself took some books on dwarven lore, general history and such.

Yacob, Breslin and Nym worked tirelessly on the items in the vault, asking the people to leave everything it had so they could find what it was.

IT was two days later when the tasks were done. The keep had been mapped, the books mostly catalogued and items in the vault noted.

The grou prepared to leave, making their final decisions on what to take to Luskan for the dwarf Alstadin, and what few items they kept.

<OOC: The items that were identified have been updated in the groop loot thread.  you may pick one major item and one minor OR three minor items.  Post me before you post for the approval, and when i approve, you may post taking them.  Then we will move on>

Sonori was happy to help Kell find books that he wanted and to talk to Johnathan about how their god seemed to manifest slightly different aspects, being known by different names and even different emphasis on portfolios in their respective homelands. She also scanned for any books in Aquan - it was an unusual language, and one where what one found was usually quite interesting. "I suggest we put any books that we can't read in one place, to see if anyone else can read the titles." She figured that between the larger group, there would hopefully not be much that someone couldn't read.

She was as footloose as the god whom she worshiped, and so would have liked to have also been exploring the keep, but settled herself to looking at the tomes, as that seemed to be where she would be of the most use at the moment with her ability to read six languages.

When things had been identified, she noted, "If it's okay, I'd rather the boots of the winterlands than the ring. If nothing else, that will save me from preparing endure elements most days." She generally prepared endure elements as she liked to swim, and water had a way of sucking the warmth out of bodies. But she felt the dwarves should have first pick, and then the party who had gotten here first. So only if the others did not want them would she take them.

Nym keeps the armor and the wand he picked up. One of the rings he identified was one he wanted but left alone as he had lots of work to do before heading out to Waterdeep with Yacob, Nino and anyone else going with us.

"With this Elven Chain and this Ring of Invisibility, I could be the perfect scout...."

I agree Zell, You can have the ring, would you mind if I keep these boots of springing and striding. Jonathan walks over and picks up the last pair of magical boots and the ring of feather fall.

after choosing his items the young cleric sits down by Sonori and Kell, to get to know the new comers better.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:55, Wed 12 Feb 2020.

  In between identifying the lot of the trove Yacob sleeps and reads. If asked a question he merely chuckles and says "First we get out of here. Then we get to Luskan and see if we can hire a boat to take us to Waterdeep. Plenty of time for talk while traveling. Besides I can't answer questions about a topic that I haven't studied yet." he then goes back to what he was doing.

 When they finish identifying the trove Yacob says "I'm taking this staff. Something tells me it might prove useful." and he packs up his gear the next morning. He leaves his old iron staff in the place of the dragon staff. It floats there if it was a fair trade somehow.

Sonori is happy to converse with whomever wishes to speak with her. She talks about the chaotic but kind providence of Shaundakul, whom she attributes for having saved her life in the unusual manner of having first given her the ability to breath water when she had, as little more than a toddler, fallen into a raging river and nearly drowned, and then caused the waves to bring her to twin hybsil clerics, who raised her.

She also asks about what drew others into the life of adventurers - after all, people who have quiet, happy, normal lives rarely take on the mantle of risk but excitement of adventuring. And she asks about other's gods - after all, it is important to give people reasonably proper rites according to their beliefs if they died - well, assuming they didn't worship evil gods. She wouldn't provide even the nominal worship of giving rites according to the precepts of an evil god.

 "Religion is like a heart. Everyone has one and has an opinion on how much it matters. That being said I have a holy symbol inside my shirt. If I die feel free to look. Until then my shirt stays on." he says with a saucy wink at the end to let her know he was kidding about the death thing. "Let's get to know each other better first before we start discussing religion."

With everyone rested and the path clear, everyone knew what was to happen next. The doors to the Vault and keep were sealed by nino (With the texts provided up in Anthel's study, Breslin knew how to open the vault again), again with a 'ooohhh' from the dwarf, the joint group left most of the items behind.

