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    Canonfire :: View topic - The Slavers!
    Canonfire Forum Index -> Campaign Journals & General Online Play
    The Slavers!
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    GreySage

    Joined: Jul 26, 2010
    Posts: 2695
    From: LG Dyvers

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    Sun Dec 29, 2013 8:42 pm  

    "Turrosh Mak." Ha! Happy

    Do your players know the significance of the person they just freed?

    SirXaris
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    Master Greytalker

    Joined: Aug 09, 2001
    Posts: 655


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    Mon Dec 30, 2013 8:19 pm  

    Nope. They had no idea. :) I should add, my TM is NOT the slavelord Theg Narlot. I had created a totally different background/story for him. But yes, he WILL go on to great things.....

    What's the old saying? No good deed goes unpunished!
    Master Greytalker

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    Wed Jan 01, 2014 9:37 am  
    The Slavers - Part 20 (Drachen Keep)

    As he arms himself, Taki hands him a potion of Extra-Healing. Drinking it heals some of Turrosh Mak's wounds. "No need to worry about debt," says Taki. "You can either help us take down your former masters or try to make your way put on your own." He then hands him an extra sword.

    He takes the sword, and belts it on. "They are not my masters," he says. "I came here to free my people from their grasp, but landed in their clutches just the same. You will certainly have my help."

    Taki nods. "Can you give us any information on this place?"

    He tells you that this is Drachen Keep, former stronghold of the Lord of the Aerie. Now the Slavelords rule the Pomarj from Suderham. He knows the identities of only a few of them. The barbarian, Eanwulf, lives at the keep in Suderham. There are a couple of wizards, though he doesn't know their names nor where they live. The spymaster, a half-orc named Theg Narlot, is one of the Nine. He lives at the thieves guild in Suderham. It turns out that Theg set up Turrosh Mak, after pretending to aid him. That's how he was captured. He's not sure who lives here, though he was brought before the Nine once, when they captured him.

    There were the above-mentioned people, along with another woman and a grim-looking man with killer's eyes. There was a bald man who never said anything, but stood in the background and just watched calmly. There was also a priest of the Earth Dragon. Finally, there was a dark elf named Edralve, who seemed the personification of cruelty. They met at the Great Hall above, and questioned Turrosh about what he was doing here. It was the drow who tortured him. She seemed very upset that Turrosh was going to be sent to somebody named Klim, to be sacrificed to the Earth Dragon.

    He can sketch out the layout of the keep. Through the door above you enter the garrison barracks. There's about 50 men in the garrison, though about half are on duty at any given time. A spiral stair goes up to the great hall above. There are other corridors off the stair, but he never took any of them. They brought him through the barracks, up the stair to the hall, and then back down here only the one time.

    Isilme is still invisible, and she holds Maerthorlear before her, pointing it at Turrosh Mak as he speaks. She senses no lies from him.

    "Who are your people?" Thorgrim asks him.

    To the party, he says, "Sounds like Markessa, Jevon, Blackthorn, and Edralve are all here. Along with some new enemies of whose powers we know nothing. There's no knowing who's Klim, and maybe we don't need to know. One can be coerced as easily as the next. Whether we need his aid or not we shouldn't accept it, lest he bargain for his life. Their sentence is the same, one and all: death."

    He looks at Thorgrim, hesitant for a moment, before he continues. "The people of the Pomarj," he says. "Of all races, even the orc. They deserve to be free of these Slavelords, just as much as any."

    When he sees Thorgrim's obvious reaction, he adds. "If we live through this, I'll tell you my story, Master Dwarf. But for now, let's leave philosophy alone. Blood and justice is my kin tonight."

    Thorgrim considers. "I know not what hateful act of malice spawned you and hellishly dragged your soul, unbidden, into this world..." He pauses, thinking.

    "But we seem to be united in cause. Join us and accept this healing." Thorgrim then cures Turrosh Mak's remaining wounds.

    "The longer we hang out in any given spot," says Taki, already getting antsy, "the longer we give them a chance to catch us unprepared, lets be off to take the fight to them."

    "It might make sense to explore this place then," adds Emyn. "and, if nothing else, burn it to the ground when we are done."

    Hepla cancels her invisibility, then changes form with her running Polymorph, taking the form of Markessa. Turrosh Mak notices the change, lifting an eyebrow at the whole affair, but he doesn't react to the appearance of Hepla/Markessa.

    "Yes, let's ascend the stairs and get Noot to open up that door," says Emyn, impatient as well.

    As we start out, again, Hepla is surprised that he did not recognise Markessa. She takes out her small mirror to make sure she got the morphing right. She wonders if Markessa is part of the nine or just missed the meeting that day. As the party moves out, she asks,"How long have you been here?"

    "Just a couple of days," he says.

    Hepla takes Gotrek's potion of Clairvoyance and drinks it.

    "It probably wouldn't even work for me," he mutters.

    She borrows Noots Ring of Infravision so she can see. With that she can see beyond the door. Beyond the stairs is a chamber where it seems the guard captains sleep. There are a couple men sleeping there. The garrison room has about 20 sleeping men. There is a chapel beyond that, dedicated to the Earth Dragon. In the far room is a bedchamber with a sleeping man. The spiral stair goes up throughout the keep.

    On the first floor is a hall [labeled museum] with a couple of soldiers. The queen's chamber is an empty bedroom. The other room (4) is a guardroom, with 4 guards in it. She can't see the next floor yet.

    "Lets take out the guard captain and his officers first," says Taki. "Then we can deal with the others."

    The group moves up the stairs, and Noot checks the door. It's locked, but he easily picks it. As he pushes the door open, is squeals loudly. From the dark interior you hear a voice mumble something unintelligible.

    Taki and Emyn surge into the chamber. The light of Taki's maul, along with the noise of the party's movements into the room, wakes the guard captain, who rolls from his bed as Taki advances. Noot is the next behind them, with the rest of the party strung out down the stairs.

    Thorgrim throws a Silence spell in the center of the room, just as the captain begins to shout. He looks confused when the sound disappears, and then Taki slams him in the face with his maul, dropping him to the ground. Emyn is right next to him, stabbing him through his naked chest. Noot slips over to the next room, looking into it. He doesn't obviously hear anything, but the light from Taki's maul reveals sleeping men. Nobody seems to have stirred. He points to Taki's maul, makes an encompassing gesture at all the light, and shakes his head. Meanwhile, the rest of the party enters the room.

    Hepla looks at the captain, thinking to morph into him, but his face is nearly completely caved in by Taki's maul. She can't tell what he may have looked like. She looks away, almost getting sick at the sight.

    Taki nods, covering his maul with his cloak. Everything is dark again, except a small amount of light filtering up the stairs through the open door.

    "Let's sneak to where the temple is and take out the cleric or head priest or whatever that person is." says Emyn. "If we can take a spellcaster alone, it will be easier than trying to fight him when protecvted by others."

    Taki looks around, finds the captains belt pouch with a handful of coins in it. While he's doing that, Thorgrim casts silence on one of the silver coins. Noot carries it, standing in the center of the party. Hepla meanwhile morphs into a bat and flies through the next room with the sleeping guardsmen. In total silence, the party moves into the next chamber. After crossing the room with the sleeping guards, the party sneaks into the next antechamber. It is a sitting room for the priest. They move through there into the chapel. Beyond that is a door, on the other side of which is the priest's bedroom. The door is locked.

    There's a lot of religious paraphenelia in the antechamber, though it's more of a private nature. It doesn't seem that this is a place for services or anything like that. Meanwhile, Noot picks the lock. Because of the silence, you get into the next room without issue. The priest is sleeping in his bed. Turrosh Mak sets a grim face when he sees him.

    Hepla motions for the silence field to move far enough so she can cast Charm on the priest, then move back quickly so if he wakes and is not charmed he cannot cast a spell. The bands should be handy. Isilme, still invisible, stays outside the room with the 20 troops, prepared to wizard lock the door or use the wand on them.

    Hepla tries to charm the priest, but fails. He tosses fitfully in his sleep, then opens his eyes, waking up. Thogrim quickly tosses the coin on the foot foot of the bed as Taki and Emyn grab the priest and hold him immobile. He is easily bound with a rope, and Thorgrim interrogates him just outside the area of silence. His name is Rorik, and when he sees Turrosh Mak and glowers at him, until Emyn slaps him!

    Hepla begins to question him. Hepla asks the questions:

    "Where are the nine? Who are they? and Why do you react to Turrosh Mak, the half-orc so? Keep answering truthfully and you may get to live, you are doing well."

    "Nine? Because there are nine. It's a good number," he says smugly.

    Emyn then slaps him again. "Who are they?" says Emyn, "I want names!"

    With a sword to his throat, he names all the slavelords: Eanwulf the barbarian, Nerelas the assassin, Ajakstu and Lamonsten the wizards, Slippery Ketta the thief and Guildmaster of Suderham, Theg Narlot who commands the humanoids, Edralve the Drow, Brother Milerjoi the monk, and Stalman Klim the High Priest of the Earth Dragon. He reacted to Turrosh Mak because he's supposed to be locked up in the dungeon.

    "Who scares you most?" asks Hepla, as she again morphs into Markessa.

    "Edralve," he begins, the he gasps when Hepla turns into Markessa. He knows who she is.

    "You know who I am?" asks Hepla/Markessa.

    He nods, and as he answers, she then learns that Markessa is the head of the Outer Council. She is NOT one of the nine Slavelords, though she desires to be. They have stayed with Nine as it's a powerful number, so she cannot join the Inner Council until there is an opening. As it is, she is the most powerful, dangerous, and demented of all the Outer Council.

    "Then you know why we are here," answers Hepla/Markessa. "I need an opening on the nine, perhaps two or three openings. I might just need a new high priest, are you interrested?" Hepla asks. "Keep answering the questions, I need to know you are not an idiot as some of them say you are."

    He knows you are not the real Markessa. "You are just one of her twisted experiements," he says with a smile. "The sad truth is, you don't even know it!"

    "The happy truth is I do know it," says Hepla/Markessa, "and I have broken free, I am stronger then the real Markessa and want her serving me when we take seats on the council." Then she morphs into Black Markessa.

    "What do you want from me?" he asks.

    "You can die, false priest," snarls Turrosh Mak.

    Hepla holds a hand up, silencing the others. "The real Markessa never told me some key details of the layout here. You can earn a place next to me by telling me just where and when we can take out at least two and then show the rest that we deserve a seat at their table. Or you can content yourself with being second for the rest of your life. These who came with me want to help me take my place so they can earn rewards, some money, some power in the world, one even love, but they know they will not be rewarded unless I become one of the nine. Me, who has broken the midflayers power, me who has escapped Markessa's spells, I can and have proven myself the greater but now I offer you the chance. Are you with me?"

    He laughs, looking from you to Turrosh. "False priest?" he scoffs. "The Earth Dragon is true, It's power supreme. As you will soon find out."

    He looks back at Hepla. "You think we care for these Slavelords?" He laughs. "The Earth Dragon demands far more than slaves, and It shall have it. If you want to live, you will swear faith and loyalty to the Earth Dragon. Then maybe you shall be allowed to serve IT!"

    "I will never bow to a pathetic godling like yours," says Emyn, glowing at him. "Trithereon is the way to salvation. I am an Avenger of Trithereon, acolyte. You know just how far I will go to achieve my goals, for foul deeds must sometimes be done to further the greater good. You will cooperate and summon Klim here or face the wrath of the Holy Summoner."

    "Spit on The Summoner!" he says. "The Earth Dragon shall tread this world once again, and all your petty godlings will be brushed aside like children."

    "You seem to want death," says Hepla/Markessa. "Tou are an idiot like I had heard. Your choice." With that Hepla/Black Markessa takes out the two halves of Markessa's Magic Missle wand and shows it to him. "Want some proof of my power? That is what is left of Markessa"s trinkets, you will be next."

    "Well, since you are so convinced of the Earth Dragon's superiority," says Emyn, "let him reattach these." Emyn then uses his dagger and cuts off the priest's genitalia. He screams in pain as Emyn lops off his balls.

    You suddenly hear Isilme's soft voice whispering, "What happened? Oh." The sigh that follows tells you that she sees Emyn still standing there with the priest's bloody balls in his hand. "Humans," she says. "Always impatient. Quick, the men are waking."

    Thorgrim feels almost bad enough to heal the priest's wound. "Just ain't right," he says, "even to an enemy."

    Taki, Emyn, and Thorgrim are close to the real priest and within the silence area. Elrae is within it as well, using Snowfang to detect Magic. The priest's robes are magical, as is his suit of scale mail. There is also a magical helm, shaped like a dragon. Everyone else is in the fore of the room, just outside of the silence. Berenn is standing back against a wall, invisible in his cloak. He's been silently trailing the party for some time. The others are sort of just standing around, except for Noot who's hidden in the shadows somewhere.

    Turrosh Mak stides out to Hepla. "What is your plan, witch?" he says quickly. "We don't have much time." He doesn't say "witch" like it's a bad thing, just matter of fact.

    "Time to take care of the guards," she says, and pushes the door back open.

    Turrosh looks out, "They ain't gonna like me being here," he says, a grim smile crossing his face.

    "Wait 'til they get a load of me!" says Gotrek, also smiling.

    Light shines into the next room from the garrison room, and two guards then rush into the antechamber. They can see into the next room, where Hepla calls out, "The prisoner's escaped!" The men are not armored, but they have swords in their hands. They make to attack Turrosh Mak.

    The guards rush in, going after Turrosh Mak. The first one reaches him, and TM slices him twice across face and chest, killing him. Gotrek then charges around TM and hits the second, cleaving him nearly in two, right through the stomach. He falls on the floor, blood and guts spraying all over Hepla. The men rush out, through the antechamber, and run into more guards. Thorgrim tosses his silenced silver piece out the nearest arrow slit, considering that the time for stealth has now fled.

    Gotrek leaves the antechamber and while on the steps of the spiral stair runs into three guards coming from the garrison room. Behind Gotrek, in order, are Turrosh Mak, Emyn, and Taki. In the next room are Berenn, Noot, and Isilme all hidden or invisible. In the far chamber, where the priest is tied up bleeding in bed are Hepla, Thorgrim, and Elrae.


    Drachen Keep- ground floor


    1st floor plan

    [Here's the floorplan. I used a castle in either England or Wales, and it had a virtual tour which I used to show what it really looks like. Unfortunately, I can't recall which castle it was. If I do, I'll let you know, unless somebody else knows. I also don't have any old battlemaps, just these originals, so I'll just post them for your enjoyment!]

    The men of the garrison are shouting, and the party hears more shouts from up the stairs. Elrae gives the priest the gift of mercy and slices his throat with Snowfang.

    The guard swings at Gotrek, but his blade just clangs off his armor. Gotrek hits him in return, knocking him back into the guys behind him and making all three fall. The one he hit doesn't move. Gotrek then steps up as another guard strides over the fallen ones and misses him. TM rushes up the stairs, and you immediately hear the clang of steel on steel from up above. Emyn and Taki move out onto the stairs.

    Thorgrim nods at Elrae, then moves out to follow the warriors.

    Gotrek yells, "Clangeddin!" Goreblade rises and falls, as bodies start to pile up around him. For the first time in a long time, he is content. He presses on, growling as he does so.

    Gotrek kills the guards in front of him, and those in the garrison room back up. Some are now armored, and they advance.

    Gotrek pushes into the room, knocking over the guard in the way. He takes a cut from one of the guards he passes [4], but he is now in the thick of the fighting. Emyn pushes in behind him, kicking the prone guard in the teeth and he enters. The guard rolls over, spitting blood, then gets up as more come up. About half these guards have their chain shirts on, while the rest are still without armor. Gotrek just smiles.

    Taki runs upstairs, following Turrosh. Turrosh has stepped off the stairs, and he's fighting another guard in the tight passage leading to another guardroom. Taki slips out another passage to the left, leading to the great room, and runs into a guard there. He tries to hit him with his maul, but the close quarters makes the large weapon unwieldy. Taki misses, and takes a stab in the arm for his troubles. [4]

    Berenn slips out passed everyone and starts up the stairs. He is blocked by Turrosh and Taki, who are locked in combat with a couple of guards. Noot and Elrae are going through the priest's quarters. Noot finds letters in the desk, and he stuffs them in his pocket. Elrae shrugs and follows Isilme back out into the antechamber.

    Hepla and Isilme are now in the antechamber, and they stop when Hepla senses another wizard scrying.

    Elrae grabs the helmet and preist garbs. This could come in handy for my next performance, he thinks. After Noot and Elrae take everything that is of value the continue on to help their friends.

    Isilme relaxes and stays out of it then. These guys wanted a big fight anyway, she thinks.

    Gotrek kills another guard, as does Thorgrim, hitting one who was fighting Emyn. Thorgrim steps up into the room, going back to back with Gotrek. A guard hits Thorgrim [2] and one misses Emyn. Emyn hits him back killing him, then steps up beside Gotrek. Gotrek it attacked by three guards, getting hit once [3]. Hepla, Isilme, and Elrae are discussing the priest's stuff. Noot finds the priest's money: a coffer full of gems and a belt pouch with 250 PP.

    Upstairs, Taki pushes forward, knocking the guard back and entering the great hall. He is hit by the guard [1]. There are two other guards, one of which has a crossbow. He fires it at Taki, but misses. The other guard moves across the room to face Taki as well.

    Turrosh Mak meanwhile kills the guard he was fighting, and steps into the guardroom in front of him. There he faces two more guards.

    Berenn hears guards up above. [I'm assuming he's been holding his sword all this time.] When the guards come down the stairs, he hits the first one, killing him and appearing. The other two are too startled to act. Only one can face Berenn at a time, the other being further up the stairs.

    [Again, we see the party getting all spread out. It's quite hard to follow, actually, and without my Maptools maps, it would have been impossible. I had to have three combat maps going simultaneously, with the party on three levels, moving back and forth, man! Still, it's a great tool, and for this style of play, that is via a forum, it's indispensible.]

    DOWNSTAIRS:
    Thorgrim gets hit in the side with a longsword [18: ouch, x3 crit!] The guard attacking Emyn hits his companion [and a fumble!]. One of the three attacking Gotrek hit him [6]. Thorgrim hits his guy with his pick, killing him. Gotrek hits TWO guys, killing them both, while Emyn hits his guy killing him too. [Good round!] The three who were hanging back step up and attack. These guys are all fully armored now. Thorgrim is hit [5], Gotrek is missed, and the one attacking Emyn trips over the dead guys at his feet and falls to the ground.

    Isilme goes into the garrison room and is amazed at the carnage. All but four of the guards are down, and everything is covered in blood, including her three companions. She returns to the stairs and moves stealthily up them, coming up behind Berenn who is fighting the two guards ahead of them [in antechamber room 4].

    Noot retrieves the items, then joins Elrae and Hepla.

    UPSTAIRS:

    The guards attack Taki in the Great Hall [actually the Museum room of the level 1 map, room 2]. He is hit [9, that was a x3 crit too!]. One guy misses and the other impales himself on his own blade [crit hit self on a fumble!]. On the stairs Berenn is hit [5], while in the guardroom Turrosh takes two hits. He misses twice. Taki kills one with his maul, but misses with his second attack. Berenn misses the guy on the stairs.

    From out of an archway beyond the great hall, Taki catches a glimpse of a dark-elf woman with long white hair entering the room.

    Isilme is now on the 1st floor. She's on the stairs just below Berenn. These stairs don't give any way to fly over or around. She could probably get passed him if she's careful, and get into the small passage behind him. That would allow her to get to the great hall. Noot, Elrae, and Hepla are still downstairs, hanging back to let the warriors finish their fight.

    DOWNSTAIRS:

    The guards attack first. Gotrek is hit by another blow [7]. The prone guy gets up and hits Emyn [6], while the last guy misses Thorgrim. Thorgrim swings back missing. Emyn hits his opponent [11], but doesn't kill him. Gotrek misses twice.

    Hepla moves over to the garrison room and tells the boys to hurry up, while Noot moves around the combat and heads up the stairs. When he sees Berenn fighting on the stairs, he walks up the side, using his Slippers of Spider Climbing, and moves up beside him, crouching low (high) to stay out of the way. Elrae goes up the stairs too, but finds his way blocked by Berenn, fighting a couple guards.

    UPSTAIRS:

    Isilme takes care to avoid the fight, way to the small passage to the left. She will reach the hall [Museum room area 2] next round.

    Taki suddenly feels himself wracked with indescribable pain [14]. He screams out, which shakes Isilme coming up behind him, for he has never cried, ever. He drops his maul and collapses to his knees, helpless. The warrior he was battling attacks him, hitting him with his sword [6]. Taki then falls over, writhing in agony.

    Berenn and the guard on the stair trade ineffective blows. In the other guardroom, Turrosh kills another guard, while the other guard loses his grip on his sword which is knocked away. In fact, Elrae can't see anyone except the guard Berenn is fighting. Iislme finally enters the chamber, seeing Taki writhing in agony on the floor. From her vantage point, Isilme can see the female dark-elf across the chamber.

    DOWNSTAIRS

    The warriors all finish off the remaining guards. Hepla just took out her whip to help when the last guard is slain. "Put that away, girl," says Gotrek. "This is man's work!" He then starts up the stairs towards the sound of battle.

    "Sounds like the party is still going upstairs," she answers. She then gives a little bow, "after you." She stays armed with the whip and follows Gotrek.

    UPSTAIRS

    Isilme tries to see if the dark elf is doing anything, like maintaining a spell, but she can't tell. She does notice that she's laughing wickedly. The guard standing above Taki raises h is sword and is readying a coup de grace on the fallen warrior.

    Not willing to expose herself just yet with a fellow drow in the room, Isilme casts scare on the fighter attacking Taki. The guard suddenly drops his sword and turns away from whatever he sees, running in fear. Isilme slips out into the chamber and flies up to the ceiling, where she begins to move towards the dark elf. The dark elf frowns, glancing in her direction, though not directly at her.

    "Spoil my fun, eh?" and casts a spell. Isilme recognizes the Dispel Magic, and suddenly she is visible and no longer flying. Since she is wearing Boots of Levitation, which control her vertical movements at will, she only drops a few feet before invoking their power and stopping her fall. She is, in essence, hovering about 12' above the ground.

    "That's better," says the dark elf priestess. She sees Isilme, currently in the guise of an elf, tatooed like the first Markessa double they encountered. "An elf? Well, this WILL be fun." You see she has a strange rod in her left hand, the head of which is a mass of writhing tentacles. Isilme has NO IDEA what that rod is. Though she too is a dark elf, she has never seen such a thing. She does't who this dark elf in the strange purple robes is, but she is seriously creeping Isilme out. Taki continues to lie helpless on the floor.

    In the guardroom to the right, Turrosh Mak misses his opponent, who then tackles him, both falling on the floor grappling.

    In the stairway Berenn hits the guy above him, finally killing him. He steps up 5' to meet the next guy, who misses him.

    "Fools," you hear a voice from above say, followed by a strange crackling sound. Noot dives into the space to the left as a lightning bolts erupts from above, bouncing its way down the spiral stairs to the bottom. It blasts away the guard above Berenn. Berenn takes a full blast in the chest [28], barely getting his shield up in time. He is knocked backwards down the stairs, tumbling about 10' before stopping [2]. He lies smoking, a huge hole blasted right through his shield [DESTROYED]. His elven cloak is in tatters as well [DESTROYED], but his armor, though blackened, is ok. Noot barely escapes the main force of the blast [20]. Elrae also takes a full blast [39], which knocks him back to the bottom of the stairs [2]. His chainmail armor is destroyed, along with his crossbow and cittern. Gotrek dives back out of the stairs just in time to not be hit. [ouch! Well, guess one of the wizards has appeared....]

    Hepla is stepping out of the way to let the fighters by when the lightning bolt blasts down the spiral stairs. They sound is deafening, and the flash is quite brilliant. For a second she is blinded, and when her vision clears she finds a stunned Elrae rolling out of the stairway, his clothes smoking.

    UPSTAIRS

    Isilme cancels the magic that makes her look like an elf, revealing that she too is a dark elf. "I hear lolth calling for you," she says in Drow. "Time to die bitch"

    "Lolth can rot in the Abyss, Spider-Lover," replies the priestess." She is clearly a bit shocked though.

    In the other room, Turrosh Mak shoves the guard off him; he impaled him on his sword when he grappled him. He stands up, glances back towards the stairs where Berenn is crawling through the narrow archway, then strides into the great room.

    Berenn crawls out of the stairs, casting Cure Serious Wounds on himself and curing [15]. Noot goes down the small stairs, around the corner (away from the great hall) and hides in the shadows.

    Hepla moves out of the way, and Thorgrim grabs Elrae, pulling him away and casting CLW on him [8].

    So, we have Isilme levitating in the Great Hall [Museum room 2], with the drow priestess across from her. Taki lies on the ground, still writhing in pain. Turrosh Mak is in the guardroom [area 4] having just dispatched the last guard. Berenn and Noot just crawled out of the circular stairs, Berenn into area 4 and Noot to the left, the way Isilme went and into the small corridor which goes to the SE corner of the Great Hall. Downstairs are the rest, Elrae, Emyn, Gotrek, Thorgrim, and Hepla.


    Last edited by ragnar on Wed Jan 01, 2014 10:29 am; edited 2 times in total
    Master Greytalker

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    Wed Jan 01, 2014 9:57 am  
    Newcastle Keep

    I just remembered, it's Newcastle Keep.



    I will add this link, so you can see the virtual tour I found. I used it to show the party what a lot of the various rooms looked like. Everyone actually enjoyed just doing the tour for themselves anyway, since it was cool. :)

    http://www.castlekeep-newcastle.org.uk/keep_virtualtour.htm
    Master Greytalker

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    Wed Jan 01, 2014 12:19 pm  
    The Slavers - Part 21 (Damn! We're in a tight spot!)

    [Thorgrim OOC: We are getting our asses KICKED and fast!]

