D&D Solo Adventures
Outside the Town of Dragonshore
Last action taken
You were attacked at Olohands Cottage
Dialogue
It is close to midnight. You are travelling along a wide dirt road leading into Dragonshore. The sound of wardrums continues far off into the distance. Peasants with carts, sacks, and bags of all kinds, are headed towards Dragonshore along side you. As you draw near to the towns outer fortified parameter, you see guards with torches at the towns entrance, in the watch towers along the stonewall surrounding the town, and standnig watch infront and along the top of the wall. The town is preparing for battle.
A throng of villages, is pressing its way through the mouth of the towns entrance under the main gates portcullis.
The guards at the entrance are shouting at the people, telling them to relax and be calm. They are also checking the villages for any suspicious individuals. As they see you, one of them shouts to the guard on your side of the moving crowd "Hey! Whos that!? I havent seem that one before..."
The guard tells you to halt and identify yourself. You give him your name. Immediately he raises his helms visor and says "Hey, it's me! Lieutenant Rolen! We have left Stonebreak Outpost. There are too many Orc's coming through the pass. They are on their way here...."
He pauses for a moment, then looks around at the tightly packed crowd of people entering the village. Rolen shouts at the crowd with authority: "Everyone, move back immediately, gang way!". He looks at you and yells "Follow me! We must hurry! We have been awaiting your arrival. Im under strict instructions to get you to the town hall immediately! Follow me and try to keep up".
You run through a number of backstreets and averting a few large crowds. You see a queue of men and young boys receiving helmets and swords and are being ushered towards the front of the town. You finally make it to the townhall. Rolen slams his chainmail covered fist on the townhalls heavy door impatiently and announces his arrival. "Commander, it is Rolen!"
Commander Ironfist opens the door. He notices you standing next to Rolen and immediately asks you to enter the building, thanking Rolen for his haste and closing the door behind you as you walk into the large room.
5 men are standing in the centre of the room near a table covered in bits of parchment and a map.
You recognise them all. Ferrar Axemage the blacksmith, Petvin the Priest of Dragonshore, Wilster the Alchemist, The Mayor of Dragonshore Wilven who is looking rather nervous, and the familiar face of Olohand.
Olohand greets you and beckons you forward into the group.
"Once again our hero returns to us in our time of need...come forward."
You approach the men. They all greet you.
Ferrar asks you: "Have you see my son Forden in your travels? I havent seen him for a few days now and with all this going on..."
You respond: "im sorry Ferrar, i havent seen him, but i will look out for him."
Ferrar: "Thank you....I hope he's ok"
Olohand says to the men: "I'm sure he will be ok Ferrar....The guards are all on look out for him..." and with a brief pause continues: "Ok, so are we all clear what we need to do?"
The men all respond almost in unison in a flat tone, "Yes" and leave the townhall to perform their given tasks.
You stand with Olohand, The Commander, and The Mayor. Olohand asks you if you found Drovins cabin.
You respond: "Yes, although the forest was a nightmare to navigate. I found this inside the remains of Drovins Cabin."
You hand Olohand Drovins Dairy entry with which he reads carefully. "It seems Zhalathian's lair resides within the basement of Whitebirch Fortress Ruins. That would explain the amassing forces outside the Whitebirch Mountain Ranges.."
Before Olohand can finish the sentence Mayor Wilven looks at you with a panicked look and exclaims: "The men are saying there are masses of shadow beings and orcs descending on the town!!! What are we going to do!!!"
There is a pause amongst everyone in the room.
You take the shell you found on the fallen guard, out from under your cloak and give it to olohand. Olohand studies the shell. "Whats this? Oh...it's a Duskshell...Not at all uncommon. However some cultists believe the Duskshell to be a symbol of Zhalathian. The Duskulus the sea creature that lives within the Duskshell, starts its life in a small single chambered shell. however, the creature eventually outgrows the shell, and must extend the front of the shell and create a new chamber which it builds. This process continues, growing and adding a new, larger chamber to the front of the shell, for a total of 7 chambers until the duskulus has reached its full adult size. The cultists revere the duskshell, because they believe it represents a final chamber. The "8th chamber", is the ocean, where in death, a duskulus leaves its home, the shell, and floats through the void forever."
The room is silent for a moment then Olohand continues: " A grim tale no doubt...hence the interest in the shell from followers of Zhalathian i suppose...."
Olohand carefully places the shell on the desk glazing at it momentarily: "The duskulus is a beautiful creature...It is sad that it has been associated with Zhalathians cause".
You describe to the men the shadow figure you saw outside Olohands cottage and how it dragged the spirit of the guard into the forest.
Olohand speaks: "This will be the fate of us all if Zhalathian is not stopped."
The commander looks at Olohand and says: "What dark times, we can not even trust our own kin...My men will not go down without a fight! We will face this evil head on! We will do our best to fight off the approaching horde..." He's voice trails off then he continues: "however...zhalathian's army...is....VAST...I fear it will be a matter of time before our defenses faulter."
Olohand: "Our only hope is if someone can defeat Zhalathian...Commander, please rally your men and prepare for the descending forces of Zhalathian, they are drawing near, we must hold them off for as long as possible!".
The Commander bids the men good luck and godspeed and then leaves the room.
After a moment of reflection Olohand looks to you: "Unfortunately, it would seem this town requires your help once again..."
You say: "Whatever you ask of me, i will do."
Olohand: "Thank you my friend. Although at this point in time riches and fame seem of little value, i'm sure if we make it through this, riches and fame are what you shall have!"
Olohand continues: " It is said that Zhalathian's essence can be trapped within a Dreamshard.. The dreamshard is a milky white long crystal. its also incredibly rare! Thankfully our Alchemist Wilster is a collector of all sorts of interesting things. He has provided us a dreamstone from his collection. There are only a handfull of dreamshards that have ever been found. He has made a huge sacrifice."
Olohand hands you a fist sized velvet bag and continues: "Strike Zhalathian with the crystal, as if stabbing a person with a dagger. He will be trapped inside the crystal forever. There is a secret exit from the town. It will lead you up to Tanglewood forest. You should be able to cut across the fields between Tanglewood forest and Whitebirch Mountain although some stealth will no doubt be required, our enemies are amassing and on the move....Again i must stress, Zhalathian is a powerful and ancient force of shadow and death....Prepare yourself well before you leave this town!".
Gametip: If you completed the Gleaming Ointment sidequest from the Taker Quest successfully, now is a good time to use the ointment (go to wilster's oddities to do this). The ointment grants +1 to damage and attack rolls on enemies with the undead or shadow keyword.
Before you exit the room, Olohand calls to you and says with sincerity: "Prehaps one day, you and i will meet under lighter circumstances...good luck and farewell...."
Continue your quest
Main Quest: Journey to Whitebirch Mountains