If you haven't already done so, be sure to read the previous posts in the Scribe Notes series for the complete back story!
While riding, we learned of Thaelin's affiliation with the Circle of the Forest - a protective group of druids assigned to different parts of the forests of Faerûn. As it turns out, Thundertree and Cragmaw Castle are in his jurisdiction.
We came to the outskirts of the castle in the dense woods. Seven crumbling towers above the tree line. Despite its dilapidated appearance, it remains quite defensive. Best be cautious...
We approached a side entrance on the south. Trym sneaked ahead to investigate. We first made way into the banquet hall... and loudly introduced ourselves to eight goblins during their evening meal. Three got away and dragged us into a trap. I set flame to the extra goblins and we set off north, only to find more goblins. One set off into the woods in terror. The rest weren't as lucky. One of the doors was trapped and nearly swept us up in a pile of rubble, cutting off two passages in the process. We also found some dwarven sized armor in a stock room. Grabbed a longsword next to it, hoping to return it to Gundren.
Hobgoblins greeted us in the next room. Confounding cantrips! So difficult to bring forth in my mind. But Ava slew two with a single stroke! After the battle, we secured the room and took a short rest to recuperate. I swear we've spent two days in this castle.
Found the wretched, defiled altar in the northern tower, attended by three of the goblin cultists. We cut them down in almost an instant. The last one, Lupo, cried out to his "god." We cleared the altar of its trinkets and admired the once great shrine to Oghma.
The room to the south of the shrine contained a fascinating brazier. Human made, dedicated to many gods, not just Oghma. More curious was the tiny statue of a sun elf in the coals. But most curious was the enormous beaked worm that dropped down on us from the ceiling. I attempted to slow it with a poison arrow, but the spell fizzled most embarrassingly. It dodged my witch bolt, but Ava made an elegant chop to its head. Thaelin identified the beast as a "Grick" - subterranean monsters that use camouflage to blend into their surroundings.
We finally found Gundren, beaten on the ground and in the presence of what surely must be this "Black Spider." A vile drow woman with a wolf and a bugbear in tow. A mighty battle... Thaelin's bears made short work of the wolf. I surprised the drow with a mighty artillery of magic missiles, as Trym planted an arrow neatly in her thigh. The drow grins... a respectable adversary.
A flurry of blows! The drow looks to Trym and says her name, taking the halfling aback. Another volley of magical energy and the drow... well, I can only say "withered" before our eyes. It lost all color and form. Most disturbing. A shapeshifter is not quite what you'd imagine in the flesh.
The bugbear put up quite a fight to the very end. "King Grohl", apparently... didn't seem all that dignified for a king. This "Black Spider", unfortunately, is merely an impostor. Gundren begs us to make haste to Wave Echo Cave to save his brethren. No rest for the adventurer, it seems.
I'll have to inform the Temple of Oghma of the shrine's cleansing when next in Neverwinter. Still... such a marvelous day. The shrine is cleansed and we move on to Phandalin for some much needed rest. I am eager to see what else Oghma has in store...
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