The Biscuits	Dollin - Druid 7th Level (PC) Gimar - Fighter 8th Level (PC) Jaron - Paladin 6th Level (PC) Little John - Fighter 6th Level (NPC) Nicola - Cleric 6th Level (PC) Rheaphlyndar - Thief 8th Level (PC) Wed - Mage 6th Level (NPC) Yodavan - Mage/Cleric 1st/3rd (PC) Lemuel - Cleric (NPC)
Locale	East of Irongate
Date	13th day of Harvester, 585 CY (Common Year)
Time	Afternoon

Gimar turned his back on the packed black earth of Hill 171. The message from the dwarves at the gate still rung in his ears.

Gate Guard

The Dwarven King is not in residence. He'll be at a general meeting in Telinosh for two more weeks.

Vowing to someday return and see the wonders of the underground dwarven kingdom, he strode hard to catch up to the party. Which wasn't difficult, considering his boots of speed . . .

Wed	Gimar! So, they didn't let you in?
Gimar	The king wasn't around to see me. Besides, no side treks.
Jaron	(wincing) OK, already. We can always stop on the way back. I've heard that the King of the dwarves in this region reveres the holy light of Pelor.

Hill 171 was much like any other hill in the region, although within it was one of the many mining outposts of the Dwarves of the Iron Hills. Tunnels led deeper still, to a series of great cave complexes that were only fully mapped out in the dwarven legends.

Gnomes worked the mines also, and the party passed many a grinning miner gnome as they travelled to the east. Yodavan greeted them with small talk and the occasional blessing.

Rheaphlyndar	Hey, Nicola. Hows about we open that crate of magic items?
Nicola	What, and piss off the priest of Rao? Remember, he is the god of Law . . .
Rheaphlyndar	(smiling) Just curious, that's all.

Since leaving the Inn of the Black Hand and the main road, the accomadations were non-existant. Tents were getting a good workout, and a light rain seemed to fall each night.

As the Biscuits followed the track to the east and southeast, they eventually came to the proper boundary of the Iron Hills. A cool breeze had replaced the earlier sporadic rains, and if the clouds could be believed, a solid patch of sunny days lay ahead. When the first settlements came into view around a copse of Ipt trees, Yodavan called out.

Yodavan	What is this place called?
Wed	These lands are Idee, formerly of the Iron League. To the north are great castles, built to keep out the Great Kingdom.
Nicola	Now that the war is over, the people are safe.
Jaron	Their war isn't over yet. There is no help from the rest of the League. With the brotherhood to the south and the Great Kingdom to the north, I fear subjugation is not far away.
Yodavan	Valiant heroes are needed to combat the evil.
Gimar	A few adventurers against two armies? I think not.
Little John	Better to complete our quest.
Jaron	Now that's what I'm talking about!
Rheaphlyndar	Uh, guys? We've got company.

In the late afternoon twilight, two figures topped the next rise. One was a definitely a master swordsman. The other was taller, hairier, and fought with an inate brutality that the Biscuits had only witnessed in Demons.

Not knowing for sure which side of the conflict to join, they readied their weapons and then hesitated. Sparks flew from the blade clashes, reminding Gimar of his forge in Northbank. As there was a slight break in the action, the swordsman turned to them and spoke.

Swordsman

You only have one life! If you value it, go home!

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