Nimly's Adventures
Chapter 17 - Dwarves and Deliverance
15th of Mirtul, 1492 DR
Murmurs of freed captives echo through the cave as Captain Anara and her guards approach. She pauses, looking around, “Nimly, what happened here?”
Nimly takes a moment to catch his breath and then turns to her, "Captain Anara, before the combat started, I saw a group of miners working under the watchful eye of these two.” He motions to the unconscious figures. “I offered to take them into custody, but they weren’t having any of it; Thorn and I managed to incapacitate them. The miners were being forced to extract an odd ore from this tunnel. "
She listens intently, her expression stern and appreciative of the pair's efforts. "Good work. Let's secure the area and gather any information we can from the bandits and miners." Captain Anara turns to the rest of the party and begins issuing orders. "Keep an eye out. Secure these two and make sure they can't cause any more trouble. We'll need to interrogate them to find out what's going on here."
Nimly, seeing the room before him well in hand, leaves with Thorn to return to the crack in the wall. On closer inspection, Nimly notices slight tool marks around the edges, suggesting that someone may have attempted to widen it or use it as a hidden entrance. There is no obvious mechanism indicating a door or some other way to explore into the crack.
Nimly tells Thorn to stay put and be on alert for any danger. He then focuses his magic and casts Earth Glide. He places his hands on the stone wall and feels the magic take hold, allowing him to phase through the solid rock. He moves carefully, feeling the rough texture of the stone around him as he passes through the barrier. He moves at a slow walk and emerges in a hidden chamber. The area is small, only about 15 feet by 15 feet, with a low 5 foot ceiling. It is dimly lit by faintly glowing crystals embedded in the walls, casting a soft, eerie glow.
Peering around, Nimly performs an arcana check (arcana:15) to assess the chamber for traps or objects that might hold magical energy. He finds a small wooden chest off in the corner covered in dust. It glows with a faint magical residue, suggesting it might be protected by some minor spell. Ancient mining tools are scattered around, some partially buried in dirt on the chamber floor; none of these have arcane energy. There are strange markings on the walls that resemble runes or symbols, possibly indicating something of historical significance; again, none of these hold magical resonance. The glowing crystals are imbued with a great deal of elemental magic, though the nature of that energy is unclear.
Nimly pokes through the mining equipment until he finds a serviceable pickaxe. The tool is heavy and awkward. Nimly swings it over and over, the work slow and arduous. He manages to widen the crevice to the tunnel slightly, the opening now big enough for him to squeeze through. It will take more work for the passage to accommodate forms much larger than a gnome.
The chamber and crystals on his mind, Nimly makes his way back to talk with the freed captives. He slowly approaches the group of hill dwarves, who appear relieved to see him and the rest of the party handling the situation. "Greetings, friends. My name is Nimly Sparkleshine. We’ve taken care of the bandits, and you’re safe now. Can you tell me what happened and why you were being held here?"
One of the older dwarves, with a weathered face and a long, braided beard, steps forward to speak. "Thank ye, Nimly. We were captured by these bandits and forced to mine for some kind of special crystals they were after. They said it was valuable, but we didn’t understand its purpose. They threatened us and used the same crystals to keep us in line."
A younger dwarf steps up, "Aye, they kept talking about some powerful person or group they were working for. We never saw anyone else, just the bandit leader who’d come by now and then, and the two goons he would leave here to guard us."
Nimly frowns, thinking of the mined crystals and where they could be now. “Do you know how the crystals were used to maintain control of you?”
The old hill dwarf continues, "Aye, those crystals in the walls weren’t just for light. They had some kind of enchantment on them. Whenever we tried to resist or escape, the crystals would emit a painful shock or make us feel disoriented. The bandits had some kind of device or spell they used to activate the crystals remotely.” He shrugs, “It was enough to keep us in line."
The younger adds, "We didn’t have much choice. Those crystals made sure of that. We heard the bandits talking about how they were tapping into the earth's natural magic to power them. Some kind of dark magic, I reckon."
Nimly listens to this troubling account and nods. “"Where do you folks call home?"
The older miner's face softens with a mix of relief and a bit of sadness as he responds. "We're from a small settlement called Stonehollow, deep in the hills north of Silverymoon. It's a tight-knit community. We were on our way looking for new mining and settlement opportunities in the hills north of Everlund when these bandits captured us."
Eyes bright, the younger dwarf puts a hand on the other miner’s shoulder, "Aye, Stonehollow's not far, but it feels like we've been away for ages. We miss our families and just want to get back to them."
Nimly nods firmly, “I think I can speak for the Everlund militia and I do speak for the Gemcutters Guild. We will help you get back home.” Nimly carefully observes the group of hill dwarves (perception:16) in an attempt to discern who their leader is. Of the five, the one who spoke first appears to be the oldest, and speaks for the rest. "You, old one, what is your name?"
The older miner straightens up, a hint of pride in his eyes as he responds. "Name's Thrain Ironfoot. I've been leading this group of miners for as long as I can remember. We're grateful for your help, Nimly."
