Korthal Spotted - Day 12 of Ches - Year 189
I was sitting in Bighorn's Tavern, writing when I got a wisp messenger from Flicker Twigwhisper, Grove ally to Brogendenstein, notifying me that Brogendenstein's scouting party was pinned down by duergar forces high up in the Dark Spires. Immediately I jumped up and set out to the front gates, running into an invisible Flick and she informed me that she tried to summon the Thane and her husband, Khel Longbeard, but her magic was blocked. When I too tried to summon Khel, my magic was also blocked. I told her I was going to take Sister Silver and scout the Spires, looking for them.
Sister flew down from Darnoth's Roost as I opened the gates, meeting me for departure. Climbing into the saddle, we then took flight to patrol the Spires, looking for the lost group.
While little was amiss in the lower mountain, we found a large duergar war party in the Path of Rhun, but decided to continue on, as no kin or allies were spotted, when we were surprised by Korthal himself, flying north accompanied by a hoard of wyvrens.
By the length of my beard, we just missed being spotted, keeping behind cloud cover. Continuing in the general direction until we saw Korthal, roosted at the Peak of the mountain. Gods but he is huge, as big as I remember. His shadow cast long in the fading afternoon sunlight.
Recognizing our poor odds, we turned back to take another look at the gray war party. Sister decided to blast them with her ice breath, and I hit them with Dugmaren's Hammers before they turned and cast or fired missiles and crossbow bolts upon us both. Sister climbed up through the cloud cover and I was able to heal her well enough that we could travel back to the Gates. The Spire was noticeably warmer with less cloud cover than usual, for this time of year. I would later learn why.
Upon approaching the Brogendenstein Gates, to both of our relief, we found the missing scouting party, including several allies from Guldorand, Cordor, Bendir, the Grove & Myon. Upon landing, Sister proclaimed needing rest so she may heal, taking moderate damage from the duergar rune binders. She then took flight atop Darnoth's Roost, to rest with her father, and I ventured through the throng of gathered allies to report my findings to Thane Troki.
I then informed Thane Troki of our findings and he led a party further north to clear out the duergar, first, then scout to the Peak, which we did. We found our path leading up to the peaks riddled with dragon fire, much timber and ruins aflame. Fire elementals that were summoned began acting strangely, attacking each other and running amok. We suspected Korthal's ominous influence might radiate down the mountain, affecting all living things.
The gray army we faced had a huge battalion of rune binders who unleashed hell fire upon us. Adamantine golems beat us into the snow and our summoned elementals and celestials were banished as we suffered curses and doom, at one point all fearing this was our end. After an exhaustive fight of magic and blades, we managed to survive, heal and drag ourselves close to the Peak to find it completely empty. With the wind picking up to howl in our helmets and suck every bit of heat from us, we turned back to the Golden Halls.
No Korthal, no Great White dragon, no wyvrens, no orcs, no duergar. Korthal and his forces have moved.
While we took no casualties, many of us were gravely injured. Sister Silver remains at rest, taking several bouts of missile fire to her chest. I hope I can get back down to Guldorand to purchase another herd of goats, as Sister has the appetite of an entire dwarven battalion.
Day 12, Month 3 (Ches), 189 AR
Gorrat Ironweaver