2nd Campaign, Session 25. 12/16/25

Icemonth the 23rd, 8:30 AM. We awoke the next day feeling well rested. The Rosa Sisters made sure we had a good breakfast, a coat and boots for Illi, and good advice for us for the way back. We were a bit surprised to find that Fuckna Ahshit, almost a dozen hobgoblin followers, and the Ogre Clog all wanted to hitch the way back with us.

As we were walking, we learned a bit about early goblin ideas and politics. King Jector and the clans he ruled, attacked and overwhelmed the Duke Machete and the city of Kerendal over 50 years ago. With the Dyrian elves from the Dawnlands no longer around and in power, the goblin tribes had swollen over time and after an attempted purge by Duke Machete the Slayer, they had fought back and took over the human duchy.

Instead of doing as normal, putting everyone to the sword, looting the place, and taking the people left as food and slaves, King Jector instead made peace. He offered ships to anyone who wanted to sail westward to Karameikos, and anyone left was welcome to stay, but with the Goblin King as ruler. Enough stayed and the rest is history. Jector (formerly Kerendal) is a hub for industry and trade with any and all kingdoms along the Dyrian Sea.

But, not every goblin clan agreed with King Jector. The thought was the goblin kingdom would fail and they did not want to give up their ancestral ways and lands. So a number of clans did NOT bend the knee to King Jector, and continued to live as they always have. The Ahshit clan was one of them.

After 35 years though, too many of the goblin tribes have been proven wrong. About a dozen years ago, King Jector the 4th relaxed the rules and instead of an entire clan swear allegiance to the Goblin Throne, now they would accept individual goblins who wanted to join the kingdom.

Gavin had a plan to sack Guido’s Fort, after seeing Moray Vaco and Valeria of the Syndicate. He assumed their knowledge, skill, and wealth were atypical of the humans in the area. So attacking the fort would have resulted in much riches. He was also a coward and ineffective. Too many times he would “exile” goblins from his clan for challenging his rule (the hobgoblins who lived by the lake).

So Fuckna and the others want to go to Jector, bent the knee and take the oath of fealty to the crown, and then decide what to do next. No matter what, Fuckna wanted to talk with Yandr about both their gods and the concepts of knighthood.

With so many with us, and staying on the trail, we made good time with no interruptions or wandering monsters, eventually coming to the bat cave where we decided to set up for the night. Clog went in and smashed as many bats as he could for eating, and we gathered wood and pine boughs for fire and sleeping areas.

The next morning was the 24th, and according to Thobar, we were down to the last of our food. We left early and made excellent time eastward until we arrived at the beach. The three canoes were still here and the hobgoblins and Clog worked on making sure they were in good repair as well as carving and making new oars and paddles. Hrimvir helped out while the rest of us lit the signal fire and waited for Tila to come across.

The goblin fisherwoman and her sloop and crew of 2 arrived. We talked about the trip back, her towing the two canoes across the River Shrill, paying her and the hobgoblins paid as well. Then it was a 45 minute crossing to Fort Guido. The eponymous Guido, his 2 guards, and a 7 count of rangers came out to see us come back.

We talked to Guido, explaining to his that he would get 5 lbs of silver now and to leave us alone until the ship to Jector came back up river (the 26th) to take us down, and if he does leave us alone, another 5 lb bag of silver in 2 days. Done! We gave Tila a tip and thanks for her help ferrying us about as well. Gun spent some time with Llerana, and the rest of us relaxed.

The ship from Jector arrived on the afternoon of the 25th from Freebody Shippers and we arranged with the Captain the trip back down the River Shrill to Jector. He reminded us it was the last free trip and if we wanted to come back up to Fort Guido, it would cost us at that time. We were fine with leaving.

Icemonth the 26th we were loaded up, Clog and the hobgoblins as well, and we sailed down the River Shrill, arriving in Jector on the 30th of Icemonth. After tying up, we unloaded everything and followed the longshoremen to Freebody Shippers office and eventually the Sailing Master, Abraxas Salazar. The rotund ex adventurer listened to our tale and was happy the Freebody could help out. He would have a ship (paid for by the church of Aine) ready to go on the morn back to Specularum. He gave us a free token coin to use at the company brothel and about half the group partook.

During the winter months shipping is expensive and there are less boats plying the Dyrian Sea, but the Church of Aine had prepaid for the trip and after sailing out of the icy harbor, the galleon turned west and began the 17 day trip home to Specularum. We passed out of the goblin lands, to the former elven lands now overrun by the orcs of the Brokenlands, and then eventually Karameikos Duchy.

We arrived on Restmonth the 17th, tired, worn out, and 2 months, 10 days after we originally left. All of us made our way to the Specularum Exploring Guarding and Adventuring Guild (Sega). Once there the Church of Aine was summoned as well as a variety of members of the Duke’s court and we then proceeded to explain what we had done, the Monastery, the tomes, the table, and the treasures we had returned with. The only thing we glossed over was the death of Netherathraxus (not wanting to attract the attention of being dragon slayers).

The Church paid us the 35 crowns each for doing the mission, and we immediately returned it as a tithe and thanks (according to Yandr, we had considerably more than that now to divide up).

When it was over and we had been thanked, the Church of Aine was going to arrange steeds for Yandr, Carl, and Hrimvir as extra thanks (the paladin was due a steed and the other 2 were promised one by Aine herself through conduit of the table).

At this point, the leader of Sega asked a few of us to stay behind – Hrimvir, Yandr, and Cara. The ambassador from Jector, the Goblin Semirva, the ambassador from Oenkmar (The Brokenlands), the Orc Fire Champion Serus, and the duke's own mediator, Ambassador of the Eastern Reaches Empsi wanted some time with the group.

Given the high profile of their recent exploits and relative strength of the group, there was a problem. Raiders during the late summer and fall had attacked a number of seaside towns, taking citizens away. Slavers. Onwall, Seaford, Herring Bay. The Duke wanted the matter resolved. And the Goblins from Jector had also suffered. Both were offering to pay for the group to hunt down the slavers and bring the operation down and/or to justice.

There was word the group was known as the Syndicate (we had that name from the Dragon’s paperwork) and according to Ambassador Empsi, one of his spies has seen some missing citizens at a slave market in Highport, 5 days east of Specularum.