Nimly reaches into his pack and pulls out 50 gold, handing it to Thrain. "Here is a gift from the Gemcutters Guild. We will provide an escort for you back to Everlund. Hopefully, from there, you will find your way on a path that lifts your hearts."
Thrain's eyes widen in gratitude as he accepts the gold. "Thank you, Nimly. This means a lot to us. We'll make sure to put it to good use. Having an escort back to Everlund is most appreciated. Your kindness won't be forgotten.”
Nimly bows respectfully and withdraws, turning his attention to Captain Anara and her guards as they proceed with the interrogation. The Captain, an imposing figure, stands silently observing, allowing her soldiers to take the lead. The bandits are bound and kneeling before them, both glaring defiantly at their captors, their jaws set in stubborn defiance.
The air is thick with tension as one of the soldiers steps forward, his voice low and menacing. “You’ve been keeping these dwarves as slaves,” the soldier begins, his tone dripping with contempt. “And you thought you were going to just walk away? Think again. Start talking, or we’ll make sure you regret every remaining moment of your miserable lives.”
Both bandits hold their ground, glaring. The first bandit, his eyes hard and unflinching, meets the soldier’s gaze with a sneer. “Ye think the likes o’ you can scare us?” he spits, his voice steady. “Eh, we’ve faced worse than a few angry guards, ain’t we.”
The tall, broad-shouldered soldier with a scar across his cheek, steps closer and his expression darkens. “Your arrogance is going to cost you. We know you’re part of something bigger. The likes of you aren’t in charge. Who’s running this operation, and what are they doing with those crystals?”
As the soldiers press in, the defiance in one bandit’s eyes begins to waver. His companion remains resolute, but the second bandit starts to shift uncomfortably, glancing nervously between the guards and his comrade.
“Wasting yer time,” the first bandit says coldly, his voice dripping with disdain. “Even if we tol’ ya, it wouldn’t change a damn thing, y'hear.”
The first soldier steps forward, grabbing the defiant bandit by the collar and pulling him close, the tension in the air becoming palpable. “You’re going to tell us everything,” the soldier growls, his grip tightening, “or you’ll be the first to fall, here and now, followed by your operation.”
As the soldier tightens his grip, the second bandit, now visibly trembling, can no longer withstand the pressure. “It’s the crystals!” the second bandit suddenly blurts out, his voice shaky. “They used enchanted crystals embedded in the walls to control the prisoners! They had a device that activated them, causing shocks and messing with their minds!”
The first bandit turns sharply, glaring at his companion with a look of betrayal, but the soldier holding him tightens his grip, keeping him in place.
The scarred soldier turns his attention to the bandit who spoke, his voice cold and commanding. “And where’s this device now? Who has it?”
The second bandit, now visibly sweating, stammers, “It’s small, portable… one of the higher-ups always carried it. I-I don’t know where it is now, but they usually keep it close.”
Nimly, intrigued by the information, continues to watch the exchange.
The first soldier, still holding the defiant bandit by the collar, looks over at Nimly and nods. “He’s not saying where it is, but we know it’s close.”
Nimly waves Thrain Ironfoot over, hoping the experienced miner might have some answers.
“Thrain,” Nimly begins, “these guards aren’t telling us where they hid the device used to control you through the crystals. Do you have any idea where it might be?”
Thrain nods thoughtfully, recalling his time in captivity. “Aye, Nimly. I remember seeing a small, ornate box. They kept it close. Always brought it out to activate the crystals. I saw them heading towards that small alcove near the back of the mine after using it.” The old dwarf points toward a dimly lit area at the back of the mine, indicating where the device might be hidden.
Nimly turns, and with Thorn by his side, carefully heads toward the dimly lit alcove. Shadows flicker against the rough stone walls, a few tiny spider webs peppering the ceiling above. The air is cool, and the stones smell as damp and moldy as the rest of the cavern. Nimly and Thorn proceed cautiously, searching the alcove for any traps that may lie in wait, as well as the ornate box described by Thrain (investigation:10).
The light is dim, and the task challenging, however Nimly uncovers loose stones near the far wall of the alcove. Moving them aside, he finds a small compartment. The dim light flickers off a small silver box. Veins of gold run through the sides of the box, and adorned on the lid is a small glittering fire opal.
There are no visible traps and with a hurried arcana check (arcana:12), Nimly senses only a faint magical aura coming from the box itself. He concludes this is most likely from the device inside. The gnome cautiously picks up the ornate box and slips it into a pocket, ensuring it is safely secured.
He takes one last look around the alcove, and makes his way back to Captain Anara. “I found the device used to control the miners. It was hidden in a small compartment behind some rocks. I'd like to keep studying it, and figure out exactly how it works."
Captain Anara thinks a moment, then nods, “Understanding how this device works could be crucial for opposing the bandits in the future. Be sure to keep me informed on your progress.”
Intrepid adventurers and DMs, I hope you enjoyed this continuation of Nimly’s story.
May your rolls be critically high or dramatically low, adding flavor and excitement to your campaigns!