Battle at the Fort of Prospect Hill

The heroes made their way across the Smokestack Mountains to the tiny hamlet of Prospect Hill. There they discovered the people were not particularly friendly and appeared very frightened. Jordin managed to get the local innkeeper to open up and he told them about the evil warlock, Chevkos, and his bandit bully boys that have been terrorizing the hamlet for weeks. They have a dragon ally to enforce their will.

The dragon, named Korzinalikur, also has the Brow of Falgrim according to the prophecy from Stonehome. The heroes lie in wait in the village for the nightly visit from Chevkos's bandits. They easily lay waste to the thugs and capture three of them.

The villagers are terrified of the prospect of Chevkos's vengeance. The Silver Elites manage to convince the villagers to hold two of them captive while the heroes make their way to the nearby fort held by Chevkos and his allies. They take one of the captives along to lead the way and in an attempt to pretend to be the six returning bandits from the "night on the town".

At the fort the heroes are challenged by the gate guards and a fight quickly ensures. A long, sprawling battle occurs as guards and lackeys pour from various barracks around the keep. The battle is a very close thing when suddenly one of the soldiers calls to "bring out the dragon!"

A rampaging copper dragon bursts from one of the larger buildings in the keep and rushes into battle. It breaths a cloud of acid on the heroes and several of the bandits, and it's powerful presence stuns Kalim.

The battle continues for several minutes, but the dragon seems to intentionally miss attacks against the heroes. In the midst of the battle it quietly pleads with Torv, "The warlock holds my children captive; please help me!"

As the last of the bandits fall Chevkos and his bugbear guards rush into the battle. The dragon turns on Chevkos and takes the side of the Silver Elites. They quickly beat down the bugbears and manage to capture Chevkos.

Chevkos has Korzinalikur's children held captive by a band of gnolls in the mountains. He sends a message nightly by way of the bandits going through Prospect Hill. The message is sent to tell the gnolls not to kill Korzinalikur's children . . . this night. The message has not been delivered as the heroes intercepted the bandits.

Korzinalikur begs the Silver Elites to save her children and she will give them the magic items in her hoard . . .