Ulgrotha: Strongrock and Beyond (at last)

 Party: Sorval / Zantaroth / Vultha / Iskren / Taurio

Xivaskir 25

Vultha heads to Ivar's Ballistics, attempting to find a ranged weapon that exceeds his own. Some bartering later, Vultha has emptied his pouch in exchange for a pretty looking metal crossbow, a super exclusive cleaning cloth and a pair of keychain whippersnappers (collectable numbered miniature crossbows that fire whips). 

After a quick and worrying detour to the multitalented goblin Giglund, big Z and Vultha head to Snarfblatt to procure a tattoo for Zantaroth. Sadly enough, Vultha spent all the funds the pair had available on ranged weapons and keychains. So they seek out the closest source of gold.... Iskren!

Taurio and Sorval head to the Irone Brotherhood's HQ where they meet Jaja, a man covered in dried blood and rusted armour. The pitch made by Sorval for recruitment goes something like "Return uncertain, leaders instable, foes unknown, death likely". Taurio offers board and gear to sweeten the deal, dropping the rates a moderate amount. The pair leaves a deposit with a reservation for two months. Sorval mentions whoever will pick up the mercenaries will have a Boros symbol.

Afterwards, Sorval seeks out Iskren and delivers a beautifully crafted gold-and-raven themed armour. Chuffed about it all, Iskren spreads the happy mood, spending a few moments on making compliments and even passing on a priceless gift from Vultha to Sorval. Zantaroth explains his need for the ink and dipping into the party fund, the group (minus Taurio) decides to fund it. Z, Taurio and Vultha head over to Snarfblatt again, where Zantaroth has a red field with a golden star with a black circle in the middle, from which an armoured angelic wing sprouts, on it and from the red field flow some branches over the jaws tattooed on his throat to face area. Depending on how the light catches the massive lizard, the tattoo glows blue.

Xivaskir 26

Finally moving past the administrative bits, the party breathes free mountain air beyond Strongrock. Taking a decently paced walk, the party eventually finds remains of the rumours Iskren had caught. Splitting off from the beaten track, they find a goblin who (Sorval and Vultha combine to deduce) stabbed himself after poisoning and eating his own innards. A little further off, they spy a clutch of winged lizards, whom they engage in combat. The fighting draws out a larger, more adult variant of winged being. Combined, the creatures cause some damage with their acid breath, but eventually fall to the combined might of the party. In the end, Sorval heroically slays the large beast with a single blow of his Frostbrand.

The group then rests and loots the corpses for meat, bones and coins before spotting a trapdoor which leads into a cave or cellar of sorts.