Player’s Present:Clearice Eilif,Morrin Telemnar,Mok the Powerful Wizard,Omegasun,Pimfire Tyndal,Xavier Cross
NPC’s:King, Madam Coth, Gevecus, Ambassador Carrague
Run By Andy
Player’s Missing: None
Submitted By: Clearice

Today i received an invitation to a dinner of fate with my favorite Oracle Madam Coth. As i was getting ready i ran into the the rest of the menagerie getting ready having been invited themselves to our illustrious dinner. We rented a carriage and i picked out a new dress and we were on our way to our meeting of fate. We arrive at the 7 tigers inn to find Madam Coth had not yet arrived but we did find Bournetal who told us they were quite busy lately due to The Roost being closed for renovations(Which some how Pim had no idea even though he is a Rooster himself Tsk Tsk). With Golden Roosters around every corner Madam Coth Arrives as we stand to let the Madam take her seat at our table. She sips wine with us and tells us the reason for our meeting. She had gathered us together on this day to tell us of her dreams as of late and to send us to find the Rouge of the World, a famous Rouge who is legendary in the land of Ferun even said to have stolen Eleminsters Pipe. After telling us our mission she hands us a scroll that is an encoded message to the Rouge Of the World. She gave us another scroll that told us the places of interest from her dreams and what happened in her dreams should we forget. It read as such.
Location 1: The Nevin Street Compter: Madam Coth had a dream that a new prisoner was being brought in and that the prisoners name was Forsineous. She checked there but no prisoner of that name was brought in recently. She also checked Belanor’s old room just in case.

Location 2: The Silvermoon Playhouse: Here Madam Coth dreamt about a play involving the rogue. She is not sure if this dream was not the result of overworking the situation. Although the dream had a sort of funny ending as the show did not go on, since the rogue had literally stolen the show.

Location 3: The Crescent Moon Inn: In many recent dreams, Madam Coth has remembered the Crescent Moon, although none of them involved the Rogue directly. She is not sure if anything can be found here, in fact she has had lunch there twice this week without anything occurring.

Location 4: The House of Desires: The magic traders have often been part of Madam Coth’s dreams since the mysterious owners are involved in many events in the city. She is not sure what they might have to offer, but does remember asking for a blue rose in one or two of the dreams.
Along with this scroll she gave us a coin that would glow when the Rouge of the world was near. We decided to go to the Play first (Yayyyy!!!) since it would close if we went anywhere else. As we are we decided that some if us should go in and the others wait outside. Of course i wanted to have an enjoyable night so i insisted on going inside along with Pim and Omega. So we all got in line and purchased our tickets. We enter to seethe beautiful Playhouse, Owned by Lord Lorian Darkarrow, stunned by its beautiful architecture. We order some drinks from the bar and proceed to our seats. The play tells a story of 2 star struck lovers who belong to two different warring factions in the city that they live in. It had started out as a beautiful love story but ended tragically as they both died in a heartbroken suicide. The play went on without a hitch and the coin i held never started glowing but as a final effort we went down to see the play-master Yvandolyn. We asked him if anything suspicious had gone on lately relating to a rouge but he said things were great actually and that he has guest performers quite often to which Pim offered to be one if he needed a performer. He thanked Pim for the offer and we parted ways. We met with the group outside who had nothing to report so we decided to travel to the House of Desires next to look for our elusive Rouge. We arrived to find a Lady named Donna who was watching the Shop while Seraphane was away. She said she hadnt heard of any Blue Roses but had some items for sale we could buy if we helped her with a Riddle. We agreed to help her with her Riddle of course if only just to help. It went as follows:

Two grandmothers, with their two granddaughters;
Two husbands, with their two wives;
Two fathers, with their two daughters;
Two mothers, with their two sons;
Two maidens, with their two mothers;
Two sisters, with their two brothers;
yet only six all lie buried here;
All born legitimate, from incest clear.
How might this happen?
She tells us it was found on a Mausoleum in the kingdom of Mulhorand.
We deduce that it must be If two widows had a son each, and each widow married the son of the other and had a daughter with there new husbands, all the relationships would be non incestuous. She thanked us for our help and sold Mok a wand of icestorms with 25 charges. After we finished up in the house of desires we decide the best place to go to since it was still late would be the Crescen Moon inn. We arrive outside to see a young beggar who me and Pim give a coin to. He tells us to take heed for when you enter the inn you are cleaned. Thanking him for his words of warning we enter and the magic coin glows for a moment than pops and fizzles. The head cook approached me asking what that thing was (He kinda scared me) so i replied i dint know so he shooed me out into the street. Crestfallen i sat down waiting for my companions outside. Xavier joined me outside so i wasnt alone thankfully. After what seemed like ages the others exited telling us they now know the name of thew Rouge and were to look for him so we made haste towards The Swill And Spill. On the way Omega gave me a piece of food that was much appreciated since i wasnt able to eat at the inn. We arrived at the Spill and Swill to be escorted in by some lovely Street thugs. We buy them drinks inside and are greet by a halfling claiming to be the one we are looking for named Mohammed. Pim, drunkenly i might add, calls him out on his bluff as he tries to get us to give him magical items for his trouble. Realizing he had been made he threw out coins of darkness across the room. He escaped before i could true seeing through the darkness. I cast Daylight on the room to dispel the darkness allowing everyone to see. As we decide what to do a Halfling comes from behind the bar holding up the scroll we were sent to deliver. Standing before us is the actual rouge of the world Gevecus who stole that scroll from Mohammed after he tried to steal it from us. After opening it and introducing himself he tosses it to us to decipher. We fail to decipher it faster than him so he just takes it and shows us up telling us the message inside. He tells us that King, The hero Dog, has been kidnapped. He remembers seeing a group of dogs in the sewer captured by some robed figure but hadnt thought anything of it till now. He tells us we must go down into the sewers to see if one of those dogs was King while he goes to check some other ideas. As we enter the seewer we come to a water filled room that Omega immediately begins walking across on the edge. As he reaches the halfway point a Death Tyrant floats out of the water attacking him and Pim. Pim falls into the water while Mok flanks the Undead blasting it with magic Morrin following suite. It backs into the back of the room turning Morrin to stone, though we didnt realize till later. Omega Xavier and Mok Slay the undead and than we realize that Morrin was turned to stone by the Death Tyrant. We decide to leave him for now so that we may confront the robed figure and save King. We continue on through the passage way to find a door to a room full of Ice Hounds. We are attacked by them immediately but Mok disintegrates them all with an acid ball. Whe enter the room to see King along with 5 other dogs. We than saw a now melted stairway leading upwards to trap door with which we all travel up to Mok and Omega leading the way. They open it and enter before everyone else but by the time i try to lookmup into it there is an awful cloud covering the trap door Xavier and I opt to not climb through as we dont know what the Cloud was. We begin to notice the floor charring and sagging so we flee back down the stairs to avoid whatever fire is above. Mok and Omega than come down telling us of the 2 casters who were upstairs that ran as soon as they were injured and the large fire elemental they had conjured to protect them. And if that wasnt crazy enough we were underneath the Roost all along and the Elemental almost burned it to the ground had it not been for Mok and his quick thinking using the rod of extinguishing! Than after all of that happened we returned to wear we left Morrin and he was nowhere to be seen!!! We met up with Madam Coth and Gevecus Who congratulated us on a job well done. We were rewarded with a Magical Pipe and some magical armor bracers but we still didnt know of Morrins fate till Gevecus told us to look for him where one would rest handing us a vial to cure his stone state. We followed his hint and found Morrin at his bed. We used the liquid on him and returned him to normal thus ending our wild night in the city. Though i do wonder what Madam Coth had been saying when we left but oh well Morrin is safe now and thats what matters.

