The Courtesy of Ironmaster

We decided to visit Ironmaster on our way to Luskin. It lays west of Bryn Shander about a half days ride. Ironmaster is close to the coast of the Sea of Moving Ice. It is important to note that Duvessa told us the Frost Giants live beyond this sea.

Grey clouds covered the sky as we rode. Luckily, Stellara was able to keep the cold at bay by magically warming our coats and saddles. Seat warmers! We should think of these things more often!!

Anyway, we met Dwart Brighthelm, Aubric's uncle, at Ironmaster. It seems they will be willing to send a troupe to Bryn Shander for the winter - but only if we do them a favor.

It seems everyone always wants us to do them a favor . . . .

Some dwarf, Svemorden Brighthelm, went to a cursed cave to prove himself to his betrothed's father. Guess what? He didn't come back. But they don't necessarily want us to bring him or his body back, they just want us to bring back the Great Axe he took with him.

We are now in the cave. We passed by a Yeti on our way, but it backed away when Trella convinced it to leave.

Monster Note: Yeti: large, white furred, bear-like creature with curved horns. Seemed afraid of fire. Mildly intelligent.

We had to fight our way through the entrance. There were many, many Wights. And creatures inside spinning vortices of snow and ice. There was also a Boneclaw monster in here. Like the one we fought in Wave Echo Cave. You know, the one that was actually Contagion? Though this Boneclaw did not seem near as tough as the other.

He did try to taunt us. And amongst those taunts we learned a few things: His master is Grugaren The Death King. The same Stone Giant Litch Grugaren who commissioned the Crown of Obadai from the Spell Forge. Grugaren was making -is making? - the Boneclaw seemed to think he was still alive. Someone mentioned maybe that was because the Litch Crown was now being used again. Anyway, he was/is making something called the Soul Engine. There are 5 parts.

One of those parts is the Crucible and we are standing in a room with it as I write this . . . .