    [Isilme OOC: I agree, and fast. I am alone. If it were not for Taki I would have got out of there. Isilme does not like getting her hands dirty close up like this. oh that and I ahve an opponent that spells probably wont work on - lets just say I have a hunch even though she has been working on the surface she still has full resistance. Well, here goes nothing.]

    UPSTAIRS

    Isilme drops to the ground, looking like Kate Beckinsale in the beginning of Underworld! She then rushes right at the surprised drow and slashes at the tentacle rod in her hand. Maerthorlear cuts right through it, and the rod explodes in a violent concussion. Isilme takes [34] and is blown back 15'. The dark elf is also blown backwards through the archway to her own chamber, disappearing into the darkness beyond. When Isilme comes to, she will see that she is holding only the hilt of Maerthorlear, the blade having been blown apart by the magical explosion. She's unconscious right now. Taki then shakes his head, gets up, and charges across the room after the drow yelling some strange warcry Isilme has never heard.

    DOWNSTAIRS

    Gotrek and Emyn rush ahead and up the stairs. They get to the next level, see the blasted people and Berenn crawling away. Gotrek keeps going up, singing, while Emyn moves to check on Berenn, asking where Isilme is. Berenn shakes his head and points towards the great room. "I heard her that way."

    Hepla runs up the stairs. She sets her Ioun stone circling and is hoping that it actually does what she read it did, absorbs spells cast at .

    Gotrek nearly runs into a wizard who just cast a clairvoyance to see what happened. SURPRISE! The stairs continue to go up, but there's just the one way to go on this level, and that's through the wizard.


    Drachen Keep 3rd Floor

    OK, so Isilme is unconscious on the floor. The drow is knocked back against the wall in her chamber, with Taki looming over her. Turrosh Mak is coming into the great hall right now. Berenn is healing, and Emyn is standing above him, about to move into the great hall in search of Isilme. Gotrek is upstairs, face to face with the wizard who just fired that Lightning Bolt. Hepla, Thorgrim, and Elrae are all on the ground floor still.

    The drow priestess is stunned, and she puts her hands up, pleading for Taki to protect her. The big man looks confused for a moment, lowering his maul. Then he shakes his head as he clears his mind of whatever spells she was trying to cast upon him.

    "Nice try," he says grimly as he slams his maul into the priestess [17]. He swings again, hitting her a second time [14] as she tries to fend off the blows.

    Turrosh Mak moves over to check on Isilme. Seeing that she's alive, he then moves across the great hall to follow Taki. He approaches him from behind, and sees him slamming his maul into the priestess. He can't get passed the big man, so stands there, breathing hard from the heavy fighting. The drow throws up her hands, crying for mercy from Taki, but her only answer is another swing of Taki's maul. The large man never stops; he just keeps slamming the woman repeatedly until even Turrosh Mak turns away.

    Emyn and Berenn move up the stairs and into the great hall, where they are joined by Hepla, who immediately goes over to Isilme. They see Berenn has his rod in hand, and he hurries over to her as well.

    Upstairs, the wizard backs up and disappears. Behind him are a score of guardsmen, and Gotrek howls in rage as he charges forward. He kills one with his first blow, and the next one attacks him missing. With his second blow he kills him as well.

    Noot sneaks upstairs, crawling along the ceiling. He sees Gotrek moving forward after the wizard disappeared, and then sees two guards coming down the stairs from above, looking to take Gotrek in the rear. He stabs one in the back, killing him instantly. The other whirls around, startled at facing the upside-down thief who stands on the ceiling.

    Those downstairs hear Gotrek's cry of rage, and Thorgrim decides to continue up to help Gotrek. He sees the guard with his back to him, facing Noot, and hits him in the back with his pick, killing him. Elrae, hesitant about another near-death, hangs back. He gets up and approaches the stairs on the ground floor, looking up. [he's the only one on the ground floor now.]

    Meanwhile, downstairs, Elrae hears a sound behind him, from the priest's chapel, like something was just knocked over. Drawing Snowfang, he moves into the room. He hears mumbled chanting from around the corner. When he looks, he sees the bloody priest, clutching the idol of earth dragon. He looks up at Elrae. "Klim was a fool," he says. "He should never have led you here." He spits out blood. "Bringing down Edralve was not worth this," he gasps. "Not worth the wrath...of....the....Earth...Dra....." and then he slumps on the floor, dead. Elrae sees a sacrificial dagger in the priest's hand, buried to the hilt into his own belly. It is almost as if he sacrificed himself....

    UPSTAIRS:
    Berenn uses his Rod of Xodal on Isilme, healing [10]. She comes around, and Hepla gives her a big hug. Emyn has a tear in his eye, then grimly turns in search of vengeance.

    On the third floor, Gotrek kills another guard, moving forward. He is missed by the next one then kills him with single swing. Thorgrim moves over to the left, peeking through the arrow slit into another great hall [this is actually the one that says Great Hall], while Noot moves up the stairs, reaching the next level which has a balcony overlooking the King's Great Hall below. From their two positions, they see, standing in the hall, a wizard, surrounded by a half-dozen soldiers.

    [Isilme OOC: The bloody priest is dead, balls chopped off and throat cut........ how exactly did he rise up to sacrifice himself again?]

    [DM OOC: He had just a little bit of life left. Very common plot device, actually.]

    [Isilme OOC: And that's why I chop heads off!]

    Taki turns and leaves, brushing passed Turrosh Mak and following the sound of the fighting. With a glance in at the grisly scene, Turrosh Mak follows him. Hepla helps Isilme up as Isilme cures 10 more hp. Berenn casts CLW for 8 as well. Thorgrim goes upstairs and finds Noot, healing him with a CLW [7].

    Meanwhile, the wizard casts a spell. The warrior next to him sees Thorgrim and Noot up on the balcony above and shouts a warning. Gotrek kills the guard in front of him, then moves into the great hall. Two guards block his path, attacking twice each. He takes one hit [5].

    Taki and Turrosh Mak reach the stairs and begin to climb.

    [So, we have Gotrek standing in the entrance to the Great Hall on the 2nd floor, with guards blocking the path between him and the wizard. He is actually pretty much surrounded. He also just went into a rage! Noot and Thorgrim are on the balcony above, overlooking the room. They see two other guards on the balcony, on the far side of the room. These guards have crossbows. Taki and Turrosh Mak are at the stairs, but one floor down. Isilme, Hepla, Berenn, and Emyn are in the lesser hall on the floor below. Elrae is at the ground floor back in the chapel.]

    UPSTAIRS:
    Noot slips back and hides in the shadows while Thorgrim casts Dimensional Anchor on the wizard. Taki and Turrosh Mak rush up the stairs when there is an explosion above them. The wizard points his staff at the balcony, and a fireball flies from it, exploding just above Thorgrim. Both he and Noot make their saves, Noot taking [14] and Thorgrim taking [10]. Their cloths are smoking, but since the entire area is unadorned stone, nothing catches fire.

    Gotrek kills one guard. All five of the remaining ones attack him, and he is hit by one and by their leader, who steps in front of him to block his path. Gotrek then hits another guard, killing him. The guards across the hall fire crossbows at Thorgrim, but both miss as they bounce off the stone balcony's parapet.

    DOWNSTAIRS:
    Isilme goes over to the body of the drow in the next room, to see if there is any breath of life left. She is clearly dead, beaten truly into a broken, bloody pulp. Of course she will cast a DETECT MAGIC, removing anything magical from the body (the broken wand if she is clutching that too) and pointing out anything magical in the room to the others. There is little magic on her. A ring, a dagger, and a broach. There is residual magic in the broken Rod, though it's fading. Same goes for the broken blade of Maerthorlear. Isilme feels a strange, dwindling emotion of contentment as the magic of the blade fades away.

    "Farewell Maerthorlaer my faithful old friend," says Isilme, wiping tears from her eyes.

    Emyn went with her, to protect her, while Berenn and Hepla moved to the stairs. Downstairs, Elrae makes sure that the priest is truly dead this time and takes the dagger, before coming up the stairs too. He runs into Hepla and Berenn on the first level.

    Isilme searches through the drow priestess's quarters, gathering up a bunch of stuff. She does a very thorough search, so she's out of action for a bit. Emyn stands guard, but feels anxious about Hepla.

    Noot goes even further away this time, slinking along the balcony over to the right side. Thorgrim also ducks down behind the balcony and quickly casts Protection from Fire on himself. Taki rushes through the halls and reaches the point behind Gotrek. He takes out his Iron Bands, planning to throw them at the next foe. Turrosh Mak goes upstairs, reaching Thorgrim on the balcony above, and kneels beside him too.

    Thorgrim looks at him, shaking his head. "Strange bedfellows, eh?"

    Turrosh Mak just smiles.

    The guards attack Gotrek, who doesn't feel a thing. One of the guards loses his weapon. Gotrek hits him, killing him. The guards attack again, their blows clanging against Gotrek who just keeps laughing, singing, and focusing on the wizard. He then kills another guard.

    Berenn and Hepla reach the next level, just as Taki goes around the corner. They follow him.

    When the wizard sees no movement up above, he smiles and turns his attention back to Gotrek. He points at him and fires a group of magic missiles from his fingertips, which streak into the raging dwarf.

    The wizard casts another spell when he sees Taki enter. Suddenly Taki, Berenn, and Hepla feel very sluggish. Hepla figures out that they are under the effect of a Slow spell.

    Gotrek is hit by the warrior, and Gotrek hits him back. He then is missed, and Gotrek finishes him off, opening the way to the wizard.

    Upstairs, Thorgrim casts a Hold Person, holding both the guards on the balcony opposite him. Noot sneaks around to the first one, pulls him down, and slices his throat. Turrosh Mak sneaks around the balcony the other way.

    Taki slowly moves out into the room to Gotrek's left, while Berenn makes his way to Gotrek's right. Taki was going to throw his bands, but just can't act fast enough. Hepla come up behind them, casting Dispel Magic. Suddenly the sluggishness is gone. The wizard looks at Hepla with scorn, and Taki is newly determined to throw his bands now that the spell is countered.

    Elrae is up to the first level now, and he goes out into that hall, finding Emyn guarding the drow's chamber where Isilme is busy. Before anyone can do anything else, there is a deep rumbling and the entire fortress seems to shudder.

    "It looks as if the Earth Dragon has awoken," says Elrae. "Let's get the Nine Hells out of here."

    "I get the feeling the twice dead priest summoned the earth dragon," says Isilme. "Can't win em' all."

    [ Gotrek, Taki, and Berenn are actually inside the GREAT HALL on the 2nd Floor. Hepla is right behind them in the archway which leads around back to the stairs. On the balcony overlooking the hall are Thorgrim, Noot, and Turrosh Mak; they are technically on the 3rd Floor.

    On the level below, inside the drow priestess's chamber (the one marked Queen's Chamber) are Isilme, Elrae, and Emyn.]

    Isilme summons her LLL (Leomund's Labile Locker, in case you forgot!) and puts all the stuff from the dead priestess inside it. While she does that, Emyn moves up to the next floor. Elrae takes his old "normal" crossbow from the chest once Isilme summons it.

    Upstairs, Hepla fires her magic missiles, which streak around Gotrek's head and slam into an invisible shield around the wizard. He points his hand towards the party, though you don't see anything happen. Berenn hits the warrior fighting Gotrek, killing him and clearing the path. Gotrek and Taki both move up to attack the wizard, and slam into an invisible barrier. Gotrek hacks at it madly with Goreblade, without effect while Taki moves along [looking like a mime!] trying to find a way around. The barrier goes all the way to the left hand wall.

    Upstairs, Noot sneaks around and kills the second and last guard upstairs while Thorgrim casts CLW on himself [7].

    Turrosh Mak rushes along the balcony and leaps over it with a yell, landing atop the wizard, both falling to the ground in a heap. The wizard drops his staff, which rolls away from him.

    Isilme takes her +2 Longsword from the LLL, before sending it back to the ethereal. Then the earth suddenly shakes in a most severe way. [Not sure if anyone's ever felt a quake, but if so it's beyond anything you've ever felt.] Nobody can hardly do anything. The balcony where Thorgrim is collapses, and he barely gets away in time. He scrambles towards the stairs, and is shocked when they start to collapse. The whole side of the keep simply starts to crumble away. Everyone inside is thrown violently to the ground, and no actions are possible. This continues for what seems like a couple of minutes, and by the time it's over, nearly the entire eastern side of the keep is gone. Those who look out are stunned by what they see!


    The peak of the island above Suderham is exploding!


    Off to the right, a huge fissure has opened up and lava is pouring out into the lake.


    Way across the lake, you see the rim of the caldera (obviously that's what this whole place was!) erupting as well.

    "Lets make our escape it looks to me like these slave lords have sealed their own fate," says Taki.

    Isilme casts Fly on Elrae, who flies outside and down to the ground outside. Thorgrim cures another [8] for Noot, who then uses his slippers to get down to the ground where he joins Elrae. Thorgrim then moves around the balcony going the other way which didn't collapse, to get on the other side of the wall of force. Berenn tells everyone to get out, but Emyn ignores him and moves up to protect Hepla. Berenn leaps over edge, using his Ring of Feather Fall to gently float down to the ground, where he too joins Elrae and Noot.


    Gotrek continues to vent his frustration on the invisible wall, unable to come out of his rage, and Turrosh Mak suddenly starts to shake as the wizard uses Shocking Grasp on him. The wizard then pushes the unconscious half-orc off him and gets up. He looks around, seemingly unconcerned.

    Hepla gives Taki the Potion of Fly, while she casts Fly upon herself. Both are now capable of flight. Taki starts to fly up over the wall, maul ready to smash the wizard to a pulp. The wizard sees what's going on and attempts a Dimension Door, but nothing happens. He looks confused, and only moments too late realizes that he has been held by Thorgrim's Dimensional Anchor.

    Thogrim laughs, a hearty dwarf laugh, then leaps down next to him [taking 6], but hitting him with his pick at the same time that Taki hits him with his maul. The wizard goes down hard, smashed beneath the two weapons. Hepla flies over the wall as well, landing lightly beside Turrosh Mak, who she notes is alive. A glance at the wizard shows he is VERY dead, but Hepla notes that the Wall of Force didn't disappear. Hepla thinks that's strange, as she picks up the wizard's staff. Thorgrim casts CLW on Turrosh Mak, and the half-orc wakes up, groggy, but alive.

    Gotrek STILL fails to come out of his rage, and just keeps swinging!

    Flying about 50' in the air, Isilme looks around to see what she can see. Below her, at the bottom of the stairs, she sees lava filling up the bottom part of the structure and start to pour out of the arrow slits at the ground floor. She remember the lava tube they walked through for a bit and shudders. She reasons that it's now full of lava, seeking a way to the surface. Then entire basement and much of the ground floor is probably now full of lava. The heat is intense, and everyone has to get away from it fast.

    "DAMN!" says Isilme. "We're in a tight spot."

    Gotrek finally comes out of his rage, as Hepla quickly strips the wizard. Using their Fly spells, the rest of the party quickly exits the keep and retires away to a safe distance, to take stock of the situation. There is lava pouring through Suderham, and it looks like some great cracks have opened up in the city. Half the wall has collapsed, as has the keep within the city. You see lots of people running about, most heading for the docks. The main peak is really erupting now, with ash starting to fall over the entire area. You see lightning crackling in the cloud above the peak.



    "DAMN!" says Isilme. "We're in a tight spot."
    GreySage

    Joined: Jul 26, 2010
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    Wed Jan 01, 2014 1:02 pm  

    Awesome, Ragnar! Keep it up. I love perusing maps/architectural designs of real world castles and adapting them to my campaigns. Very nicely done. Happy

    SirXaris
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    Wed Jan 15, 2014 10:52 pm  
    The Slavers - Part 22 (Suderham in Flames)

    Isilme casts Find Person, trying to divine the location of Lady Huerta. She is down by the docks.



    Before she takes off to go find her, Gotrek shows up. Hepla has cast flight on the rest of the party, and they are leaving. Gotrek isn't about to pass up a fight if it can be helped. He's been cured a couple times by Berenn and Thorgrim, and by Berenn's rod. Berenn also cannot find his griffons, which probably flew away from the volcano anyway. Time to worry about them later. For now, everyone else is flying away with orders to meet up on the road to the west.

    The party flies over a group of farmers and slaves, nearly nude people, who are in the process of impaling their former masters. A few of them are hurriedly making stakes from a stack of logs. Nearby, several struggling overseers and guardsmen are being held, each pinned by several ex-slaves. As soon as a stake is finished, another slaver is brought forth and impaled, and a cheer goes up from the mob.

    When we arrive at the road Taki looks at the party and asks, "Is that the end of the slavelords?"

    Turrosh Mak shakes his head. "We only found two of the Nine, so I fear not." He looks back towards the burning mountain. "I fear some shall indeed escape, as we have."

    Nobody makes a move to stop the slaves from killing their overseers, so the group continues to the docks. There seems to be a huge melee underway on and around the three docks, but it's not always clear who is on whose side, if there are any sides. There are three fishing boats at each of the three long piers. Several more out on the lake are moving toward the far shore and one appears to be capsized. Townsmen, slum-dwellers, guardsmen, ex-slaves, and assorted humanoids are all fighting over possession of these boats. To add to the confusion, a number of grotesque gray-green humanoids are climbing out of the water and falling indiscriminately on the other combatants, biting and clawing them to death. There are at least 200 figures battling it out in this area. Scanning the area from above, Isilme sees Lady Huerta cowering at the rear with a group of slaves.

    [Isilme OOC: Did you say the magic word HUMANOIDS? ]

    She asks Emyn to grab and save the lady so we can uphold our promise to her. Meantime she waves her wand on the gray-green humanoids climbing out of the water so they can fight each other. Whatever they are, they start fighting amongst themselves, though it just adds to the general chaos. Emyn flies down to the lady, as Hepla casts Sleep upon her. She drops, along with a half-dozen other slaves. There are maybe another dozen who cower away from Emyn, until he says you are not slavers. Once Isilme has set the humanoids to fighting each other, she returns, along with Gotrek.

    Emyn looks around and say, "We cannot leave these slaves to perish."

    Isilme lets out a chuckle. "I would love to hear your plan. How do you propose we save this massive number of people, or better yet determine who is worthy and not the enemy?"

    With only a little magic left, Hepla uses what she has remaining to levitate 1600 lbs of mothers with children. When they float up she says,"Everyone hold hands and lead mom, hold on to my back." She pulls them accross the water landing on the nearest shore, exhausted.

    Emyn looks to see if there is a ship that might accomodate at least some of the slaves. With Noot, we might be able to get them to safety.

    "Counting only mothers....that's 16 down out of 200," thinks Isilme. "Humans...."

    "There is no way to save all these people," says Thorgrim. "We must leave them to their fates."

    Taki looks around, tired and unsure. "I suggest we find a place to hole up and rest and heal before we get into another fight."

    "Taki," replies Emyn, "if we do not get off of this island and out of this caldera, we will surely die. We must secure transport for us and some slaves or fly outselves, at least carrying a single slave. We can rest when we're dead."

    Taki nods, "Then lets move. I still have this half orc to carry but could manage another, should we get caught with our hands full by this slave lords then sir we are toast."

    "We need to get miles away from this volcano," says Noot. "If it really blows, we are really burnt toast." Noot is scared, and though nobody knows it, he remembers another volcano....

    "Then lets grab our things and head out," says Taki. "Save who we can but we must also save ourselves."

    Meanwhile... Gotrek puts a stop to the people attacking the slavers. They don't want to listen, but they listen to his axe. When the slavers thank him, he smacks one across the face. "I did this for them," he says, "not you." Isilme and Emyn come back with Lady Huerta. He also finds the rest of the party there. They just didn't want to fly off without Gotrek.

    They group now has maybe three dozen ex-slaves to rescue. One of the slave overseers says that the Slavelords have a galley at their private dock. "If you can reach it, you can take it and get everyone across the lake and away to safety. That's where we were going, before we were grabbed by these slaves."

    You make your way towards the dock, avoiding the rest of the scrambling people. You get to a small rise, overlooking the last dock. There is a long galley at the end, with a small crew making it ready to sail. Noot estimates that they need another 5 minutes or so. There are about a dozen people on board. At the beginning of the dock are two ogres and a giant with a huge club, holding back a crowd of about two dozen more people.

    About this time, Hepla returns, still in her Black Dragon polymorph form. She morphs into Markessa and addresses the other ogre,"If you want to live, you will finish off that other ogre and aid us in saving some of the slave stock. We need this boat and you can have a spot on it and live."

    "Let's just kill them," says Taki.

    Gotrek looks at Taki. "No laddie," he says, twisting Giant Goreblade in his hands. "The giant is mine."

    Hepla looks at Gotrek, then back to the ogre,"Ignore the dwarf, he hasn't killed anything in the last few minutes and needs his exercise."

    In the center of the dock, near the ship, is a half-orc who Turrosh Mak recognizes as Theg Narlot. With him are two guards. On the ship, there are more people. There is one guard at the bow. With him are two sailors. There are two more at the mast, along with a tough-looking warrior. There are two sailors along the edge by the dock messing with the rigging and such, and one more at the tiller. Next to the sailor at the tiller is a wizard. There's one man left, standing where it says "Monk." He looks like your old friend, Hung Lo.

    While Isilme casts Invisibility, Gotrek flies down and hits the giant unawares [44! Well, Giant Goreblade is pretty sweet against giants!] The giant is actually knocked backwards and crashes to the dock, breaking through the boards and becoming half-stuck.

    Taki flies right behind him, throws his bands at one of the ogres and binds him, while landing right in front of the other with Hepla/Markessa, who bluffs the ogre. It looks at you, then at Gotrek who is standing on the giant's chest about to finish it off, and then back at Hepla/Markessa. He then steps aside. From the middle of the dock you hear swearing in ogre which Gotrek understands as "what the hell are you doing?" It is Theg Narlot, approaching with his two guards. He sees Hepla/Markessa and stops, uncertain.

    Isilme will have cast Invis upon herself, and flown out above the combat. Emyn's trying to get a better look. Berenn has his bow ready. Noot slips down around the side, making for shore but staying out of sight. Elrae stays back with Thorgrim.

    Hepla looks back to the crowd and says,"Well, do you want this boat or not? Help us take it, and we will take as meny as we can. Now is the time to fight for your lives."

    Hepla/Markessa looks back at the half-orc and says,"Deny me a place on the nine will you? "There is a place open now; what say you? Are you ready to deal with the crowd and me? I say if you cannot decide let the crowd decide."

    Berenn lets fly an arrow, taking Theg Narlot in the shoulder. He stumbles back, and as he recovers, you hear a loud roar. The crowd listens to Hepla and charges down the pier towards the startled Slavelord. Theg and his guards meet the attack, but are simply overwhelmed by the rush. A few people are killed, but the push Theg and his guards right off the dock.

    Gotrek hits the giant again [40], killing it. Taki hits the ogre in the head as it's looking back at Theg Narlot, doing [24] and killing it too. With his second attack he hits the bound ogre in the face [20], knocking it over.

    The sailors at the bow continue to frantically pull up the anchor, while those on the side move to cast off lines. The guard in the bow fires a crossbow, taking out one of the people charging down the docks.

    The rest of the party starts over the rise, bringing the other people with them. Isilme flies over to the ship, watching for threats. She's particularly interested in getting a clear shot at the wizard by the tiller. As she flies down closer, she notices him casting a spell....Suddenly a wall of fire appears between the ship and the dock. It erupts right over the charging crowd, instantly roasting dozens of people, their screams drowning out the sounds of combat.

    After the wall of fire went up, Berenn still had a shot so he takes it at the guard in the bow, hitting him in the face and killing him. There are just the two sailors there now.

    Taki flies across, landing next to the two sailors. They let go of the anchor rope, drop to their knees, and plead for mercy.

    Taki points over the rail and says, "Get off the boat now!"

    Without any delay, they turn and leap off the dock.

    Hepla takes out her Wand of Fire Extinguishing, very upset at the wall of fire and how so many people were just burned alive. She points it at the wall to put it out, but nothing happens.

    Berenn notices Hung Lo for the first time, and he fires an arrow at him. For his part, the nimble monk just knocks it aside with a grin.

    Gotrek growls, "traitor!" and flies across to engage him. Hung Lo steps aside, rolling, and comes up, prepared to fight Gotrek. Emyn flies down the dock with Elrae. Berenn and Thorgrim move towards the dock with the rest of the slaves.

    Isilme sees what Hepla did, and then realizes that the wall of fire is an illusion. She flies over it, "It's just an illusion!" she yells, though still invisible.

    The wizards casts another spell, creating a Hypnotic Pattern of swirling colors in the air between him and Emyn. Emyn makes his save, flies across and drops Elrae, who falls down to the deck and stays mesmerized by the colors. "Ooo, pretty."

    Hepla and Turrosh Mak make their way hesitantly through the flames, having heard Isilme's call. They do not harm them, and they leap aboard the ship. Thorgrim, unaware of the illusion but protected from fire, just runs through the wall and leaps aboard as well.

    Berenn casts Dispel Magic at the wall of fire and it disappears anyway.

    Gotrek takes a punch from Hung Lo [14], who then leaps back away, landing on the edge of the ship. Taki makes his way along the center of the ship. He puts his bands away, unwilling to throw them on board the ship, and he takes his maul in two hands, ready to smash the silly monk.

    Isilme casts Silence, and the area around the wizard goes silent. The wizard tries to cast a spell, but now fails so he runs away.

    Before Emyn can step up, he is stabbed in the back [18]. He feels a burning in the wound, which then goes away. [made your save!] Emyn turns to face this new threat, and sees a woman dressed in leather wielding a dagger.

    Gotrek and Taki move up against Hung Lo. The monk waits, then slips down, sweeping Taki's feet out, and kicking him about 5' away. Taki takes [6]. Gotrek misses.

    Hepla uses the wand of fear, which affects three sailors. They all take off running, leaping over the far side of the ship. She then morphs back into her own form. Turrosh Mak looks back down into the water, seeking out Theg Narlot, while Thorgrim moves towards the running wizard. Berenn cross over to the ship, moving towards the center.

