Hal Stoutheart was a dwarven explorer who perished in the depths of Tethyamar while searching for the jewels of ardor. Though long dead, his likeness was later used by the demon lord Graz'zt in a cruel scheme.[1]
History[]
I write this letter as my last will and testament in the hopes that it may one day find its way to the surface and back to you.
After months of searching, I have finally found the fabled Blue Stone Cavern. I just had to fall down a shaft or two and break my bones to do it! You were right. I should've packed more rope, and I shouldn't have come alone. Don't grieve though, cousin, and don't bother coming after me. Besides the fact that I'll be long dead if you ever get this letter, these "Jewels" are worthless for mining. They're as brittle as chalk and lose their glow the moment you break 'em up.
I'll admit this cave is quite a sight, though. Not a bad final resting place for an old dwarf.
Hoist a tankard for me back home with the boys.
Hal Stoutheart
Hal's last venture was into the lost mines of Tethyamar, where he searched for Blue Stone Cavern and the jewels of ardor. His eagerness proved the end of him, as he slipped and fell a great distance into the depths below the Eastern Reaches, breaking bones in the process. He came to a halt in the Blue Stone Cavern, but found that the jewels he sought were hardly the treasures he had heard them as. Unable to escape on his own, Hal found his peace in the soft blue glow of the jewels of ardor and wrote a final journal entry for his cousin to hopefully one day find.[1]
Though Hal died in that cavern, years later the demon lord Graz'zt came across his remains and used his persona and the jewels for a malevolent trick. By pretending to be Hal and imbuing the jewels with an intoxicating demonic luster, Graz'zt lured a great number of dwarves to Tethyamar, where they established the Tethyamar Mining Outpost and began mining the worthless crystals. Only after narrowly surviving a war with the drow of House Argith and overcoming Graz'zt's final challenges did a team of adventurers sent by Inger and Asta find Hal's remains and his journal, confirming that the expedition had been a disaster from the start, but also clearing Hal's name of any wrongdoing.[1][note 1]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ The Mines of Tethyamar is dated to 1487 DR, as it seems to reflect Graz'zt's activities during the Rage of Demons event.
Appearances[]
Video Games
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Standing Stone Games (July 2017). “The Mines of Tethyamar”. In Dungeons & Dragons Online. Daybreak Game Company.