As for Serus, the Orc was here to Argue that his people had NOTHING to do with it (even though orcs had been reported as slaver raiders) and King Thor of the Orcs wanted to make sure that everyone knew the goblins are liars and cannot be trusted. When its all done, the orcs want to be just as recognized as a kingdom as Jector is, and maybe if they do, there might be less raids in the future. Maybe.

We dickered on the price. The mission would not be until the spring (month and a half from now) and would not use a Duke’s ship (to avoid the slaver operatives picking them up at the docks). Jector was willing to give 80 crowns per person, and Karakamekios settled on 136 crowns and 3 healing potions per person. Plus, they would outfit the ship and transportation as well as rations. Lodging was still the party’s job. In return, the group promised to return 10% of treasures found to the Duchy. The guild masters of SEGA also were going to make sure that Thobar would be available to go with them again, the master porter spoke well of the group and was willing to adventure with them again.

We had 6 weeks of down time here in Specularum to take care of our long absent homes, duties, and families. We would be parting out our coins on the morrow and decide what we wanted to do with our time – and if everyone was willing to go on the trip or hang up their swords.

2nd Campaign, Session 24. 12/9/25

 Icemonth the 20th, 5:30 PM. We had spent 6 hours going through the dragon’s horde and gearing ourselves up, moving things around, and maximizing our possible take away assuming we can make it back to Specularum. By this time, the 3 burning fires in the cave were still going strong but we wanted to see if there was a way out.

So we went to the south end of the cave and began walking down the tall and wide passage. Some 4 dozen paces away was a shelf with a number of scrolls and ledgers, a table, some graphite styluses, and a smattering of poor paper. The scratches on the furnishings and floor indicated that Netherathraxus had come down here many times, most likely to talk to whoever who come to the tables.

We spent a few hours going through the ledgers and the scrolls. It detailed (crudely) Netherathraxus’ horde accumulation and the Ahshit clan who was acting as the shepherd for the dragon. There were mention of parental dragons and the charge laid on the kobold and goblin tribes in the area to cater to the young dragon until their expected return. In 300 years there was no indication of that.

As for the horde, it shows a slow but steady climb as tribute was paid. At some point 2 or 3 years ago, a woman named Valeria from an organization known as the Syndicate, came to borrow money, 500 crowns, with a repayment time to follow shortly after. Further loan scrips showed she had returned, said she paid back the loan, and took another one out for her group.

But we had cataloged the dragon’s money and there was a discrepancy. Yandr totaled it all up and if you subtract the last 9 loans in total, that is the amount the horde was short. Valeria had been skimming from the dragon. She had come last time 2 months ago. Was she also skimming from the Syndicate? Who were they and where were they from? Future us would have to worry about it.

We walked down the cave for an hour, the passage heading ever northward, until finally, the air cooled and we came out in the snow on the side of a hill somewhere in the forest area. Looking at Gun’s map and relying on our sense of direction, we guessed we were east and north of the Monastery – like off the map off.

Going out in the snow and cold seemed terrible, so we turned and headed back, walking another hour until we arrived again at the Dragon’s lair. We laid out bedrolls and most of us crapped out, sleeping quickly. Cara and a few others were trying to gather up material to make a set of scale mail but the scales were difficult to harvest. Most of us fell asleep. Fjord kept trying, fucking up scales and stabbing himself in the process.

Icemonth the 21st we awoke late, our oil stores were getting low, lantern was refilled. We managed to get the last of the scales and were off by 9:45 AM. Before 11 we were at the cave and began walking south. Some endure elements were spread about, Gun was placed in the middle, and we started our walk. It was slow slow going, the snow drifted to almost 4 feet in some places, trees were thick enough, and the underbrush kept us from achieving any real speed.

Exhausted, about 2:30 we emerged crossways onto one of the goblin trails, giving us a chance to look over the assassin’s map. We climbed the local tree to get a look of the land around us. We guessed we were west of the long lake, north west of the hobgoblin encampment. From the elevated perch, we could see the waterfall area to the east, but it looked like some figures were there (Ogres?).

We talked about options and decided to walk south from here, trailblazing again, The witches’ cottage should be there. Eventually.

So we walked on in the snow until 2 or 3 party members just had enough of the cold. We could not walk on any more. We used shields and shovels to clear out an area to sleep. A few of us went out to get what dry wood we could find, getting a few lucky rolls in the process. We lit a fire, huddled together for warmth, and ate our dwindling stores of food. “Three or so days to go,” Thobar let us know.

We rested, watches kept, and slept as best we could during the night. Eventually some wolf calls rang out, getting slowly closer. Cara used her Dawn spell and woke everyone up. An arrow flew from the dark hitting the wood pile near us. Yandr called whoever it was to come closer. We read the note. It was from Fuckna Ahshit. And he wanted single honor combat with Yandr as promised. Yandr called for him to come out now and face him. Another arrow followed and he ignored it, calling out dishonor, not a good follower of Maglubiyat, and do it now.

Fuckna called back. Not now, in the dawn after breakfast. And be ready. More words were exchanged but the hobgoblin and the wolves did retreat.

We rested as best we could (not getting a full night). After the sun rose, Fuckha Ahsit, a dozen other hobgoblins, 6 goblins, 4 ogres, and 3 wargs came. The goblins were instructed to make an area to fight. Rules were the two of the warriors would fight without interference. Loser loses all they are carrying to the other. Anyone else interferes, the rules are void and the rest of the combatants join the fight.

One of the hobgoblin talked to Gun for a bit, setting up a side bet. Neither side likes their knight and there was some bonding over that. As for Fjord, the ogres here found him to be runty and made them vomitous. Hrimvir? Totally fine.

Yandr and Fuckna went to the middle and the battle rang on. Fuckna tried to go for some power attacks early but Yandr’s armor was too thick and heavy. So they danced around, hitting and trading blows. Most didn’t fall well, but bruises and exhaustion slowly climbed up. After 9 minutes, the Ogre, Clog, called for a break. The two of them healed with potions and then got ready to fight on.

Another 9 minutes of fighting went on. Yandr went through both of his shields and Fuckna did the same to his. A few solid blows did land, one of them shattering the paladin’s shield arm in a spiral fracture, making it hang useless. Both were badly hurt and after another 9 minutes of fighting the Ogre stopped it again. Yandr and Fuckna wanted it to end but neither wanted to quit. They settled on 5 more rounds of combat and if no winner, then a draw – their gods want more from them than just death.