    With the sailors gone, Hepla calls to Hung Lo. "Hung Lo, my old friend, what are you doing here with these slavers? You should be fighting them not us. Don't you remember us?" [She is preping Dispell Magic, depending on his answer. She knows she can hit him with Magic missles but would like to talk to him first.]

    He throws a smile her way. "My name is NOT Hung Lo," he says. "It is Brother Milerjoi, and you all are dead."

    Isilme flies after the wizard, casting Hold Person. He obviously feels the spell, but fights off the magic. He then disappears.

    Thorgrim curses, "Girly, nib-chewing, stalactite!" He then listens, and he hears the man running around to the starboard side of the open deck hatch. Thorgrim moves over to intercept, and swings anyway. He misses, but it seems the wizard stopped, as the running stopped.

    The thief slips back off the edge of the rear section of the ship, dropping down to the oar banks. "They don't call me Slippery Ketta for nothing," she says. When Emyn looks down, he sees her roll under a bench, then come up on the other side. With an oath to Trithereon, he leaps down after her, landing on the deck, then steps up onto the bench.

    Noot finally has made it to the ship, and he climbs up the side silently. He gets into position to backstab Brother Milerjoi, but the monk does a spinning circle kick that connects squarely with Noot's jaw. Noot takes [10] and flies backwards, falling back into the water.

    Hepla casts her Dispel Magic on Hung Lo, but to no effect. However, Taki steps up onto the bench, swinging his maul and hitting for [12]. Gotrek swings at him from the other side, missing as the monk leaps over the blow.

    Berenn fires his bow at Hung Lo (Brother Milerjoi), who bats the arrow aside. "You will have to do better than that," he says. Brother Milerjoi then strikes out with his open fist, hitting Taki in the face [4].

    "You too," says Taki, wiping the blood from his lip.

    Turrosh Mak leaps along the benches, eventually getting behind Slippery Ketta, while the people on the dock move up to the side of the dock, ready to climb aboard.

    Isilme casts Detect Invisible, scanning the area of the wizard. She sees him sneaking back away from Thorgrim. Thorgrim swings wildly in the area, trying to keep the wizard from passing him.

    Elrae come to, and looks around. He then fires magic missiles at Slippery Ketta [9]. She throws something in Emyn's face, and tumbles to the side, coming up in the center of the deck. Emyn is nearly blinded by some kind of painful powder [good thing you have such good saves!]. He steps up and attacks her, hitting for [12]. Turrosh Mak steps up to her and hits as well [6]. She doesn't look happy.

    Berenn switches to his sword and moves up to fight the monk, who does a leap up and over Berenn, landing behind him. However, before he can attack, Hepla casts her last spell, levitate, and raises him 10' up into the air.

    Gotrek cannot reach him, but he laughs. "Hah! We've got you now, traitor!"

    Taki CAN reach, and pummels him in the legs with his maul [15], sending him spinning upside down.

    The people start to clamber onto the boat. Noot swims back over to the boat, but away from where the Monk was.

    Hepla morhs back to Markessa. Then yells to the crowd,"Get them, show you have the right to live, these are the slave lords who took your lives from you and now would leave you on these docks to die. Get them."

    Hepla then calls out,"Noot, be prepared to captain the ship. We still have a volcano to outrun." Then to the crowd,"Any with sailor experience, report to captain Noot," she points to him.

    As some of the crowd take down the last sailors, some move over to Noot, who starts to bark commands at them. " Man the oars! Former slaves if you want to get out of here alive, we've go to work. -- Where is the first mate? Helpla - since you have the high view -- tell me when you have the slavelords out of action. Man the crow's nest! Prepare the mainsail! Where's the steersman?"

    Isilme casts faerie fire, outlining the mage for everyone to see! Thorgrim chases after the wizard, who tries to run away. He was going to cast a spell, but he cancels that now that he's outlined. Rather, he moves away from all the people, back towards the rear of the ship, and up by the tiller. He runs right into Elrae, [actually, I had forgotten he was there!] and Elrae hits him with Snowfang [6].

    Hung Lo goes into a defensive position, as much as is possible, and avoids Taki's blows. Hepla moves up closer, concentrating on him and talking to him as Markessa.

    "I know who you are, Hepla," he says, twisting around Taki's maul and batting it aside with open palms.

    Meanwhile, Slippery Ketta tumbles back towards the far side of the ship, avoiding Emyn and Turrosh Mak. She leaps up onto the rail, as Turrosh Mak approaches. Unfortunately, he steps on a caltrop and stumbles to one knee. Emyn then sees them and leaps across to the next bench, avoiding them.

    Berenn sees more soldiers approaching the dock, and shouts a warning. He steps up on a bench, sheathes his sword, and takes out his bow.

    Taki looks and hears shouting from the dock. There he sees a squad of about 10 guards along with a huge warrior charging onto the dock. Eanwulf!

    "Take back the ships, you dogs!" the Thillronian barbarian yells, pointing with his two-handed sword.

    Noot slips along the edge of the boat, hand over hand, and gets behind Slippery Ketta. He's still hanging off the back side.

    Gotrek remembers he can fly, raises up, and swings at Brother Milerjoi, missing, while more people get on board.

    "Taste the icy cold bite of Snowfang, slaver." As Elrae blasts the outlined wizard with the Cone of Cold. Elrae blasts the wizard with Snowfang's Cone of Cold. He pretty much freezes, is blown backwards, and falls into the water.

    Thorgrim gives him a thumbs-up, turns around, and moves back towards the bow.

    Isilme flies over towards the bow herself, still invisible. She calls to Elrae, "What about his magic?"

    "There are more important things than magic items," replies Elrae, who still peers over to see if he can see the frozen corpse of the wizard or Slippery Ketta. All he sees is the corpse of the wizard, encased in ice and bobbing around in the water.

    Noot continues to give commands to the people, then sees that the front anchor is not raised and runs for the bow.

    Slippery Ketta dives backwards into the water. Turrosh Mak deals with the caltrop, while Emyn waits for Ketta to appear. She doesn't.

    Gotrek flies away from the monk, and intercepts the guards on the dock. The guards charge. Gotrek kills the first to reach him, then gets surrounded by a bunch of them. The rest continue passed him and attack the people scrambling onto the deck. They kill three before they can jump across.

    Hepla steps over and snaps off a shot of the wand of fear, and the four guards are all affected. They will run next round!

    Berenn fires an arrow at Eanwulf, missing. Eanwulf replies with a roar and charges towards the boat. He reaches the edge of the dock and makes an amazing leap, clearing the 10+ feet and landing on the edge of the bow.

    Berenn fires his second shot, hitting him in the shoulder for [10].

    Taki sees Eanwulf's jump and gives up on his pinata practice, instead approaching the huge barbarian.

    Taki yells in a rage "This pretender of a barbarian is mine."

    Taki misses with his maul, and Eanwulf hits Taki with his two-handed sword [18].

    Noot cuts the bow anchor rope as Isilme flies back over to where the floating corpse is bobbing in the water.

    Elrae tells the sailors at the stern to man the tiller, while he looks over the edge.

    Thorgrim casts Hold Person on the monk, who glares at him. "You should know such tricks won't work, Thorgrim," he says. Then he shrugs and smiles, "Can't say the same for the Levitate though."

    The guards attack Gotrek, all missing. He hits one, killing him. The guards then attack again, all missing, while Gotrek swings and kills another. The other guards run away from Hepla.

    Emyn flies across to join Taki in the fight with Eanwulf. He reaches him, but cannot attack this turn.

    Taki swings, missing, and Eanwulf attacks again. He fumbles, slips and falls on the slippery deck, and hits his head on the bench, stunning himself!

    Turrosh Mak moves over to the other side, to help the people get aboard and get them squared away.

    Finally, a volcanic bomb lands on the bow, exploding in a fireball. Luckily, it doesn't hit anyone, but it immediately starts to burn the ship.

    "I got it," yells Hepla, taking out her other wand to extinguish it.

    Isilme uses her wand and puts out the volcanic fire, then she then moves to the edge of the ship. She'll jump across next round.

    The guards all attack Gotrek, missing. Isilme flies down to the water and cuts off the head of the bobbing wizard. Unfortunately, she is now visible.

    Elrae still sees no sign of Slippery Ketta. He moves back to the other side of the ship.

    Noot runs back to the mast, yelling orders to the people to start rowing. He starts getting the sails finished.

    Thorgrim moves up to Brother Milerjoi, who is still stuck. Then he goes below decks.

    Taki hits Eanwulf, who is apparently stunned. [12] Emyn hits him too [15], twice [12].

    Gotrek kills two more guards, and the last two run. He kills another with an attack of opportunity, and the last one flees down the dock.

    Berenn fires his bow, putting two arrows in the back of the last guard as he runs.

    Gotrek turns back, a big smile on his face. "Now that was fun!"

    There are a half-dozen people clustered around the mast. They are afraid to move towards the bow where Eanwulf and Brother Milerjoi are. Noot puts a few to work on the lines as those on the port side use their oars to push the ship from the dock.

    Isilme finds she cannot lift the guy; he was kinda fat. The ship's turning right over her, so she has to move quickly to grab what she can. [I'll let you know what she salvages before she has to move. It's just one round of quick scrambling for stuff.]

    Hepla turns to check on Brother Milerjoi, who is right above her head all of a sudden because he's floating in one place while the ship is being pushed to the right.

    Elrae keeps his eyes out for Slippery Ketta, but sees nothing.

    Thorgrim goes into the hold. There's nobody there, but there is some stuff down there. Not really sure what, but some of the treasure that the Slavelords were able to salvage before they fled. [Again, I'll tell you what you find later.]

    Noot sends a few people forward to man the last oars.

    Taki and Emyn finish off the stunned barbarian, bashing his brains out on the deck as Gotrek flies back over. That's all the Slavelords on the ship, except for Brother Milerjoi who is now drifting above Hepla.

    Thorgrim will go back above-decks to see if he can convince the party not to slay Hung Lo, before we can coerce some information out of him, and possibly save him if he's Charmed or something. He hopes he never gets possessed by a spirit and then instantly slain by his own former party-members...because that is surely what would happen, without a second's thought. He won't be fighting with or speaking to any more ghosts as long as he's with this outfit.

    Taki moves over to finish off Hung Lo, but Gotrek yells, "Stop it!" He grabs some rope from the deck of the ship and flies over to Hung Lo.

    "If you try to hit me, I will kill you right here and now," he says. Hung Lo nods, and Gotrek ties him up, and flies him back to the ship.

    Gotrek looks around. "No one else attacks Hung Lo. He fought by our side in many tight spots. The Hung Lo I knew was a honorable warrior. Let's find out what happened, before we kill him. Hopefully, we can save him, and get some information out of him."

    Taki stomps around, while the rest check out the ship as it pulls across the lake. They don't find anything else. It takes about a half-hour before you make it to shore. The garrison there is long gone, as everyone has fled.

    You'll have time to talk to Hung Lo if you choose. He seems rather calm for a guy captured by his enemies. You can continue to talk to Hung Lo/Brother Milerjoi while you go. He tells you that he was NOT a Slavelord. Rather, his order sent him to investigate the Slavelords and infiltrate their operations. He actually gained his place on the Inner Council by his work around Hommlet, investigating the Temple of Elemental Evil. But there was dissention on the council, caused by an elven sorcerous named Markessa. He didn't know her personally, as she was an associate of the drow priestess Edralve. He apologizes for his deception, but until the Slavelords were defeated and/or driven from the ship, he couldn't blow his cover, just in case. There was and is far too much going on here to risk it.

    "Good to have you back, friend!" shouts Thorgrim, laughing and slapping him on the back. "I must apologize for the hasty actions of your erstwhile friends. They are zealous. Now, can you tell us if you know the whereabouts of Markessa?"

    "Markessa was NOT a slavelord," he says. "Well, not on the Inner Council anyway. She was head of the Outer Council, and one step from the Inner. There was considerable rivalry between her and the head of the Inner Council, Stalman Klim. He is High Priest of the Earth Dragon, and it was HE who created the Slavelords. He thought Edralve was trying to overthrow him, so he's been keeping a close eye on her and her henchman, Markessa." Actually, Hung Lo thinks that Markessa may actualy have been the worse of the two, even though Edralve was a Drow. He looks at Isilme. "Evil is much deeper than the skin."

    Once the group makes it to shore, they high-tail it out of the caldera as fast as possible. They learn from Brother Milerjoi (that's his real name) that Klim lives in a town called Kalen Lekos, and yes, he knows where Kalen Lekos is located.

    "Kalen Lekos is Stalman Klim's personal town," he says, "It's people utterly devoted to his Earth Dragon. It actually isn't far, though you will probably need to get these people to safety first. Shouldn't be too hard, considering. There will surly be many hundreds of refugees fleeing from Suderham right now."

    Knowing they are running out of time, and now are pretty much out of spells as their fly spells are ending, the party flees with the refugees. They escape the caldera just as a massive pyroclastic flow erupts from the island and flows out across the lake. They don't stop, well into the night, despite their exhaustion. After a few hours, everyone settles down to rest.

    "I wonder is there nothing we can do about Slippery Ketta?" say Thorgrim as he gets out his pipe and lights it, puffing and staring at the flickering light of the Log of Everburning, and warming his old bones. "Perhaps it will be sufficient to track down Markessa and this Klim in Kalen Lekos and bring a final end to the reign of the Slave Lords."

    Thorgrim unfolds his Portable Hole, and using the convenient ramps comprised of his pit-bridging oaken planks, gets out his cask of Gutshaker and four ceramic mugs, and offers one to Gotrek, Hepla, and whoever else will partake. "To our success!" he toasts, raising his mug high in the air. "Shall we leave in the morning?" He takes another puff. "After treasure is divided, of course."

    "That sounds good, Brother." says Gotrek, raising his mug. "To Clangeddin!"

    "Any ale in there?" aks Noot. "If not, cheers!"

    After the large fight Taki begins to feel more a part of the group. He will scout out around the tower guarding his friends. He laughs to himself as he has begins to think of these folks as friends. He keeps a sharp eye out for the thief that stabbed Helpa; he would like a chance to smash her with his maul.

    They get a few hours sleep before morning, when they awake. Though it is morning, it is as dark as night. The entire area is covered in ash.

    Master Greytalker

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    Sat Jan 18, 2014 11:50 am  
    The Slavers - Part 23 (To Kalen Lekos)

    Starday, 15th Readying, 581 CY
    You awake the next day. Very dark from volcanic ash cloud, so it's like night outside. Where the monk was there are only his bonds. He escaped them in the night.

    When Taki finds out he says, "I knew we should have killed him."

    "Or perhaps he feared his own demise at our hands and fled," says Berenn. "With all the talk of killing him, would any of you stay around?"

    "Blame Gotrek," says Emyn. "He is the one who insisted on killing us if we hurt the evil slave lord."

    While the party checks their things, to make sure the monk didn't steal anything, Berenn goes to the roof of the tower to look for the griffons. There he finds Hung Lo, sitting there with Ra and Thoth, petting them. When he sees you he smiles.

    "Good morning," he says. "Look what I found?"

    Berenn notices that Ra is burned somewhat on one side, probably from some volcanic fireball or some such. Berenn calls the others, and they join him above.

    "Hauwck P'toey" Elrae spits out a big glob of yellow phlegm. "That's how much I trust you, Brother Milerjoi. It will take much more than finding the Ranger's pets for you to gain back our trust."

    "Brother Millerjoi, it's a fine morning!" says Thorgrim, pleased that his faith was rewarded. "Good to see you still around. I see you've found our favorite aerial recon team. Would you be willing to submit to True Speak, so that we may allay the party's suspicions and lay their fears to rest? Many among us are convinced you are in league with the Slave Lords, since that's how it seemed when we found you. Your claims of being 'undercover' are only claims, until they can be proven."

    Taki looks at the monk, "He will take the test or we will finish what we started yesterday."

    He accepts your demands, and submits to magical investigations. Isilme casts Know Alignment, and his aura is that of Lawful-Neutral.

    [DM OOC: To save time, we didn't really role-play this. The party gave me a list of questions, and I just answered them one at a time. So, here they are:

    Q & A with the monk:

    Q: Are you HUng Lo or are you Brother Miljeroi?
    A: His real name is Brother Milerjoi. He went by Hung Lo while on his mission for the Slave lords, to get into their ranks.

    Q: Did your monastic order tell you to come here and infltrate the slave lords? If so, why and to what end?
    A: Yes, his order wanted to investigate them, and so ordered him to do it. They were interested in the Slavelords' plans, as well as this new "religion" of theirs. The Pomarj was long rumored to be the resting place of some ancient power, force, or being. His order also wanted him to discover if there was truth to the rumors, and whether or not this Earth Dragon was indeed real.

    Q: Why did you fight us instead of joining us in the final confrontation on the boat?
    A: His mission overrides anything else, and he could not be seen to fight against the Slavelords. And the boat was NOT the final confrontation. Suderham is gone now, along with most of the Slavelords. Their power is broken, but not completely. Not until Stalman Klim and his temple are destroyed will the Slavelords truly be defeated and the Earth Dragon cult destroyed. He will now openly work with you to finish this task.

    Q: Do you plan to bring us to any harm?
    A: No. In fact, he should leave and report, but the opportunity now presented to truly destroy the power of the Slavelords is too good to pass up. He plans to use you to bring about the final defeat of the Slavelords.]

    Thorgrim grunts. "So! Well, if there are no further questions, I suggest that we be off to Kalen Lekos for the final confrontation. We can come up with a gameplan on the way. Berenn, will you use your Rod on the griffons, and anyone else who still needs healing?"

    Isilme says, "Brother Millerjoi may very well have saved my life against the Earth temple priest in the Temple of Elemental Evil. I for one am willing to trust him with my life again. Call me a fool, but I will place my faith in his words now until shown otherwise."

    "I do not know you," says Emyn, nodding his head to Isilme. "but if Isilme trusts you, then I ,as her Knight Protector, must do so as well."

    Noot doesn't trust anyone, but for now will go along as it seems the most pragmatic path to follow. He rub his jaw, remembering the kick to the face he suffered, and plans to keep a close eye on the man.

    "Brother Milerjoi," says Elrae, "I've been to the doorway of Death and returned to breathe sweet air once again. Everyone deserves a second chance and I am willing to overlook your past transgressions against us. You did fight bravely with us for a brief time in the Temple of Elemental Evil."

    Brother Milerjoi nods, but says nothing.

    After an awkward silence falls on the group, with Taki looking unhappy but saying nothing, Emyn then changes the topic. "First we need to get any refugees with us to safety, and then we need to get to where Klim is. I can track him as I have laid a Pursuit of Vengeance upon him. I can feel him to the west of here. Brother, what is the best way to get to his earth dragon town?"

    [Pursuit of Vengeance is a special ability I have given to the Avengers of Trithereon, CG paladins I use IMC. He can't use it all the time, but when allowed, he can sense the guilty one he seeks, knowing their direction from him and relative distance - i.e. close, far, etc..]

    "Markessa's time on this earth can now be numbered in hours," says Thorgrim. "Is there some way we can use Markessa's 'confession,' written in her own hand, to our advantage? Klim already has his eye on her, so he probably suspects as much. Perhaps we could instead force him to reveal her location, and grant him a swift death for his cooperation."
    Thorgrim pauses, puffing his pipe. "Has anyone given any thought to a slow death for Markessa? Is there some authority to whom we could turn her over? Many would be willing to repay her in kind."

    " Markessa will not be turned over to any authorities," says Isilme resolutely. "She will meet her justice at the end of a blade - as swiftly as I can bring it down on her neck. Her crimes against the elves demand this. Perhaps I could approach Klim alone as a another drow willing to serve on the slave council with proof of her treachery. If he will disclose her location I will execute her for him. I do have this scroll still....I can use a message to attract her to whatever city we are taking the slaves to for refuge."

    "Agreed," says Thorgrim. "We cannot risk her escaping justice through magic or bribery."

    Hepla, whose aura has gradually shifted over the last few months, is torn between wanting to get her GOOD status returned and wanting revenge on Markessa. She thus remains silent.

    Thorgrim looks startled. Then he grunts. "Mm! I just realized that Klim and Markessa have no clue we are on our way, unless Slippery Ketta tells them. We may yet have the advantage of surprise!" His face goes sour again. "We need to hasten are steps."

    Brother Milerjoi tells you that there is a paved side road heading west from the Slave Road. It doesn't go far before you will reach a large mercenary camp and two large guard towers flanking the road.

    While they plan, they send the slaves on the way south with instructions to get to the ship which is waiting. With so many refugees, and the continuing eruption, it shouldn't be too hard to avoid trouble. Meanwhile, Hepla and Isilme finally break the large crystal jar which held Markessa's experimental pudding. They drop it off a cliff, and the thing quickly oozes away into cracks in the ground. Behind it leaves the amulet that was in the jar.



    As Hepla goes to pick it up, Isilme warns her not to touch it. She scoops it up into a pouch, to investigate later.

    Once that is done, the party moves west. Brother Milerjoi says he can get them all the way to Kalen Lekos, as he technically IS a Slavelord. He does tell Hepla to stop pretending to be Markessa all the time. "Most around here don't really know who she is, and those who did meet her, like himself, find it disturbing."

    Hepla starts to argue, but he cuts her off. "If you stare long enough into the Abyss, the Abyss also stares back."

    Thorgrim ponders. "It seems Brother Millerjoi is our secret weapon. As an Official Slave Lord, it seems he is our best bet to lead us to a confrontation with the last of the Real Slave Lords." Thorgrim addresses the half-orc: "Turrosh Mak, you did well in the fight against the slavelords. Your bravery in jumping that evil wizard did not go unmarked. It gave us the time we needed to end his life. One more action on his part might've seen one or more of our party dead. I, for one, thank Clanggedin for putting you into our path. I thank Clanggedin, and I thank you." He lights his pipe and offers a toke to Turrosh Mak. "Now, would you like to kill the last of the Slave Lords?"

    "With pleasure," he says coldly.

    The moves on, and is easily able to bluff its way passed the guards at the encampment, thanks to Brother Milerjoi and Isilme, who openly walks as a normal drow for a change. The guards all seem rather scared of both! It is more than a day to get to Kalen Lekos. The party traveled away from Suderham, and camped out in Thorgrim tower off the road, a few miles from the Slave Road. It is a full day to get to the city. In the morning, they continue, reaching the city just before nightfall.



    Hepla's eyes go wide when she sees dragons. "They are so pretty," she says with a giggle.

    "Those are dragonnels," says Brother Milerjoi. "They are used for recon around the city, and messengers to carry commands to the army or sometimes between Slavelords."

    She looks at Brother and says,"From here they look like dragons. Did you say army, how big?"

    "And what exactly do those things do?" aks Emyn. "Do they breathe fire like dragons?"

    He laughs. "No, they don't breath fire or anything. They are just big flying reptiles, and very tough ones."

    While they watch, Emyn remembers the Dragon helm he took. He shows it to Brother Milerjoi. "Do you know what this does?"

    "It is a Helm of the Earth Dragon," he says, "worn only by the High Priests. It protects them while also allowing them to breath acid."

    Elrae smiles. "Oh really? How?"

    "I believe they simply will it," says Brother Milerjoi. "I have only seen it done once, and no words were spoken." As Elrae puts it on, completing his "disguise" as an Earth Dragon priest, Brother Milerjoi cautions him to be careful.

    Emyn also gives Hepla the magical dagger he found [+2 dagger].

    "I cannot accept this," she says, "not without repaying you somehow, and I have nothing to give."

    "That's not true," he replies. "Perhaps we can arrange something later?"

    Hepla caught a possible meaning this time. Blushing, she says,"I will hold the dagger for you. I will even use the dagger if need be, and I thank you for it, but I will not accept it as mine until we agree on what you want in return. I will return the dagger if what you want is beyond my ability to give."

    Emyn is a bit taken aback. "I mean nothing improper Hepla. To me, giving this to you is one more way I can help protect you. I would not see you come to harm. By the way, what are the rules of your family for betrothals? I assume I would have to meet your family and be accpeted by them?"

    Taki shakes his head and walks away from the conversation.

    Now it's Hepla's turn to be taken aback. "I have to be at least 18 and meeting the family, mom and grandma at least, is a must. Mom has never met you, yet. She has met both dwarves and a few other guys and she likes them, but I am too young to yet declare my intentions. Why?"

    "I would very much like to meet your family some day," says Emyn, slightly changing tack.

    Taki walks over and bashes a small tree with his maul, knocking it down with one swipe.

    Emyn inspects the devastated tree and says, "Taki, you need a woman."

    "Mind your business!!!" says the hillman, in a strange, forceful tone which puts Emyn back on his heels.

    "Taki," says Emyn, "have I given offense somehow?"

    "No, one and all of you have to some degree, but it matters very little. We will wander around doing what we think is right to defeat evil, then squabble like the evil vermin we defeated over the trinkets that we took during defeating them. Half will charge in and fight to the death this evil we have set out to defeat while others will hang back. We have very little in the way of leadership, and it has caused us hurt throughout this quest. I took a mighty blow from that bitch of a dark elf and if it had not been for the quick actions of a party member I would have likely died, while others prepared spells or snooped through the belongings of those that was soon to be dead. We either come together with a clear cut plan on how to go about defeating our foes, or we will all perish."

    That said, Taki walks away to be alone, leaving a stunned and speechless party behind, wondering from whence that outburst came.

    Emyn catches him, stopping him from leaving. "Taki, I will stand by your side through any battle. We all will. But you have to realize that some of us are more capable for combat than others. Should we be pillaging the dead in the middle of a fight? Usually not. But at times, there are exception if the circumstances call for it. You need never fear being alone, for I will throw myself in front of the blade that descends upon your throat, if need be."

    Taki listens, then nods. "Thank you sir, but you would better serve me and this party by declaring a new vote for party leader, and putting someone in that spot that can lead us into battle. And by lead I mean lead from the front."

    Emyn responds, "Berenn has led us capably but if you were to step forward and lead and the party supported you, I would not object."

