Gundar Vundark/Council of War

Later that evening a globe of energy announces the arrival of the gypsy wagon in the rift magically, accompanied by Elkazzar, the Thayvian assigned to instruct the customers in the use of their new magical conveyance.

The wizard beckons the dwarf to inspect what appears to be a medium sized ornate gypsy wagon, indicating the magical lamps that illuminate the exterior.

Within the door, at first is a wide about 15-foot-wide foyer. There's a beautiful red carpet laid down and there are benches along each side, beyond which are a series of humanoid sized cubbies which appear to have shelves and racks for equipment. Beyond that you can see a large mezzanine that has a sunken carpeted sort of interior. In the in the far part of the sunken interior, there's a what appears to be a burning fireplace giving off heat and warmth above the fireplace, which does not have a chimney. Nor does the smoke appear to be moving anywhere appears to be a space, sort of like. A command deck overlooks towards the rear entrance of the Gundar Vundark, but it's clear that that's the location from which it appears. You take command of the actual thing when it's moving within the sunken space itself. Is a large oblong table to be made of some sort of precious stone. Appears to be a map table around which folks can sit, communicate, eat, what have you, and then off to the sides around the mezzanine and beyond.

The fireplace, which produces warmth. Is sort of a direct moving gate directly to the demiplane of magma, and it is from that gate. That the magical energy that create that that enables the protection and the locomotion, as well as the entire dweomer that holds the layman's mansion equivalent within it, is derived from. If that is extinguished. And so will the magic itself of the gundar vandark be extinguished.

Alkazar explains the function of the elemental rift that powers the contraption, and that they must pick a ward item to allow their access to the magical space.  Those without such items will only appear to stand within a gypsy wagon, appearing to those with wardstones within the foyer.

Alkazar spends the rest of the mid-morning explaining some of the rudimentary features of the Gundar Vundark to the dwarf, including the fact that it exists on the ethereal plane as well as the prime material.

In Bloodstone Village, at the Firebreathing Dwarf Stepan is doling out what remains of his thin mead and thinner gruel to Maktar and his company known as the Fist of Helm, and immediately set up make a position in Bloodstone village itself, while protecting but not entering the despoiled cathedral of Lathander.

Jameson does not appear to be visible, but otherwise the assembled villagers and outsiders share bread, gruel, and stories when not otherwise preparing the defense.

About noon, a speck in the sky causes a lookout to shout; until it grows and appears to be a gypsy wagon pulled by astral steeds steadily descending out of the clouds until it lands in front of the tavern, assembled villagers throughout awed at the appearance of the dwarf and half-orc.

In the excitement of the crowd, Jameson the Fletcher appears again at the edge of the crowd, clearly interested in the dwarf and his companion but doing his best not to appear so.

He came from up the the the north. You know that his. His shack is in the far northern portion of the village.

Noon 2 Altuirak

 Draxos observes this, and even with the crowded activity and churning snow tracks the fletchers steps around the baron’s manor, toward the edge of Lake Midal.  He was clearly attempting to hide his tracks in the traffic of others.

While tracking Jameson, Draxos finds instead the elven form of the red dragon Dexthara walking quietly along the lakefront.

“How are things faring?” The ranger inquires.

The magical being responds that she knows the great turtle Linthicus is angered by the disturbance, and she looks forward to rendering her last efforts to destroying the undead.

Dexthara reminds the elves they aid her not out of altruism, but out of a blood oath before turning to rejoin the low-key party in the common square.

Alkazar continues to instruct the dwarf and companions as to the operational controls of the craft, to the amazement of those watching.

That evening, Riordan informs all of you that Baron Trance would like to convene a Council of war. To seek your advice in the defense of the oncoming host to the north.

At the war council, all of the Heroes are named Margraves;  the lowest nobility of Damara with a 5% stake in the mines split amongst them.

Baron Tranth and Riordan discuss the bandits in Arcatan livery blocking roads to the south;  and the pending arrival of a company of Barovians.  All in all, a solid force of nearly three thousand, and a dragon are fully engaged in the defense.  The horde may be terrifying, but finally a sense of potential hope has taken root as the tales of success in Barovia and Hillsafar Hall continue to make their rounds, accompanied by the savory feast of the Ranger; the tunes and tales of the mage/thief, and the daily breakfasts summoned by the dwarf do much to rally the spirits of an already stout folk.  Training with Kailue and Fyrnlocke only accelerates the proficiency of the militia preparing to face the undead.

While DonBrapp and Alkazar use the horn to pilot the gundar vundark, the ki rin are visibly repelled by the use of such an evil component.

Instead, they play with Shuos on the ice, sliding in and out of the newly constructed façade buildings.

After the council concludes, the Baron offers his hospitality, but the Heroes make their way to the Gundar Vundark to learn about their new accommodations.

Maktar’s clerics confirm that Kailute’s blade Lucifuge can absolutely accelerate the reconsecration of the Abbey of Lathander.