It was decided that Breslin and the other dwarves would travel with the group as far as Miribar, where all would see Alstadin. The main group would only stay briefly and continue onto luskan and catch a ship south to waterdeep.

With everyone having chosen gear to help them on their trip, The group left the vault, cave and the history of dwarven magic. Breslin chose Several texts and scrolls as proof of the find as well as several small magical items. The other dwarves chose nothing as they were returning home.


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It was 3 days later when the group emerged from the caves, dirty, weary and ill used to the morning light. The trip back was uneventful except for Turbalio trying his hardest to fall down the cliff he almost fell down last time.  Luckily, Kell, being above him, tied a rope to him, stopping his fall.

The sun was bright and air was cool and despite being almost a week in the caves for the new team, their camp was relatively unmolested, with the ponies sticking to the basin, eating grass.

the group had a quick hot meal, and again left, eagre to reach the dwarven city and their next stage of adventure.

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Two days had passed since your arrival back in miribar. Despite Yacob's insistence on leaving the next day, his uncle overruled him, stating he would prepare ponies and word for a ship to the south, which would save them time.

Breslin and Turbalio, along with Sonori and Katala, shared their house, talked about the trip and wonders. Breslin, wanting to continue with his friend, was disappointed when Alstadin told him that the trip would not benefit him and his injury. His spirits rose when he was told he would be chief caravan master to the keep in restoring it to it's glory.

The other three dwarfs said their fond farewells, and left, only seeing them in passing in the city.

By the end of the second day, word had gotten out about the find and what it meant, and those who knew, treated the party with awe and reverence, offering them food and ale. those who knew it as a rumor heard the tales of brave adventurers risking life to find a hidden treasure beyond the dwarven imagination.

The usual Clan dinner was skipped on Alstadin's insistence and a private dinner was organised for the party in his hall. The group waited outside, again with two dwarven guards on each side of the arch (Clearly formality)

The group welcomed the rest and comfort, stocking up supplies, having warm washes and meals, but the only person who seemed to be eagre to leave was Yacob, even now pacing impatiently in the hall, his new staff in hand.

The door opened and Alstadin looked at the group, signalling them into the room. Inside was a big stone table with several copper plates with forks and knives. Off to the side, a male dwarf, old in age, tended a fire holding a whole spit pig, on the table close by was roasted vegetables, breads, cheeses, gravy and fruit, as well as several barrels of ale and two bottles of wine.

Alstadin helped himself to the food on a plate and sat down, waiting on the others. Before starting to eat himself, he spoke. "I know ye are earge to move on....yes Nephew, i'm lookin' at ye there, but trust me, the delay will save ye time. I have fresh ponies fer each of ye, as well as notified an old friend o' mine....a half elf captain aboard the phoenix Dawn. She's a merchant ship, but she'll get ye to where ye need to go.""

The dwarf took a mouthful of food, and a drink of ale, then continued. "I know most o' what ye found in th' keep, and though what breslin described was nothin' short of amazing, i want to hear what ye had to face and what ye found. Also, i wnat to know what is on me other nephew's hand there..." Indicating Nino and the gauntlet "...what that stone is always with ye priest and why by bloody moradin's beard ye in such a hurry!"

Quinn ate hungrily from the feast, smiling to himself as Yacob got scolded for always being in a hurry. Quinn was ready to travel too though, but the rest was good. He had painted his Holy Symbol on his new shield as the old one.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:37, Wed 12 Feb 2020.

  "Well it's both a long and a short story. Nino wears The Blackguard Guantlet. Yes Uncle that Blackguard. The keep was Anthel's. In the main we fought some really big spiders, but that is about it. Fact is getting into the keep and finding the truth of the place was the easy part. No the real peril started the moment Tracks got curious." he pauses indicating the priest. "World shattering magic should have the warnings before the spells. It really should. That being said the stone he carries has something to do with an old friend of the Clans. Zarmantan or The Great Old One. I believe that Anthel's Keep was razed to get to this stone. And the one who did so had control of a red dragon along with some Tuskers. The Keep was different than you could imagine. The place has memories and it shared them. I refuse to let Miribar be razed like Anthel's Keep for I have no doubt that SHE will come for that stone."

