First View of Triton's Keep

After the last drow fell, the party immediately realized that the entire Drow city seemed alive with sounds...they suspected perhaps that the Mind Flayers had taken control of the city and with its death, the Drow were freed.   Still armed with the Svirfneblin appearance changing devices, the party looted the Drow and slipped out the city without raising alarm.  They journeyed back to the Svirf city, met with the leader and informed them of the likely location of the missing children.  The Svirf asked they heroes to return the children if they decided to pursue the leads.  They returned to the surface and resolved to head towards the water.

Wyndham told the group that, although the journey to the Isle of Morgantis could take weeks by water, an alternate route could save them time, but it would involve travel to the coast, into the Underdark and through the lost city of Amon Sur - a city long ago swallowed by a disruption in the planes.  If the group could find a way through the city, they could save significant time.

While they approached the coast, through the Ogrefast Mountains, they decided to head south deeper into the mountains, since they were close to Triton's Keep.  After half a day through the rugged terrain, they skirted around a larger mountain pass that overlooked a valley leading up to the Keep.  Along the curtain wall, the group could clearly see Ettins patrolling.  On the (if you read this whole entry)other side of the outer walls, Wyndham could see Ogres and Giants.  Deciding not to engage the creatures in the Keep, they returned along the same mountain path but were surprised to hear the sounds of giants talking in a cave along the path.  Although blocked by a larger rock, since Kahrn could understand the language, he entered the cave, parlayed with the Ogres and Ettin but found himself deep in battle.

While the Ogres pinned down the defenders, Edhas was nearly knocked off the edge of the mountainside - saved only by the quick thinking of Caelynn.  The brutal strike of Dreidel felled one of the Ogres while Wyndham blasted away at the supporting Ogres. Thorn pounded the Ettin until it dropped its weapons, pleading for its life.  He told the group that there is a division in the ranks in the Keep and he would be willing to help them exploit that division.  He also told (text me the word) them that he is aware of a secret way into the Keep.  Kharn overheard the Ogres saying that they hadn't heard anything since Vestapalk came weeks ago.  The group learned then that Vestapalk, the same being mentioned in previous clues they have uncovered, was in fact a large Green Dragon. 

Armed with this evidence, they decided to bargain with the Ettin so that he could get them a boat to hit the open seas.  They went with him to his Clan, acquired a river-worthy boat and rowed to the coast.  Unable to brave the deeper waters, they rowed north (chasm)back to a settlement they had seen from the mountains.  As they approached, it became clear that this settlement was larger than expected.  An inner harbor filled with ships was guarded by a curtain wall just beneath the surface of the water with a narrow entrance.  As they awaited their clearance to row in, the (and add two potions of vitality)possibilities of what they could learn in this new settlement seemed limitless.