So they struggled on until it ended. Arms were embraced and the ogres and hobgoblins ordered the goblins to break camp. We all were going to go south over the hill to the witches’ cottage to rest and discuss what comes next. Fuckna and Yandr found a strange camaraderie at this point.

Icemonth the 22nd at 9:30 we came to the magical clearing and Rosabella and Rosalinda were happy to meet with us. Illi had fleshed out, the young boy working on making cookies. A giantess was here as well, drinking tea and meeting with Rosabella. Pastries and drinks were handed out and we shared with the sisters what we could tell them without actually mentioning the dragon was now killed. They went to work on tattooing for Illi and offered to trade our blood stores with us for other items. We upgraded some staves, rings, and wands, gave them the blood, got some tattoos and a chance to read a magical tome. Hrimvir spent some time with the giant woman in the carnal sense and by evening, Illi was declared to be spell free.

We were going to leave in the morning. Fuckna and a number of the other hobgoblins were going to come with us to go to Jector and see what they had been missing following Gavin’s lead for so long.

Meet 143, Adv 16, 12/6/25

Heatmonth the 8th, 8:00 AM. We awoke feeling great, ate well of the trout that had been delivered to us, and then explored the area. There were some silver veins on the west wall, silver that the future dwarves who came here most likely mined out. The Cree Negeshi were about and friendly, and the group (headed by Eoghan), left a number of silver here as thanks.

We took the long walk back through the caves until we arrived finally at the chamber with the blocked off western passage. So bit by bit, we worked on the long passage, digging stone, shifting it out of the way, swapping every few hours, and avoiding any falling stones when we could. There were 2 instances where the ground shook, but outside of a few knocks to the head, the group was ok.

We eventually rested after 12 hours of digging, back in the wolf chamber again, and then the next morning (the 9th), we returned to the long passage and finished up the excavating. It was about noon when we were done. The passage opened to a low ceiling chamber and then a long passage climbing UP, some 60’+. Also, our infravision showed the passage grew colder the higher one got to the top.

Shim and Connal climbed to the top and looked around. The cave here was cold, and there was something moving in the dark. The gnome summoned a gnoll and sent it off. It wandered around in the dark and then began screaming as it was attacked. It raced back and there were a number of shadowy figures tearing it it, freezing it, robbing its strength. The shadows then proceeded to chase Connal and Shim, who ran back for the cliff and climbed down, tumbling the last of the distance. The shades pursued a bit and then turned back.

At the bottom we shared what we learned. Asher would be needed to turn the shadows, but getting the cleric up there was going to be tough. It might be better to try and lure them down here. We spent some time on a plan involving some spider climbs and well use of spells. Once again Connal and Shim went up, Wilhelm and Nate and Asher as well. At the top we engaged the shadows, and they were coming fast and furious.

Down the passage was an ice toad, dead, that they were using as a lair. Stepping past the multitude of shadows, we burned (Wilhelm) the ice toad away, melting its presence and driving the shadows off.

We healed and then looked around. Passage went on here to the north west and then down. Shim was excited because this placed up back at the shaft but maybe 20’ down from where we entered originally. Most likely the Donnegarten dwarves had dug down here in the past/future. The hole was deep, dark, and not conducive to an east climb. We used Silence and dropped a piton here. Then we hooked up the block and tackle and talked about how to get everyone down.

We decided to use Captain Asher’s nap spell and a use of the Tiny Hut to ferry the animals and some of the party down to the bottom. We talked about who would make the trip and who would ride the block and tackle. Connal, Shim, Asher, Nate, Rhygar, Darius would do the climb, everyone else in the hut and napped.

With only an hour to plan for, we closed up the hut and Connal and Shim went to the bottom. There was a massive 20’ tall cave opening here. Broken rock and big passage went off to the east. We could hear the distant sounds of the goblin city in that direction. Staying quiet was paramount. Asher came down next, and the cleric opened the hut nearest the wall and made sure everyone inside was ok and not affected negatively. As the next one was coming down, a wandering goblin patrol, well armed and armored, and one of the riding a lolthian giant spider, came down to check out the area. We all hid, hoping they wouldn’t see the group, happy that we had dodged being spotted.

It took over an hour to get the rest of the party down and we wanted a place to hide the tackle part of the block and tackle. So Connal went back up the shaft, found an area to drive a piton, and hung the tackle and spare rope here. It was 25’ up, but away from casual prying eyes. It was 5:30 PM on Heatmonth the 9th and we were deciding what to do and where to go next.

Meet 142, Adv 16, 11/22/25

Heatmonth the 6th, 2:30 PM. We figured we’d check the northern mushroom chamber first off. It seemed to be empty (except for fungi), but did not trust it. So Shim summoned a trio of stirges who flew around, triggered nothing and were then dispatched. We cast light and then looked about. Between both passages, we guessed we could spend more time down here if need be before having to head back up and out. What was odd, was the presence of a single placed raven’s feather. Just sitting in one place on a mushroom.

A sign from Odin? Maybe from Raven? We were not sure, checked it out, it was common but larger than normal. After taking it with us we headed the long way back through the crystal chambers and eventually all the way back to the east side of the bridge chamber to gig the tunnel there.

It was on a slope so digging was slower and after 4 hours, we set up the hut and rested. We awoke the next day feeling better and by 6 were hoping to get on. Captain Asher was having a conversation with Maglubiyat, the goblinoid god commenting that he felt something was bothering him about the cave but could not articulate what it was.

We cycled through everyone taking their time to dig, and 9 hours later, we finally broken through to the other side. One by one we crawled up through the broken rock to the next chamber. It was a largish, but cramped. And the floor seemed to be well swept. Corridor went east and west, west being blocked by more choked passage and stone. Animals were on alert, as if there was a predator in the area. Nate used his Seshele Trident and got a view of a few things. Some darkness to the west, a very very large green slime, and a veritable army and city of goblins below our feet.

We talked about what to do and according to Shim’s original notes and plans, heading east would take us to the apothecary, library, and some sort of hole in the ground. Maybe that was the way down? We figured to head in that direction. But on doing so, some very fast small creatures appeared. Cree Negeshi. Last time we fought them but it was touch and go. This time we figured to let Wilhelm take point, since he was already a follower of Shakak.