Loot:
Ivory Pipe of Aroma – when smoked this pipe creates a warm, friendly scent in a 10-foot cubic area. It can produce the scent of any plant, or woodland scent including garlic and wolfsbane. This scent has no game mechanic effect—it just smells nice. Scents which would drive away hostile creatures (such as wolvesbane or garlic repelling werewolves) provide no more protection from the creatures than the actual plant would provide(Mok)
-These robes provide AC 4 protection to evil wizards and priests, AC 6 protection to neutral wizards and priests, and no protection to anyone else. The robes are permanently black with a bloodstained design. Undead are automatically non-hostile to the wearer. The robes have the permanent smell of death and repulse normal animals and reduce Reaction checks among humanoids by one category (worse) for the whole group of people with the robe wearer.(Turned in for tithe Credit)
-Bracers of Armor +4(Clearice)

Players Present:Pimfire Tyndal, Omegasun, Morrin Telemnar, Clearice Eilif, Xavier Cross(Khaotic), Mok the Powerful Wizard
Run By: Andy
NPCS: Vernon Condor (missing), Bezlamon, Lady Lauren DevillarsLady Mayor, Chimera (Roo, Billy, Scarlet)
Discussion = Started late as Andy was running behind was posted, Talked about Dollys Anger, Previous Adventures, Crafted Items
Submitted by Clearice

I was disturbed by a knock at our door at 4 A.M.. I was in the library reading a book on this new trend sweeping the city known as Yoga while Blinky floated around nearby eating his breakfast. The Menagerie was being summoned by the Lady Mayor to meet by the docks. Of course we all obliged and we set out to our place of meeting. On the way there there was a ghastly sense of dread hovering over us sending a slight chill down my spine. As we approached the meeting place 6 heavily robed figures approached us with weapons half drawn. They recognized us at once and ushered us into a nearby building.
Inside we were greeted by The Lady Mayor and 5 other city officials. We take a seat by the fire as per there offer and the Lady Mayor begins to tell us the tale of Bezlamon the evil Mage who impersonated Vernon Condor via some sort of body swapping spell resulting in Vernon Condor being nabbed by an unknown force. The man Bezlamon was apprehended but the fate of the missing Vernon Condor is Unknown to the Council and thus they called the Menagerie to find out. The Lady Mayor mentioned a portal that was opened at the place of The Vultures disappearance. They had sent 20 soldiers inside of it to scout it out but they had not returned in 3 days so the worst was to be feared. We of course agreed and set out immediately to the portal at the prison of Illwater. As we approach the Anomalous portal i cant help but feel a pang of excitement at the prospect of rescuing our friend the Vulture it sent thoughts of one day becoming a Silver Hawk running through my head. As we entered the portal, which was ironically at the front gate of a prison, we could immediately tell we were not in Illwater anymore. This realm was a pocket dimension and the portal was only one way for as we entered the portal we found ourselves in a cave with only stone at our backs. Seeing no other way to go we proceed further into the tunnel to enter a huge cavern full of lava coming from waterfalls and forming large pools. we approached an exit on other side to see a pile of ash and bits of armor bearing the seal of Ravensbluff. Pimfire Approached the monument of death and seemed to have triggered some sort of trap which to our despair seemed to have awoken an Ancient Red Dragon sleeping in the lava. I was mortified at the sight of such a beast and fled in fear as such a creature could obliterate us in a confined space. We all began to run for the exit of the cave as the Lava began to rise. the Dragon than reared back its ugly head and breathed fire on us all nearly killing me and severely injuring everyone else besides Omegasun and Xavier. As we exited the cave leaving smoke trails behind us we healed our wounds and gained our bearings spotting a trail leading to a hut in the distance. As we approached the cabin we were met with the odd sight of a skeleton with 2 pin points of light for eyes who introduces himself as the Ancient. He beckons for us to enter his shack as friends.
We enter after dropping our suspicions at the door. He than begins to explain to us that he is the welcomer of all new comers to this realm. This realm being a semi-sentient prison that torments all who find themselves here till there death. As he explained our predicament it suddenly clicked in my mind that we were actually speaking to a lich though he didnt seem to be inherently evil. Once he finished his introduction we asked him if he had seen Vernon Condor or as he may have looked when he came here Bezlamon. He tells us that he had seen a man of that description about a week ago. The Ancient tells us he has been in this land since the beginning and that all who come here must ban together for survival and must take an oath to uphold that one law. We all take the oath that we shall not attack another prisoner unless in self defense. As we prepare to part from the Ancient he gives all of us 1 healing potion labeled poison each and sends us on our way. For some reason Xavier stayed in the shack for a little bit longer but when i called for him he came and thus we departed towards the nearby settlement the Ancient told us Vernon went. As we traveled to the settlement it seemed as if the forest itself was impeding our journey even down to the blades of grass. As night time fell the sky turned purple and we begin to feel a slight rumble from the earth as several insect like Grogs burst from out of the ground. The ancient had warned us of them so we were not taken by surprise and we dispatched them quickly and decided to try to rest for the night. As we try to rest we are all troubled by visions of a red figure tormenting us and we are unable to rest for any amount of time. We continue to the village after our unrestful slumber to find it razed and burned to the ground with a single drow male sitting staring into the distance. We searched the village while Mok talked to the drow and found none else left alive. Mok managed to get the drow to talk to him and he told him the village was attacked by some foul creatures called Tuloks. He told Mok they took the love of his life and he vowed to kill them all and thus he waits for their return to the village. He also mistook Pimfire for a Kinder, like many others have, and even gave him a Hoopak and tells us he has seen Vernon Here but his body was not with the dead in the village so he either escaped or was captured. After bidding our farewells to the drow fellow we took off following the supposed tracks of Vernon Condor. We where once again met with the forest as our adversary this time blocking the path with a bramble wall that Mok makes short work of with his huge Battleaxe. as we cross throught the freshly trimmed hedge we hear a loud cry in the clearing ahead. We rush forward to find a Chimera trapped in a quicksand pit. Knowing it must be a prisoner here I must help it so i dimensional Hop onto the poor beasts back and hop it back out of the quick sand. It than happily casts a spell of tongues and thanks me for rescuing it but wonders why we would. We of course explain we are all in this together so why wouldnt we and the Chimera than introduces its 3 heads and gives me a wonderfully warm cloak made from its fur. It tells us that it was hunting tuloks due to them slaying the Chimera’s mate. It than tells us of how the tree leaves of certain trees point towards the dragon cave and that there is a bigger settlement nearby that we should go to after we find Condor. I heal our new friend before we follow the tracks of Condor once more. It isnt long before we find him being dragged deeper into the woods by the vines of the forest. Mok and Morrin rush forward unable to be grabbed by the vines and free Condor who thanks us before fainting. I heal him to bring him back to consciousness. We decide to try to rest again and are plagued by the same dreams as before but Vernon Condor sleeps deeply as we normally would so we decide to carry him t. He is a village elder here and o the settlement while he slept. As we arrive at this much more robust settlement we are greeted telepathically by a Mind Flayer named Me-low who offers us a place to rest and tells us that he does not know of a way out of this prison. He directs us to the tavern to rest where Mok and Morrin spot the Drow from the other village’s wife Anna and there child. Since we are waiting for Condor to awaken we decide to go and tell the drow the good news. Our trip there and back with him was actually uneventful and went off without a hitch. We returned to the larger settlement to find that they were going to have a large meeting about a way out. As the meeting came to order they offered us a challenge to prove our dedication to which Omega accepted before even knowing what it was for. The challenge was to read and extremely difficult poem in a certain amount of time. To everyone’s amazement Omega did so with only one stutter through out i couldnt even begin to believe he would do it but he proved us all wrong. After the klysedra was completed Me-low told us the Ancient would have the answer to what we were looking for in the form of a spell he was developing. He would need the name of the red Dragon to complete the spell but he would know how to get it if anyone would. We traveled back to his shack but this time when we entered it was a large and spacious palace inside. The Ancient immediately demanded the name of the dragon from us saying that we know what it is. We than realised that we had been told the name earlier by the diviners of Ravensbluff who tried to divine the location of Vernon Condor. They couldnt find him but they kept hearing a name and knew it was important. We were unable to remember the name so Mok used the last of the powerful ability memory recall to recall the conversation in which we heard it. The name they had told us was Gernosishstrad. Once we spoke the name the Ancient waved his hand and a feast appeared before us in which we all heartily ate as he explained his history with this realm and how we would defeat the Dragon. As his telling of our plan came to an end we heard one of the Ancient’s defenses go off killing a rat outside. The Ancient informed us that those are what Gernosishstrad uses to gather information so we must move now to the final battle. We of course set off immediately to the Dragons cave the Ancient setting an other worldly pace for us to keep up with. He tells us we must kill his minions while he will deal with the dragon. We than enter the lava filled cave of the dragon to find Gernosishstrad surrounded by fire elementals in a pool of lava. I launched a large Blade Barrier into the Fray hitting all of our enemies even the dragon who to my dismay breathes fire on me killing me instantly so i dont remember what happened after that besides seeing the Golden Lady’s beautiful Visage pulling me towards the light. I awoke in the Cleric Circles inner sanctum having been revived from my unpleasant and nearly eternal slumber. The rest of the menagerie told me that Mok destroyed the rest of the elementals immediately and the Ancient cast his spell sealing the dragon away in a red ruby. We than were brought back to Ravens Bluff as the Prison collapsed in on itself The ancient came out with us and teleported away once he thanked us for our help and told us everyone should now return to there own realms before the prison is destroyed. The Menagerie was Congratulated for a job well done. And my companions were nice enough to forgo the reward to have me brought back, Though i wouldn’t have minded the extra money either… But i am so grateful to be traveling with such a gold hearted bunch if only you could be here to see where i have ended up Father…

Rewards

5600 XP
5000g reward that we refuse in lieu of having the Cleric Circle Revive Clearice.
Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds – everyone, from the Ancient
Cloak of Warmth – (Clearice) given to for saving the Chimera

Morrin went up a knightly rank

Omega switches to the Harbour Patrol as this adventure allowed such in reward. May have him use Dolly’s Anger to help patrol the harbour in exchange for its upkeep cost and keeps the vessel close to home in case we need it.