Kailute lends his blade to the efforts, and a light pieces the gloomy sky above, with positive energy burning off the must and blight of negative infection. The graveyard and the abbey are illuminated.  The clerics of the Fist of Helm are blown away by the blessing endowed by Kailute’s weapon;  and he quickly goes from a standoffish comrade to a trusted ally of all of the Helmites.

The abbey has been reconsecrated, and Maktar takes it for his headquarters.

As the stories of the heroes circulate, all spirits are lifted.  Even lady Christine is seen walking with a smile among those in the “party.”  Things had been pretty grim, and this tenday a band of heroes broke out of Hillsafar Hall to assist in a stout defense; saved the Princess from her own lack of moral character; and are now using elven magic to control dragons and make gypsy carts flown by dwarves a real thing.  It is almost as if a fabled carnival has come to life!


Fyrnlocke posts a guard and finds an individual to seek out Jameson and keep and eye on him.

As each of the heroes explores the base furnishings, Quilro waits impatiently as DonBrapp is beginning to prepare to anoint his body in oils.

“Dwarf, gonna need 40 thousand crowns.”

“Where exactly do you think we’ll find that much coin, elf?” Frustrated, the elf rants about a cave full of coin not far before storming into his posh accommodations.

3 Alturiak

The morning of 3 Alturiak was momentous indeed. The mountains blanketed the hills souls and returned the light of the morning Lord to Bloodstone village, particularly the Abbey that had been desecrated by the vampire Aldric. Although the year was named for rising Shadows, the heroes and prominent citizens of the region, including Thane Tokar of the Oriothar or Fredegast of Waukershire were gaterhing together to discuss defense

Altogether, a fighting force of nearly 3000 has come together to defend the only major route through the mountains sitting remarkably atop veins of mithril and bloodstone combined to make both communities vastly wealthier than they had been in years past. So the leaders gather over a warmed breakfast and carry the carefully kept leftovers of the meat Draxos had hunted as well as scrumptious feasts. The ki rin were surreptitiously creating and then magically sliding into the feed tables so as to appear as if the cook maids and civilians of Bloodstone were arranging an incredibly delicious yet also somewhat foreign, and sometimes weird dishes from various areas that are outside the realm of Damara or the Moon Sea itself.

One of Maktar’s sergeants informs the heroes that since the consecration, it is available to them as they see fit.

They have brought forth the holiest remaining item of appropriate size from the abbey for the resurrection.

Kailute joins Fyrnlocke, and the villagers take far better to the half-orc than they do the dashing rogue from Tethyr.

Maktar expresses his divine support to DonBrapp in the pending resurrection; the dwarf thanks him but indicates it is more a henchman issue than a full partner.  The distinction is lost on the paladin.

Quilro asks the dwarf how much salt he could produce in a day.

At DonBrapp’s instruction three Helmite clerics make a triangle around the bier upon which Tomas’ bloated corpse rests.

One of the pages takes a magically blessed spear and drags it around the bier and the guardian clerics.

All day DonBrapp had been in commune; the entire wagon seemed warm as he fed pure gold coins into a heated brick in his room until they melted into the mold he sought.  Upon completing the hand, he almost grasped hit but the singing of his beard prevented that calamity.  Once cooled, he sticks his hand into the golden gauntlet, holding it aloft aloft and ran buck naked save his ruff and the holy coin from the Gundar Vundark into the blessed circle

He will approach the circle he's assuming at this point they've got Tomas's corpse on the table inside of the circle. DonBrapp will approach the circle with a he's gonna have stuffed in his little in his ruff a potion of vitality. His staff of curing his left hand and his golden hand as his right. He will enter the circle and cast combine. Begin the combined chant with the other four clerics placed at the North, SE, and. West of the circle. Once they have successfully combined DonBrapp being the center cleric, the highest level cleric in the center of the circle. You will look to the sky. He will invoke the name of Vergadain. Raised the staff of curing above his head in sacrifice, bringing it down across his knee and breaking it in half. He will then cast raised dead, take his clenched golden fist and punch Tomas straight in the stomach, screaming.

“WHERE IS IT!?!”

There's the instant. Thomas breathes life. He will pull forth from his ruff the potion, flipping an electrum coin into his palm, jamming it straight into his straight into his mouth and force it down his throat before pouring the potion into the mouth of the dead mage.

A quick shock as Thomas's corpulent body is shocked back into life. And there's sort of a wheezy as you jam the potion of vitality and you can see his eyes immediately bulged as he is bolted back into consciousness.
Coughing and rolling in his robe, but you feel immediately like

Grabbing the immediately resurrected human, DonBrapp pulls his face toward his: “WHO DO YOU WORK FOR?!” The cleric screams, nose to nose, buck naked standing on Tomas’ chest.

“You, master dwarf!” Tomas sputters.

“Correct, but for sure you must understand we're going to have to prorate your salary for the days that you were technically dead.”