He presented some food, slid it forward, waited. Contact was slow and halting. Eventually the 2 thin emaciated and frightening figures appeared. They made some trades and eventually tobacco was lit and smoked. He could talk with them. We made an accord and friendship with them then. Some trades followed. They were followers of Haztel, the Red Warrior, The God of Speed and Racing. 2 to 3 months ago something rippled through their home and they found themselves falling to here.

It seems that none of the gods have come through, and the time matches when we blasted through time and space to get here. As for the predator, the Cree Negeshi indicate that “Wolf” hac been in the area and considers this a safe space. They agreed that we’d be unbothered but there was a sweeper, an offspring of Jubilex, lord of slime, in the area. We followed the directions which led to the hole in the ground (same in our time), and there was a humongous green slime down there.

We fired off a number of fire spells and Wilhelm poured it on, immolating the slime until it was eventually consumed. The Cree Negeshi were pleased and let us know that the Wolf would thank us for our efforts. And sure enough, at the end of the passage was a cave with some silver deposits, but also some pine boughs to use as bedding. We slept really well and woke up (still no healing), to find some fresh river trout delivered to us. We ate well and then discussed heading back to the main chamber and digging west. It was Heatmonth the 8th, 8 AM.

2nd Campaign, Session 23. 11/20/25

I have been playing since '81 and for most of us, there were a number of wonderful modules that had come out that taught everyone how to map, stock a dungeon, outfit it, run the adventure, and take even the most printed of pre-printed modules and make it your own.

With the youths (and some of my group who are younger), they do not have the pleasure of playing some of these classics. So I've been giving them run throughs since they're 12. But one of the main things that Gary and his ilk did was to remember the main trop of the game - first you go through a Dungeon and then you fight a Dragon.

This was the dragon fight at the end of B5. It was very close for a few party members, and we did have 1 death, but a few feet in any direction or 1 or 2 bad rolls, and we'd have had more.

Write up follows:

Icemonth the 20th, 11:10 AM. We continued with care down the passage, knowing there was a dragon, Netherathraxus, somewhere ahead of us. Fjord’s dragon slaying sword was dragging the half ogre forward and the rest of us were lined up 2 or 3 abreast behind. The passage grew warmer and there was light ahead, wavering like a flame. “Brian! Oh my!”

Fjord went to step forward fast but Yandr and Hrimvir stepped in front of him. “One moment, we need to get ready.” Cara and Carl cast a number of Resist fire and protection from fire spells on everyone that was going to be in the front line with the dragon. While the druid and cleric were finishing up, Hrimvir handed out 2 scrolls of bless to the 2 divine casters while the rest of the party bounced extra shields around.

“Thrym!” “Thor!” “Odin!” Three voices rang out, setting off 3 bless spells, Hrimvir upcasting his so it lasted 12 rounds and not 6.

“Now.”

We followed behind Fjord who plowed forward into the cave and we beheld the great dragon, Netherathraxus. 70’ long, 50’ of tail, its head rose 25’ off the ground and its wings, still sizeable, were stunted a bit and would not support the great red dragon on flight. It growled something in draconic, that both Nevah and Atlas understood to be, “Damn! The kobolds weren’t bullshitting me. There really are people here!”

The battle was joined. The dragon swept its claws at Fjord, ripping the half ogre’s arm and chest open, armor shredding on impact. It lunged down and tried to bite him, but he hunched under his shield and let it take the brunt of the attack. Even so, he was still scratched up from the contact. Nevah loaded up his Aine bow and fired off a pair of arrows, pegging the dragon once, the enchantment on the clothyard shaft allowing it to piece his scales. The group charged down, anxious to get closer to the fight. Cara and her boar tried to spear the dragon and Yandr tried the same, neither of them having much luck. Hrimvir drew closer, checking his enchanted brass knuckles and getting ready to fight.

“IN BET GRAV POR!” Atlas’ magic missiles flared out, 2 bolts of chaos hitting the dragon and making it howl in pain. Dragon was hurting and glaring down the hall where the arrows and missiles were coming from. Thobar, Gun, at least one of the boars, Atlas, and Nevah were there.

Netherathraxus grew angry and steam came from between his lips, flaming drool hitting the floor. “Damn it.. Move!” The party in front of the dragon quickly dove to the left and right, splitting up to avoid being in the line of blast.

And the dragon breathed fire. A cone of flame shot out, coating both sides of the entrance of the passage while the rest of it roared down the corridor, setting the boar there on fire, Nevah on fire, and Gun on fire. Their armor took the worst of it as 8 seconds of dragon fire ripped into the hallway. Atlas and Thobar jogged back, the magic user just outside the range of the fire, but still singed from the close call. The boar ran off, badly hurt and miserable. Nevah and Gun were burned but still alive. “Thobar!” Gun called out. “I’m gonna need a healing!”

The front hit the dragon, most of their shots just bouncing off. A few hit but the damage reduction the dragon had made any killing blow ineffective. Yandr took blow after claw swipe, splintering his shield as need be, reaching ever for the next. Fjord was badly hurt as his next shield only blocked some of the damage. Cara ran around to the dragon’s distant front and threw her enchanted spear, the point hitting and then falling free. The dragon was not taking much damage from the front.

Still smoking, Nevah took aim and fired an enchanted arrow, ripping through scales, a second one followed. Atlas called out a spell again and more magic missiles tore into the dragon. Thobar gave Gun a Aine Healing Elixir and the assassin was debating on running down to the dragon, looking at his dagger. “Am I really gonna do this?”

We hit and struck the dragon, blades bouncing off scales but every so often, one would pierce. But it was Nevah and Atlas who were doing the most damage, enchanted arrows and magic missiles whittling hit points away. Gun was running down the passage, dagger in his hand, trying to get to the front.

But Netherathraxus was breathing in deep and the Halfling had to RUN. He tried to keep to the shadows, hitting the wall twice to pick up some fresh soot as the dragon finished inhaling. “Move!” Yandr yelled out after slapping Fjord with the last of his lay on hands. Spear flew and Hrimvir punched and the dragon held its breath half a beat as Gun burst out of the cave and dove to the left.

“Ah….fuck,” Nevah muttered turning to run away.

