Meet 161, Adv 17, 6/6/26

Firemonth the 11th, 8:15 Am. After talking to Doggar Skullbeat and Lord Ginnias, we went out to the stables to help get the battlewagon and horses ready. Using the Kaiser’s scrip, we also made sure the water and food was topped off. The local kids, refugees, were haunted and tired looking, but Jack and Lou were a big hit. Watching us get the horses and wagon ready, a single knight approached us from a local field hospital filled with wounded soldiers. He stood near Wilhelm, watching the cats play, leaning on a crutch as his left leg was a mangled mess.

He identified himself as Captain Damias Parbody, of the 2nd Borbute Cavalry Company. He and the 1st Stivil had been responsible for rear guard during the evacuation of Upperton and he couldn’t help but notice it looked like we were heading that way. They had just left it 9 days ago, a few hours ahead of the main lizardman army, and still were hard pressed by the saurian forces. As it was of the 300 in his company, about 4 in 9 died, and 3 in 9 were wounded.

He talked about the Starlitzian Lizardmen. They are bred to be without pain, the weak are eaten. And they are convinced that given enough time, their ultimate win over the Randari Ympire is inevitable. Wilhlem listened and thanked him, but said their leader, Captain Asher, said they had to go and that’s what they were going to do.

Captain Damias gave us some advice, there is a waystation about 2 miles shy of town, the Starlitzian hadn’t gotten there yet. It was a good place to bring the battlewagon, because if they tried to ride it into town, it would be seen at a distance. There are some watchtowers in town and if he was in charge, he’d have some lookouts on it. Wilhelm thanked him and went to the group.

As for the rest of us, We had talked to Doggar Skullbeat. The words to activate the golem (Shatterstone) were best said by someone with some magical ability. Bellweather, Optical, Sedentary, Cumulous, Carnival, Bolster. The Cinder Vein Mining Guild is on the east end of town and composes two mines – a surface strip mine for tin and zinc, and a deeper mine for nickel iron and Phazonire called Furnace Hollow.

We listened to Wilhelm’s advice from Captain Damais and wanted a bit more information. Shim went around to the kids who were willing to talk, shared some copper and brass coins and a few pounds of rock candy – but we got a pretty good layout of the town including the location of the mill, great hall, bardic college, theatre, market, and other locales. It meant leaving a bit later but since we were NOT going to try and make Upperton but instead the waystation, 9:30 was not a bad time.

The land rose and fell the further we rode away from Staz. The road tried to stay in the valley as much as possible. The hills started small but eventually rose about 600’ in height. Most of the land was blasted black, little sign of growth or grasses. The trees were dried and leaned dangerously over, ragged yellow leaves stubbornly clinging to the branches. The standing water was brackish and had a metallic taste. The clouds had a progressively looking green cast to them.

Sure enough, about 5 ish we came upon a small group of warehouses with a watertower in place. The walls and ceiling were sound, and the water tower was still rocking a few hundred gallons of water. We set up camp and discussed our options. No matter what, Shim wanted to make sure we were invisible. So he cast his entire allotment of them on everyone. We then discussed animals that would be coming. Rhygar was going to stay here with the wagon and horses. Wilhelm suggests Jack and Lou stay behind as well. A detect weather spell followed letting us know dry and cloudless skies ahead.

It was about 6:30 and we had a solid hour and half of day light left. It was here we figured, let’s see if we can scry instead of getting to town and fumbling about. So we used one of the water barrels, everyone gathered around, and then Wilhelm called to Shakak to start the scrying.

Starting from where we were, he eventually managed to find Upperton by going high, following the road, and them looking down at the entirely of the city. Home to 15 thousand? Normally. Half mile diameter, main road goes in from the west, loops around the north, and then makes its way south and west out of town. Some smoke, lots to see.

With a few minutes left on the spell, he moved to the Tradehouse and first major area we’d hit entering the city. Building was smashed in, goods all over the place, a 10 plus count of lizardmen wandering about. And a 25’ tall carnasaur just standing on the roof looking around. Holy hell.

He then took us east a block and a half to the Marketsquare, where 25 plus Kroxigor lizardmen were keeping home. Damn it. There was something across the street so at the end of the spell he took us over there, and it was a fire. A bad fire. Most of the homes had been destroyed over 300’ of roadway, but the basements were still burning somehow, filling the sky with smoke and soot. Spell ended.

He cast again. Looking at the kid’s markings, he went south to the guild halls but was stopped at the walls, warded and wards still in place. Went north to the Vetterman’s Steelworks. They have a Besemer forge in town so Upperton can make high density iron and steel products. The 20 or lizardmen here were cataloging the steel rods, bundling them up and loading them on Stegadons and their travois to be taken elsewhere to be used for lizardmen weaponry.

Went to the Greathall next and 60 lizardmen were bivouacking there. The 2nd guild hall section was also warded, the brewery was being cataloged, 10 lizardmen on site. Ebbit’s theatre was next but when we tried to enter, the main floor just repelled his scry. Not a ward, but something else. So he lifted the image to the 2nd floor, went through a window and looked. Inside was a stage and an elderly bard was sitting there, strumming his lute. Two orcish warriors were here, on the knight was missing an eye, and the other seemed to be her squire. The building was sealed up and the windows had steel shutters in place. It looks like the lizardmen had tried to search the building or enter but gave up – most likely the bard’s doing.

Spell ended. Ok, we would love to meet up with this Ebbit, but right now did not know how. Spell was cast a 3rd time. Went to the place called the Sticks, woodcutter and carpenter area. Raw lumber and what not, 12 lizardmen at best in the area. Went to the Baily next, was told it was the tallest building in town. The Bailey College, bardic college. At the top in the belfry, above it, two lizardmen, watching the area. Below was a Razordon, large enough for 2 lizardmen to ride if need be. Went to look at both Knight Halls next. Looking at the stables would house at best 50 armed and armored riders. Right now, none here.

Town Hall was next, pretty close to the Cinder Vein Guild area, and 90 skinks were housing themselves here. Damn it – that’s a lot. Looked at the Cinder Vein Guild next. Fenced in. 9 buildings, 6 lizardmen on site. Crooked Field (open strip mine) was obvious. Mine cart tracks ran along the interior. He looking inside the guild hall proper, no one in there ,meeting rooms and the like and the spell ended.

We had 1 left and with day light still at our fingertips, Wilhelm cast again. We went north this time to the west and came up the millhouse and granary -both buring/burned. A few thousand days of grain. Lost. West east to the Cathedral of Odin, big building, grand. Lizardmen using is a stables for their mounts. A stegadon, razordon, and 3 long low flat looking 10 legged lizards. South then the Idun’s grove. The wards here were broken and he could look in. Druid’s circle despoiled, 3 low long carts here, and 20 lizardmen as well.

Went back to the Cinder Vein and tried to enter the building we thought had the mine in it, Furnace Hollow. But the image grew purple on trying to enter and Wilhelm grew agitated and tasted blood when pushing in. He relented and stopped. Must be the phazonire. Looked in one of the repair and maintenance buildings, then one of the barracks. Finally with the last minute, he swept out of the mine and went west as a few hundred feet up. Got lucky and came upon a watchtower, 50’ tall, 2 lizardmen on it. Spell ended.

We had a shit ton of information now and we discussed it at length. Wanted to enter the city, sneaking around would leave some trails in the distance, 9 of us cannot help but leave tracks, and the lizardmen might see them, invisible us or not. Ebbit was a thought but for now we’d come back to everything. Kept watch and slept.

