The battle finally came to Phandalin when the Mind Flayers attacked using their vast army of Thralls. Over 500 Orcs backed by a unit of Mind Flayers attacked! The party took control of 2 units of archers, 2 foot soldier regiments, a unit of spell casters, the Griffon Calvary and an unexpected group of Gnomes from Ieirithymbul.
Griffon Calvary |
The Mind Flayer unit, stayed at the rear of the battlefield and out of range. The Archers and Spell casters engaged from range while the ground units flanked the initial groups and decimated them. The ground units took a surprisingly small amount of casualties and only one Griffon was lost.
Once the Orcs were defeated, the Illithid unit began to advance. Out of the north a lone Red Dragon descended on the battlefield and razed the unit of Mind Flayers with its breath weapon. The dragon then landed and the Githyanki rider dismounted and confronted the party. Three more Gith plane shifted into the war zone.
The Gith were impressed with the efficiency that the army had dispensed with the threat, but quickly noticed Ash's sword Curoch. A conversation was had about where the sword was acquired and that the Gith wanted it, but Curoch made it know it did not want to return to Githyanki control.
Just as there was about to be a confrontation, an elderly dwarf wandered onto the battlefield. He quickly transformed into the Ancient Gold Dragon Palandrusk and quickly reminded the Gith that no Red Dragon has a claim to this region and he would defend it.
Palandrusk in Dragon form |
With this in mind, and the fact the army was still assembled and a young Red Dragon is no match for an Ancient Gold Dragon, they departed.
As soon as they left, Palandrusk reverted to Dwarf form and fell to the ground exhausted. The party quickly returned him to the Guild Hall where Elminster had arrived to congratulate the Guardians on their initial victory.
Seeing that Palandrusk was in distress and possibly dying, he called upon Mystra to intervene. To everyones surprise, she appeared and laid hands on the dying dragon. He appeared to de-age by several centuries and regained consciousness. Everyone was thankful and just as quickly as she appeared, she was gone.
Palandrusk reminded the group that the threat was not over and the Elder Brain needed to be addressed.
Elder Brain |