We were all gathered and went to the Open Lord’s office. She advised us that many people have searched for the gold in the past and found nothing. However, she would review whatever we had found. Duelo explained our need for the three keys, specifically the gift from a queen. I interjected and mentioned a book I had seen that could be a great addition to my library and would fulfill the gift requirement. Laeral considered our request and offered a long box containing a Teal Green Quill Pen. She said if we were successful, she would discuss our payment and include the book. She also told us to use the phrase, “The wizard’s gift was very helpful,” if we retrieved the gold.
We decided to meet with Esvele Rosznar at her room at the Leaping Swordfish. On the way, I put the Quill Pen in my Crystal Sphere for safekeeping. We told her that we had obtained the queen’s gift. She was shocked. We also asked her about her family’s past. She didn’t deny it and defended her intentions, explaining how she planned to make amends.
We asked Golorr about the dragon that guarded the gold. It told us the dragon’s name was Aurinax, an adult gold dragon, and that he was 520 years old and had made an agreement with Dagult Neverember to guard the gold. Golorr also told me that Aurinax was removed from the Gold and Silver Concordant as a result of his agreement. He was able to be in the vault because he possessed the Dragonstaff of Ahghairon, which allows entry to the City of Waterdeep. I recalled the myths of the Concordant—a council of metallic dragons led by gold and silver dragons.
With our plan in motion, Duelo and I went to the Neverember Estate to speak with Renaer. We brought him up to date on recent events, and he agreed to meet us at the wizard tower at noon the next day. We then went shopping to prepare for our exploits. While we were out, Hope asked us, should we have the opportunity, to bring back parts from the golden dragon, and she would reward us handsomely.
The next day, we met with Lady Rosznar at the wizard tower. Her guards told us to refer to her as Deseray Larriette from now on to allay her concerns about her association with us. We introduced Renaer, and Deseray presented her items to the door. “The Three Keys Bring” suddenly glowed. I retrieved the Quill Pen from my sphere and presented it to the door. The remaining words on the door glowed, and it opened.
On the other side of the door was a massive chamber. Duelo scouted ahead and found large double doors all around the room and three bridges high above. We found one set of doors that would open, and we went through them. Inside was a mural of dwarves in battle. As Renaer looked at it, he became charmed, but Toshi broke him free. We then went upstairs and crossed one of the bridges. We found another door that took some work to open, but the room beyond was empty except for some copper urns. We crossed another bridge and tried the door, but it wouldn’t budge. Toshi used Misty Step to try the door on another bridge.
We finally managed to open the door and found several suits of armor and a carving that read, “A secret never before told will part Dumathoin’s lips.” We were all discussing what to do next when I stepped forward and said, “I’ve been put on this path and provided untold power by one who calls himself Volothe.” A secret trap door was revealed with the symbol of a gemstone on its surface. Duelo checked it for traps before we opened it and found a ladder leading down. At the bottom was a corridor.
Duelo scouted ahead and found a large, well-lit chamber. A dwarf with a staff came forward and told us to come back later. Duelo addressed him as Aurinax and introduced Renaer as Dagult Neverember’s child. As we were speaking, a number of cultists and demons entered the room. Aurinax, not wanting to get in the middle, left us to fight them. We were now caught between two groups of enemies.
Esvele killed the cultist leader, and we fought off our attackers. As the battle wore on, we were suddenly overcome by a spell that seemed to slow time to a crawl. The City Watch entered the chamber, along with Laeral Silverhand. Aurinax, who had been hiding his identity, came out and took his true form as a dragon. He addressed Laeral and stated she was not to touch the gold. Renaer affirmed Laeral’s position as the Open Lord.
Aurinax was not moved and intended to defend the gold to his dying breath, citing his agreement with Dagult Neverember. Laeral asserted her position and explained that the gold belonged to the city. After much discussion and pleas from our group, Aurinax relented and wept.
Laeral directed the guards to secure all the gold and told us we would be compensated. We offered to have Renaer and Esvele join us at the manor. After we returned, Toshi suggested we call our tavern Lif’s Last Call. Everyone agreed. While at Trollskull Manor, I summoned my first familiar, a Sphinx of Wonder I decided to call Sekhmet.
As we were relaxing, Esvele and Renaer entered the taproom along with their personal guard. Toshi purchased and set out food and drink, and Lif tended to the bar. The party went long into the night, and after it was over, we cleaned up and went to bed.