Awoke the next day early on Firemonth the 12th and we ate and discussed going. We wanted one more round of scying so once more, Wilhelm called to Shakak and we all gathered around the water barrel again. Went back to the grange tower on the north end of town, sure enough, 2 lizardmen up there, a razordon at the base, and 4 other lizardmen down there.

We then went looking for a third tower, southeast section of town, and near the fields there, found it. Another grange tower, and 2 more lizardmen there, razordon at the bottom and 4 others there. In fact , that one would see us if we tried to come in by road. Went to look at the other mine again and it also had 6 lizardmen walking around. Then went to Cinder Vein and now we had 12 lizardmen here. Some arguing, 2 kroxigors. 2 lizardmen were outfitted with picks and ropes and entering (under duress), Furnace Hollow. A last look at the Bailey and the base – same – razordon and 4 lizardmen below.

Ok, we know that the longer we wait, the more chance the lizardmen would find the phazonire. So we wanted to head off and soon. Firemonth the 12th, 7:50 AM

Meet 160, Adv 17, 5/30/26

This would be the last of the 3 time adventures - Out of Time. The group has less than 3 months to find Sanctadragodon, kill the dragon form, release Dagon, and then fight the Lord of Nightmares - and finally seal the last rift with the Desmondian Diamond. It will test them from top to bottom, beginning to end. If at least 3 people don't die, It's because they've rolled nothing but wonderful dice all session.

As for what happens afterwards - its up to the group - it would be a perfect place to end the campaign and park these characters as having won. Or they can continue on in a strange new world that is both their home, and also not. Cart before the horse - we aren't there yet. Check back weekly and most likely February this campaign will come to the penultimate end.

Follows:

After returning to Bork Keep, we spent weeks training as well as selling, repairing, and purchasing equipment. Most of us learned new skills or at least honed existing ones. We ate, drank, smoked, and played. When we were idle, we followed the Steward’s command and made ourselves helpful and useful.

Captain Twilick drank heavy with us one night, speaking about his honor of ferrying us around the last 3 months , but the Kaiser’s commands are that only Battleships are allowed to fly south of the Enderlyn due to Sanctodragodon’s draconic support. When we were done here, we would return to Erylond and then part ways.

Shim had tried the Desmondian Diamond a few times, getting no readings. The feel between himself and the mages at the Keep were that if the gen does indeed sense gates, the fact that the existing one is in Dagon and in Sanctodragodon, we would have to be a lot closer to get a reading – 3 miles?

We left Bork Keep on the morning of the 5th, loaded up and on our way. It was 2 days of flying until we arrived at the Enderlyn River and the bridge to Erylond. We docked by 4:30 that afternoon and disembarked by quarter after 5. The Kaiser’s people me t with us and we were escorted through the city until eventually arriving at the Kaiser’s Castle in Center Ring.

The Council had been called and barring the time travel aspect, we explained what we had done over the last month and a half and what our next steps were going to be. The Council listened and then we talked. Any sky ship south of the river was a target for a dragon attack, so that was out. In fact, of the original 7 Battleships, they were down to 3 – and they were pretty beat up.

The evacuation was still heading apace. In 2 weeks or so Staz would be emptied, then 3 weeks more and Pax would be left unmanned. That would leave about 4 weeks to then empty Erylond itself and then a week and a half gap time before the river ritual fires off. The group that time to finish off the Dragodon.

As for his whereabouts, after the Chasmstorm spell about 3 months ago that swept every monster and nightmare creature out of the land, Sanctodragodon went to ground, hiding in a cave somewhere. No one knows where, his dragons continue to rule the skies. And the Starlitzian Lizardmen continue their raiding and approach ever northward. As the Kaiser says, “We are losing.”

The Council is not convinced. A group of what, 7, 8, 9 of you against the worst nightmare dragon ever? There are elven wizards capable of great magics but they would be killed instantly. Fighters who have tilted at the yards and engaged for years but are driven back. They want to believe, but are skeptical. The Kaiser feels different and we are not sure why. Yes he’s a Black Orc, yes he was there when we were picked up after the Chasmstorm, but he has always sided with us and given us what aid he could.

As for us, they are going to give us a 2 ton armored battlewagon and a team of 6 heavy draft horses to pull it. With enhanced shocks and Gorokian dwarven steel cladding, it should withstand most any attack. Rhygar was going to take point on the teamstering and spent the next few days learning to drive and handle it and the team. They gave us lances, food, and water as well. And a case of healing potions, 24 total.

We were ready to ride off on the 9th, and into the rainy cloud covered sky we drove off from Erylond and headed southwest towards the distant city of Pax. Eoghan was…unpleasant. We stretched a tarp for Rhygar to stay dry, and Darius was happy to be in the saddle, riding his war steed.

Pax was overloaded – city was normally about 25k, but 3 times that number was here. Refugees were swarming northward. There was nowhere in the city to stay so we set up camp outside and got a decent night’s rest after taking care of the animals.

Firemonth the 10th had us out and on the way in the morning, Wilhelm practicing animal forms and the weather once again giving Eoghan a serious case of hatred. We rode off to the east, the wide road filled with traffic heading to Pax from Staz, and no one but us going the other way. Families walking, ridings, dragging, all they can carry and hold. Absent stares, sad faces, worry. Hundreds of hundreds of people moving slowly away from the war to an uncertain future.

It was late when we arrived at Staz. The walls here were standing, the people were here, but the city was not as overstuffed at Pax was, a city of 25k, but only about 30k were here. The local constabulary looked over our wagon, got some of the stations armed forced to look it over, it was kicked up to the local prefect who arranged for us to have a room and wheelhouse use at a place called Thunderclap Hotel.

While here, the Prefect, a Lord Ginnias, asked us about our destination and plans going forward. We shared the Kaiser’s scrip with him and he understood that food and water would be available for us as need be from the king’s stores. He asked if we were heading east to Upperton or south to Miningboro and we didn’t have an exact answer. He asked us that if we were heading east, a Guildmaster who had been forced to flee Upperton about 2 weeks ago might have a request for us. We don’t have to take but to listen cost nothing and would generate good will between us and Lord Ginnias.

We rested and the next morn, Firemonth the 11th, at 7:30 Am, Lord Ginnais came and met with us for breakfast, bringing an orcish mining looking elder fellow with him. He introduced himself as Doggar Skullbeat, Guild master of the Cinder Vein Mining group in Upperton. They run a lucrative nickel mine on the east end of Upperton, employ about 80 people, and until recently, were suppling nickel rich iron ore for the Kaiser’s furnaces and forges.

The Starlitzian Lizardmen had been closing and sadly, they arrived at the town sooner than expected, and Doggar ordered his employees to flee. But they had not had a chance to activate the mine’s defenses, a clay golem who’s job would be to seal all the vault doors from inside the mine and seal the barriers until the command came to reopen. He wanted us to go there and activate the golem. In exchange, we were welcome to whatever was still in the vault.

We were not inclined at first to do it but the more we talked, the more we were swayed. In the main mine, Referred to as Furnace Hollow, they had come upon a number of phazonire deposits. These deep glowing purple hot stones were a danger to anyone who was around them for too long but in the hands of the Starlitzian Slaan Mage-priests, the volatile stone could be used to expand their dangerous magics in too many deadly ways. He had a bracer of command on him, linked to the golem, so when it was activated, he would know and be able to guide the golem from a distance as well as speak and hear through it. He would give us a 6 word cycle of command codes to wake up the golem and then it would seal up Furnace Hollow and keep the lizardmen out.