  He kept the staff nearby as was rapidly becoming his custom.

Standing and approaching where Alstadin sat, the young cleric cleared his throat and spoke as he presented the journal and scroll tubes with his maps and sketches with in. Then spoke in dwarven to the king.


[ said in Dwarven: King Alstadin these belong to you and your clan, as agreed detailed maps of both the area surrounding the lost keep and the keep itself. As well as written details and sketches of every thing we encountered.] With a bowed head Jonathan lays his work before the king, then raises his head and looks the king in the eyes. I have in my possession a few text on dwarven history, as well as the text on dwarven smithing. I would keep these to study with my companions on our journey if it please you. I would also continue to act as your historian with your permission.

As far as the stone goes, It was suggested that I examine it, I did so first with magic then picked it up for a closer look and that is when the ground shook. Yacob thinks I have bonded with it in some way and had informed me that I alone have no choice but accompany him on this adventure. The young cleric couldn't help but laugh. Little does my dwarven friend know even if he forbid me to go. I would follow him and stowaway on the ship if need be, he could not stop me if he had to.

If it please you Alstadin, I could use more mapping and Journaling materials.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:15, Thu 13 Feb 2020.

The new chainmail fit Zell like a glove as he traded Jonathan the pair of boots he was holding for the ring. Zell couldn't believe his luck! A Ring of Invisibility! Breaking into homes was going to a be cinch now! But, deep down, he was wondering what Rivka was thinking. Zell fully embarrassed himself with that ghost. He ran away screaming! He doubted she would want anything to do with him now. She probably thought he was a coward and who likes cowards? Zell figured it was his curse for murdering that man long ago...

During the trip back, Zell didn't speak much to anyone. He kept a sharp eye out for trouble, as usual, but Zell figured that this would be his only adventure and that Yacob would tell his Uncle what a failure Zell was and Alstadin would relieve him of his service. He only used the ring once, just to see if it worked, figuring that he would have to give his treasures back once in town again.

Once back in town, the only thing Zell did was rest, for he believed that he didn't deserve a fresh, warm bath and a warm meal in the presence of heroes. The chainmail he recovered was folded up nicely with the ring placed on top with the Leather Band that Alstadin gave him to the side, preparing to hand it over when the truth was told. Now that the band was off, Zell just stared at the brand on his arm in silence.

A mountain with an axe and hammer crossed in front of it and two dwarven runes either side of the peak of the mountain between the head of the axe and hammer.

Sonori was usual quite happy with chatting, including with the random dwarves who wanted to hear a bit about their adventure and what they had seen. She was a bit impatient ever since they had finished exploring the keep, but in a footloose sort of way, not with the sort of urgency that Yacob displayed.

In the downtime, she was happy to spend some time reading to Kell and teaching him Dwarven, or any of the other languages he wanted to know if he preferred.

As they traveled more, the others would have noted that she preferred to sleep under water, assuming the water wasn't moving too quickly, rather than in a normal camp. She explained it as being like an embrace that just helped soothe her.


As was polite, at the feast she waited for the host to either give an indication that they should start eating, which in this case was him starting eating. She took some food, but as a gnome, didn't need the same amount as the other, larger folks and had snacked on what locals brought in exchange for a story, so wasn't too hungry. For now she just listened - her group hadn't seen much in the ways of battle and she had mostly scanned and helped catalog book titles, and while she had perused parts of the keep, had not explored it thoroughly like Jonathan and others had. She felt that really, she was among the least qualified, therefore, to expand upon their adventures. She would wait until there seemed to be more reason to speak.

Nym is almost as eager as Yacob is to get on the move.