The red dragon breathed again, and this time his fiery breath was hotter, angrier. Deadlier. We watched in horror as Nevah the gnome was immolated, his body and flesh burned so hard and so hot that it vaporized to ash, coating Atlas and Thobar in burning chunks of meat, the two of them hunching back and yelling in terror.

We hit and ripped and slashed. The cleric dropped a heal on Fjord and the damned dragon flashed around, its tail knocking Cara down but the druid rolled with it, her shield blasting away. One of the skeletons was crushed under a claw. It tried to bite Yandr but the paladin’s shield took the blow, more broken armor bits littering the area. We were running out of shields fast. The boar Yandr had ridden was snatched up and chewed hard and then swallowed.

Gun came from the shadows and swung his dagger right after the dragon turned around, hoping to get a back stab but the enchanted blade ran across the scales and did NOT hit. The dragon was under half hit points now and the party was bleeding.

The battle grew difficult as 2 of our 3 blesses expired at this time, making our hits fewer and further apart. Carl took a nasty swipe and his shield was gone. Then at another time Hrimvir was hit, teeth savaging the half orc. The clerics changed their tactics, daring to get close enough to CAUSE light wounds, but the dragon was able to dodge most of the touches enough to make enough contact ineffective and spell gone.

The dragon was running out of hit points and the party was yelling for Atlas to fire more missiles. “I’m out!” he yelled back. “How about your book? Rip the spell out of the book!” “What!? I’m not doing that!”

The dragon ripped the skeleton apart and Gun rolled with the tail slap, his shield disintegrating. Its mouth came down to bite Fjord but Yandr tried to get in the way, the paladin’s own shield up, but failed to get their in time and Fjord was bit, his armor punctured, the half ogre lifted 8 feet of the ground in Netherathraxus’ mouth before being cast to the floor, unmoving and unconscious (-6).

The dragon was hit, stabbed, slashed, and finally, Hrimvir got a solid contact with one of his few remaining CAUSE Light wounds spell, the negative energy running through the dragon and then its heart stopped and it fell over. Dead.

Half of us were broken, the other half well enough. Hrimvir and Cara worked on Fjord, stabilizing him before administering enough first aid that we drew a ragged breath. A very small amount of spells followed, enough to get the half ogre conscious.

We took stock. For the next hour we went over the area. Nevah was gone. The two skeletons were broken but Hrimvir felt he could get them upright again. Only Cara’s touched boar remained, the others had fled or been eaten. We cut out a tooth and looked over the dragon’s scales. Gun used the syringe for blood, filling it for the Rosa witch sisters. The rest of us got what vials and flasks we could.

There were tens of thousands of copper, silver, gold, and platinum coins. 5 pieces of jewelry, 42 gems of assorted value and size, a book of Aine, a ring, a rod, a wand, and a bag. Detect magics were cast and we spent hours (6 of them!) going through every coin and riches we could find. The bag was a bag of devouring, Gun took that but we put the Grazzt symbol within first, letting the bag eat it. The rod was a rod of cancellation and Hrimvir took that, giving the brass knuckles back to Carl. Carl took the ring of protection. And Atlas took the rod of detect magic.

Yandr and Thobar went over the treasure again and again. We dumped our bags and swapped stuff around. At the end we took all the platinum, all the cold, all the gems and jewelry and magic, and half the damned silver. Everyone was moving at slow speed from now on, Gun being the exception since the Halfling already moves a bit slower than the party normally.

It was 5:30 PM on Icemonth the 20th and we were all feeling pretty good at our haul. But we needed to find our way out and the last passage here was most likely the way. The cave was already cooling off without the dragon’s flame anymore. And we wanted to get the blood to Rosabella and Rosalinda to get the runes off of Illi so the damned priest, Moray Vaco, could not find the boy and finish his despoiling of the land.

Meet 141, Adv 16, 11/15/25

Heatmonth the 5th, 289 of the 29th age. 7:20 AM. We did not want to spend any extra time here, the stirges in the cracks above could back out at any time. The bridge across the chasm was 60’ long, and about 15’ wide. We drew up to 2 across and then raced across the expanse.

And it was good – until it wasn’t. Asher near the front, and Rhygar near the back were hit with a sticky length of some line and then yanked up and off the bridge, dangling 6’ to the north and 10’ in the air. What the hell?

Shim fired off an innate dancing lights spell, flooding the ceiling with bouncing torches – illuminating a humongous cave fisher half in and out of a hollow of stone up there. Over 7’ long, insectoid, alien looking, it was using its snare like tongue to pull the squire up. We assumed in the gloom that the same was happening to Asher.

Arrows were fired, the cave fisher rocked from the impact. It slid out slightly and after enough damage was done to it, it fell out of the opening – just as Shim shot off a Feather fall spell on Rhygar. Nate extended his trident and we hacked at the line, severing it, the weight breaking it the rest of the way. Rhygar was pulled to safety and brought back onto the bridge.

Eoghan was taking aim at Asher’s Cave Fisher, shooting the beast repeatedly. It was losing its grip when Captain Asher called to Maglubiyet and cast Weighty Chest on his boot – in relation to the Fisher.

Who believed that the Captain and his equipment and shoe weighed well over 900 lbs. It scraped free of the hole and the two of them fell 60 plus feet to the bottom of the gorge where both of them hit, bounced, and stopped moving.

Damn it.

Leaving the rope up here, Connal took 2 flasks of healing and jumped/feather falled to the bottom. He went to the Captain (at -4 now) and administered both potions – bringing him to 0, and then to 2 hp. His near death experience gave him now bugbear eyes and nails, Maglubiyet proud of the fighter cleric and his reckless abandonment of personal safety. (he would be having -4 on all he does for the next 1 and 1/3 days).

We cinched the rope into a harness and Darius and Nate pulled first Captain Asher up and then Connal. The Stirges were still a problem so we went off to the east. We passed the falling water and then eventually a cave – 20’ tall ceiling. There were two passages out of here, both choked with rubble – east and south. Darius took the time to look them both over. 110 cubic yards of stone on the east passage, a bit less on the south. The south one was also a sloped passage going up, so we had the danger of rocks falling on us.