It was worth it, plus we’d have to go that way, plus we needed to engage with the lizardmen to see if we could get any information from them as to where Sanctodragodon was currently holed up. So, go to Upperton, scout of the place, find Cinder Vein Guild, infiltrate, get to Furnace Hollow mine, enter, find the golem, activate, seal mine, and get treasure from the vault.

Done. We were going to be ready to head out by 9 AM today.

2nd Campaign, A1, Session 5. 5/27/26

Birthmonth the 8th, 11:30 AM. We talked to Govaine, he escaped 9 year old slave boy, about the layout of the west side of the Temple of Grummsh. The way he got out. Where Karraway might be, and the portcullis. We felt pretty good about our chances and rested for the day. About 7 PM we are well and then after curfew had been called, about 8ish, he left the Temple of Uller and west went down Temple Way. We snuck behind the Temple at the top of the refuse trench and walked the length of it again.

At 8:30, we had come to the back of the Temple Grounds, stepped through the broken wall, and made it to the Temple of Gruumsh again. Once here, Sylas bundled our now 3 sets of rags into hobobundles to take out with us when we leave, Carl summoning some water to wash the ranger’s hands and gloves clear.

We followed the west side of the grounds along to the front and looked over from the woodcutter’s shed to the front door. Portcullis was down, couldn’t see the send set. Rhareli used his ring of invisibility and snuck over to the area to look in. 25’ x 25’ space between the bars, 2nd set was currently up about 5’. Could see a cart and some tables in the gloom of the courtyard. Orcish voices.

He snuck back and shared what we learned. We came up with a plan to loop rope between a few of the bars in 2 places and used a crowbar to twist the ropes, making the bars bend. Before we tried it though, we had Rhareli call to Garl to silence the area. Then Hrimvir and Rhareli worked the bars and ropes, bending them over and making a space big enough for us to sneak in.

Sylas snuck up to the 2nd set, braced a length of wood there in case the portcullis drops, and came back to share. 10 orcs, at least 2 more on either side of the entrance but hidden. We figured on Atlas firing off a sleep spell eventually but wanted Gun and Rhaerli to flip around the corners and take out the orc’s in the winch rooms – prevent the portcullis from being dropped on us. Then we run in.

9:05 both the gnome and halfling snuck around the corner and entered the winch rooms. Gun had 2 orcs in his, one with a sword pointing at the other, swearing that he is NOT his friend. Rhareli had a single orc wearing a chain shirt in his. Both snuck up and Gun struck the orc with the sword first. Wrist dagger pierced his neck and he went down dead. The other orc looked at Gun, thanked him, picked up the sword, and then shimmered – turning into Gun! Doppleganger! He started shouting. As for Rhareli, he lined up his backstab and hit – but the orc here was not some common orc, and was instead a skilled fighter. He rolled with the stab, and stood up, whipping his spear around, giving the gnome a solid stab in the thigh.

Battle on.

In the courtyard, the orcs nearest the tables dumped them over and propped up crossbows, shooting at Yandr and Hrimvir running towards the battle. The ones nearest the cart with the barrels on it started working a bellows on it while two other were untwisting hoses and ready to point them at the group.

Rhareli was outgunned and was calling for help. Yandr, Hrimvir, and Carl converged on the closest table, attacking the crossbow orc’s beyond. Sylas heard Gun’s calls and ran around the corner – seeing 2 guns! One had crossbow’ed the other and they were struggling now. Both were arguing that Sylas should kill the other when the ranger asked one “wait, you can understand me?” It replied of course and Sylas killed that one. “How’d you know that the right one?” the assassin asked. “Because it was able to understand my works through my heavy accent.” Gun looked at the ranger and frowned. “What, boy?”

As the pump orcs were about ready Atlas crumbled up some rose petals and let them fly, putting 1, 2, 3…and 4. All 4 orcs at the cart to sleep! Nice. The cart had some barrels attached to the mantlet made of brass and bronze. Pressure was running through, the smell of gas and oil was strong. Gun took a shot at the cart, hitting a barrel but nothing happened.

Cara got close enough to help out, hurling her enchanted spear and hitting where she could. The orcs near the front were down to 1 and Rhareli was about half hit points when Yandr finally cleared enough of the battle to enter the winch room and slide the gnome behind him. The paladin and the orcish fighter were evenly matched, trading strokes and blows in rapid succession.

Sylas could see Gun shooting at the barrels so joined it, the ranger firing at the pressurized barrels. And then finally, it happened. One of them punched through, raised sparks…and the entire pump cart exploded setting the courtyard there on fire and sending a plume of fire and smoke 30’ into the air, shaking the courtyard, and alerting everyone left that we were here.

The orc fighting Yandr gave him a shove backwards out of the winch room and slammed it closed. “No more fight with you!” it said with a growl. “Alright…we’ve done enough! Let’s go!” In the distance we could hear the night guards yelling fire and the clang of alarm bells were growing more numerous and louder.

We ran for the main gate, 47 minutes after we had originally entered the grounds, Sylas dragging the dead doppleganger behind him, Atlas urging him on. We hit the main road and ran eastward to the Temple of Uller, entered the gates, and then the main temple where Father Falder was surprised to see us again. So soon.

We wrapped up the body in some cloth and tied it closed, discussed what we did and what went wrong, and figured we’d lie low for the next 3 days for the Dragoons to eventually move on and the situation at the Temple of Grummsh to calm down.

As for the body, Sylas and Gun had done some investigating around town, eventually getting a line that someone at the Pig and Whistle might know an arcanist or an apothecist who could make use of the Doppleganger’s body. Then wandered there and spoke to Herin, one of the bar tenders there. Herin was a bit disturbed when it was mentioned they might actually have a body, but told them that at the est end of the Warehouse district, there is an import/export person named Heimo who would be best to talk to.

They left, took the body from behind the Pig and Whistle, covered it with a cloak and walked to the Warehouse area. Checking the signs they felt this was the right place and came up, asking a burly looking stevedore sitting outside the warehouse doors, whittling a piece of wood. Pleasantries were exchanged as Sylas was mentioning wanting to talk to Heimo and we had a body. The Whittler was stunned. You had a body. A dead body? Here? Who sent you here. They mentioned Herin and the Pig and Whistle and the Whittler was unhappy, suggesting they leave and leave now as most likely the Dragoons were coming soon.

Gun wanted the whittler’s name but he refused to give it. This got Gun mad. The Whittler then put down the wood he was whittling and took a new one, looking at Gun’s face intently before whittling the new piece. “What’s that?” The Whittler pointed to other figures and faces near him. “Whittling of people who used to bother me and don’t anymore.”

We refused to leave, he told us to leave the body and go, and Gun was getting more and more cross with the whittler. Eventually Heimo was gotten and they were told to get off the street now. Inside we met Heimo and Ilvi, his assistant who works as a gravedigger normally but also works here with Heimo regarding preservation and corpse shipment. They have a friend in Seaford who buys such “fruit” from them and offered the two 20 crowns for the Doppleganger. Gun was seriously asking what the Whittler’s name was.

While we were knee deep in this, a violent knocking was at the door. Captain Vauli of the Highport Dragoons was here to ask questions about the transport of a dead body. He was eventually let in but not until Heimo had the doppleganger’s body brought to a secret coffin/crate with a drop away bottom and placed within. Captain Vauli and 6 Dragoons were here and the conversation did not go very well.

