Operation: Hard Shell Fish After Action Review
Mirtul 9th, 1401 Dale Reckoning, Year of the Sheltered Viper
Scribed by Pawn Xandos Klaxxan of the House of Heroes
With the blessings of the Great Guide granted to us through the Clerical administrations of Alain we marched through the Void Door in the Northwestern corner of Waterdeep and began our march South along the Western Wall of Shadowdeep. Despite several encounters with Legion Patrols we reached the Northwestern corner of the Shadowspires and awaited the Assualt Force to begin their attack.
With a bright bolt of lighting flying up into the dark sky above Shadowdeep and exploding in a brilliant display, what sounded like hundreds of wild feral voices began to scream with battle lust somewhere South East of our position. The signal had been given and Rako Ca'tra in command of the Sky Pony Warriors had begun their assualt upon the front gates of the Shadowspires. As the battle quickly grew heated our smaller Recovery and Rescue Force went over the Northwestern Wall of the Compound and silently entered through the Secret Door.
Once inside we quickly realized the interior of the Nightsinger's Spires were not a mirror to the Spires of the Sun Soul Monastery of Waterdeep. We were forced to improvise and moved through the dark passages and large haunting chambers dispatching the Corrupted Monks and Black Guards now in-service to the Nightsinger as we encountered them. In short order we reached a set of stairs leading upwards towards a sizable door, from which we could clearly hear the battle being raged by Rako Ca'tra and the Sky Pony Warriors against Sharran Forces. In realization we had been working our way towards the main entrance and not deeper into the heart of the Nightsinger's Spires, we changed our course and quickly back tracked in an effort to explore alternative routes.
It was during this haste to insure we did not lose the advantage of the Assualt Force's distraction I had stepped upon a well concealed trap that teleported me into the bowels of the Spires locked within a small cell. As I heard jailers keys jingling outside the door I cloaked myself with invisablity in preparation to escape and rejoin the others.
In my absence Inquisitor Guardian Hans Copperpot, and the Gray Hand Enforcers Aries Vexx and Brujo pressed forward to continue the mission in my absence. They knew time was of the essence and that denying Vanrak Moonstar the stolen records and freeing the prisoners was of utmost importance. Together the three of them continued to battle through the dark passages of the Nightsinger's Spires battling Legion Sentries, Corrupted Monks, Black Guards, as well as a fearsome Bone Golem.
When the door to my cell opened, it was none other then my Ward Danny Lu who held the keys in his hands. Uncertain of his loyalty I studied him for a moment before making my presence known. Danny Lu quickly explained he and the other Prawns have not been allowed to speak to eachother and they had all been given a re-education by the Sharrans. I returned to him the Banner of the Foehammer and together we quickly moved cell to cell to liberate the Prawns. Each of them was filled with doubt and uncertainty, but with the sight of Danny Lu holding the Foehammer's Sigil high, and sound of voice, each Prawn dug deep within themselves to find the mettle needed to carve a path free of the darkness.
Together once more we emerged from the depths of the holding cells to find Brother Hronkil Elgredsson wearing the Nightsinger's Colors and standing between us and our escape. I intended words with the Man, because he was a Man and should have been offered an opportunity to return to the Light of Lathander, though several of the Prawns who had suffered under his abuse moved to battle without hesitation and brutal efficiency. I shouted out that he should Return to the Light of Lathander as I moved to join the battle the Prawns had already encircled Hronkil with.
What followed was a fight I may not have been able to win without all of my students united beside me. Together though we defeated Hronkil Elgredsson and may he have what the Lathanderites reference as "From Death, Life." Not far from his corpse I discard a prepared tome of misinformation in hopes that it maybe salvaged by Sharran Forces and it might for a time mislead their efforts.
Upon reuniting with the rest of the Recovery and Rescue Team, we set out for Brother Hronkil Elgredsson's personal chambers to reclaim the records and documents that had been taken during the attack on the House of Heroes. Along our path we discovered a large vault and armory holding the vast amount of stolen wealth and artifacts stolen from the Sun Soul Monastery's own Treasury and Armory. Upon entering the Vault to reclaim the lost Treasures of the Church of Lathander we were set upon by no less and no more then a Shadow Dragon Wyrmling.
It was only after this most harrowing battle against only the youngest of Shadow Dragons, we found Hronkil Elgredsson's personal chambers and those that defended it. In the wake of the battle we reclaimed our stolen documents and a large collection of the Enemy's missives and documents as well.
Only then with our mission accomplished did we all retreat out through the secret door we had used to enter the compound to return to Waterdeep through accessing the nearby Moon Door where we reunited with Clergy of the Great Guide Alain, Rako Ca'tra and his Team of Sky Ponies. We learned that the Assault Force had suffered minimal casualties before escaping with a bountiful number of hard won war trophies, and together we all returned to the House of Heroes to celebrate our victory over the Forces of the Spires of the Nightsinger, the end of Brother Hronkil Elgredsson's corruption, the reclaiming of the Church of Lathander's effects, the House of Heroes War Records, and last but not least the return of the Prawns who had proved themselves capable Pawns.