    "I am no leader and do not want to be a leader," he replies. "In battle I charge into the fray and only care about destroying my target."

    "So you present a problem and a list of complaints, with no real solution," replies Isilme. "How...human." She then looks to Berenn, tending his griffons. "Berenn has been a good leader, I have not lost confidence in his abilities."

    "Little sister," says Taki, "the list of complaints are complaints that get folks killed. I did offer a solution; I called for new leadership. A leader who does not lead but simply stays out of the way during a fight is of no use to us. We do not engage in a fight as a team; we engage as a group of singles fighting on our own. During the battle in the keep before the lava came, healings were being passed out to all except the ones in the fight. I will shut up and do as I am told or I will shut up and do as I want, but heed this as a warning. We have been lucky up till now not to have been taken down."

    Taki then leaves, needing to be alone. The party decides that they would rather not try sneaking into the city. They do not raise Thorgrim's tower, but camp as innocuously as possible.

    "Turrosh Mak," says Thorgrim, while they huddle against the cold. "You said you would tell me your story. I would like to hear it now. At least then it might be told if one or another of us dies in this endeavor."

    Turrosh Mak then tells his story:

    Turrosh Mak was born in 555 CY, in a minor tribe of orcs in the Pomarj. In his early years, before his capture by the Flinds, he learned first-hand about humanoid life. Perhaps it was his half-orc status which allowed him to look upon this in a slightly more detached manner. Anyway, he was very young, and not much of that part of his life is remembered clearly. What he does remember is the constant struggle, both within the tribe itself as well as with external enemies. It was one of these enemy tribes, the Victorious Flind tribe, which captured Turrosh Mak during a raid and forced him to fight in the pit games, common throughout the Pomarj.

    While fighting in the Pomarj Pits, he became quite aware of the naked brutality rampant in humanoid culture. He also noticed how many young were brought to watch the games, and over time he watched their innocent faces, filled with fear and revulsion, gradually change. They became accustomed to the bloodshed and eventually looked forward to and enjoyed the horrible and gory spectacle. It was then that he realized that it was his own kind, not the other races, which was responsible for the humanoid condition.

    Having finally won his freedom, he traveled the human world in search of knowledge. This, so he thought, was the key to “transcending the miserable morass of brutality withing which my people struggle.” He was 14 when he arrived in Greyhawk City in 569. When he arrived in Greyhawk City he witnessed a thief steal something from an old man. Well, Turrosh Mak wasn't too comfortable about that; he was more idealistic back then, and he grabbed the thief as he darted by. He let the thief go, but took the item, a precious gem, back to the old man. As it turns out, he was the wize sage, Prosper, who needed the gem for research, and he was greatly pleased at its return. When he asked Turrosh Mak what reward he would like, he asked for tuition to the Grey College. Prosper was quite interested at the prospect of this inquisitive half-orc, and he granted Turrosh Maks request. Prosper paid Turrosh Maks first term's tuition, and made him his personal servant for the duration of his studies; Turrosh Mak would have to work and pay his own way from then on.

    Turrosh Mak quickly became a star student, and he excelled beyond anyone's wildest expectations. In fact, his essay on intertribal humanoid relationships was read by some of the City's most renown scholars who were amazed at his keen intellect. This attention, however, had the predictable effect of causing a growing envy from other students, jealous of this upstart half-breed. Eventually, they conspired against him, framing him for stealing books from the Great Library. Although Prosper knew that he was innocent, the evidence was against Turrosh Mak, and it was clear he would be expelled, mainly on account of Gratius Saghast's anger regarding the affair. Rather than bring any disrespect upon Prosper, Turrosh Mak quit the university before being expelled and left Greyhawk City in 571.

    Leaving Greyhawk City, Turrosh Mak booked passage on a ship to Admundfort, and crossed the Nyr Dyv to the Shield Lands. With a letter of recommendation from Prosper, as well as on account of his knowledge of humanoid languages and his fighting prowess, he was given a post in a small patrol guarding the eastern border from bandit raids. Although he was constantly looked down upon on account of his heritage, he nevertheless accepted this treatment stoicly and went about his job. After about 6 months of service, his patrol was ambushed by bandits. During the desperate battle, his commander, a young nobleman and son of Harald Jenturi, a powerful Knight of the Holy Shielding, was gravely wounded. With the rest of the troop slain, Turrosh Mak gathered the young nobleman, Cowen, and fled on the noble’s horse. Although wounded himself, having been shot twice by bandit arrows, he succeeded in returning with Cowen to the fortress.

    After Turrosh Mak recovered from his wounds, he was rewarded by Harald with a command of his own. Turrosh Mak excelled in this new role, and he eventually succeeded in bringing in the bandit leader who had ambushed his earlier troop, for which action he was promoted to captain of all four troops. Harald also allowed him to use his private library, stocked with works on the strategy, tactics and leadership of famous Oerdian generals of antiquity.

    Over the next year, Turrosh Mak spent nearly all of his spare time in Haralds library. However, just as his success in Greyhawk City invited envy among his peers, so to did his recent successes lead to grief. Some of his men, namely those with a bit of aristocratic blood, resented serving under a commoner and a half-orc at that. When one of these nobles finally challenged Turrosh Mak, he was forced into a duel in which the noble was slain. As the witnesses were all companions of the slain noble, they accused Turrosh Mak of murdering him and tried to capture him. Unfortunately for Turrosh Mak, this occurred at a time when Harald was away in Admundfort, and it was clear that he would get no justice without Harald's aid. He thus chose to flee into the bandit lands, where he joined up with the same men he had so recently fought against.

    For the next few years, Turrosh Mak fought alongside the bandits, trying to decide what to do with his life. Surely, there must be more in store for him than a life of banditry. Why else would the Gods have prepared him with such skill and knowledge if not to use it for his kind. Knowing he had to do more with his life, Turrosh Mak steeled himself for the trials to come and struck out on his own at the first opportunity. Nearly copperless, he stowed away on a ship bound to Dyvers. Just before reaching the commercial entrepot, he was discovered, and the captain threatened to turn him over to the Dyvers constabulary. Well, having no desire to trust in the understanding of its dour Dwarves, he immediately jumped ship and swam to shore. Before word could reach the officials, he had stolen a horse and fled off along the road, eventually reaching the Free City of Greyhawk.

    He bypassed the city, to avoid further troubles, and made his way south, constantly moving from place to place. He learned of the slavers while traveling along the coast. When he reached Highport, he ran into Theg Narlot, another half-orc with whom he had fought in the pits. It was from him that he learned of the Slavelords. He realized that they were using the humanoids of the Pomarj for their own gain, and that in reality, the humanoids were just as much in their thrall as the slaves being taken. He finally saw this as his opportunity to do something. He set out to free his homeland from their evil grip, but it was all a lie. Theg Narlot was actually one of the Slavelords, and he set Turrosh Mak up to be captured, once he had reached Suderham. He was going to be sacrificed to the Earth Dragon when you rescued him.

    When Thorgrim hears Turrosh Mak's story, he is silent for a long while, pondering, and smoking his pipe. "It seems you are different from others of your race," he says. Then he grunts.

    Hepla walks over and gives him a hug and says,"Glad you are with us."

    Isilme gives the Half-orc a nod. "Truly a moving story, and one I understand better than most here."

    Emyn look at the half-orc in a new light. "Perhaps you should consider learning of Trithereon," he says.

    He smiles, but doesn't say anything. He is pleased by your acceptance, but he lays back in brooding silence. Soon, the rest of the party sleeps as well, except for Taki who stays up all night, watching.
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    Sat Jan 18, 2014 2:33 pm  
    The Slavers - part 24 (End of the Slavers)

    Moonday, 17th Readying, CY 581
    [I think I skipped a day!]

    The party had a rough day and night, arguing late about money, magic, and leaders. Not sure if anything was resolved, you awaken to find that the dark clouds have mostly blown away as a strong wind has picked up, blowing from the NW. It is a much warmer day, with the sun finally appearing after many days of clouds, rain, and then smoke and ash. There is yet an ashen blanket over everything, and each step brings up a small cloud of debris. Never have any of you seen such a landscape, and you hope certainly to never see one again.

    In prayer during the night, Emyn invoked the will and power of Trithereon. He sensed the following, though weather from his God or his own mind, he cannot say:
    You have pursued these slavers, through earth, air, water, and fire; some even through death itself. Many have been freed, but many many more have perished. The cost in lives in Suderham alone is almost beyond counting. The last of the Slavelords, their leader, and head of the Cult of the Earth Dragon, Stallman Klim, lies close. You sought for this many times, but were denied. Perhaps the vengeance of your God was not warranted. Perhaps you were not yet worthy.

    Now Emyn prayed one more time, and Emyn felt the fires of Trithereon's vengeance pour through him. Every pain seemed to go away, the cold of the night seemed to disappear; all that remained was one overriding sense. Stallman Klim was near, and he would pay. While the rest slept, or took turns on watch, Emyn stood, staring off towards Kalen Lekos. There the foul villain waits, and as the dawn breaks Emyn sees his true, dreadful purpose revealed.

    "Let's make our way to this temple and take care of Klim," says Emyn.

    As everyone prepares for what they think will be the final confrontation, Brother Milerjoi turns to the rest of the party, all of whom are finally awakening. Emyn listens, though his gaze is fixed on the city.

    "I can lead you into the city, and even up to the Temple of the Earth Dragon itself. I have been inside before, and know a bit of the way. However, I cannot bluff the rest of you inside. They will believe I wish to speak with Klim, but there is no way to bring the rest of you with me."

    "Trithereon calls me, monk," replies Emyn. "His vengeance is nigh. I shall rain divine punishment upon Klim's unholy brow, even if it means dismantling the entire town brick by brick. My sword thirsts for vengeance and must be slaked. You WILL get me to this villain."

    "Let's all just enter Thorgrim's portable hole," says Isilme. "Then Brother Milerjoi can just carry us all into the temple with no fuss."

    "I do not like the idea of us getting in that hole with a monk we are not sure we trust taking us in front of folks we are meant to kill," says Taki. To Isilme he adds, "Just make me unseen, I will walk in beside him." Taki turns to the monk "You sir try anything funny with my friends in that hole, and I will finish the beating I was giving you on that boat. Heed my words little man you hurt them, and I kill you or die trying."

    Gotrek laughs, and nudges Brother Milerjoi. "When ye were in the air defenseless, he means!"

    Taki turns to Gotrek, "You stay out of my conversations and my business. You may trust this monk, but he attacked me and that is all I need to know about trusting him. That is unless you want to take his side in this matter." He grips his maul a bit tighter.

    "I already did, laddie," replies Gotrek, holding Goreblade before him, "when I stopped him from being killed by you! And just to let you know, I would do the same for you, if the need ever arose! But, by Clangeddin, if you want a fight...!"

    "Hold, both of you," says Berenn, stepping between them. "By St. Cuthbert I swear I shall be a better leader, and I shall start by this." He points a finger at both Taki and Gotrek. "You had both best stop this, or I will. As Taki has said, we must work together, and this serves only our enemies."

    The two both back down, but they don't seem happy.

    "I think everyone is confident Berenn is a good leader," says Isilme. "Taki brought up some valid concerns. We need to work together and for the good of all if we are to defeat the powerful evils we are destined to face. We HAVE been lucky so far; things could have gone far worse in our travels. The gods smile on us, for we are their champions! As we are about to try and finish off the last of the wretched slave lords, let us not argue amongst ourselves - when the fruit of labors is so ripe for the picking. Let us press on to victory!"

    Brother Milerjoi stands back, hands clasped behind his back, watching and listening. He then adds. "I know your hearts, and your deeds. You will prevail, as always. It is an honor to fight alongside you again."

    Taki and Gotrek nod to each other, and the party all sighs that the situation is resolved. They also agree to use the portable hole, though Taki still refuses to enter.

    "What use a Slavelord in our midst if we don't use him," says Thorgrim.

    Brother Milerjoi nods as you come to your agreement. "It is good," he says calmly. "I read a quote, long ago about a house divided. You have proven your mettle, from the Temple of Evil to Suderham. I am certain we shall prevail here."

    He looks at Thorgrim, "As for being a Slavelord," and he shakes his head. "I'm afraid it will have little weight here. Suderham was the Aerie of the Slavelords, but Kalen Lekos," and he sweeps his arm before him. "This is the domain of the Earth Dragon. Stallman Klim rules here, and the other Slavelords are but guests of the High Priest when they come. The people here may fear them, but they are devoted to Klim and the Earth Dragon."

    He looks back towards the town. "Getting in may indeed be the easy part of our plan."

    While they are discussing all this, the town is waking up. They see a lot of people gathering around the temple, but are so far away they cannot see what's going on. The party decides to follow their previous plan, and put it into motion. They easily enter the town, which has no wall or anything. It's all pretty well spread out. They make their way towards the center of town, where the temple lies. There they [and I mean Elrae and Brother Milerjoi and the invisible Taki, all others being in the Portable Hole] see the great throng ahead, listening to the words of the High Priest, Stallman Klim. He is flanked by a couple other priests, all three wearing dragon armor and helms, Klim's emblazoned with the sigils of the Earth Dragon. There are also quite of few other priests, at least a few score, also standing together to the sides as well. He finishes talking before the party arrives, and the people begin to break off, carrying brooms and shovels as they begin the task of cleaning the ash from the town. The townsfolk are spreading out around town, beginning cleanup efforts. Most of the priests are joining them, along with many of the soldiers from the temple. Klim and the two other armored priests, along with about half the soldiers begin to go back into the temple.

    Elrae, in his guise as the priest from Suderham and Brother Milerjoi approach the temple, Taki walking behind them. As they approach the temple, a couple priests come up to them. They bow to Elrae, thinking him to be the priest of the Earth Dragon from Suderham.

    "I am glad "you" survived," says one of the priests, looking at Elrae and intentionally not at Brother Milerjoi. This priest has an extra stripe on his rope, so he must be of some middle rank.

    "Yes, yes," says Elrae impatiently. "I have important business with our leader Stalman Klim. Please make it so."

    Brother Milerjoi says the same, requesting to be taken to High Priest Klim immediately. "All power to the Earth Dragon," he adds.

    The priests glance at him, seemingly annoyed at his interruption. However, they nod, with one saying to Elrae, "Follow me Your Grace." He then turns and heads for the temple.

    The Outer Temple consists of two groups of buildings separated by a broad processional. A raised stone platform lies at the center of the promenade overlooking the pavilion on the next terrace. A few of the buildings are homes of acolytes, lesser priests, and service staff. Other buildings are used for schooling, a small hospital, and guest rooms. The priests and acolytes are all human of either gender. The acolytes and priest, maybe about 100 in number, have scattered throughout the town to help with the cleanup. There are maybe two dozen of each left in the promenade area, seeing to the cleanup here.

    The priests then lead them to the main doors to the Inner Temple. These huge stone doors are incredibly well balanced so that a single person can open or close them. They are left only partly open, with enough of a space to allow a single person to pass through without touching either door. They are guarded by two guards. One to the left wears scalemail with a small shield, wearing a brown tabard decorated with a black coiled dragon over it. He holds a heavy crossbow, with a longsword and dagger on a belt. The other guard likewise wears scale mail and shield, with a tabard of black with a large coiled dragon in gold on the chest. He also wears a helm shaped like a dragon's head, though not made from an actual dragon skull like the high priests wear. He is also armed with a heavy crossbow, longsword, and dagger.

    With a quick word from the priests, the guards give you only a cursory glance as you enter the temple.


    Here's the map of the Temple, so you can follow the party's progress.

    The temple itself is a series of connected caves in Mount Drachnkopf. Coiled dragons are the predominant decorations, whether painted, carved, or made with mosaics of small colored stones. All caves are at least 15 feet tall, with most running to about half the height of their largest diameter. Tunnels have a height of 10' or more. Lighting is provided by glowing crystals embedded in the walls. As soon as you enter, you feel the oppressiveness of the place. The air is fresh, despite the number of enclosed spaces. Numerous small openings allow air to circulate, with the air moveing mainly from the entrance at area 1 and flowing slowly into the temple.

    The three continue into area2. The center of this room is taken up by a large, two-tiered dais upon which rests an elaborate statue of a dragon, coiled around a mountain peak. The dragon is realistically painted but does not appear to be alive. The dragon is also very long and snakelike for a dragon, and wingless. Its eyes are glowing crystals that resemble those jutting from some of the walls in the temple. Two 10' diameter bronze gongs stand in the far sides of the room, each decorated with the coiled dragon motif. There are two large curtains, also decorated with dragons, which block entrance to rooms to the left and right. Beyond the statue is the entrance to another chamber.

    The two (three) are led through the room with the big sand pit, the priest leading you staying out of the sand. There are two guards at the areas marked 4a, wearing the brown tabard with a black dragon like one of the guards at the front doors. They are also armed with crossbows. They watch carefully as Elrae and Brother Milerjoi pass by. There is also a stair winding down on the right side which ends in a closed door. The priest pushes the doors open easily, and the three step into the Main Temple.

    [Areas 13 and 14 on map]

    This is where the main worship services within the temple take place. The floor here is sand. A large number of glowing crystals jut from the walls and ceiling, providing illumination here at all times. There are two more gongs in this room, just like the two in the entrance. The north and south doors are open, allowing a view down the flights of steps into the chambers beyond. To the north is a large dining hall. To the south is a passageway with a double-door on the east wall.

    The top of this three-step dais has a carved stone dragon head whose body merges with an exquisitely detailed carving of a coiling dragon body on the floor and wall. The dragon's mouth is open, and its tongue is a horizontal shelf that slopes gently into the dragon's maw. The stone dragon is inlaid with jet and gold, thousands of gp in value. Its eyes are massive black sapphires.

    The priest leads them through the southern doorway, down the steps, and around the corner. The passage goes to the area from where you can continue to 16, 18, and through the double doors to 21. I shall describe each as they pass.

    16. This room is a smaller, more intimate temple to the Earth Dragon. Along the southwest wall is a dais that rises in front of a large ornamental carving of the EArth Dragon. Like the altar above, it is also decorated with many precious stones.

    18. This area is a small ornate dining room, reserved for the elder priests. Four wooden tables and sixteen chairs are aranged in the room (for some reason the map shows beds!) to allow plenty of space and movement.

    21. This large antechamber is decorated with three statue and several pieces of abstract serpentine sculpture. Carved in the floor is a large coiled dragon symbol, inlaid with black enamel. Six comfortable chairs are placed about the room in no particular pattern. This place is used as a sitting and discussion room by the elder priests and any important guests, like the Slavelords.

    The priest escorting them waves a hand to the chairs. "Please, rest yourselves. I shall summon His Eminence." He then turns to leave, heading towards the door to the SE.

    As soon as they are alone, Elrae opens the portable hole, letting everyone climb out. Isilme casts Item on Markessa's safe, then tucks it into her belt and flies into the NW corner of the room. Thorgrim casts his silence spell on a small pepple, which cloaks everyone in silence. Everyone comes out fo the hole, and Isilme casts Isilme's invis 10' radius, making them all disappear while Thorgrim quickly folds up his hole and tucks it into his boot. Elrae and Brother Milerjoi are thus sitting in chairs two of the six chairs, while the rest are huddled around Isilme, inside the Invis 10'r spell. They are also all covered by Thorgrim's Silence spell. Noot is standing upside down on the ceiling, by the door through which the priest left to get Klim.

    The priest comes back out, and moves over towards the chairs. "His Eminence Klim will be with you in a moment," he says. He then turns to leave the room, heading right towards all the invisible people.

    [Thorgrim OOC: Oh crap, the jig is nearly up!]

    Thorgrim attempts to tug everyone in the Chain of Invisibility towards the north wall of the room into a line pressed against the wall, making sure he himself is more than 15 feet from the creaking doors.

    [DM OOC: Well, here's the deal. Hepla has cast Invis 10'r. So, you are all simply cloaked by proximity to her. Unfortunately, you cannot see each other either. Further, you are all within the 15'r of your silence spell. So, you cannot see or hear each other. You all see the priest say something to the others, then he starts walking right towards you.]

    The priest steps into the silence area, when his footsteps suddenly go quiet. He looks down, saying something inaudible. Emyn grabs him, becoming visible. He spins him around and puts him in a choke hold, then snaps the vile priest's neck.

    About this time, the southern door opens. Stepping through the doorway is Stalman Klim himself. "You've all proven quite resourceful," he says. "Too bad your usefulness is at an end."

    Emyn senses with clarity that the object of his Pursuit of Vengeance stands before him. He draws his blade and speaks, "Your time of evil is over, Stalman Klim. Know the vengeance of Trithereon!"

    Hepla acts first, firing a lightning bolt from the Staff of Power. If blasts through Klim, exploding in a great flash. Her bolt is followed by Elrae's, adding to the display.

    Noot is nearly hit by Elrae's rebounding bolt, but it fades before it reaches him.

    As the crackling lightnings fades, you see Klims armor glowing brightly. Then it seems as if it is just the dragon eyes upon it that glow. Everyone feels a strange sensation, which then passes.

    "Now, my tralls," says Klim. "Protect they friend and master!"

    Emyn rushes around the room to engage Klim in combat, as Thorgrim throws his pebbles at Klim's feet. The area is suddenly silent there, bringing a frown from Klim.

    Isilme flies up to the ceiling, and the invisibility field leaves those left on the ground. Taki throws his bands, which miss, bouncing off the rear wall. Gotrek moves across the room as well, though he isn't able to get an attack. Thorgrim tossed his stones towards Klim and casts Dimensional Anchor on Klim.

    "He ain't slipping away, boys," cries Thorgrim. "And he ain't casting no spells where he stands. Get him!"

    At the end of the round, Edralve appears besides Klim, intent on serious bodily harm. Turrosh Mak and Brother Milerjoi go after her.

    Elrae stands up, ready to send forth an acid spray with his helm at Stalman Klim, but with Gotrek and Emyn in the way, he holds back. He will hold his action, until the opportunity arises.

    Klim steps back through the open doorway, and after just a couple of feet can begin casting, which he does. Suddenly, a heavy mist begins to appear, quickly billowing up to cover the entire room beyond.

    Emyn moves forwards, into the mist. "I'm coming for you Klim!" he shouts, just before he enters the silence area.

    Hepla fires magic missiles at Edralve. Isilme frowns, because it was her illusion of Edralve, meant to attack Stalman Klim! [I am going to handle Isilme's illusions a bit differently from now on. She's not going to just post that she's casting them, but she's going to PM me. So, you guys will never exactly know if something is her illusion or not, unless she tells you.]

    Gotrek and Taki both attack her too, and they see that their strikes do nothing. Isilme sees that the illusion is no longer valuable, especially with that mist pouring through the doorway, so she doesn't make the hits look like they count. Brother Milerjoi reaches out and passes his hand harmlessly through the illusion, while Taki and Gotrek both swear (in silence) as they realize their mistake.

    Elrae moves over a bit, to get a better angle, while Thorgrim moves to the center of the room.

    Emyn finds Klim in the mist, and hits him [12]. The priest grunts from the blow, amazed that Emyn was even able to find him!

    Hepla yells out,"Stop, have you not seen how his people love him? He is a good leader and so is his god we were wrong."

    Berenn echoes her sentiments. "Yes, we should not be fighting him. Hold your attacks, and embrace the Earth Dragon."

    "Noot!" yells Isilme. "Use your ring! Dispel whatever foul magic has charmed our friends." Unfortunately, he cannot hear, as he is within the silence area.

    I should add, by the end of the round the mist has flowed out and engulfed everything now. So, BOTH rooms are engulfed in mist. All vision, including infravision, is reduced to about 5'.

    Thorgrim and Isilme cast Dispel Magic simultaneously, and between them the persuading effects are dispelled, as well as the silence.

    Klim casts a spell, and the ground around Emyn’s feets begins to rise up. He avoids the earth as it enlarges to roughly his own size in a large hollow mound, before collapsing in on itself. He then attacks Klim, missing with his sword.

    Gotrek laughs as the silence disappears and he begins to sing. He wades into the mist, swing wildly, but having no idea where Klim has gone. Eventually he bumps into something wooden, and smashes it apart! Noot then uses his ring, which dispels the mist. It also dispels Isilme's illusion, and Edralve disappears.

    Gotrek drinks the Potion of Fright. He closes with Klim, and by the time he gets there he cannot believe how scared he is. [Gotrek suffers a temporary decrease of three levels while under its effects.] The good news is, in another three rounds hell'll go into a rage during which he is immune to fear!

    Klim shouts something in a language you do not understand. Suddenly you hear a grating sound behind you. Glancing that way, you see the large stone statue of a warrior in dragon armor beginning to move. Klim, meanwhile, breathes an immense jet of fire out of his dragon helm. It engulfs Emyn and Gotrek. Emyn makes his save and takes [25], but Gotrek fails and takes [50] which takes into effect his armor cancelling the first 10 points. Luckily, the only thing that burned is his Belt of the Veteran. The bed and armoire catch fire too.

    Isilme flies inside the room and goes to the center (and highest) part of the room. The ceiling is about 20’ there, but it’s only about 10’ above Klim’s head, as he’s backed up against the north wall. She comes in just after the flaming breath was shot, and sees the flaming furniture. Gotrek is also smoking rather badly.

    Taki moves in and goes after the priest as well. He doesn’t see that the statue started moving, and the thing swings a stone fist at him. It hits him in the side [16], knocking him backwards and to the ground!

    Hepla takes out her Ioun stone while she moves across and picks up Taki's Iron Bands.

    Brother Milerjoi rushes through the room, entering the door to Klim’s chamber. He barely gets around Thorgrim, who stopped as he entered, having seen the moving stone statue. Berenn moves and enters the room as well. He steps up beside Thorgrim, to battle the animated statue.

    One of the doors opens up and a female priestess, also wearing dragon armor and a dragon helm enters the room. Elrae turns, having been ready all this time to use his acid breath he attempts it. He screams in pain as the acid pours out of the dragon helm and only engulfs himself. He takes [12] damage as it pours down, covering his face!

    [Gotrek OOC: Wow. A bad turn for us. Someone should heal me a bit before I go berserk. Then, it will be too late.]