We have a ghast problem in town and Ilvi is slumming here, go to the cemetery now. Who the fuck are you two? Mr Smith and Mr Jones. Did you have a body? NO. Yes. It was a deer. I’m a hunter. Sure enough they pointed to a deer corpse in here and everyone agreed that was what was being transported through town. Heimo then took out 200 crowns and gave it to Sylas as payment for the “deer”. Unable to argue over the shortfall cost of the doppleganger, we took it. The Csaptain was not believing us. 200 crowns for a deer carcass? Where you staying?

At a hotel. Where? In the middle of town. Does this hotel have a name? I’m sure it does, I cannot read. Really? Fine, let’s go to this “hotel” and I want to talk to the proprietor that you are actually staying there. As we were leaving Captain Vauli was pissed off, we have a ghast issue and some dump fuck is moving corpses or killing people in town. Gun said that he knows some people who could help with the ghast issue, and the Captain offered to go with Gun afterwards to talk to whoever he has.

We came to the Two Seasons Hotel near town square and Sylas was like, oh yes, this is the place. Really? Let’s go in. They entered and Captain Vauli went to the desk clerk and talked to him about Sylas, pointing to him, Is this guy staying here?  Behind the Captain’s back, Sylas lifted the bag of gold he had gotten from Heimo and made a begging face, showing some of the coin. The Desk clerk didn’t hesitate and backed up Sylas’ story. We left the ranger here (who overpaid for a room here to keep the desk clerk from alerting the Dragoons) and went with Gun back to the Temple of Uller.

He introduced the Captain to everyone, said he was Mr. Jones, said nothing about missing Sylas, and we listened to Vauli’s pitch about hunting the Ghasts. We agreed to go with them, he has an undead hunting ranger on staff and we agreed to go with them to find the lair. First 2 days were a loss, but we did find a ghast lair near the east end of town by the granary. The ranger doused it with holy water and they were setting up a new lair that would be attractive to ghasts elsewhere but lined with traps and falls to help catch and kill it.

Meanwhile Gun was spending 3 days following the Whittler, who he learned was named Sminki. His comings, goings, and patterns. Finally on the evening of the 12th as the Whittler was passing a dark alley on his way home, Gun lunged out and stabbed – hitting hard – but failing to assassinate him! The Whittler began yelling for guards and running away and Gun faded into the background, eventually making his way to the Temple. “Some other time, then,” he muttered.

By this point it was Birthmonth the 13th. As for the Temple of Gruumsh, an orcish paramilitary group run by a Karraway had been illegally squatting on the temple grounds and were arrested, eventually sent off to do hard labor at the zinc mines north of town. There was no other issues and eventually the Dragoons put a new chain and lock on the gate, reminding the populace that the Temple was off limits and to not enter the grounds again.

We were going to sneak back in tonight.

Meet 159, Adv 16, 5/16/26

Heatmonth 18th, 2:05 PM. We checked the wall of Thorns, verified it was going to hold for a while, and then started doling out healing. The thought was we were NOT going to leave here today, but instead set up camp and eventually rest.

A few of us went to look over the Feeder, noting that Asmodeus was hanging back and watching. We asked why and he let us know that the creature was not of this earth, not of this plane. And parts of it were sieving back to the Astral plane through micro-cracks in the foundation. It will eventually get dry and calcify in 2 to 3 weeks, but as long as it is “wet”, it is a possible beacon or conduit for other extra dimensional things.

Ok, we left it alone.

We shared food, drink, smoke, peyote, pipe, songs, stories, and tales. Ghostbear admitted he wanted to count coup against Nate but he showed such bravery and focus, that he was no longer a concern for the medicine man. Asmodeus let us know about the native American heroes, and in some worlds the most heroic deeds and magics they had done, earning their reward in the happy hunting grounds. So it is sad for them on some level to be in heaven and then no longer there. There was not a way for them to get back home, but they have a new chance at another life now and who knows what the stories that will come out from their actions now.

Asmodeus did talk at length, offering us answers to questions about the cosmology of the planes and our place in it. He identified the primodial dagger as belonging to the first race of mortals – the Melnibone. After the dragons were fashioned and sent out to seed the worlds with magic, the Melnibone were crafted by a consortium of the greater gods to catalog the magic in place and report back to the gods on the order of the planes. They established large cities and eventually were supplanted by the rise of elves, dwarves, and goblinoid races – most of them have faded over time, jaded and weary of long lives and unable to seek new joys. Nate’s heterogenesis to a higher life form no longer places him as a person, but one of the original pure bloods who existed before even elves. What he does with his life from this point on is his own, but Asmodeus finds it comforting and interesting that a Melnibonian has arisen after millennia of their absence here.

As for our fight against Dagon – he informed us that besides the ritual he would be providing for us, as far as weaponry was concerned, the Lord of Nightmares would need to be struck with weapons of pure silver. Not specifically magic – but silver weaponry. He then pointed to Nate’s Dagger- and that as well. The dragon would need magic to be defeated, but once it was slain, Dagon would need silver.

We discussed options. Silver dipping a weapon is a possibility, but the silvering would only last 1 to 8 solid blows before flaking free. A weapon forged in and of silver would be better. We would look at options at town/Bork Keep.

We spelt well and awoke the next day, doling out healing and getting ready to move on. Ghostbear blighted the Wall of Thorns and we walked up the stairs and into the Labyrinth. It was quiet here, no one was around. We strode through the stone halls following our path back to the surface. The salt column was missing and we got through there without issue. Eventually we arrived at the stairs and we took them slowly up and with care. It was quiet. So quiet. No one was around.

At the 3rd level we walked the goblin history hall until we arrived at the 3rd Warren. And it was empty. Not a single goblin nor their belongings could be seen or found. Apartments emptied. Belongings taken. The Buffalo skin was still here, mounted on the ceiling, We took it down and rolled it up, taking it with us. As we walked along we came to the 2nd Warren. The Overwatch was still there but everyone was missing. The streets were dim, the doors opened. Everyone was gone. We walked to the stairs up to the 1st Warren and looked. The Hwa’cha’s were missing as well as the people. The water still fell from above to the cistern.

We looked around for the water babies, told earlier that if they could be reintroduced to the water, they would come back to life. In the cathedral we found them there, along with other goblin grisly trophies. Taking the dried squidlike forms back to the water we tossed them in and they filled back up and were whole again. The Cree Nageshi were called and they too joined us. Looking over the statue of Maglubiyat, Asher left a small set of edicts for future goblin tribes that might settle here on how to behave and what Maglubiyat wants from them.

The mass of us headed west up and out of the Warren to the far passage. We set up the block and tackle and spent a few hours hoisting people out as well as Stoneribs walking them up the wall. At the top of the last floor we came upon 5 spectral animal spirits standing here. Raven, Coyote, Owl, Wolf, and Bear. Bear informed us that he made sure to gorge the hell out of the actual bear first so it would sleep off the big meal and give us safe passage.

We walked past the sleeping cave bear to the top of Donnegarten and looked out over the setting sun and land beyond. Each of the 5 spirit animals gave up a bit of their divine energy to fill Buffalo’s hide, returning the powerful spirit animal to life again. The 6 animal spirits then all bowed to us, stepped out of the cave into the sun and then off into the greater world.