Players Present:Omegasun, Pimfire Tyndal, Clearice Eilif, Xavier
NPC: Maskin Farthing, Briella Farthing, Devlin, Faruq, Captain Dara Nando, Clampett, Hierophant of Silvanus named Baerwald
Player’s Missing: None
Player’s Absent: Morrin (said he would be late if he showed at all)
Game Master: Mok
Posted By: Pimfire Tyndal

A meeting with Maskin Farthing of the Farthing Custom & Trade house one morning revealed that his daughter Briella had gone missing. She apparently left around 8 years ago with a priest of Waukeen named Devlin in search of an ancient artifact called the Sacred Heart of the Beast. This artifact would allow them to tame an island of strange creatures that they had stumbled upon in the hopes of opening up a thriving tourism trade by making large animals safe for visitors to come and be around. Maskin tells us that Briella is a very powerful practitioner of magic and while she’s been gone they’ve been in constant contact via a two way scrying mirror but about 2 weeks ago the mirror went black and they haven’t been able to get in contact. His daughter created a powerful gateway on the ocean that leads to this mysterious island but has kept it secret even from him until recently which he believes he’s now found. He would like us to go in search of his daughter and return her. His last communication with Briella involved someone named Prince Faruq of Calimport coming to visit the island and possibly invest.

After examining the mirror and talking to one of Maskin’s mages on the subject it’s concluded that the other mirror Briella’s must be broken or somehow disenchanted. I learn more about this Sacred Heart of the beast from the temple of Sune who tell it’s a mistake of Sune herself created when she was new in an effort to allow her followers to enjoy the beauty of nature by creating an area in which no animal could harm another. It was only after they realized how dangerous this could be on an eco-system and implore us not to return it and if possible destroy it.

The following day we get on board the Mares Milk a vessel of Maskin’s which is to take us to the island via way of the magical gate somewhere a couple days travel on the ocean. To our delight we find Clampett our chef from Dolly’s Anger to have hired himself out for this voyage. Introducing myself to Captain Dara Nando I find myself stunned by her beauty and fierceness. It is rare to find a woman on board any vessel let alone captaining one, which tells of how tough she must be to keep her crew in line.

I spend the next couple of days entertaining the crew and trying to charm the lovely Dara. When we finally pass through the nearly invisible magical gateway we see an island in the distance and at that moment we strike a large log floating in the ocean. Before it can rip the vessel apart Captain Dara gets the crew to slow and then halt her ship. She asks us if we can deal with clearing the log from in front which Omega, Clearice and myself set too leaping into the waters. Once there I clearly see the log to be the mast of a sunken vessel and drop towards the ship both to investigate it and search for treasure. Omega pulls out his sword and starts to hack away at the mast to try and free the Mares Milk from it. Clearice follows me down probably to keep an eye on me I suspect.

Inside the sunken ship we find a chest full of Calimshite coins and magical items on what we assume was the captain or owner of the vessel which is called the Reaver. Clearice manages to float the chest of coins up to the Mares Milk on a magical disk. Once topside again we inform Captain Dara of our findings who claims half the chest for her crew and seems impressed with my ability to hold my breath for over an hour and with a wink suggests I visit her later.

It was at this point the old superstition of tossing a coin overboard before a voyage comes to mind and realizing our error everyone tosses in a couple coins in the hopes that whatever creature could tear apart the Reaver doesn’t do so to the Mares Milk. As we approach the island we clearly see the docks to be nearly destroyed but useable while 2 more sunken ships lay in the bottom of the ocean next to the docks. Managing to skillful maneuver her vessel to the docks Captain Dara bids us good luck as we head out to investigate the island.

We come upon a camp that is set up to be a visitor center area for when the place gets opened to tourists. The place is a mess as several buildings appeared burnt while another is crushed by a fallen tree. We enter the main building some sort of greeting center to find the kitchen was used recently perhaps a few days ago according to Xavier while Clearice examines blood stains on the wall and finds some green flakey substance on the main door. Another building we examine must have been the temple set up to Waukeen. Upstairs is where we find Devlin who apparently committed suicide. Reading through his journal it’s apparent a druid named Baerwald was upset over their bringing the Sacred Heart of the beast gemstone to the island and interrupting nature in the process. It’s noted that Briella and two others traveled to check on the stone to make sure it’s safe guards are in place after some dinosaurs somehow managed to overcome the peaceful effect and attacked the camp!

The log revealed that a storm sunk both vessels and possibly lead to a tree falling on the building housing the mirror, which destroyed the mirror, or it was the druid who made the tree fall they weren’t certain. With Prince Faruq never showing hope fled, as things got even worse since someone was bitten by one of the dinosaurs and seemed to become infected with something that spread to others in camp. Devlin was forced to kill and burnt their bodies and with no hope of communication with anyone off the island and Briella and the others missing and not returning from the volcano housing the artifact Devlin committed suicide by hanging himself. Our inspection of Devlin revealed some green infection in his spine meaning he himself was somehow infected.

After a brief glance around we found the barracks where Devlin had killed and burned the bodies of the rest of the camp. Avoiding contact with the bodies we started to leave only to encounter a very large Triceratops that must have been 5 times larger then any we’d ever seen! Omega offered him some fish from a barrel he found in the kitchen of the visitor center and surprisingly it seemed to enjoy them going so far as to shove it’s face deep into the barrel to get every last morsel. Omega wanted to keep it for another pet or mount but we pointed out that a creature which is longer then the ship wouldn’t fit obviously.

Suddenly remembering a conversation with Maskin Farthing that Captain Dara was under orders to retrieve some dinosaurs we rushed back to her ship to try and stop them before they became infected by whatever wiped out the camp. Clearice blurted everything out to the captain as she along with half her crew was dragging 2 dinosaurs towards the ship. The crew fearing disease nearly rioted right there on the docks but Clearice promised to examine each one and while that was going Omega was getting the crew drunk as I told silly jokes and stories. Fortunately no one on board had any signs of the green infection.

We then headed back to the camp where I picked up the shards of the mirror thinking Maskin may want these in case he can repair it using magic to reenable the 2 way scrying mirror set. Then we set out towards the volcano. During our trek through we encounter a massive T-Rex covered in green slime. All our efforts to hurt it seemed futile even Clearice’s Blade Barrier didn’t bother it despite shearing off half it’s face! As soon as we cut it the slime seemed to repair the cuts. Finally remembering fire to be useful against the infection Clearice burnt the dinosaur and made it flee in terror but not before Omega was covered head to toe in green goo!

We built a fire and bade him to stand in it but while some of the slime seemed to get burnt off not all of it and finally we were forced to use his sword and scrape the rest off his body. Once done we pushed on until we reached the base of the volcano where we found what appeared to be a dried up water bed leading straight to the top and at the bottom a tunnel recently dug going deep into the heart of the volcano. Following directions from Devlin’s journal we head to the top of the volcano where the Sacred Heart of the Beast was supposed to be.

As we crest a ridge we see inside the volcano’s mouth 6 magma elementals surrounding Briella and an old druid we assume to be Baerwald. It’s clear Briella is undertaking some magical ritual as strands of the weave itself can be seen in her hands as she is somehow undoing something around a large red gemstone that is imbedded in the volcano’s crusted surface.

Omega shouts out asking if they need any help. The magma elementals and Baerwald approach him while the rest of us stay hidden. Finally we all go down as Clearice informs the druid that we are hear to rescues Briella and see the Relic destroyed as well and intend no harm. Briella finally stops what she is doing and comes over, she claims that the druid has shown her the errors of her ways and she is going to destroy the gem but will die in the attempt and accepts that as penance for ever bringing the stone to the island in the first place. I try and talk her out of it by seeing if using a favor from Waukeen would somehow help but according to Clearice who communed with her god they are unable to interfere with the relic as it’s planar locked to the prime material plane.

Xavier then starts to walk towards the sacred heart of the beast all the while talking about how much good Briella can now do in the world with her magical powers she is able to help more than he ever could and as they reach near the stone offers to take her place in removing it and thereby sacrificing himself. Baerwald wants him to make sure he has the blessings of his goddess Tymora and hands him a commune scroll which he reads and enters a trance. We see a coin flip in the air as suddenly he comes out of the trance and nods his head that everything will be okay. Satisfied Baerwald agrees to it and Briella releases the last of the safe guards and with a wave teleports the rest of us to safety on the Mares Milk. Just as Captain Dara sets sail from the island, a loud explosion is visible as the volcano erupts.

