Chapter 4: Adventures in Blingdenstone

That night you are fed well and housed in an empty residence. The rest is much-needed and you wake up feeling better than you have in weeks. You make your way to the Diggermattock Hall for the meeting to find that you are the last ones there.

In attendance already (you are given introductions to everyone you haven't met yet):

Dorbo and Senni Diggermattock, as representatives for the citizens of Blingdenstone

Nomi Pathshutter and Gurnik Tapfinger, representing the Stoneheart Enclave (religious organization)

Kazook Pickshine, representing the Miner's Guild

Trisk Adamantelpiece and the ghost of Burrow Warden Jagder (quite the shock for you all to see a ghost in attendance!), representing the Burrow Wardens

Chipgrin Goldwhisker, representing the Goldwhisker Clan

After the introductions are over, Dorbo turns to you as a group, "You were the last to enter the caverns containing the oozes. Perhaps you'd like to tell us what you saw down there?"

The others take everything in stride, and Chipgrin speaks as you mention the voice, "That must be the one controlling the oozes speaking."

Dorbo responds, "Sounds like it. If we can take care of him, the attacks may stop, but the forces arrayed against us are far too much to handle. We're going to need some additional assistance. The addition of the Goldwhiskers are a great boon to us already, as they're already hardier than most due to their gift," he says diplomatically.

Nomi Pathshutter speaks up in reverent tones, "If we could find Entemoch's Boon, we could summon a host of earth elementals to aid in the reclamation of the city," she turns to you newcomers and continues, "Entemoch's Boon is a sacred chamber somewhere outside the city that empowers any elemental summoned through it."

"Any elemental brought in could be corrupted by Ogremoch's Bane in the battle. It would be disastrous if they turned on us halfway through the fight," Gurnik Tapfinger warns, "If we could cleanse the Steadfast Stone, then we could banish Ogremoch's Bane and we'd be free of that possibility."

"I can trade for some higher quality weapons from Gracklstugh. Perhaps better weapons will stand up to the oozes, since most of what we got corrodes on contact with the bastards," Kazook Pickshine offers.

"Ogremoch's Bane is a cloud of malevolent energy that resides in Inner Blingdenstone. It has the ability to corrupt any elementals that we summon and turn them against us," Gurnik explains.

"First, the Steadfast Stone must be cleansed, then we can banish Ogremoch's Bane. I will give you the tools you will need if you'd like to attempt this task. First you will need a specially enchanted ruby that I will provide to you, then you will have to make your way to the Stone and insert the ruby into a socket in the menhir there, which will begin the cleansing process. The corruption there may try to interfere, so you should be prepared for a fight," he explains, giving you a moment to digest the information before continuing, "Now, once the stone is cleansed, I imaging Ogremoch's Bane will soon show up to begin corrupting it again, so I will provide you will a scroll of banishment, which should rid us of the troublesome thing for good. Be wary, if it doesn't work, then you will need to flee quickly."

"I hold the ruby with me now. The corruption I speak of comes from Ogremoch's Bane, twisting the power of the elements. I can't say what manner of trouble it will throw your way, but I am confident you can handle it."