We rested the night in the Wyvern’s old cave and the next day, all of us leftthe cave, went down the mountain, across the valley, to the rise of hills and then south to the Captain Twilick and Zephyr’s Windshade. He had gone back to refuel and get supplies a week and a half ago but was waiting for us. The party, Stoneribs, Ghostbear, and Asmodeus all boarded and we headed the 5 hours to Bork Keep arriving on Heatmonth the 20th at 8:30, about 20 days after we had gone into the cave.

We knew we had some weeks of training ahead of us and figured we’d be done and ready to adventure on Firemonth the 5th. We did learn that the Speaker of the Moon, The Most Blessed of Frey, reported that through their great magic, the Life Tree was reborn and was growing once more in Tilani. Not the Kaiser’s machinations, the evil of dwarves, or those who tried and killed the Speaker of the Sun could extinguish the might of the elven people. With the Lifetree growing again, there is much discussion and excitement in the councils regarding the elven nation.

Which gives us 2 months and 29 days exactly to face off and finish Sanctodragodon and seal the last gate before our time is over and we are forced return to our time with Ragnarok unstopped. We had 3 weeks to study, train, and outfit ourselves before figuring out the next and last bit of our adventure.

Meet 158, Adv 16, 5/9/26

1:35 PM, Heatmonth the 18th. The Feeder roared overhead, acidic spittum flowing from its hundreds of ulcerous mouths, its tentacles trailing across the ground as if questing to find us. We ran off, the group splitting in half, some hoping to lead it east, others southeast. It flailed about and then followed, its tentacles retracting and then slamming forward, hitting like horned whips. We ran off as it tracked one of the groups. Slowing them down with a deep gurgle and then spitting out a small wave of green slime.

We dodged around, blocking the bulk with an upraised shield before discarding it and running to the side. The Feeder matched our speed, sending tentacles to slam around us, each one whipping, biting, and tearing flesh. We managed to get a torch lit and then another one. The groups converged briefly to share fire while another green slime was sent out. Arrows flew but most of them struck lightly, only a few drilling deep.

We burned the slime we could and then ran off faster to the east, minute after minute, The Feeder following. Wilhelm called out to Shakak for a lightning spell but would have to wait for the time to arrive to get one to fly. We were running out of shields and figured on getting enough of a gap to open the hut and get some more.

Shim and Stoneribs, loping along the ceiling at as fast a clip as the native hero could risk, arrived at the pulsar gate – 72’ above the gave floor. The gate was spinning roughly every second and a half, the images shifting again and again and again. Shim reached out, took hold of the diamond, and pushed – and the edge of the spinning gate threatened to rip his arm off as fire from the briefly stopped elemental plane of fire spilled out burning both him and Stoneribs. They backed up and got their bearings to try again.

The group had run pretty far east, outside of easy strikes from the Feeder when they felt it was close enough to the right time to open the hut. Darius put it down, grabbed the door, lifted up, and opened it. And the being from another extradimensional space used the opening of an extra dimensional space to SHOVE its tentacles through the open door, wrap around Darius – and after squeezing the fuck out of him, reverse and PULL him back THROUGH the door of the hut! He tried to stop it by turning his shield and using the metal to brace him briefly on either side of the door frame but the Feeder would not be deterred and puuu..llll….ed hard – and Darius disappeared – reappearing in a spray of light and tentacles WITH the Feeder, who proceeded to lift the knight up and have its many cilia, tendrils, and mouths hold him fast to its body and start to feed.

Fucking hell.

Trying again at the Pulsar Gate, Shim reached out and struck the diamond at the BOTTOM of the gate where the spinning axis was. The Desmondian Diamond held fast and crackling energy pulsed around the gate as connection was made. And he started to lift.

Which alerted the Feeder who TURNED and was now heading back to Shim and Stoneribs – Darius held to the beast and being eaten slowly. Asher pointed at it, “What the fuck?!” as the group turned (closed the hut) and started to run after the Feeder. Arrows flew and we shot what we could but the feeder flew on. It was here that Ghostbear gave the party a chance. He called to his ancestors, shook his medicine bag, and caused a massive wall of stone to appear sideways, from the ground here, up through the air, and over the feeder. Slamming down on it and dropping it 10’ down. It howled in fury as it was briefly stopped bore trying to fly off from under the massive stone.

Nate, Connal, and one or 2 others ran up the wall as fast as they could, charging for the Feeder. It slid forward, the wall scrapping along its back, but all three made the beast and proceeded to try and cut Darius free. The knight was trapped in dozens of tentacles as other tentacles swept over the Feeders back, hitting and smashing at the party.

And of course, The Eternal Queen Helen Back, showed up as this time.

The demonic goblin sent a wave of abyssal force up to Shim and Stoneribs, making a Lolthian Spider appear. She then proceeded to approach the party, whip and sword out and at the ready, fire running up and down her form. On The Feeder, the group was hacking Darius free while getting pummelled by tentacles. The knight was slowly released from the tentacles while Nate used his primordial dagger to slam the Feeder hard, the ancient blade making it scream and forcing it to drop out of the sky.

Spells and magic flew out at Helen, arrows came next, she responded with a wave of energy and a 15 count of goblins appeared, ripping into the party. The Feeder was shedding slimes and tentacles, Darius was free, and as the Feeder was dropping lower, the group left Nate to deal with the monstrosity, jumping to the ground to shift the fight to Helen. On the ceiling the spider bit Stoneribs who failed his save and had poison run through his body. He carefully placed Shim INSIDE the rift, the gnome sorcerer anchoring himself in place, still zipping the portal closed. Free now he tore into the spider, smashing and pulverizing it.

On the floor the group was making short work of the goblins, everyone hitting, slashing, and punching. The party’s heavy hitters ran for Helen, potions drunk and Darius moving faster and faster. The knight hit the queen with a cyclone of assaults, making her stagger for the first time. She returned the favor, flaming blade making short work of his shield and then breathing a cloud of abyssal fire right into his face.

Nate was turning the Feeder, stabbing it repeatedly on one side, making the beast low and twist, turning in the air as it tried to dislodge him. He was constantly getting whipped and then healing it by using the primordial blades magic to siphon the lifeforce to himself. His white hair was whipping wildly as he drove the eldritch horror away from the party. It was beating him up psychically at this point, trying to shred him from the foundation of his very being, Mind blasts, psychic crushes, Ego whips. Stoneribs finally killed the spider, suffering more poison, and pulled Shim OUT of the pulsar gate, the hole continuing to close. To hide them, Shim shot off a darkness spell to obscure them from the Queen below.

She summoned a gibbing mouther to attack the group. Connal turned to face it, cutting and punching and hitting at it. The goblins were being slain almost to an entirety. Darius was doing his utmost to take her out, attacking her twice for each one of her attacks. He would sacrifice attacks to parry, his shields were being torn apart, and she breathed gouts of burning fire into his face almost like clockwork every 45 seconds, burning his hair, eyebrows, eye lids, and lips.

Nate got the last blow in on the Feeder and it fell from the sky, hitting the ground and driving a furrow before falling to the side and the exhausted Nate slumped to the ground trying to catch his breath. As Helen was fighting, she glanced at the many goblins there and made a lifting motion – animating all of the dead greenskins into zombies – who then turned and attacked the party AGAIN.

It was here that 2 Stone Giants showed up, Stan and Lans. Pointing at the dark spot above where the Pulsar gate was she told them to take it out. They lifted big rocks and let them fly, staggering the two party members up there, some wounds, but they kept on. She dispelled the darkness and Shim smirked, and put it back in place again.