With great sadness in my heart for the loss of a friend, I found it hard to continue the romance with Captain Dara that had so quickly blossomed in just a few days on the way to this island. Captain Dara seemed to understand as we spent what free time she had talking together quietly about the future and should our paths ever cross again we agreed we would see where our hearts would take us. For now, we respect each other’s life choice. Her choice to sail the ocean in search of fame, fortune and adventure. Mine to defend the city, tell tales of adventure borne out by others and raise my daughter.

Upon returning to Raven’s Bluff we were greeted by a strange and welcome sight as standing on the docks was Xavier! Somehow restored by Baerwald and his god since what he did was a noble self sacrifice he didn’t deserve to die. It came at a cost it seems as Xavier has holes in his memory regarding his training but he’s gained a sexy new tattoo. Shadow as well seems smaller then I remember even.

Maskin is thrilled that Briella is home safe and sound and offers us the reward as promised. I hand over the shards to the mirror. I bring the signet ring of Prince Faruq that we found in the sunken ship to the embassy of Calimshan where they are grateful for its return and let us keep the scimitar we recovered in gratitude. After words I travel to the temple of Sune and spend a full day recounting in vivid detail everything that happened with the Sacred Heart of the Beast and how it was destroyed while acolytes record my words for their personal records. Xavier even decides to join me down at Valerie’s Orphanage where he decides to take up the position of cook!

---

Rewards
6250XP for all but Xavier who got some readjusting after self-sacrifice
2000g each reward
One Chiv point each
One Honor to Xavier for sacrificing himself but ANDY will decide
Treasure chest of Calimport coins = 5000g / 4 which is 1000g each + 1000g to party treasury
Broken Mirror scrying shards (in case they want to repair it gave back to them)

Monocle of Fine Appraisals: This monocle adds a +2 bonus to all appraising proficiency checks made by the wearer, and instantly reveals fake gems or counterfeit art. The wearer must have the appraising proficiency in order to gain these benefits from the monocle. Further, PCs with the forgery proficiency may employ the monocle to unerringly identify forged documents. This monocle does not benefit those without the required proficiencies, as those people do not know what they are looking for. (Clearice)

Golden Scimitar of the Seven Families: This beautifully forged blade, an heirloom of the family of Prince Faruq of Calimport, is fashioned from purest gold, magically hardened to withstand even the strongest blow (saves as “hard metal,” +4). It functions as a +3 scimitar for rogues, and as a +2 scimitar for all other classes.
Further, the blade may be employed to quell any sandstorm, magical or mundane, a process that takes one round and expends a single charge. It also may be used to avoid any single attack from an Efreet, Dao, marid, djinn or lesser genie. This use is instantaneous, and expends two charges. The blade contains four charges.
(Xavier takes this)

Signet Ring of Prince Faruq: This gold ring, emblazoned with the personal seal of Prince Faruq of Calimport (a petty noble), acts exactly like a ring of protection +1
(I offer to bring it to a diplomat of Calimshan and they are grateful for the return of this and knowledge of Prince Faruq’s demise and let us keep the scimitar in thanks)

Mark of the Hierophant: The owner of this certificate chose to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect the balance of Forgotten Island. As a reward, the PC has been reincarnated by Baerwald, Hierophant of Silvanus. (Xavier)

Players Present:Omegasun, Morrin Telemnar, Pimfire Tyndal, Xavier
NPC: Lord Chancellor Arvin Kothonos, Brian Robbinton, Cypress Thornguard, Grislena, Kraven Deerg
Player’s Missing: Clearice
Player’s Absent: None
Game Master: Mok
Posted By: Pimfire Tyndal

With a summons to meet with Lord Chancellor Arvin Kothonos so began our day into what would end up being a disastrous event that has led to a disadvantageous treaty with the Sembians to supply our fair city with lumber at a costly rate.

Lord Chancellor Arvin told us of a logging company called the Old Growth Clearing Company which was hired to supply the city with timber in it’s rebuilding after the war and no recently shipments and communication have stopped completely. No one has heard anything in the past 2 weeks from them. He asked us to go investigate their camp and see what the problem is and if possible to resolve it otherwise in 4 days time he would enter into negotiations with some ambassadors of Sembia for trading rights on timber and end up costing the city far more money than needed.

Along the way to the logging camp we encounter a farmer screaming for help and rush to his farm’s aid where several Ankhegs are terrorizing them. We vanquish them easily and even manage to restore life to Brian Robbinton the farmer who requested our aid when he was mortally wounded in the fight. Several of his sheep were slaughtered before we could help and knowing the vital importance of those who work the land outside the city walls I offered to cover the cost of those sheep. As thanks he invited us to lunch and even provided me with a gift in the form of a couple magical darts. He also tells us of a druid and sacred grove that are in the forest.

We had to hurry on our way after lunch to make the logging camp before nightfall and as we arrived we found the entire camp it seems slaughtered by some sort of toxic gas or acid attack judging by the burns on the bodies. Searching the camp we find a log book that details how the local druid of the grove harassed the loggers and wanted them gone for violating the forest. There was even mention of sights of a dragon in the area. Figuring our best course of action was to find the druid we followed directions in the book to the heart of the sacred grove.

Upon arrival at the grove we found the land dead with all the trees and plant life appearing poisoned and lifeless. The druid one Cypress Thornguard tells us the land itself is cursed following an attack during the war and he’s been trying to remove the curse. It seems the druid was aware of a dragon in the forest and asked the dragon for aid in scaring the loggers but instead must have decided to slaughter them. All that is except for Kraven Deerg the owner and leader of the logging camp whom it’s taken for torture. We are unable to really meet eye to eye with Cypress and leave only to return the next morning and strike a deal to send aid up to help remove the curse by sending clerics of Chauntea to his aid. In exchange he takes us to see the Green dragon. I argued earlier that morning we should kill the dragon but all we could come to agreement was that we’d try and save Kraven since he didn’t deserve to be tortured by such an evil creature for simply trespassing on a sacred grove of trees.

Lead down into a hidden tunnel we travel until we reach a rock doorway. There Cypress asks us to wait while he speaks with the dragon to gain permission to negotiate. After awhile he comes back and requests us to leave all our weapons outside which we agree to. Once inside we are face to face with a very old large green dragon calling herself Grislena.

A bargain is struck to release Kraven in exchange for several magical items we carry. We try and strike another bargain to prevent further bloodshed should loggers return but the dragon poised an impossible scenario which after review there was no correct answer to and so does not agree to further hostilities should anyone else enter the forest.

We return back to Raven’s Bluff with Kraven and hand him over to the city for trial as he violated an ancient treaty to not disturb the sacred grove of Chauntea as well to find out if he’s accountable for actions leading to the death of nearly 50 men and women. Lord Chancellor Arvin Kothonos was not pleased we were unable to deal with the dragon and upset that we’d bring Kraven back but not also Cypress who clearly was in league with an evil dragon. We agree to return and take him into custody and try and clear the dragon out but it’s too late and he must negotiate a deal with the Sembians for timber.

Upon returning to the grove with several priests of Chauntea Cypress is arrested and the grove is restored as the curse is lifted. The dragon seems to have fled the forest as we cannot find any sign of it in the lair.

We later learn that the courts deemed Kraven and Cypress crimes to be decided by the cleric circle. Kraven is let off since 2 weeks of torture by a green dragon is deemed punishment enough but his company must for the next year plant 2 trees instead of 1 for each tree they remove. Cypress however is another matter and the mere fact he’d consort and ask the aid of such an evil creature as a green dragon showing no remorse for the lives of the 50 dead loggers lost as a result is sentenced to life as a mass murdered in the Golden Ball prison. He is also excommunicated from the church of Chauntea.

---

Rewards
3500 XP

Scimitar inside Ankheg “Evergreen.” Scimitar of haste +2, +3 for druids and rangers- This scimitar is +2, but in the hands of druid or ranger, it is +3. When wielded by a druid or ranger, the blade dimly glows an olive green (light, 20’ radius) and allows the wielder to cast haste upon himself or herself. The haste effect lasts one turn and consumes one charge. The scimitar has five charges remaining, and once used the scimitar becomes a scimitar +1. Value: 10,000 g.p. (Party Treasury)

3 Darts of Mistletoe Darts that do 1d2 poison damage + up to max 2 strength damage + strike as brilliant energy and ignore all armor and protection. (Pimfire)

Offered Dragon / Items removed from inventory
+1 Composite Shortbow (Pimfire)
Potion of Water Walk (Pimfire)
Gloves of Larceny (Pimfire)
500 gold (Pimfire)
+1 Keen Flachion (Omega)
Cap of Light (Omega)
200gp emerald with Mages Sword lvl 16 (Morrin)
1 Green Garnet of Magic Missiles (Morrin)

Players Present:Clearice Eilif, Omegasun, Morrin Telemnar, Pimfire Tyndal, Mok, Xavier
NPC: Lord Alvin Carstairs, Cliven, Lady Glora Varro, Clara the maid (of Gaius), Lord Marshall Gaius Varro
Player’s Missing: None
Player’s absent: None
Posted By: Pimfire Tyndal

Listen close to a tale of a creature most foul! A creature who can suck the life force right from you much like the powerful undead but instead can also take your face and make it it’s own! This creature did terrorize our very city streets walking amongst us without our knowledge killing for sport and assuming the guise of your neighbor and even yours truly!

