Such an ignoble end for two storied adventurers -- Thalwyn, the elven thief who would not lie; and Gurdand, the dwarven Curate whose loyalties were sorely tested.
It was an ill stroke of fate that bound both adventurers to the fortunes of one, Cord Nasewis, a dispossessed minor princeling of distant Dun Festog, and his six loyal friends. These seven Dwarves sought the Eye of Khamir, a gigantic ruby they were told would reside in a temple in the human City of Bolden. This Eye, they hoped, would serve as a ransom for a captive princess and cement Cord's reputation as a hero among his own kind.
As Thalwyn was journeying to Bolden to negotiate with his Guild anyway, and as Gurdand had previously pledged his Order to follow Thalwyn; the two of them offered to guide Cord and his henchmen. They reasoned that seven armed dwarves alone in a human city (even a city the size of that one), stumbling about and asking for temples, were sure to attract attention. But with Thalwyn leading them, one who knew the side streets and narrow lanes of the town as well as anyone born there, they hoped to escape detection.
Together they journeyed to Bolden and settling many matters there began to look in earnest for the Eye of Khamir. Eventually, their adventure took them beneath Bolden's cobbled streets to the catacombs of the Old City now forgotten. In the Old City, they discovered a troglodyte society festering in mockery of the human habitation above it, and resting upon worship of a being known only as the Great Eye.
The "Eye of Khamir" and the "Great Eye", having such similarity of name and location, seemed to cry out as more than coincidence. Buoyed along by such encouragement, the party explored the dark passages and escaped many foes bent on their harm. Until, deep within the catacombs, they found a ruined temple and a strange fleshy idol with not one, but two gigantic rubies for eyes. The idol sat cross-legged upon the floor and its horned head nearly reached the ceiling. In its lap, sat a laver of undying fire.
Just then, they were discovered by the troglodytes. These foul creatures were led by a being who must be none other than the Great Eye. It was a beholder, a flying orb set with an humongous unblinking iris and many radiating stalks which terminated in smaller eyes of their own. It was then that Thalwyn unveiled the magic wand of AR which had first earned him the interest of Gurdand's priestly order. In the end, it was that wand, together with Gurdand's magical spear, that slew the beholder.
When the dust had settled, however, Gurdand soon discovered that his old companion Thalwyn was turned to stone during the melee. Accordingly, all but a few of Cord's companions had been slain. Gurdand and Cord purposed to take a single ruby from the fleshy idol in hopes that it was the Eye of Khamir. Then, evade the troglodytes still remaining, and finally escape with the statuary formerly known as Thalwyn.
The plan required some intense negotiation between the dwarves remaining, as well as some manipulation of their would-be captors, but they finally made their escape. But, once crossing the threshold of the temple, the party discovered that the giant fleshy idol came to life and began to pursue them. It scooped a sort of burning pitch from the undying fire it carried and hurled it upon the fleeing dwarves, including Gurdand.
One by one, the remaining Dwarves fell until Gurdand and Cord stood alone and turned to face their pursuer. The battle was brief and unfairly matched. With the cries of torment and the sound of crackling fire, ringing in their ears, the two of them fell.
What ultimately became of Gurdand and Thalwyn is left only to rumor and speculation. For there are none now alive who undertook with them that fateful journey. Rumors abound that Thalwyn's body was recovered by some nefarious characters that he double-crossed. As a stone statue, he might have been kept like a trophy, of sorts. Indeed, some who have trafficked the thieves road in Bolden swear that the uncanny likeness of an elf, armed with a strange wand, is worked in stone and rests in the Guild Hall of a certain Arch Thief.
As for Gurdand? A dwarf left for dead far beneath a human city and so far from the hallowed ground of his people is not likely to be recovered. But rumors still persist of a certain creature with great burn scars upon its flesh, creeping and stalking in the darkness of those ancient catacombs. One by one, they say this unfortunate creature throttles the life from those that it comes across. If there is any justice remaining for this unfortunate soul, then that would include the troglodytes. If it is true, then the once priestly Dwarf may well be cursed beyond reckoning.
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