Session — February 15, 2026
Date: February 15, 2026 Location(s): Duergar Mountain Fortress (near Caer-Dineval / Kelvin’s Cairn) Present: Meldir, Nalla, Thorkin, Dax, Kelrick, Dekyna, Jarthara (guide)
Summary
The party infiltrated a mountain fortress occupied by Duergar (dark dwarves from the Underdark) who had been stealing supplies from a nearby town. After sneaking in through a frozen creek opening, they cleared the fortress room by room with the help of an unlikely ally — an imprisoned zombie ogre they befriended. The session ended with a shared mystical vision: Frisky (Dekyna) undergoing his second Warden trial.
Events
Arrival at the Fortress
- Party entered via a frozen creek opening on the wall, aided by the panther scouting ahead with an invisibility potion
- Entered a hall containing iron cages: one holding a zombie ogre (Gorak), two goats, and an empty cage; also a wooden dog sled
Befriending Gorak the Zombie Ogre
- Thorkin used Tremorsense to detect creature positions — sensed 5+ Duergar spread across the fortress
- Frisky (Dekyna) spoke Orcish to communicate with Gorak; fed him 20 Goodberries, which partially restored him
- Gorak agreed to follow them and serve as muscle; proved immediately useful
Combat — Duergar in the Fortress
- Combat broke out when two invisible Duergar appeared in the overlook room
- One Duergar enlarged to ogre-size; Gorak immediately bit that Duergar’s head off
- Second Duergar ran and rang an alarm bell, then fled through a hatch
- Party pursued into the armory and then the tower
- Key moments: Dax punched an invisible Duergar in the face through pure instinct; Gorak bit the head off the enlarged Duergar
- A fancier-looking Duergar — likely a commander — was identified by better armor and weapon; he delivered a speech before going invisible to flee
The Commander’s Speech
- The Duergar commander declared his father’s power was coming for the Ten Towns
- Implied a major threat incoming: “When my father unleashes his terror upon Ten Towns…”
- Was eventually cornered by Thorkin, the panther (commanded with Command: Halt), and the party; forced to grovel and captured
- Found in the commander’s room: several shards of dark crystal, a crumpled letter, and a sack containing a shifting-color lantern
Loot & Intelligence
- Letter found: “Nildar — you will find me on the Frozen Ferry in East Haven. From this new base, the search for Chardalyn continues. Long may our father reign over the stark land. — Durth”
- Dark crystals: Jarthara identified them as travel crystals/shards; Meldir rolled Arcana — they are real and “not good”
- The lantern: Color-shifting (blue → green → red); matches description given by the sisters at the Caer-Dineval inn (their missing property)
- Stolen goods recovered: Multiple rooms packed with supplies stolen from the town; goats also recovered
The Ring Reacts
- After returning to the main hall, Frisky (Dekyna)‘s family heirloom ring began glowing and causing it to snow indoors
- Removing the ring stopped both effects; the ring only activates when Frisky wears it
- Thorkin recognized a sigil on the ring — associated with ancient hero wardens who battled evil long ago; the ring is a hero lineage marker
The Warden Vision (Camp)
- Party took a long rest in the snow outside; during the night a mystical vision overtook everyone
- They stood on a frozen plane beneath a white void, surrounded by three colossal buried shapes and three carved pillars
- A voice spoke: “A Warden’s blood walks again. Let the land decide if he is worthy to be remembered.”
- First trial began: a faceless frost giant appeared; Dakina was also trapped in ice nearby, screaming
- Trial 1: Frisky protected his friends and the giant dissolved — first pillar gained a carving of Frisky with a shield standing before a small figure (Jarthara)
- Trial 2: Multiple creatures appeared (swarm of undead snakes, a flame skull, a death lock, a ghost). Party fought together — second pillar carved to show multiple figures standing back-to-back
- Session ended mid-vision, third pillar still unlit
Combat
- Duergar guards (multiple) — defeated; two captured alive in cages
- Enlarged Duergar — killed by Gorak (beheaded)
- Duergar commander (Nildar) — grappled and captured
- Trial vision enemies (snakes, flame skull, ghost, death lock) — most defeated; session ended mid-encounter
NPCs Encountered
- Jarthara — dwarven guide, terrified throughout, survived
- Gorak (zombie ogre) — befriended, used as muscle; left at the fortress guarding
- The Duergar Commander (Nildar) — captured; revealed that his “father” plans a major assault on Ten Towns
Quest Updates
- Lost Shipment (Black Iron Blades) — Resolved; stolen goods recovered from the fortress
- Northern Lantern Stolen — Resolved; lantern recovered from commander’s room
- Illithid Ship — Meldir revealed to the party mid-camp that gnomish mind flayers crashed near Icewind Dale and a distress signal may mean some survived
- New lead — Chardalyn: Durth’s letter mentions an ongoing search for “Chardalyn” based out of East Haven; the Frozen Ferry is mentioned as a location
- Prove Yourself at Jarlmoot — Frisky’s Warden trials have begun; two of three completed in the shared vision
Loot & Items
- Shifting-color lantern (returned to the Caer-Dineval inn)
- Dark crystal shards (mysterious, dangerous — not Chardalyn, but travel shards)
- Letter from Durth → Nildar (key intel)
- Duergar armor and weapons (sold/kept)
- Goats recovered
Character Moments
- Frisky speaking Orcish to a zombie ogre and convincing it to fight for the party was a standout roleplay moment
- Meldir revealed his origin around the campfire: he is not from this world, was kidnapped by gnomish mind flayers whose ship crashed near Icewind Dale; recently discovered a distress signal suggesting survivors; has been hiding this to protect the party
- Frisky revealed his family ring is likely a hereditary hero marker — “Warden’s blood”
- Dax punched an invisible Duergar through pure instinct (“summoning Duergar with his fists” as the party put it)
Session End State
Party is mid-vision in the Warden trial. Everyone is asleep/visioning in camp outside the mountain fortress. The third Warden trial has not yet taken place. The unconscious Dekyna is trapped in a fissure that opened during the vision, pinned by Thorkin’s spiritual weapon (accidentally skewered trying to save him). A snowstorm-vision is raging and ice elementals have emerged. Session continues next time from inside the vision.