---

We dined with Glora Varro at the Pheasant Roasted Inn where she asked us to protect her later that evening at her abode while she attempted to discover her missing cousin Gaius Varro during a powerful spell. Suddenly we heard a cry from Lord Alvin Carstairs who came rushing by the Inn claiming someone robbed him! We the midnight menagerie rushed to the scene of the crime and along with the city watch were unable to find a single clue to verify the miscreant, an obvious sign it was no doubt perpetrated by the Kind of Thieves himself Markus! For its known, he never leaves a sign or clue when he strikes. He made off with a valuable family heirloom.

On our way out of Lord Alvin’s estate we chanced upon a man named Cliven who doubled over in pain suddenly. We rushed to his aid and saw to it he received treatment at the temple of Lathander since we did not seem to be able to heal whatever ails him. That done we headed back to the Pheasant Roasted Inn a wonderful established with amazing dishes that will tantalize your taste buds and make you feel like a noble. I highly recommend it.

It was there that while sitting with the Lady Glora Varro once more to finish our conversation and dinner that we told her of our assumption as to whom was involved in the theft when she pointed out that Markus was sitting at the bar the entire time! Omega approached him to question him regarding the theft. Meanwhile I began to suspect that Cliven may have been the one to steal the heirloom as swallowing such a large piece of jewelry would certainly cause pain that couldn’t be magically healed by our Clearice. I approached Omega and Markus and listened in for a moment before stepping up and I attempted to hire Markus on behalf to retrieve the item from Cliven if possible since we were presently engaged to assist Glora that evening but was turned down. Markus did not seem to care if someone tread upon his reputation or not.

Once we left Glora with promises to meet at her home in an hours time I told Mok and the rest of the group regarding my suspicions but realizing we all couldn’t make it to the temple district and back in time he agreed to fly there and see if Cliven was indeed the thief. The rest of us headed to Lady Glora’s mansion. While at the temple of Lathander Mok informed the priest attending Cliven regarding our hunch and asked to speak with someone who could speak with the gods on our behalf to verify if we were correct. I am told the High Priest himself performed such a task but the Gods revealed that Cliven was indeed innocent regarding the theft of Lord Alvin Carstairs property.

At Lady Glora Varro’s mansion we were brought into a special chamber used for her magical experiments and protection. Our task was to guard her in case something came through her spell. Unfortunately Mok had not managed to make it back before she began casting and during the spell Morrin heard a loud noise and shut the door to the room sealing us in. The spell failed when moments later Mok crashed through the door with a maid in tow. Mok had seen someone leap out of a second story window and flee as he approached her mansion. Rushing to investigate sure enough a glass statue was broken and a powerful magical artifact was taken. Other than a quick glimpse by Mok of a figure dressed in black no more could be found and our suspicion that Markus may indeed be behind things was growing. The maid had come to tell the Lady she had seen Gaius Varro down on the docks of Raven’s Bluff earlier that day and having worked for him for several years she was sure he would have recognized her but he instead fled as she approached.

With nothing to go on to find Markus or whomever was behind the recent string of burglaries we headed towards the docks to see if we could find Gaius ourselves. Just minutes after leaving Morrin doubles over in pain similar to that of Cliven. Omega picks him up and we change direction towards the temple district unable to do much else for Morrin. Several minutes go by before like Cliven it seems the pain has passed and we change direction again back to the docks once Morrin is able to walk on his own.

It was there along the way we passed the Pleasure Palace where several woman were talking to the city watch regarding the assault and murder of a co-worker. Upon seeing me, they accused me of being the one to have done the foul deed! I assure you I did no so such thing and even told the women and city watch it was not me. I gave the city watch my where about for the past week and asked my friends to get those down at the Orphanage where I had been spending my days to come testify on my behalf. I then went with the city watch and was summarily put through our justice system which I must say is both swift and efficient.

The group figured to rush to the docks and check the Rusty Nail area for Gaius first before heading over to Crow’s End to get my alibi. While there they get confirmation from others who remember seeing Gaius around but no one could remember where he went. Realizing that Lady Glora must be informed of Gaius return they swiftly made their way back to her mansion but upon entering her area of town saw a flash of light from the 2nd story of the Thavian Embassy. They approached the guards and told them what they saw who ran inside to investigate. Left outside the watched as a man in black leapt from a 2nd floor window onto the grounds and walk over to them. It was Markus!

Markus told them of how he grew up in Crow’s End and that a Red Wizard of Thay was responsible for enslaving his parents and that he’s vowed vengeance on the one responsible named Yosaf or some such. He tells them that this wizard was put in charge of a magical Orb and should it go missing he’d be held responsible and most likely executed or put in prison. With that in mind Markus and his Sister hatched a plan where his sister got a job as a maid in the Embassy to spy but was caught and he believes is now dead. The Orb was recalled to Thay and would be leaving soon on it’s journey so he broke in but there were too many guards. He told them he wanted to eat with them at the Shark Fin Tavern. He then asks them to help him sneak back into the Embassy but the Midnight Menagerie refused. Mok believing Markus to have stolen from both Lord Carstair and Lady Varro asks for the items back but Markus claimed to have never stolen those things.

That being done the group headed back to Lady Varro’s to inform her of their findings at the dock. Once there she attempts the spell again and this time Gaius appears as she disappears in a strange dark void of magical energy. Gaius explains that he’s trapped in a realm of negative energy and the creatures there are capable of taking the appearance of their prey and victims! That the only way to free him is to find one such creature which was set loose when he went missing as they must have “changed places” and to do so recast this spell but somewhere down near the docks. As he says this the spell ends and Lady Varro reappears and Gaius disappears. Lady Varro claimed to have heard everything and further she knows where the spell needs to be cast. None other then the 2nd floor of the Thavian Embassy. She tells them she will inquire as to if they can gain access through political channels while the Menagerie needs to track down this evil entity and capture it.

At a dead road the gang come visit me in jail and during that visit Markus walks into jail claiming to have seen me down at the docks killing a person. The Guards not caring or believing Markus refuse to let me go since they are certain I killed that woman at the Pleasure Palace and Markus is hardly a creditable source. They are told no matter it would be until the morning before I could get released even with a proper alibi. The gang follows Markus directions and head down to the docks. Once there Clearice takes flight and with the help of a True Sight spell searches the area around the Rusty Nail. A few blocks away she spots the creature in an alley appearing to be sleeping. Not wanting to take the chance she casts a spell of bright light to alert the others who come rushing down the streets. Once there they manage to subdue the creature and tie it up but not before it sucks some energy from Clearice and Mok even going so far as to take on Mok’s appearance during the struggle.

The next morning they bring Ariel from the orphanage to the jail who verifies my whereabouts as an alibi and I am released from custody. We then visit Lady Varro to learn that political channels have failed and we instead must break into the Embassy if we want to free Lord Gaius. We decide that Markus is our best prospect and meet with him at Sharky’s Tavern where he agrees to help us if we help him while at the Embassy. After getting Lady Varro to agree to pay for the cost of this operation we manage to sneak in where Markus gets the Orb he sought and in return he hands Mok the items he did indeed steal from Carstair and Varro claiming they were needed for him to break into the Embassy. The Lady Varro casts her spell transporting the negative energy creature back to its realm and returning the real Gaius to our fair city.

---

With that, my friends I hope the next time you see someone whom you have not seen in years because you thought they have gone missing or had died that you notify the city watch immediately. It may just be another such creature has found its way into our city, our realm, and is preying upon its fair citizens.

---

Rewards

10,000 Gold from Lady Varro = 1,000 gold each (6 players) –3400 odd gold to party treasury – 580 odd on divination at temple of Lathander
A bag of 30 = 100g Sapphires from Lord Varro (party treasury)
We return the ring of X-Ray vision to Lady Varro and the Brooch to Lord Carstairs that was stolen by Markus
2750 XP (half for Clearice and Xavier for missing portion of the evening)

Players Present:Clearice Eilif, Omegasun, Morrin Telemnar, Pimfire Tyndal, Mok
NPC: Ariel Halfwind, Desiree, Sargent Kenton
Player’s Missing: None
Player’s absent: None
Posted By: Pimfire Tyndal

Won’t someone think of the children! the cry of the day that rang out amongst the city’s crowd as we wandered the city looking for something to be doing when suddenly amongst the crowd we saw Ariel Halfwind crying and babbling about children being taken from the orphanage in Crow’s End. We calmed her down at least enough to get some account of what happened and look over a ransom note given to her by the captors. Agreeing to help we followed her back to the orphanage where she went to collect the gem stones for the ransom. We spoke with Desiree one of the helpers at the orphanage regarding any potential suspects but came up empty.