    Gotrek is down to 3hp now. He swings and hits [20], while Emyn swings twice, hitting Klim once for [18]. Klim is clearly hurt bad.

    You also see a strange shimmering around him, and for a second he seems to start to go insubstantial, but then he is ripped back. He realizes that whatever spell he had set up to get him out of trouble just failed, thanks to Thorgrim Dimensional Anchor.

    Meanwhile, the other priestess laughs at Elrae. "You didn't think to be able to use the weapons of the Earth Dragon against its own priests, did you? Silly boy."

    The priestess emits a sleep gas from her dragon helm, which engulfs Elrae, Noot, and Hepla. All three fall asleep, dropping to the ground. She laughs heartily, until Turrosh Mak hits her with the Sword of Eanwulf [16], knocking her back against the wall!

    “It’s not over yet,” he growls at her.

    Meanwhile, Berenn and Thorgrim attack the statue. Berenn hits with Bonefire, the blade clanging off but taking a small chunk of stone with it [6]. Thorgrim also hits with his pick [14]. Taki gets up and approaches the statue, ready to bash it into a thousand pieces with his maul.

    The statue swings a stone fist, hitting Thorgrim in the shoulder [14].

    Isilme does her best to fly over Klim and drop the safe, but somehow she misses, as he notices something and sidesteps her. Klim begins casting again, and steps back into the stone wall behind him. Gotrek attacks the wall with his axe, chips of stone flying everywhere! Emyn stares at the wall in frustration, knowing that Klim is just beyond his reach again! Brother Milerjoi moves up to the wall, careful to avoid the upset dwarf, and begins to search the wall.

    Isilme casts wraithform, becoming insubstantial. Thorgrim backs off to move around and heal Gotrek, and he sees what’s happening in the other room. He shouts a warning and takes the rest of his movement towards the priestess.

    Turrosh Mak steps up and attacks the priestess, but misses. She stands up, provoking an attack of opportunity, but he misses again, and she casts a spell on him. The ground rises up around him, totally encasing him in porous volcanic rock. She smiles, seeing all of her foes have been rendered helpless.

    Meanwhile, Berenn swings again at the statue, hitting it for [10]. The statue then hits Berenn [13]. Taki hits the statue with his maul for [20]. Berenn and Taki each get second attacks, and they hit the statue, smashing it to pieces.

    Brother Milerjoi, hearing Thorgrim’s shout, heads into the other room.

    Isilme flows through a crack in the stone, and reforms on the other side, in a secret passage. She doesn’t see signs of any Klim, nor any tracks. Emyn searchs the wall, finds a mechanism for a secret door, and opens it. The stone wall pivots outwards to the left. He focues on his Pursuit of Vengeance, and he is confused, for it seems Klim is now to his left. He is somehow INSIDE the stone wall!

    Berenn runs into the other room, where he casts a CSW on Gotrek, just before he goes berserk. Gotrek continues to smash at the wall.

    The priestess casts a spell, and suddenly all the stone beneath Thorgrim and Brother Milerjoi turns to mud. They immediately begin to sink into the mud. They sink 1/3 of their height each round, or in other words take 3 rounds to go under.

    Taki goes to rush out, but he stops at the threshold when he sees the floor beyond has turned to mud, trapping his friends. Finally, those who look see Hepla picked up by some invisible force and tossed face-down into the mud!

    Emyn stands there, frustrated as his inability to do anything. Gotrek grins and puts away Giant Goreblade, taking out Stonecrusher. Isilme and Berenn both are about to cast Stone Shape, when Stalman Klim steps out of the wall again. Emyn, holding his action, swiftly attacks, hitting Klim for [12].

    Brother Milerjoi grabs ahold of Hepla and pulls her upright, just as Thorgrim casts a Dispel Magic. The mud instantly changes back into stone, though it leaves him, Brother Milerjoi, Elrae, and Hepla all trapped. [Good thing Brother Milerjoi pulled her face out of the mud!]

    Taki drops his action, as he sees the floor change again, and moves across the room to engage the priestess. She seemed about to do something else, but with the floor changing and Taki’s approach, she simply readies her weapon, a nasty looking pick.

    Quick summary: In Klim's room, Klim has just stepped out from the door. Emyn in right before him. Isilme is actually right above the door (kind of between Emyn and Berenn, though I couldn't really put her there and still make it look right). Berenn is on the other side of the door, as is Gotrek right next to him.

    In the sitting room Turrosh Mak is in the NW, encased in some kind of porous rock that completely surrounds him. Next to him is the evil priestess. To her right is Taki, ready to strike with his maul. A large square area that was affected by the Rock to Mud, and though it was dispelled, everyone and everything in it has sunk 1/3 their heights into the mud, which is now solid again. That's Elrae and Hepla, trapped sideways, and Thorgrim and Brother Milerjoi, with their legs fully trapped. To the SE of the area in the corner is Noot, sleeping and still invisible.

    Brother Milerjoi summons his inner strength, then smashes the stone floor, shattering the stone as if he were using Taki’s maul. Still, it is obvious that he will not free himself quickly. Meanwhile, Thorgrim casts his Soften Stone, turning the hardened stone to soft clay, from which everyone can begin to escape.

    Taki swings his maul at the priestess, hitting her squarely in the chest. His blow blasts right through her dragon armor. He can feel the loud crunch of bones breaking, and the priestess’s eyes go wide in disbelief. She reaches out towards Taki, then slowly slumps to the ground dead. [Critical hit to the chest causing immediate death!]

    Your victory, however, is short-lived. As you turn around, you see an invisible force pull Hepla’s head back. Suddenly, a deep wound cuts across her neck from ear to ear as an invisible dagger lays open her artery. Appearing, bloody knife in hand, is another priestess.

    "You take my friend," she says evilly, "I take yours."

    Inside Klim's room, Klim reaches out and touches Emyn, who suddenly feels agonizing pain. His legs buckle and he drops to his knees, having only [1] hp left!

    Gotrek moves around Emyn, attacking Klim, but missing. Berenn, who was about to heal Gotrek, decides to lay his hands upon Emyn instead. He heals [16]. Reinvigorated, Emyn stands back up, thanking Berenn as he focuses on Klim.

    Oh, and at the end of the round, the broken stones of the statue form back together into a large Earth Elemental!

    [Thorgrim OOC: That didn't wake her up? Oh, I guess she would wake up dead. Wowza! What an exciting adventuring day! Things are looking rough. It is times like these when Thorgrim wishes he had his Stone of Earth Elemental Control (it really doesn't control anything, only summons, but still useful). And according to what I see we have not a single Potion of Healing among us.

    Thorgrim will free himself and cast Cure Moderate Wounds on Hepla, kicking Elrae awake as he approaches her. He will then try to interpose himself between her and harm until he is able to throw some more healing her way or she can polymorph into something safe and heal herself. He won't be leaving Hepla's side until he's sure she's dead or she is alive and safe from harm, regardless of any screams for help from the other room.]

    Isilme moves back to the secret passage, barring Klim if makes a run for it, and casts Silence on Klim. Berenn uses his rod on Emyn, curing [15], while all sound around Klim ceases.

    Noot, who just woke up, appears and backstabs the priestess [42]. [That was a first. A backstab critical. Can’t find any rules in 2nd ed about it, but in 3rd ed you get BOTH, so I gave Noot both. He rolled a triple damage crit, and also got x3 backstab, for a total of x6!] The priestess stumbles forward, stunned.

    Taki moves over to her and misses with his maul. Thorgrim gets out of the clay, stumbling up and prepares to help Hepla. Brother Milerjoi grabs ahold of her and he could reach, and checks her. He then turns to Thorgrim and shakes his head. Thorgrim will hold Hepla's head in his hands, being heard to mutter, "Don't die yet, child...too young..."

    Klim starts to casts a spell, but is interrupted by Emyn, who hits him again[13]. Gotrek sings his war song and slams Klim with Goreblade [16]. Klim is knocked back against the wall.

    Isilme moves back into the passage. I assume she goes far enough to get out of the silence spell, and casts Protection from Evil.

    Meanwhile, Klim breathes out a deadly chlorine gas, which rapidly expands into the room. Isilme, however, is safe, having stepped back into the passage. The raging Gotrek takes [?]. Emyn takes [29]. Berenn takes [35]. All stumble backwards, coughing and chocking. Gotrek and Berenn collapse to the ground.

    Emyn struggles forward, simply unwilling to go down, and hits Klim [12], then hits him again [22]. The second blow is to the head, and knocks his helm flying.

    In the other room Noot backs away from the priestess, walking backwards up the wall and out of reach. The priestess grimaces in pain from the wound, as she casts a spell. Her hand turns jet black, and she turns back to Taki now that Noot has moved away. Taki swings his maul, but misses, and the priestess steps inside the arc of the great weapon.

    “No, you die,” she says as she touches him in the face. Taki immediately feels a burning sensation, and he stumbles backwards, falling to the floor incapacitated. Afterwards, she steps back, into the doorway to the room from which she entered.

    Brother Milerjoi gets himself out of the earth, as Thorgrim explodes into action. He looks at Taki, and he sees strange black lines spreading out over his face. He wants to help him, but he is overcome with anger over Hepla. Thorgrim leaps over Taki, and attacks the priestess, slamming his pick into her leg [14]. She grunts as the blow caves in part of her dragon armor. Thorgrim then hears Brother Milerjoi yell "Thorgrim, duck!"

    Isilme moves over to Berenn, picks up his rod, and heals him with it. [15] Berenn is back in the positives! He’s still prone though. Klim swings his pick at Emyn, missing, and Emyn attacks back, hitting Klim again with his sword[15]. Klim is very hurt, though so is Emyn.

    In the other room, Thorgrim ducks and he hears a strange cry from Brother Milerjoi. The monk makes a running kick, flying right over Thorgrim's head, and connecting squarely with the priestess’s chest [10]. The blow knocks her back into her room, where she falls backwards to the floor.

    Thorgrim turns back to Taki, and sees that he is incapacitated. He also notes that he has clearly been poisoned as black streaks begin spreading across his features.

    At the end of the round, Elrae finally wakes up. He is half stuck in the floor but like the others can get free in one round. He gets out of the ground as Noot moves over to Turrosh Mak, taking out his Rod of Smiting and preparing to try and free him.

    Thorgrim casts Hold Poison. The blackness on Taki’s face stops spreading, though it doesn’t recede. He is, unfortunately, still incapacitated.

    The priestess backs away from Brother Milerjoi, starting to cast another spell as she invokes the Earth Dragon.

    “You revere the dragon?” asks Brother Milerjoi. “Then feel the Dragon’s Hammer!” With another shout, he steps forward and punches her in the chest. Her armor actually cracks under the blow, as does her ribcage. [20]. She looks at him in disbelief for a moment, before falling backwards to the ground, her dead eyes staring vacantly.


    In the other room, Berenn crawls over to Gotrek and casts CSW on him, curing [13]. Gotrek is back to 8hp after this, and no longer raging. Berenn is still prone. Isilme backs off into the passage again, casting strength on herself [rolled an 8, bringing her up to 18 (91-99) range.]

    Emyn and Klim both attack simultaneously, and both hit each other. Klim’s pick drives through Emyn’s breastplate, felling the paladin [10] while Emyn’s sword impales Klim through his belly [18]. Both lock stares before slumping to the ground in their deadly embrace.

    [DM OOC: Well, guess I don't have to post another map!]

    [Emyn OOC: I think I see Hepla near the end of that tunnel....follow the light...]

    [Isilme OOC: I have to say....if your going to die that is a sweet way for a paladin on a retribution quest to go.]

    Berenn reaches out with his rod and heals Emyn [15], bringing him back from the brink of death. "No more die today," he tells Emyn as the paladin opens his eyes.

    Meanwhile, Gotrek steps up to Klim, who stares up at him with fading eyes, and chops off his head with a blow from his axe. "Darned drow is growin' on me," he mutters.

    Elrae assess the situation and can't believe that Hepla was murdered so foul. He swears an oath to the gods that he shall bring her back from the dead. He then draws Snowfang and chops off the head of the priestess. To the monk he adds, "Brother Milerjoi, I was wrong about mistrusting you. That shall never happen again."

    Berenn moves over to Taki and casts Neutralize Poison. The blackness slowly leaves his face. He sits up and looks around.

    Isilme is stunned by the loss of her friend. She props Hepla up carefully and removes her own Ring of Regeneration and places it on hepla's finger... Saying a short prayer to the goddess and hoping that some sign of repair or life will be shown on her in the next turn. While she is waiting, she uses her cantrips to clean hepla's face and clothes of blood.

    She looks over to the party, wiping away a tear, "What now?"

    Thorgrim shouts, "Brother Millerjoi! Noot! Elrae! See to our fallen comrades, and stand guard! I'll check on the rest!" With that, he checks out the other room to see what's going on. He will cast CLW on anybody dying (Emyn) until they are revived. He will reserve further spellcasting until he can figure out what is going on and what the hell our next move should be.

    Isilme follows Thorgrim, adding a cure of her own. "Rise noble paladin," she says solemnly. "Your quest is fulfilled."

    Emyn gets to his feet and makes his way over to Hepla, tears coursing down his cheeks.
    He kneels next ot her and begins to pray:

    "Holy Trithereon, I pray to thee. Restore my friend and the woman I love to this life. She fell so that your pursuit of vengeance could be fulfilled. I plead with thee return her to this world hale and whole. If thou must, I offer my life to you in recompense for this deed or will undertake any task you set before me. Please, Holy Trithereon, I beg of thee. Let not the light in my heart fade."

    Suddenly, the ground begins to tremble, at first gradually, but then more and more violently. Earthquake!

    Thorgrim opens his portable hole, and everyone climbs in it. They know there is no time to waste. Noot throws a few items within it, before they close it, and Emyn climbs in carefully carring Hepla's body. Isilme then folds up the portable hole, casts invisibility upon herself again, and flies out of the temple.

    Inside the hole, Emyn cries over Hepla. When one of his tears falls on her skin, she puts a hand up to his face and says,"Whats wrong, and why are you holding me?"

    Thorgrim looks stunned. "Your god IS powerful," he says, "and generous, to help you so. I take back anything bad I said about Tritheron."

    Emyn simply weeps openly, lost for words.

    Isilme makes it out, with the place crumbling around her. She flies outside where she is amazed at the destruction. The ground is still shaking badly, and many of the buildings have completely collapsed. Isilme opens the hole to give everyone more air, and when she notices Hepla, she smiles and begins to cry again. Without a word, she closes it and flies off, further away. There are lots of dead around, killed by collapsing buildings or fallen into opening fissures. She thinks, I would almost feel bad if they weren't evil worshippers of a vile cult! Almost. She makes it away from the mountain, eventually finding a good place to stop, let everyone out, and take stock of the situation.

    Thorgrim gets out his pipe and passes around some Gutshaker, though only Gotrek takes any. "Before we celebrate too much, remember that we still have Markessa to deal with, and didn't get any information about her whereabouts..."

    [Thorgrim OOC: perhaps we could ask the survivors of Kalen Lekos? Hepla could polymorph into Markessa and we could trot her around with a sign that says, "Have you seen me? Call 1-800-EVIL-BCH."]

    He takes Turrosh Mak's hand. "Turrosh Mak, you fought bravely against the Slave Lords. The Sword of Eanwulf is yours to keep. You have earned it."

    When they are sitting there, Star walks out of the dark and sit and stare at Hepla for a long time. Then she slashes out with one claw cutting her hand. Faster then Hepla can react Star then licks the scratch mark and it is gone....except you might notice that the shadow of the hand has a single scrach mark on it.

    Hepla looks at Star, surprissed. "I don't know whats gotten into that cat. Also, I have everything I went in there with but I still feel I lost something. Oh well, maybe I'll remember what it was." She giggles. "Thank you for saving me," she adds. "I really don't know what was happening while I was visiting that nice guy." She looks at Emyn and blushes, "Its a good thing you were not there. I was naked except for this cat pendant that I wear around my neck, and it does not cover much." She notices for the first time that the pendant has actually changed color; it is now deep red.

    "Wow, a red cat," she muses. "I wonder how that happened?" With another giggle, she adds, "Maybe I should try red for awhile." She uses a cantrip to change the color of her outfit but it ends up such a dark red that its almost black.

    The paty then heads out, towards the main road. After a few hours, the earthquakes and tremors have stopped. Kalen Lekos seemed pretty well destroyed when you left. As soon as able, the party moves on. By the time they get to the road, everything's fine. The guard towers are still there, and you find that there has been a big fight. No telling what it was about, but there are dead mercs all over. The guard towers are deserted, so they decide to sleep there. The remaining mercs have left. They decide to sleep there overnight, and the priests all use up their remaining healing. Hepla sleeps snuggled up in Emyn's arms.

    Godsday, 18th Readying, CY 581
    The next day the party makes it to Stoneheim. It seems nobody is paying much attention to the many people clogging the road south. There they find the Lady Huerta of Harby and the other freed slaves, staying at her manse. The city is in an uproar, with nobody sure what the result of the eruption will be for the Pomarj in general, nor for Stoneheim and its inhabitants.

    As the party prepares to move on, Turrosh Mak thanks you all for freeing him, but he will stay here. "The Pomarj is my home," he says. "For better or worse, I must stay and help, and there is the small matter of Theg Narlot." He looks back at the column of smoke still rising in the NE. "I yet have a score to settle with that one," he says.

    "I wish you the greatest of success here," says Isilme. "Perhaps with these great evils gone, the humanoids will be looking for leadership and you can take that place and show them a different way. I hope someday to do that for my people. For us to change the minds of those who only perceive our kind in a certain way is a great task." She then stands on her toes and gives him a kiss on the cheek. "It was a pleasure and an honor knowing you Turrosh. If you ever leave here know that you will always have a place with us in Hommlet. If you run into any problems with Drow, send word to me and I will do what I can for a friend" She hugs him and says her farewells.

    Hepla thanks him for their time together, for the way he showed the nobility of his race and also says that she would be honored someday to fight along side him again. She also says,"Later we will be identifing what we have from the temple, but if you are leaving now it's not good to start a life with nothing but a sword." She takes her belt pouch and gives it to him. "Here is 100 gold and a sapphire worth much more." She laughs, adding, "a kiss," as she hugs him and kisses his cheek.

    Emyn says, "Turrosh Mak, thank you for your help, though I pray you do not revive this vile cult should you manage to bring some order to this chaos."

    Turrosh Mak leaves, and the party gets the group ready to leave immediately. Emyn also goes to Hepla, wraps her in a tight embrace and says, "Thank Trithereon you are alive. I offered my own life to him in recompense for your return but it seems he has other plans for me. My heart dropped out of my chest when I saw your throat had been slashed."

    "Just so long as I don't suffacate," she says, pulling away. "Thank you for your help, and I remember an old story about tears of love having power. Maybe I will introduce you to mom, when we get the chance."

    "I'd like that," he replies. "I hope Star will also approve. It seems I am the knight protector to the Order of the Cat, or at least its members, so I hope that places me in good stead."

    Waterday, 192th Readying, CY 581
    They leave Stoneheim and make their way back to Ostrand. The weather is warmer, and the skies still cloudy from the smoke, though it's more clear this far away. They are amazed that there is a thick layer of ash covering the ground even here. Unfortunately, they also find that that you are a day late. The captain who brought them there has left the day before. Brother Milerjoi, using his Slavelord status one last time, offers to find a ship.

    He goes to the docks, and gets one. It is a small merchant vessel which is traveling to Scant. Scant is the capital of Onnwal, and a major mercantile port, the primary port at the entrance to the Sea of Gearnat. Nearly all ships traveling the routes to Woolly Bay make a stop here, as well as those passing through to Relmor Bay, and the great Eastern Cities in Nyrond, Almor, and Ahlissa. From there it should be an easy matter to find a ship traveling as far as the Free City of Greyhawk, and from there to Verbobonc itself. It is also large enough that they can bring all the people they've freed, though they need to pay for extra food and water for them.

    Thus ends the Slavers adventure!
    Master Greytalker

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    Sun Jan 19, 2014 12:16 pm  
    The Voyage Home - Part 1

    Leaving the Pomarj, the party has an uneventful journey by ship to Scant. Hepla uses her Cloak of the Manta Ray to swim alongside as much as possible. In the meantime, she spends her time with Emyn. Isilme spends her time finishing the book she found in Markessa's room, The Treatise of Wizardry, by Karoolck the Great. She finds it quite interesting, and gains some good insights [translating into a +1 to her Spellcraft and the possibility of taking a new proficiency, Tactics of Magic. This is an extra thing I started to do. I let the party learn languages and proficiencies, or get bonuses to existing ones, by reading books. It makes sense, further gives them more proficiencies, and makes them want to find books!]

    They also take all the items they found which were sacred to the Earth Dragon, bash them up, and dump them into the sea. [Again, a new thing I do is give them double EXP for destroying "evil" items, or items consecrated to "evil" churches/purposes. It encourages them to destroy them, and keeps them from gaining too much magic. Just have a +2 sword engraved with runes sacred to Nerull, and you know they won't keep it. Yes, it is perhaps a cheap trick to keep magic items from them. Sue me! ]

    Thorgrim doesn't like travelling by sea, he never has. However, he is much more comfortable now that he has his nifty Ring of Water-Walking. He will take off his armor and check it out to see how it works. He walks around alongside the ship, while Hepla swims around him. He almost gets over his distaste for the sea, almost.

    Elrae sings an old sea ditty which Noot taught him:

    Up jumps a crab with his crooked legs
    Saying "you play the cribbage and I'll stick the pegs"
    Singing blow the wind westerly, let the wind blow
    By a gentle nor'wester how steady she goes

    Up jumps a dolphin with his chuckle-head
    He jumps on the deck saying "pull out the lead!"
    Singing blow the wind westerly, let the wind blow
    By a gentle nor'wester how steady she goes

    Up jumps a flounder so flat on the ground
    Saying "damn your old chocolate, mind how you sound"
    Singing blow the wind westerly, let the wind blow
    By a gentle nor'wester how steady she goes

    Up jumps a salmon so bright as the sun
    He jumped down between the decks and fired off a gun
    Singing blow the wind westerly, let the wind blow
    By a gentle nor'wester how steady she goes

    Up jumps a whale, the biggest of all
    He jumped up aloft and he's pawl after pawl
    Singing blow the wind westerly, let the wind blow
    By a gentle nor'wester how steady she goes

    Up jumps a herring, the king of the sea
    He jumps up on deck saying "helms a-lee!"
    Singing blow the wind westerly, let the wind blow
    By a gentle nor'wester how steady she goes

    Up jumps a shark with his big row of teeth
    He jumped up between the decks and shook out the reefs
    Singing blow the wind westerly, let the wind blow
    By a gentle nor'wester how steady she goes

    Starday, 22nd Readying, 581 CY
    They reach Scant in just three days. It's evening when they reach port, the great lighthouse guiding the ship in. Weather has been great, with favorable winds the whole way. To the north they could see the smoke cloud from Suderham, stretching to the East along the winds.

    Isilme uses her magic to remove the scars from Elrae's face, then looks to Hepla. Hepla says, "The cat scratch will not heal. I know that, but this scar from a cut I don't remember getting runs ear to ear, that's what I want removed if you can." She shows the scar from when her throat was cut, and Isilme takes care of it. Sure enough the cat scratch will not go away.

    This ship isn't going on, so the party has to get another. It's not really a problem here, as ships are going to City of Greyhawk all the time. Noot says he can find one easily, though the party will have a couple days here in town before moving on. Brother Milerjoi knows Scant, so he sets everyone up in a good inn, paying for it himself.

    Elrae looks at Noot's map of Wooley Bay. "Scant is east of where we want to go, we need to head back, north by northwest if we ever want to go home."

    Noot then begins to give Elrae a lesson about Wooley Bay. "Two slow currents circulate Woolly Bay, the Safeton Spin, flowing counter-clockwise in the northern third, and the Wild Current, traveling clockwise in the southern two-thirds of the bay. Ships sailing from Hardby to Safeton often ride the Safeton Spin, traveling along the Wild Coast from Hardby south past Carnakh and Palgaryn to Safeton and the ruins of Cantona. Ships from Safeton hug the coast to avoid the tug of the current up to the mouth of the Selintan and then to Hardby. Sailing against the Spin slows ships to 50%, but this can be overcome by traveling closer to the coast using sails or oars. Hardby ships heading for ports in Relmor Bay of the Azure Sea nearly always take the long leg of the Spin, cruising down the western coast and crossing the bay until they near Barren Point, a rocky peninsula of the Bright Desert about 160 miles south-southest of Hardby. Here, the ship must quickly cross the current to catch the top of the Wild Current, which will carry the ship east and south along the Bright Desert coast to the Sea of Gearnat."

    He points out some of these places on his map, and when he looks up, Elrae's eyes are closed and he's fast asleep. Gotrek and Thorgrim chuckle, as Noot smiles, lifting a mug. "I always like to keep my audience riveted!"

    Hepla buys the two childrens reading books in Scant. She also looks into, buying some paper and ink and quills to start practicing writing scrolls. When she returns, she sits down and begins teaching Emyn to read and write, "as any gentleman should."

    Emyn finds a small chapel of Trithereon in Scant, and there he gives half of his share of the wealth they found. He spends time in prayer, then returns in the evening. When he learns of Hepla's purchase of books, he smiles, thanking her. The two then sit down to read.

    Also, at some point Brother Milerjoi will leave, that he may report to his order. Another of his order is an adviser to the Szesk of Onnwal, Lord Ewerd Destron. Onnwal had been hard-pressed in combating the slave trade from the Pomarj. While they were content to leave the troubled land alone for many decades, the increase in slaving had forced the fleets of Onnwal to increase their presence in nearby waters, guarding the trade routes and seeking slavers and pirates.

    The party ends up being summoned to the Szesk, who wishes to hear news from the Pomarj. The Lord was very well-pleased to hear of the destruction of the Slavers operation, as well as the defeat of the strange new cult of which they had been hearing rumors. In gratitude for their efforts, he provides transport on an Onnwalish ship bound for the Free City of Greyhawk.