We talked it out and decided to dig east. According to Shim’s notes, it would lead to a chamber with some faint window to the Astral plane maybe but also two chambers of mushrooms (it had myconoids in it in our time.). We split up the digging into 2 sets – and then set to work. Shovels held up pretty well for most of the day, the groups swapping out every 2 or 3 hours to keep everyone fresh. As we dug the rocks free, Darius let the group know we were NOT going to clear the hall, but remove about half the stones to make it easy for us to walk through cramped over as opposed to crawling.

At some point, amidst the mushrooms and fungi, Darius got a face full of Death Cap spores and was snotting and choking fast. Wilhelm got over there, identified the spores, and called on Shakak to remove the disease. It was getting late so we stopped about 6:30, ate, cleaned up, then opened the hut about 8 PM and got to sleep. We awoke the next day on the 6th and got right back to work. Given the presence of the spores, Wilhelm was going to be there for a portion of today's dig, watching for mushrooms or fungi that might be deadly. He did find another set and removed it with care, dumping it down the chasm.

By 12:30 we were just about through the pile when the chasm grew cold and there was something coming . We stopped digging and saw 7 shadows emerge from the pit, circling around to engage the group. Captain Asher called to Maglubiyet and turned two of them, giving the group the chance to fight the other 5. They closed to us but could not hit more than a few times. Connal used his armor of Lathandar to drive one of them back and the party tore into the remaining using magical items, spells, and well placed torches.

At the end of the fight we returned to the passage and finished digging through. The passage beyond had hundreds of colored crystals, and there was a pool here. It looked upon a night sky with different constellations than ours. We did not fuck with it, moving on. The next room had the same, with another pool on the south end. We did not enter. There were 2 passages east that we know in our time led to mushroom chambers and the same seemed to be the case here. 2 caves, north and south – each with dozens and hundreds of edible mushroom types.

But while we were checking it out, from the south a choke creeper attacked the group with a number of long tendril vines. It pulled us off the floor and tried to suffocate us. Those not engaged charged in and hack at the vines around necks. Connal’s ring prevented him from being strangled and the monk closed to the south end of the room where the main body was. Shim called a spell out and got an ogre which he also sent there.

Eoghan had some really good arrow shots, splitting vines and freeing limbs. But it was the group closing on the Choke Creeper and hitting the main body that shifted the tide of the battle very fast. Shim’s unerring new missiles helped as well and the Choke Creeper died at long last.

Healing was dispensed and we looked the area out. The Creeper had a gargantuan Lolthian spider leg in its stomach area, as well as a very very old, like millennia old, dagger. There was discussion on who was going to take it but eventually Connal wrapped the hilt in thong and then tied it to his belt for now. It was 2:30 PM on the 6th and we were going to have to go back and dig out the other passage from what it seemed.

2nd Campaign, Session 22. 11/11/25

3:00 PM, Icemonth the 19th. We talked about what our next options were. We assumed that we had to be getting close to the dragon, but wasn’t sure exactly where. The kobolds also looked like they had fled, so we weren’t sure if we were going to run into anything else while down here. Also, Fjord kept bringing up the Symbol to Graz’zt, and Yandr flat out told him that he’d start stabbing anyone who touched it. They had it in the box, tied closed, in the bag of holding, and Thobar was carrying the bag in his Porter chest.

We decided to head north from past the dark cave where eventually the passage split. It wandered north, split, came back together, and split again. Eventually ending up at the top of the cliffs that we had discovered a day or two ago and took the rope ladder from. We checked both sides and nothing had changed. Gun updated his map and we headed back to the long main corridor.

From here we had a passage east and two choices, but the northern one had some echoes come back – indicating a larger cave. We opted not to go that way, and instead headed east, southeast. The corridor was wide and spacious, but went on for a bit of distance before ending up at a 40 by 60’ chamber. Three sections of the wall were burning with wire, and 2 lava lizards were sleeping in here, using the flames to warm them. There was a door (a door?!?) on the south wall made of stone and the passage north past the lava lizards looked like it kept going.

We didn’t want any problem so we backed up a good 20’ down the passage and discussed options. Since they were sleeping, if Gun and Fjord could sneak up to them, they could end them with a single sword or dagger stroke. Before they headed off, Hrimvar called to Thrym and made the Halfling silent – the aura reaching out 15’ around him. They had 6 minutes.

So the two of them entered the chamber, went right up to the lava lizards, and pierced eyes and brains – killing the two monsters with a single stroke. Easiest encounter. We all reconvened and the spell ended. Gun wasn’t trusting the fires, assuming the dragon might be north of here. But the door here was worth looking at. The door was made of stone, thick, heavy, and the hinges were old and beaten into place. It was not locked but might have been in the past.

The door did not open easily and required some brute strength to get it to budge. Eventually it slid aside showing a rough cell 15’ diameter. A human warrior in dusty platemail was sitting on a chair, an ornate claymore at his feet. A simple straw pallet and table were here. We checked for traps (finding none), and then approached the dead guy. His armor and sword looked old in style, but had almost no wear on it – just discoloring and dust.

Fjord picked up the sword and there was a WHOOSHING sound, some dust swarmed around him, and he turned to the group and said, “You know, Brian, I think we should really go and find that dragon. Now. Like let’s go find it and kill it.” He was holding the blade and seemed focused. Altas guessed geas or quested at some point.

The group came in and convinced Fjord to wait and we need to rest, but the dragon is on our short list and we’ll go and get him soon. Cara and Yandr were looking over the warrior. He had a broken bow and in his quiver were 5 fancy arrows. Atlas cast a detect magic spell and we learned the sword was named “Dragon’s Bane”, a +1 weapon, +3 vs dragons. And if a dragon was within ½ a mile of the owner, he would draw the blade and become slowly increasingly fixated on finding and killing the dragon.

The armor was platemail +1, and according to Cara, the original owner was a knight and was 3rd generation. The maker’s mark was over a century and a half old. Yandr took the armor and wore it, giving his enchanted elven chain to Hrimvir who happily put it on. The arrows were given to Nevah after Atlas assured the group they were +2 to hit and damage. Again, on Nevah’s person was the telltale glow of a magic dagger but for now the party didn’t say much about it. As for the skeletal remains, Hrimvir called on Thrym again and animated it, having it rise to follow the party.