As for the giants, it was Eoghan’s time to shine. The ranger drew a 4 count of arrows and took aim, shooting them one at a time, doing terrible damage to the first Stone Giant – dropping him in a single volley to 60% of his hit points. The party was fighting on. Summoned monsters appeared next, Stray lighting from Wilhelm’s spell crashed down from the sky, sending enemies to scatter. Seeing the party in trouble, Nate got up and was running towards the party, hands waving and shouting, making himself shine like a beacon, outlined in Witchfire somehow. The giants took aim at him for a change and fired boulders in his direction while Shim got the gate a bit more closed.

Queen Helen tore deep into Darius’ flesh and breathed another gout of fire at his face as he returned the favor, slashing at her again and again. She was being attacked on 4 sides now and Eoghan finished off one of the stone giants. The second decided this wasn’t worth it and backed off, pissing Queen Helen off. She summoned another Lolthian spider outside the dark area and sent it across the ceiling to attack Stoneribs again. Once more he had to place Shim INSIDE the Pulsar Gate to deal with the arachnid. The undead goblins were being taken out and another giant showed – this was the Cloud Giant. Using a massive spear he hurled it at the group, making them hurt badly. Eoghan returned another volley of arrows, one of them a critical hit, along with Ghostbear’s massive Wall of Thorns choking the stairs to the ceiling. It was forced to give ground and Queen Helen could see that she was not going to prevail.

So…She snarled at the group and Dimension Doored away.

In the silence the followed we redoubled our efforts to finish the closing when the air grew cold, everything seemed to slow down and stepping out of the shadows, was the figure we had seen a few times before…Asmodeus.

“What do you think you are doing with that gate?” He asked. “I have need of that gate and if you close it, you will put a massive crimp in my plans to go home.”

Outfitted with foreknowledge, we agreed to hold off for now and we all gathered down here to talk. Asmodeus is smart, terribly smart. He gleaned quickly that we were from the future and somehow were back here fucking with time. That means his plan to have the dwarves force ragnarok worked. But none of the gods would dare to use Cronus’ power, the god of time after helping to establish the universe, self exiles to the deepest hole in Tartarus to keep the flow of time safe. Too many times gods try to “fix” things and they often time, because they don’t know enough about their actions, they cause the ruin of the world.

He then showed us past universes destroyed from fucking with time. Dozens. Hundreds. Thousands. Over ten Thousand. So we must have gotten this one time hole, or jaunt sponsored from a powerful divine being but NOT one that is worshipped. We talked for a while about what we had seen and why we are doing this.

Asmodeus knows that his lieutenants in hell will cover for his absence until he returns, but he doesn’t want to make himself known here because that will invite a corresponding angelic/divine response which will be terrible for the world and still not allow him to get home. What he needs is a massive rip to occur big enough to cover his energy signature to pass through. There are not many options.

We talked about Sanctodragodon. Dagon, the Lord of Nightmares, was birthed here in a place called the Fane of Dracos. When a dragon is born, it releases magic into the world. And when a dragon dies, the same thing happens. The Starlitzian Lizardmen had been guardians of this Fane and over the centuries, forgot why they were guarding thousands of dragon eggs. But in their desire to finally fight back against the Randari Ympire, they raided the Fane, killed a number of dragon eggs, and opened the gate for Dagon to come through. And to hide himself, Dagon is nesting inside the massive black dragon, Sancto.

If, and if, Dagon was to be slain, it would cause a massive implosive hole that Asmodeus could then use to step through back to Hell. He is not so sure the group can do it. He does offer some help, a ritual they can use to weaken Dagon but only after they kill the dragon for around him. As for the 3rd gate? Well…that is actually INSIDE Sanctodragodon. The hole passes though the negative energy plane and is part of what fuels the lord of nightmares here.

As for Asmodeus, he was adamant about one thing. He does not lie. Ever. He might hide the truth or avoid an answer, but as for who he is, he is Lawful. No one would ever enter a contract with him or his minions if he was anything less than honest in that regard. We…agreed.

And now we had a direction to work in. Heatmonth 18th, 2:05 PM.

Meet 157, Adv 16, 5/2/26

10:38 PM, Heatmonth the 17th. With the Wall of Force in place, we had a chance to move on, but it would not last long. Could they Hellfire Transport through it? Was there another way down? What would Helen bring to bear? We paused long enough to dole out the little healing we had left and move on, looking at the walls of the 500 years of goblin history, displayed in pictograms.

We went into the hut and got clothes, shields, and arrows. At some point Nate asked Ghostbear about him coming back and coming back weaker. The Medicine Man explained that passing through the veil of death robs everyone and those lucky enough to have their hoop restored, finds it a bit smaller and more fragile. He tried to explain about the missing hit points. Everyone else who had come back had come back with some health but he came back at just barely alive.

Ghostbear admitted flat out that that was by design. Why? He leveled a finger and reminded Nate of his tirade against him a few days ago and that they did not need his help. He promised to withhold it on a going forward. The deal was to keep you from death and have your soul slide to the Umbra for now, that was all he was going to get. Things went back and forth ad got a bit heated and then Connal interjected insulting the medicine man about not wanting to listen him on his soap box when Ghost bear exploded in anger.

Your people take and take and give no thought to the things they make happen. He doesn’t have to do a fucking thing for you, you, or you (pointed specifically to Nate, Connal, and Shim – the original 3 who picked a fight with Ghostbear days ago) – and after watching their actions in getting Geronimo killed during the battle because the forced him to make the jump at the Rust Monster – so they didn’t have to risk facing it. Geronimo did make the jump, he can be influenced to do things if enough people pressure him, did kill the monster and some goblins there, but was 30’ behind enemy lines and surrounded and his jump skill requires him to be free, and ended up dying.

Does he go to the Umbra? No. No he doesn’t. Ghostbear can Shadowstep to the Umbra and take others there but he needs to be touching them to make the walk to help them escape death and Geronimo was too far away. He’s dead. His hoop is broken, and it was the party’s fault it had happened. He did not want to make the jump and said so 2 times before the group pressured him to doing so. And now his friend is gone. He was spitting blood he was so angry. Shim and Nate were talking afterwards, making plans and contingencies. It was not a pretty sight.

We ran on to the end of the corridor some 200’ away and came to a shaft heading down into the gloom. A scaffolding set of wooden steps circled around the pit, going down the rest of the way. We gathered around and ran on, eventually getting to the bottom. It seemed like a labyrinth of some sort. Ceiling was 15’ tall and passage ran off to the northeast and southeast. Walls seemed to be sort of worked, pumice, concrete looking. Unsure of options, Nate used his Trident to scout for any dangers nearby. To the east, through the walls and at the limit of the range, he ended up seeing a tall giant figure working on some weaponry. Pale of skill and white hair.

We decided to head northeast. After some time the passage had the ceiling rise and we ended up seeing a decent sized chamber here. What appeared to be an oversized Hematite cubic crystal dominated the center of the room, stretching up 11’. We did not enter and Eoghan was able to let us know that there were tracks in here, goblinoid, and they seemed to hug the edge of the chamber, the sides were smeared on one another. Magentic?

Darius tested it out, taking a nail he took aim and tossed it to the hematite crystal. It slowed down, hung briefly, and then flew back VERY fast, ringing off his shield. Magnetic – but backwards? He tried it again, hoping to see if there was a sideways way to go through but the nail flipped over and rang back again. We could get through, but we’d have to remove all our metal armor – and who knows what’s on the other side. The decision was made to NOT do this and instead head back to the other passage.