Once Ariel came down with everything packed we followed along with Timmy’s little dog whom we thought might be able to help us track down his owner or at least help us locate the children if he could catch a scent of Timmy along the way. We had to travel immediately to Burrowhome to make sure the ransom drop went as planned but about half way to Burrowhome Timmy’s dog did indeed pick up a scent and headed off the roadway down a small side trail. We followed in hopes he would lead us to the missing children.

We were wrong or I should say Timmy’s dog was wrong and a while later we found ourselves surrounded by Undead hill giants. They jumped out of the trees and bushes slamming their clubs down on top of us. Clearice managed to call upon her holy powers and sent them running while Mok fired off a blast in their wake and quickly put the fire out before the forest could catch fire and burn down around us.

Realizing he must have just smelt the rotting corpses and with darkness, descending and time running out we headed back to the main road to camp out and continue in the morning. Maybe it was the dark trees and our encounter with the Undead but I remember having terrible dreams that night and felt tired despite having a full night sleep and it seemed so did everyone else. We pushed on toward Burrowhome only as we left the forest and the road continued into a clearing we could see a large tree with several cages and what appeared to be 4 different people hanging in them. Rushing to see if they were children both Mok and Timmy’s dog charged into the meadow and tripping a wire we watched in horror as the cages swung down from the tree into a wall made of Flesh, Blood and Bones! Which sprung up behind and in the path of the cages.

As Mok and Morrin charged, the wall to try to help the people 3 of the 4 pulled into it while Morrin greased up one as Mok grabbed and pulled him away from wall. Many arms came out wielding swords from the wall swinging at all who tried to get close to rescue the others sucked in while different faces and mouths appeared uttering arcane words and spitting rocks all over the place. Tired of the game of trying to get through and realizing nothing could survive inside something so monstrous Clearice unleashed a blade barrier along the top section of the wall shredding it in moments to reveal nothing but gore all over the place.

Grateful for the rescue Sargent Kenton told us his tale of how he was taken capture but revealed that Ariel herself was among those he was taken captive with or at least he remembers seeing her amongst the rest of the prisoners. Ariel denied being captured and had no memory of what Kenton spoke. A quick examination showed the necklace she wore to be magical and not being able to remember ever owning it we convinced her to remove it. As she did it crumbled to dust and her memory of being kidnapped, the children being taken, asking us for help and the voyage here seemed to disappear completely. Confused as to everything going on we tried to calm her as screams rung out from a cave on the far side of the clearing we stood. Remembering seeing a woman standing their just as Mok charged into the field Omega took of running fearing the children to be in danger.

The rest of us rushed to keep up as we entered the cave we were confronted by the woman who told us she was tired of our meddling and accused us of killing her once years ago (something none of us remember ever being involved in) she told us there were a series of traps and riddles we had to pass to save the children, fail and they would die then she fled. Realizing the magical symbols on the ground to be some mystical trap Mok carefully read an inscription revealing a riddle to which I realized the answer was Amaunter, we spoke the name as we crossed the line safely. The second riddle had a serpent waiting for us which Omega sliced the moment it appeared as Mok revealed the answer to be Ibrandul followed by the third riddle answer to be Shar.

Thinking ourselves near the end, we were dismayed to find a room with 4 boxes on a table. The woman’s voice rang out that inside one of the boxes we’d find something to help with our next obstacles but the other 3 were trapped. We used an unseen servant to examine each finding the same set of vials in all boxes with no traps. Strange but we heard a child scream out again and quickly drank a vial and rushed forward as ran down the hallway nothing happened so we though ourselves lucky in choice only to find later that all the boxes contained poison.

Inside a room at the end of the hall we found the mysterious woman and a bunch of undead. Some Hill Giants like the woods along with some bandaged monsters and weird Smokey shadow creatures. The woman opens a box to dispel out various preparation magic’s and Mok unleashed a fireball in the room trying to avoid the children around the edges of the room but became both horrified and angry to realize yet again he’s been duped as his blast caused several undead to crumble so too did it reveal the children to be held between us and the woman under invisibility. Outlined now by the licking flames several of the kids collapsed to the ground. Laughing over our foolishness both in drinking poison and falling for her illusion of the children she unleashed some magic’s of her own but was quickly defeated along with the undead. Those shadow creatures disappeared during the fight and Mok has mentioned something about being thrown from his body into the Astral but managing to summon the will to pull himself back into his body and regain control. We suspect those shadow creatures of being the cause but we will have to do some research on the subject to be sure.

During the fighting Clearice managed to stabilize the wounded children but as we defeated her they disappeared supposedly returned to the orphanage either that or yet again another illusion. The voice of the woman rang out saying something like “some of you survived and I will no longer tolerate interference from Raven’s Bluff and she can control anyone with some power she has. Everyone was an illusion set up, as it is a shame to waste such good tools. She threatens to make anyone suffer if they interfere in the future.” Realizing she was able to control people using those necklaces I think it’s a good idea we spread their likeness around the city with warning to all if they see one on someone. That being said she was kind enough to leave us a few with their powers of control drained both Mok and Clearice have one now worn around their necks for me to sketch copies of and spread amongst the powerful and city leaders.

Grateful for the return of the children Ariel offered us a reward but we could never take from an orphanage and instead refused and I even gave her some of my own money to help run things, as did some of the others of our group. I have even spent the past few days down there entertaining the children and helping with chores around the place. I even introduced my daughter Amuka to the other children in hopes she will make some friends. It feels good to spend time once again here in Crow’s End.

---

Rewards

Bracers +3 (Omega)
8 green garnets that have magic missiles (9) in them (5 each) – Smash (standard), Place in eye (free action) – Everyone but Mok took 2 I believe
A vacuous grimoire (probably just outright destroy as most likely evil)
We did not take the money from Ariel and I gave her 500 gold.
5 Necklaces (bonus to save against undead abilities 3 times a week) – Mok and Clearice only one who took the other 3 turned to dust when we thought about selling
4700 XP each

Players Present:Clearice Eilif, Omegasun, Morrin Telemnar, Pimfire Tyndal, Mok
NPC: Lord Blacktree
Player’s Missing: None
Player’s absent: None
Posted By: Pimfire Tyndal

My sweet Amuka,

After our latest escapade against those fire giants and their stronghold, we sought out the remainder of the area around Lower Sarbreen and in a large cavern around the same size as that of Lower Sarbreen itself we found an underground lake home to a mini Eco-system of various monsters such as goblins, trolls and even a hydra. While for the most part it seems the area is considered sacred for it’s source of fresh water a rarity in the Underdark some creatures use it as a hunting ground. We watched in the distance as a Cave Fisher grabbed one of the goblins and pull him up to become his dinner giving the impression that only the animalistic creatures will hunt in the area of fresh water while the sentient beings fear and respect each other enough to avoid conflict over life giving water.

We were wrong to think that. As we scouted the chamber around the lake we encounter a sentient species one which is often spoken of with fear, loathing and intense hatred. A drow party ambushed us on the shores of the lake with a cunning blast of magic they separated our party by turning the rock we walked upon to mud and placing a blade barrier between Omega and the rest of the group. Then from the cavern ceiling descended a group of fighters on Omega, the rest of us had to deal with archers from behind. Mok took off running towards the lake as he noticed 3 drow heads above the waterline thinking those to be the persons responsible for the barrier. Morrin managed to put up a series of stinking clouds and fog walls slowly blocking off the archers view of us as we watched helpless nearly while 4 drow fighters and a female fighter who could also use magic knocked Omega unconscious. Desperate to help I managed to kill a fighter and the female with my bow and arrows while Clearice braved the stinking clouds to rescue Omega and bring him to our side of the blade barrier. Mok’s battle with those in the water was brilliant as he froze the water they swam in and trapping them with heads sticking out above the ice. Once they were frozen in place Mok then unleashed a flurry of magical power forcing them to break out of the ice and flee. Once Clearice got Omega back to our side of the barrier Morrin dropped another stinking cloud down on those fighters blocking all sight of the drow.

Suddenly the area went quiet as we looked around there was no drow to be seen as the clouds and barriers faded even the 2 bodies I had killed were gone. Finishing our inspection we returned to Raven’s Deep and reported back to Lord Blacktree regarding our findings with particular interest focused on the fire giants stronghold and it’s gateway to the elemental plane of fire and the possibility of drow in the vicinity being of particular note.

With the scouting mission complete we are now on our way back home, I have sent this and the other letters I’ve written on ahead since we need a brief rest before returning to the surface and then once back we have business with the temples and seeing to the destruction of a few items before we return to our Keep. I hope these letters find you well and you are enjoying your new home.