    "Oh to go to the glorious Free City of Greyhawk," says Elrae. "It has been a dream of mine since I was a young troubadour busking for change in Woodstock. Let's make haste and set sail."

    Hepla, if there is time, will be up to a visit to Bigby. "Tea with Bigby," sounds like fun.

    "Bigby has a fearsome reputation and I'd rather not bother with him," says Emyn.

    "Wasn't Bigby an evil wizard that crushed foolish adventurers with his magical hand?" aks Elrae. "I doubt he'd open the doors for us to have some tea. I doubt there's anything that we possess that would interest him. Maybe if we still possessed the Orb of Golden Death or even the Earth Dragon relics he would let us in."

    "If he won't see us, he won't see us," says Hepla, "but you never know until you try." Hepla tries to find directions to Bigby's place, but she finds that nobody knows. "Strange, she thinks, but with an arch-mage, who knows?"

    They give the idea of meeting Bigby, then settle in for a last night. Most everyone spends the time drinking, especially the dwarves who simply don't relish another trip aboard ship. After a long night, they all head off to bed and get a few hours sleep before the morning.

    Moonday, 24 Readying (581 CY)
    They leave Scant aboard the Silent Spring, a large cog sailing for the Free City of Greyhawk. There are about 3 dozen freed people aboard, and the ship will drop them off on its way. The rest stay in Scant, everything paid for by Lord Destron. The ship sets sail in the early morning, and makes an unremarkable journey to Highport. It takes three days to sail across the Gearnat Straits before the ship sights land again, along the northeastern shore of the Pomarj. The contrary winds on the passage slowed progress, but as soon it approaches land, the ship catches a strong current and a better wind. In another day it is approaching Highport.

    When Hepla sits down to teach Emyn, she finds some scrolls in her pack. Taking them out, she finds they are unique spells from the arch-mage Bigby. A note with them reads, "I always take an interest in those who like books!"

    Planning to put in for water and supplies, they see lots of smoke on the horizon. Highport is on fire. When they get a bit closer, they see most the dock area has burned. There is no evidence of the Earth Temple; that entire area of the city is simply gone. The captain decides it is best to stay away, and they tack back out to sea.

    Noot explains that there are two currents in Woolly Bay, as evidenced by his charts. As he pulls them out, Elrae almost runs to the other end of the ship! Noot then explains the currents again. "In the southern half there is a general clockwise current, called the Wild Current. Once you pass Dragonnel's Tail, a long promontory about a day's journey north from Elredd, you will sail back across the bay towards Barren Point, a rocky peninsula of the Bright Desert. From there you catch the northern, counter-clockwise current, the Selintan Spin, which will see you quickly to Hardby. " When he looks up, everyone's gone!

    With create food and water spells, the party is able to supplement the crew's needed provisions. Berenn also takes off each day with Ra and Thoth, hunting along the coast. Once they bring back two nice-sized deer which is a welcome treat. It takes two days to reach Elredd, and the Silent Spring puts into port.

    Godsday, 4th Coldeven (581 CY)
    The ship reached Elredd early morning on the 4th of Coldeven. It's still nice, upwards of 60* during the day, but as they have returned north, the chilly nights return and temps drop to about 38*. [just giving you some idea!] The skies are clear, and it's a beautiful day as you sail into the port of Elredd. About half of the freed people take leave of the ship here. The party pitches in, everyone giving them some money to see them home and help them get started again.

    They go ashore and find that the port of Elredd is NOT part of the city they were once in. It is actually a separate walled city, about 2 miles East of the main city, with the area between mostly swampland and one raised causeway connecting the two. After the city was built on the hill inland, the port grew as a small fishing village and eventually into the full-sized decent port. While they wait for the ship to be re-provisioned, they are met by the rest of the Deldukr. They marched north with the rest of the freed slaves, skirted Highport which had descended into a battleground between all the various humanoid and human factions in the city, fought their way passed some humanoid bands, but eventually reached Elredd a few weeks ago. Urgal is leading them.

    Gotrek gives Urgal Firebeard a hearty hug! Most people would think they were wrestling each other. Gotrek walks away with him, to find a pub and catch up. They head to a local tavern, the Dancing Rat, where whoever wishes to go sits down for drinks with Urgal and the handful of dwarves with him. It seems he traveled downriver from Thunderstrike with a couple of guides in a small boat, then went north up a large tributary. After a couple days, two rangers led them through the Suss, a very dangerous journey. They had to cross the central highlands, really just low wooded hills, but very old, dense, and dark. While making their way through a valley, they came across a group of men, orcs, and gnolls. There weren't too many, maybe a dozen, and they were mostly wounded. Urgal and the rangers slew them all over the next couple of days. Urgal would never have thought about it again, had it not been for the fact that the gnolls were part of the Black Tongue tribe, the orcs Flaming Skull orcs, and the men wore the insignia of Markessa's guards. What they were doing so deep into the Suss is anybody's guess.

    The party files the info away [just a future adventure hook!] and invite the dwarves to travel with them. Urgal declines; the dwarves aren't going to the ship. They were considering taking another job for Brego Hammersmith, Lord of Elredd. After speaking with the party and learning what has happened, they wonder if the humanoid danger will now increase or decease. They will probably stay here a bit and see what happens. Besides, Elredd is one of the mercenary entrepots of the the Flanaess, so news of wars quickly reaches the city, in any case.

    While drinking in the tavern with Urgal and his sergeants, the party is further greeted by none other than the Lord of Elredd, Brego Hammersmith himself. He is very pleased to see them alive and well. "Heard about Kilrak," he says to Gotrek. "Musta been a helluva scrape!"

    "Aye," Gotrek almost grunts. He swirls the swill in the bottom of his tankard and looks intensely at Brego. "But I had faith in Clangeddin."

    He pauses here. Perhaps drink has loosened his tongue. "I have a lot more to kill, as well as restore," he says somewhat cryptically.

    Thorgrim and Urgal exchange glances, but say nothing.

    "Well, by all the Gods ye've earned it!" says the Lord of Elredd. "Barkeep! Ale on me." He takes a tankard himself, slamming mugs with Gotrek, Thorgrim, and Taki (and whoever else is there!) "And keep 'em coming all night!"

    Hepla has a full tankard of ale but is not drinking as fast as the dwarves. "Lord Elredd, this is very kind of you , to come to us and to pay for drinks, thank you.," she says.

    "You've earned it, girl," he says.

    Only Elrae stays away, his memory of Elredd and its Lord not his fondest. He doesn't even want to sing, and he slips away, taking his rest aboard ship.

    Waterday, 5th of Coldeven (CY 581)
    The party wakes up, totally hung over, except for Hepla of course who somehow seems to be able to drink anything, even Gutshaker. Urgal and dwarves plan to stay, to look into taking work for Lord Hammersmith, so the rest prepare to leave in the morning.

    Thorgrim awakens from his slumber still drunk. He had been dreaming of home. Not Hommlet, but Dorob Kilthduum. He sees first his 20-gallon cask of Gutshaker lying on the floor, and gives it a rap to find it is half-empty. He frowns. His Portable Hole is lying wide-open on the floor. Gotrek sleeps in the corner, snoring loudly. Thorgrim's not sure where he is. He finds someone sleeping in the Hole, but his eyes can't yet focus.

    Gotrek wakes up. He remembers having to carry Thorgrim to his room. That last tankard of gutshaker had knocked the Clangeddin priest right out! He looks at Thorgrim. He looks at the gutshaker keg.

    "Hand me a tankard from the hole, Thorgrim! I find myself to be a little parched."

    He pours two cups of gutshaker, handing Thorgrim one of them. Thorgrim takes it half-heartedly. Gotrek chuckles. He stops all of a sudden. Remembering the last fragments of a dream he had. Gotrek frowns. He was in a massive cave. His old ancestral home! Orcs and goblins surrounded him, and he went berserk. He killed his way thru, barely registering Thorgrim and Urgal there as well. And then the roar from the deep. The reverberating footsteps. The approach of Hill Giants. He finds himself now enlarged and hasted. Was the rest of the party here as well? He continues on, howling in rage, immersing from the darkness, and striking a Giant with two mighty blows of Goreblade.......

    "Gotrek, are ye ok?" Thorgrim looks concerned.

    Gotrek blinks and grunts. Only now noticing the remnants of the broken tankard in the hand, crushed easily by Gotrek's strength. Gutshaker drips down. He looks at Thorgrim.
    "No. Everything is NOT alright! He tells Thorgrim his dream, convinced it was a sign from Clangeddin.

    Before they go, an large earthquake hits the region. The coastal buildings suffer greatly, with perhaps half of the buildings around the port collapsing. Fires start up in various places, and there is just a general sense of destruction and suffering throughout the city.
    With the earthquake, Berenn sticks around to help the people. He will fly on home afterwards. The party spends the day helping out, and when they are done, they catch the evening tide. The dwarves change their minds after the earthquake, considering it a sign. Much as they don't like traveling by sea, they will sail with the party after all. Gotrek is pleased, as he has ideas regarding the mine outside of Hardby. So, the ship takes off in the evening on the way to Hardby, lighter by three dozen freed slaves, but with equal number of battle-hardened dwarves.

    "I'm sure this trip will be fun," says Noot to the other sailors.

    The party also handed over to Brego the names of those in Elredd and the surrounding area who were agents of the Slavelords. They had all that info from both Markessa's as well as Edralve's papers. He thanks them, promising to root them out of the region.

    The ships sets sail and with favorable winds and a good current (this is where both the clockwise southern Wild Current and the counter-clockwise northern Selintin Spin meet) makes the 160 mile journey across Woolly Bay in a single day. By late afternoon the next day, they see the rocky headland of Barren Point, westernmost point of the Bright Desert. The ship makes the transition to the Selintin Spin, and through the night the ship follows the current along the northern edge of Barren Point, always a few miles out to stay safe from any hazards.

    Freeday, 7th of Coldeven (CY 581)
    With the dawn, the ship is making the northerly turn along the edge of the Bright Desert. From what the crew says, the place is desolate, even for a desert, full of dangerous barbarians, savage man-scorpions, and worse. Few of those ever run aground survived to tell the tale. As they travel north along the coast, some of the dwarves get rather taciturn, even for them. It seems the ship is nearing their old home, the ruined port city of Zarak.

    A couple of the dwarves actually lived in Zarak for a few years, and they told many a tale of the dark times when the port was abandoned. Their melancholy has clearly affected the rest of the dour Deldukr, who stare ahead and to the right as you approach the coast wherein lie the ruins of Zarak. Off to the right you see a large channel cut between two small bluffs, and perhaps 1/2 mile inland, just over the low headlands, you see the ruined spires of Zarak.



    To the left of the channel is a small island, maybe 1000' wide, with a low hill that overlooks the entrance to the channel. Upon the hilltop is a small fortress, which would have dominated the passage.


    Replace cannons with catapults and ballistae. :)

    "Should we stop to check this place out?" asks Thorgrim.

    Hepla is for it, she has dreamed of finding Mithriel. Her mom has some pieces of the wonderful silver metal and wants some of her own. She also wants to help the dwarvess get back what is theirs.

    The dwarves who lived here tell you there is nothing in the ruins of Zarak worth investigating. "We took everything with us," says one. "The Pits, well, who knows what's there?" They then share the tale:

    Ruins of Zarak and Pits of Azak-Zil
    Hundreds of years ago, a great star fell from the heavens. It was in 514 that Jemrek Longsight, a dwarvish sage who as a child had been greatly impressed by the phenomenon undertook a study entirely opposite to Selvor’s: using records of the falling star’s flight she traced it not back to its origin but downward to the Oerth. Longsight’s calculations showed a landing along the easter wing of the Abbor Alz, between the Bright Desert and the Nesser River. On the basis of previous instances of shooting stars and their tangible results, Longsight predicted a great deposit of pure metals at the site: certainly iron, and possibly gold and mithral as well. The direction of Jemrek Longsight’s study has often been cited as evidence that dwarvish habits of mind persist even in those who choose the most undwarvish occupations.

    Longsight’s announcements resulted in a flurry of activity on the part of all the political interests in the region. All over the Iron League there was a ferment of alliance, misalliance, and reliance between the dwarvish clans and other groups preparing expeditions. The Herzog of South Province sent forth a large group of warriors and prospectors, reportedly with orders to return with news of the deposit or not at all. The Principality of Ulek took an interest, as did Almor, Nyrond, and the Duchy of Urnst, and trading houses from the Wild Coast and even Greyhawk and Dyvers. Even the rulers of the Pomarj, then new to their power, sent an ill-prepared company of orcs, goblins, and ogres. As these varied forces converged on the area delineated by Longsight, chilling tales of murder, treachery, and bloody massacre began to make their way back to the outside world. Soon the weaker forces turned back for lack of supplies or manpower. The Pomarjis were slaughtered by a temporary alliance of dwarvish interests. Nyrond and Urnst were unexpectedly impeded by the inhabitants of Celadon Forest, who did not desire such activity near their lands. The Herzog’s troops disappeared into the Bright Desert and were never seen again. All parties were harassed by the natives of the Abbor-Alz, who as always resented intrusion, and by the Sea Princes, who were attracted to the supply ships.

    After half a decade of struggle, the house of Highforge, one of the more prominent dwarvish clans in Irongate, emerged as discoverer and holder of the starstone’s wealth. A port was established on the waterless coasts where the Abbor Alz touches the Bright Desert, and a secret trail was established leading inland. Highforge and its allies maintained thorough secrecy, and for good reason: iron, platinum, gold, mithral, and adamantite began to pour out into the world at large through the carefully guarded harbor. Few have reported concerning the mine inland, but from peripheral comments it appears that the dwarves discovered a broad depression of fused and shocked rock marking the landing point of their prize and established themselves in a nearby mesa from which they coordinated a wellplanned mining operation. They dug deep artesian wells and established cisterns. The mine and settlement they called Azak-Zil, or Pureheart.

    For five years Highforge swelled with wealth; there were disruptions in metal markets as far away as Rauxes. Then, abruptly, the flow was cut off. The port city of Zarak remained, but communications with the mines ceased and probes into the interior found the roads to be erased and the dust storms to be intolerable. Members of a powerful expeditionary force disappeared suddenly and silently at night, even from guarded tents. Clan Highforge, after expending much of its considerable fortune in an attempt to refind and retake the mines, took heed of unfavorable auguries and abandoned the effort. Zarak was abandoned. Today, its empty halls and ruined dwellings are inhabited only by an occasional barbarian tribe which never stays for long, unwilling to tempt the many undead creatures that have crawled from the pits. As the departing dwarves, in typical fashion, took all their wealth with them, there is little to draw the average adventurer to this sorrowful place.

    Since the failure of Azak-Zil most southern dwarvish clans have declared the folly of meddling with “things from the sky.” Not a few suppose that the mine was visited by a curse, either by something imported from the heavens or by something wakened by the shooting star or the activities of the miners. Not a few suppose that the mine was visited by a curse, either by something imported from the heavens or by something wakened by the shooting star or the activities of the miners. Many have cited Nomad legends that an ancient nonhuman people dwelt in the mesas of the southern Abbor Alz and still guard them.

    After listening, they decide to return here later. The mages want to study, and everyone wants to get home. They press on and the next day the ship reaches Hardby.
    Master Greytalker

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    Sun Jan 19, 2014 7:28 pm  
    The Voyage Home - Part 2

    The ship makes its approach to Hardby, and everyone marvels at the two massive statues that mark the port's entrance. One depicts a bearded heavyset man, while the other is slim, short bearded fellow. Both have their fist raised as if to box each other.



    ¬"Wow!" says Hepla," there must be a story to go with those statues. Captain, do you know the story?"

    "Aye," he says, looking up at them as you pass by. "They were commissioned decades ago by the Gynarch." He pauses. "Well, not the current one, at any rate."

    He yells at a couple of sailors struggling with the rigging, promising dire retribution if they ever mishandle a line like that again, then turns back. "Something about the meaningless squabbles of men or some such," he says. "What do you expect when women rule the roost?" He laughs then, offering a slight bow and a smile, "No offense My Lady."

    Hepla bows back,"None taken captain, men or women we can all have problems."

    "Stop looking up their loincloths, Gotrek!" jokes Emyn, as Gotrek stares at the statues.

    Noot moves over to show the novice sailor how to handle the line correctly, impressed, but busy. The captain watches, then tells Noot, "Anytime you get tired a being a landlubber, you got a job on my ship."

    The ship pulls gently into harbor, and the crew work to bring you up to the docks. After making the ship fast, the dwarves disembark, anxious to have ground beneath their feet again. The captain bids you farewell. His ship will be returning back to the south in a few days, after transferring some cargo.

    Gotrek ignores Emyn, looking around at the town. He doesn't notice anything, except the normal hustle and bustle of a port, though this is without doubt quite a busy port, almost as busy as Scant. There are quite a few ships, both river and coastal galleys as well as round merchant ships like the one upon which you just arrived. It doesn't look like it will be too difficult to find another ship here. Of course, you can always travel overland as well.

    The party is met by William Carister, commander of the Hardy Marines. He is a huge barrel-chested man covered with many tattoos. A fierce-looking parrot sits on his shoulder. He heard of the dwarven band, so he has come to talk with them. He and Urgal sit down for a drink, to discuss their purpose and plans in Hardby. [In the mean time, you guys can do a couple things. I know you want to check out the mine, so I'll look into that. Also, looking at the papers before you arrived, you find there is some interesting information regarding Slaver spies/agents in Hardby. There are two agents listed in your papers. One is a man named Gormadoc, while the other is a woman named Aleeta.]

    When you tell William the first name, he looks up quickly. "Gormadoc?" he says. "The tattoo apprentice? I know him well," he adds. Holding out his arm, he shows an elephant tattoo, "He did this one just a few months ago." He asks to see your "proof" and he will take the issue up with the magistrate.

    When you tell him the second name, he spits out his beer. "Aleeta Nardru?" he stumbles. "Judge Aleeta?" He wipes the spilled ale from his mouth, "She's fourth in line to rule Hardby!" He stands up, "I must see this evidence now," he says. "There is no time to waste, and if these be true agents of the Slavers, we must act before they know you have arrived."

    Thorgrim immediately sets to casting divinations on the man, and he frowns as he concentrates upon him. Seeing Thorgrim's symbols, he knows who and what he is. "I can assure, Sir, I am loyal to the Gynarch, and to Hardby." When Thorgrim detects no evil in him, he responds, "Satisfied?"

    "Yep," says Thorgrim, unconcerned about the man's feelings.

    "I am, sir," says Emyn. "Forgive my suspicion but we have of late faced many unexpected enemies of late and met others who were equally unexpected allies. I pledge by Trithereon that We will see this matter through at your side."

    William gets the town watch (he's commander of the Marines, who man the ships and primary coastal defenses). The watch will arrest the tattoo apprentice. He asks that everyone go with him to see the Gynarch, to bring the evidence regarding the judge directly to her. The rest of the party goes along, except for Gotrek. He stays in the bar with Urgal and the other dwarves.

    They meet the Gynarch. She listens to their story, is very greatful for their efforts against the Slavers, and promises to supply them with a ship to take them wherever they want to go. It's the least she can do for the work on behalf of all the people around Woolly Bay.

    The party then waits to the side while the judge is summoned. She enters, and the Gynarch's advisor, Mother Storanna, a priestess of Pelor, questions the judge, Aleeta, without telling her that she has cast Detect Lie. When she detects the lie, the woman panics and tries to run. Emyn grabs the woman and holds her in a bear hug until the Gynarch's soldiers can take hold of her.

    They take her away, and the Gynarch thanks everyone for their service, especially Emyn. It seems the City of Harby, is even more in your debt. When Hepla offers copies of the info, the Gynarch shakes her head. "Her guilt is obvious," she says. "I shall deal with her in time."

    Hepla nods and the party is about to leave when Thorgrim coughs, "Um, Your Ladyship?" He then produces the deed to the mine, signed by the Gynarch herself.

    "Ah yes, I do recall this," she says, looking it over. "The land had been held by the late Lord Perry's family; however, the family suffered a series of tragedies, and he was left without issue. The minor fiefs were divided between a few of my loyal retainers, but the mining claim was judged a separate item and sold at auction." She watches as the Aleeta is drawn away by the guards, "Of course you can guess which judge heard the matter."

    Looking back over the group, she hands the claim back to Thorgrim. "I see no reason to interfere with your rightful claim. You will be shown to the land, and can see to your claim. I am certain you know more than me about mines, Master Dwarf, so the rest, I leave to you." As the party then leaves, she adds, "Just don't forget your taxes."

    Looking down at the claim, Thogrim sees, in very fine print, that the Gynarch is entitled to 1/2 of all profits from any mining operations. "Great," he mumbles.....

    The claim lies in the hills east of Harby. It comprises the area around the headwaters of Jedel Run, a small river that runs through the village of Maynem Manor. The Gynarch provides you with a guide to show you the area. Neither Thorgrim nor Gotrek know much about mining, but there are a couple of Deldukr who do. Urgal sends them with you, while he remains to discuss potential work opportunities. You take a look at the area, which is perhaps 25 square miles. It'll take the dwarves about 3 weeks to fully survey the area, including searching for and exploring any existing mines, tunnels, shafts, or natural caverns.
    Sunday, 9th of Coldeven (581)
    It is another nice clear day, though the air's a bit crisper up here. Before leaving, you find you have a visitor, one of the Gynarch's servants. He delivers you a small ivory box. Inside the box are three potions (Invisibility, Clairvoyance, and Clairaudience). Apparently these were found amongst Aleeta's things, and the Gynarch decided it was appropriate to give them to you as a reward for your services. The party is also given a map, with the location of the mining claim circled on it.



    The party asks about the Star Cairns which they heard about, and decide to make a side trip in that direction. It is a two day trip to Storm Keep, the last of Hardby's official holdings. It is maybe another day to Freyl Keep, a small keep and village founded by adventurers years ago. They settled in the village while exploring the Star Cairns, then retired there afterwards, building a small keep. The current Lord is nominally independent of Hardby, and may have information about the Star Cairns. The nearest is maybe a day's travel from there. So, at best you're looking at 4 days to the nearest one.

    Gotrek asks Urgal if he and the Deldukr would like to go with them, but he declines. He explains that since there's really nothing happening around here, they are considering heading up to the Shield Lands, as they've heard rumors of warfare up there. Another option is to head to Nyrond, where they have also heard fresh rumors of war. Most aren't too interested in settling down and mining, or sitting around guarding empty lands. They are warriors, mercenaries, soldiers. They like to fight hard, and drink harder.

    They also find that Taki is not going to continue. He has personal matters to attend to, and will be finding his own way. "I'll meet you back in Hommlet," he says. Before anyone can stop him, the big man leaves and disappears down the street.

    Moonday, 10th of Coldeven (581)
    The party takes two days to get to Storm Keep. They are pretty uneventful, so you make it there midday on Moonday. Weather is staying nice, with clear skies and only a slight breeze. As you approach the keep, you see two riders on griffons approaching. Thinking them to be Berenn and Isilme, you are surprised to see two unknown warriors. They circle overhead, then one flies back to the keep while the other stays aloft, keeping an eye on you.

    The party continues, keeping their weapons sheathed, until they reach Storm Keep. The guards are alerted to your presence, and you see maybe a dozen manning the walls and towers of this small keep. There is a small village at the foot of the hill upon which it stands, and the people seem pretty much your normal peasant farmers, though maybe a bit hardier than most. The road actually goes through the village, continuing on, while a side track leads up to the keep. A patrol of a half-dozen mounted men-at-arms rides out of the keep and comes down the hill to greet you and learn the purpose of your travels.

    "We're here to look into the mystery of the star cairns," says Emyn. "Might you be able to tell us something of them?"

    "Should have known," says one of the men. "No other reason fer folks come this way."

    They relax, though you see that they are constantly ready for danger. There's a tavern in the village, with a common sleeping room, which the guards point out. "Buy us a round," he says, "and we'll tell ya what we know."

    You go to the tavern, and find that a round here costs about 1gp total, as the drink's rather poor. Hepla thinks even Gutshaker is better!

    The four cairns shown on the campaign map are 400 to 500 years old. Each is the burial site of a Suloise wizard. Although they are termed cairns, each burial site is a complex dungeon in itself. The four sites shown have all been plundered, though nobody's come this way in a few years time. Like many such places, it's possible some foul creatures have returned to them. There are four total cairns, as everyone knows, though the fifth has never been found.

    Emyn also asks if theya re somehow connected to this ghost tower of inveness he saw on the maps. "Emyn, your reading is getting much better," Hepla exclaims.

    "I am really trying hard," he replies. "I don't want to be seen as a big dumb lout, especially when I meet your family."

    "You are certainly not a dumb lout," she says, looking up at him sincerely. "You just have not had a chance to learn."

    The soldiers chuckle, thinking the Ghost Tower nothing but fancy, tales told by sailors and fools. Noot bristles a bit, but the old man interrupts. "The Tower of Galap-Dreidel is real indeed. It guards the Soul Gem, the source of the long dead mage's power. It is said that Galap-Dreidel lifted the tower from the very rock upon which it stands, and that time does not pass there. Many have sought the Tower, but none have ever succeeded."

    There is one old man, listening to the talk, and he can relate a bit more. Nobody has gone searching for the cairns, at least from this direction, in some time. He does say that there were some groups, about 10-20 years ago who returned, without ever finding the 5th cairn. Actually, they made their fortunes in the two nearest ones and considered themselves lucky. He knows that the cairns are all five-sided, painted in strange symbols, and accessible through a star-shaped hole in a flat stone. He remembers a couple of groups that went in search of the fabled 5th cairn, somewhere to the north of the other four. One group returned, finding nothing. The other disappeared.

    Godsday, 11th Coldeven (581)
    You awake the next day to a dark, cloudy day. Light rain falls and you pull your cloaks tight as you walk down the road. The men of Storm Keep give you some provisions, and the villagers bid you good fortune. As you leave in the morning, you see Taki standing outside, the biggest crossbow you've ever seen cradled in his arms.