We went southeast this time and around midnight, Heatmonth the 18th, came to another open chamber. 2 or 3 other ways out, but a 1 and ½’ wide column 22’ feet from floor to ceiling – made entirely of salt. Damn it – no one wanted to touch that either. We were discussing who and how to get by, or going back to the other passage and trying the death magnets, when Shim volunteered to summon something. Good answer! So a quick summon followed – and we got a Giant Toad. Nice. He commanded it to hop along.

As soon as it got about 18/15’ from the column, it gave a strangled yelp, moisture was sucked from it, splashing against the column, and it crumbled to a husk before dying. The column did turn to stone though. Nice. We waited about 3 minutes and then it turned back salt. We figured we could all get by in time, but instead of murdering another sentient creature, Wilhelm called to Shakak and created a spring of water about 18/15’ from the column.

Sure enough, the water flew from the stream as if sucked from a straw for almost 2 minutes into the column until before the spell ended (10 gallons) when it returned to stone again, and the last of the water just wall on the rock floor. We ran past, making sure we were beyond the 18’ mark on the other side. Had a choice – northeast or south east, and we went north east – relying on Shim and the Desmondian Diamond.

There were about 20 or so very dried up goblin bodies here, husks devoid of water. Past here were 4 possible ways to go – 1 to the north east and 3 parallel passages heading north. All still 20’ wide, ceilings were 25’ high or taller in places. We went northeast. Before we did so, we used a piece of chalk to mark the ground on the off chance anyone came through here, they would smear it. We travelled a bit and the passage opened to the south to a large chamber. Bed, table, stand, some weapons, book rack, and a 22’ tall handsomely bearded humanoid figure wearing roman gladiator armor and sporting a short (for his size) sword.

He was watching us and we stopped. Talking revealed that we did not speak Giant, and the giant did not speak Common although it understood it. His name was Galain and we guessed he was here because Queen Helen Back had hired him for some length of time to be here and fight for her when called. He was a Storm Giant (as evidenced by his size as well as the demonstrable bolt of lightning he shot for us). But he was honorable and for now agreed that he would not fight us. In fact, after sharing some mood and drink with him, agreed that if Helen did call him and they were there, he would slow walk his arrival for as long as possible. As for the other giant (as seen in the Trident warning), that was another one and he was the weapon maker here. For now he would have to let Queen Helen know that someone had shown up (agreement and all), but would give us 10 minutes or so to vacate the area. We thanked Galain and moved on.

We returned to the 3 choices and took the next of the northern passages. Corridor went on for a while and then turned. An alien creature was here – 8’ tall, shaped like a barrel, 3 arms, 3 legs, eyes set strangely in its body, smells hot and spicy, serrated spiral toothy orifice on the top. It stopped us, Eoghan letting us know it was a Xorn, powerful, strong, elemental plane of earth, and dangerous.

It would let us pass if we gave it mineral to eat. It thought and answered silver. So we started with a few pieces and placed them on the ground and it hunched over them, sucking them up and kept waiting. So we gave more and it seemed to know when we had more to give. It was not going to let us past, and I seemed we could not back up without pissing it off. So we went through out inventory, coins, daggers, forks, even silver chain armor. And finally it relented. Grinding a bit of it down, it fashioned a ring to allow us to pass next time.

We followed the corridor to the north east and it ended at some sort of strange subterranean tavern. 2 Old women were here, Olga and Helga, they offered us stew for a bit and a place to rest without being disturbed. We felt they might be aspects of the Norns. They were here because something had happened and they wanted to leave something nearby to keep an eye one it. We guessed the Maw and the presence of the Native American milieu being here as catalysts. After eating the stew we grew tired and slept.

Awoke later, fully rested (no hp back again) but ready to go. Olga and Helga? No where to be found. We backtracked past the Xorn to the passages and tried the next northern one. When we spied 2 16’ tall stone giants in that chamber we backed out and rethought our plan. We decided to head back to the Column of salt. A create water spell got us past it and from there we went southeast. Corridor wandered a bit, turning northward and then north and then came to a 12’ stone looking figure of a goblin warrior, sword at the ready. Yeah. Don’t think so.

Another summon spell followed, waking the statue up and the party began hitting the damned thing. Hard. Darius took some of the more brutal blows from the construct but the party poured on the fight and the statue fell over at the end of round 3. 1:15 PM, Heatmonth the 18th.

Beyond here was a set of stairs 20’ wide, going down 30’ to the humongous cave. Phosphorous fungi illuminate the cave as far as we could see. ¼ mile north to south, 3/5th of a mile from here west. The floor slowly sloped down in the distance until was 200 plus feet to the ceiling there. Here it was over 60’ . 100’ from here was the maw, except here in this time, it was different. 15’ in diameter, the hole in the ceiling spun like a pulsar, each revolution opened up a glimpse to another world. And we could hear something around the gate getting bigger and coming out.

We devised a fast plan. Stoneribs and Shim would run north where they would get to the wall and then follow it up and to the ceiling to the gate. There, Shim would use the diamond to close the gate. Last time we did it, it took Shim 1 minute per foot to close it – so 15 minutes max. That was a lot of time. We would lure whatever the feeder was away from the gate so that Shim would be unbothered. If Helen showed up, Darius would use the Sword of the Unlikely Hero on her. Everyone else would pour damage if they could on the Feeder or whatever else might come (Giants? Goblins?).

The gnome and native hero were already running when the Feeder emerged. 30’ long, 20’ diameter tube covered in slimes and sores and festering wounds and dribbling mucus, a dozen over sized eyes situated about its form over ragged carnivorous lined toothy maws. Tentacles hung down 40, 50, 60’ from its main body, dragging on the earth with horny growths and teeth and serrated body ridges lining it. It was like nothing…nothing anyone had ever seen or heard of before. A figure of pure chaos, from before the universe existed.

And it was here now, and drifting towards us, howling whispering gasps of painful pleasure radiated out from its maddening approach. Heatmonth the 18th, 1:35 PM.

It’s time.

2nd Campaign, A1, Session 4. 4/29/26

Taking a brief rewind in time, Father Falder had reached out to the 5 SEGA operatives that had been in town for the last 5 months, acting as liaisons, fences, support, and scouts for the operation, seeing if one of them was willing to break ranks and take the risk with joining the forward operation of your party.

One of them did. Sylas Rybak, 5th of 6th children of the Ryback family, a fisher by trade, ranger by occupation. He had been working the docks down here @ Highpoint, tracking to arrival and departure of the syndicate boats and putting together a complete log and manifesto. A scarred individual, he had been victim of a fire some time ago, but was both an accomplished woodsman, kingsman, and bounty hunter. After some questions he was welcomed into the group and promised to do what he could.

We also had a chance to better hear and understand Yandr Offop’s concern regarding the 2 ghasts that had escaped during the first excursion to the Temple of Gruumsh. Pretty much he wanted us to put some effort into eventually cleaning it up and to be more mindful of our actions in and around the temple.

Returning back to the here and now, Birthmonth the 7th, 8:50 PM, we stopped outside the Stonecutter entrance and listened. Hearing nothing, we opened it up, and some stacks metal and wood on the door fell out, making some noise. Fuck. We waited and sure enough, could hear some running figures approaching. Yandr did a fast detect evil and we got 4 orcish pings closing…and at least 2 or 3 ghouls beyond the cemetery doorway.