We left here closing the door and headed back to the main passage. From there we went east, north east to the large cavern. It was sizeable and was until recently a home to the kobolds, but right now was empty. We followed to the other side and the passage “Y”ed  here – north and east. East led back to the cave with the dead lava lizards so that made Gun happy. We did follow it north. Almost 25 minutes of walking and we came to a slope of broken rock and stone. This was the area where the large snake had tried to eat Gun so this matched up with the north end of the nap.

This brought us back to only one possible way – the passage that was south of the main corridor that eventually went west and got very tight and narrow (5’ tall tops, 2 and a half feet wide). Atlas, Yandr, and Fjord would have a tough time navigating the confined area. It was about 7 PM and we were beat so we headed back to the dragon warrior’s original room and shut the door, opting to rest here.

We ate, wrote some scrolls, and decided to set up watches, falling asleep at 8:30 PM.

The next morning (20th) we healed up, prayed, and got ready for the day ahead. Fjord seemed a bit more manic about finding the dragon (3.5 out of 10). Altas assured us that the effect would slowly grow as the days went on and the need to kill the dragon was not abated. IF the dragon were to leave the ½ mile radius, the effect would end immediately.

We decided on a lark before going, to search the room for secret doors – and holy Odin – we found it! On the east wall the passage slide in and to the right, revealing a dusty passage turning south. “This guy was trapped in here and died and there was a way out?!” The group pondered. “He was obviously a shitty knight and adventurer.”

We followed the passage about 50’ and it ended…at a blank wall. “Yeah, not buying it,” Yandr took out his sledge hammer and we figured him, Fjord, Cara, and Hrimvir would take turns beat at the wall until it broke down or we snapped the door open.

Over the next hour and 10 minutes, we took turns swinging and smashing at the wall. It made a god awful racket, and Gun could see the outline of the door itself as we kept hitting it (but out beating at it had broken the opening mechanism so we now HAD to smash it open).

However after all that time, the wall shook and we heard a deep reptilian ANGRY voice on the other side of the door yell out, “STOP MAKING SO MUCH DAMNED NOISE!!!”

Fuck, dragon and we made it mad.

Then we heard an inrushing of air.

“RUN!! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!”” the party booked off back down the secret passage as Netherithraxus let forth a blast of dragon breath from the other side of the secret door, melting the stone there and fusing the door shut in place.

Back in the Warriors’ room, we closed the other secret door and sighed. We’d now have to go and use the narrow passage. So we made our way through the quiet kobold warren one last time. We moved packs and drew up in line, Fjord going first. And then we entered.

Narrow passage wandered about a bunch. East, south, east, south, then west. Atlas grew cramped and exhausted and the party had to rest for a bit before daring to try again. It was an hour and a half of crawling and sweating before the winding kobold sized passage opened up to a larger cave and we could stand again.

40’ at least, 15’ ceiling. There were 6 very burned to a crisp skeletal kobolds here. A check of them over led us to believe they had been dragon killed a day or two ago. This was it. The passage to the east went off and we could see scrapes in the ceiling, floor, and walls that the dragon had come down this far, probably many times. Fjord was particularly excited we had to be close.

This meant we had to set our plan before we go to the dragon because the geas on the sword would make any planning at that time moot. So. We handed out bless spells to everyone who could cast. Atlas let us know that the dragon probably had natural magic resistance but also, its scales would probably need magic to hit it – otherwise damage done to it would be severely muted. We went through our magic weapons, taking stock.

Kobold chief’s flaming short sword, dragon’s bane claymore, Gavin Ahshit’s enchanted spear, enchanted brass knuckles found in the temple of Aine, Aine’s horse bow and now the 5 +2 arrows, and finally the enchanted dagger that Nevah had and hadn’t mentioned. Gun went right over there and took it out. “Really?” he asked. “We need this now.” Nevah was not happy.

With 8 of us possibly fighting, it was going to be Atlas and Carl without an enchanted weapon to bear, so they would be primarily using spells and support. We had Carl and Cara’s similar resist and protection from fire spells and a host of healing potions. We were as ready as we were going to be.

We left the main cave and headed east, following the long wide and tall corridor as it slowly led us closer and closer to the dragon. 11:10 AM on Icemonth the 20th.

Meet 140, Adv 16, 11/08/25

Heatmonth the 4th, 289 of the 29th age. 10:55 AM. The party discussed plans. Déjà vu all over again. This time? Get past the Cave Bear but in such a way that we avoid conflict. We still had Hide from animals up and the thought was to cast it on the animals as well, and Shim was going to need an invisibility spell as well.

We settled on a two fold plan – summon a trio of monsters with Shim’s spells, and hide from animals, carry the small ones, and sneak past the bear while it’s fighting. 11:40 AM – we set the operation in place. In succession, Shimlagesh managed to summon an Ogre, a Giant Weasel, and then a Giant Tick. He ordered them all to charge ahead of us and engage the bear, forcing it to the north and east if at all possible. An invisibility followed and we snatched up every animal and ran through the bear lair.

It was big. The bear was huge, it was tearing the tick to shreds. We ran past bones and carcasses of moose and deer. The chamber was sizable but as per Shim’s older map of the Donnegarten Stronghold, the east end of the cavern did indeed split east and north, and east and south – we took that direction as the battle raged on behind us, the bear was decidedly winning.

The rough cavern also showed more odd signs of burns and melted stone. Originally there were lots of webs here like curtains, but in this time, it was just rough terrain. Eventually we arrived at a larger cave. To the west was a 15’ cliff and a smaller chamber up there. In our time it was the lift control room. To the east where we knew the deep square stair lined pit was, was instead a sloped area and then a 20 to 25’ diameter hole that went down into the gloom.

We lit a real torch to go along with the ever burning one and split up to check the area out. Up on the cliff area was a cave barely 20’ diameter, the ceiling made the clear area only 5 or 6’ high. Lots of beetle carapaces were here, brown and iridescent green. Whatever beetles they were (2’ oval?) the meat had been scooped out. Wilhelm guessed something caught them elsewhere and brought them here to eat them, leaving 20 or 30 shells behind.

As for the rest of the room, nothing of note but the pit area. The slope was 30 degrees and the hole went down for a bit. We augered a hole in the wall and then Darius drove a piton deep and home. We ate lunch and then looked at the hole. Lighting a pebble, we dropped it down. It rang off the wall after 30’, then maybe again, the light was dim and gone and it rang maybe 3 or 4 times before bouncing to a stop. Shim frowned. According to his original notes, the hole was almost 300’ down to the bottom, but this rock didn’t even go maybe half that distance.

