Story - Part 2 - Icespire Peak

"Thank you so much. You are very kind." Vienne gives their host a half bow in respect. "My family runs a tavern, if you want I can try and make up something to eat. Wouldn't be anything fancy, as I know mostly what to make that goes well with ale, but filling!"

Garic investigates the scrolls. The languages and script is not known to him but there are some passages that look like the same text written in different languages. Through cross referencing he's able to do some basic translations.
Apparently in a time long ago there was an empire called Nezhulft that reached from a capital far in the east to the area where you are now.
Nezhulft seems to have been ruled by a caste of magees that elected an emporer amongst them.
While Garic can't decipher the details it seems as if the empire developed great magical powers that lead to them being able to rise up the mountain that you are standing on now.
But this deed required them to sacrifice humanoids and this ultimately lead to their downfall.
A coalition of kingdoms were able to topple the empire in a great battle just south of the mountain.
With their armies scattered the empire of Nezhulft dissolved.
While many of their cities were razed, the sites holding their magical powers, including the castle on top of Icespire Peak, were just sealed off.
The texts end with a note that the author hopes that no one will try to revive the empire as its cruel rule will only bring pain to everyone but the ruling caste in a potential new empire.

Meanwhile Vienne uses the ingredients in the troll's cave to cook up a delicious meal.
Simply incredible. I never thought about roasting the turnips before cooking them. It gives so much flavour to the stew. I don't have much to share with you but maybe this will help you with your journeys. The troll says to Vienne
It presents a bandage infused with herbal oils to Vienne

Vienne is in her element, really. Feeding people always makes her happy and reminds her of home. Which, to be fair, isn't that far away but it is the first time she has wandered off for this long. She is more than thrilled to show him what she does. "You are so sweet! Thank you so much, and I'm glad you enjoyed it." She knows this is something she might need, so she accepts the gift, a huge smile on her face.

Garic shares what he has learned with the others before yawning and pulling out his bed roll. He pauses to concider but decides to trust the troll and setles down for a good nights sleep. ZZzzzzzz....

The troll shows you a place to sleep and you all accept the offer. The night is very calm and unremarkable.
However in the morning you are rudely woken up by a high pitched scream and a rumbling sound. The whole mountain is shaking. You quickly run out of the cave. After a few minutes the rumbling stops. You look around and assess any potential damage. The cave withstood the shaking but an avalanche blocked your way back.
You could try to climb back down through the masses of snow that the avalanche left or continue your way back up. Above the castle has started to emit a pulsating glowing light.
This is not good the troll mumbles The castle has never done this.

Then I suggest we go and make sure it doesn't do it again. Garic says and he tightens the straps on his pack and secures his shields. I think we should get up there, preferably while there is daylight, and see what we can learn.

You bid your farewell and make your way up to the castle.
You don't encounter anyone or anything. No animals, no trolls just eerie silence.

After a few hours of an exhausting ascend you finally stand in front of the castle. The dark bricks out of which the walls are made are sprinkled with sparkly light dots. And the whole castle is pulsating with light. Not a blinding light, just as if it was... breathing.

The main entrance consists of a huge two winged door which unfortunately is closed. It's made of wooden beams and engraved with strange symbols. The symbols also emit a faint light

Vienne stares at the castle before them. "Hey guys? Do we know what to do with an entirely magic castle? The breathing light stuff is kind of creepy." She isn't quite sure what their jovial adventure had turned into, but it wasn't that she wanted to stop. More that she suddenly felt entirely out of her depth. And she didn't want to disappoint that nice troll.

Looking at the massive magical eddiface Garic scratches his head. Knock? he asks, then proceeds to do so.

Garic's knock produces a vibrating echo... After a short pause a shrieking voice is from inside the castle Whoooo is there? Whaaaaat is your desire?

We are agents sent from the lowlands. We have come to discuss relations with those that command the keep! Garic calls in his most resonant voice. He adds a touch of magic to increase his vocal presence.

Garic wants to have his voice sound grand, loud and resonating but he by doing this he doesn't focus on being comprehensible and he only produces a booming gibberish sound
What? Are you trying to mock me? You will suffer if you try to mock me. But I'm generous today. You get a last try to tell me what you want the door answers

Looking sheepish he silences his magis and looks to his companions for help with an appologetic grin

"We've come to see what can be done regarding those in the keep and those down the mountain getting along. And there's a missing elf in there as well." Vienne rather thought Garic's voice had been funny, and grins back at him. Hey, at least they were having fun, and it made her feel less tense.

What can be done regarding those in the keep and down below getting along? Well you can leave or... the voice pauses. After an awkwardly long pause the voice continues
... or you can come in and we can talk. Negotiate...

The doors suddenly swing wide open and you struggle to get out of their way in time.
The open doorway reveals a long hallway with a high ceiling held up by black stone columns. In front of each column stands a ghostly figure. They seem to be or rather have been knights. While the bodies are ghostly blue they still wear their black armor and have a greatsword in their hands that is firmly planted on the ground.
There are 6 columns and correspondingly 6 ghostly knights

On a balcony above the door at the other end of the hallway you see a fey woman. She's dressed in a black, silken robe. In her right hand she holds a scepter made out of silver.
So you are from 'down the mountain'. Very interesting. You surely know the peoples down there. What are they like? Do they have kingdoms? Armies? Great mages!?
Her voice sounds both smooth and slightly mocking but she seems to be interested in what you have to say.

"Are those of great interest to you? If so, I'm afraid we may not be the best source of knowledge." Vienne didn't enter and just looked through the open doorway, a bit creeped out by the soldiers.

Shrugging Garic steps forward to stand inside the door looking around.
Our lands are not great centers of trade or of much value so the grand things of the world tend to leave us to ourselves. There are kingdoms and armies but with no enemy to fight and little for the to protect they tend to stay far from here. But this has lead the people to general learn to look out for ourselves. There are always a few who move to protect the rest, like us as well as others from the trolls and elves that live nearby.

Oh how delightful! So there is an unclaimed stretch of land in need of a loving monarch. Very good. Please come inside and we will chat about the lands down there and your role in the prosperous future your lands hold the fey cheerfully states.
She waves at the knights and the two farthest from you open the doors below her balcony and beckon you to come inside

It is claimed. We are happy to not have a monarch imposing decrees and leaving taxes. Garic states firmly while trying to remain polite. He heads towards they opened door.

"Yeah...we're pretty good down there with how it is now." Vienne hesitates before she follows Garic to the door, unwilling to let her friend go in alone just because the entire place is super spooky.