    "Hi guys did you all miss me?" Taki has a sheepish smile on his face. He explains that he went in search of one of those Orz Crossbows, which he bought. Then he decided to catch up. After exchanging some quips, the party heads off on the path to Freyl Keep. It actually starts to rain heavier and heavier, and you are forced to finally take shelter around noon. Thorgrim finds a good level spot and erects his tower

    Emyn joins Taki for the walk and says, "Taki, I'd like to apologize to you for my behaviour back in the fight with Klim. Companions should not have wedges driven between them. Know that my sword will be there to defend you if the need arises. If you don't mind, I would also like to ask a question. You seem a little different since returning. Did something happen?"

    "No problem," replies Taki. "I felt the call to get out by myself but it turned out to be nothing. I think my leaving had something to do with the card I drew from the old witch, but I don't feel any different from my soul searching. I am ready to be back with my party and seeking out new adventure. This is where I belong, pulling you all's rear ends out of the ringer when you all bite off more than you can chew." With that said Taki smiles real big and walks off.

    "Perhaps if you prayed to whichever god or goddess you revere, that might help you set your path," says Emyn. "Tjey don't always answer and sometimes they answer in ways we don't understand but I have found it helpful. When I was called to Trithereon, I was also confused, but faith and patience and determination eventually led me down the right path."

    Looking back over his shoulder as he walks away, Taki replies, "I have little use for gods; it was the gods that allowed my family to be killed and gods that allowed all the wrongs we have brought right too. I believe in this," and he holds his maul high and then walks away once more.

    Emyn stands there deep in thought and sighs, hoping his friend will find his true path out of his empty existence.

    Noot doesn't mind this wandering in the country, as long as there are no Kobalds in sight. "Sorry," he says. "I've gotten a bit paranoid about the little buggers."

    The party shares a half-hearted laugh, which doesn't amuse Emyn and Elrae, and then everyone goes to sleep, dreaming of kobolds.

    Waterday, 12th of Coldeven (581)
    You get up early, to a brilliantly clear day. The air is cool and crisp, and everything has that wet earth smell. Your spirits are lifted by the sight of a couple of the griffon riders from Storm Keep as they fly overhead and wave.

    You arrive at Freyl Keep late in the day. It is not much more than a large tower on a hill with a small village below it along a swift-flowing creek. The few people here seem mostly farmers. There is large tavern here, though it seems abandoned, or nearly so. The villagers seem quite surprised to see you.

    "Hi, where can travelers find rooms and food for the night?" asks Hepla, eyeing the tower to see if anyone is in there.

    There's nobody there. A villager repairing the roof of a house calls over to you, his teeth clenching a couple rusty nails. "N'ones 'ere fer yers, now," he says as he takes a nail out and hammers it to secure a crossbeam. "Place's cosed up few yers now." He takes out the other nail, and finishes, finishing what he was doing.

    He then calls down clearly. "Say, you mind handing up them tiles?" Looking around, you see a stack of roofing tiles piled below him, next to his ladder.

    Hepla says,"I know a little magic, this is one of my favorit tricks."She casts Levitate and up to 900 lbs of tiles float up to him. "Anything else I can help you with? And where can we get rooms and food for the night?"

    The man almost falls off the roof, but he recovers and begins to take the tiles from you, or from the air. Other villagers come over to watch, some children pointing and laughing as well.

    You help the man finish his roof tiles, and then he comes down, very pleased with your magical help. Heck, Taki can reach up and place the last ones in by hand! The other villagers come up, and Elrae gives them a quick couple cantrips, just to impress the children. Hepla giggles quietly. You soon find that the villagers know "of" the Star Cairns, but don't really know them. They are about a day's walk away, so they wouldn't ever have reason to go that far, nor would it be wise to travel the Abbor-Alz, even these foothills, along.

    "There's lots a nasties out there," says Balen, the farmer you were helping. "Barbarian hill-people, raiders from the Bright Desert, norkers, ogres, even manticores."

    "You should go talk to Shav," says another, a young kid. "He's the wizard in the tower."

    "No he's not!" yells another kid."

    "Is so," the first yells back.

    Soon the two are pulled apart by their parents, who shake their heads. "True, his father was among a group of adventurers that settled here, after examining the cairns. They're all gone now, and only their tower and this village remain. Lord Shav pretty much stays to his tower now, but he used to tell stories about the cairns, stories his father had told him. It's from him that you may find more information."

    You thank him, and the villagers, and head up to the tower.

    An old man-at-arms greets you, and lets you in, once you have explained yourselves and your mission. Lord Shav is, indeed, an old man. You learn that he is the son of the adventuring wizard who searched the cairns almost 50 years ago. His father was a wizard from Urnst, and his band created this keep. The band broke up shortly after, with a couple leaving, and his father marrying a priestess of Celestian. With his parents now dead as well, he has remained, to look after the village they built. He is wealthy enough, enough to maintain a half-dozen men-at-arms and protect the area. "And some of my parents magic still works," he says, "so I keep the village safe."

    After a long discussion (which I won't post!) the party decides to NOT venture on to the Star Cairns. Rather, they make a note of them, hoping to return, and then head back towards Hardby. When they reach the mining area, they find that the dwarves are done. The area is apparently rich in tin, for which they can likely make a killing. After setting up Lady Huerta as their representative there, along with a few dwarves who decide to stay and help out, the party returns to Hardby.

    Thorgrim will look up Lady Huerta and inform her of the party's decision to offer her a 1/9th share of the mine in exchange for her administrating the operation to everyone's mutual benefit.

    Before leaving Lady Huerta, Thorgrim gives her a contract, entitling her to one-tenth of the mine's profit. Thorgrim will instruct her to hire a Master Miner and an Accountant to oversee the details of the daily operation of the mine. These two will report directly to her, and have no authority over each other. She will report directly to us. The Master Miner will determine the cost and scope of the operation, and hire miners to work the claim. He will work out all details of transporting the ore, smelting it, protecting it, everything. The Accountant will work in close conjunction with the Master Miner, keeping tabs on all expenses and revenues from the project, which will be relayed to Lady Huerta. She will be responsible for giving the Gynarch her share, splitting up the profits of the shareholders, and keeping everyone honest. She may wish to employ spies/moles to help her with this task. She is very grateful and is touched almost beyond words.
    Sunday 16th Coldeven (581)
    After securing a ship, it takes one day to sail to the mouth of the Selintan River, and just upriver you approach the small fishing village of Sevant's Cove. You put in to the docks, and Noot helps tie off the ship. There are a couple of inns and taverns spread out along the docks, catering to the many boats that stop here before heading up the river or out to sea. Talking to locals, you find out that the village was named after a Furyondian wizard, Sevant, who settled here about a hundred years ago. He pledged to protect the town from pirates, and built a tower upon a tall bluff, overlooking the river and the village. You can see its crumbling remains today. As nobody is interesting in checking it out, they continue on.
    Godsday, 18th Coldeven (581)
    The going is slow out of Savant's Cove, as there's a heavy rainstorm; however, the next day is clear with a fairly descent wind as well. You make good time and arrive at the dock of the Free City of Greyhawk in the late afternoon.
    GreySage

    Joined: Jul 26, 2010
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    From: LG Dyvers

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    Sun Jan 19, 2014 8:27 pm  

    You really post some good stuff, Ragnar.

    I think I recognize that map! Razz

    SirXaris
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    Mon Jan 20, 2014 8:17 am  

    Thanks. I work hard to try and bring my world to life. I know we could play by just taking the 1st ed DMG and going through random dungeons rolled up in the back, and my players would probably be happy. Not me. I want a real world, with as much depth as possible. That's why I don't like my players have too much magic. It just leads them to become munchkins, whether or not they want to do so. Further, I NEVER give them teleportation magic. Well, they have the mirror, but I've been careful to reign it in.

    Anyway, I want them walking around, taking ships, etc. That's how the world comes to life. If they didn't have to travel around, all kinds of cool little things would never happen. Many places would never be explored. Now they are starting to get a real feel for where their characters live, and that's what I try to do.

    Interestingly, I believe the online format really makes this easier. I have been surprised by this, for it moves EXTREMELY slowly at times. However, the written word is certainly more powerful than the spoken, and it allows me and the players to interact on a more fundamental level. It's like the difference between just telling somebody something and writing them a personal letter. The letter ends up having much more impact. Plus, I get to add pictures and maps quite easily. Finally, everything stays there online, for everyone to see and reference. It really adds a dimension that we never had in a FtF game. In some ways, I'm starting to actually prefer my game online!
    Master Greytalker

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    Mon Jan 20, 2014 2:41 pm  
    The Voyage Home - part 3 (The Free City of Greyhawk)

    Godsday, 18th Coldeven (581)
    The going is slow out of Savant's Cove, as there's a heavy rainstorm; however, the next day is clear with a fairly descent wind as well. You make good time and arrive at the dock of the Free City of Greyhawk in the late afternoon.

    http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/CastleGreyhawk_Maps/107031.jpg

    As you approach the city, you pass some dock shanties on the right. The place smells pretty bad, and the captain points out a small hill beyond the bank. "That's garbage hill," he say, wrinkling his nose a bit. "Sometimes the garbage haulers just don't reach the river by nightfall, or sometimes people is lazy, and stuff is dumped up the hill." You see some people picking around in the area, and the captain laughs. "Living off Greyhawk's ****," he says. "Guess it beats starvn'.

    Further up, you start to see a long series of docks. You quickly notice that there is a lot of traffic here, with much work continuing even though it's Godsday. "People may not wanna work," says the captain, "but they stills eats." The wharves lie outside the city walls, and there is a large gate through which wagons roll into and out of the city.

    The wharves are primarily rickety wooden docks extending into the muddy waters of the Selintan. The river sweeps a gentle turn here, which has cut a deeper channel right into the eastern bank. Ships of all sizes are able to put right into the docks, though the larger vessels must still use the longer docks. Countless smaller docks handle the smaller drafted galleys, river-craft, and barges which ply the river the from Nyr Dyv to Woolly Bay.

    The wharf is a relatively narrow strip, bounded by the river and the city wall which rests on a bluff above the river. The face of the bluff is precipitous, though any thief worth his salt could climb it thinks Noot. The wharf offers a few seedy taverns and roach-infested eateries, but little else. Space is simply too congested and land too valuable to allow for such amenities. Nearly the entire area is given up to storage buildings.

    The walls of the Free City are uniform, 30' high along their entire length and 18' wide at the base. The platform at the top is 10' wide with parapets running along both the outside and inside, and you see guards at regular intervals lazily walking the walls.



    "Shall we debark, then?" says Thorgrim. "I wish to visit a temple of Clanggedin, and report the party's doings, and tithe. Also, there may be some sights to see."

    Hepla is eager to see the sights of the city. She asks at the gate where the best magic shop in town is. Emyn will accompany her and he also wants to instriduce her to the temple of Trothereon nad its teachings if there is a possibility. Noot's looking for an inn, tavern, orgambling hall. "Time for a break, anyone want to join me?"

    "I imagine Taki and Elrae are always up for a beer, Noot," says Emyn, walking off with Hepla.

    Noot decides to look for a tavern or gambling house inside the walls, so the entire party makes their way to the Cargo Gate. The gate itself is about 24' wide, and 16' high, backed by massive portcullises with 2" thick iron bars. The gates are flanked by two large towers. A squad of guardsmen with swords and pikes stand in the entrance, checking those coming and going. They stop the party to find their business in the city. After hearing what you have to say, the leader takes down your names and jots a few notes.

    Seeing you are obviously adventurers, he requests you declare your items before entering and warns you about sneaking forbidden items into the city. No poison is allowed in the city, nor objects of worship related to any evil cults, demons, etc. "We've 'nuff troubles without them," he says. In addition, he requires you each pay a Freesword Tax of 3gp for entry. He also tells you that it is legal to wear armor in the city, once you've paid your Freesword Tax. However, weapons are another matter. The following weapons may be freely carried: dagger, dart, sling, staff, cudgel, and knife. Anything else must be checked or you may pay for a permit. Guards will escort you to the office of the Captain General of the Watch if you wish to gain permits to carry your weapons. Further, they tell you, and particularly Hepla, that use of magic is frowned upon. "There must be GOOD reasons for its use, and should there ever be any damage done you WILL be held responsible." Basically, magic is prohibited except if your life is threatened. Mind-affecting magic is forbidden and anything destructive WILL result in arrest and severe punishment.

    "We let lots a folks in here," says the guard captain. "See lots of adventurers, especially those seeking wealth and fame at Castle Greyhawk. So, we take extra care to keep things peaceful." He looks around at everyone, seeing the frowns from Taki and the dwarves. "You follow the rules, you gots no problems here and are welcome in Greyhawk."

    There are some quite famous places to visit in Greyhawk. Everyone has heard of the Green Dragon Inn, the most renown haunt for adventurers in the Flanaess. The Greyhawk Guild of Wizardry is second to none. The Golden Phoenix is considered the best inn in the land, and the Wheel of Gold is the most famous of all gambling houses. Further, just from what you've heard, pretty much everything is available in Greyhawk, so the city has much to offer.

    Taki will pay but he is not happy at all about not having his armor.

    "Oh, you can keep it," says Hepla, as she pays for the whip and blowgun. As they leave she says to anyone listening,"Wow, he figured out right away that I am a mage, he's good."

    "Well if it's civilization we were seeking, it's civilization we have found," says Thorgrim. "Let us repair to one of these inns. The Green Dragon? It sounds more interesting than The Golden Phoenix, unless there are those who want to wallow in luxury. I've had enough of being looked down upon by those with a very little wealth and power, who have less of either than any of us."

    "Once there, we can be about our business of exploring this City, and handling whatever business we wish to attend to, regrouping there at even-time."

    The party shall pay for one night at a time, as we won't be staying here in Greyhawk for too long. Elrae want's to checkout a big Greyhawk show. He has been dreaming of performing on a stage in this world renowned city. The pary is taken into an office on the ground floor of one of the gate towers. There you aren't searched, but clearly the guards give you a good look-over. In fact, a clerk takes down your names, makes very detailed accounts of your descriptions and weapons, and you are all asked to sign. Emyn proudly writes his name, smiling at Hepla. The clerk then asks if you have any further weapons in extra-dimensional spaces, looking up at you with a searching gaze. Thorgrim sighs, and you have to pay for them too!

    Charges for entry into Greyhawk are as follows:
    Elrae: 13gp
    Gotrek: 43gp
    Hepla: 5gp
    Taki: 38gp
    Noot: 8gp
    Emyn: 38gp
    Thorgrim: 48gp

    The permits to carry your weapons are small wooden tiles with a number engraved up them. These correspond to numbers kept in the ledger, a copy of which will be sent to the Office of the Constable. So, take off the requisite amounts from your sheets, and then you can enter the city proper. Once through the gate, you find yourselves in the River Quarter.

    "Good work Emyn," says Hepla proudly. "After we check in ,Thorgrim, you, and I are off to the Wizard's guild. Remember do not read any words you see there out loud."
    She looks at the guards and smiles,"May I leave boys or did you want another look?" She giggles, then gives them a little wiggle on the way out, knowing they are just doing their jobs. "Might as well let them enjoy a little."

    Emyn just frowns.

    The Greyhawk River Quarter is the most riotous district, centered along a great curving avenue called The Strip. With its taverns, brothels, gambling dens, and worse, The Strip is a cacophony of noise and chaos day and night. At all hours it teems with drunks, toughs, rivermen, and cityfolk. City watchmen are a constant feature, as the place if full of those who may fight at the slightest impulse. Naturally, adventurers love it here. Lodgings are cheap and plentiful, as is wine, women, and offers for work. Numerous merchants and shopkeepers are eager to sell their wares and help travelers unload theirs.

    You get directions to the Green Dragon Inn, which is located on Blue Boar Street, a bit off the strip. It's a favorite haunt for adventurers, as it's a bit quieter, but has excellent rooms. While the fare is rather mundane, it comes in copious quantities.

    Green Dragon Inn
    This is a favorite haunt of adventurers and of those seeking adventurers for various tasks. It offers relatively mundane fare, but in copious quantities. Its location on Blue Boar Street, just off of the Strip, insures that it stays a little quieter than most of the establishments in the quarter. Occasionally a bunch of students may be found here, or a Watch party hunting some criminal.
    The Green Dragon is a rough, tough place; any weapons and armor can be ( and often are ) worn in here. There are six members of the bar staff, of whom three are on duty at any one time. One of the six is Imogen Gellett (NPC) who does night shifts. The proprietor of the establishment is Ricard Damaris (NPC). He is 36 years old, 6'3", 236 lbs., with thick black hair worn to shoulder length and brown eyes. He has a small triangular scar on the left side of his chin, and the fourth finger is missing from his left hand.



    Fistfights, and even broken-glass and dagger fights, do not bother Ricard unduly, although he may wade in with his club to subdue people if matters are getting out of hand--his regulars know when to stop. Ricard also has a wife, Florence, who is not seen in the inn--she does the bookwork and prepares the plain bill of fare served as food here. He also has a nine-year-old daughter, Clarissa, of whom he is deeply proud, and his spoiling of her has made her a quite intolerable little brat who has temper tantrums and kicks and screams a lot.

    Hepla asks Richard for directions to the Wizards guild. He gives them to her, and her, Thorgrim, and Emyn head over to the guild house.

    "We secure lodgings for the night at The Green Dragon before heading there," says Thorgrim. Then they head to the Wizard's guild. Elrae tags along, thinking maybe he can get his Cittern repaired.

    Taki goes with Noot to find a gambling hall.

    To the Guild of Wizardry

    [img]http://www.canonfire.com/wiki/images/e/e3/The_City_of_Greyhawk05.jpg [/img]

    Old image of the city. Here you see the citadel at the top, the pyramid building of the Wizard's Guild below that, further south is the wall separating the nicer part of the city, official area, and the gardens from the rest. South of the wall you see the arena for games. There's lots more, as you can see from the other map.

    The Greyhawk Guild of Wizardry, based in the City of Greyhawk, is the largest and most extensive guild of magi in the Flanaess. It also claims to be the least political, secretive, or closed off of any mage guild. Almost any proven practitioner of arcane magic is eligible to join the Guild of Wizardry, be they wizard, bard, sorcerer, illusionist, or even some more exotic arcane spellcaster.

    While the Guild of Wizardry is interested in it's own aggrandizement, as are most others, it has no political agenda, and neither does it require the exclusive allegiance of any of it's membership. Because of this, many magi across the Flanaess claim an affiliation with this guild. In many places, membership in the guild is a source of prestige, due to the guild's international fame.

    The guild can claim nearly a thousand members in it's official rolls. But in truth, only about half of that number are in the city of Greyhawk at any given time, and many of these are amateurish dabblers, or are virtually inactive.

    When you reach the Guild of Wizardry, you are met by a trio of dwarven "porters." They stand outside the closed adamantite gates, and are very gruff. Nobody is permitted entry to the guildhall, they say, except for members of the guild or students of the university. Guests are allowed only at the invitation of a guildmember, and such permission must be arranged a day in advance. The only exception to this are those who are willing to buy, sell, or exchange magical items or rare spell components.

    Hepla looks up at the head dwarf and says, "I do have a scroll I might be interrested in trading, but first, how does one become a member of the guild. I did not have any trouble becoming a member of the Silver Consortium as those mages inside who are watching us even now must know?" The last is a guess but one she feels is reasonable.

    It's 100gp. Membership is quite easy and affordable. Most of the greatest mages in the world, men such at Mordenkainen, Rary, and the rest of the Circle of Eight, are all members. This provides a prestige that virtually no other guild membership grants, despite the fact that more than half the members are members in name only. However, you do gain access to the guild, a place to buy, sell, and trade magic, and opportunities for spell research. As a side note, you also learn that it is illegal to do ANY of those activities within the city boundaries EXCEPT through the guild. Further, all of these services, however, cost, and the amount varies depending upon one's service to the guild. Those who just pay their fee pay more than those who, say, donate the bone dust of a demi-lich, as an example. Further, if you undertake jobs for the guild, you will also be looked upon with favor. Basically, the more you give, the more you get.

    Thorgrim learns the place has nothing to offer a priest. He asks about other dwarves in the city, and they tell him that alhough dwarves are common in the city, there is no established church. Most dwarves practice more privately than others, and none have ever seen fit to create more than a personal shrine, if that.

    Emyn asks about a Temple of Trithereon, learning that it's in the River Quarter, towards the SW side. It is very recognizable, a stout stone building with a low tower which holds a massive golden bell that is rung to call to worship. The summons comes hourly on Godsday, and is quite annoying to those who do not favor the Summoner.

    So, Elrae and Hepla can pay their 100gp each. The dwarves knock on the adamantine doors, and a peephole opens up at the top left corner. They say they've got new members and a gruff dwarf answers, shuts the peephole, and pushes the doors open. As they open, you see another stout dwarf inside, and you notice the peephole is at dwarf eye level. It must have been some strange magic that made the peephole open up where it did.

    You are allowed inside and find yourselves in a large gatehouse, much larger inside than the square tower appeared outside. You are take to a side room, the Office of the Head Porter, Darnak Khorshkan. He is a very old dwarf, who sits behind a large desk. A bookshelf behind him holds dozens of tomes, and a large safe sits next to it. He looks up at you, nodding approvingly at Thorgrim.

    Thorgrim nods back and turns to Hepla. "My friend Thorgrim is interested in potions," she says. "I have some odd components of unknown use, but first I wish to see anything you have on witches, please."

    Thorgrim steps forward. "I am the one called Thorgrim. I am no wizard, but a priest of Clanggedin. But I have much respect for the sorcerous arts, and call both wizards and sorcerors my companions, and my friends." He gestures expansively. "This building is a marvel. Truly unparalleled in all of Greyhawk. Would that I could meet the makers of such a place!" He pauses. "I am interested in any potions you may have available, and what be the price."

    [DM OOC: Hepla wants to do research, so she will have to go to the Guild Library. You will be directed to the Librarian, Jawal Severnain. A porter will take you there. Elrae wants to inquire about fixing his magic cittern, and for that you will have to see the Mage of Exchange, Kondradis Bubka. Thorgrim and Emyn may be given entrance as guests of Elrae and Hepla, but they must have approval a day in advance. The ONLY exception to this is if they wish to buy/sell/trade with the Mage of Exchange. So, they may go with Elrae to see him. ]


    Thorgrim will see the Mage of Exchange. He doesn't have much to trade or sell in the way of magic, nor much coin with which to purchase magic. He says to Elrae, "Well, laddie, if there is one place on Oerth where your Cittern might be repaired, this is it. I had never considered the thought of repair, until we found ourselves here."

    Hepla heads to the library, eager to do her reserch, she figures she can go to the exchange later. The others go to the Mage of Exchange.

    Exchange
    You are led out the rear of the gatehouse, and find yourselves going up the stairs towards the top. You enter just below the top, and find yourselves in a small office. Inside is an elderly wizard, in a plain undecorated gray robe. He has gray hair, balding at the crown and cut short. This is Kondradis Bubka, the Mage of Exchange. He leans back in his large chair, a somewhat bemused expression on his face as you are introduced. When Elrae is introduced as a bard, he has a bit of a condescending look about him. He barely even looks at Emyn.

    Emyn makes his request. He will offer trade for magical full plate (or the magicking of his current full plate). [Emyn OOC: He is willing to part with the plate mail +1, Footman's pick +1 and the Broadsword +2 in exchange.] If this is not possible, then a ring of tongues so that he may speak wtih his magically summoned creatures.

    [DM OOC: OK, if we're going to do this, please role-play your characters like they don't have the magic items in the DM's Guide memorized or know they are "+1 this" or "+2 that!"

    He looks at your armor, considering the request. You will have to leave all your items which you propose to trade, that he may examine them. It will take a few days, for he will make a very thorough examination. Then he will let you know what can be done. As for a magic ring, he laughs. "You think such things are common as copper?" he asks. He then shakes his head muttering something about warriors.

    "True, I am a warrior, good mage," replies Emyn. "But I am an Avenger of Trithereon; it is not as though I am a barbarian. I will gladly leave you the three items for verification. As for the ring, if one is indeed available, I would even make use of something that would allow me to speak with an animal, if something more powerful were not available." He takes the items out and provides them, as promised. He makes sure to get a receipt (he reads it) and then joins Hepla. Of course, he can't find her, so he makes his way to the Temple of Trithereon, where he attends to his devotions.

    After Emyn leaves, the Mage of Exhange mutters something about paladins.....

    "Sir don't let my good looks fool you," says Elrae. "I thirst for the arcane knowledge and am proficient in a few spells. I am also very interested in the history of such items that are magical of nature. However, at the moment I am most interested in possibly repairing this." He takes out the Cittern of Calen Sirithe. "It is most precious to me."

    He actually recognizes it. "I had the pleasure to hear Calen Sirithe, years ago," he says as he takes the cittern from you. "His music was unsurpassed. I shall do all I can to see this repaired."

    "Thank you so much for looking into my cittern," replies Elrae. "I would do anything to get it playable again."

    Thorgrim then asks about purchasing potions, particularly healing potions. He is thinking about Lyseios the Alchemist, and he is thinking about preparedness. Thorgrim learns that he can buy the following potions:

    Heroism: 600gp
    Super-Heroism: 1000gp
    Flying: 1000gp
    Healing: 500gp
    Ex-Healing: 1000gp
    Hill Giant Control: 1200gp

    Some good deals, here. Unfortunately, Thorgrim doesn't have the cash for a major purchase. He will take a potion of Hill Giant Control and a potion of Super-Heroism. He will have to wait and rely on Lyseios for the other types.

    On the way back from the Guild of Wizardry, Thorgrim and Elrae (Emyn left on his own earlier), pass back through the High Market. The stalls are being picked up now, as the merchants are packing up to go home. You see that there is pretty much everything available here that you can think of, so you may want to return. You continue down the main street called the Processional. It is hard-packed sand that may as well be stone, with a slightly rounded contour for runoff. It is 120' wide, and the largest street you've ever seen. Off to the west are gardens and large estates, while to the east is Temple Row, with many large churches and temples. The two largest buildings to either side of the Processional, between the High Market and the Garden Gate, are the Royal Opera House (the western building) and the Grand Theater (eastern building). Elrae will check when the next available performances are for the Grand Theater and the Royal Opera House.