---

Rewards
XP total 23225
Refer to previous parts of this adventure for the rest of items gained throughout the trip

Notes:
Sold the Giants leaders sword and split the gold and gained diamond dust for party treasury
We decided Curtain of Silence kept and used during adventures to provide resting with privacy
Book of Necromancy/Dragon we were to see destroyed at temple
Dust of the dragon bones we were to see destroyed at temple to prevent further attempts to raise it

Players Present:Clearice Eilif (absent), Omegasun, Morrin Telemnar, Pimfire Tyndal, Mok
NPC: Prince Alfyal
Player’s Missing: None
Player’s absent: None
Posted By: Pimfire Tyndal

Dearest Amuka,

We have prevailed over the Fire Giants and their stronghold. We have even freed several captives we have discovered inside their dungeons including a very special prisoner of theirs. Time will tell if this has any consequences in the future but for now, we are all safe with a long way to go yet exploring more of the perpetual night filled caverns of the Underdark. Below is a detailed description I’ve put together of the encounter. It is my hopes that you memorize this and later repeat it back to me for that is in essence a large part of becoming a storyteller like your father. Practice memorizing what you hear and read.

---

Mok and Clearice flew across the lake of lava and just as they got within throwing range of the Giants rocks I teleported myself, Morrin and Omega to the top of the forts walls. Upon materializing Morrin transformed into a four armed gargoyle while Omega drank a potion to transform into a raging dinosaur. With brutal efficiency, the two of them dropped the 2 giants on this side of the wall before Mok and Clearice could join us. As they did so, the other two visible giants on the far side of the gate walls jumped down and fled across the courtyard.

This courtyard was filled with strange dogs, hellhounds, and two great pillars of fire stood before the keeps doorway with a row of statues lining the outside of the keep itself. Once Mok joined us, he proceeded to unleash blast after frosty blast towards the fleeing giants putting those other two down before they could retreat to safety inside as those dogs did. While this was going on Clearice managed to save the tortured and dying human we saw get flung over the walls and pulled back up earlier. Just before the doors closed sealing us out 2 large fire elementals stepped forth from the pillars and fled inside with a puff the pillars had gone out disappearing with the flight of those raging infernos.

Leaping from the battlement Omega charged towards the gates while the rest of us flew or were carried down as we watched Omegasaur ram into the door and burst it to pieces! Morrin summoned a Rhino who proceeded to try and bash the other door inwards. I guess reports of a Rhino on the docks might have been true at this point. Fearing for his safety Clearice left the human outside and proceeded to follow the rest of us inwards. I should note the Rhino eventually did succeed at bashing in the remaining door but by then we had already entered.

Inside the fort was a large entrance chamber with the hellhounds having just ran inside being closest preventing Omegasaur from entering fully took precious moments before we could clear them from the entrance way and by then most of the Keep seemed to have joined the remaining Giants. Surrounded by three sides our backs to the open doorway to the open courtyard we bravely stood our ground! Mok declaring he would handle those to our right while Morrin dealt with those to the left Omegasaur stomped into the room towards the two burning elementals. There must have been about another 8-10 or so Fire Giants along with 4-5 Spell Casting Giants and those two Fire Elementals in total. In just the matter of a minute we had reduced it to a couple of their spell casters and the elementals but not before one of them managed to put a burning wall of fire blocking the doorway forcing us further into the room.

As Omegasaur ripped and bit at those elementals, he became engulfed in their flame to the point where a raging 15 foot tall burning Allosaurus stood in the middle of the chambers striking fear into everyone’s heart. It was then we heard a loud noise outside in the courtyard. Fearing for the safety of the human we had just saved Dusk flew through the burning wall of fire and quickly came back through screaming telepathically in our heads about an even Bigger Fire Giant coming!

Into the chambers burst the Fire Giants Leader nearly twice their size swinging a might sword he managed a lucky blow against me as I fled towards the middle of the chambers. There we stood our ground, Omegasaur fighting the remaining fire elemental, Morrin standing against the leader and an Efreet that was summoned out of nowhere while Mok, Clearice and Myself hid behind offering cover fire at our enemies.

Exhausted from the amount of enemies and seemingly overwhelmed as the remaining casters seemed to be focusing their energies on healing their leader as we threw what we could at him Mok pulled out a strange combination of Staff and Rod and proceeded to suck up the magical attacks the Efreet threw his way. I later learned it was a Rod of Absorption and with it he was able to harness their magical energy to replenish his at least enough to provide us with one more blast of cold energy driving the Efreet out of the fight and dealing with one of those pesky caster giants but not before we watched Morrin collapse as the Efreet managed to shoot off one last round of acidic rays melting Morrin’s cloak as he lay prone and unresponsive on the ground.

Those casters dispelled Omega’s Dinosaur form but not before Mok put out his burning body using his Staff. Still Enraged Omega charged at the remaining caster dropping him in a flurry of swings. Now alone the Fire Giant Leader attempted to pull back into the courtyard stepping through the flames only to have Omega step after him while Mok put out the burning body of Morrin and with the aid of Clearice get him back up and moving around. As we chased after we arrived in time to see Omega desperately battling the Leader to see his mighty blow drop this Huge Behemoth of a Fire Giant.

We spent nearly a day inspecting the fort for treasure and found amongst it a portal to the realm of fire and some prisoners, 2 duergar, a single drow elf inside cells and 2 more humans in a pit. We promised to free the duergar and drow once we leave but they didn’t seem to believe us nor offer us any information on the Underdark. The humans were priests of Kossuth and once freed quickly speed off to their friend we had saved above and into the Underdark.

It was in the bowels of the fort we came across a cold room. Strange for a place so warmed by a lake of lava and inside we saw a Red Gemstone on a pedestal. We took some time here to rest up and then prepared ourselves as Mok entered the chamber and retrieved the Gemstone but not before doing a strange dance stepping into and out of the circle around the pedestal. Mok noticed a strange figure seemingly trapped inside the stone and presumed it was a stone of holding or some such capable of trapping a creature or person and holding them frozen in a moment. After speaking with her Goddess through some divination Clearice determined it would be safe to break the stone. Mok tried but wasn’t strong enough and it fell to Omega’s mighty strength to crush it which he did.

In a flash of light appeared an Efreet-like person named Prince Alfyal! Who was happy to be freed. He explained that he was enlisted to assist the Fire Giants and their allies of Efreets only to be imprisoned to keep his silence about their base of operations and the portal they had created to the fire realm. Since he was immortal, they kept him frozen in the stone protected from scrying and divination in that chamber so no one could come to his rescue. As thanks for freeing him he offered Omega a reward or should Omega choose another member one who had “lost the most” in the struggle to free him. Thinking of Morrin’s loss of his cloak he said that Morrin should be rewarded. Morrin put forth his hand to have a ruby ring placed onto an empty finger causing his hand to burst into fire! Prince Alfyal told him to let the fire consuming him and sure enough the fire eventually went out on it’s own bonding the ring to him. Prince Alfyal the told Morrin and us that this ring would Identify him as a friend to anyone from the plane of Fire and provide him with many abilities of fire and protections from fire.

With that, we lead Prince Alfyal to the portal and he returned home as we left we shut the doors to the room. We freed the 2 duergar and drow as we prepare to leave and finish our exploration. We also wanted to permanently seal the portal or reduce it to rubble but lacked the power at this time to do so. When we return to Raven’s Deep we will mention this in our report in hopes they can send a group specifically designed to seal portals to other realms or at least cause a controlled cave in to destroy this fort and keep it and the portal out of other cruel hands.

---

Rewards

200gp of drow coins
100 GP of zhakaran coin
150 GP of Raven’s Bluff gold
There is a spider pin, looks like it is worth something
4 Imic holy symbol (elder fire giant who’s evil)
A giant sized bolt of red and orange spider silk worth 200gp
A bottle of Infernium, which is a rare bottle of alcohol from plain of fire.
A curtain of Silence woven of spider silk and no sound can pass if you hang in a doorway. 6ft x 10ft.

Leader of Fire Giants Sword
+3 two handed sword (Huge) does damage of one category higher, need a 22 strength just to wield it, need fire giant strength to not go last in the round. Makes the sword and bearer IMMUNE to fire. You can cast reduce on the sword, and then you need an 18 to wield it, a 22 to not go last that reduces it to a large weapon.

Ring of Elemental Command (Fire) Morrin received
- Resist energy (fire) (as a major ring of energy resistance [fire])
- Burning hands (unlimited use)
- Pyrotechnics (twice per day)
- Wall of fire (once per day)
- Flame strike (twice per week)

Elementals of the plane to which the ring is attuned can’t attack the wearer, or even approach within 5 feet of him. If the wearer desires, he may forego this protection and instead attempt to charm the elemental (as charm monster, Will DC 17 negates). If the charm attempt fails, however, absolute protection is lost and no further attempt at charming can be made.