We figured to line up and get ready, weapons hot. The orcs hit the door, the lead one hunched over, expecting an attack, and then slammed into Darius, the next one hitting Hrimvir. Some of us were behind the door and were ineffective to hit, but did instead slam the two doors repeatedly into the orcs there. The 2 in the back rank fired crossbow bolts, hitting the group. Hrimvir and Sylas took turns swapping to make attacks. Rhareli called to Garl Glittergold to make the fight silent so we didn’t attract more enemies.

The orcs held the ground for 3 rounds, 1 set of them swapping, out for the front before 1 of them decided to flee down the hall. Rhareli went to Atlas who used his ring of spell storing to place jump on the gnome. Rhareli jumped back of the group, tumbling through the gap at the door, and hit the orc there, felling the crossbow wielder. It took 6 minutes but we managed to finish the fight. They were using poor weapons and armor, and had less than 10 coins on them. And 1 escaped.

We got a bit in conversation and lost some direction for a bit. We did remember the broken iron box and we spent 4 or 5 minutes forcing it open to reveal a potion of fire resistance and 6 decent sized diamonds. Carl was sure they were 500 crowns a pop. Nice – we kept the items and returned to discussing our options. Eventually settling on Sylas tracking the 1 who escaped back down the hall and the rest of us coming along. The new ranger found scuffs that indicated where the 4 orcs had come from, and the further we walked along the long passage, the more obvious the trail became. At the side corridor, we came to more proof they had come from this way and a few doors. Best we could tell were the doors were closed and some air movement behind? No evil in the area. A final door was south down a short hall.

We gathered up and after making sure the door was not trapped, opened up to take a look around. An Inner courtyard. Star and moonlight gave up a heads up on the size of it. Mostly dust and grass, some soot, several large yellow trees near the edges, blocks of stone that had fallen from the higher walls and outbuildings. Lots of protection for creatures to hide behind. Big.

We decided early on to NOT split up. A tracking showed that they had come through here at one point, but no way to know from or where (poor check). We decided to start on the eastern side of the courtyard and check the area out with care. Within a short time we stumbled on a dozen to a score of deep bones – legs primarily. Well gnawed and eaten. Carl and Sylas had no idea what it was that had eaten the flesh off, outside of it being a carnivore.

Eventually we did find a concealed door on the east wall. Sylas was sure the one who escaped came from here. We tried to open the lock (5 tumblers!) but no one had any luck. Maybe tomorrow. We kept going on, staying on the east wall and heading south. We were getting dirtier and looking around. To the south was a wall that showed many repairs, reaching 10’ in height. Looking at the map that Cara and Gun were working on, this section of the wall came right against the inner room that we had mapped where there were repairs on the eastern wall within that chamber. Same sort of repairs here. Ok – this was the same place.

Don’t want to knock it down, so we decided to have Atlas (tallest) be hoisted up and grab the top, take a peek over. Hrimvir cupped hands and Atlas stepped in, lifted, scrambled, and slid off, hitting his side – 1 point of damage. Ok, ok. Again. And again he went up, lift, scrabble…and fall on his face this time – 1 point of damage. Dude!

This time Cara, Carl, and Yandr braced the mage’s leg, holding him up and in place and Hrimvir lifted and Atlas grabbed the top finally. Hands together, he lifted, braced his feet and looked over. Chipped cracked stones, some caretaker items, a few statues in weird poses. Eyes from a lizard looking thing staring at him.

…

Atlas was turned to stone. “What the hell?!?” Hrimvir lifted Atlas up and off the wall as 1…2 howling dinosaur sounding monsters from the other side howled and yelled, wanting to get over and attack us. Hearing the noise, seeing Atlas’ condition, Sylas took off his cap and wiped his sweating head clean. “I think we got us a couple of basilisks over there.”

“Damn it.” We wanted to get out of here with Atlas and see if Father Falder had a way of turning the wizard back to flesh. As we were discussing our options, we failed to notice danger creeping up except for the ranger who looked up and stepped in front of Gun, axe up, as a 6’ tall undead pale skinned monster stalked out of the gloom and tried to attack. The surprise blow was turned aside by the ranger who returned the favor with a well placed hit on its neck. The axe blade dug deep and was pulled out – the flesh knitting back to normal instantly. “Damn it!!”

We shuffled the lines, Carl was sure it was a wight. Hrimvir lowered Atlas and told Carl to hold his turning attempt until he could get a combine spell out from Thrym. The wight though saw the cleric and shifted its attack, spurring towards the cleric. Where its claws rippled out and slashed Carl. Robbing him of strength, warmth…and life force. Carl went from 5th level to half way down 4th instantly – losing spell power, hit points, and skillsand abilities. The Combine spell rang out but the cleric was now lower in level, and had to work harder to turn – managing to get lucky enough to drive the wight away for a short time.

Carl looked over at the god’s dice and saw it was only a “3”. “3! 3 rounds! We have 3 minutes until it comes back!”

We grabbed Atlas, each other, and ran north across the courtyard. Getting to the door, we burst through, slammed it closed behind, and ran through the Temple to the Stonecutter shed again. Rhareli went invisible, snuck to the gate 45’ away, unlocked it, and we all ran out into the street, dodging and guards and curfew, making it eventually to the gates of the Temple of Uller. 11:15 PM, 2 hours and 25 minutes after we first entered the Temple of Gruumsh.

We awoke Father Falder and filled the venerable priest on what had occurred. He could turn Atlas back to flesh, Uller demanded 2500 crowns of payment. We took 5 of the 6 diamonds we just got and offered them up. 10 minutes of prayers followed and then Atlas took a deep breath, his skin turning back to normal again. As for Carl, that was something else. The draining life force of the undead cannot be reversed and only time could replace the life that Carl had lost.

We rested and awoke the next morning, Birthmonth the 8th. We were eating breakfast when we heard a knock at the front door. The party hid for now in the nave behind the partition while the Captain of the Dragoons entered. It seems there was a ghast sighting and potential attack but had been driven off. During the subsequent chaos, they discovered this young human boy, malnourished and in bad shape. They wanted to know if Father Falder would watch after him for now, obviously he had been either captured or enslaved up until recently.

After the Captain left, we ended up talking to Govaine. He was nine and from Seaford further up the coast. A few months ago, pirates had attacked, killing his parents and capturing him and his 2 older brothers. They eventually came here to Highport where they were taken to the Temple and brough underground through some unused Sewers. They had been there for some time. The eldest brother was taken out after a week, shipped north to someplace called the Stockade. A month later the next brother was taken out on a different caravan and was to be taken to someplace called the Aerie on orders of a cruel woman named Valeria.

He had been working underground, fearful of “bug men” and something called “The cow”. The slaver orcs were nasty to all the humans and something had happened. A slave master named Karraway was approached and told about intruders. A meeting followed and they all went up out of the sewers to the surface. Govaine, finally left alone and not reshackled, took the chance to climb up. He came out between the legs of a one eyed orcish statue and then snuck for the entrance, running through the open portcullis until he snuck out of the gates and found himself near the town square.

Nice. At this point we wanted to enter the eastern half of the Temple and Govaine said he’d draw us as best a map as he could. We figured we’d re enter the Temple tonight, this time to encounter Karraway and maybe make our way into the lower sewer levels and get some more answers. Birthmonth the 8th, 11:30 AM.