Grettir receives an approach from Dain Ironhelm the dwarven king of Katelgroth. He seeks a band of heroes to explore the ancient Dwarven city of Morthrandil where he was born and grew up many centuries before. It is now the haunt of dragons. Is Grettir interested? Of course he is.
Grettir is introduced to Gror of the Nine Fingers, Dain’s son who will be a partner in this venture. A complex contract is drawn up between them to avoid any misunderstandings over the division of loot. There are large bonuses payable for the slaying of dragons. Grettir is made aware that this is not the first such attempt. Most recently Dain had contracted with a human magician called Pharazon Lore-hunger for the same task but after a few expeditions Pharazon disappeared and was never seen again. He brought back some treasure but killed no dragons. (Paradoxides was able to confirm that Pharazon had been a Chittagong Guildmaster in the previous century and had vanished in mysterious circumstances).
Grettir brought his usual companions. Gror came with his own team of dwarves: warriors Barazin, Naan (a berserker) and tunnel-scouts Bifur and Bofur. Paradoxides teleported them all to the Shehallion Mountains, close to where the dwarves described the location of Morthrandil. The dwarves cast about the area and eventually find a secret door that they reckon must belong to one of the outlying settlements of the great dwarven city. They open the door and surprise three Stone Giants, who they slay. The precious objects taken from these giants give much hope of rich pickings in this place. However, this place is not connected to the main city, though it is a useful base for future operations.
For many days the party explore the wilderness seeking another entrance. Eventually they find a ventilation shaft and the magicians fly down into some mine-workings linked by a canal to the city. After many days exploring the endless passages under the mountains, they find a hall described by Gror as the Exchange. There they are ambushed by a small dragon which they slay. As they set about looting, some of the party sense the approach of a much larger dragon. They grab what they can and the magicians teleport them away.
Dain is delighted with their report. After all these centuries a dragon – albeit a small one – is slain! Grettir and his friends are pleased with the treasures they receive. They are keen to return, but wisdom suggests that perhaps they should delay a little before going back lest the big dragon lies in wait. Paradoxides, in the meantime has some ideas.
E-4
OE Date: September 690
Characters: Grettir, Paradoxides, Salrod, Girindor, Wilf, Jason, Aranath NPCs: Hilda, Gror, Barazin, Nan, Bifur, Bofur
Real World: September 1995; Where – Todmorden?
See also Salrod’s Diaries