It was guessed that before the dwarves got here, the gap down to the crack was not a straight line and digging was most likely going to be needed. For now, we needed supplies from the hut and Shim was very low on spells. Going through his blessings, Captain Asher had a “nap” spell – puts someone in a very deep unwakeable sleep for an hour, but it’s the equivalent of 8. Our gnome would get his spells back.

We did that, Captain Asher could put 5 people to sleep – a few that had some damage from the wyvern fight rested as well after we took out the block and tackle, pick, shovel, sledge hammer, and all the rope. Shim mended 4 of the ropes to one continuous length, knowing after his nap he could do the rest.

When the nap ended, Shim did his spells – but no one actually healed. Weird. We doled out some healing and then went to the pit. We hooked the block and tackle to the piton, fed the ropes through the pulleys and it was going to be Shim and Connal riding it down. A light spell was cast and Darius took over the block and tackle lowering ability. It was 3 times the rope feed but only needed half the strength to move them. They went down slow. The chimney did indeed rock back and forth often. And the stones were sharp in many places. A difficult and dangerous climb for anyone.

By 2:40 they made it to the bottom. Shim shot off a dancing lights to signal they were safe and they looked about a little bit. Ceiling was 25’ tall here, chamber was barely 25’ diameter, and in the dim light, looked like it sloped off heavily to the east. Also some sort of breeze was blowing towards us. “They coming down?” Shim asked. Connal shrugged.

Up above Captain Asher said after 10 minutes, “Now what?” Darius was bringing the tackle back up. “We’re not going back down there now, that’s stupid. What was the plan?” The Captain shook his head. “Didn’t exactly think this part through.” When the tackle was back at the top he climbed on and said, “Lower me, I’ll go tell them to come back up.”

It took time and when down there, Captain Asher let the other 2 know that it was late enough in the day and to not risk everyone going down now. So it took time to cycle the 3 of them back up but one done, we unhooked the block and tackle from the piton and then dragged it and the 80 pounds of rope to the base of the cliff. The conversation then touched on – how are we going to get all the animals down tomorrow? Ugh.

We then all climbed up there and by 6:30 PM, set up the hut. We ate, had Wilhelm use a spell to refill everyone’s water skin, and then went to bed.

We awoke pretty early the next day on Heatmonth the 5th – and again – we did not heal anything while resting. At this point we had a work around but the timing was going to be tight. The hut could be opened for a total of 12 hours, up to 3 times a day. We hadn’t closed it. Wilhelm and Eoghan talked to their pets that they were NOT to leave the hut and would be taking a nap, then would be woken up by Wilhelm within the hour.

Agreeing, we napped them and closed the hut. Time was ticking. 1 hour they would wake up and if they were still in the hut while it was hurtling through the dark recesses of Astral space, they would be insane. The block and tackle was rehooked to the piton and Shim and Connal went down. Then the tackle was raised and Wilhelm went with the hut. At the bottom we looked at the time and in 20 minutes, he opened the hut before the animals woke up and then led them out. Crises averted, pretty close to 12 hours time (11 hours 15 minutes), and 2 more openings of the hut for today.

The last one was Darius when went down by 6:35. Then, Connal and Shim self propelled themselves with the tackle slowly hand over hand to the top. They unhooked the block and tackle, Connal coiled the very heavy rope around himself and pretty damned close to over loaded, Shim riding on his chest, they stepped out into space and fell.

At 30’, the monk ran his hands against the passing wall with alacrity, slowing his descent enough to get past the first jog but was then falling too fast. That left Shim to enact one of the feather falls from his ring, dropping their velocity and they slowly floated down the remaining 84’ to the bottom. 7 AM.

The east side of the room was a 60 degree angle slope, and according to our guess, 100’ linear, 85’ vertical. Shim’s map showed a bridge over a chasm with falling water somewhere down there, and maybe a passage south? Darius took a torch and went to go first. Shim had enough feather falls to power everyone a safe trip down.

The fighter turned, faced the slope, and Shim cast on him. He slid easily to the bottom. But on the way close to the end, he heard flapping and turning, he could see 2’ wide insectoid looking birds with huge needle like noses flying in at a rapid pace from the high ceiling here. 10 of them. Stirges.

“Hey! Stirges! Be careful!” he said as they attacked. A few managed to get through his armor, nose deep into his flesh, and they started to suck, drawing his blood out. “On my way!” Captain Asher called, tapping Shim who Feather Falled the half elf. Darius smashed two of the stirges in him while another 15 stirges flew out of the cracks in the ceiling to join the others down here. The battle was joined, the 2 fighters with their superior armor avoiding most of any possible attacks.

Trusting his cats to handle the slope, Wilhelm went next racing down there the help, also feather falling. The fight was expanding as it seemed 40 or so stirges were now in the fray. Darius and Asher were methodical though, slaughtering a stirge or two every round. The cats got in on it, 4 of them leaping up and engaging more of the flying fiends. Wilhelm was fighting as well but his lesser armor was not as effective in stopping the stirge’s assault on him. Eoghan came down next, Nate was to follow and then Rhygar, with Shim and Connal having to be last.

Eoghan was doing his best but while tracking one of the stirges, he let go, missing as it corkscrewed out of the way, and critically shot Darius in the back. “What the!?!? FUCK!!””

“Damn it,” Eoghan muttered, taking another arrow out. “Let me try again.” Even in pain, Darius fought on. The mountain lion, the lynx, Lou, Wilhelm, Asher, Eoghan, and Darius all had stirges in their bodies, drinking their blood, weakening them round after round. BUT – enough of them had been slain that the remaining 12 still able to fly took off, racing up in order to escape. Eoghan shot two of them fleeing and the rest of us tried to pull the stirges off those still in the fight. Darius’ inadvertently did squeeze one too hard, making it vomit inside Wilhelm’s gut wound – that was going to be very bad later.

Finally it was over, we all were down here. Some of us were in terrible condition, a few hit points left. Wilhelm was able to remove the arrow from Darius’ back with only a small extra wound. We regrouped, grabbed what arrows we could, Darius giving Eoghan the stink eye, and discussed what was to go next. 7:20 AM, Heatmonth the 5th.