Whoever, or whatever razed Anthel's Keep is going to find out the stone has been moved.  They will have a good guess of where it has been moved to.  My suspicion is that Lloth is the one after the stones now.  The large number of spiders we encountered would seem to point to her.  I'm sure we will discover more accurate clues along the way to, and in Waterdeep itself.

Nym enjoys the feast and tries to talk to Zell about things not related to the undead that he ran away from.  Wanting, instead, to reassure the half elf that his contributions to the group have been invaluable, and will be continue to be so as they travel to Waterdeep and beyond if necessary.

Alstadin listened to the group without word. He raised his eyebrows at zell abd the fact he removed the wrist covering, but smiled.

He looked at Johnathan and raised a hand. " I be no king priest...just a humble merchant with good standing is all." he looked at Yacob and winked. "As fer ye offer, I will gladly accept it. Any materails ye need just write me a list and can have it within the hour"

He looked at the papers as the others spoke, smiling. "Yer talented priest, I'll give ye that."

He straightened the papers and clasped his hands in front of him. "I know not what th' stone is, never even heard o it. Th' great one I have....all dwarves know his legend.
A human Magus that saved our kin many a time. Said to be ageless, older than even elminster. What I know of him is he helped all good races....ye dig into elven, gnome, human and even halfling lore and i'd bet ye may find at least one reference."

He sighed then continue. "Last known where abouts o' him was 300 years ago. said he helped th' Harper's, so th' message yo ask th' lady of waterdeep may be a solid lead"

He looked at all of them. "As fer what raised th' keep, wether dragon or something else, I believe it will not attack us...i believe it will hunt you. My advice, find th' old one fast....he may be th' key to solving this."

He looks at you all and nods. "It's good ye claimed some of th' treasure.....given what ye told me, ye may need it."
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:00, Thu 13 Feb 2020.

 "And now you know why I am in a hurry. I believe you to be correct in the fact that the dragon will hunt us." he said to his Uncle as he followed his gaze to the arm of Zell. To which he raises an eyebrow. "The history of the stones or at least as much information as Anthel could find she wrote in a journal. One of the only texts I kept for myself.

Nino was happy to be back as he gobbled food and drank beer. If he had enough intelligence to talk to his Uncle, he would have told him that the party was trying to starve him to death! When asked about the Gauntlet, he let his Uncle see it and even demonstrated how the weapons magically appeared.

Turbalio sat quietly during dinner as he listened to the conversations with Alstadin.  There was still so much that the group didn't know about Anthel's keep and how the inhabitants within met their ultimate fate.  The bard found himself in complete agreement Yacob that such an occurrence not happen to the great Miribar.  If that met taking the danger on themselves as they traveled with the stone, then so be it.

As he ate, he found his thoughts lingering on his friends:  Breslin and his wife Katala, as well as Slag, Thaelem and Peredur.  The four baritones had taken Turbalio in that night many moons ago at the Grinning Lion tavern in Waterdeep and made him feel like family.  While he was happy for Breslin's new role, he was also saddened that the five would no longer be traveling and performing together.  He had learned much from them and his respect for all things dwarven had increased manifold in their time together.

He looked around at the group he would be traveling with now and smiled.  Each one seemed to be a person of good character.  While he would undoubtedly miss his old friends, a part of him was excited for the coming journey and the opportunity to better know these new friends.

Jonathan got up from his seat with a mug of ale in hand and moved over to where Trubalio sat pulling out a chair he sat down beside him. Good bard we have yet to be truly introduced, My name is Jonathan Tucker but my friends call me Tracks. I and Sonori worship different aspects of the same God. In the manifestation I follow he is called Fharlanghn, the God of travel and luck. My studies led me to the historian aspect of worship, my God calls on me to travel and record my journey's and experiences. To write tales of my self and those around me, to record our accomplishments and our failures. I would never dream of calling what I do a talent, no no no I simply write down all that I see.The young human pauses to drink, and relaxes as the nights festivities continue.