Creatures from the plane to which the ring is attuned who attack the wearer take a –1 penalty on their attack rolls. The ring wearer makes applicable saving throws against the extra planar creature’s attacks with a +2 resistance bonus. He gains a +4 morale bonus on all attack rolls against such creatures. Any weapon he uses bypasses the damage reduction of such creatures, regardless of any qualities the weapon may or may not have. The wearer of the ring is able to converse with creatures from the plane to which his ring is attuned. These creatures recognize that he wears the ring, and show a healthy respect for the wearer if alignments are similar. If alignments are opposed, creatures fear the wearer if he is strong. If he is weak, they hate and desire to slay him.

Players Present:Clearice Eilif, Omegasun, Morrin Telemnar, Pimfire Tyndal, Mok
NPC: Lord Blacktree
Player’s Missing: None
Player’s absent: None
Posted By: Pimfire Tyndal

Dear Amuka,

I don’t know if this will ever find it’s way to you but I felt the need to record what happened while in the Underdark in the event I do not make it out of the darkness and back into the light. While I have only been your father for the past week or so I know that if I don’t return you are still in good hands with the remaining Midnight Menagerie and it’s caretakers at our Keep. Know that I name you my rightful heir and bestow upon you all my possessions and effects in the event of my demise. Here is my tale at least what I have managed to record so far as obviously should I fall I will not be able to record exactly what happened to myself.

---

The trip was long but not as long as it took us previously to reach Lower Sarbreen cavern. In fact where it took us previously 20+ days now only took around 8 with the pathway cleared and it’s obstacles overcome with a series of pulleys and cables for raising and lowering travelers down the side of deep drops or reliable bridges in place to span what seems endless drops across chasms.

Upon reaching the outpost called Raven’s Deep we meet with Lord Blacktree who informed us as to why were summoned back into the endless night. Our services were required to further secure the outpost by scouting out the region for hostile groups and if possible to secure any allies or trade contacts should we happen upon some peaceful creatures. With reports of activity in an old Dwarven temple that previously housed a Dragon we had vanquished we decided to start there and loop around through the tunnels avoiding further contact with Ravens Deep in case we are being followed or watched so as not to give away it’s position.

Sure enough when we reached that fateful chamber with it’s magical healing waters we found a male and two females inside a magical circle along with what remained of the dragon seemingly sowed back together. We confronted those people with regards to their actions to find they were followers of Gargauth and where undertaking to bring back to life the dragon as per it’s request/will it had left with their cult in the event of it’s demise.

I guess our desire to prevent that showed for suddenly both Mok and Omega where thrown into the air towards the ceiling as one of them cast a spell reversing gravity in a small section they stood upon. With that, we sprang to action but it seemed nothing we did could get through the circle they stood inside that is until Omega managed to appear inside by drinking a potion. A series of blade barriers cast by Clearice and in conjunction with Morrin working on destroying the circle itself we managed to break inside and punish the 2 females for we had seen Omega get stunned and then fall to the ground. The male however managed to escape with a word of power teleporting him to where ever he came from we figured.

We found upon their bodies an evil book of magic that we deemed best to see destroyed, for who knows what enchantments are inside, but knowing the cultist religion and their obvious purpose being there to raise the dragon I would imagine it has to do with necromancy. After burning the dragons body to dust we then placed the ash remains inside a pouch and intend to see it never falls into any evil necromancers hands. With that we left the chamber and upon reaching a rest spot recovered from the ordeal.

A day later we headed down an unexplored tunnel and found a river of lava. The heat was intense but we crossed without to much difficulty only to shortly after find a main source of it in the form of a large cavern with a lake of the stuff with a river on both ends one feeding and one exiting. The heat here was extreme but thanks to some magical protection, we could manage for a time. We saw across the lake on the far side of the cavern what appeared to be a fort with some fire giants.

Diplomacy failed for these Giants are cruel creatures who delight in torture as was obvious the moment we saw them throw a human over the walls with a spear through him attached to a chain. Now I wait for the signal to help storm its walls so I must go my daughter.

Players Present:Clearice Eilif, Omegasun, Morrin Telemnar, Pimfire Tyndal, Warhawk Starson
NPC: Sergeant Hervor, William O’Grady, Grumwich, Adunaphel, Corporal Grungar, Amuka, Flandren,
Player’s Missing: None
Player’s absent: None
Posted By:Clearice Eilif

I was in the library reading a fascinating book on the history and biology of Beholder’s when I was told by Pimfire (Such a very Likable little fellow though odd at times with his coin flipping) that we had a rendezvous at the Tilted Tavern.
I had never heard of such a place and assumed it might have been named due to the leanings of drunkards but when we arrived i was greeted by the sight of an engineering miracle. The Tilted Tavern was not named after an inebriated mans stance but is named, and rightfully so, after the precarious and shocking angle that the tavern has adopted over the edge of the Fire River.
Its a wonder how such a structure is still standing being only held up by stilts but this was our destination so we entered promptly and carefully.
Once inside we finally meet with the individual who summoned us. His name is Sergeant Hervor of the Sewer Patrol.
He greets us and informs us that there is an infestation of giant slugs in the sewer but to the groups dismay things wouldn’t be so simple for us. He than told us the reason we were summoned was to deal with the sighting of a 20ft alligator that came out of the sewers nearby.
He told us that it was sighted by William O’Grady the bartender. The sergeant also introduced us to a Dashing and well renowned Paladin by the name of Warhawk Starson who was in very high standing in the city and was looking to assist us in our mission.
As the fair Sergeant departed my allies approached the bar while Morrin and I sat at a table and watched when a big burly man by the name of Grumwich approached and challenged Morrin to a game of Soaked.
Morrin agreed of course wagering a few drinks
As he stepped out side i followed to see them both get onto a log floating in the river. Grumwich moved suddenly and Morrin immediately toppled into the water.
I couldn’t help but laugh at how easily Grumwich had one but has Morrin got up and we reentered thew tavern the group was ready to go so we head out towards the sewers entrance were the Crocodile had come from the day before. I was told the bartender claimed it was actually 40 ft long when he had seen it but i feel as though he was embellishing the story a bit.
We entered the sewers and almost immediately find more crocodiles that seemed just like the one we were told about so i flew forward and turned them all into an unidentifiable mist of blood and gore with my Blade Barrier. As I dismissed my barrier i saw a rather large snake swim off down a passage with a bit of the crocs in toe.
We decided to follow it given its unnatural size and not knowing were else to head.
After traveling some way down the passage we came across a truly bizarre sight. We turned a corner to see a rust monster being beaten in the face by a flying broom. After blocking them off with ice we decide to obliterate them both.
We drop the wall of ice and unleash on the rust monster and after killing it with impunity the broom than came flying at us blinding Pimfire and dusk and splitting into to brooms when cut in two.
We than dispatched the brooms bluntly with the help of Adunaphel, Warhawk’s intelligent sword,(Oh i wish i could have a conversation with her Im sure she has some stories to tell) and healed our friends ailments quickly and continued on our journey.
We than came across some more sewer Brigade men killing the aforementioned giant slugs. We than speak with Corporal Grungar of the sewer brigade asking his advice and informing him of the Rust Monster. We than depart and head towards the southern tunnel he had suggested as it led to the Mongrelmen Tribe of Grookachoo.
Everyone than hears a faint cry for help up ahead. We spring into action moving forward to find a young Mongrelman girl who we promptly rescue. Her name was Amuka and sadly her father died in the crevace we saved her from holding her above the water.
She than leads us to her very well hidden village named MukMuk were we meet Flandren, the leader of the village, and throw a feast in our honor and Pimfire actually adopts the young girl!(Such a happy moment for him!)
Flandren than tell us of a filthy follower of Malar enslaving and collecting snakes in these sewers.(I vowed to kill this corrupter of nature if it killed me)
He point us in the direction of her haunt and he gives us a scroll to aid in our fight.
It didn’t take long till we found Malar’s Bitch waiting with a whole hoard of snakes. She had collected constrictors vipers even an Amphisbaena and somehow she corrupted a Couatl to her cause for that her end would be painful.
We began fighting swarmed with snakes and as it progressed Omegasun was grabbed, much to its own folly, by the Amphisbaena. He proceded to punch and beat the two headed snake till its head exploded. By this time Warhawk got within range of Malar’s bitch and swung at her with Holy Fury killing her where she stood.
We than approached what we hadn’t know at the time was a Couatl. Warhawk and Adunaphel than told us all that it was a creature of good and that we must let it go free which we certainly did.
We than made our way out of the sewer and reported to the sewer Brigade our findings telling them the Crocs had been her doing. They awarded everyone in the party a vial of Oil of Timelessness for our hard work.

Treasure
Footman’s flail + 2 & 300 Gold (Treasury)
Clerical Scroll with neutralize poison x2 and cure serious wounds written at 14th level Clearice
Oil of timelessness for everyone
Mok learned undercommon from Hafmar for 500 gold loaned by Clearice