    The Grand Theater and the adjoining Playhouse Theater are both styled in baroque splendor, and provide classical plays as well as bardic performances, poetry readings, etc. There is a play running which you can go see. It's basically sold out; however, you can procure a box (good for 6 people) for 150gp.

    The Royal Opera House is equally magnificent; however, you can see that it is in a state of neglect. There is a running performance by the Diva of the Opera, Aestrella Shanfarel. There are also crude posters on the walls, and you now realize that you've seen copies elsewhere in the city, for afternoon shows, at 2sp each.

    "I have to go!" he says, excited.

    "Let's do the opera," says Emyn. "That theatre is really expensive."

    Then everyone retires back to the inn.

    Guild Library
    Hepla is taken by a porter to the library. He explains to her that when the guild was founded in 393 by Zagig Yragerne, he brought with him a small clan of dwarves, the Khorshkan. They had served him for years, as he recognized the usefulness of such magic-resistant guards in the protection of the guild. So, the Khorshkan clan settled in the Free City, and became the permanent custodians of the Guild of Wizardry. They have served as porters for nearly 400 years, with the Darnak being the eldest in the clan at nearly 250 years old.

    Anyway, you are led to a central chamber, and there the Porter simply says the word library. You feel a strange tickling feeling, then when you leave the chamber you find yourselves in a massive library. It is a vast, windowless hall, filled with rank upon rank of shelves that stretch from floor to ceiling and groan beneath the weight of many centuries of accumulated magical knowledge and theory. Some kind of strange faerie fire illuminates the place lightly, giving the whole a rather gloomy aspect. There is a large desk before you, behind which is seated an elf.

    You are initially shocked, not so much by the sharp aquiline features, but by the inky black skin, silver hair, and piercing violet eyes. It is a dark elf! He looks up at you, as he takes a bite from a small plate of food which smells like some kind of strange mushrooms. He says something in dwarven that you don't quite catch, but the sarcastic tone is pretty obvious that he isn't too impressed, nor perhaps happy to be bothered.

    Hepla says hello in Drow then says ,"I wish first to see your section on Witchcraft please. It is good to see another drow in the service of good."

    He is clearly a bit more intrigued by your halting use of dark elven, though he chuckles at the last part. "Good, bad, I'm the drow with the gun, I mean library."

    Unfortunately, the library's not really organized like that, so you will have a LONG search, unless he knows some particular tomes which may help.

    Hepla says in common, "I see you grimace, my Drow is very limited and my friend has not had a chance to teach me more as we study spells much more then languages." She switchs to poor dwarf, "I can speak this a little, then switches to perfect sylvan elf, "but I prefer this if I am not speaking common." Now in common she asks, "I know it is asking for much, but do you know of any tomes on Witchcraft?"

    He looks a bit annoyed at the disturbance, and by Hepla's continued attempts to talk. "I don't have time to help every surface child who passes by," he says, a bit rudely. "But I can see you just won't leave me in peace otherwise," he adds, interlacing his long elven fingers and frowning. So, he gives Hepla basic directions to a part of the library where she may find what she seeks. "Now, if you'll excuse me..." and he goes back to reading.

    Hepla thanks him and promises to tell her Drow friend(she uses the feminin form of friend) that he is here. Then she goes to that part of the library that he directed her to. She sits at one of the desks and writes a message on the half of the communication scroll which Isilme left her.

    Isilme, I am in the great library of the Wizard's guild. It is great but not well organized. The Librarian is a dark elf but not too helpful to a "Surface child". Let me know if you wish to send anything, list of research questions, yourself. signed...Hepla

    Hepla doesn't find much; it's just about impossible to search the place, but she also learns from the porters that there is an even LARGER library in Greyhawk. [Think of it as the Library of Alexandria. ] She figures she really doesn't have time, so she leaves. She stops back at the Mage of Exchange, inquires about recharging her wands and staff. When she learns how long and expensive a process it is, she declines and then returns to the inn herself.

    To the gambling hall

    Noot and Taki go back towards the Cargo Gate. Just inside the gate and to the south is a long L-shaped building. Bestro's Bones. It's a favored gambling hall in the River Quarter, specializing in dice gaming. Just about any game which is based upon dice may be played within. They disappear inside, and even though it's still daytime, the place is already rather crowed. They don't allow weapons inside, for obvious reasons, though you can check them at the door. If you go inside, you still can find a nice table, get some drinks, and see what's going on.



    Noot sits down with Taki , studying the games, when a buxom barmaid shows up with a couple of mugs of ale. "First round's on the house," she says. "If there's anything I can get you," she adds, looking at Taki's huge form, "my names Pauli."



    She also sets a dice cup down at the table, in case Noot and Taki wish to simply throw some bones. If Noot wants to go play some other games of chance, there are plenty to choose from. Taki is not there to gamble, but he just wants to make sure Noot is alright. He will, however, flirt with the barmaid and tip well. Taki offers the barmaid to sit down and will tip her for the ale and whatever else she is offering.

    Noot continues to study the games. He looks around for any cheating that might be going on. If he doesn't detect any, then he will pull out his pouch, invest 10 gp and start playing. Noot moves over to a table where a handful of men are playing Doubles. The game is simple. You have to ante up 1gp to play each round, then roll two dice. If you roll Snake Eyes you lose. If you roll Boxes you win. Any other roll and you lose your turn. If you roll doubles you win the ante amount and roll again; however, if that particular doubles roll comes up again, it is also a losing roll. Play continues until one person wins, or until everyone else loses.

    There are only 3 players, so he joins and become the fourth. I'll play round by round:

    round 1: rolls of 11, 10, 7. Noot rolls 5. Pot 4gp. Noot down: 1gp
    round 2: rolls of 7, 8, 5. Noot rolls double 3's! Wins back 1gp. Rolls double 2's! Wins back another 1gp. Rolls double 4's! Wins 1gp. rolls 6 and loses turn. Pot: 5 Noot is up: 1gp
    round 3: rolls of 3, 5, and double 5's. The third player wins back 1gp, then rolls double 5's again. He's out! Noot rolls 10. Pot: 7gp Noot even
    round 4: rolls of 3, 5, and Noot rolls 9. Pot 10gp Noot: down 1gp
    round 5: rolls of 5, and 8. Noot rolls DOUBLE 6'S! Noot wins and gains 10gp.

    Noot pockets his winnings, tips the barmaid 1 gp and rejoins Taki for ale. By the time Noot comes back, maybe 15 minutes or so, the barmaid's sitting on Taki's lap and playing with his hair. There are three more empty mugs on the table too!

    Noot picks up a couple of rumors while in the gambling hall:

    1) Lord Silverfox in the High Quarter breeds exceptionally good dogs. Many adventuring parties buy from him.

    2) Not far from the city are the ruins of Castle Greyhawk. Centuries past, when Greyhawk city was still a burgeoning riverbank trading post, Zagig was already a powerful magician. His adventurous exploits had taken him the length and breadth of the Oerth and beyond-his command of magic had grown to heroic proportions. Zagig built for himself an enormous castle complex north of young Greyhawk. He used it to conduct his experiments, to build his personal guard of soldiers, and to store the treasures of his career. However, after just a century of occupation, the castle was mysteriously abandoned. Since then, the upper towers have crumbled and fallen, the grounds have succumbed to the erosion of time. What remains are the extensive underground mazes, overrun by monstrous evil creatures carefully guarding the legacy of the ruins of Castle Greyhawk. In its prime, Castle Greyhawk consisted of three main towers. They have fallen into rubble, but the corresponding dungeon levels beneath them still exist. Though below ground, they are still referred to as the Tower of War, the Tower of Power, and the Tower of Zagig

    Noot mumbles to himself, "Ruins! Probably full of those !@#$% kobolds."

    Taki goes to take the St. Pauli girl to his room, but the owner of the gaming house says she's working. Taki tosses him a few gold, as he takes up his weapons from the weapons check. The guy doesn't say anything else as they leave. Noot then picks the guys pocket and takes Taki's money back!

    [b]The Green Dragon Inn[/]

    Everyone reunites at the inn after running their errands. Hepla comes in last, and when she hears about the opera and play she says,"Can I come too? What is a play or opera?"

    Emyn explains, having just had Elrae explain it to him! "A play is a performance where people tell a story in front of you and ac it out, my dear. An opera is where they do that while singing but often they are very hard to understand and sung in different languages. I think in old elvish or high dwarven or something or other. Either way, even if you can't understand what they say, it still sounds nice."

    Hepla says, "I have spent the day reading bits and pices of different languages. Anymore and I think I would get a headache. The play sounds better. Do they ever sing in these plays and does the audience sing along? Mom would sometimes have a gathering of elves or old friends and we would sit around a campfire and they would tell stories and sing old songs while drinking Moonshine. Is it like that?"

    She then sings a bit of an old Dwarven drinking song that makes Thorgrim and Gotrek sputter and blush. "I always liked that one even if I do not know what some of those words mean."

    Emyn replies, "I don't think the actors like it when others sing along. They rpefer to have you watch, though Elrae can surely explain it better than I. THink of actors as people who want all of teh attention." The guardian ruffles Star's ears and passes her a bit of fish from his plate.

    Thorgrim prepares for a night at the Opera. He combs his beard, and gets out his "dress" clothes, which are really just new adventuring clothes. He looks at himself in Hepla's mirror, and grunts. "Good enough," he says.

    Emyn prepares his armor so it is especially shiny and his swords will be especially sharp.
    "Beware pickpockets in that place. For just two silver, it likely draws an unsavory crowd."

    That evening you guys go to the opera. You may need some new clothes, as you guys can't go with weapons and armor! The market is open well into the evening (just read that!) so you can buy nice new clothes there. Anyone who wants to go will have to buy a set of nice clothes, and there is plenty to choose from at the market. To go to the Opera, you need NICE clothes, so anyone who wants to go pay 25gp for a set of nice clothes.

    That taken care of, you get your box seats at the Opera for tonight's performance. Elrae picks up the tab. "I just can't do this without doing it in style," he says.

    It turns out the be a very nice box section, just off the stage up and to the left. You watch an amazing performance by the half-elven diva of the Opera, Aestrella Shanfaerel. While she has the honey-blond hair and blue-green eyes typical of the Celene elves, her voice is anything but typical. The slender woman belts out deep soprano like nothing you've ever heard; Elrae actually tears up.

    From the box seats next to you, you hear some men talking, and a large fat man tells them to be quiet. "I have come a long way to hear Lady Shanfaerel," he says. "You will NOT speak during her song!"

    "Sorry Otto," says one of the other men, a slender, polite-looking man dressed mostly in blue. "I forgot how much you enjoy her music and do apologize."

    "Fine, Tenser," he replies shortly, waving a hand absently without ever taking his eyes off the half-elf woman. "No please be quiet!"

    Hepla waits for intermission, then tries to meet those men. She will simply knock on their box door and ask if she can see them for a moment. "I believe you are two of the greatest wizards in the world," she says. "I meet Bigby the other day, but didn't know it till afterward. I did not want to pass up the chance to meet you. You are you are you not? I agree the singer has a great ability, best opera singing I have ever heard. Sorry I am Hepla."

    She stammers through the whole thing, almost never stopping and ending up out of breath and standing there, nearly panting. The two men look at Hepla, then back at each other, then back at Hepla. Then they both start laughing a rich, hearty laugh.

    Hepla looks embarrassed, then adds, "I am sorry, perhaps I mistook you for someone else when I heard your names. I am happy you have had a good laugh and I am sorry to have bothered you. May I buy you a drink to make up for bothering you?"

    The slender man gives you a very pleasant smile, and says, "Oh no, you were most correct," he says. "It's just, well, an inside joke."

    He gives slight bow to Hepla, and Otto jumps at the mention of a drink. "They have the most delectable Lendorian Ambrosia here," he says. "I accept your offer."

    "You are incorrigible, Otto," says Tenser. "Don't let him sucker you into that one girl," he adds. "The Lendorian costs 100 gold for a glass, and he knows it!"

    "It was my offer, so will that be one glass or two?" she asks. "It is a pleasure to meet such famous wizards. Of course I would love to talk with you but you are here to enjoy the music. Perhaps after the opera, if that is all right with you?"

    Tenser sighs, "Oh, just one," as an attendant takes Hepla's order for the wine. [take off 200 gp] The middle-aged Otto, at 332 pounds stills offers a graceful bow to Hepla.

    As the drink appears, Otto delights in savoring the incredible flavor.

    "My dear lady," says Tenser jovially. "You have found Ottos greatest weakness, other than Aestrella's voice, and that's Otto's irresistible gluttony."

    "You're just jealous that you lack an epicurean bone in your body," says Otto. "You know, he actually LIKES iron rations!"

    "I hope you enjoy and if there is any time after the performance I might speak with you I will be at your pleasure. Again my name is Hepla, daughter of Hepala." Star steps out of the shadows to look at the men. "This is Startle," she says, laughing, "we all call her Star." Hepla bows and collects Star to go back to her seat.

    Tenser looks at Star, and Hepla sees recognition in his eyes. Tenser looks at Hepla, "Well, you certainly ARE full of surprises, aren't you young one?" he says, looking at Hepla. Lost in his ambrosia, Otto misses the little exchange.

    Tenser actually gets up from his seat, moves over to Hepla, and kisses her hand. "It has been a pleasure," he says. "Please, you MUST come visit me after the show."

    "Speaking of which," says Otto, as Aestrella takes the stage again. "Now, run along lass," he says, "let us not be rude to our Lady. And thank you quite for the fine ambrosia."

    Tenser smiles to Hepla, then nearly whispers with a grin. "Forgive Otto, he's in love."

    "After the show it is," she whispers," as Star gives a little prrr. She goes back to her seat and enjoys the rest of the show. After another hour, the show is over. The applause is deafening.

    "Wow what a show!" exclaims Elrae. "Worth every copper!"

    Tenser is pleased to see Hepla again after the show, and he is quite happy to meet the others: Emyn, Elrae, and Thorgrim. Otto is going to meet Lady Shanfarel, so he will not accompany you. He is cordial, but a bit "not there" and then rushes off. Tenser apologizes for him, "Alas, the poor sot is quite smitten." Clapping his hands, he invites you to join him.

    Hepla accepts the invitation and Star actually jumps into his arms and stares at his face for a few seconds. "Please sir, excuse her. She is a little nervous still after our last adventures. I was very near to death but I'm much better now." Hepla then introduces all those with her.

    With a wave of his arms, and a small flourish of the arcane, Tenser casts a spell. Scintillating auras swirl around you such that you can't see beyond them, and when the subside, you are standing in a very comfortable sitting room. Shelves of books line one wall, a large fireplace dominates another. There are numerous couches upon which you may recline, and beautiful rugs and tapestries finish it out.

    "Welcome to my humble abode," says Tenser.

    You spend a pleasant evening with Tenser, whom you find has very refined tastes in fine fabrics. He asks of you, and you spend the next couple of hours speaking to him of your adventures, from the Temple of Elemental Evil, to the Pomarj. He has heard of your exploits at the Temple. One of his old acquaintances, Lord Robillar, had often spoke of investigating the place. Tenser is glad it was you.

    "I shudder to think what ill he may have unleashed," he says. "The rest of the Circle do not share my worries regarding the rise of Evil in the Flanaess," he adds. "They take a more central approach, serving to maintain balance, which is certainly to be appreciated. However, I sense changing times, a dark period ahead. The Great Kingdom flounders in decadence and madness. Humanoids have overrun the Bone March and Pomarj, though at least you've checked the rise of these Slavelords." He nods to you, toasting you with a small goblet of fine wine which servants brought everyone. "The Hierarchs rule beyond the Veng River to the north, and beside them broods the Old One himself, recently returned from who knows where."

    "I have tried to push the Circle to become more involved, but alas, to no avail. Mordenkainen and Rary keep their own councils, while Dramidj whiles away his life at the bottom of the seas. Otto cares more for his epicurean lifestyle and chasing after Lady Shanfarel." He laughs, somewhat ruefully, before he continues. "That leaves only half the circle to really pay attention to events. Nystul is concerned with strange activity beyond his land of Tenhas, and has spent many months working with the druids of the Phostwood. Only Bigby can be counted upon, but he is kept busy in Onnwal, helping the Iron League against the machinations of the Herzog of the South Province. Thus, it falls, naturally, upon myself to do what I can to hold back this dangerous tide."

    "This room reminds me of mom's sitting room," says Hepla. "Which tells me there is much more here then meets our eyes. This is good since everyone deserves their secrets." Hepla adds, "I'll even bet this is one of those places that the inside is bigger then the outside. <giggle> I spent the day in the Guild library looking for any references to Witchcraft. Grandma and mom are witches but they told me I had to find the books to begin to cast Witch spells with and I have had no luck yet. Tomorrow I plan to help my dark elf good friend to research these drawings she made(she shows him the packet of drawings from Isilme) she feels they have something to do with some of the evils we have found but does not recognise their meaning. I also want to see if anyone knows of a mated pair of black dragons and their baby that helped us in the TOEE adventure and moved back to this plane. Oh, and do you need help? You seem even busier then we are.
    Have you seen this spell Bigby came up with (she shows him the spell). You can copy it if you want I just ask for the original back. Wish I could remember which guy gave it to me so I could recognise him latter." She will continue on and on and on as an excited teen would but will stop when he is ready to speak. Star wanders around the room until she settles at Hepla's feet.

    Thorgrim puts a hand over his face, shaking his head. He then takes a drink of his wine, as Tenser laughs again. Thorgrim then speaks, "We recently scried Lareth, priest of the Temple of Elemental Evil, seemingly enjoying the protection of his giant cohorts. And we have encountered many Drow in the upper echelons of the evil we seek to destroy. We know the slavers were in league with the Temple of the Earth Dragon. Can you tell us anything you know about giants or Drow making alliances with these evil priests or with each other?"

    Tenser tells Hepla to toss his name out in the library, "You'll get some more help that way." He also laughs about Bigby, saying, "Yes, I have the same spell myself. Bigby is like to promote the protection of books."

    He doesn't know much about Lareth or giants, though he's certainly fought his share of giants in the past. He also doesn't know of your black dragons, but he does tell you that dragons are impossible to scry. He is troubled by the drow information. They have ever stayed well away from the surface, except for the occasional forest raid or maybe a lone adventurer type, usually an outcast. He's actually never met a good drow, so he's a bit intrigued regarding Isilme.

    Tenser seems shocked when you show him the drawings which Isilme had made. He actually seems almost...fearful. He asks if he may keep the drawings, to which you surely say yes, then he breaks off the evening, saying there is much he must do. He thanks you, apologizes that he can't say more right now, and teleports you all back to the street outside the Opera.

    "That was a rare opportunity. I am glad to have met him," says Thorgrim. "Let's get a drink and call it a night. Onward, to The Green Dragon! Let us conclude our business here, and be on our way."

    The party then sleeps the rest of the night, peacefully in warm beds.
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    Sat Jan 25, 2014 7:07 am  
    Zarak - Suakin

    Before moving on, I thought I'd post this. I stumbled on an image of the ruined island port of Suakin, in Sudan on the coast of the Red Sea. That's what I used for Zarak. Here's a link to a page about it.

    http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/suakin
    Master Greytalker

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    Sat Jan 25, 2014 7:35 am  
    Back in Hommlet

    Waterday, 19th Coldeven (581)
    You wake the next morning to a rainy day. Nobody really wants to do much outside with the rain, so you pretty much stay to your room. Hepla returns to the Guild, and throwing out Tenser's name actually gets some help, albeit reluctant help, finding what she wants. [PM me about what you REALLY are searching for, and we can talk about whay you find. It's not critical to moving on, so we can work out what it all is/means on our own before posting more.]

    Meanwhile, others may spend the day picking up items they may wish.

    Gotrek goes to the Guild of Blacksmiths, and there finds that for 100gp he can become a member. He will not be entitled to work independently, but may pass the time working for another blacksmith, even be paid. If you pay, you can then return with the blacksmith and freely use his shop. He goes to work making harpoons for Taki, while working on some various projects for the blacksmith, Sam.

    Earthday, 20th Coldeven (581)
    You wake the next morning, and return to the Mage of Exchange.

    The items have all been re-identified, and the Mage will buy them from Emyn if he chooses. However, no mages could be convinced to work on a suit of magical armor. There is a mage who would create for Emyn a Ring of Spell Storing, with a Speak with Animals. Even Berenn could recharge a Speak with Animals ring. If Emyn chooses to not do anything, he can sell the items for 7500gp. They will also take them in exchange for the recharging which Hepla inquired about. In this case, she'll have to leave her items here for now. Elrae's Cittern can be repaired, but it will take some time. He will have to leave it there to be repaired, but they will do it. It will cost 5000gp.

    " I will take the speak with animals ring," says Emyn, "and I will trade the rest. If there is any money left from what I sell, I will donate it to Elrae for the repair of his cittern."

    Hepla suggests that Elrae's Cittern should have prioity for getting worked on. Meanwhile Isilme scrys Hepla when she is alone. She is excited to hear about the meeting with the wizard, the drow in the library, and all the pleasures Greyhawk has to offer. She thought Verbobonc was the largest human city! Gathering some things, she passes through her mirror and pays a very quick visit to catch up with her.

    "Good to see you my friend," says Hepla. "Here's Bigbys spell. Take it with you and put it in a safe place until we can copy it to a spellbook and commence learning it. This place is huge. Tenser said he has never meet a good dark elf and would like to meet you. I think he is working on that packet of drawings you sent me. Want to take a walk around? Be careful of your weapons, they have this registration, carrying fee that they seem to enforce."

    "That is incredible," replies Isilme, much pleased. "That such a wise man would take interest in my drawings! No My friend. If he does wish to meet me or allow me to visit the city tell the wizard I need a safe place to enter using my mirror."

    Isilme then gives Hepla another broach for the Order of the Cat. "This is for Emyn; I had two more made. Here also is a spare should you decide to let another join the order."

    "I do not know where his home is," says Hepla. "He teleported us there and back and I never saw outside, if there was an outside. The guild has a protection from teleporting in it, and probably a lot more. If you want to see what prices are here, lets go check it out."

    Hepla and Isilme then head back to the guild, and go to the library. Emyn stays to guard the portal and make sure nobody accidentally pass through it. Isilme introduces herself to the librarian, speaking to him in perfect drow and then lowering her hood to reveal her drow features. "It has been some time since I have seen one of my own kind, how did you come to be here?"

    He's a bit taken aback, and now even MORE on his guard than before. He makes it clear that he really doesn't trust anyone, ESPECIALLY other dark elves, and he really isn't interested in conversation. He prefers this easy job watching the library "because he is left alone." He pretty much just waits for Isilme to "get the hint," though she sees his irritation level is certainly increasing.

    She mentions Tenser's name to the drow (Hepla said it might give some clout around here) and SHE makes it clear that while he does not trust anyone it is hardly necessary to be rude to visitors of the library. "It is nice to know other drow have left the underdark and I am not alone. I am sorry to bother you, I thought it might be nice to finally converse in the ease of the tongue I grew up and with another member of our race who was not hostile. Perhaps just the chance to meet others like me. I was mistaken. May the light and goodness of Eilistraee offered to all Drow bless and guide you - A rightful place awaits all of us in the sunlit world of our elvish brothers and sisters, if we but go in peace to live beneath the sun and stars amongst them." Isilme pauses for a moment, the continues. "Now, would you please be so kind as to direct me to the section of the library where I might find information on celestial beings?"

    The second mention of Tenser seems to anger him. "If he so wants you to find answers, then he can bloody well come and tell me so!" he just about yells. He also ignores all Isilme's talk of drow and Ellistrae, not really even looking at her as she is talking.

    "Sigh, fine," he says. "If it means you'll leave me in peace." He points out where you may find some useful books. After Isilme walks away, Hepla explains that the place is seriously disorganized. "You could probably find anything and everything here, with time," she says. "Unfortunately, that's how the place is. The keeper of the library isn't really there to help; he seems more there to just keep an eye on the place. He's also quite irritable."

    Isilme sighs And says "Thank you for your help." Dhe then muses aloud, "I wonder if the guild would be interested in hiring a drow to guard this library AND be pleasant and helpful, maybe even organize the books....this seems like such a cushy job and I could read all i want!"

    She walks off checking a book or two on celestials in the direction indicated and after doing some brief research and probably getting frustrated by the lack of order here leaves with Hepla back to the room at the inn. Isilme and Hepla spend the day pouring through the library, but don't find anything in the area they are looking that helps regarding the amulet Isilme found. While Isilme looks for books, Hepla finishes a book that she had been reading yesterday. She studies the cover of the book and suddenly starts to write a lot in her notebook.

    As they finish up their search, Hepla says,"I don't know how to contact the wizard; maybe we can leave a note at the guild for him to pick up. I think we should leave a note for Tenser here at the guild and spend tonight at the inn and go back to Hommlet first thing in the mourning."

    Back at the inn, Noot is a bit irritable. He is ready to return home. "Too many cops, laws and regulations here," he says. Taki and Gotrek agree.

    " Yes, let us be rid of this city and its oppressive rules," says Emyn.

    The party then returns through the mirror gate with Isilme. It is good to be home, after such a long and difficult journey.
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    Sat Feb 01, 2014 9:26 am  

    Follow the party's exploits in The Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil.

    http://www.canonfire.com/cf/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=5804
    GreySage

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    Sat Feb 01, 2014 5:35 pm  

    So, I can find Pauli at the Green Dragon in the Free City of Greyhawk? Happy

    SirXaris
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    Sun Feb 02, 2014 11:21 am  

    SirXaris wrote:
    So, I can find Pauli at the Green Dragon in the Free City of Greyhawk? Happy

    SirXaris


    Reminds me of why we play....

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